Thread: Hello! Newbie from sunny Miami here to stay, shave and learn!

Hello community! I’m new to the world of straight razor shaving and super excited to learn the art. I have been wet shaving for years now with carts. A few years ago I was gifted a Art of Shaving badger brush and cart holder. I’d say that was my first intro to “true wet shaving” as I always used can shave cream. Once I found soap and creams to use with my brush it opened my eyes! Lol. This month was my birthday and my wife gifted me a straight razor set from classic shaving. It was the Buffalo Horn Damascus Straight Razor and Luxury Shave Set. I think for being a beginners set it is decent and reasonably priced. Started learning the art of straight razor shaving as soon as I received it! I’ll add a couple pics as to what my modest starter collection looks like and will keep adding pictures as it grows (my collection of things always grows!!). You gents should be getting ready to answer plenty of questions from this newbie soon. Haven’t finished going through old post to see if any question I may have, have already been answered. Regardless, just wanted to stop and say hello and I look forward to this new art that I’ll be learning!

Welcome to the forum! Looks like you are off to a great start. Plenty of helpful members here, so ask any questions that come to mind.

Be sure to check out the Shave Library for plenty of helpful information: https://shavelibrary.com/

Hello and welcome to SRP.
You are certainly off to a very nice start.
Enjoy your time here on the forum and have fun.

Pete <:-}

Welcome to the family. Ask away. We all love to share our knowledge. No matter how long you are at it you never stop learning. Take it slowly. You will get cuts. Don't let it discourage you. I have ysed a straight almost 30 years. Tested a freshly cleaned and honed razor this morning. Nice cut over upper lip. Lather ran red right down my chin. It happened to us all.
Looks like you only have two straights. That won't last long.

Welcome to SRP!!!!

A lot of great Gents here to help you out, ask questions and we'll do our best.
As said, check out the library, a ton of useful info there.

Enjoy and have fun!!!

I checked out that set. The listing says that you start with the "damascus" razor and then when you get the hang of the art that you then ready to MOVE UP to the Gold Dollar.


I'm sorry to say that you are not starting out with very good equipment. The Lucas Webster cadre of razor websites is all about hit and run marketing. I highly would recommend that you check out the Buy/Sell/Trade section here for a quality vintage razor.

No need to apologize Utopian. That Damascus has less of a sharp edge than my butter knife. I think it’s purpose is to practice the technique. Regardless though, I’m sure most peoples first everything wasn’t the best. But thanks for your opinion.

Since you are just starting out, I assume that you don't have a hone, just a strop? Did you get the Gold Dollar too? There are lots of videos to help you get started and the best approach is to start with just the cheeks as it's the easiest shaving surface. Experiment with proper angle and, in my opinion, when in doubt, use a lower angle.

That’s correct. I only have the strop that came with the set. I have been looking at tons of videos the past few weeks. I feel like I’m getting sensory overload by viewing so many! Lol. I’m sure in due time with practice and trial and error I’ll achieve the proper technique. As far as honing, should I buy one now to hone the razor or wait till I really feel it’s dulled out on me? I have looked some up, but seem a bit confused. There are so many to choose from. Thanks again!

Don't worry about honeing right now. Learn to shave first. With only 2 razors it is cheaper to send them out than buy hones. A pro honed razor will also give you a bench mark to judge sharpness by.