Thread: new girl!

Hi everybody,
I was galavanting around the internet looking up various vintage cosmetic techniques and stumbled upon straight razors, which I've always fancied, but never put two and two together until now.

Yesterday I bought a "best" badger brush from Crabtree & Evelyn (told them it was a gift for my dad when they looked at me funny). I'm pretty sure I'll get some all-natural shaving soap (or make my own), but I haven't the slightest idea where to start when it comes to finding my first razor.
I've seen some recommendations around the forum, but I don't want to spend hundreds until I know what I like. I've found some "ready-to-shave" vintage blades on eBay, is that a good way to start? I was thinking of poking around the flea market, but I wouldn't know a good one if it sliced through my popliteal artery!

Also, recommendations for a hone and strop would rule.

Thanks so much for reading and taking me under your wing! I can't wait to start learning these skills.


Cheers,
lime

Welcome to SRP!

I would suggest a shave ready razor from the classifieds rather than Ebay, just to be sure you get a blade that is indeed shave ready.

For strops, the Tony Miller's from thewellshavedgentleman.com seem to be the forum standards. If you get a shave ready razor, you should be good to go for quite a while with either a pasted strop or a 12K/barber hone/coticule.

First, welcome aboard!
Second, "ready to shave" razors on ebay are a complete crap shoot, with the emphasis on the crap. If you would like a truly ready to shave razor, then go to the Classifieds in this forum. Even there, check to make sure that the person selling the razor is a seasoned veteran of SRP, as occasionally new members sell there without having a clue what they are doing.

As far as strops go, check out Tony Miller's site, The Well Shaved Gentleman. He makes great stuff, despite the entirely sexist name of his business.

Personally, I would hold off on hones entirely until you decide that you want to stick with this. You need a strop right away but you don't need a hone for a while. If you don't want to buy a strop, there are cheap alternatives, such as newspaper, that can be used.

In an attempt to encourage the presence of more "new girls" here, I will make you an offer. If you pay for shipping, I will send you a razor to try for free for a month. At that time, you will send it back to me and I will re-hone it and offer it to another "new girl." If you are interested, PM me and we will pick a razor.

Greetings Lime!

Welcome to SRP and the world of Straight Shaving. As Utopian said you don't really need a hone for now and it doesn't cost much to send your razor off to be rehoned by a professional.

When looking for a razor there is also http://www.theinvisibleedge.co.uk/ based in the UK. Steve is an awesome guy, very reliable and his razors come shave ready, I'll be sending mine to him to be rehoned very soon. Steve does a full international delivery, not sure where in the world you live which is why I mentioned the international delivery. But the classifieds here are also a guaranteed sure bet.

I've asked for you to have access to the Ladies Only section, so give it a few days and you should be able to access the forum. As it was only set up this week there isn't a lot on there at the moment, but it was created so Ladies who wanted to ask specific questions without getting embarrassed about the Gents overlooking can do so in privacy.

Lilith, Pearl, Viola and myself have all done posts in regards to leg shaving (with pictures), so have a look at those to see how to or not to do it. There is some really good advice given out by the Gents who are more than willing to support us "strange ducks" who like the straight razors.

As for razors themselves, I have a 4/8 Bauer which is my main razor at the moment. I do also have a 5/8 Solingen which needs to be honed before I can use it but it does feel heavier in the hands. It is a personal choice when it comes to the size and weight of razor you prefer.

Ron, that is a wonderful offer you have made. Thank you on behalf of the new Lady members yet to join us on this road.

Limebutterfly,

First, welcome! This can be a very fun journey. If you haven't done so already, please read the sticky for the ladies forum so that you will know how to report posts and the general rules that are here to help make this an enjoyable forum for our lady members.

Second, Utopian has made a very generous offer to you. As a moderator, I will give him my full endorsement as a standup Gentleman who knows how to hone a razor to the proper degree required for shaving.


I hope you enjoy your journey to Shave-vana!

Have Fun!


-Rob

Welcome to SRP! Stick with Silver and the girls and they will take good care of you!

Thanks everyone for your warm welcomes!

I found these campy but informative how-to videos on YouTube, here's one on lathering:
YouTube - Introduction to Traditional Wetshaving, Part 2: Lathering