Thread: First post and a few questions

Hello! My name is Christina, and I am facinated by straight razors. I have looked at several of them for sale in the classifieds here on this site, as well as the DE selection. Hopefully soon I will pick one up and try it out!

What is the recomended size and blade shape for a straight razor? What about DE's? Prefered handle length/razor size?

Thank you

Hi Christina and welcome to the forum.

P.S. Sorry, I don't know much about the DE's. I think they're pretty standard in size and made by Mekur, or something like that....

Christina:
Before all us Guys flood you with info about our straight razors you might also want to introduce yourself in the ladies forum also...
The gals on the forum might have even better suggestions for you....

Besides that welcome aboard, great to see another straight razor aficionado here....

if you don't want to drop the cash for a new DE razor, you can pick up a used one pretty cheap. while the razor is important blade sellection is much more important. all razor blades shave different and it takes a bit to find the right one. to make matters more complicated, not all blades perform well in all razors. like anything it's a bit of trial and error to find the best combo for you. but even a poor DE shave s better than the best disposable one...

btw, years ago Gillette marketed a modle they called a Lady Gillette with a longer handle. it's a good mild shaver and easy to use.

Welcome Christina! I think Glen gave you the best advice, ya better talk to the girls.

Hi Christina, welcome to SRP !. +1 on Glen's suggestion to check the ladies forum for good info. If I was going to advise a female on a DE it would be a vintage Gillette Super Speed. Probably with Derby blades, or maybe Israeli Personna. A mild razor with forgiving blades. Since I've yet to shave my legs I don't know that my suggestion is the best but it is my supposition that you would want a mild razor.

In case you haven't seen it there is a good read with links here and helpful videos here

Howdy,

Welcome and I concur on the ladies forum. On the DE, I have heard that the long handle is liked by the ladies and as far as the razor, my recommendation would be a 4/8 blade although a 5/8 would work. Now let's see what our ladies say......

Have fun,

Lynn

Greetings Christina!

Welcome to SRP and the wonderful world of wet shaving. I haven't used a DE before so I can't help you there. But I am a Straight user with 2 blades to my name.

My first and favourite is a 4/8 Bauer Pippin hollow grind, which is nice and light and easily manouverable. My second which I have used once so far is a 5/8 Solingen (can't remember the grind of this on off the top of my head), it is a little heavier and chunkier than the Bauer but still easy to use.

I think it was Lilith who did a comparison post between her razors, if you search the Ladies forum, you should find it on page 2 (I think). I'm pretty sure there is a comparison on points in there too (Round v Square v Spanish).

Whichever way you decide to go, you are on a great path and will get a lot of help and support along the way. The Classifieds here are a fabulous resource and a lot of sellers are also active members here.

Good luck!

Welcome Christina

I have a couple of DE's that I started out with, A Gilette Superspeed and a Fat Boy. I do have the ladies model with the longer handle also but I never use it. I like the shorter handles myself.

As to straight razors it is a matter of preference. I have 3 razors, 2 round points and a Spanish point. I am not real comfortable with using a square point at this time. All 3 razors ar 5/8. @ are 3/4 hollow and one is 1/4 hollow.

(FYI the more "hollow" a blade the more flexible they are, not that they flex much, but I find the 3/4 hollow round points work the best for me.).

I guess in the end I would reccomend at 4/8 or 5/8 round point for you to start off with if you are looking to go with a straight.

Please let us know if you have any questions/concerns that we can help you with.

Carrie.