Just stating out

Good day all,

New to straight razors. Actually what got me started is the barber I go to, a Rooster’s franchise, sells the Art of Shaving supplies and when added to my normal razor it made things so much better. This led to remembering the occasional straight razor shave I would get overseas while I was active duty in the Navy. So I picked a Parker SRB Straight Edge Barber Razor and Shark Stainless Blades from Amazon so I could try it without having to worry about the sharpening or whether it was a good razor as I’ve had the barbers use them to clean up the neck and ear areas. In Texas if you are a Barber vs. I think a Stylist you can use a straight razor. I have also been using the AOS supplies.

Well like probably everyone else who has tried to learn this on his own it has been a bit of a bloody ordeal. So before I ended up with a face scarred up like a horror movie extra I started to do some googling and found here. Already started to do some reading and am seeing where I am making mistakes.

Had some questions on my approach. Whether the straight razor with disposible blades is a good starting place or is it different from a true razor?

I definately have a lot to learn. Reading here just on the latter that all I was getting was soapy water not the full lather discribed in the tutorials. Also found out that the products I am using may not really be all that great. Seems that for the price AOS would be up there with the others but it seems to be the general opinion that the best stuff is actually cheaper (by a little) than AOS. Just my luck.

Jim

Welcome!

I've moved this one to the member introduction forum where it should get better coverage.

You're in the right place to get your questions answered! :) The shavettes and straights are different beasts, so you may find the best way to get started is to get a straight from the classifieds here if you're having problems with the shavette.

If you're looking for products to try, have a look in the reviews forums here on the site for some pointers. Theres loads of great stuff out there, some of it made by members here!

Make yourself at home, have a look around and ask if you have any questions!

Good luck and keep us posted!

Hello, Jim:

Welcome to Straight Razor Place.

Please don't forget your initial research, and after that you're welcome to ask all the questions you need. We're delighted to have you with us.

Regards,
Obie

frist of all wellcome. this is a great place and the members go out of there way to help you.as far as the soap or cream gos aos stuff is still head and shoulders above anything youll find in a can if made properly.heck its even better than that.everyone has his favorite soap or cream and the "best is only whats best for you. starting out with a shavette is one way to go at least youll know the blade is sharp and you can work on things like pressure and angle.sooner or latter thou, you will want a proper straight.you can get a shaveready one here from the classifieds and for the money its hard to beat. i found that you are more likely to nick yourself with a shavette than a well honed and stroped straight razor and its easyer on the skin too.when making lather add just a drop or two of water at a time untill you get the creamy stuff . at frist i didnt get enough product on my brush to start with . load that brush well .also if while shaving you have a line of soap on the edge of your razor that dosnt rince off the second water hits it your lather is too dry. go to wallmart and buy the cheapest shaveing soap you can find and make a lot of lather with it when you get that down pat move on to the better aos stuff.yes theres a lot to learn and we dont have fathers to tutor us anymore in the art of straight razor shaveing as our grandfathers did. but this site gos a long way to bridge the gap

Oops I'm doubled up with the move.

Thanks for the welcome. I am a member of a few forums so I will definately do the research so as not to ask too many of the same questions that have been asked a 1000 times before. I didn't find anything on the disposable straights but now that I know they are called shavettes it should help a lot.

I checked out the reviews and am already eyeing the Castle Forbes Lime and with a good Scottish hereitach how could you go wrong? Just for background I am a kilt wearer with a slowly building collection of formal and casual kilts.

Jim

its been said that castle forbes is the
"best suds out there" i just used some great stuff indeed