Thread: New member, looking forward to straight razor shaving

Hey all, I've been lurking on SRP for the last week and finally decided to make the first step and sign up.

I've been shaving with a 1956 Red Tip Gilette Super Speed DE and a cheapo boar brush for that last 2.5 years and love it! I have no more irritation and get impossibly smooth shaves.

Back story on how I got started:
I've always thought straight blade shaving would be cool and seeing Sweeny Todd in 2007 reinvigorated my interest. Inspired, I read Badger & Blade forums and mantic59's wetshaving blog and decided to keep an eye out for a DE razor.

In the summer of 2008, I was visiting my girlfriend who lives in a small town in the middle of nowhere. On the edge of her parents' land is an old house abandoned in the 70s that they haven't bothered to raise yet. We went to that creepy place one night. Over the last 40 years, the house has been trashed by time and generations of kids and animals. Windows and doors are broken, the basement is flooded, floors are covered with a foot of ransacked household debris. The house smells musty and rotten, and dust is caked onto every surface.

Strangely, the former owners seem to have just disappeared one day; they didn't take anything. Closets still had toys and clothes, the kitchen had dishes, the open fridge even had food remains.

Though anything of any theoretical value was long since gone, upstairs, I was strangely compelled to rummage through drawers in the bathroom. That's where I found...a 1956 Red Tip Gilette Super Speed and an early 70s Lady Gilette Super Speed! They were still holding rusty blades and lying next to a brush still filled with soap. I was super excited as I dumped the blades and grabbed the razors.

The razors are now in pretty decent condition after spending forever scrubbing, disinfecting, and de-rusting them when I got home. I picked up blades, a brush, and a soap puck at Walmart, and the rest is history.



I'm really excited to learn about straight razor shaving, but I must admit that I'm a bit overwhelmed by all the information that's out there. I'm trying to keep in mind that a lot of what's on the forum is about prepping/getting the PERFECT shave and that my initial focus should just be to get out there and do it. From there, I can work on all the nit picky details.

I'm still scared for buying my first straight razor, afraid that I'll pick the wrong one or spend too much. But after reading the beginniners guide about 10 more times, perhaps then I'll take the plunge.


I'm looking forward to talking with you guys more.

Jonathan

Welcome to SRP! Good to hear you're looking to take the plunge into our world. Lots of useful info here and great people. Read up and ask questions and you'll do just fine.

Welcome! Interesting story.

Originally Posted by jricesterenator

I'm really excited to learn about straight razor shaving, but I must admit that I'm a bit overwhelmed by all the information that's out there. I'm trying to keep in mind that a lot of what's on the forum is about prepping/getting the PERFECT shave and that my initial focus should just be to get out there and do it. From there, I can work on all the nit picky details.

I'm still scared for buying my first straight razor, afraid that I'll pick the wrong one or spend too much. But after reading the beginniners guide about 10 more times, perhaps then I'll take the plunge.

I'll tell you what, you should be a lot less scared now that you have found the best straight razor community there is.

Take your time to read the wiki. Understand what makes a good razor purchase and a bad razor purchase before you even start shopping. Most important of all, ask questions (we love answering them )

Here is the most basic of the basics.

Understand that you need to start with a shave ready razor (from a reputable source, if you doubt, start a thread and ask).

Understand that getting a good shave with a straight doesn't just come from a sharp razor, but good technique as well. Therefore, no matter what the beginner will always have sub standard shaves because (even if they have memorized the wiki) they haven't yet developed the coordination and muscle memory to execute the good technique.

If you understand the above, you will be fine. Sure the first few shaves may be harsh, but if you focus on your technique you will quickly start getting good, and later perfect, shaves. I'm talking shaves so close you didn't even think it was possible. And even more satisfying, that the amazing shave has come from your skill in wielding the straight, not simply because it was sharpened by the best.

Welcoem to srp i hope that you enjoy it here. Greatest internet site (as far as friendleness) that you will ever come across. Please feel free to PM me if you ahve any questions about the site.

Thanks for the warm welcomes!

Originally Posted by markevens

Understand that you need to start with a shave ready razor (from a reputable source, if you doubt, start a thread and ask).

Understand that getting a good shave with a straight doesn't just come from a sharp razor, but good technique as well. Therefore, no matter what the beginner will always have sub standard shaves because (even if they have memorized the wiki) they haven't yet developed the coordination and muscle memory to execute the good technique.

Yup.

Originally Posted by markevens

And even more satisfying, that the amazing shave has come from your skill in wielding the straight, not simply because it was sharpened by the best.

That's a big part of why I'm interested. I love developing my skills to be able to do awesome things and not always taking the easy way out. It's why I have a lot of the strange hobbies that I do.

Welcome to Straight Razor Place!

Welcome to srp

Google Whipped Dog and Holli4pirating for a couple of people who have tailored their business toward the n00bs among us. I purchased my razor from Larry Andro (member here, runs Whipped Dog), and he was extremely helpful, knowledgeable and proficient with honing an edge. Many other members and vendors are here to whom the same applies. If you don't mind purchasing old, vintage equipment, that's the way to go.

However, if you must have brand new stuff, there's always the founder's site: Straight Razor Designs. Lynn is a legendary honemeister, and SRD sells top notch new equipment. Any and all of these options can give you a good, quality razor with a gnarly edge on it. And any of the members hereabouts is interested in helping you find that zen that will help you get that baby-butt smooth shave we're all hunting.

Welcome to the site. You won't be sorry you came.

EDIT: Meant to add another reason for choosing Larry at WhippedDog.com: if you don't like the razor he sends you, you can send it back to trade, pay the cost of honing, and he'll ship you another razor from his lineup. When you consider that the razors only cost you ~$30 and honing is $12-15 (can't remember exactly), that's actually not bad. It's also not bad because you can get a legendary vintage that's just not as pretty as it could be, but has all the function that it needs to wipe the whiskers off your mug.

If you wind up falling in love with whatever razor you ultimately choose, but it's just too ugly for you, you can also send it back for a complete overhaul (I think he calls it "Nerdman?") which means new scales and a metal refinish, and is about $20-25. Still not bad, when you consider the price of a brand-new Dovo is in the $80's for the most basic model!

Just my $.02

Welcome to SRP, I hope you enjoy the world of real shaving.