Just Starting out!!!

Hey there so i got this web site from the sales guy at Art of Shaving where i went to try and get started with straight razors! He was very helpful and answered a lot of the questions i had built up from the online research i had done! i got interested in using a straight razor from working on the musical Sweeney Todd, strange i know get interested in shaving with the thing a barber kills people with so they can make pies out of them, but alas i got a Dovo Shavette because i really know NOTHING about the honing and stropping process yet and figured stating with that could get me to learn the technique of the actual shaving process with out having to worry about the honing/stropping of a blade without knowing if it was correct or not! First shave with it was AMAZING! not gonna lie did cut myself, not to bad and not enough to not fall instantly in love with the straight razor!!! However now im wanting to buy an actual "Cut Throat" and am at a TOTAL loss at where to start! any help would on what a good starter razor is/what you guys started with would be great!!!!! Thanks and really looking forward to this new found love!!!!

Nothing wrong with starting with the Shavette. That's how I started because I wanted to concentrate on shaving first and get into stropping and honing later.

If you want a starter straight, it's probably best to head to the classifieds here at SRP. You'll need a strop as well. There's nothing wrong with staying with the Shavette for a while to "hone" your technique. You'll find the jump to straights easier because of the technique you've developed.

welcome to SRP! I'm a fellow newbie as well and I can say that this site has been a blessing getting started in the straight shaving world. I got my starter razor from the classifieds and I'm pretty happy with it. If you are patient you can find one there that won't break the bank. I'd recommend reading http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...beginners.html this thread has everything you need to know as far as equipment to buy, how to choose your first razor, etc. anyways, nice to meet you!

I'm sort of in awe of those who started out with the shavette. Before I got into straight razor shaving my friend had been using a shavette - the first few times he used it, it looked like he had been wrestling an angry cat! After seeing his face, I just went straight into it with a straight razor. He still keeps getting me to try the shavette, but I know I'd end up slicing my face to bits! Well done - if you've mastered the shavette, a straight razor will be a piece of cake, and I'm sure you will really feel a difference in the quality and enjoyment of the shave. I've only got two razors at the moment (well, with a third on the way..ssshhh) so can't really offer much advice on where to start. My first was a new, shave-ready Dovo. I went for a fairly basic model as I wasn't sure how likely I would stick it out (I went for a 5/8th hollow ground). I then picked up a fairly cheap vintage which was also shave-ready (also 5/8th hollow ground), and I love that as much as the newer Dovo. There seems to be a much wider range of razors (old and new, and for every price range) available in the US than there is here in the UK, so I'm sure you won't have too much trouble picking up a bargain, no matter what style of razor you decide on. Good luck, and happy shaving!

Welcome. Definitely check out the classifieds for vintage blades at great prices. Don't forget to check out some of our great supporters like straight razor designs. The razors actually come shave ready and with a second honing for free.
Most important is to research as much as you can here and if ever you have questions try the site search or ask.
Have a great time.

Okay so after the first couple of shaves with the Shavette i am realizing that it may not be giving me an accurate representation of shaving with an actual straight razor. I have noticed that because the safety blade that is uses is about half the size of the spine.....i.e the blade doesnt extend to what would be the the shoulder......and i feel that this is causing issues in gaining the technique that will be needed to use an actual straight razor. has any one else noticed this and is it better to just return the Shavette and make the leap or is there value in keeping it for once i have really mastered the shave?