Thread: Hello from Portland, OR

Like many of you I am dissatisfied with electric razors and cartridge razors. As a result, I am thinking of trying a straight razor (could be interesting after shaving for 40+ years). To give things a try, I'm thinking of getting one of whippeddogs sight-unseen setups with a razor and the strop setup.

I'll let everyone know which way I head.

Ed

Your post caught my eye because my son lives in Portland.

I will be the first to admit that a really nice pre-shave (actually a drying of the whiskers to make them brittle) before a Braun or Remington electric can produce a fast and fairly close shave. But it is boring, expensive and with some shavers very noisy. Wet shaving is by far more interesting, fun, creative, definitely the closest, and with a SR or DE, over time can be less expensive. Welcome to the retro-nostalgia that is wet shaving. This hobby is a journey, not a destination. Take your time and be patient.

However, I would recommend getting your face wet, pun intended, before jumping straight to the straight. An inexpensive DE can give the wet-shaving 101 pre-shave, brush, cream, soaping, post-shave skills that you will need for a great SR shave. When you are good with a DE then you have these options for moving to the SR.

1) Dovo Shavette with replacement blades is inexpensive and removes the "do I have a shave ready blade problem".

2) Step up to a Feather with replacement blades if you have the coin. No one argues that the Feather is not shave ready.

3) Get a straight from a reputable vendor that is PROFESSIONALLY honed. This will save you the disappointment and learning curve related to honing. Remember you will need a leather paddle or hanging strop to keep that edge shave ready.

Steps one and two remove a huge variable. The other benefit is that you will learn what a shave ready blade feels like when you , if you elect, begin your own honing. That being the quality of the edge while you are learning to shave with a straight. If you jump from an electric to a straight and do your own honing then prepare for a long learning curve. Either way the reward is worth it. Choi.

Welcome Ed!

I think your idea to get a setup from whippeddogs would be a great start. I am sure he will set you up with a round point for a starter. I lived in Portland in the early '80s and worked for TriMet on the construction of Banfield Light Rail Project and it is a beautiful city.

I'd stick with your plan -- Whipped Dog razor and Poor Man's strop kit. They'll cost you less than a Feather with replaceable blades, I think.

If you've read the "beginner's Wiki", and you have a brush and soap, you should be OK.

. . Charles

hello and welcome