Greetings from Québec!

Greetings and thank you all for building this database of invaluable information on the subject of straight razor shaving. It is the most helpful ressource I've found to date in all my searching of the Internet.

Now even though I've learned a great deal on the topic by reading through the beginners articles, I still have many questions, which I hope you may answer. I shall begin with the following two.

I must apologize for the first one, as I am sure you have read it many times before, and this may not be the best place on the forums to post it, but I feel I must ask anyway. I have not yet started to shave using a straight razor, because I haven't bought one yet. I wish to buy a straight razor that will last many lifetimes, so that I can give it to my son, and he to his son, etc. On that matter, I've read that damascus steel is the best metal for that particular need. I wish to know if it is true, and if so, where I can buy that kind of razor. I would also like to know how to properly care for such a razor, etc. Feel free to point me to the appropriate section of the forums if need be.

My second question: can one shave with a straight razor while using the popular Total shaving solution instead of shaving soap/cream? I am currently using it with a mach3 Gillette razor, and it has greatly helped to reduce the regular irritation caused by shaving, although not completely.

Thank you all in advance for you help.

While a damascus blade is beautiful and strong, it may not be the razor for you. Any of these brands should last a few lifetimes. Be sure to avoid these brands.

You can use a regular shaving cream in an aerosol can, but you may find that a shaving soap or cream will produce a better, more comfortable shave.

I found going from a cartridge razor to a straight reduced skin irritation a lot. There isn't the tugging at the stubble that a cartridge produces, and a straight is more hygienic - it's virtually impossible to clean a cartridge razor because hairs and exfoliated skin clog between the blades. This can irritate sensitive skin. You may find that straight + soap irritates your skin less than cartridge + total shaving. Hope you have fun trying it!

Damascus steel is harder to hone and care for, and is more expensive. Is that what you meant?

Welcome Etienne,

Pattern welded damascus is just for looks, it doesn't have any better properties than a regular carbon steel. Poorly made one will be worse for a razor, but the high quality will be just as good. Since making them is rather labor intensive, which transfers to fairly substantial price, it would be best, even if you want one, to hold off at first until you get some experience, figure out your preferences and spend the money on the razor you really want and not on something that's sort of there. The other day there was one made by Tim Zowada for sale in the classifieds - take a look if you like to see what they look like.

But any razor in good condition will last many lifetimes if it's not abused. Once sharpened maintaining a razor sharp takes off only tiny amounts of steel, so it can be used for hundreds and thousands of years without it looking like that. The key is to not abuse the razor, i.e. let rust develop on the edge or even worse chips, because restoration from that takes hundreds of years worth of metal.

Get any razor in good condition 5/8" to 6/8" in width with shave ready edge on it and learn how to shave with it. Once you're on your way to this type of shaving you'll start understanding a lot of what may make little sense in the posts that you read.

Have fun