Thread: Beginner Razor?

As a beginner, I am unfamiliar with straight razors. I have been doing some research and trying to decipher the jargon surrounding all of it, but its mind boggling. I am looking for a decent razor in the $150 range as well as the accompanying necessities.

For starts:

• Where to purchase - eBay, "The Art of Shaving", etc.?
• What width do I go with?
• Is buying used a bad thing?
• What point style or is that simply aesthetic?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

If you are going to buy used, buy from the classifieds here or at Badger and Blade or The Shave Nook. NOT Ebay. That would be a dangerous proposition for someone new to straights. If you are buying new, there are a number of vendors who will sell you a new razor properly honed and ready to shave. Straight Razor Designs is a site that is owned by some of the mods here and they have a good reputation. There is also West Coast Shaving or Fendrihans if you are in Canada. There are a number of others but these ones spring to mind.

well my opinion is to start very medium. 5/8 or 6/8 round point in a half hollow or full hollow. I know that isn't specific. Look at the vendors that are here on the site. Most of the vendors that are here sell their razors shave ready. Many of the new straights are not shave ready right out of the box. There is also the classifieds section, most of which again are shave ready. As soon as you establish you are sticking to it a second razor is a good plan. You also need a strop, a good brush and some good soap. There are a lot of options and many people find themselves experimenting try to find the effect combination, so try not to paint yourself into a corner. I bought several tubs of the first decent soap I came across, and still have a lot of it. Try to go slow, if you can achieve it it will be rewarding. It takes quite a while to develop the technique to be good at shaving. Best of luck and welcome!

There is nothing wrong with buying used, as long as it is shave ready, and from a reputable source.
Round points are generally recommended for people just starting out, though many have started with a square point. Square points are less forgiving, but are better for working around goatees etc.

So as said 5/8 or 6/8 round point is the general recommendation for a starting point. Some suppliers like SRD have good quality starter kits with options to upgraded items. This way you know the razor is quality and shave ready and you have good strop, soap and brush to go with it. New razors start around 100. Vintage razors are good but then you still need to find the rest of your products. Good luck in your hunting. Ed

I have a 5/8 Ralf Aust I got from SRD that I love. It would be a great first razor and is only 100 bucks.

Every thing you've read here is good sound advise. when you do start don't get in a hurry. get on the internet and watch the videos on shaving with a straight. Lynn Abrams has a good one that helped me and welcome to the addiction

Honestly, if I could turn back time, I'd go with a whipped dog razor for my first. The one that I've got from him (my second razor) is still my favorite by far...and by far the cheapest. I think it cost me $25

Here's a bit of advice i don't think covered yet: Seek input from your local "network". Maybe you already know somebody or have a FOF that shaves SR. Nothing like a real-live-in-the-room mentor.

The sport is growing.

Also a couple other places to try if you want are classic shaving, and shave nation.