Thread: How much am i lookin at to get started

I was wondering what are some good razors to start shaving. I really want to start useing a straight razor but im afraid it out of my price rang for now.and how much should i plan on getting started

Originally Posted by jkshave

I was wondering what are some good razors to start shaving. I really want to start useing a straight razor but im afraid it out of my price rang for now.and how much should i plan on getting started

What's your budget? At a minimum, we're talking razor, brush, strop, and soap. Give us a dollar figure to work with.

I have soap i have brush but i dont have a strope or straight razor and ill have $50 im a month i have five kids so on a budget.

Are you state side?
If so whipped dog (Larry) can get you into a blade and poor mans strop for around that.
The sight unseen may not be the prettiest but I have yet to hear of an un serviceable razor coming from him.

+1 on Whipped Dog, very reasonably priced. You will also eventually need a way to refresh your edge with a barber hone or a CrOx pasted paddle

Originally Posted by pfries

Are you state side?
If so whipped dog (Larry) can get you into a blade and poor mans strop for around that.
The sight unseen may not be the prettiest but I have yet to hear of an un serviceable razor coming from him.

Originally Posted by jkshave

I have soap i have brush but i dont have a strope or straight razor and ill have $50 im a month i have five kids so on a budget.

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Think of all the money you will save by not buying Gilette Trac5s once a month.

this was my set up, the razor is good, cheap but good. I went a little over board with the oil (could just use mineral oil) the applicator (again can use a cotton ball soaked in mineral oil) I got a 3 inch strop with wool back and chrome powder. I also got a 12k stone and flatter, but I wanted to be completely self sufficient when I went into this.

you need a good razor, a 2 inch strop will work, you don't need 3 inches or a cloth one, you don't need the polishing powder or stone.

bare minimum you would need a brush, soap, strop and razor. (some oil to keep from rusting) the razor I got was a best quality, its basically the economical option, nothing fancy about it, no gold or wood scales just a good blade. I got mine from SRD so it came shave ready, but I got it as a set with strop. you could get a set from there but whipped dog has a supper cheap one. but don't remember if they sharpen their razors or not.

Hi,

Im new to this as well. After some great advice from other members here, I ordered a starter setup - I got a sight-unseen razor from Larry at whipped dog, plus poor mans strop x 2, and a silvertip badger brush. The razor was $42, strop pretty cheap and $34 for the brush.
It hasn't arrived yet but Im sure it will be a good starting point as these guys seem to know what they're talking about. I thought a cheaper razor to start, and a cheap strop would allow me to practice shaving, stropping etc, and once I know I wont ruin a blade or cut up the strop I can move on to a better gear.

Straight Razor Designs also has a good name and higher-end gear from my understanding but you will pay more of course. Im close to buying my better razor from there, plus a better strop (longer and wider than a cheapie). Its a shame the $UAD to $US conversion is so bad at the moment, or I would have already placed my order.

I can certainly understand working to a budget... I don't have heaps of cash either and plenty of other things I could happily spend my money on, but Im justifying the initial expense as I wont have to buy disposable cartridges for the next 40 years, plus you can always resell your gear if you don't like it or need cash desperately, if the gear is at least half decent.

Im no expert, but I feel that my purchase of the sight-unseen razor and poor mans strop from Larry may be the cheapest way into straight shaving yet still get a decent result, and a great place to start. I feel the advice on this site is trustworthy, and its this advice which led me to my initial purchase.

Ruprazor has a great starter strop. Acutaly no reason to upgrade from that. I believe it under $20. Find a cheap antique razor on the class. Just make sure its honed. Price is not a factor of quality of shave. If you have antique stores around check them out. If you go the antique route pm me and i will give you a few tips on what not to buy.

Originally Posted by nicknbleeding

Ruprazor has a great starter strop. Acutaly no reason to upgrade from that. I believe it under $20. Find a cheap antique razor on the class. Just make sure its honed. Price is not a factor of quality of shave. If you have antique stores around check them out. If you go the antique route pm me and i will give you a few tips on what not to buy.

Thanks ill start lookin there