Thread: First Straight Razor for Beginner

My personal opinion is that if you have a course beard is to not start with a full hollow blade like a Bismark.
The size and shape are great.
Start with a quarter hollow, round point and 5/8 to 6/8.

I started out with a Bismark and hated the shave, then I bought a quarter hollow and it shaves me smooth in two passes. The Bismark takes me more passes 4-5. To get the same results as a quarter.
Check out the Classifieds up at the top and buy a cheaper blade. You'll spend less just incase the type of blade doesn't suite your beard or shaving style.
Spend the rest on a great soap and strop. Just my two cents, that now costs more to make than it's worth.

Originally Posted by Scareface

My personal opinion is that if you have a course beard is to not start with a full hollow blade like a Bismark.
The size and shape are great.
Start with a quarter hollow, round point and 5/8 to 6/8.

I started out with a Bismark and hated the shave, then I bought a quarter hollow and it shaves me smooth in two passes. The Bismark takes me more passes 4-5. To get the same results as a quarter.
Check out the Classifieds up at the top and buy a cheaper blade. You'll spend less just incase the type of blade doesn't suite your beard or shaving style.
Spend the rest on a great soap and strop. Just my two cents, that now costs more to make than it's worth.

My facial hair isn't particularly too coarse, it's more like egh mediocre I guess.
Personally I don't see how it will make to large of a difference when I start due to the fact that it will be my first time shaving with a manual.

I found a half hollow - The DOVO 6/8 Bismarck Straight Razor, Pearlex Scales


Though I kind of liked the Dovo Bismark more because of its looks

You certainly picked the right business to deal with, Straight Razor Designs razors do come "shave ready" which is the most important thing when you start. Size and grind are a bit more of a personal choice, but I think that is a nice looking razor. You might want to look at the Ralf Aust razors as well, they are another with good reviews here.

I would suggest one of Dovos less expensive 5/8 or 6/8 round point to start with. I have found out over time that the angle of the blade plus the sharpness makes the difference in good or bad shaves and the only difference the grind makes is that the 1/4 to 1/2 hollow doesn't give that much feed back. Starting out it's hard to get the right angle of blade to face. if the angle is right then the shave is easy. After you get experience in shaving with the straight you'll probably add to your collection of razors of all sizes and grinds. I now have from a 8/8 wedge to a 5/8 extra hollow and get a good shave from them all. It's all about the angle and sharpness. also the 5/8 dovo is less expensive to start with and gives more money for strop and other things you'll need. Soap brush things like this. Anyway that's just my opinion and we all have one of those. I would also suggest to watch all the shaving with straight razor videos you can and pay close attention to the angle they use. very informative. Oh and welcome to straights.

+1 on an Aust if you are buying a new razor.

In the long run looks can be deceiving. The shave you get from a razor should be the prime consideration. Depending on your beard some grinds are better than others. The heavier grinds like a wedge, near wedge and 1/4 hollow are great for coarser growths. The stiffness of the blade cuts better. That's not to say that those grinds can't be used for other beard types. I have a medium to light beard, depending on place on my face and have an arsenal of razors in all the grinds and based on how I use each one get a consistently damn fine shave (stopped worrying about a BBS since I avoid all those special events that you'd want a BBS for.)

eBay is full of razors that 'looked good' but didn't do the job the owner wanted. Try to find other SRP members near you that are willing to let you try different grind razors so you can zero in on what really works for you. Go to Local Help link - left side of welcome page - and see if you can find a fellow shaver near you willing to share. Also look in the membership lists thru Advanced Search for your locale and nearby locales.

Its a great razor but that's a lot of money for a beginner. They have a 6/8 best quality dovo for $108. That would be my choice to make sure I am going to stick with it. Another choice would Ralf Aust.

For a first straight, there are better razors to choose IMO.

I have a Dovo Bismarck, and it is not what I would consider a great razor, personally, it has just never really delivered great shaves...YMMV.

If the shape of the razor is what your wanting I saw one on the bay similar to that same blade design different scales and the eBay no. is 161637187058 . For some one beginning I would not advise this razor but you can look at it on the bay and get a idea. YOu would have to send it off to get it honed.

Spend your money they way you want.
You'll continue to spend until you find what your looking for.
If you've never shaven with a straight you'll eventually find out what you don't know when you spend more money looking for nirvana.

That's the way I started that's why I have a Bismark that I've shaven twice with in the last year. And now eleven other blades that look pretty and shave me like crap. But I keep them because I find them to be good looking.