Thread: A question on cost?

100 different answers from 100 different people! You just have to find the answer that is right for you.

I'm with JB.

If there are members near you - willing to let you try their gear - perhaps a bit of tutorial - that would be the best possible intro. 3 guys have come over, tried blades, stones. 'Didn't cost them anything, and likely keeps them from making choices they would be unhappy with in the long term. If your travels bring you near Portland, OR - give me a hollar. Last wk, a member tried over $1,000 retail in just the wacker hand made blades. He seemed to like a Henckels Friodur best. Imagine how much you could save if you knew what your preferences were before you bought.

I would buy a razor like that after I worked the bugs out of shaving and stropping and also making sure you even like shaving with a straight. I would try to borrow or buy a cheaper starter razor first IMHO.

I have to say as a I'm New to straight razor shaving, I did buy a nice razor a Thiers Issard Stainless for the weight factor at AOS and another $150 for the pre-shave after shave and strop. It's the best investment I have ever made for my personal grooming. It is for the rest of my life. My skin is awesome every time i use it, no ingrown hairs anymore and it feels great. The best thing about using a straight razor is it enjoyable spending time learning something new. Just wait until you start watching all the videos on how too: Strop, honing figuring out your grain pattern and brushes too. Another great thing is this website and it's members, they just make sure all your questions get answered!!!!

+1 on the advice to borrow a shave-ready straight to see if it's for you before taking the big $$ plunge. Or if that's not possible, take a look at the razors in the classifieds here. You can get a really great-shaving, shave-ready razor for not a lot of cash.