Thread: Looking to get started

Hello all

I've been interested in starting to shave with a safety razor and maybe even a straight razor eventually however I dont have any experience with it and at a bit of a loss where to start. Fortunately with Christmas (and my birthday) around the corner, my gf has committed to helping me out.

I'm looking for advise on what type of equipment we should be looking for.
I understand the basic needs are

Handle
Blades
Cream/soap
Brush

Beyond that I'm at a complete loss. I guess i'm really looking for advice for equipment/kits to buy for a beginner who is looking to try it out.

A little about myself if that helps, I'm 26 and live in Canada. I dont typically shave to often (twice a week) but hopefully with a shiny new razor it'll happen more. I would like to be able to buy supplies easily (i.e. be nice to pick up new blades/cream locally)

My gf found this site and telling me to look at stuff but like I said, I really know nothing.
Fendrihan - Classic Wet-Shaving, Leather Wallets and Straight Razors

Any help/suggestions would be useful.

First off, welcome to te forum. There are a few more places to get supplies from in Canada like Italian Barber Online Shaving Supplies and The Classic Edge Shaving Store Your Straight Razor Specialists. plus a few others too.

When you say you are looking for a safety razor I take that to mean a DE razor. I would see what models fit my budget and likes then do a search on here for feed back on those particular models. A lot of places have sample packs of different blades so you can try them out and see what suits you best. You do not have to spend huge money on soaps/creams either to get a good one. Commonly available stuff like Proraso available at Shoppers Drug Mart and The Body Shops Maca Root will do a good job. The same can be said of brushes, you don't have to spend a fortune to get a serviceable brush. A good boar brush in the $10 to $20 range once broken in will be sufficient. Again with both of those items see what models you like in your price range and search this site for feed back on them. If you have any question on something in particular just ask and somebody will be happy to answer.

Bob

Yeah, if you get up and running with a DE then all you need is a shave ready straight and strop to complete your wet shaving experience. The straight has a little bigger learning curve but you can ease into it while using the DE. Learning to strop can be a challenge but if you read the forum enough you should be able to pick it right up. Welcome and and happy shaving.

I used to hate shaving. Now I hate when I don't have the time to do it everyday.

Welcome, it looks like bob has covered it. Have you thought about whether you want a new or vintage razor?

Thanks for the advise.

To give a little more info. For budget I'm not to sure. Maybe under 100, for sure no more than 150.
I've been looking at the Merkur DE Razors. I kinda like the chrome look and the the grip on the handle seems useful. Also think a long handle would be good. Also I see other sites recommending them for beginners.

For a brush I have no clue, not even sure where to start.

Blades, a sample pack seems nice.

Soap, no clue here either.

A nice pack would be great but most of them seem either expensive or dirt cheep.

I will leave you with the D/E guys, I don't know much about them so I cant be a lot of help, with regards to soaps, even the cheap ones can be good, so it is a bit of a trial and.error thing to find a product you like. I hope you get the set up you want and enjoy the experience.
All the best,
Ed

I found most of my supplies locally when I started out at London Drugs, Shoppers, Walmart,etc. Just have to dig around. I recommend a Omega brush if you can find one as I found it way better than the Wilkinsword one I started with.

Welcome to the Forum Where a bouts in Canada are you? You've already been given some good advice about retailers here in Canada that could get you started well within your budget. The Merkur razors are fine shavers and finely crafted, something that you could hand down for generations, so you can't go wrong with them.

I don't own a Merkur DE but have heard they are nice and another one that gets mentioned a lot is the Edwin Jagger 89 series DE. When you look at reviews for the DEs you might like to keep in mind that you probably want one described as mild or not too aggressive being a beginner.

I do have an Omega boar brush and a Semogue 1350 boar brush and both do a fine job but I would lean towards the 1350.

I would go for a shave cream as opposed to a shave soap as a cream is easier to learn to lather with than a hard soap. Two that come to mind that are easily available locally are Proraso cream and Nivea cream. If you order on line Palmolive cream is also good. There are many many more but any of those should give you a good start.

If you go that route you should be in at slightly under the $100 for your DE, sample pack of blades, brush and a tube of shave cream. You will all set to learn how to make a good lather with a brush and learn to shave with a DE.

Bob

The Merkur 34c or Barber Pole model are both great DE razors. A basic blade sampler pack is a good way to start, although I personally favor Gillette Silver Blues with the Merkur razors. Buy a $12 badger hair brush from Amazon and a puck of Proraso soap, and you're all set.