Thread: Help for a newbie....

Hello guys, well i really want to start with wet shaving, i wanted to get a straight razor, but honestly, at this moment i can't because it demmands much money, and i think it would be better if i try a safety razor, well i'm decided already , but here's my doubt comes...which one? hhaha, i know there are a million brands of razors and blades..and i've been doing my own research, and i think i'm gonna get a merkur one, i like the hefty one and the progress, but...what should i choose?, i mean with the hefty i just have one angle, and i have to improve my tecnique over that angle that i think is better for a newbie...but i want your opinions 'bout that...and what about the blades?, i've heard that you shouldn't choose a feather as a begginer's blade you know because of the "extreme sharp", other people says that the derby would be the perfect one because of the balance between sharpness and smoothness...so i'm a little confused, would someone say which could be the best begginer set?thanks a lot for reading this...greetings from mexico

Hi,

Any of the Merkur Classics would be a fine starter razor; the 1904 3-peice is very well priced and shaves well; the Muhle razors are also very nice.
If you are looking for a traditional DE razor, then the Gillette SuperSpeeds would be a nice razor to start with.
As for blades, you really will have to get a blade sampler pack. The choice of blades is very personal. You may find you hate one blade, while somebody else loves it. The only way to find the rright blade for you is to try a sampler pack.

Best of luck !

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

Originally Posted by kiokoidrillow

Hello guys, well i really want to start with wet shaving, i wanted to get a straight razor, but honestly, at this moment i can't because it demmands much money, and i think it would be better if i try a safety razor, well i'm decided already , but here's my doubt comes...which one? hhaha, i know there are a million brands of razors and blades..and i've been doing my own research, and i think i'm gonna get a merkur one, i like the hefty one and the progress, but...what should i choose?, i mean with the hefty i just have one angle, and i have to improve my tecnique over that angle that i think is better for a newbie...but i want your opinions 'bout that...and what about the blades?, i've heard that you shouldn't choose a feather as a begginer's blade you know because of the "extreme sharp", other people says that the derby would be the perfect one because of the balance between sharpness and smoothness...so i'm a little confused, would someone say which could be the best begginer set?thanks a lot for reading this...greetings from mexico

kiokoidrillow,

Good for you...I converted from multi-blade to DE last fall, then transitioned rather quickly to str8 razor shaving.

I have both the Merkur HD and the Futur. I prefer the HD. In fact, I've never used the Futur in my possession. The Merkur HD gives me shaves that are close, comfortable and superior to the multi-blade razor I was using previously. And the HD costs less than the Futur. If an adjustable safety razor is your preference, though, I would consider the Merkur Progress before the Futur anyway.

As for blades...I use Merkur, Wilkinson and Personna. All of them give me great shaves. Although I have a pack of Feathers I haven't used them yet. Blades are a very personal choice for a wet shaver. Don't go by what you have heard or read. Every man's face is different. I recommend that you purchase a sampler pack of DE safety razor blades from an online merchant, such as West Coast Shaving or derazorblades and try several brands out before settling on any one blade as your preferred blade.

Hello, Kiokoidirillow:

Welcome to SRP. Look around the site for just about any information you need on the traditional shaving world.

Although I shave with a straight razor, I still keep my double edge handy in case I am in a rush. I also keep a little Merkur travel double edge in my dopp kit for emergencies.

The double edges I have used include: Merkur 38C (barber pole) and Merkur 34C. These are both popular with DE shavers, and good. My favorite double edge has been the Edwin Jagger 89L. This razor is fabulous in every way. Although I no longer have my EJ 89L, I do have its rich cousin, the EJ "Chatsworth" Series "barley," and love it.

My blades these days are the Feather and the Gillette 7 O'Clock (yellow packs).

The Derby is a good choice for you, although eventually I suggest moving toward the Feather.

Either way, keep your pressure light, and try not to go over the same area excessively. Keep in mind gradual beard reduction rather than getting rid of the whole thing in one sweep.

Good luck to you. If you have any more questions, please post them and you'll receive your answer from SRP members in a snap.

Regards,

Obie

I just want to second the opinion of the Merkur 34C. I have one of these and its a great little razor. I use mine with Gillette blades.

As Obie says, keep your pressure light to avoid irritation. Also, map your beard growth to get the best possible shave. To do this, run your finger over your stubble and see which way it is growing, then pull your skin the other way to make the hairs stand up. This will result in a closer shave.

It may take you a couple of shaves to get the best angle, direction and pressure but you will get there and you will get the best shave you ever had when you do..!

If you can, get a brush and a good quality soap such as Tabac or a Trumpers soap, as this will really help your shave.

You dont have to spend a lot on the brush, synthetic brushes can be had for a few dollars at most chemists or department stores. Amazon also sells badger hair brushes for a very good price as well.

Dont be afraid to spend the money on the soap though. A puck of shaving soap can easily last six months and the quality of the soap and lather will really add to the whole experience!

Good luck!

Welcome.

You will get lots of recommendations on safety razors here and everyone has their favourites.

My recommendation is the Merkur HD 34c. I think you will be hard pressed to find anyone who HATES tis razor. I would also recommend getting a blade sample pack as your impression from one blade to the next will be very different than ours.

My quick (and personally biased) review on blades:

Personna Red - Excellent
Feather - Very Sharp. Great shavers I tend to get weepers though.
Derby- Nice forgiving Blade.
Merkur- Rough, liked them before i tried others.

MY CURRENT PERSONAL FAVOURITES - Astra - Very nice cutter and long lasting.

Good Luck!

If your in spain (Oaxaca?) I dont know what shipping is like on places like amazon etc.

Imo, one of the bast razors on the market right now is the new Edwin Jagger DE89L, its superb, not too aggressive but very nice!

amazon has the tweezerman badger brush for around $10 which is probably the best performace/cost brush on the market!

Add some proraso for another tenner and your set.

Derby is a good blade that is easily accessable, very easy to find blade that is a good baseline blade.

Hey, i'm glad you have answered to my questions? i did a little research of the Edwin Jagger razors and they seem to be the best option, amazon sells it but i think the guy who sells this one don't sell to other countries and Oaxaca is Mexico no Spain...so i'm afraid that is not the option(sadly), i do not understad the way amazon sells, i mean you can pick different products from different sellers and they send you the whole package or what?how i wish i could get all the stuff by the same store to not pay so many ships, you know i'm a newbie, with a little budget trying to get something good for a fair price and times are hard ...anyway i have to thanks all of you guys, you've been so kind..and yeah thanks.

Originally Posted by kiokoidrillow

which one? haha, i know there are a million brands of razors and blades..and i've been doing my own research, and i think i'm gonna get a merkur one, i like the hefty one and the progress, but...what should i choose? mexico

I have to say the progress is my least favorite razor in my collection. No matter what blade i use it feels like I'm dragging a rusty old lawn mower blade across my face. I have used other merkurs and aside from the vision andfutur i was never impressed with my having experience.

Originally Posted by kiokoidrillow

i mean with the hefty i just have one angle, and i have to improve my technique over that angle that i think is better for a newbie...but i want your opinions 'bout that...and what about the blades?, i've heard that you shouldn't choose a feather as a begginer's blade you know because of the "extreme sharp", other people says that the derby would be the perfect one because of the balance between sharpness and smoothness...

There is some play in how you us a razor and at what angle. Not all razors are the same. I have my favorites but they may differ from others. As for blades i would start with a sampler pack. I Started with a sampler pack but i quickly settle on Derby blades like many others. I also found a great deal for 1000 Derbys for $75 off of eBay.

Originally Posted by kiokoidrillow

so i'm a little confused, would someone say which could be the best begginer set?thanks a lot for reading this...greetings from

I'm going to say the best razor even for a beginner is the futur. You can get one for $55 off off Truefitt & Hill with a coupon code (it's not hard to find just do a Google search) At $55 this is a geat beginers razor. it has a nice feel and is adjustable. Start at a low level like 1-3 then slowly dial it forward as you get more comfortable with it. As for the vision, i always get a great shave but i have already had to repair it once. Never had that problem with my Futur.

If you want a great razor that is super forgiving try a Goodfella.