Thread: Recommendations for Newbie

Greetings to you guys,

I just bought my first [cheap] straight razor (by virtue of my beard being too powerful for gilette et al.) and I'm finding that it basically sucks. The edge is worthless and when I do get it to a reasonable sharpness it doesn't last a full shave and I end up with clumps of hair left as well as it feeling like someone is trying to pull my skin off my face. I think my technique is medium to good, and I can deal with a bit of hassle but this is too much. However, I would like to have another go so can anyone recommend a decent starter razor that will actually hold an edge. Problem is that I live in England, and I'm a student so I cant afford a £80 razor. Any ideas?

Thanks.

Originally Posted by max_incognito

Greetings to you guys,

I just bought my first [cheap] straight razor (by virtue of my beard being too powerful for gilette et al.) and I'm finding that it basically sucks. The edge is worthless and when I do get it to a reasonable sharpness it doesn't last a full shave and I end up with clumps of hair left as well as it feeling like someone is trying to pull my skin off my face. I think my technique is medium to good, and I can deal with a bit of hassle but this is too much. However, I would like to have another go so can anyone recommend a decent starter razor that will actually hold an edge. Problem is that I live in England, and I'm a student so I cant afford a £80 razor. Any ideas?

Thanks.

Welcome to nu-be-dom .... the pledge song is, "My Razor's Not Sharp Enough"

If you have a photo or an URL that shows which razor you bought, it could eliminate a WHOLE lot of possibilities. You see, there are VERY cheap razors on the world market that originate in Pakistan and are marketed as useable straight razors. In reality, the steel used is inappropriate for use in shaving. They are impossible to make shaving keen, ever! They go under a variety of brands, and are rebranded often.

Generally, a vintage razor of superior quality can be had for a few pounds. Getting it shaving keen is the next step. The recommendation in this forum is to either buy a vintage razor from one of the forum members who restore them, or alternatively have a veteran forum member make your store-bought new razor keen BEFORE you use it. This way you begin to enjoy the benefits of straight razor shaving immediately, as you deal with the frustration of how to make a razor keen separately with ANOTHER cheap vintage razor. Once a razor is keen, it only requires a careful stropping before each use to stay that way indefinitely.

As a quick offer, if you put 20GBP (whatever that converts to in USD) in my PayPal account ([email protected]), I will airmail you a shaving-keen vintage razor Tuesday morning I guarantee will change your life .... really!

max, David made you good offer. I suggest you take it. You will have good quality razor at fair price, and most important, it will be keen...

have fun,
Nenad.

Hey, Max, Rome wasn't built in a day. I, too, am a newbie and have/will experience the same things your experiencing. With respect to your razor, according to honemeister, Lynn, most razors that say they are "ready for use" out of the box aren't really ready for use. They have a decent edge, but not a honemeister honed edge. I had the same thing happen to me. I used my Dovo "Special" out of the box and experienced marginal shaves at first. The subsequent shaves were not what I would call quality shaves. I would also say that you really shouldn't go "cheap" if your buying a brand new razor. On the same token, I wouldn't say you have to buy top o'the line, either. Classicshaving.com has a nice range of shavers to choose from. My first cost U.S. $60, (around GBP 40) for a Dovo "Special" 5/8. Keep in mind, you'll also need a razor strop to keep your edge keen before each shave. Also, make sure your beard preparation is adequate with high quality shave cream (Trumpers, Taylors of Old Bond Street, Crabtree & Evelyn, etc. also at Classicshaving.com). Like they say, "A well prepared and well lathered beard is half of a great shave."

It will take some time to get your skin used to straight razor shaving. In addition, it will take even longer for you to develop a proper technique for your shaving method(s). Look at it as an art that takes practice to perfect. Give it some time and you'll see that once you get better at straight razor shaving your shaves will be better and more comfortable and your straight will give you a liftetime of great shaves if properly cared for. Anyway, I'm sure you'll hear from some of the more experienced throat cutters out here. It's a great site and the members here are an invaluable resource for newbies like us.

Good luck!

Jeff

Ok uthed, I paypalled ya 20GBP. I think its gone through ok. Thanks for your help and welcomes guys, you seem like a good bunch so I'll stick around and keep you up to date on how my face shredding goes!

Originally Posted by max_incognito

Ok uthed, I paypalled ya 20GBP. I think its gone through ok. Thanks for your help and welcomes guys, you seem like a good bunch so I'll stick around and keep you up to date on how my face shredding goes!

Your razor is keen, packaged, and ready to go to the post office Tuesday for air mail delivery (today is a postal holiday in the USA). You ought to have it in about a week. Ironically, it was originally made in Sheffield and I bought it from a fellow named Dan from Bedfordshire, UK .... So this will be a bit of a repatriation, as well, won't it?

David, that is a really good offer you made him.

Thanks a lot David, I look forward to a decent shave in a week (I should have quite a beard by then.). I'm very grateful for your help.

Also, I actually lived in Sheffield for a while so I've got a good feeling about this razor!

As long as the quality isn't in the same regions as Untided or Wednesday you'll be fine!

(go magpies :-s)

Hoekie

Originally Posted by max_incognito

Thanks a lot David, I look forward to a decent shave in a week (I should have quite a beard by then.). I'm very grateful for your help.

Also, I actually lived in Sheffield for a while so I've got a good feeling about this razor!

It has just been placed in the hands of the international postal systems .....