If you could start all over again . . .
Gentlemen:
If I were to start all over again, I would pay more attention to my needs rather than impulses to buy razors, brushes and shave products.
To many of us, the straight razor breaks the cuff and chain of fast and easy conveniences modern society forces upon us: Is a plastic safety razor that vibrates and boasts five blades really necessary? Does it make sense? Is it even good for us?
The straight razor, therefore, gives those of us who carve our own path in life a new sense of freedom that, understandably, comes with waves of impulses to buy everything we can get our hands on. In addition, for me, I had wanted to shave with the straight razor since my twenties, but life got in the way.
I started with the Dovo best quality and the Dovo "perlex." That I would not change. I think I made the right choices there. Eventually I ended up with 15 beautiful razors (some gentlemen have far more than I do) even though I think I should have kept to my promise of owning only seven, one for each day of the week, plus one for travel.
In addition to those two in my current lineup, I should have settled on the Filarmonica 13, Le Grelot 1/4 hollow (on a trade), Thiers-Issard "Dos Festonne" with bone scales, Wacker 6/8" 1st Sheffield steel, and Thiers-Issard 5/8" with kingwood scales (one of my best shavers).
With one exception, a 4/8" George Wostenholm hollow point, for travel, I especially should have avoided razors from flea markets and antique shops. I have five restored razors I don't particularly like and never use, and one Heljestrand, in perfect condition, I can't stand.
I went so far as stocking up on a small sampling of restoration equipment. With my busy schedule, however, I doubt I will use them that much, although when I dig into my stash of about 20 flea market razors in a box, I might find something I would want to work on just for my own enjoyment.
I bought a set of Norton 4000 and 8000, which I am glad I did, as I am learning to hone. Also last week, a barber friend gave me four barber hones of various size in pretty good shape. I am happy with these acquisitions and would change nothing.
I have 12 badger brushes and 3 boar. I should have settled on a Thater silver tip (to which Robin introduced me) and one of my sweet Edwin Jaggers.
For soaps, I should have settled on Provence Sante Verlaine, L'Occitaine and Truefitt & Hill instead of a dozen variety. On creams, Castle Forbes would have been fine for now, instead of the half a dozen that I use. As a rule, I prefer soaps to creams — because, to me, they represent tradition more.
So yes, I would have done many things differently.
Regards,
Obie