Thread: Getting started and Organized

Hello all,

this is my first post here, and hopefully my first step into the wonderful world of straight-shaving. for a while now i have been wanting to order supplies and immerse myself in the experience of shaving however money prevented me from doing so until i asked my parents if they would buy me supplies as my college graduation gift. Although they agreed to fund me they are not enthusiastic about spending a lot of money so after reading through all of the wiki and FAQ's i have assmebled a fairly complete list of seemingly decent beginner products which i could use to experience straight-shaving.


Still looking for suggestions for razor this has been suggested but i am looking for a cheaper one if it can be found

Strop Beginners Strop = $20

Cream = $11

soap/Brush/bowl = $11.99


this is what i look like right now after reading soo much everywhere (althought Straightrazorplace has been by far the most helpful)

the part of my lineup that currently most concerns me is the choice of SR but there are so many out there, and i have a tough time wading through all of the garbage so i am turning here for help

thanks for all you responses and help

welcome to SRP

a shavette style straight will not give you a straight experience(close but not really)

somethimes something appears here just make sure its marked as shave ready Straight Razors - Straight Razor Place Classifieds

if you need it new this is probably as cheap as it gets Professionally Sharpened Dovo Best Quality Black 5/8 - $79.99 : Straight Razor Designs, The Finest In Gentlemens Shaving And Grooming Needs

Originally Posted by RaZorN00b

Hello all,

this is my first post here, and hopefully my first step into the wonderful world of straight-shaving. for a while now i have been wanting to order supplies and immerse myself in the experience of shaving however money prevented me from doing so until i asked my parents if they would buy me supplies as my college graduation gift. Although they agreed to fund me they are not enthusiastic about spending a lot of money so after reading through all of the wiki and FAQ's i have assmebled a fairly complete list of seemingly decent beginner products which i could use to experience straight-shaving.


Possible Razor = $10.99 ***Looking for particular feedback and suggestions***

Strop Beginners Strop = $20

Cream = $11

soap/Brush/bowl = $11.99


this is what i look like right now after reading soo much everywhere (althought Straightrazorplace has been by far the most helpful)

the part of my lineup that currently most concerns me is the choice of SR but there are so many out there, and i have a tough time wading through all of the garbage so i am turning here for help

thanks for all you responses and help

Congrats.

That razor uses disposable DE-blades, you won't need a strop for it.
If you wish for a real straight, keep an eye on the classifieds and vendors, not the ebay (until you have several months of experience).

Your other set looks ok.

You probably seen the guides linked in my signature

Thanks for all the advice guys i appreciate it greatly,

are there any decent beginner straight razors for a price tag of around $30 on the internet or can these only be found in stores?

Shave ready real razor is pretty tall order for that budget, not many of them around.

Keep checking classified and the websites of members for a inexpensive beginner razors. Be ready to wait for some time and snatch them up quickly, since they sell in a jiffy.

For example,
JHP - Straight Razor Place Classifieds

I am also a newb to str8 shaving..but I researched for many months in everything i could see and understand before I dove into this hobby..anyways..a shavette is nothing compared to an actual str8 as a shavette is blade based and must always be re-supplied..the blades will be sharp and when dull need to be replaced..a str8 only needs to be stropped on a 2 sided strop if you choose to get one or a single sided strop..and sent out 2x to be honed unless you hone it yourself..thats it..I self taught myself to use DE/SE blades n handles. I read a post a few months back that on the average of 20yrs of shaving a DE/SE/Shavette will cost you $3,000 and a str8 razor being sent for honing will cost you about $400-$600 less...again..blades were invented for convenience or at least another way to look at wet shaving.

good luck
pcdad

You need to look at Dovo's from SRD this way. At $80 it may not be the cheapest out there, but the razor comes honed from Lynn; that's a $20 value. It also comes with a certificate for a free honing; that's another $20 value. So in reality, that razor is only costing you about $40. If you find a different deal somewhere else, you might save $5-$10 on the razor, but then you have to send it out to be honed since it doesn't come honed properly from the factory. That $5 savings turns into a $35 deficit over the SRD razor once you factor honing into the mix.

Your only real alternative to a Dovo is to get something from the classifieds. I was on there right as I write this and there's plenty of $50-$60 restored razors that will shave as well or better than a Dovo...not to mention that vintage pieces have a certain historical value to them as well.

Thays about right!..I got my near mint rare 7/8 Sheffield razor from sham in the classifieds for $85 and I know it would sell for more even though I know I would never sell it!..priceless is the keyword here.

pcdad

congratulations on the upcoming graduation.

i think it's always better to get the highest quality you can afford. if you'd be cutting corners better do it on the cosmetics on the razor not on the edge and get a good quality vintage razor even if it has some pitting and staining instead of a mediocre razor that's shinier.
however with it being a gift looks may be fairly important to your parents, so i'd say the cheapest dovo is the best option in that case. again you cannot overestimate the importance of a good honing, without it even the best steel is useless.

as far as strops go i'd suggest you buy a strop with a canvas component, that will extend the life of the edge further than just stropping on leather.

the soap and the brush will be fine, that's probably the cheapest option but it will work at least for a bit. these cheap brushes sometimes disintegrate after a short while, but it's a $5 loss if that happens. i think the tweezerman badger brush is better quality for around $10-$15.

Originally Posted by RaZorN00b

Hello all,

this is my first post here, and hopefully my first step into the wonderful world of straight-shaving. for a while now i have been wanting to order supplies and immerse myself in the experience of shaving however money prevented me from doing so until i asked my parents if they would buy me supplies as my college graduation gift. Although they agreed to fund me they are not enthusiastic about spending a lot of money so after reading through all of the wiki and FAQ's i have assmebled a fairly complete list of seemingly decent beginner products which i could use to experience straight-shaving.


Still looking for suggestions for razor this has been suggested but i am looking for a cheaper one if it can be found

Strop Beginners Strop = $20

Cream = $11

soap/Brush/bowl = $11.99


this is what i look like right now after reading soo much everywhere (althought Straightrazorplace has been by far the most helpful)

the part of my lineup that currently most concerns me is the choice of SR but there are so many out there, and i have a tough time wading through all of the garbage so i am turning here for help

thanks for all you responses and help

RaZorN00b,

First, congratulations on your upcoming graduation. Your parents ought to be justifiably proud of you.

Second, with respect to your search for a shaving kit. The Dovo "Best Quality' you are looking at might not appear to be a bargain at first glance, but remember that an expert honing is included in the price, plus an additional free honing. That's an additional $30-$40 if you purchase a razor from a vendor who does not hone his/her razors before sale.

That having been said, you can find pretty good deals on vintage razors that are honed in the SRP "Classifieds." For example, hollipirating, an SRP member, often posts some pretty good deals. Look out for them each week. You can even pm him and ask to be put on his email listserve so you'll be aware of vintage razors he offers for sale. As for the shavette you are considering--I wouldn't consider that as a long-term option. Eventually, if you really want to be a straight razor shaver, you will be getting a genuine straight razor. The money you spent on the shavette could have just as easily been used to buy that Dovo you have been looking at or a str8 razor in the SRP Classifieds.

As for your cream. You can get a quality shaving cream for less than what you are willing to spend on Proraso. Don't misunderstand me. I love Proraso and have used it for years, but there are equally good creams, such as Ingram's or Erasmic for about half the price of Proraso. You can begin with them and then move up to Proraso later.

The soap, brush, bowl set you have listed is a keeper, imho; and its readily available. In a recent thread, several SRP members reported that they found VDH soap to be quite good. The accompanying brush is decent too.

I hope this information helps you in making your decision. Take care--and again congratulations graduate.