Thread: Gift set help?

My recent interest in straight razors has peaked my fathers interest in shaving as well. Although I don't think he wants to learn to use a straight, I was thinking about getting him a decent DE, a blade sampler, and a brush and soap set for Christmas. I want to find something better than a $5 CVS soap and brush set (which was my first) but not too expensive. Any suggestions?

The field is too large. If I were in your shoes, I'd phone StraightRazorDesigns.com , tell them what my budget was, and ask for suggestions. There are other vendors you could use -- see who's advertising on this site.

"Decent" DE starts around $30, blade sampler $18, "premium" soap (Mitchell Wool Fat, Tabac) $20, brush costs as much as you want to spend.

Charles

PS -- my own interest is in vintage gear, but it's hard to just phone a store and order it. And for gift-giving, "new is nice".

I ended up going with the art of shaving Sandelwood starter kit and a cheap DE for now. If he really gets into it I'll look for a better razor. All my life all I can remember him using is regular foam and the dollar store blue twin blade disposables, so either way it'll be an improvement.

That sounds like a nice gift.

I once bought my father a very nice shaving brush. I inherited it -- unused -- when he died. He was a lifelong canned-lather shaver, and didn't see a reason to change back to old-fashioned ways.

Charles

This idea just came to me when he started asking questions on the subject when I started getting interested in straights. It was kind of a remembering the times kinda thing but he mentioned he'd have to get one of "the brush things" so I thought it'd be a nice idea.
I also ordered a blade sampler that I plan on sharing with him since I'm still using a DE because I have to shave daily and haven't perfected a straight yet.

Check out itallianbarber.com. they have a couple of nice, complete DE wet shaving sets that come with what you asked for and then some.