Glad to say I finally gave this a try, and I love it! Time to toss out all disposables... I have been reading up on posts trying to get info on finding a good razor to buy. I tried one with removable blades but I want to dive in on an "actual" razor... So if you can help me I would appreciate it... I found a listing for duvo best on thesuperiorshave and needed to know if anyone would recommend this? Or is there a better place to start at? I need it to be shave ready because I have no idea how to hone... Thank you and glad to be part of the community!
New to straight shaving
- Thread starter ManOfValor
- Start date
Welcome to B&B... and to the straight shaving!
You might want to hand on to some of your older kit, especially if you travel.
You might want to hand on to some of your older kit, especially if you travel.
- Thread starter
- #3
Thanks ya ill do that... Any advice u can give me about that site, if they're reputable?
Jarrod (the owner) is great to deal with. The pics he takes of each item, whether razor or brush, are fantastic. I'd recommend you pick up some silicone sleeves from him to store your straights in. They work great at keeping the blades moisture free.
He posts all of his new stuff on Facebook as well.
He posts all of his new stuff on Facebook as well.
- Thread starter
- #5
Awesome thank you! I will pick them up then and dive in then
For your first straight, a very solid general recommendation is the WhippedDog "sight unseen" deal. Upgrade it to a kit with a "poor man's" strop and you're on your way. I would save the $$ for a new razor until you have played around with one for a while.
- Thread starter
- #7
Definitely, that sounds good thanks for the advice... Would have had no idea. For the $$ that sounds like a good starter..
You can also check out our BST (Buy/Sell/Trade) and "Hobbyist/Vendor" sub-forums for very reputable equipment and deals.
I have been shaving with a straight and DE for a few months. I highly recommend the whipped dog straight. I was nervous as at the beginning you think you need everything new and its kinda wierd buying something you haven't seen as far as type of blade style/color etc. But he puts a great edge on a vintage blade and includes everything you need to get going for a while. Neatsfoot oil, strop, balsa pasted strop, hanging clip, aftershave sample, full PDF on shaving tips etc. Larry is a great guy to deal with. There are great deals on b/s/t that some member sell honed up as shave ready straights if you keep your eye out. But for a beginner its such a deal to get the whole package one time then take your time researching to find out what you like and go from there. Best of luck.
I'm not sure about the definition of a 'real strop'... I bought my 'poor-mans strop' along with my 'sight-unseen with flaws' from whippeddog about 7 months ago. The strop and razor are both performing great to this day. OK, I've had to sand the strop a few times due to 'operator error' (lol) but a quick sanding and a few coats of almond oil and it's soon back in action.
- Thread starter
- #12
Ya I ordered the sight unseen and poor man's strop... Excited for them to get here... They shipped today so I can't wait to try them out... Need to get some practice in so I don't destroy my neck with razor burn anymore though lol... Any advice to someone with course hair and sensitive skin with hair going every which way? Lol... Hard to shave WTG
~~~if razor burn has been a problem using safeties and now you are beginning to use straight razors, it could be a two fold issue...prep (or lack thereof) and blade angle. Has your prep included pre shave cream? Not everyone uses them, I wont shave without pre shave cream. Makes all the difference in the world for me. I used pre shave cream for so long, I wondered if I bought the gimmick and didn't know it so I went three weeks w/o using it...came back to using it at the end of 3 weeks./..my shaves were far easier on my skin. BTW, I use proraso pre shve cream
more on prep...shave after showering?...that will help with prep, and soap up your beard well...leave the soap on your face. When I shower before shaving (hardly ever), I like to use a pumice exfoliant type of skin cleanser. I truly believe in getting rid of all the dirt and oil in/on your skin before shaving. Some don't, and that's okay, if it works for them...but I want to cleanse my skin well before shaving, & use the pre shave cream under the first lather but I follow that 1st lather with a steam towel as I don't shower before shaving 99% of the time. Read up on 'Kyle's Prep' here in B&B if you're unfamiliar with the barber towel prep. This is a long prep. Forewarned is forearmed. A quick & dirty prep is build a lather on your beard and let it set for 3 minutes, do other things about the bathroom during this time. Rebuild the lather if you have to B4 shaving but leave a lather sit on your beard for 3 minutes
Again, some here do not need to prep but you mentioned you have a problem with razor burn on your neck. I'm just trying to cover the bases for you
too much blade angle will cause razor burn as will shaving with drying lather, so make sure your lather is hydrated, and that said, often n00bs to straight razor shaving find they have a difficult time keeping the blade from skipping the first few times around the block. N00bs get tentative with the blade but also, dry lather will make the blade hard to move forward, so keep your lather well hydrated. 1/2 way through your pass, dunk the tips of your brush lightly in water then rehydrate the lather that is drying, then continue on
BTW, Larry has a most excellent PDF shaving manual on line that is free. Read it in it's entirety
Back to blade angle but with your straight razor...most n00bs, quite a few, will raise the spine to increase the blade angle thinking it will help to cut better. Nope!, you want to lower the spine. 30 degrees may be too much starting out but see what you get if you use about 30 degrees...if you have burn, lower the spine to your skin and see how that goes
~~~WTG is your first and 2nd pass starting out. More beard is knocked down using WTG. Read Larry's manual. He'll tell you to use two WTG passes. it's good advice until you gain more exp. with the STR8 razor then, anything goes. Lately I shave the right half of my face N to S, then the left S to N, then flip flop for the 2nd pass, starting on the left N to S, then the right S to N, touch ups on my jowels and I'm golden. But for your first shaves and until you start to figure out what will fly...WTG on all areas @ least once preferably twice
Some straight razor shavers like drippy wet lather. I like mine a little on the dry side of wet, but it's plenty hydrated. As an aside, try face lathering soap if you have yet to. Lot of STR8 shavers use this technique but there are still some that use creams. No one way is the right way but whatever you do, don't be tentative when moving the blade across your skin. You need to be deliberate and damp lather will help immensely. others may have better and different ideas
Best,
Jake
Reddick Fla.
- Thread starter
- #14
Thank you that's good info I will put it to good use!! Will definitely lather up better and get a better angle... My razor from whipped dog came in, Genco... Looks good so will see how I like that compared to the personna razors I used...
Genco is a great American razor. Welcome, good luck and enjoy. Let us know if we can help.
I'm in the same boat but decided on one of jarrod's gift sets with a dovo best 5/8 full hollow. It's a fantastic deal for everything you get. Razor, strop, coticule in box, alum, styptic, strop creams. Shipped same day I ordered. Jarrod was great to work with--responded promptly to emails. I hoped it would arrive today since I am also in Florida. No luck. Hopefully tomorrow.
- Thread starter
- #17
That is my next choice I think... I love the Genco no razor burn at all and no chunks taken out yet... But I will probably doing the same thing (Dovo) the future once I get more experienced with what I have...
