Shaving with straight razors

I found them cheapest on Ebay.

I have this one, and it's phenomenal. And the price is pretty much what I paid.

 

no i'm talking the soaps and such

 

I've had good luck with West Coast Shaving and a few others.

Check out ShaveMyFace.com and Straightrazorplace.com for some more suggestions.

Gotta go, but I can post up some more places I've dealt with when I get back from work.

 

That one came from a master of the trade; Robert Williams in CT.
I'm sure you recognize the name from some of the forums. The guy is incredible at what he does.

 

Actually for soaps I found all mine in the local grocery store. Try Walmart, see if they have Proraso there. They should also carry Omega brushes.

To be honest the name eludes me. If you said Lynn Abrams, I'd know who you were talking about. Still a beautiful razor regardless.

 

Taken at work 2 days ago. Beard was easily twice that today.



A relaxing half hour with a Dovo Ebony, Proraso shaving soap and my Vie-Long Horse hair brush and I'm looking respectable again.




Finish it up with my Alum Block, Witch hazel, Nivea Mens Skincare and splash on some David Beckham Cologne...good as gold baby.

 

somebody always has a funny pic to post whenever someone posts a photo of themselves lol

 

Pics of the razor or I have to presume you're lying.

My Wade and Butcher just took off an 8 day long beard in one pass. Thing is a beast, I love it.

I'm told I look like my avatar.

 

Holy thread revival

Hey krazy sj, check out what I picked up recently (just the razor, had the brush for a while).

 

I'm shaving once a week when i really should be shaving every day or at least every other day. I hate buying blade, its a supply an demand rip off.

Just ordered a safety razor a few days ago. Cant wait to start using it and saving some money on those stupid Gillette blades. By barber does the straight blade shave and edge which most barbers do and there is no closer/cleaner shave. Gillette blades cant even get a clean shave like the straight blade can. Maybe after enough practice with the safety razor i can upgrade to the straight blade later on.

I have checked out some videos on youtube and i think its just a mind over matter thing where people are scared they are going to cut themselves and that's what they end up doing.

 

Whipped dog straight razors are a great place to get started, do yourself a favor through, when you start with the safety razor, take the time to learn how to make and use a lather with soap and brush, so much nicer than canned goo

 

and I thought that my easy aces was nice...that thing is sweet!

but I have to at least try to up that lol

here are two that I had restored by Mainaman on straight razor place. (I got lucky and he is close enough to me that I could drop off my razors to him in person)

unknown brand, etching on the blade says clear cut deluxe. the mother of pearl tang has a maker on there, but I cannot make it out because of the mother of pearl, one of these days I will figure it out. this was restored with real horn scales, I told him I wanted horn and he came up with these, I love the lighter silver colored streak near the tang. I brought another set of scales to him to copy off of.



this one is a frame back that he restored for me. It turned out great. you know how a lot of razor shaves good and very rarely, you get one that shaves amazingly? this is one of those. He actually agreed with me on that fact.

 

Not gonna lie, not sure I would have the balls to use a straight razor. I give you guys credit. I shave my head too, and would definitely be nervous with that.

 

ya...i wouldn't think about shaving my head...If I can't see it, there is no way in hell that I am gonna put a straight razor on my skin.....

but ut really isn't that hard, yes, there is a learning curve, but it isnt as hard as a lot of other things. I mean even a 12 year old girl can do it....

So easy a 12 year old girl can do it




I find it theraputic (in a sense) when I shave, it is calming to me and lets me get my mind off school...and I am really starting to want to shave again...I'm thinking that this is coming off with the frame back razor I just posted within a couple of days...



and crap, my eye is looking weird...man, thinking back, that was a rough day...

 

I know it's an old thread but I've been really wanting to get a straight razor. I read through the entire thread and on several of the straight razor forums. I went the other day to a few antique shops looking for a vintage straight razor, but the only one I found was a Geneva Cutlery one which was rusted to hell, had a terrible edge, and just looked beyond repair. It looked like it had spent the last 5 decades in a very humid barn. I have decided I will buy a new one. I want a Dovo, but nothing fancy. I've found some plain jane Dovo's for around $80 (http://www.salonsupplystore.com/dov....html?osCsid=aa15d4c3d918155332c252517bbe8761). I also came across a kit that includes a plain Dovo straight razor, badger brush, soap, strop paste, and a stand (http://www.royalshave.com/p/407-070/straight-razor-shaving-set-for-beginners.html ).

What I have read is that when you get a razor, it will be sharp, but not shaving spec. It's recommended to have it honed. Well there is nowhere around here that I know of which sharpens blades (I have looked). So I was also wondering what would be a good sharpening/honing stone to add to this? Does this kit seem like a good buy? Also, is there anything else that I would need in addition to this kit?

I at first was thinking about buying a Dovo shavette to get used to it and start out, but I just felt like it would be better to just not waste money and go for the real deal. I want to try straight razor shaving because I have ridiculously sensitive skin and a very thick beard, with even each follicle being very "thick" itself. I break out/razor burn on my neck every time I try to shave. That is also in part because the hair on my neck grow in big "swirls" on both sides of my Adam's apple. Now I pretty much just always grow a beard, sometimes goatee, but just trim it up on my cheeks and neck as close as I can with some electric clippers. I'm not really nervous about cutting myself with the actual razor (I know I'll mess up and nick myself some, regardless of how slow I go), but am more concerned with sharpening the blade. Like mentioned before, idk what grit stone to get and I was wondering how often you actually have to hone it? I know you are supposed to strop every time you shave. I probably will still grow a beard or goatee and just clean it up with the straight razor; so it won't be like a full blown use of the blade every time.

Sorry for the long post, just a newb.

 

tacosupreme54, my advice to you would be to try an old school double edged razor and some quality oil, shaving creams and aftershaves before jumping to a straight razor. Since you said you have very sensitive skin, you should know that shaving with a straight razor takes a lot of getting used to and you could end up with worse razor burn to start with. Personally, I never really got good with a straight but I absolutely love my DE razor. I got a Merkur 34C I believe and bought a second with an open comb for my neck. I use The Art of Shaving pre-shave oils, Jack Black shaving cream and Armani aftershave. Always shave after you get out of the shower or in the shower. Take your time, you should shave with the grain first, then across the grain, then against the grain and finish off with cold water (and an alum block if you knick yourself).

If you do end up wanting to go with a straight, but want an older one, let me know. I have an old straight that's a full hollow shape and is a French blade (I can't remember exactly what it is). I bought it on Straight Razor Place, the seller honed it and it was shave ready when I got it. I literally used it once, stropped it and it's been in my closet ever since. I ended up buying a wedge that I like better

 

I'll build a slightly better setup for you that will be a bit pricier, but will be better for your sensitive skin.

Razor: http://www.royalshave.com/p/405-001/dovo_straight_bestquality_black_58.html ($80) Pretty tough to beat that price. Only other way to do so, would be to find a vintage razor on Ebay.

Brush: http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/800550/422194.htm ($55) Amazing quality brush for cheap. I've used one almost daily for 9 years and it is only now starting to shed some hair.

Strop: http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/522944/7891209.htm ($50) two strops in one, and it's higher quality leather.

Soap: http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/522960/1165231.htm ($15) This is the best shave cream I've ever used. My favorite scents are Lime, Rose, Avocado, and St James. The grapefruit one seems intriguing too. They also make a "sensitive skin" version you might want to look at. Don't use a bowl to build a lather, use your face, feels great and helps pick the hair up for a better shave.

Brush Stand: http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/800550/422835.htm ($9) pretty self explanatory.

Total for this much upgraded package is $209. Only $29 more than what you are looking at for that "beginners kit"

I would also recommend an aftershave. I love this one: http://usa.loccitane.com/l'occitan-after-shave-balm,82,1,29434,263368.htm ($30)

If you are hard set on a straight razor, go for it. If you are on the fence, go with a safety razor to start. I made the transition from straight to safety because it takes so much time to hone and strop the straights Then to actually shave takes me extra time because I don't like cutting my face, which happens when I rush. I still cut myself with a safety razor, just not as much.

Something else to consider, you will have to hone your straight razor every few weeks or so if you are shaving regularly. If not, you might be able to extend out the interval to a month or two. It's really based on feel. And honing is not a simple or easy process and requires an investment in multiple honing stones. This one: http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/522944/196094.htm and this one: http://www.classicshaving.com/catalog/item/522944/5202698.htm will get you well on your way.

Use the classic shaving website as much as possible, they are great people to work with, have been around for a long time, and are far less commercialized than the AoS. Oh, and their prices are awesome.

If you have more questions, post them up here and someone will answer them.

 

Figured I'd share these pics .
My grandfather passed away about 5 years ago and my dad and i are cleaning his house out so he can sell it . We came across a old cigar box with these straight razors .

Original paper work in German

 

Damn John, nice find