What is a good straight razor combo for a beginner?

[e-man67]

My barber straight razor shaves my neck which feels unreal. I would like to begin using a straight razor. What is a good combo kit online to buy to get started? Appreciate the feedback. I need a good honed razor with all the goodies.

[hotreds]

How much are you willing to spend?

[Fredo456]

When I started, I bought a starter kit including a lot of items. Thinking that it would be my only purchase, I bought a good looking and expensive one. In retrospect, it was a mistake. IMO, it'd be better to buy items separately, and upgrade in the future if you stick to it.
What you need :
- A well honed razor that you could find second hand in a number of places, namely on forums such as Straight Razor Place or Badger and Blade. The site Whipped Dog appears to be backorder on straights.
- A strop: Star Shaving Supplies has good cheap ones: http://shop.starshaving.com/
- A brush, soap, aftershave and alum block (some will say the alum is optional, but I wouldn't go without it). Most of these items can be found at the drugstore or with many online vendors, such as www.bullgooseshaving.net.
- Technique: check the aforementioned forums.
Hope this helps.

[Savor the Stick]

Originally Posted by e-man67

My barber straight razor shaves my neck which feels unreal. I would like to begin using a straight razor. What is a good combo kit online to buy to get started? Appreciate the feedback. I need a good honed razor with all the goodies.

Whipped Dog

Larry will take real good care of you.

You can try out good quality, used products...and if it works for you, you can upgrade to a more expensive razor later.

[e-man67]

Originally Posted by hotreds

How much are you willing to spend?

I have no idea. I know you can dump boat loads on any hobby but I want to try a good quality razor (don't need exotic mammoth tusk handle or anything like that..for now) and the essentials to get me started.

[RevSmoke]

Originally Posted by Savor the Stick

Whipped Dog

Larry will take real good care of you.

You can try out good quality, used products...and if it works for you, you can upgrade to a more expensive razor later.

I second this. I have one. It worked well, but the time it takes and the learning curve to be able to to it are tough. I shave others better than I shave myself with it.

[RevSmoke]

Originally Posted by RevSmoke

I second this. I have one. It worked well, but the time it takes and the learning curve to be able to to it are tough. I shave others better than I shave myself with it.

My oldest boy and I mainly do the back of the neck of the other on a bi-weekly basis. Not much else do I do with it. I love my DEs.

[mhailey]

This is what I started out with. The new razor will not be shave ready, and will require honing to make it shave ready. I have since moved on to this, because it requires no honing, no stropping, and will not rust. Yes it is not a "true" straight, but it shaves just a good, but is much less forgiving. The blades are wicked sharp.

[e-man67]

Went to my barber for a haircut and asked them about straight razor shaving. All the guys there said "don't do it!" because it is hard to get honed correctly and is a pain to do. I insisted I still wanted to try so they gave me a razor (removable blade type), a brush, and some shave soap. I am gonna try it out and see what happens.

[hotreds]

There are many variables. Do you want a traditional straight, or one that has replaceable blades? Do you want traditional folding or Japanese style that are more like knives; non-folding. What your barber gave you should at least tell you if it's something you want to do. If you do, here are two places to get anything you need:

www.westcoastshaving.com
www.straightrazordesigns.com

And, badger and blade usually has inexpensive shave ready straights in the for sale area- well worth joining if you are serious about this way of life.