Beginner's guide to straight razor shaving
This entry attempts to provide you with the most basic information, video, and suggestions when you start shaving with a straight razor. It includes suggested equipment to avoid as well as a list of equipment with good reputations. There are help files and links to places to buy gear, links to videos on how to shave and strop and much more. There's even information on what to look for if you decide to shop on ebay.
Basic gear needed:
- 1 to 2 shave ready razors
- leather strop (most people use hanging but paddle or loom will also work); the linen side is optional
- shaving soap or cream (optional but strongly recommended)
- shaving brush (optional but strongly recommended)
- shaving mug or scuttle (optional)
- Lynn Abrams' Video on shaving, stropping, honing, etc.
Shave ready razors
When you see "shave ready" and the razor is straight from the factory, in almost all cases it is not really shave ready. Unless the razor has been honed by somebody with experience it will likely need to be honed BEFORE you use it. WHY? If you are really interested in the reason you can read the detailed explanation. Otherwise just trust me ;).
