I've been figuring out how to upload pictures and stuff, and doing some reviews of the "7 day set" I put together entirely from antique razors (At 7 I mist stop due to spatial considerations!).
I'd like to offer encouragement to those put off the idea of straight razor shaving by the price of a good razor- this cllection cost me in total under £50 I've been piecing it together for a few years now, and most of the razors cost only a fiver, and a bit of work with a hone. Most in fact were near shave ready out of the case, jsut a "tickle" on the 10K waterstone and they worked fine. I think junk shop finds are a really good way to put together the equipment needed to shave like a gentleman on a minimal budget.
With a £5 razor, a decent leather belt, and an old hone, you can get going. Better still, make the strop, or ask at a show repair shop- you can put one together that is perfectly functional, and probably have leather left over to make yourself a nice slip case for your razor, it it did not come with one.
"Pure Bristle" brushes cost under a fiver, and a stick of Palmolive may set you back 70p (and last for months). You may want to be really extravagant and purchase a bottle of Old Spice (£5) or you could just get a bottle of Witch Hazel BP (£1.20).
I honestly believe that honing is a skill that anyone can learn, look at the Razor Central website (www.en.nassrasur.com/razorcentral/) for as plenty of information. If you decide to splash out on two razors, you can pay someone to hone one of them for you, if you want a benchmark for your own efforts, but the tests (thumbnail, hanging hair) are fairly good, and easy to use.
There are risks to buying a secondhand razor over the internet, as you cannot look at it, (the two I've had any trouble with were from ebay...), so antique/junk shops are the way forward if you can get to one. I didn't use the internet when I started (6 or 7 years ago I think), and I think with all the information being so accessible, there should be no trouble for anyone learning how.
This doesn't mean you won't nick yourself a few times, but I do want to offer encouragement to all those considering having a go- set to, stick at it for a bit and it is quite do-able.
I'd also like to ask everyone who has a few junk shop razors to review them- there are so many obscure brands, but many can provide as good a shave as the famous names of today, at a fraction of the cost. Include in your reviews any problems you had getting the razors in working order- I think that's a good way a beginner can get an idea of what to expect, and what to look out for. Some reviews of hones would be handy too- old hones can be got for very cheap, but the number of brands can be confusing- is it coarse, or is it a finishing hone? A few reviews would really help in eliminating the trial and error aspect of buying an old hone. It may be great, but the Norton combo is quite expensive- old barbers hones make an attractive alternative.
Good luck to all those learning about the use of traditional razors, and enjoy!
Steerpike
I'd like to offer encouragement to those put off the idea of straight razor shaving by the price of a good razor- this cllection cost me in total under £50 I've been piecing it together for a few years now, and most of the razors cost only a fiver, and a bit of work with a hone. Most in fact were near shave ready out of the case, jsut a "tickle" on the 10K waterstone and they worked fine. I think junk shop finds are a really good way to put together the equipment needed to shave like a gentleman on a minimal budget.
With a £5 razor, a decent leather belt, and an old hone, you can get going. Better still, make the strop, or ask at a show repair shop- you can put one together that is perfectly functional, and probably have leather left over to make yourself a nice slip case for your razor, it it did not come with one.
"Pure Bristle" brushes cost under a fiver, and a stick of Palmolive may set you back 70p (and last for months). You may want to be really extravagant and purchase a bottle of Old Spice (£5) or you could just get a bottle of Witch Hazel BP (£1.20).
I honestly believe that honing is a skill that anyone can learn, look at the Razor Central website (www.en.nassrasur.com/razorcentral/) for as plenty of information. If you decide to splash out on two razors, you can pay someone to hone one of them for you, if you want a benchmark for your own efforts, but the tests (thumbnail, hanging hair) are fairly good, and easy to use.
There are risks to buying a secondhand razor over the internet, as you cannot look at it, (the two I've had any trouble with were from ebay...), so antique/junk shops are the way forward if you can get to one. I didn't use the internet when I started (6 or 7 years ago I think), and I think with all the information being so accessible, there should be no trouble for anyone learning how.
This doesn't mean you won't nick yourself a few times, but I do want to offer encouragement to all those considering having a go- set to, stick at it for a bit and it is quite do-able.
I'd also like to ask everyone who has a few junk shop razors to review them- there are so many obscure brands, but many can provide as good a shave as the famous names of today, at a fraction of the cost. Include in your reviews any problems you had getting the razors in working order- I think that's a good way a beginner can get an idea of what to expect, and what to look out for. Some reviews of hones would be handy too- old hones can be got for very cheap, but the number of brands can be confusing- is it coarse, or is it a finishing hone? A few reviews would really help in eliminating the trial and error aspect of buying an old hone. It may be great, but the Norton combo is quite expensive- old barbers hones make an attractive alternative.
Good luck to all those learning about the use of traditional razors, and enjoy!
Steerpike
