(Part 2) Best men straight shaving razors according to redditors

The razor has the potential to be okay. They're mass-produced in China, and lots of reputable honemeisters will buy them by the dozen, fix those that can be fixed, and pitch the rest.

But Luke Webster (the owner of the site you linked) is not a reputable honemeister. In fact, he's probably the biggest rip-off artist in the wet shaving world. What you'll almost certainly get is an unmodified razor that may or may not be fixable.

As far as the rest of the kit, the brush is supposedly pretty good, the strop is unusable, and the soap has declined dramatically in quality. Oh, and the kit is badly overpriced.

If you want a shave-ready Gold Dollar, you can get one for $45 from Wet Shaving Products in your choice of carbon steel or stainless steel. But your better bet may be to get a vintage razor and strop from /u/RocTraitor.

yes, a straight razor.

Boker Straight Razor 140521 King Cutter Black Handle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00286UXHO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_4OcLxb2D7D8W4.


Dovo Best Quality 5/8" Straight Razor Full Hollow https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001ASQ2K8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_QTcLxb46ET4NH.


Also the Fromm, I've honed a few and they seem good enough.

Fromm Straight Razor, 5/8" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DYFI9K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_kUcLxb65KAWJE

so pick up a shavette that takes half blades and use it as a craft knife

https://www.amazon.com/Barber-Professional-Straight-Shaving-Disposable/dp/B0758SG461/ref=sr_1_4?gclid=CjwKCAjw_YPnBRBREiwAIP6TJ3znNxvis2iwDoCLdVE2xj7AIt3wD1KxeIcJ2c_DSt39AckCQZKZaxoCnr8QAvD_BwE&hvadid=153640481707&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=1022969&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t2&hvqmt=e&hvrand=11438230430379686088&hvtargid=kwd-2251870962&hydadcr=6902_9168422&keywords=shavette&qid=1558269628&s=gateway&sr=8-4

I have one of those. It’s a GD.

Link for anyone interested:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07515QTX9/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_-BFdAbX97HHEG

You can get them here - but the general consensus seems to be that Zeva's are to look at, but not to shave with...

Amazon has a deal for 100pk of Gillette SharpEdges.
picked up 2 100pks of them

These or something else?

for less than $7

Your barber probably isn't using a safety razor. He's probably using a shavette. That's a thing that looks like a straight razor, but has a disposable blade.

A safety razor is very different, and not all that scary. I cut myself now & then, but it's tiny little knicks, and only when I do something stupid like apply pressure or use a ridiculous blade angle.

The shavette, or a real straight is a much scarier thing to a lot of guys, and I understand that. It's a healthy fear. I've got a straight that I've shaved with a couple of times. My concentration was at an all-time high with that. :-)

FYI - those links are straight Amazon links, not affiliate links.

Is a nylon brush good enough? How does this or this compare to the one I listed in the post?

Between the two, The Parker SRX holds the blade better. the Dovo Shavette is more comfortable in the hand and has more blade options, DE blade, Dovo blades and hair shaper blades with the green insert. If you're looking for something specifically for DE blades, The Manion S1 is a better razor. It uses the unbroken DE blade and has more weight than both the SRX, and shavette. The Manion has a thicker shank making it easier to hold and maneuver. It's faster and easier to load and is cheaper.

$13.86 on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/MANION-Opening-Straight-Wooden-Handle/dp/B07DW4HRCD/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=MANION+S1&qid=1572633227&sr=8-1

If looking to try/learn to use a straight razor this is a fantastic place to start so you can decide if it'll be worth it or not, it only took me about a week before I was finally getting it done without any cuts and after a month after getting my Sir Hare shaving soap lathered and brushed I can be fully shaved in about 90 seconds, it's nuts just how fast they work after you've got the movements down since there's no time taken to rinse the hairs out, just a quick dip and you're back in action at full power.

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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BQBVK53/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

Yes it’s 1 solid piece of steel and the whole length of the bottom is sharpened to shave. I started off with a Parker Shavette. If I had to do it again I’d get the Parker SRX for the added weight the stainless handle adds. I enjoyed the shavette very much but quickly got a straight razor since I then knew I was able to shave that way and enjoyed it.

Edit: I forgot to mention the Parkers take Double edge blades broken in half or you can buy single edge blades. I don’t know anything about the replacement cartridge shavettes I was always put off by them for some reason.

This is the shavette I have: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01GOKPP4A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I use something like this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Saaqaans-BSR-01-Traditional-Professional-Stainless-x/dp/B01GOKPP4A/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1500843024&sr=8-1&keywords=cut+throat

You just put a blade in it. Gillete 5 o clock is just a brand. It's like a Wilkinson Sword blade or anything else. https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/mjg/Gillette-0Clock-SharpEdge-blades-pack-Silver-bIade/B01KE3BUHO/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_2_s_it?s=drugstore&ie=UTF8&qid=1500843103&sr=1-2-fkmr1&keywords=gillette+5+o+clock+shadow

If this is considered using a straight razor then I guess that is what I use...

My stropping technique was learned by watching a video from RazorEmporium on YouTube, I make about 20 passes on a 2in wide red deer strop. The razor is a Topman with a 7/8 blade made of 440C stainless steel I bought off amazon for about $20. The item description says it’s honed but some reviews mention needing to hone it.

I mean, this isn’t exactly it but it’s pretty damn close. It’s called a straight razor and they are pretty efficient for shaving. If you aren’t careful, you will definitely cut yourself.

This is my recommendation for a shavette. ~$25 and prime eligible from Amazon. I've bought two of them now and we use them in the shop.

Do be careful maintaining that part yourself though. You might have a couple issues cleaning it up yourself with a straight razor. Honestly I'd recommend an Andis T-Outliner. It won't get as close as a razor but it'll be damn near it, and it'll last you a lifetime as long as you oil the blade occasionally.

Soap: Arko

Razor: Parker Shavette w/ Shark Super Stainless

Aftershave: Stetson

Razor: GD 800 6/8 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B7RM6MU/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i03?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Brush: escali shaving brush http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003WR3QSG/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Shaving cream:Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Shaving Cream http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007MW2ZW/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Pre-Shave Oil: The Art of Shaving Sandalwood Pre-Shave Oil http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000I2XL38/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Strop: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0070OJL40/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Looks nice. Thank you ! It's $15 more here on the canadian Amazon :/



But there's this

and this

This one has the red adapter to accept DE razors

Both say that it's a shavette, and a straight razor. Doesn't make sense. Hmm not sure which is the better one.

Well here's your brush haha

PS: Don't actually do this it looks worse than an Omega syntex

Haryali

the reviews were good for a starter razor and it didn't completely break the bank in comparison with other well-known razor manufacturers. my experience with it really has me questioning more expensive razors. i saw a cheap-feeling plastic handle razor in the mall at a store called "art of shaving". it was going for twice what i paid for my wooden handle haryali. i'm happy with the razor all around.

Have you used one of those razors before? I'm curious, as I've never heard of Haryali before. I tried to find some info, but there's very little about them on B&B or SRP (which immediately makes me suspicious, to be honest). Are they new, or just uncommon? They aren't on the commonly referenced SRP list of dodgy straight razor brands, but they did get a mention here. The fact that they are selling new production blades for only $50 makes me somewhat suspicious too. Certainly looks nice though.

Like I said, pretty new to all this, so thanks for the tips.

This is the razor I bought from amazon

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002CIDQFE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It is high carbon steel. Very hard. Very cheap scales that I replace.

https://www.amazon.com/Gold-Dollar-Shaving-Throat-Straight/dp/B00CO5BQ02/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_121_lp_t_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=KASVYGH9CVXZPEF1HMS5&dpID=41WuQKzgduL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=detail

If you want a cheap one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00CO5BQ02/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1486244752&sr=8-1&keywords=gold+dollar+straight+razor

Works well, if you just want to see if you'll like it, but I would recommend a better one if you're going to continue using them.