I stood there looking at the straight razors in the store, with the possibility of slitting my throat accidentally scared me too much.
Have you thought about trying something like a vintage Durham Duplex Safety Shavette? Although a shavette is a different animal than a straight razor. They do have similarities, I believe the shavette is a bit easier to maintain since you change blades like a DE instead of sharpening them. Plus the Durham has a removable guard on it. They are still pretty plentiful and inexpensive of ebay. You can also still get blades to fit them, from Personna I think. You can also still get NOS Durham Duplex blades off of ebay. Just a thought. Oh just so you know(complete disclosure) I personally have never gotten a decent shave from either a shavette or a straight, but I've never cut my throat either( a few nicks) there is a learning curve to both(shavette/straight) razors types. So the more time and effort you put into either of them the better/quicker your shave will become or like me you'll just go back to "good ole DE's" .
Take the plunge. My advice to get over the fear is to just take a few short strokes on the cheeks, just to get comfortable. Then, with each additional shave, increase the are you shave with the Straght Razor. You should be comfortable to do a full shave in no time at all. The most important thing is to get a "Shave Ready" razor, from a reputable seller.
I wouldn't recommend NOS Durham Duplex razors, because I've tried it before. The old blades are carbon steel, and if they weren't stored in absolutely ideal conditions, they can have corrosion on the edges, even if you cannot see it with the naked eye. Stay away from shavettes to learn on, they are unforgiving, and you can end up with a nasty cut.
We were in the West Farms Mall. The store was indeed called the "art of shaving" but their prices were too high and the guy didn't look like he shaved a day in his life, so I just pretty much turned around and left.
Just start on the cheeks, WTG, nothing more. Do that three or four times and then expand from there. By the time you get to the throat you'll only make a very small slice and just lose a minor amount of blood. Seriously, just shave what's manageable and you'll start coming up the learning curve bit by bit.
SR shaving takes time and practice. I was afraid of the blade at first, but I survived shave one and liked it so much that I have been at it now for 1 1/2 years. Don't buy your first SR (assuming you decide to do so) at the Art of Shaving store. Check the classifieds on this forum. You'll likely get a better deal on a vintage razor that will be shave ready.
If you're looking for new, I highly recommend http://www.thesuperiorshave.com/ His prices on new Dovo can't be beat. I jus saw som used ones go on the bay for mor than new from this guy! He also hones them all on a coticule before sending them out.
At first glance, it does seem crazy. But when you actually go and do it, not so much. I'm still new, but I've found that the neck area is actually pretty easy for me to shave. The razor 9/10 times will let you know when you're stabbing yourself and going to draw blood.
No doubt there was a learning curve. Str8s are no different. Besides, I'd rather take my chances with a str8 that I have control over rather than ignorant drivers who have no respect for riders that I have no control over.
You had better make sure he is going to hone them first. He highly touts the "Shave out of the Box" Dovo's he sells. When I got my Bismarck from him the box was still sealed, and the edge was pretty poor. His prices are good, and he is a great guy, but if I were to buy that same razor over again it probably would come from SRD. Don't get me wrong, I really like that store, and have done a lot of business there, mainly for Simpson brushes. His website is a blast to window surf, and he has some really good dialogues. I would just clarify that he is going to hone it, and take the Dovo shave ready claim with a grain of salt. My two cents.....
I absolutely would not shop at AOS for your first razor. The razors are good, the prices are extreme. I would look at BST's here, put up a want to buy ad, look at Whipped Dog, etc. RocTraitor on Reddit has some decent prices, and his edges are good. You can get started for a quarter of the price, and know you have something sharp enough to shave with. If I were to recommend vendors for new, I would do so maybe in this order: -Straight Razor Design -Maggard's -Superior Shave I would totally stay away from E-bay until you have a little experience with them. Also stay away from any Straight Razor Kits that come with a Satin Tip brush, and or shaving soap from Grim Blades. You can Google why, there are a thousand pages about the horror stories.
My Bismarck came with the seal broken and laser sharp. In corosponding with him, he told me he finishes the blades on a coticule. I can't defend what happened in your situation.i
I asked him to hone the 2 razors I bought from him, they came with fantastic edges. @Steve C most of us had the same fears as you, as far we know none one has died. The only cut I received was from a shavette, I have had nicks and weepers while learning but nothing that left a scar. Good advice given above and certainly safer than riding a motorcycle.
I was fine with it, because I really was interested in how shave ready the edge was going to be. I would certainly buy from him again, I guess I would just clarify what I was getting first. If it were a matter of his prices being lower because he wasn't honing, I could live with that too. It is just a matter of knowing. It is good to hear that both you and Keith had a different experience, because I like that shop a lot.
Are you the old guy in your avatar? I'm 69 and I started straights just this year. I only do straights on Saturdays. I am doing well. I make sure I have no distractions when I shave with a straight. It has been quite a while since I have nicked or cut myself. I also have learned to use both hands (not at the same time). I thought about it for years before taking the plunge. It can be an expensive deal to get into, but it need not be.
