Reddit reviews Perfecto 100% Original Pure Badger Shaving Brush. Engineered for The Best Shave of Your Life.for All Methods,Safety Razor,Double Edge Razor,Staight Razor or Shaving Razor, Its Best Badger Brush.

I can only recommend what I have-

Item | link
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The Chieftain | link
Badger Hair Brush | link
shaving soap | link
stand | link
blades | link
total | $70.65, not including shipping (but with prime... :D)

It's pretty modest, but if you consider 52 blades that are of the "normal" variety, it can be cheaper in the long run. I still have a bunch of blades left over, so don't think that those 100 astra blades are all the way used up.

1. Safety Razor or Straight Edge barber's blade
   
   -I got mine on Amazon for only ~5 bucks. One person in that subreddit linked it though and I don't think I'd be able to find it. It was so cheap because the shipper was from China and it took 15 days to get here but it has lasted me quite some time. But I would recommend looking at the reviews and getting one in the 15-20 dollar range. With replacement blades (which are cheap...I bought a sample pack which came with like 50 total and I'm probably not even half way through them yet). you can just pop one right in and go...they also will last you about 5 shaves each.
   
   
2. Shaving Soap
   Look into Poraso. I have the green kind. I was sensitive to the menthols in other Shaving Creams but this shaving soap does everything I need it to and doesn't irritate my skin or eyes.
   http://www.amazon.com/Proraso-Shaving-Eucalyptus-Menthol-Formulation/dp/B00837YY18/ref=sr_1_2?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1413959827&sr=1-2&keywords=poraso
   
   -It says I actually purchased this item on Jan 7 2014. I will need a new one in prob 2 months but still!
   
   
3. Boar/Badger shave brush
   You can get these for cheap some places, but since I showed you stuff on amazon here's what you'd be looking at:
   http://www.amazon.com/Perfecto-100%25-Badger-Shaving-Brush/dp/B00LDYFGFQ/ref=sr_1_4?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1413959958&sr=1-4&keywords=shaving+brush
   
   
4. If you want to get pre shave lotion go ahead. I don't use pre shave lotion so i can't recommend anything. wicked_edge would know though.
   
   
5. For after shave I just use Cetaphil moisturizer and it works perfect for me, but look at wicked_edge again for after shaves.
   
   That covers pretty much all of the basics I think. Some of the stuff seems expensive but it's a very worthwhile investment and will save you money in the long run. I remember going through 3-5 blade gillette razors every month which at 10 bucks a pop adds up, plus they irritated my skin and the shaving cream sucked. So i definitely recommend making an investment in these certain products, they've helped me quite a bit.
   
   In the preview my numbering is screwed up, so idk what to do about that, but yeah.

Well there's a treasure trove of information about advice at /r/wickededge, but personally I use an Edwin Jaeger (either DE86 or DE89, I forget), with Feather blades (I recommend not to try them until you're experienced with the safety razor, they're ridiculously sharp) and Proraso soap with Proraso preshave. Amazon links:

http://amzn.com/B003LW4L2W - razor

http://amzn.com/B00AGG3MNU - blades

http://amzn.com/B001MF3FMW - soap

http://amzn.com/B000RIAD0W - preshave

You'll also need a badger hair brush - http://amzn.com/B00LDYFGFQ

This set up should last you a really long time, and it's not that expensive. Probably cheaper than a few months worth of crappy cartridges.

As the title states, I'm new to straight razor shaving. I've never been able to get a close shave with disposable/cartridge razors, so I've been wanting to try this for quite some time. I finally bit the bullet and put together a cheap kit (want to see how I'll like it before spending a lot of money), which arrived yesterday.

The razor is a cheap, sub-$20 one from Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01H6HR2M8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

The brush is a Perfecto badger, also from Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LDYFGFQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Henry Cavendish Himalaya Shaving Soap
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H8A2KSU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Schone soap dish
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OQDEL8Y/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And the Old Spice lather mug belonged to my father. Not shown is the strop.

I shaved with this set-up for the first time last night! I may have to hone the razor a bit more. I knew it wouldn't come shave ready, so I honed it, and stropped the heck out of it, but I feel as though it could be a bit sharper yet. I did not attempt the curves of my jaw line this first time. I only shaved the flats of my face and the flatter parts of my neck, then finished up with a cartridge razor. I need to develop a better technique before I try dragging this thing around curves. Without a doubt though, where I used the straight razor is as smooth as a baby's bottom. I've never had this close of a shave before.

You’re irritating your skin and not properly cutting the hairs. You needs to get the shaving cream under each hair so that it is raised and can be easily cut off. That is what gives you a clean shave. Please buy something like the below.

Perfecto 100% Original Pure Badger Shaving Brush. Engineered for The Best Shave of Your Life.for All Methods,Safety Razor,Double Edge Razor,Staight Razor or Shaving Razor, Its Best Badger Brush. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LDYFGFQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_pnv2DbT4D5E8P

Put shave cream on bring and In a circular motion apply it to your neck and any shave area. Shave with the grain of your hair. This will clear up most of your problem and you will be happy. I promise.

Years ago (around 2005), I fell for the Gillette M3 Power razor. After my first shave, I felt so ripped off. Plus, blades were expensive.

I researched safety razors and made the switch to a Merkur razor, Derby blades, Trumper shaving soap, and a 100% badger brush. I haven’t looked back. Yes, I paid a lot for my razor (and I would go with a more traditional one today if I could redo it). I have 100 blades for $9, which will last me over 2 years. I’ve been using the same soap since 2012. And I replace the brush whenever it feels like it needs to be replaced.

It does take a little while in getting used to, but it took me only a couple of weeks to get the swing of it. And with shaving soap, it won’t lather like the stuff in an aerosol can. But you don’t need lather. All you need is enough of a film to glide the blades over the skin to trim the whiskers.

I’d also recommend a travel case for the razor. That will protect the blades in transit. And I’d get a nick stick. I’ve been wet shaving with a safety razor for nearly 15 years, and an occasional nick does happen.

Just bought this badger hair from Amazon today.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LDYFGFQ?ie=UTF8&at=&force-full-site=1&ref_=aw_bottom_links

On sale for $13