Shaving with a straight razor doesn't have to be complicated. I've actually written a guide on building a kit for beginners and I highly recommend you check it out.

You can easily learn how to shave with a straight razor and it doesn't require you doing anything fancy.

It looks cool as hell and will impress your friends when they look in your shaving cabinet. 

"People look in your medicine cabinet, I hope you know that"

What To Look For In a Straight Razor

There are lots of guides that will get bogged down with the small details that make up the razor, but ultimately what you're looking for are some simple ideas

Quality steel blade

All the blades on this list will be made of a quality carbon steel or stainless steel that will in all likeliness last longer than you will.

Blade

How the razor feels in your hand should probably be the most important thing on this list, but I think that the length of the blade is as important. Some people prefer a shorter blade when using such a precision tool

Honing & Sharpening

My recommendation is always to get your blade sharpened by a professional and learn to hone it at home. Here are some great leather strops you can use.

• Price

It should go without saying because you can spend upwards of $500 on some straight razors. Like many things in life, there is a limit to how much value you can get past a certain point. Value is what you get. Price is simply what you pay.

DOVO Full Hollow Carbon Steel 5/8" Straight Razor

We live in a time where we throw a lot of stuff away. It's become so easy. Something gets used up and is no longer as good as it was, what do we do? Throw it out; get a newer and better one. Happens all the time with cheap shaving razors you see in your local stores. They're even referred to as "throwaways".

There's also a little plus for me here: straight razors are iconic in that they're a novel way at shaving. Not everyone today knows how to shave with a straight razor. Life has become faster.

People don't have time. But I say make time for this. There's something about shaving with this type of razor that screams cool for me. I can't remember getting this close of a shave without developing ingrown hairs. Haven't had any ingrown with this thing yet.

If you're looking to take that next step for shaving, this is a good starter blade.

DOVO Silver Steel Straight Razor 5/8'' Half Hollow Ground Blade, Ebony Wood Handle

Wow, what a razor! This thing looks beautiful and seems extremely well constructed. I can tell a lot of care went into this. There is no 'ebenholz' emblem on the handle but that's fine, I prefer it without.

Everything else seems as pictured. I love the ebony wood handle, it's worth paying the extra 20 bucks or so over plastic.

This razor comes sharp sharp sharp! It was shave ready right out of the case, though I still stropped it a few times for posterity. This thing passed the hanging hair test right out of the packaging with flying colors- Again, I can see a lot of care went into this product.

Stainless Steel Straight Razor, Silver Merlin

The Merlin Straight Razor is made with a powdered steel handle and a stainless steel blade. It's elegantly designed that's meant to shave you like it's nobody's business.

When i received this razor, it felt nice in the hand, but the blade was not sharp enough. Even after numerous stropping. This razor most likely needs some time honing on a whet stone before its usable.

Parker's American Made Premium Straight Razor

Two tips: respect and go sloooowly. The 6/8 is wider than others, so adjust accordingly. You will get much better the 2nd shave.

I liked the quarter hollow grind. There is more "meat" on the blade for longevity and continued service.

Feather Black SS Japanese Straight Razor

I find this razor to be of excellent quality, far above many of the lesser designs/brands available at major American retailers. This isn't junk, and it isn't cheap by any means. Fit and finish are excellent.

The blades are quite sharp and smooth. That being said, "sharp" is far from all that matters where razors are concerned. These razors are plenty sharp, AND smooth. 

The angle is different from either traditional straights or kamisori blades. It's not at all hard to pick up; my first shave with the Feather was excellent, and I anticipate all future shaves will be equally fine.

If you are interested in straight edge shaving I say get this product. If you are new to straight edge shaving just watch videos online first and take your time. Don't expect a quick shave off the bat like you are used to with a disposable. This straight edge requires patience and concentration. If you are in a rush, shelve this razor for that shave and go with something easy.