Beginner question

Hello,
I have been using double edge razors since 2016 and only recently developed an interest in trying dingle edge shaving. The more I research the more I get overwhelmed with info.
What is a low risk/low budget beginner setup that you can recommend? I don’t think I am ready for straight razor shaving yet.


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I would probably try a Razorock Hawk. Stay away from those "dingle" shavers though.

I am in full agreement with dominicr for the AC-style blade format: the RR Hawk is nice!

An injector razor delivers a great shave, too, and can be had new (Parker adjustable) for around the same as the Hawk, or the many of the vintage Schick razors (I like the Type G, Type I (the Hydro-magic), and the adjustable Type M. User grade would probably set you back $20 or so! I love an injector shave!

The GEM style is the other option. Again, many wonderful vintage razors to be had for $20 at the usual sites. The Contour is a nice 60s-70s model that is smooth, mild, and fairly efficient. As with injectors, some versions are more aggressive. Check out Dave in KY videos in his Journal and YT channel. He has many great videos explaining these razors as he puts them to work on his handsome mug!

I too have recently discovered the artist club single blade razor, and very much enjoy its efficiency and comfort. Vintage Schick injectors are very close in comfort and performance, and quite economical.

Another vote for vintage Schicks, but they vary a lot. My favourite single-edge (much better than my RR Hawk) is a pale pink Schick Type K1/Lady Eversharp.
The handle is way longer than I normally like, but because it's mostly plastic, the balance is perfect. It feels quite mild.



On the other hand, I have a Type E3 that feels very rough.

Now, if you're wondering about the so-call "Hydro-Magic" feature on many Schick injectors, this is how it works:

The top half shows the Hydro-Magic lever in the normal position for shaving. The blade is clamped securely in the head. In fact, in order to replace it, you need to insert the "key" or "stem" portion of the injector cartridge into one end of the head (which spreads the cap and base slightly apart) and push the old blade out the opposite end by injecting a fresh blade.



The lower half shows it in the position for rinsing the head. This is the "hydro" part — flipping the Hydro-Magic lever up forces the cap away from the base, which loosens the grip on the blade, and lets rinse water flow around both sides of the blade. 

Here's the second ("magic") part of the gimmick — it also pushes a flat pin through the centre hole of the blade, which keeps it from falling out during the rinse. If you even try to pull the blade out, it will likely damage the head.

Back in normal position, the pin retracts, allowing you to shave and replace blades.

For all the bad press this razor has received in the wet shaving community, the OneBlade Core using a de-spined Gem blade gives me an excellent shave.  It's mild, efficient, comfortable, and low priced.  It also clears my chin whiskers like no other razor. The Feather FHS10 blades it was designed to use are not to my liking.  They are expensive frail and proprietary.  On the other hand, Gem blades are inexpensive, robust, and readily available.  Removing the spine from a Gem blade takes about 3 seconds (consult YouTube).  Lastly, the Core is a plastic razor. If you are careless and forceful inserting the blade, you can slice off the blade stops and ruin the razor.  

Depends the blade format.

For injector razors I'd start with a Schick Type M adjustable. They will run more than your standard run of the mill vintage Schick injectors in the $30 - $40 range but you should be able to find a setting that works for you as you dial in the razor and technique for injectors. Blades for these really come down to 2 major options with the loading key, Schick branded blades or Personna blades either branded as Personna or a third party. Schick blades are the sharper of the 2. Once you figure out if you like shaving with injector blades you can trade up to modern and/or go sideways into other vintage injectors. Plus side Type M adjustables resell quickly so unless you are looking to make a lot of money on one you can flip it quickly for what you have it in it.

For Gem style blades you have a lot of vintage options in the $20 range or less. I'd just pass go and go right to one of the most aggressive Gem razors out there, the Micromatic open comb. If that one doesn't get you to the finish line even if it involves razor burn and blood loss no gem style single edge razor will work for you then. They only get milder from there. The stainless steel ptfe coated blades are what the majority use to shave with but the carbon steel blades are also really good but require extra work in that you need to dry them between shaves to keep from rusting. For a beginner I suggest going to tryablade.com and buying a both those as singles instead of buying a pack of ten or more.

For Artist Club aka AC blades the best value option though not necessarily the best AC razors out there are going to be Razorock razors. The Razorock Hawk comes with different guard options and is one of the few all stainless steel AC razors that will run under $100. For blades again I'd suggest tryablade.com and buy an AC blade sampler pack.

I'd highly recommend trying a Supply SE. It is safe, efficient, and uses any injector blade. It isn't expensive and is built like a tank.

I too hadn't tried SE, so tried the OneBlade Genesis, which has awful, awful, awful, proprietary blades, so I returned it. Then I tried a Supply SE and find it to be quite good.

I wish this was my first razor back when I got into wet shaving. This is my suggestion:

https://www.italianbarber.com/products/r...fety-razor

Remember that single edge razor blades are thicker than double edge blades. That means SE blades do not curve within the head of the razor. While DE razors are normally designed to be used with the head somewhere around a 45 degree angle, SE razors are designed to be used such that the cap of the razor is flat against the face. This allows the SE blade to cut at a very shallow angle. Pivoting head cartridge razors operate using this same principle.