Entry level straight razor?

Tough question, whats your shave method at the moment? Do you want new or antique restored? Whats your budget to get started?

New I'd say anything from straight razor designs, they come pre-honed (razors are not fully honed from factory) by one of the best honemeisters in the US.
Old, look at whipped dog razors. I've have no personal experience with the gentleman, but he has a good reputation.

beyond that, can't be much more help without knowing what you are looking for.
 
entry level could be anything from a properly honed gold dollar to a whipped dog sight unseen razor. you will need a strop unpasted for the daily maintaince of it. he sells a poor mans special that will get you started with a strop.
 
just got a sight unseen and poor man's strop from whipped dog, excellent start to the madness. I went from a DE (still using both) to straight. I'm getting some pulling and uncomfortableness from the straight on my neck/under jawline but I am positive it is the angle as I get comfortable side of face/cheek shaves with the straight and no discomfort DE on the chin and neck.
 
very many guys have a little hair right on the bottom of the neck that grows the wrong way, plus that skin has more give, so you just have to get the angle right, as well as your direction and stretch. You'll get it.

Whats your soap and prep?
 
beside the right angle, you should use shaving cream

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For your first straight razor, there are lots of options. However, no matter the brand of razor I would recommend a round point to prevent nicking issues. My first straight was a modern Dovo, which I still have and use. Boker also still makes nice straight razors still for a decent price. If you want an older vintage razor, there are literally hundreds of good razors out there so I don't even know where to start! If you want more information, feel free to email me so I don't bore you with a long post here with too much information:)
 
I've been shaving with a DE for a year and a half, and I picked up a good condition vintage straight from an antique store. I've been working on it slowly for a few months, it needed new scales (the blade is good condition, the scales were cracked) and now I'm working on honing it, which is proving difficult, I would recommend the whipped dog sight unseen for an inexpensive first straight. I've purchased a brush knot and strop from Larry (whipped dog) and am contemplating his honing feedback service, he's a good guy with great service, he sometimes take an extra day to respond to an email but he's always happy to answer questions!
 
I work at a shop that sells all different varieties, but I always tell customers to buy the Boker King Cutter. It strops easily, only require slight stropping to get shave ready, and is affordable. Its $150 - which yes is more than the usual $70 Solingen's you see around, but again its a one-time purchase. Do yourself a favor and buy the nicer one. If you want a nicer handle, the new Boker Eddleweiss is pretty much a King Cutter with bone handle and beautiful acid etch on the blade and runs $210 MSRP. Geissen Forsthof also makes really nice stainless blades for around $160. Less maintenance due to stainless steel yet still very high quality.
 
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