Thread: I'm helping a newbie, where do I start?

With my son it was a little easier, because he had seen the process quite a bit. Stropping needed practice but he was very nice and slow and consistent until he started to be better then his speed slowly picked up. He has seen me shave a bit and whenever we are together we often shave together. He loves to dabble in my soaps when he is around. The ability to shave with me I think helped him a lot.

I taught two guys how to shave with a straight. I made them watch me shave beginning to end and then I watched them shave correcting their mistakes as they shaved. I figured it was better that way rather than let them destroy my equipment or hack themselves to pieces on their own. The end result was one guy turned into a straight shaving fanatic who collects pristine vintage razors and strops. The other guy shaved because of hazmat issues with his job. He recently changed jobs and now never shaves or cuts his hair.

I have not gotten anyone to join the fun or SR shaving yet. But i do like the idea of shaving and ha ing him watch, then pointing out what they are doi g wrong when they shave while i watch. Also id say it would he best to give a keen, shave ready razor to them to try with. Not a dull one.

Just my thoughts.

Originally Posted by RezDog

With my son it was a little easier, because he had seen the process quite a bit. Stropping needed practice but he was very nice and slow and consistent until he started to be better then his speed slowly picked up. He has seen me shave a bit and whenever we are together we often shave together. He loves to dabble in my soaps when he is around. The ability to shave with me I think helped him a lot.

That’s great! I hope to do that with my sons in the future, so it’s nice to read your experience.

I found some electric tape over the edge of a straight was a good way to figure out the motions. Being a right handed shaver only I needed to figure out how to twist my hand the right ways and feel that doing so without the possibility of removing a lot of flesh helped.

I usually give them a razor that I have that is duller than a butter knife and have them start by watching videos and practicing shaving and stropping. I teach them how to make lather in a bowl and on the face. When they are ready, I let them watch me shave and in turn help them with their first shave.
If they have shaved a few times, I let them watch me shave if they want to, watch them shave, and then offer the best advise I can.
You will easily be able to figure out what's needed as you watch.
Some people seem to struggle and some take to shaving like a duck to water.

Good luck Freddie!

Pete <:-}

I've helped several in my travels. My best tip: start where they want to start. That will bolster their interest. You know the steps. Present in their natural sequence. Answer their questions along the way.

The only person I have mentored is my youngest son.
Handed him my keenest razor and said "Go for it".
Not one nick or bump, nice clean shave.
OTOH, My first shave looked like I'd been in a punch up with a possum...

Originally Posted by Grazor

The only person I have mentored is my youngest son.
Handed him my keenest razor and said "Go for it".
Not one nick or bump, nice clean shave.
OTOH, My first shave looked like I'd been in a punch up with a possum...

In a way it reminds me of teaching my 17 year old son--except that he'd watched me prep and shave many times.

On his Very First Shave the little •••• could use both hands and not a single nick, cut, weeper Anything!

He's left the straight razor fold but I think he's coming back as he's tired of his scraggly 'beard'.

Originally Posted by RezDog

With my son it was a little easier, because he had seen the process quite a bit. Stropping needed practice but he was very nice and slow and consistent until he started to be better then his speed slowly picked up. He has seen me shave a bit and whenever we are together we often shave together. He loves to dabble in my soaps when he is around. The ability to shave with me I think helped him a lot.

Rez, most times when shaving comes up in convo with my two sons it usually is "How can you put those damn sharp instruments to your throat (accompanied by shudders)? They already think I'm a crazy old coot (a mild term for a stronger expletive ((black humor in the genes)).