Thread: How old were you the first time?

Started at age 50...I think...where am I...where's my cane...

I will be 31, just waiting for my razor to arrive. I've been shaving with cartridges for over 15 years.

I was about 17-1/2. I was in Basic Training at Fort Jackson in August 77 (weeks after my 17th birthday) and was in Neu Ulm, Germany by December 1st. As soon as I wandered around the Munster and found a great knife shop, the first thing I did was get a big honking 8/8 straight razor. No one else in my barracks shaved with a straight razor, but... no one f$!%d with me while I was shaving, either.

Late teens probably. I watched my grandfather do it and had made new walnut scales for his razor which had cracked celluloid scales, only I called them handles cuz I weren't real smart then. At the same time I was into whittling small caricature figurines and ground my own knives from some wedge straights (Christensens, I think) I bought at a local barbers supply. The blades on these razors had been severely rusted from celluloid deterioration. While at the barber supply shop (Hegeners???) I enquired about straights for shaving and bought a Black Diamond for myself along with an Illinios 827 or 127 strop.

Since then I've gone through the DE phase, the Norelco phase, the beard phase (much time there), and now have returned to the fillet-your-face-phase. The Brits who call these things "cut throats" are altogether too close to the truth. I think I've lost more blood recently then in the old days when I tried such tricks as slowing down a Skilsaw blade with my knuckle.

so what was the question?? Bruce

18 I think. I wanted to do that for a long time but I couldn't find any. This was before the internet became accessible.
Eventually, my mother gave me a shavette for my birthday and I used it for several years. I learned everything myself and I paid my dues in blood.

Then at 24 I switched to a real straight but did not know how to care for it so I got lousy shaves. Half a year later I switched to mach3, but I didn't like that either.

I shaved only sporadic, much to the chagrin of my then-girlfriend-now-wife so she gave me a braun electric which was no improvement.
Last year november I was home alone, waiting for her to get home so that we could go out to celebrate out anniversary.

I found my old straight in the bathroom, stropped it on the red paste, then on the leather. I flayed the epidermis off my face, threw on aftershave, screamed so loud the neighbors must have heard it and that was the start of my renewed interest.

I decided I would succeed this time, I searched the net, found srp and the rest is history.

I was 12 or 13 when I started with a straight. It was the suggestion of my best friend's Dad that got me started. My mom thought I was insane but didn't try to interfere. My Dad thought I was "bad as h*ll" (in a good way). The toughest part was learning to hone with what was available back in those days - Belgians were a legend not to be found until later in life. So I used an Arkansas stone with lather. I'm glad I've stuck with it as it's a lot more satisfying than what's currently available IMHO.

Regards,
EL

because my Father shaved with a cut-throat I was destined to try my first shave of the fuzz with his when he was out. must have been very young, I remember the shave very well and my top lip still advertises this memory to me every day.
19 was when I got my first razor for an Xmas present from my parents, a Timor Special extra hollow ground 6/8". I was allowed to use my fathers strop under his supervision till I could get my own (next birthday as it turned out). I have used a straight only since then and I am now 45 ish I still think one of the best parts of straight shaving is the saturdays spent hunting though the "brika-brak" shops looking for that special razor.

PuFF

I was 35 (1 year ago). I had tried several electrics and every cartridge and disposable on the market.

I still don't really seem to have the hang of this thing though.

Originally Posted by MTS

I still don't really seem to have the hang of this thing though.

Welcome aboard! The learning curve is long but the road is fun.


BTW - I've enjoyed reading everyone's individual stories. Thanks for sharing!

Originally Posted by PapaBull

the first thing I did was get a big honking 8/8 straight razor. No one else in my barracks shaved with a straight razor, but... no one f$!%d with me while I was shaving, either.

that's funny stuff. i was 33, last year. i borrowed father's dust collector before buying one on ebay. i thought i overpaid, but after having it honed and changing my technique, well worth the price. now need to invest in a better brush and maybe another strop.

vgod