Thread: How old were you the first time?

I know all you kids want to know about the others in the class
How old were you the first time you first straight shaved yourself? (No not a barber shaving your ugly mug!)
I started down the path to irritation and ingrown hairs at 14 years old. Actually tried an electric for a few months but that was REAL crap
Then, just last Winter, at the age of 36, I saw the promises made by the beautiful Art of Shaving ad copy and then looked on the web and found the Leisure Guy's blog which led me to Badger and Blade, then Shave My Face (where I tried DE shaving and Gem Single Edge shaving), then the promised land: Straight Razor Place and the best shaving on the Planet - Traditional Straight Razor Shaving.
How old were you the first time and how long you been doin' it?

21.
barely, anyway. A birthday present to myself.
Before that, I used mach III for pretty much as long as I have been shaving. I tried electric a few times; hated it. Now content shaving in the land of milk and honey.

-Michael

It's just been 8 months for me. Started last Xmas. I was 38 at the time. Prior to that, I DE-ed for 6 mo. And prior to that, cartridge razors. I tried to use an electric razor two different times in my life. Both times ended up being very expensive mistakes.

I'm definitely enjoying my time with straights. The learning curve has been steeper than I had anticipated, but I think I've finally started to turn the corner. Hoo-RAY!



--
manuel.

About 27 Maybe 28

Hey Michael and JMS,
Do you mind saying how long ago you started / how old you are now?

Originally Posted by berzerkeleyan

I'm definitely enjoying my time with straights. The learning curve has been steeper than I had anticipated, but I think I've finally started to turn the corner. Hoo-RAY!



--
manuel.

Manuel,
What's been the toughest / easiest parts of the curve? Honing, stropping, or the actual shaving?

I'll be 43 next month so i've been using a straight for just about 16 years!

Originally Posted by DEwey

Hey Michael and JMS,
Do you mind saying how long ago you started / how old you are now?

tsk, tsk.
Both our ages are in our profiles!
I'm still 21, my birthday is in February.

-Michael

Originally Posted by DEwey

Manuel,
What's been the toughest / easiest parts of the curve? Honing, stropping, or the actual shaving?

Dewey:

Easily the toughest part has been the actual shaving process. My technique is getting better; I can now leave the house without too much embarrassment. But I have a ways to go. Despite getting some incredibly well-honed razors from various members and storefronts, I still haven't achieved the shave I can regularly attain with a DE.

Obviously some areas of my face are easier to get smoother than others. My neck is probably the easiest, followed by the sides of the face. My chin? Dammmmnnn. I usually spend up to twenty minutes just there. And even after all that time, there's still stubble. I am getting better, though -- there's less stubble now after a shave than when I first started this past Xmas.

I know none of you will believe this, but honing has been the easiest part of the journey. My anal retentive nature (and fear of ruining a razor) forced me to take my time when I first got my Norton. With the 4000/8000 stone, and the 4-sided pasted paddle I got from Tony Miller, I've been able to get my own honed razors as sharp as the ones I've received from others.

Stropping is pretty intuitive, I think. I'm no speed demon, but it's not about how fast you are, is it?

I was ( and still am) 29.