Teaching Others to Shave

I guess that this is the right spot to post this. I have two boys that I have already taught to shave using DE razors. For the first one, I made him a custom wooden handle and gave it to him as a gift before we started our lessons. For the last one, I took him into the shop and had him turn his own handle on the lathe and then we mounted it up. That has been his razor ever since.

Now my oldest daughter has a pretty serious boy friend and she doesn't like the way shaves. I guess he misses quite a few hairs. She wants me to teach him how to use a straight razor. I'm a little torn at this idea. It could either go well and be a good bonding time for us (like it was with my own boys), or it could not go so well. He is a great kid and I really like him, but he tends to think that he already knows it all. I kind of feel like I'd be teaching someone who is accident prone how to use a gun for the first time in their life. Perhaps I should start him out on a DE?? Just get him used to handling sharp blades, building up a lather and other basics. I know some of you guys have taught many people how to shave with a straight. What's your advise?

Start with the DE

Yup, start with a DE. It is like training wheels for a straight razor. If he gets competent with that there may be no need to go to a straight razor unless he wants to.

Bob

Give him the straight. Before 1904 it was the only way to shave. That's my .02.

I'd show him a straight and explain how long it takes to learn to use it. What is involved like stropping and cleaning every time. The amount of time it takes to shave and the issues he will have in the beginning. Then say, "Or you can try this DE".

Most young guys don't sprout the wire tough beards til they're like late 20s early thirties. By the time he has the wire beard he will be an ace.

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Originally Posted by DVW

I guess that this is the right spot to post this. I have two boys that I have already taught to shave using DE razors. For the first one, I made him a custom wooden handle and gave it to him as a gift before we started our lessons. For the last one, I took him into the shop and had him turn his own handle on the lathe and then we mounted it up. That has been his razor ever since.

Now my oldest daughter has a pretty serious boy friend and she doesn't like the way shaves. I guess he misses quite a few hairs. She wants me to teach him how to use a straight razor. I'm a little torn at this idea. It could either go well and be a good bonding time for us (like it was with my own boys), or it could not go so well. He is a great kid and I really like him, but he tends to think that he already knows it all. I kind of feel like I'd be teaching someone who is accident prone how to use a gun for the first time in their life. Perhaps I should start him out on a DE?? Just get him used to handling sharp blades, building up a lather and other basics. I know some of you guys have taught many people how to shave with a straight. What's your advise?

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Unless he asks you to show him how, avoid the situation. Don't butt into a situation where he's not the driver of the request. It could and probably will blow up in your face. Caution!

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Originally Posted by Johntoad57

Unless he asks you to show him how, avoid the situation. Don't butt into a situation where he's not the driver of the request. It could and probably will blow up in your face. Caution!

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Well right now it is my daughter who wants me to teach him, and he wants whatever she wants. So I am not sure how keen he really is on the idea. He says that he wants to learn, but that could simply be the him trying to please her. I like the DE idea. We will start with that and it will give me an idea of how committed he is (to shaving, not to my daughter :p ). Thanks for the advise guys. It was good to check my gut on it.

Brings me to why women live longer than men. :rofl2:

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Originally Posted by outback

Brings me to why women live longer than men. :rofl2:

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When my son asked me, "Why do men die before women?" I told him, "Because they want to my son, they want to."


Just don't tell my wife that I shared that joke.....

Agree with start him on a DE.

Remember that a DE with good soap and a brush is light years better that a cartridge. That will cover your daughter’s requirements for his smoother face. She shouldn’t dictate how he gets there.