Thread: Str8s for Young Shavers?

I think The Tropher has the best take on this issue.

I would do the DE thing but actually take the time to make a rite of passage out of it. Some type of bonding thing that will mean a lot to him in the future.

I might think about the straight as a high school or even college graduation rite of passege for the two of you to share at that later time.

In the movie Captains Courageous, when they get back to Gloucester Long Jack Gives 12 year old Harvey Cheyne the razor that belonged to Manuel who was killed at sea.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028691/

Bigspendur, when exactly did you get to know my wife so well? You're right, I really did not factor her into this equation.

I think my kid could handle it, but if he did cut himself, my wife would cut me. And no styptic pencil in the world could stop that bleeding.

Thanks for everybody's opinions.

stats

Originally Posted by The Topher

Eh... Well ok here come my thoughts. They are not mature enough.

Straights are very dangerous and when people were using them at the turn of the century they had already been forced to grow up and start working from a very young age. Life expectancies were in the early to mid 50's then too so there wasn't any of this coddle the kid till they are 22 crap. When you hit puberty you were a man. You should be cause you were working the fields at 8.

Today, kids are not responsible until much later. Teen suicide rates are super high with 20% of kids contemplating suicide at one time or another. Additionally they will want to do stupid things like take it to school to show their friends or "play" with it.

Add to that the fact that this takes alot of skill and a 13 year olds face is very soft and fair unlike ours and I think that while your kid is probably a well adjusted kid free of the serious problems mentioned above, it might not be the best route for him physically. May I suggest you start with a DE and keep an eye on the extra blades until you know that he is acting responsibly with it. These still need the habits that a straight does like good angle and soft touch but is less likely to cause major problems is a childish idea gets into his mind. Lord knows I did some dumb stuff =>

+1 I agree.This would not be a good Thing for an adolescent kid.But thats only my opinion.

13 and a straight equals trouble more than likely. I am on the side of the DE. Then at graduation give the straight. I also think that as said earlier teach him and supervise not for iresponsibility sake but for the sake of years of good shaving. My dad never told me a thing about shaving I learned it all on my own, and have scars to proove it. That said I probably wouldn't have listened either so that's probably why he didn't bother. Good Luck

I think the DE is a great option. Dangerous enough if you're not paying attention...and think of the respect he'll have for the straight after a few cuts with a DE!

I have no worry teaching my son on a straight, and assuming that I am proficient at it by the time he needs to learn, I will teach him. He is a respectful kid and has a fine learning ability, and knows how to listen. No worries

If he was an unruly disrespectful careless thoughtless child then I'd let him figure it out on his own.

I have no special opinion, but it is my own!

Give the Feather Prebeau a try. They are made for smaller hands and have a good rubberized gripping surface. They also happen to have "Caged" blade design so the razor is a little safer then putting edge to skin. At least until he gets more comfortable with the whole idea.

Classic Shaving sells the blades at $13 per 10 blades. Even with a tough beard the blade is good for about 6 shaves.

So, for $115 (razor and blades) he can have his own shaving gear . If you really wanted to sweeten the deal you could go with a Tweezerman Brush and a Williams soap puck for about $15 more.

Regardless of what you decide, be sure to let us know how it goes. I am interested to hear a dad perspective.

I guess I disagree with the crowd in this instance. I grew up on a farm with lots of opportunities to kill myself but because I had been around it all from infancy, I learned what was safe and how to deal with what wasn't. Most of parenthood is setting a good example and I don't see how shaving with a straight should be any different.

If it is your intention to just hand a razor to your kid and walk away, then by all means give the kid a disposable Bic shaver. If on the other hand your son has been watching you shaving with a straight for 13 years, then he should already be very well prepared to start with his own.

I guess the suitability revolves around the atmosphere surrounding blades. I first started shaving around age 12 with a cheapo straight with no parental training or anything (I never even watched anyone else use one), and never had a problem (though I converted to Mach 3 when I turned 18).

I think it becomes an issue when it's elevated as some kind of "special" dangerous thing to be respected. If you're in a more sensitive community or family where a blade like a straight razor would be put on a pedestal as something not wholly mundane or utilitarian (but rather some dangerous potential weapon that will hurt or kill if not "respected"), it would likely not be wise to encourage its use to adolescents.

If you're in an environment where it would be treated like a tool that isn't really special or innately powerful, it shouldn't be an issue, and if the kid likes the idea, then it would be fine (though the nostalgia often doesn't take, and hassle and practicality is a more serious consideration).

An example of this kind of environment would be if you have nice carbon steel kitchen knives in your home. Which is more important: telling your kid about how careful they need to be so they don't cut themselves, or telling them how careful they need to be so they don't chip or rust the knives?

Having something like one of the cheap (but very decent) Sanguine XD20 disposable straights to take snapped DE blades to accompany a decent DE would be a good way to offer some choices, and they can go whatever way they want, and it wouldn't be too expensive up-front. No point in pushing them ("molding" or "guiding" I think are more popular terms) for something that is wholly personal.