Thread: Str8s for Young Shavers?

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.

I have to agree with Utopian. Even at 13, if you teach him how to handle the str8 he will be fine. He will also get a huge confidence boost by having his father trust him enough to let him shave with a str8