Thread: Teaching a child

My little cousin will be reaching the shaving age in around a year. I'm still pretty new to shaving with a straight, but I think in that time I should become proficient enough to teach him. And that's where my question lies. Do you think it's a good idea to try and teach a 13 year old to use a straight, or let him get acquainted with regular shaving first? My girlfriend's mother brought up the issue of acne and other hormone laden skin changes. So if anyone has any insight I would greatly appreciate it.

I think it depends on what his parents have to say about the matter. If they're fine, then I say go for it and see if he's even got an interest. 100 years ago, this wasn't even an option...kids HAD to learn on a straight razor and unlike us, by the time his hair got nice and tough, he was already an expert on getting rid of it.

The additional face care associated with str8 shaving may help reduce his acne issues.

Very much depends on what the boy's parents have to say. I don't see why not. Straights are not dangerous provided that they are used for their intended purpose. I had pocket knives at that age.

Problem is if he starts straight shaving at a very young age, he'll likely develop HAD quite young also and resort to stealing to fuel the habit as his pocket money will never support Cotis and Jnats, not to mention Eschers. So you'd be turning him into a criminal indirectly.

Either that or he'll discover ebay and continue to inflate the prices of just about everything that is related to straights.

Definitely not a good idea. Tell him that beards are in. And so are electric razors.

funny..I thought about teaching my nephew how to use a str8 razor..but he doesnt have nuff facial whiskers..plus his mom (my sister)..would go bonkers..lol..you never know til you try!..but my nephew opt'd for an electric machine

pcdad

So far you're saying exactly what I wanted to hear. His parents should be ok with it, except his father has had a beard for 30 years so he may be biased. If anyone has had any actual experience with a similar situation, maybe with a son or nephew etc. that would be great too. Thanks for the quick answers.

Haha you posted as I typed, I'm glad I'm not in the boat alone though.

Originally Posted by nirve9909

My little cousin will be reaching the shaving age in around a year.
.....snip....

Shaving with a blade -- any blade -- demands
a good shave soap, brush and lathering.

A worthy brush and a couple of well selected
shave soaps or creams will get him going. Even
in a house full of tossables.

For a beginner there are a lot of choices but the
yellow handled BiC for sensitive skin razors go a long way
down the wet shaving road with minimum expense,
muss and fuss.

Handing a youngster a brush, mug and soap is one of
those memorable growing up events. Next to a toothbrush
and a bar of soap it can be his most important personal
grooming tool for years.

Do visit with his Dad so Dad is not deprived of the important and
fun father-son bonding thing. The "we got together and
thought you might like" thing is a great model for growing up too.

Well, I wouldn't volunteer an opinion ... but you did ask.

First, it depends on the boy and how he responds to teaching. Some boys would follow every step so meticulously that it would take them an hour or more to shave, some would try to whack at it for thirty seconds and call it good. Boy #2 definitely doesn't start with a straight.

Given an "average" boy, if there is such a thing, I'd start with a very safe/mild single-edge, double-edge adjustable set down to "1", or even (horrors) a multiblade cartridge, until he gets some skill in prep, building lather, learning the facial curves, etc.; then, a step up to something more aggressive in the safety razor line, and finally a straight. I'm not being overprotective - I just don't want him to have a really bad experience and give up on straights forever, as hopefully he'll show up here if the straights work for him and I'll get to chat with him.

You deserve a whole bucket of Attaboys! for caring enough to teach him properly, whatever way you choose to do it.

I agree with the other guys. It'll depend on the boy, and on his parents.

If his parents are Ok with him learning, I'd just broach the topic in conversation and see what his interest is like. One heck of a lot of people just see shaving as a necessary evil to remove hair from their face, and just want it over and done with as fast as possible, and if thats how he's thinking about shaving then I'd leave it for a bit and see if his interest grows later.

If he seems keen though, I'd get him right into it at the start! It might be worth him having a DE or *shudder* an M3 for days when he's in a rush, but a razor from the classifieds here, plus strop, brush and soap would be a really great way of getting him started off!

And to you for offering the time to teach him!