Thread: Converts

Well she never said I was nuts, but I definitely converted Silver

I have sorta got one of my friends interested. He was actually always interested but had never had any success.
He has an old razor (I think it belonged to a deceased relative who was a barber) and he'd tried to use it with a dry face and canned foam!
I had a look at the thing and unfortunately it is so overhoned I don't think it could be brought back from the dead.
I haven't yet quite got thee hang of honing myself so I have given him the details of a guy who offers a honing service and told him what to look out for on ebay. Hopefully we'll get him using a straight soon enough, the enthusiasm is certainly there.
I gave him a shavette this weekend so he can have a go with that in the meantime.
I know a lot of people hate shavettes and don't think that they are valid practice for a straight, but I have to respectfully disagree. I started with a shavette and I found the transition to a straight very easy. I still use mine from time to time when I'm in a hurry.

Incidentally, this is my first post, so hi!
I've been over on badger and blade foor a while now, but I thought I'd register here too as I have learned a lot of useful stuff by 'lurking'

Oooh no I just infected a colleague with the virus.

He told me last week he was shaving with shaving oil and disposables told him that that didn't work for me with the disposables but that the shaves where better with a DE.. and that I switched to a straight soon after that..

So today I showed him my straights and DE's and lend him one (a 6/8 Puma) with a strop.. Lyns Dvd,a DE with some spare feather blades.. is that a jumpstart or what..

Maarten

I just got another one guys... I gave a Wapi I made to my uncle as a gift, now he's all into it. He was originally interested just for the novelty of having an old school razor, but I showed him some things and now he's all set to get a strop, a badger brush and some soaps... He's really excited

My co-worker was complaining about not getting a good shave using gillette, shick and such infernal hair removing tools. Knowing I was into straight shaving he asks me if the hype is real, so I tell him, yes, if you are a little bit patient, and pay close attention to the golden rules of straight shaving.

So I end up borrowing him a good straight and a strop, tells him some of the most important basics and to take care, and of he goes.

Comes back the next day, big smile on his lips, not a nick, just some slight razorburn on the neck, and tells me he had the shave of his life!!

I'd say he's devoted!!!

Originally Posted by pjrage

But honestly, the one thing I've learned thus far is just how happy people are with their disposables/electrics/etc. They honest to God do not see a reason to change, no matter what info I offer. They are perfectly happy with how long their cartridges last, and how convenient, close and comfortable their shaves are.

So True, I was talking to a friend of mine and he was extolling the virtues of Mach3. He feels that it gives him a shave "smooth as a baby's butt". His skin is probably the most horrible I have ever seen! I am surprised the mach3 does not just shave off all the bumps and valleys he created on his face.

Im converting one now, Im giving him a razor to try this week we will see how it go's. He is sick of mach3 prices and is very interested in straights in general. I think he will do well.

Originally Posted by pjrage

Everytime I start to lay out the benefits, most people are still skeptical, basically combating each point [...] Even if I get anyone vaguely interested, they then hear just how [it] would cost [...] and how they have to learn it all over and do research, etc,

That's interesting. I think there's a certain mindset to things. I'd call it a "tradesperson" or "handyman" mindset, as opposed to an "instant" mindset. There are people who want an instant and easy fix now, and people who are happy to take time and effort to do things.

The quick, easy and instant fix is often more expensive in the long run. For example, my local power company decided not to do maintenance on power lines, "we'll just wait till things break and then repair them." This saves them hundreds of thousands a year, but costs them millions every couple of years when lots of things fail.

Obviously no person can do everything themselves. You can't be cook, personal valet, cleaner, electrical, shoemaker, tailor, carpenter and mechanic all in one. But I think there's a sensible middle ground between the Instaman and that impossible all-rounder, and I'd call that the Handyman.

The Handyman is one who knows they'll never be expert at dozens of things, but when a problem comes up, they'll see if they can solve it themselves, and they'll take measures to ensure it doesn't come up again in the future. That sort of person knows that a big expense now is often cheaper in the long run (I must have spent thousands on disposable razors over the years), and that a little work is worth it for the end results - and more importantly, the work is fun in itself.

The Instaman can't be stuffed with all that.

I'd be very interested to see about the membership of this forum, whether people have other handyman sorts of hobbies, or whether most are desk jockeys who just watch tv when they're not working or shaving, or what.

Originally Posted by KyleAaron

I'd be very interested to see about the membership of this forum, whether people have other handyman sorts of hobbies, or whether most are desk jockeys who just watch tv when they're not working or shaving, or what.

I was a mechanic by trade until I moved to attend college. Now I'm working as a parts guy because I can get benefits as a part-timer.

I would be willing to bet that a large majority of the members here fall under your handyman description. I feel that people that have hobbies tend to have multiple hobbies. Multiple hobbies = willingness to learn and try diverse new things = handymen (albeit sometimes not very good ones).

Others know what I'm up to and they are noticing my awesome shave at social gatherings. There is definitely status in using a straight edge and the ladies seem to take an interest in the results.

Straight shaving scares a lot of dudes, but some are starting to ask questions. Hoping to convert some soon....

Pabster