Thread: Another newbie!

Hello gentlemen. I've been lurking on this site for a few weeks and finally decided to register. I have long been fascinated by straight razor shaves, mainly from the old westerns. My father has my great-grandfather's old razor and I always wanted one. I finally found one in an antique store, bought it, took it home, squirted out a handful of Gillette foamy, shakily stuck that old razor into a few days growth, and hollered...loudly. I did know that maybe it needed "stropping", so I stropped it on my belt. I tackled it again...it hurt just as badly, and it's been folded up in the box it came in. Since getting on here, I've decided maybe I should send it off to Mr. Lynn for honing. However, I have been using a mug and brush and a disposable. It's like you men have said...it has become a pleasurable ritual and I just wanted to say, "Thanks for all the tips and info on a great site."

That brings up a question I was curious about. I'm assuming that all of the right shaving techniques - good beard prep, quality soaps, etc., would vastly improve even a disposable razor shave. Would that be a correct assumption?

The reason for the question is that my son was watching me shave the first week I had returned to the str8, with the somewhat predictable results - so although he's got a few years before this is an issue, he doesn't want to use a str8. My thought was I could either get him on a DE, or at least a disposable single blade, but get him used to using a mug and brush etc.

Thoughts? How many members here have passed str8 shaving to their sons?

Oh, and apologies for the thread hijack and welcome. I'm about 2.5 weeks into this and haven't tried to cut my throat for several days now. Shaves are mostly pretty good, although I'm struggling with getting the neck as smooth as the face. Lots of good tips here.

Its better in my opinion to pass on the DE first, then the straight. Children especially lack the maturity to shave with a straight. Lynn's kids do it, but Lynn could teach a squirrel to shave with a straight. All the principles of shaving remain the same either way, with the exception of skin stretching. Although for a DE stretching only provides a slightly closer shave; in straight shaving stretching becomes an essential part of securing the face against movement.

A DE is an economical beginning too and doesn't require the patience of a straight. Kids will learn just like you can to shave with a straight, eventually. But the eventually part can take a while for kids.

A straight that is not as sharp as it should be or not stropped correctly will have a certain feel to you, and you'll know from experience shaving that things aren't right. A kid on the other hand will simply lopp off his chin and sit there crying. Now how do you explain that to his Mother? MMMMMM. It wouldn't be too outlandish to be fighting a child endangerment suit.

But all the principles are the same for the most part. A good shave is a good shave, prep is prep, and even with a DE patience helps a lot.

The DE also teaches a lot of critical knowledge first. For example, shaving blade angle is important. It can also teach some bad habits, like shaving against the grain, which is not always a good idea or even required of a straight. But, its better than trying to teach them to shave with a floppy head Mach 3.

Again, all just my opinion...

My younger son (9) think's its very cool, my shaving with a straight. He even shows some interest when I'm deep in a honing trance. My older son (12) is too pre-occupied with other kid stuff to give a hoot either way. He feigns interest, but I think it's because he thinks thats what I want. Anyway, his peach fuzz is starting to turn a little darker, he'll be there soon. I was thinking about maybe the Bic metals to get him started, if I can find them. That's about the safest way I can think of for him to get used to steel on his face. Pretty soon I'll get him his own brush and a tube of Taylor's or something like that.

Jeff

From what I am seeing lately, the Bic Sensitive Disposable is becoming the disposable of choice. That may have something to do with the alleged announcement that the Metal is being discontinued. If this will be the first time shaving, then I think the Snesitive is probably the best "introductory" tool. At less than $2.50 for a dozen, we're talking a 3 month supply for someone just starting out. My son used a high-dollar Braun, then moved to the Metals and now to a DE. He still uses a Tweezerman Badger brush and he also has a couple of the St. Charles shaving soaps (little thief!)! But his skin has cleared up and he is hanging in with the routine. Oh, Charles at QED sent me a couple of Trumper's Violet samples...my son really like those, so I need to get him a tub of The Body Shop shaving cream.

RT

Originally Posted by rtaylor61

s (little thief!)! Oh, Charles at QED sent me a couple of Trumper's Violet samples...my son really like those, so I need to get him a tub of The Body Shop shaving cream.

RT

Excelent stuff, I prefer that over most of my cremes/soaps. But what it has to do with Violet ?!@

Nenad