Thread: Why Old School?

This is more of a blog, but I would like to hear what you have to say your reason is... I must say, since I have joined SRP and talked with my friends, they are interested in "Old School Shaving" too...

"The “art” of straight razor shaving has intrigued me to some point and even to the point of visiting this web forum: straightrazorplace.com

I guess some of it goes back to my dad handing me a buck fifty and sending me to the barber shop and telling me “tell the barber you want a hair cut that will last a month”…

This also goes back to the “man shop talk” when the “old guys” would come off the street stand around if there was no sitting room and shoot the s*@t for hours on end, drink coffee and bitch about the other half… Or yes, look at the "Playboys" that were left in the chairs.

The pipe and cigar smoking, the smell of Barbiside, tonic and talc after a good haircut…

A few weeks ago I ordered my first Double Edge Safety Razor, several packs of different blades to find the best shave, shave soap and a brush… This was my initiation into “old school” shaving rather than going straight to the jugular.

So far it’s going good, no nicks, closer shave and much less razor burn to my sensitive skin..."

"Several of the reasons that another "mode" of shaving has caught my eye are;

My dad is in a home; he has Parkinson’s and has had several mini strokes over the past three years.

When I go home I usually cut his hair and shave him.

Recently he hasn’t been well enough to sit for periods of time and is unable to get a quick blade shave so the nursing staff has been using an electric razor…

This last time I was home I took about an hour on him, cutting his hair, doing the hot face wraps and so on… I used the DE razor on him and that was the closest shave he had had in over 6 weeks.

I enjoy taking the time with him and even if he doesn’t show it with a smile, he basically can’t, I know that he enjoys it…

He suffers from other health issues also and I know that he is more mellow and relaxed when I’m done…

My mom in passing says “you should go to barber school”… I’ve thought about it but…

In away this topic goes back to a lot of things… Pipe smoking, RYO cigarettes, matches ~vs.~ BIC lighters…

The nostalgia, the history of how we got to where we are today…"

"Well I did it last night... One of the members at the SRP Forum had this up for sale...

I asked around and it seems to be the size and shape that is recommend for a "newbe"..."

For a first razor a 5/8 or 6/8 seems to be the way to go. I have a Dovo 5/8 and it shaves great, plus I can maneuver it around my mouth and nose with ease. I just ordered a Dovo 6/8 so I can not speak for that size yet, but from what I hear it is just as good.

Happy Shaving

My father also suffers from health issues and was the first person I shaved other than myself. It is always a truly a rewarding and humbling experience to do something for the person who taught you how to be a man especially something so intimate.

This experience for me was an introduction into barbering, I am due to graduate in march.

Good on you for doing something so special and meaningful for your old man. Our dads aren't going to be around forever and spending quality time with them while they are here is such an awesome thing.

NoseWarmer,

I am very sorry to hear about your dad. It speaks volumes of your character that you would help groom him in his time of need. You are a good son and gentleman.

David

Originally Posted by TSasser

For a first razor a 5/8 or 6/8 seems to be the way to go. I have a Dovo 5/8 and it shaves great, plus I can maneuver it around my mouth and nose with ease. I just ordered a Dovo 6/8 so I can not speak for that size yet, but from what I hear it is just as good.

Happy Shaving

Same here, just ordered a 6/8 to feel the difference.

I have both a 5/8 and 6/8 full hollow and can't really tell the difference in the shave.

Originally Posted by jeffegg2

I have both a 5/8 and 6/8 full hollow and can't really tell the difference in the shave.

What would you consider the difference between a 5/8 to actually 'feel' and 'notice' a difference? From 5/8 to 8/8?

Originally Posted by detroyt

My father also suffers from health issues and was the first person I shaved other than myself. It is always a truly a rewarding and humbling experience to do something for the person who taught you how to be a man especially something so intimate.

This experience for me was an introduction into barbering, I am due to graduate in march.

Good on you for doing something so special and meaningful for your old man. Our dads aren't going to be around forever and spending quality time with them while they are here is such an awesome thing.

I hadn't seen him in about 8 weeks up until last week... He has really changed a lot in that time... I looks so much like my grandpa did when he, grandpa, was bed ridden...

I guess this is how I'm making up time that he didn't spend with me.

Originally Posted by Alembic

NoseWarmer,

I am very sorry to hear about your dad. It speaks volumes of your character that you would help groom him in his time of need. You are a good son and gentleman.

David

I'm finding that it's hard to teach kids anything as they get older... My oldest is in college now and last time I was home I gave home one of my pipes, tobacco pouches, tamper and a little tobacco...

On his 18th birthday, he kept bugging me to let him smoke a pipe... I was hessatant, but I showed him how to pack, light and puff slowly (I didn't give him the best tobacco also)...

Like a little 18 year old "man" he smoked the bowl to the bottom... I don't think that he will smoke a pipe that often if he does, but I thought that the "Old Man Gift" was a peace offering in to manhood...

My point on this... I should have listened to my dad more and kept my mouth shut MORE... This is some of the stuff about "Old School"...

Well the day has come... Two weeks ago today was my last haircut & shave for my dad... A week later, my mom called me to the nursing home and told me his "time" was near...

In the last seven days I saw the man that I grew to love die before my eyes... His final breaths occured on Monday March 12, 2012 at 0815 AM...

Today was the day that he was put to rest... I know that it will be hard for my mom, but in my own ways, it will be hard for me too... I'm going to miss the haircut and shave that I gave to him every three weeks along with the quality time that was spent...

Complications from Pneumonia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s & Bone/Blood Cancer has taken him away… But the memories will always be…