Go forth and spread the faith by the razor ...

Printable View

10-07-2006, 03:46 PM
Howard Wallace

Go forth and spread the faith by the razor ...

A young man who is a friend of the family stopped by last evening. He just got his first decent job, working heavy construction. He mentioned my clean-shaven appearance, one thing led to another, and before he left the house he was carrying a bag with an antique straight razor, an old boar's bristle brush, a scuttle, and bars of Williams and HoneyBee Old Spice soap.

Even though I had shaved that morning I did another "teaching" shave for him. I used the razor I gave him, which is not quite as good as my regulars, and being that it was the second shave of the day I got down to where my skin was a little sensitive. It was worth it though to see his enthusiasm.

It felt good to get rid of some of the shaving stuff I've accumulated too, while possibly making another convert. He was certainly excited about giving the straight razor shaving a try.
10-07-2006, 03:54 PM
FiReSTaRT

Good! I've done the same last night... Last night I played poker with a few buddies (came out even). 3 of them use a brush/soap combo. 1 with Mach3 and 2 with DEs (one being my convert). The other DE user got interested in going straight and I told him that if he picks up an old e-bay piece, I'll clean it up/hone it and show him how to use it. Speaking of which, I should get his contact info from the wallet, but it's too damn cold downstairs. I wanna hibernate until tuesday!
10-07-2006, 04:44 PM
RichZ

It's great to turn on a new person to the art..:y
10-07-2006, 04:45 PM
FiReSTaRT

Even if it's just DE, it's better than cartriges/electrics and it can be a logical step to going straight.
10-07-2006, 04:47 PM
RichZ

Quote:

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

Even if it's just DE, it's better than cartriges/electrics and it can be a logical step to going straight.

Thats very true. Before you know it they will be asking you about a str8.
10-07-2006, 05:21 PM
FiReSTaRT

I hope so as well. So a good result would lead to an even better one.
10-07-2006, 07:07 PM
wvbias

I converted a friend and coworker without
even trying. He simply decided straights
were cool when I showed off a couple razors
that I had bought. He started out with a kit
from Tony then ordered a 6/8 Torrey from
Bill.

Terry
10-07-2006, 08:29 PM
thebigspendur

Quote:

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

Even if it's just DE, it's better than cartriges/electrics and it can be a logical step to going straight.

Did you say going straight? I won't touch that!
10-07-2006, 08:37 PM
Kees

Quote:

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

Even if it's just DE, it's better than cartriges/electrics and it can be a logical step to going straight.

Many members seem very enthusiastic about DE's. I am afraid I got my worst shaves with 'em. For a quicky I rather use a cartridge than a DE. I am always having trouble getting the angle of a DE with the skin right.
10-07-2006, 08:39 PM
FiReSTaRT

I've never been known to be very PC so I say it with impunity. When using this expression, I never got any flame from the gay community. (pun not intended) Did get a few good laughs though.
10-07-2006, 08:51 PM
xman

Well done Howard! I've been working on my F.I.L. The fault was his in the first place. He said he wanted to. I set him up for Fathers' Day and he's only NOW asking me about stropping. Boy is his technique bad! Easily destroyed the edge I put on for him before his first shave. I don't know if he'll have the patience to get it right because he's so hopeless right now, but I'll keep at him and others if I can.

X
10-07-2006, 09:11 PM
Feng_Li

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Did you say going straight? I won't touch that!

Hey, it's a lifestyle choice! :-p
10-07-2006, 10:27 PM
FiReSTaRT

X, just get him to work on it with a butter knife before you hone another edge. I'm just scared of you teaching him to hone :eek:
10-08-2006, 05:45 AM
xman

Quote:

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

X, just get him to work on it with a butter knife before you hone another edge. I'm just scared of you teaching him to hone :eek:

That's a very good suggestion and I know it has been suggested before so I don't know why I didn't think of it. Thanks for the reminder.

X
10-08-2006, 05:48 AM
FiReSTaRT

You should have done that with me as well. I still thank God that I didn't put any nicks on your TM strop lol.
10-08-2006, 08:30 AM
Steelforge

I recently lent a stack of old gear to a friend. A 1940 Gilette SS, Edwin Jagger badger brush, GFT Violet cream, Palmolive cream, GFT Coral skin food, and some Derby DE blades. I also gave him a DE shaving lesson.

After a couple of weeks I asked how he was getting on and he said he was loving it, after years of irritation using a Mach3 or electric shaver. So now he's giving me some money for all the (redundant) gear I lent him, and he's also buying 75 surplus Derby blades off me. :)

I'm not sure if I can coax him over to straights, in fact I think it's unlikely. But DE is far better than the alternative.

Keeping the scene alive. :)
10-08-2006, 03:19 PM
FiReSTaRT

And you get to get rid of all those Derby blades :D
10-08-2006, 05:32 PM
Steelforge

Quote:

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

And you get to get rid of all those Derby blades :D

:w

Well in fairness I quite liked them when I was using a Merkur Futur. But these days the only DE razor I use is the Merkur Slantbar, and I only use Feather blades in that. And I only use that for touching up after a straight shave now, while I'm learning my straight shaves aren't yet perfect.