Thread: Wet Shaving Survey

The survey came out to be very interesting and very well done, also thanks to the significant number of people who participated to it. And, by the way, In particular, I love the fact it was typeset with the mighty LaTex
As for the questions Lynn asked, no one directly taught me how to shave with a straight razor, I was just recalling some distant memories of having seen my grandfather using it as well as some old barbers giving shaves with a straight razors when I was going to their shops to have a haircut. I was a kid and I was very fascinated by looking at those barbers using a straight razor and all the other stuff.
When I started shaving using a straight razor, it was more than ten years ago and it was very difficult to find someone who could share this passion. Internet helped in many aspects, however at those times there was a really scarce availability of information on the net, saved the discussion groups on google and yahoo, our beloved forum (I mean this one!) was not founded yet although I remember it came to existence about two-three years later.
As for being a mentor for others, all the people I introduced to wet shaving and straight razors were and are around my age, but I would certainly be glad to be a mentor for some young people because I believe this art must be spread and kept alive. I however notice, in Italy too, a lot of young people is getting more and more interested in wet shaving. Most of them are interested in DE razors and just a few of them in straight razors. As far as I am concerned, it is however good to see they do not want to use an electric shaver or a disposable razor and consider wet shaving a better way to shave.
As for honing, I learned how to do it myself with a sort of "trial and error" approach, Internet helped a little: at those time all you could find was about knife honing, something I learned a long time ago because of my food/cooking business and classes but nothing or very little about razor honing.
I however had the best mentor every straight razor lover would dream of: Mastro Livi. I just regret of not having met him before and I know I will always be grateful to him for what he taught me about straight razors and honing. Thanks to him, my honing technique has improved tremendously and he was very patient in explaining the reasons of what he was teaching. Mastro Livi is a very willing teacher although very exacting and demanding: this too makes him an excellent teacher. Of course I do not consider myself a Mastro Livi student, pupil or anything of the like, as I am aware of the fact there is only one Mastro Livi out there and I simply am light years away from his experience, talent, skill, knowledge and competence. He however taught me a lot, more than I could possibly ever imagined knowing about straight razors, steels, forging and honing.

Originally Posted by 10Pups

I see mostly younger guys wanting to try a straight. In fact the 6 or so men I have helped get into it are under 30.

The longer I use straights, the more I think that it's becoming a trend for some younger men to embrace "manlier" older traditions. For whatever reason, it's making a comeback.

P.S. I'm 29.

Done. Good survey

Sorted, cheers.