Thread: Interesting title

That is an unusual question. I find the best benefit of a mentor is consistency of education. In that, I find, with everyone's point of view a new reply is essential.

I also think that experienced users of a straight razor read a thread and see all the conflicting views and can understand each perspective clearly. The beginner on the other hand just sees each post as a contradiction of the last one.

The best use of a mentor though is to allow you to see things in person, if possible.

I do find that, if I'm teaching someone to hone, for example, that no amount of instruction will allow me to teach an acquired skill. Experience has to come into play afterward.

I've also had people just hand me a razor, ask me to hone it, and then walk right back out the door.

Originally Posted by AHS

Good afternoon, (my time)
Firstly, my name is Steve, I'm 27 years old for a few more months and I've been interested in straight razor shaving for a few years. I bought my first razor, a Thiers-Issard 5/8 with stainless steel scales, last night from AOS and their standard DOVO small strop. In my excitement, I rushed home and shaved immediately, at least slightly neglecting my prep work and of course I shaved my entire face and neck. Learn from your mistakes, right? I didn't do too bad for a first shave; minimal bleeding. I've cut myself just as bad with a safety razor. At any rate, hopefully I can get around the learning curve and continue straight razor shaving until I get so old that no one will trust me with one. Hopefully SRP will be able to give me all the guidance I need to that end. By the way, I'd really like to hear what everyone has to say about the equipment I've already mentioned and about AOS. Thanks.

You mentioned neglecting prep work. That's a no no. Here is how I do prep.
Fill the sink with hot water
Drop in a face towel and your brush.
Apply pre shave cream or even lotion to your beard.
Jump in the shower
After shower: rub the palm of your hand on the strop for 50 laps
this will help break in your strop using the natural oils from your skin.
Strop your blade, set aside.
Apply hot towel to face, let it set there for a couple minutes, dunk and apply 2 more times.
Lather up and shave.

I too have rushed to shave without proper pre shave routine a couple of times with very poor results. If I don't have the time for the pre shave, I put it off until I do. Hope this helps.

Originally Posted by AHS

I may be wrong, but it seems to me like an increasing number of people around my age seem to be getting into a more classy style of living. ... an almost incongruent appreciation for some of the finer things in life ... attraction to days gone by when men were men and knew how to do certain things ...straight razor shaving has other benefits, e.g. closer shave, exfoliation, decreased ingrown hairs, etc. ...

I agree with you. I'm 28 myself; and not the only one around our age that I know who enjoys some of the "finer things" of life, with or without expense. Life can be rough, and I understand how easy it is for people to get busy and caught up in the rat race, but I think a lot of us have watched our parents, and the generation before us run themselves ragged with nothing to show for it.

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