1st DE for a 17 year old

Gday all,
i am looking to get my youngest (17 year old) a DE for Christmas to help clean up his patches of peach fuzz
he currently uses a disposable jobby about every 2nd week or so,
he really likes my str8s but isn't keen to scrape a sharp piece of unprotected steel on his face,
but I have him turning to wet shaving more & using my brush and a weak lathering soap I got to try but just doesn't lather thick enough for the str8, buts hold up ok for the multi-heads without clagging it up to quick.

So back on track I am asking the experienced DE users out there, what would be the recomended 1st DE for a fresh young face, I am prefering vintage but I will go new if it is the better option
I am thinking a fixed DE, or should I go the route of an adjustable? would this be better so that it will not be agressive?

If I can keep him on the right track I think he will come across to the straights eventually but not for a while.

I do have a Gillette #58 Made in England DE I inherited from my Grandfather but I am not sure if this is a good beginners razor or not,
I would like him to have it eventually, if he keeps the full wet shaving up, otherwise it will go the first grandchild to show the most interest I think.


PS. I have given up all hope for my 20 year old as he is dedicated electric shaver & unfortunatley I can't see him coming across anytime in the foreseable future for any wet shaving set up. LOL

The first DE I got was a Gillette as a gift from a member here, ZeroCool,,, 1956 I believe, great shaver,,,, it will go to my son who will start shaving in about 6 months. Since that first DE,,, I have collected many.

Christmas is a ways off,,,, so if you want, I will give you a nice vintage Gillette with blades to give him. If he does not take to it, then you can use it yourself.

If interested, PM me your address before Christmas, it takes 3 to 4 weeks to get things to Australia from here.

paying it forward !!! that's class !!!

I would totally take Hirlau up on that great offer! Keeping it Australian "Good on ya Hirlau!" If for some reason you go a different direction, my first DE was a Edwin Jagger de89 and it's still one of my favs.

None of my DE's are modern, I enjoy taking them off antique store shelves & giving life back to them. Someday I intend on buying a modern DE,,,, someday.

sounds awesome Hirlau, thank you very much for the offer
like I said I do have the Gillette #58 I'm just not sure if it is a good starter DE for him.
if you think you have a good starter for him I will take you up on the offer & we can work something out.
PM on its way
thanks again
Dion

I started with a German Merkur when i was 15. Switched to straights at 17. I like the german merkur classic, 3 piece beautiful chrome finish, it still looks like new. Great razor for a great price! Was $30

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Originally Posted by BeeManFOREVER

...german merkur classic, 3 piece beautiful chrome finish, it still looks like new. Great razor for a great price! Was $30

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Concur - fine little razor, mild enough to be safe but still gives a great shave.

Still, it's less the razor and more the instruction. Wish someone had taught me how to shave right when I was 17.

Jumping away from the vintage theme of this thread, the mildest yet still very effective razors I know of are the Edwin Jagger DE89 and the Merkur Progress. Just my 2c.

Im only 24 but grew up with knives and truthfully my fascination with sharp blades drew me to straights in general. Then I got the best shaves of my life and well that was it for me never looked back.

As a youth I think your kids will come around. I wouldnt have touched a straight at 17 but a couple years and a few sets of stitches from knives and razors(not for shaving) I think helped with the fear aspect quite a bit.

I use a Merkur HD with short handle. I love it. It is a fixed head razor but is quite forgiving... And more friendly with the wallet than others.

DEs? Electric? What's going on up there? It's positively un-Australian. Hirlau, make sure you send it via airmail, because we've stopped the boats.

James.

The oldest is sooooooo busy in his life he doesn't have time to get a decent shave in, his girl got the electric now there is no hope for him LOL
The youngest is a bit more open to wet shaving but at once a week max doesn't think,he has the fine motive skills to wield a str8 but I am trying to steer him right early towards the best shaves he can have.

That's OK Substance - there's nothing wrong with a young man shaving his wild oats as it were. We've all been there, and now we are all here, so there's definitely hope.

James.

Something heavy is a good starter. Prevents the user from applying pressure to their face with the razor. Weight promotes good technique and a steady angle with a straight draw. Plus, if I know teenagers, they will be in a rush hand the time. Heavier models are mor forgiving. If you are going to buy new look for models marked as heavyweight.

Gillette Tech gets my vote. Mild yet with a good blade like a Personna lab or Polsilver SI it's very efficient. Plus there an absolute abundance of them so they can be had cheap.

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Originally Posted by Wayne1963

Jumping away from the vintage theme of this thread, the mildest yet still very effective razors I know of are the Edwin Jagger DE89 and the Merkur Progress. Just my 2c.

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I'd second the EJ DE89. They have the fine fit-and-finish aesthetics that would make anyone proud to own it and, perhaps, encourage sticking with it. It's an overall good razor with good balance.

On the other side, staying new, I'd also say a Lord L6 gives me a shave on-par with the EJDE89 but fit-and-finish is reflected in its much lower price. It's my travel razor.

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Originally Posted by Substance

The oldest is sooooooo busy in his life he doesn't have time to get a decent shave in, his girl got the electric now there is no hope for him LOL

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Originally Posted by Substance

The youngest is a bit more open to wet shaving but at once a week max doesn't think,he has the fine motive skills to wield a str8 but I am trying to steer him right early towards the best shaves he can have.

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I think that's ok. It's a good time to get him a safety razor :) (I think a Str8 might be too advanced for him, heck I have troubles handling my shavette... on the other hand, I am not known for being carefull with sharp objects haha)

I am thinking, if the GF of the older one gave him an electric razor, that means she likes him when he shaves. In my short experience with women, when a girl likes his man shaved, she loves it when he shaves old style. Maybe that serves as an incentive? :)

I think she just likes the patches evened out more than anything LOL
I've gotta give him some credit, he has managed to get the gappy dirt stain on his top lip to grow out & is hoping it will continue into some handle bars
it has been over 18 months or so far & holding strong for what looks like a couple of months growth at about 1/2" LOL

I would recommend a Gillette Slim. They sell for less than Fatboy. He can dial in more aggressiveness as his experience level grows.