Thread: Teaching a teen how to shave for first time

Originally Posted by edhewitt

It depends on how mature you think he is, will he respect the edge, will he look after it properly, will he show all his friends?

I'm with my friend Ed, it would 'depend' on maturity. If they are mature enough to take it responsibly, and take care of the razor and other equipment and not make it a 'show and tell' thing then I would encourage it (with parental consent).

In the days gone by that was the only way that a young man would be shaving. They would have learned from a father, older brother, uncle and or even a neighbor.

At 13 he would be a year younger than our parkerskouson who as best as I know is the youngest member at joining time here at the ripe old age of 14.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...erskouson.html

For some reason, his video of his first shave doesn't seem to exit anymore, I'll get in touch with my young friend and see if he can re post it here and perhaps even share his thoughts about all of this/maybe even his folks thoughts

Originally Posted by Xtrmln

So my 13yo nephew asked me to teach him how to shave. My sister is a single mom and dads not around so I feel really honered that he asked me to teach him. I would love for him to learn the SR. Is a SR too much for a first timer? I guess ultimately I will leave it up to him. I just wanted to get some opinions from some of you. Would you start a teen off with a SR.?

I don't have any children so it's easy for me to opine, but I believe I would.

My dad was a confirmed electric razor shaver and all he said was "Here. Don't press too hard and don't try to get it all."

I couldn't stand the lousy results so I gravitated to multi blade razors which irritated my skin for the next 40 years.

We're a bunch of retroshavers that got fed up with today's shaving methods and checked ourselves in to the Lynn Abrams Clinic for rehab.

Don't let what happened to us happen to your nephew. Get him started on a straight razor so he can avoid the substance abuse we went through before we sought help.

'Was glad to see the honorable Cudarunner weigh in. His own son was proud to get an 8/8 Friodur & later some breathtaking scales by 'sixgunner. The fact that Dad's not around is sad & may weigh on attributes of maturity, etc. Whether he starts w/ a DE, str8, or something hideous, he'll be better off for having an Uncle that loves him to work with whatever he goes with.

Hello!

I am the parkerskouson as mentioned above. I cannot seem to find the video of my first shaving experience which saddens me deeply.

In my opinion, maybe ask the boy? If he desires to shave with a straight razor, let him! If he wants to start out with a DE, let him! I use both regularly now(that I actually have to shave) and enjoy them both for different reasons. I actually managed my first shave at 14 without one cut! If he as an uncle who is already part of the community, even better! Pass your knowledge onto your nephew, he will never forget it! You can give him real time tips as he is learning which really can't be replaced. Great people here(even in this thread) helped me out over email, and that help was the only reason I didn't mess up both razor and face perminatley! But in person is and will always be the best way to learn!

If he as any questions feel free to have him contact me via PM with your account. I'd love to answer any questions he's has from a person who has been in his shoes at a previous time!

Parker

Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who responded here on this topic. All very good points.
With moms approval and teens desire after watching a couple of vids he is all gun ho to try a SR.
I think we will be shaving together a little later this morning. I am fortunate that I have spent some good time with him lately. (Lives across the state from me) I race RC cars and recently got him one so we could share the hobby. In watching him with that hobby I was very impressed with his ability to take instruction and his attention to detail in the process of putting it together/repairing. So I'm confident that he is at a maturity level to attempt to learn the SR. Maybe just maybe his maturity level can be at least 1/2 of his mustache growth level. I didn't have a stache of his caliber until I was in my late twentys.
Anyways thanks again for the solid advice. Well taken and considered here.

Congrats!

I do hope the shave will go well! I recently helped an 18 year old co worker get started in this age old art. While there is a thread about it, I won't hijack this one so here's a pic of the look on his face after his first pass and feeling the smoothness of his face;



He did finish up with one of my De's;



So I guess I'm 'suggesting' that you try to get us some pics!

He looks very satisfied.

Good job instructing.

Originally Posted by rolodave

He looks very satisfied.

Good job instructing.

I 'think' that overwhelmed and or astonished would be a better description of his reactions to his first pass with a Straight. He was 'almost' as impressed with the DE that he finished up with.

Originally Posted by parkerskouson

I cannot seem to find the video of my first shaving experience which saddens me deeply.

I can't find it either - looks like it disappeared from youtube http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...tml#post991119

My vote would have been straight razor so I was glad to read that's the choice. Can't wait to hear the results.