Thread: Teaching a teen how to shave for first time

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.?

This is a great thread.
With two grandsons a few years away from shaving I have, however, had the same question.

My thought would be to start a new shaver with a DE and let them gravitate to a SR. JMO

I would also echo rolodaves' advice. Teach them how to shave with a DE razor first. Very important to understand how pressure, angle, and skin stretching affects shaving performance.

How did we shave before DE's?
I've never read nor heard of any mass population problems with youngsters killing themselves with straight razors before DEs.

My opinion is if they can handle the straight start with a straight!

But, then again I'm a country kid that was allowed to carry pocket knifes before I could ride a bike, shot rifles for food before I could shave, otherwise raised old school.

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?

Originally Posted by rolodave

This is a great thread.
With two grandsons a few years away from shaving I have, however, had the same question.

My thought would be to start a new shaver with a DE and let them gravitate to a SR. JMO

I think the same way . . . I started with DEs and then got the bug for using a Straight. No reason it would not be the same with your nephew. Wish my godson's were like that. Only shaver I can "pass this down" to is my daughter, and I know NOTHING about shaving my legs.

Originally Posted by feltspanky

I would also echo rolodaves' advice. Teach them how to shave with a DE razor first. Very important to understand how pressure, angle, and skin stretching affects shaving performance.

This is definitely good advice.

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?

Respecting the edge is key. You don't want to have to hone the blade every week or two.

I have a feeling his mom would have much to say about using a straight.

I would start him with a DE until he gets the wet shaving thing down and then if mom approves start with a straight.

I agree with most everyone else. Start him with the d/e and lathering. Then tempt him with something that teens love to do...give him a good number of straight razor shaving videos to watch and see if they spark any interest. Some kids will just want to hurry up and get the shaving job done. Others will develop an interest in taking shaving to the next level. In a little time you'll know the path that he is going to take.
Good luck!! This is an admirable job to take on.

Pete <:-}

Personally, I wouldn't hesitate to start the young'n out with straights... assuming, of course, that he has a modicum of coordination. After all, EVERYONE started out that way at one time!

Thinking back to my own experience. I started with very little instruction and a straight razor. The barber that I convinced to sharpen my straight razor, that he did with great reluctance, gave me an oral run down on shaving and stropping. That was my start. I regretfully later abandoned shaving for the most part for the next 25 years, mostly sporting a beard of some sort. Then returned to the straight once I had a job that required me to be clean shaven. With instruction he would do just fine. One of the lads from my house said one day (20 yrs old) that he want to shave with a straight. Had seen it done several times just picked it up and went for it. It was super easy for him. Although he knows no fear. I was a little more timid both times I started.