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I'm just curious who has had the opportunity to pass along the fine art of straight razor shaving to their kids?
If you did, at what age, how did you teach?
I'm 45 now and I started using a straight 5 years ago. As most of us would admit, I wish I had found it in my teens. My dad wasn't a bad guy but we weren't close and he never taught me how to shave. My son will be 2 this month but I can't wait to teach him.
My son thinks he the top dog in shaving with his electric razor. Uses it twice a week but needs to use in every couple days if you ask me. DE's, SE's and Straights I have and he wants nothing to do with them. If it takes him more than 30 seconds its too long. That's 30 seconds he could be playing video games. :boohoo:
Sounds like a post I could have made regarding past shaving experience, I look forward to teaching my son(he is 6) to shave straight, or at least with a DE. He watches me as I strop and shave. A few years ago I had Glenn restore a family heirloom razor for me/my son and can't wait to give him his great great grandfather's razor!
I have introduced the DE to my son and son-in-law. They are both happy enough with the DE. Not much interest in a straight. I think they are more pleased with the soaps and brush.
My son gave himself his first straight razor shave at the age of 17! It was with his Great Great Grandfather's W&B. He was the first one to use it since about 1934 as that's when 'Wat' passed.
My dad had told me that his father had just stored the razor away and he ended up with it.
While I was just a 'new' Newbie I had Glen bring it back to life.
Here:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/custo...ered-horn.html
My family arrangements are non standard. For argument sake let's say I have two sons. The oldest one shaves with a DE. He does not like straights. The younger of the two shaves with a straight. They both have crazy beards, very dense and very coarse. They both started on their own with multi blades. They younger told me when he was 19 it was time for me to teach him to shave with a straight. The older was complaint about the cost of shaving and I tried to teach him to shave with a straight at about 22. He later decided he wanted on of my DE razors. I gave him a flare tip and an adjustable. He uses them both but has always preferred the more aggressive flare tip. Honestly I think he simply did not want to bother with the maintenance of a straight. The DE fits into his budget easy enough. The youngest one sends his razors home for sharpening regularly. If we could manage to spend just a little Moore time together I would introduce him to barbers hones.
Taught one of my sons when he was 18, 4 years ago. It's not an obsession with him. Some kids are strange.
I had the privilege of teaching my nephew. Unfortunately his Mum wouldn't let me tech him straights but I taught him to use a DE and he is hooked. I am sure that when he is older he will be wanting to learn with a straight too. He is only 14 at the moment.
Being a life long bachelor I don't have any kids.............that I know of. I did teach two young guys though. One is a cousin of mine who now has serious RAD and has a fine collection of NOS razors. The other guy only shaves once a year and when he does he borrows my shave cave and equipment.
The only 2 males in the family on my wife's side, a nephew in his 40s and his son late teens, are not interested in shaving with a straight razor. The nephew's son seems a little freaked out by it even. One thing for sure and that is to encourage them if they are interested but don't force anything on them. I think I'd really have to take a look at a kids maturity level, not age, before agreeing to teach them how to shave with a straight razor. Good luck to all who do endeavor to teach their kids though.
Bob
I failed to generate any interest in wet shaving with my younger brother. He believes it is way too much hassle and finds that his electric beard/hair trimmer does a close enough job for his needs.
A good friend of mine seriously thinks I am jeopardizing my life by shaving with straights, so I no longer update him with any of my wet-shaving exploits. ;)
I just got my 19 y/o off the electric razor (actually, it was at his request), but only using the multiblades so far. He's away at college. I'll move him into the DE when he comes home for summer. I don't think straights would be practical living in a dorm.
Also, I am evangelical about DE shaving when talking to multiblade shavers. You can sell the extreme cost savings and the bbs shaves. I love my straights, but they are not economical compared to a DE, and of course they are a pain in the ass to learn and maintain. I get help, which I am happy to get, but that's not a selling point for someone looking at options.
I have only one daughter and one granddaughter. The best I can hope for anytime soon is to convince my son-in-law that straight razors are better than the electric razor he now uses. He has a heavy beard that is very dark in color, so a close shave with a straight razor would be a real advantage for him.
When I die or get too old to be trusted with a straight razor against my throat, I need someone to inherit my collection of razors and hones. If I live long enough, perhaps my granddaughter will marry someone who is a candidate for straight razors. Until then, my son-in-law is my best option.
For Christmas my son received a plastic DE razor, foam and brush. He and I have shave get togethers on his weekends with me, I use a straight and I have been teaching him to use his DE razor. He is 10 so I already know these moments are not lasting forever, he tells me he likes spending these times together. Gives me a great feeling and a huge smile. I look forward to teaching him the way of the straight in the next few years after he learns a real DE.
For me, I'm following what I did as a kid. I remember being fascinated by watching my dad using a DE/straight as well as my uncle who was a lot more fanatical about shaving with a straight! Today I have a 9 year only boy and we both wet shave on the weekends (son with any blades!!) or weekdays when the stress of getting out of the house remits. He has his own butterfly DE, his prized possession the shavette, his own lather bowl, a strop (an old leather belt of mine) and a couple of brushes. Let me tell you that he can whip up one hell of a lather at 9 years old. I have an old Sheffield razor with the edge taken off for his 10th birthday..
I have 2 step sons. The eldest, 22, uses a cartridge type piece of junk, but I have managed to convince him to use a brush and shave cream. The youngest, 18, uses a mix of electric and cartridge with goo in a can. I truly despair!!
I find it a common misconception that shaving with a straight is 'Dangerous'. I believe that it comes from the years and years of DE's, Electrics and Cartidges none of which have an unprotected blade at least while shaving.Quote:
Originally Posted by Speedster
When I would mention that I used Straight Razors and I'd get the 'dangerous' thing and or the "Aren't you afraid you'll cut your face" thing I'd just say "Do I look cut all to hell"? Once people got that in their head they usually mellowed and would ask more in depth questions.
Movies with people getting throats cut with straights doesn't help either. Sweeny Todd is only an example, plus its in a movie it must be true ;)
actually my son was the one who got me started in wet shaving with a vintage DE when he was around 17-18 (and i was 47). i then switched to a straight and restored one for him as well as making him his own strop. he is away at college (and only shaves once a week) so the straight stays at home. When he's home he used his straight. Glad i could get one of my boys into it.
I LOVE IT/ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! As it's not often that I've heard someone have the confidence to tell that it was someone like your son who convinced his Old Man to use an older but better way of shaving.Quote:
Originally Posted by tintin
I'd not only like to shake YOUR HAND but YOUR SON'S HAND!
A very sincere thank you to you and your son :bow: :tu
My oldest son, now 23, started along with me after Christmas of 2010 when I got him a nice kit with razor, strop and accessories. We're both still going strong with it. My youngest isn't interested (yet).
Exactly, Roy. Everyone forgets that once upon a time, the only way to shave was using straights. I don't remember grandpa regaling me with stories of men accidentally killing themselves shaving. Maybe we are so far removed from those times that such razors are seen strictly as weapons?Quote:
Originally Posted by cudarunner
Oh well. Guess the majority of men today can relish the convenience of the superior shaving, multi-multi-bladed disposable razors with high-tech lubricating strips and other gimmicky features. The increase in number of tiny, crap blades a razor can hold is like an arms race with no end in sight. Too bad the resulting shave is, well, less than ideal.
Sorry, OP. :ziplip:
Yes - two of my three sons shave almost exclusively with straights. They are both partial to wedges. My youngest 22 and my middle one 26 both are straight fanatics. My oldest, 28, actually got me back into it. I had used straights many years ago but switched to a DE and then to disposables. My oldest had issues with ingrown hairs so he switched to a DE and all was well. He got me back into DEs and then the three of them bought me a Dovo 5/8 for my birthday one year and I was hooked again. The younger two moved to straights after trying shavettes and then my straight. My middle one uses a DE when he's in a hurry. Kind of a family thing. They all bring me their straights and their friends straights for honing.
Adam
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At 55 I just started with SR... so didn't get a chance to teach him... but I have 'introduced' him to it. I just recently told him how much I've really enjoyed learning about SR shaving... told him about SRD... and here.... He's now 30 and lives in Hawaii... he was very interested. Going to keep encouraging...
I guess I Must be old cause I got my 22 year old grandson started with a DE, my sons use them too but no interest in straights, my grandson who just shipped off to basic training wants to try when he gets back, My collection will get buried with me I guess. Tc
Funny that you mention that, I recently had a discussion with SWMBO that if our son has no interests in straights, apart from 3 of my most cherished razors which he will still get in a display case, the rest get boxed up and sent to Bill to be donated here when it's time.Quote:
Originally Posted by tcrideshd
Neither of my 2 son don't partake in the straight....but use the brush and cream and DE.
To me I had 2 dauther's and my oldest past away when she was 18. My other dauther had no intention to become a mother so chance is are that I won't be able to pass it to my grand son. If she change her mind maybe or I can still pass it on to her boyfriend never know.
When that grandson gets back and has a go, I doubt that you'll have any collection left at all and will have to get back down to Charlies and make you a straight as the grandson will have hauled all of the others off! :wQuote:
Originally Posted by tcrideshd
And then there's the Brush and Soap Collection :hmmm:
Oh Well you needed more room didn't you my friend? :shrug:
Tryed with my son to straight shave as he is alway going on about the price of blades his reply to my suggestion to try I would rather buy multi Blades. Does not stop him complaining about the prices?