Fun news for me

Every year my school does a thing called "Wellness Day". Teachers teach each other about stuff like golf and painting and stuff. This year the school gave me the go ahead to teach a class about shaving with a straight razor and or a DE. I figure I can do a bit about environmental impact of plastics, a little history and then a demonstration of how its done. I even have a shaving mug and brush to give away as a door prize. (Glad I have a bunch of dull project razors that the people can handle and mess with.)

Any tips for stuff I should mention or show off?

Talk about other necessary equipment (strop, creams and soaps, hones, proper storage, pre shave and after shave treatments). Tell them the difference between a cheap razor and a quality razor. Most or all the cost to get started. If they are really interested guide them to this site to learn more.

I think they will enjoy the soap stuff! (Hones are my weakness though).

I think I would stress in the shaving demonstration the importance of a sharp blade, making a good lather, using the right angle on the blade and no weight on the blade. I think those are the legs a good shave stands on. Have fun.

Bob

My suggestion would be to emphasize the wellness aspects gained by sacrificing the minor convenience of shaving with cartridges or electrics for all the myriad benefits that come with wet shaving. No one seems to have a minute of spare time, so be quick to point out the much better skin care, no ingrowns, less irritation / unpleasantness, etc. at this point.

There's more to be had than a superior shave here however. For 20 minutes, I can focus my mind on executing a singular (grooming) task to the best of my ability while allowing everything else in my life to fall away completely. This meditative / zen aspect works wonders on mood and outlook. Sure, I'm an outlier and do practically treat straight shaving as a sport; shaving gets my adrenaline / excitement up akin to the outdoor sports I also enjoy (also meditative).

Unfortunately, all most victims know about shaving today is that it's the complete opposite of 20 minutes of zen. It's 5-10 minutes of sheer torture or an concentrated episode of disdain at best.

How do you get them to see wet shaving from our perspective? That's the trick. So much for progress; convince them primitive is best in this particular case.

Good luck!

Well a little history could be nice to slip in. I believe the first patent for a safety razors was in France in 1876 tothe company Rapide. They made a wedge razor, or a lather catcher. I often say that shaving with a straight has been the gold standard since 1876, because that was the first competition. I think the tough part will be to be entertaining. It’s kind of a dry subject. Most people have no idea what is in the market past the canned goo and multiblades. I try to introduce people to good soaps and nice brushes.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RezDog

Well a little history could be nice to slip in. I believe the first patent for a safety razors was in France in 1876 tothe company Rapide. They made a wedge razor, or a lather catcher. I often say that shaving with a straight has been the gold standard since 1876, because that was the first competition. I think the tough part will be to be entertaining. It’s kind of a dry subject. Most people have no idea what is in the market past the canned goo and multiblades. I try to introduce people to good soaps and nice brushes.

---

The easy part is to be entertaining. I am a tremendously entertaining person, and exquisitely handsome as well!
Somewhere on here, I remember the phrase "Illusion of progress" and I am definitely stealing it to describe multi blades and vibrating razors and such other inferior gadgets. Moisturizing strips?

"Wellness Day" Bunch of hippies!!

Kidding aside, that sounds like fun having people sharing their interests and hobbies like that. May have some unexpected topics.
Sounds like you have gotten some good advice so I can't add much to it.

There is a member here that teaches west shaving classes, but I can't remember their name. They don't post regularly ( meaning at all).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MrZ

The easy part is to be entertaining. I am a tremendously entertaining person, and exquisitely handsome as well!
Somewhere on here, I remember the phrase "Illusion of progress" and I am definitely stealing it to describe multi blades and vibrating razors and such other inferior gadgets. Moisturizing strips?

---

You can also throw "planned obsolescence" in there to for effect. ;)

If it was me I'd have one of those fake-blood packets for the shaving part of the demonstration. Act as though you're going to bleed out.
99.9 percent of the people watching would never pick up a straight anyway so why not have some fun!

It would be well to start with a disclaimer so that should one, or some, take up this insidiously pleasing habit of ours quickly develop all the ADs associated with it and try to sue you for creating financial ruin and strained marriages (among the many areas of stress causing specifics.):rock:

It sound like fun. Enjoy doing it. I have recently found a couple people in my area that i have been Mentoring and its been a lot of fun for me. Its hard to find people that seriously take this type of shaveing to heart. So maybe you can get a couple people to help along the way. Good luck.

I bet some of the kids never heard of straight razor shaving.

It will be interesting to see how it goes.

Pete <:-}

Show them not to be afraid and trust themselves and their abilities.

Many think when they see how sharp a razor can be "I don't trust myself to look at myself in a mirror and use such a tool!"

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Speedster

My suggestion would be to emphasize the wellness aspects gained by sacrificing the minor convenience of shaving with cartridges or electrics for all the myriad benefits that come with wet shaving. No one seems to have a minute of spare time, so be quick to point out the much better skin care, no ingrowns, less irritation / unpleasantness, etc. at this point.

There's more to be had than a superior shave here however. For 20 minutes, I can focus my mind on executing a singular (grooming) task to the best of my ability while allowing everything else in my life to fall away completely. This meditative / zen aspect works wonders on mood and outlook. Sure, I'm an outlier and do practically treat straight shaving as a sport; shaving gets my adrenaline / excitement up akin to the outdoor sports I also enjoy (also meditative).

Unfortunately, all most victims know about shaving today is that it's the complete opposite of 20 minutes of zen. It's 5-10 minutes of sheer torture or an concentrated episode of disdain at best.

How do you get them to see wet shaving from our perspective? That's the trick. So much for progress; convince them primitive is best in this particular case.

Good luck!

---

My thoughts exactly.

Stick with the wellness theme and point out how something that men usually dread can become something that a man looks forward to and that offers a brief, enjoyable respite to reflect on the day ahead.

As far as the wellness theme is concerned, the rest are mere technicalities and side benefits.


B.

Excellent suggestions above!

Between the history, the tranquility of a slowed-down enjoyable ritual vs a rushed chore, the environmental impact of plastic crap, the long-term expense of cartridges, and a demonstration, I'm sure you'll get at least someone hooked. :)

If you feel the need to liven things up a bit, how about shaving a balloon? Oohs and aahs or a BANG: it's a win either way.

Have fun with it - I'm sure it will be a great and unexpected topic for the students. :tu

I was told by a few barbers, that while in school they had to shave a balloon many times, themselves, and classmates, before being certified.

They should let you teach some high school students s well if they are interested.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Paulbuck

If it was me I'd have one of those fake-blood packets for the shaving part of the demonstration. Act as though you're going to bleed out.
99.9 percent of the people watching would never pick up a straight anyway so why not have some fun!

---

https://youtu.be/r69PYb_VnPQ

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MrZ

The easy part is to be entertaining. I am a tremendously entertaining person, and exquisitely handsome as well!
Somewhere on here, I remember the phrase "Illusion of progress" and I am definitely stealing it to describe multi blades and vibrating razors and such other inferior gadgets. Moisturizing strips?

---

Yes, that, MrZ. I came close to mentioning the "myth of progress" in my first response (which was already long enough). Cartridge razors came about to make Gillette and the rest more money, not to give us a better, closer shave. Why else would these new players like Harry's have come about? They realized the profit margins on those schitt razors and jumped into the game.

Have fun showing them the light!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Paulbuck

If it was me I'd have one of those fake-blood packets for the shaving part of the demonstration. Act as though you're going to bleed out.
99.9 percent of the people watching would never pick up a straight anyway so why not have some fun!

---

Well, that is pretty much a given, so I am really hoping he convinces a few to move over to DE safety razors.

He could possibly save a few of those poor souls from multi-blade scraps for the rest of their lives!

:rofl2:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Cangooner

If you feel the need to liven things up a bit, how about shaving a balloon? Oohs and aahs or a BANG: it's a win either way.

---

My vision of teaching with a balloon would be the balloon popping and the student jumping and flinging the razor or cutting themselves!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 32t

My vision of teaching with a balloon would be the balloon popping and the student jumping and flinging the razor or cutting themselves!

---

Very true! I was thinking MrZ would do a demo himself and keep the sharp things out of young hands. :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Cangooner

Very true! I was thinking MrZ would do a demo himself and keep the sharp things out of young hands. :)

---

I think it is just other teachers, not kids participating.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JP5

I think it is just other teachers, not kids participating.

---

Oh hell, then let 'em at it! :)

I am going to live shave myself to let them see how its done. I have a bunch of dull project blades that the guys can hold and look at and maybe I can give a sharp blade and balloon to a few. Thats a cool idea.

Stropping usually entertains and amazes the uninitiated.

Went to my local antique store yesterday and bought a neat little 1958 Gillette Super Speed for five bucks. Cleaned it up with some mothers and elbow grease, and I am going to toss it in the door prize pile. I figure its a little more likely to be used than if I gave them a straight. I am excited about this!

b

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MrZ

I figure its a little more likely to be used than if I gave them a straight.

---

Most people who are not familiar with traditional shaving will approach a safety razor with trepidation - and consider a straight razor borderline suicidal, which is not helped by the unbecoming (dare I say “imbecile”?) term “cutthroat razor”.

Might be best to only demonstrate a safety razor the first time around and prove that it is safe and simple to use.

Might hold back the straight razor for the second round.


B

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by beluga

b

Most people who are not familiar with traditional shaving will approach a safety razor with trepidation - and consider a straight razor borderline suicidal, which is not helped by the unbecoming (dare I say “imbecile”?) term “cutthroat razor”.

Might be best to only demonstrate a safety razor the first time around and prove that it is safe and simple to use.

Might hold back the straight razor for the second round.


B

---

Or you could make a series out of this.

DE closed comb then open comb.

SE continued.

Then straights 5/8 6/8 7/8 etc,

Sounds like it would be a good fit for a reality series................;)