Thread: Passing it on

Great shave day today.

I helped my son with his first shave using a straight . He used the first straight I ever owned (6/8 Dovo round point).

Lathered up with a brush and everything. He actually said it was oddly satisfying and enjoyed the experience. Cleaned up with a DE and that's when he nicked his chin...go figure .

Congrats. Its a good feeling isn't it.

Originally Posted by Gasman

Congrats. Its a good feeling isn't it.

Yes, yes it is.

Started explaining how different grinds feel/behave, point styles etc. One of the longer conversations I've had with him since he became a teen.

The passing down from father to son, father to son has been lost in recent years. Who needs a teacher when you have Google to show you the way?
I'm glad you bonded with your son with something you love to do.

It’s nice to share our passions with our children.
I can’t shave with a safety razor. They scare the pants off of me.

My son had his first straight razor shave when he was 17. The little shite could use both hands (I can't/only my dominate hand) and didn't get a single cut or nick! He only needed a bit of a touch up which I did for him.

I'd just gone through a nasty divorce and the ex and I had both of our kids seeing a counselor just to make sure they had someone to vent to and after my son's next visit after using the straight I was asked to attend his next visit which I did.

I wasn't asked in until after my son came out and the counselor asked me why in the hell I had encouraged my son to use a straight razor (She wasn't a happy camper).

I told her there were multiple reasons:

One, it took patience. Two it took concentration Third it helped him build confidence and Last but far from least--it gave him something to be very proud of, something that non of his friends or classmates could probably had done.

She looked at me with a blank stare for a bit and then said "I hadn't thought of any of those, all I could think of was a very sharp object against his skin. Or something close to that.

I just smiled, got up and left with my son. My son asked what the counselor wanted to talk to me about and I told him what had happened. He just broke out in this big grin.

He has taken a liking to having what he calls a beard but every once in awhile he'll come over, lather up, strop his razor and shave it off. I still have hopes

The two boys I have helped raise (No, I have no offspring of my own) wanted nothing to do with straight razors. One might use it as a pocket knife and the other would rather shave with an electric once a week. So the only sharing I've been able to do is with friends. And you guys already know about it. LOL. I do have a couple friends but they want nothing to do with a S.R. either.

So count your blessing in many ways, Jelly.

Originally Posted by cudarunner

He has taken a liking to having what he calls a beard but every once in awhile he'll come over, lather up, strop his razor and shave it off. I still have hopes

I have to say there are not that many beards around that are nice beards. If I go to the city there are a lot of perfectly quaffed beards that look like they were purchased in a costume shop. Not many guys with a nice full beard that looks like they own it though.

Originally Posted by RezDog

I have to say there are not that many beards around that are nice beards. If I go to the city there are a lot of perfectly quaffed beards that look like they were purchased in a costume shop. Not many guys with a nice full beard that looks like they own it though.

I gave up on a full beard years ago. My growth pattern is left to right across my jaw with a down grain on the left and an up grain on the right. When I let it grow the left side of my face is like an 80's stock broker and the right is like grizzly adams. Drives me nuts... if it was the same on both sides I could deal, but the combo is unacceptable.

There was nothing wrong with my beard back in the day, but I’m required to be clean shaven for work, and I’m ok with that. It’s sort of how I wound up here.
There have been a couple of father son members here over time. Perhaps this could become another one.