Thread: how to mentor?

A disposable shaving friend of mine, knowing my interest in traditional shaving, asked me to help get him get started.

I put a kit together with a razor, soap, balm, witch hazel, brush, bowl, DE book, DE, strop, etc. Even a solid dull razor to practice with.

He enthusiastically listened and interacted with each piece and part of the process as we discussed what to do and where to research (like here and me).

When all was done, it was about an hour. In hindsight, I realize it is a ton of info. That seems like loads of info at once. Heck it is a lot. This is my first time as a mentor.

So to others that have worked with someone just starting, what have you done for follow up. Or do the process as a whole?

The 'first do no harm' tenet jumps to mind.
If you've shown him how to strop & he can demonstrate adequate stropping in the first hour that's a huge step. Making good lather & using correct pressure & shaving angles are also important. I can't think of anything else more crucial in the early stages.

Your friend is very fortunate to have someone local who can be there in person to help him out. That is a privilege most of us were not afforded. IMO I'd say don't stand over his shoulder constantly, let him grow with it one his own. If he has further questions (which is guaranteed) I'm sure you can answer them no problem, perhaps a demonstration or two may be called upon as well. But in the end it's all about the personal journey

On seperate occassions, with two of my mates, I demostrated shaving. One of those mates is now shaving regularly with a vintage 13/16 cut-throat razor and the other, who was concerned about time shaving, and really doesn't have a great deal of patience at the best of times, I demostrated DE shaving. He is now a regular user of a Gillette superspeed DE that once belonged to his deceased Dad. He feels proud every time he picks that razor up, so he tells me.
You've done more for your mate than I did for mine, now you will just have to sit back and get ready to answer questions and alleviate concerns.


Mick

I know this is a little different answer than the question you asked, I think others have covered it well. One thing I learned from working with two new guys that I was teaching on two separate occasions was to demonstrate completely first and then let them try.

What I was trying to do was a completely parallel process where we did each step together. Very bad idea. The problem was they were trying to perform the task while I was trying to teach the task through demonstration. So they quit paying attention to what I was trying to teach them and the learning was weak.

The next time I do this, I will perform all of the steps completely while discussing them and having my new guy watch, then I will let the new guy do them while we discuss and I watch. It will take much longer, but in the end, I think there will be a better opportunity for learning.

I helped him to get set up with what he needed. THen I shaved first so he would see what I had been talking about, then he shaved & I gave pointers. We had a great time and his first wtg shave was a success...

You bet it's huge to 'get' stropping that quickly. 'Just hearing what you did will help me alot w/ my friends. Seeing your resto work makes it easy to understand how any of your friends would be drawn in.

If you two get together regularly, I would encourage nailing down the stropping - start w/ a sharp blade - let him strop - both of you feel the edge to see if the stropping helped, was neutral, or degraded the edge. 'Just thinking how critical that one skill is.

If you're agreeable or have blades you don't mind him trying - that would give him the benefit of knowing a bit before he buys his own blade. The times you two get together will keep bad habits from forming.

Major kudos for sharing what you know, and also for graciously letting him try some of your gear. The person trying to learn solo is at a vast disadvantage. Like many areas of interest, it's easy to spend alot until you learn that you don't need to spend alot.

Your friend's learning style will likely determine much of the rest of the path. If he learns best by interacting - your time together will help him learn most quickly. If he learns best by reading, he'll take up the task by devouring all the wiki/faq/how to threads and then duplicating. Either way, he's very lucky to have a place to ask his questions, make his mistakes, and shorten his learning curve.

I think if he came to you then when he cuts himself he is not likely to give up. Just let him come back to you with more questions when he gets to the inevitable hurdles.

I have been mentoring for as few years now and the what I have noticed is the same as you guys have already pointed out. Teach the stropping, lathering and beard prep first. I now have them actually strop and generate a healthy lather when they are at my home. They usually have no clue what to do. My next step will be to actually shave myself and then have them do the same. First me then them. Thanks for that idea.
The honing stuff can wait. I now tell them that I will hone a razor for them for free and perform the touch ups as necessary for free, but only for local guys. The next step is to set up regularly scheduled , small group, meetings so that there will be a pathway to success. The "pathway to success" it what seems to be lacking. It would be nice to know what that school in Belgium has for a plan.


Just my $.02,