Thread: I'm helping a newbie, where do I start?

I have a friend who is chomping at the bit to get started. I gave him a dull razor and an old strop with some basic instructions. I showed him how to hold the razor, x stroke on the strop, blade angle and basic passes. I told him to lather up and practice with the old razor I gave him. How do you guys help someone who is just beginning? I want this to be a good experience for him.

Make him practice stropping for a few hours before anything else

i guess it depends on the beginner. I had some good luck spreading the word on straight razor shaving recently, I got my brother in law into it by gifting him a dovo 5/8 for Christmas with a tub of Caties Bubbles soap and a brush gave him some basic pointers on how to hold a razor prep and lather and shaving stroke do's and dont's and it turned out pretty well for him. Another guy at work complained about razor bumps and why he hates shaving rant one day and I advised him that maybe straight razors might help with that condition if done right. So he was intrigued, so I put together a kit for him consisting of a small razor I picked up as part of a lot at a antique store some " barbers choice" 4/8ths razor that was made in Boston. Honed it up on a Coticule threw in my old tweezerman badger I wasn't using much and a small tube of Prorasso green. I gave it to him one day and just gave him some basic instruction mostly about what not to do with a straight and he came back the next day well shaven and gushing how awesome it was. I think when i first started one of the biggest turn offs was not having a shave ready razor if you got that then at least your in the game and its really about getting used to the manipulation and shaving technique. Not to oversimplify but I think that one of the biggest hurdles in the sport at first. With a good beard prep and a sharp enough razor the rest may fall into place easier than you think. That guy from work had such a good time trying a razor for the first time he said after the experience he felt like smoking a cigarette. lol

Patience Patience Patience!!!! Im about 100 shaves in and Im finally not cutting myself (much) anymore. I looked at lots of tube videos and it helped immensely

With my son it was a little easier, because he had seen the process quite a bit. Stropping needed practice but he was very nice and slow and consistent until he started to be better then his speed slowly picked up. He has seen me shave a bit and whenever we are together we often shave together. He loves to dabble in my soaps when he is around. The ability to shave with me I think helped him a lot.

I taught two guys how to shave with a straight. I made them watch me shave beginning to end and then I watched them shave correcting their mistakes as they shaved. I figured it was better that way rather than let them destroy my equipment or hack themselves to pieces on their own. The end result was one guy turned into a straight shaving fanatic who collects pristine vintage razors and strops. The other guy shaved because of hazmat issues with his job. He recently changed jobs and now never shaves or cuts his hair.

I have not gotten anyone to join the fun or SR shaving yet. But i do like the idea of shaving and ha ing him watch, then pointing out what they are doi g wrong when they shave while i watch. Also id say it would he best to give a keen, shave ready razor to them to try with. Not a dull one.

Just my thoughts.

Originally Posted by RezDog

With my son it was a little easier, because he had seen the process quite a bit. Stropping needed practice but he was very nice and slow and consistent until he started to be better then his speed slowly picked up. He has seen me shave a bit and whenever we are together we often shave together. He loves to dabble in my soaps when he is around. The ability to shave with me I think helped him a lot.

That’s great! I hope to do that with my sons in the future, so it’s nice to read your experience.

I found some electric tape over the edge of a straight was a good way to figure out the motions. Being a right handed shaver only I needed to figure out how to twist my hand the right ways and feel that doing so without the possibility of removing a lot of flesh helped.

I usually give them a razor that I have that is duller than a butter knife and have them start by watching videos and practicing shaving and stropping. I teach them how to make lather in a bowl and on the face. When they are ready, I let them watch me shave and in turn help them with their first shave.
If they have shaved a few times, I let them watch me shave if they want to, watch them shave, and then offer the best advise I can.
You will easily be able to figure out what's needed as you watch.
Some people seem to struggle and some take to shaving like a duck to water.

Good luck Freddie!

Pete <:-}