Yesterday, I gave a friend a little gift -- a starter kit with a razor that was just calling his name. The guy is into vintage cars and this one particular flair tip from "63 was so shiny and pretty, it reminded me of a "63 Corvette Stingray. So I put together a little bag with that razor, a small variety of ten blades, a puck of VDH, a beginner brush and some witch hazel. He had previously expressed interest in learning more about traditional shaving so, before church, when I mentioned I had a gift for him, both he and his wife smiled knowingly.
After church, I gave him the stuff and he was like a kid with a new toy. He kept commenting how his dad had the exact same razor and used to let him pretend to shave with it, sans blade, when he was three years old. We went into the church kitchen to borrow a bowl so I could teach him how to mix lather. Then we went into the men's room so he could take a shot at shaving. Other guys wandered in and we all stood around, watching (me coaching). Then the minister's husband walks in and, when he sees what we're up to, starts laughing. He used to use a traditional razor and he's like, "No way am I going back to one of those." He no doubt lacked knowledge of the art of shaving because he should have been its biggest fan; on Sunday morning he was sporting a terrible shave and the same dense stubble he always has.
Anyway, my friend really enjoyed his shave. Gave himself a small cut and a few weepers on his neck but he understood it was his first time out. His wife, after commenting about the minister's husband coming out of the church and joking with her about what us guys were up to, said "Wow; I can see the difference."
This is the first time I've turned someone on to what we do. Was fun and I have a feeling I'm going to be finding new homes for many of the razors I've acquired since I began this journey, about a month and a half ago. Must also say that giving them away is more fun than tracking 'em down. (And, as if to prove the power of giving, after church I found a "57 flair tip for $4.50 and a Slim for $7 at a swap meet, both in great shape but for some soap scum and razor rust which will clean up easy.)
After church, I gave him the stuff and he was like a kid with a new toy. He kept commenting how his dad had the exact same razor and used to let him pretend to shave with it, sans blade, when he was three years old. We went into the church kitchen to borrow a bowl so I could teach him how to mix lather. Then we went into the men's room so he could take a shot at shaving. Other guys wandered in and we all stood around, watching (me coaching). Then the minister's husband walks in and, when he sees what we're up to, starts laughing. He used to use a traditional razor and he's like, "No way am I going back to one of those." He no doubt lacked knowledge of the art of shaving because he should have been its biggest fan; on Sunday morning he was sporting a terrible shave and the same dense stubble he always has.
Anyway, my friend really enjoyed his shave. Gave himself a small cut and a few weepers on his neck but he understood it was his first time out. His wife, after commenting about the minister's husband coming out of the church and joking with her about what us guys were up to, said "Wow; I can see the difference."
This is the first time I've turned someone on to what we do. Was fun and I have a feeling I'm going to be finding new homes for many of the razors I've acquired since I began this journey, about a month and a half ago. Must also say that giving them away is more fun than tracking 'em down. (And, as if to prove the power of giving, after church I found a "57 flair tip for $4.50 and a Slim for $7 at a swap meet, both in great shape but for some soap scum and razor rust which will clean up easy.)
