Dad? Not a thing.
What did your father teach you about wet-shaving?
- Thread starter Rusty Blade
- Start date
My dad didn't teach me anything about shaving. B&B and some youtube channels taught me instead.
My dad used to use a DE with Gillete Platinum blades and Palmolive shaving menthol(still remember the scent). Those were about the only things available at stores back then.
He switch to cartridge razors, and used those for some years, but once he learned about my new hobby he switched back to DE shaving and he is very impressed by feather blades!
Happy he learned something from me!
My dad used to use a DE with Gillete Platinum blades and Palmolive shaving menthol(still remember the scent). Those were about the only things available at stores back then.
He switch to cartridge razors, and used those for some years, but once he learned about my new hobby he switched back to DE shaving and he is very impressed by feather blades!
Happy he learned something from me!
My father was always around, he was my best friend and my best teacher and coach...
When I was around 13-14 years old, I had that virgin line above the lip, you know. He made a joke about it, and told me that it's time to start shaving. I've got my first shaving kit before Christmas. It consisted of a cart, stand, and shaving gel. I've got instructions to apply gel first, mix it a little with water, then rinse the razor, and do 1 pass, with the grain, no pressure. That's it. During the shave he stood aside and gave me some tips and pieces of advice.
I don't remember he used any aftershaves... it was long time ago, maybe I'm wrong. I do remember he had a nice collection of fancy parfumes that I used seldom.
I miss my old friend... he was the best a son can get
When I was around 13-14 years old, I had that virgin line above the lip, you know. He made a joke about it, and told me that it's time to start shaving. I've got my first shaving kit before Christmas. It consisted of a cart, stand, and shaving gel. I've got instructions to apply gel first, mix it a little with water, then rinse the razor, and do 1 pass, with the grain, no pressure. That's it. During the shave he stood aside and gave me some tips and pieces of advice.
I don't remember he used any aftershaves... it was long time ago, maybe I'm wrong. I do remember he had a nice collection of fancy parfumes that I used seldom.
I miss my old friend... he was the best a son can get
- Thread starter
- #44
Nice. Thanks for sharing. Sounds like a great Dad.
Nothing
This thread brings me joy and sadness at the same time while reading some of the posts.
I wish everyone could’ve had that same bonding father son moment.
I wish everyone could’ve had that same bonding father son moment.
Not a thing. He handed me some kind of cartridge razor (could have been a disposable), a can of goo, and told me not to cut myself. I found out years later that he hated shaving with a DE and brush/soap when that's all he had available. He thought cartridges and canned goo were the bees knees.
I had the greatest dad, but he didn't give me a ton of shaving instruction. He bought me some BiC disposables and canned foam (same as he used at the time in the early '80s). He spent probably about 10-15 minutes giving me basic advice, and then I was on my own. He had a moderately thin beard, so I don't know that he ever found shaving as challenging as I often have.
Truth be told, I was such a stubborn little **** that I probably wouldn't have taken great advice even he'd given it.
I remember my dad having a DE when I was very young, but he didn't even mention it as a possibility when I started a decade later--despite the razors and blades still being commonly available.
He always used a styptic pencil to fix bad cuts, just as I do today. Fortunately, I rarely cut myself that badly anymore. I didn't even know an alum block was a thing till I joined up here.
I recall him being an Aqua Velva man, but that was the extent of his routine. It was more than I did until very recently. I still don't like scented aftershaves or colognes.
As far as I know, my dad never tried electrics, or if he did it was before I was born in the late '60s. I experimented with them on my own initiative a couple times--unsatisfactorily.
Truth be told, I was such a stubborn little **** that I probably wouldn't have taken great advice even he'd given it.
I remember my dad having a DE when I was very young, but he didn't even mention it as a possibility when I started a decade later--despite the razors and blades still being commonly available.
He always used a styptic pencil to fix bad cuts, just as I do today. Fortunately, I rarely cut myself that badly anymore. I didn't even know an alum block was a thing till I joined up here.
I recall him being an Aqua Velva man, but that was the extent of his routine. It was more than I did until very recently. I still don't like scented aftershaves or colognes.
As far as I know, my dad never tried electrics, or if he did it was before I was born in the late '60s. I experimented with them on my own initiative a couple times--unsatisfactorily.
My dad used a butter knife and the original Magic shaving powder. He didn't encourage me to use it, but I can still remember the scent of sulfur as he walked around the house with it on his face for 5-10 minutes.
I taught myself how to shave badly with a Fatboy and a can of Gillette Foamy. Then I stopped since only my sideburns were producing hair. I went into the Army and had to shave; the multi blader introduced me to ingrowns, razor rash, and overall irritation. I ended up on a shaving profile due to my skin looking like I'd been exposed to a flesh eating disease.
After leaving good old Uncle Sam, I only shaved for special occasions and eventually went electric. Fewer ingrowns, but razor rash was much worse. I decided to go to Dad's method- I didn't ask him, just figured if he could it, so could I. Just upgraded to the gold can of Magic Shave Powder instead of the 'old, stinky' version.
After applying, about a minute went by before I felt burning all over my face. I decided to use the butter knife (probably not my best idea!) and scrape the sludge off. Little did I know that I was also taking off the 1st layer of my skin too!
My 'shaved areas' were all 1 big scab for several weeks. Magic Shave went into the trash and I went back to electrics.
About 2006, I found my way to the shaving forum on MSN (which no longer exists), but its demise led me here where I have learned everything I need to know- and more!
marty
I taught myself how to shave badly with a Fatboy and a can of Gillette Foamy. Then I stopped since only my sideburns were producing hair. I went into the Army and had to shave; the multi blader introduced me to ingrowns, razor rash, and overall irritation. I ended up on a shaving profile due to my skin looking like I'd been exposed to a flesh eating disease.
After leaving good old Uncle Sam, I only shaved for special occasions and eventually went electric. Fewer ingrowns, but razor rash was much worse. I decided to go to Dad's method- I didn't ask him, just figured if he could it, so could I. Just upgraded to the gold can of Magic Shave Powder instead of the 'old, stinky' version.
After applying, about a minute went by before I felt burning all over my face. I decided to use the butter knife (probably not my best idea!) and scrape the sludge off. Little did I know that I was also taking off the 1st layer of my skin too!
My 'shaved areas' were all 1 big scab for several weeks. Magic Shave went into the trash and I went back to electrics.About 2006, I found my way to the shaving forum on MSN (which no longer exists), but its demise led me here where I have learned everything I need to know- and more!
marty
My dad used an electric razor so I figured out how to use my Gillette Super Adjustable on my own with canned cream for what was a typically one pass shave. Moved to electric after five years when gifted one from my soon to-be wife coming back to DE five years ago. Interestingly it was my grandfather, who I observed DE shaving with a mug and brush when I was a little boy.
My son, who grew up seeing me use an electric now uses one of my old Norelco rotary shavers. Feels it's efficient and good enough since half of his generation sports the stubble look. No interest in a 10 minute wet shave when 2 minutes with the electric will do it.
Gifted a DE set to my nephew who experimented with it but now uses an electric as he prefers to maintain the 1/8"-1/4" stubble look that is so popular with gen Z and younger millennials.
It will be interesting to see if the stubble look remains popular as gen Z and millennials age and see their hair start to turn grey.
My son, who grew up seeing me use an electric now uses one of my old Norelco rotary shavers. Feels it's efficient and good enough since half of his generation sports the stubble look. No interest in a 10 minute wet shave when 2 minutes with the electric will do it.
Gifted a DE set to my nephew who experimented with it but now uses an electric as he prefers to maintain the 1/8"-1/4" stubble look that is so popular with gen Z and younger millennials.
It will be interesting to see if the stubble look remains popular as gen Z and millennials age and see their hair start to turn grey.
I didn't learn a thing about DE wet shaving from my Dad. My dad was an electric Norelco guy and still is. Most of my life I used a combination of electric and cartridges. I got tired of maintaining/paying for electric and the tugging involved. I also got tired of cartridges clogging as I only shaved once a week.
When I finally got online I learned about DE shaving, tried it out and never looked back. Now I enjoy shaving and it is comfortable and no longer annoying.
When I finally got online I learned about DE shaving, tried it out and never looked back. Now I enjoy shaving and it is comfortable and no longer annoying.
Not a thing. My father was not the kind of person you would want to ask for advice or instruction about anything. As a matter of fact, my brothers and I did our very best to avoid him as much as we possibly could.
My dad taught me a lot of things but not much about shaving. When I was in grade school I remember his strop as a constant fixture in the bathroom. He used a straight for most of my childhood although he never taught me how to use it. He also had DE of some kind that I remember seeing but I never saw it being used.
Sometime when I was in high school he started growing a beard and shaving never came up.
I really figured out shaving in the military and was an edge gel and Gillette sensor excel user for many years. After I got married I started looking for less costly options. Tried a dollar shave club and quit after a few months because the razors kept breaking. I tried a DE and have never gone back. Right now I’m learning how to use a barber razor on my head.
My son is 13 and it is almost time. I plan on getting him a 34C and a decent synthetic brush fairly soon.
My dad passed away this past August and his razors are nowhere to be found.
Sometime when I was in high school he started growing a beard and shaving never came up.
I really figured out shaving in the military and was an edge gel and Gillette sensor excel user for many years. After I got married I started looking for less costly options. Tried a dollar shave club and quit after a few months because the razors kept breaking. I tried a DE and have never gone back. Right now I’m learning how to use a barber razor on my head.
My son is 13 and it is almost time. I plan on getting him a 34C and a decent synthetic brush fairly soon.
My dad passed away this past August and his razors are nowhere to be found.
Nothing. Though he used a DE he and my mother left it to my grandfather. I still have the Flair Tip Superspeed he gave me.
Not much. He did tell me to use williams and a brush instead of the canned goo for my coarse beard though.
Nada. Dad was a sink or swim kind of guy... I only know he used a Gillette Fat Boy, Barbasol, and Old Spice...
Nothing. I picked up a straight razor out of sheer curiosity about 15 years ago and never looked back.
Dad used an electric, Mom used a Gillette. Mom coulda taught me to shave my legs I guess, as in my teens I was a bicycle racer and that used to be thought an essential skill along with cursing fluently in non-English languages. But she didn't. 
Dad tossed me an old electric when I hit 14 and told me to keep the damn peach fuzz mowed. Sir, yes Sir. Probably four years later I realized the thing had replaceable blades. Improved the shave no end. That was the sum total of his shaving instruction.
My son has a partner who trains hairdressers and barbers. Consequently she uses the Feather DX that he still hasn't worked up the nerve to use for shaving his neck when she cuts his hair. He has some DEs I gave him, which he uses on the weekends for relaxed shaves. He prefers his carts for the I'm-outta-bed-gotta-get-to-work shaves.
O.H.
Dad tossed me an old electric when I hit 14 and told me to keep the damn peach fuzz mowed. Sir, yes Sir. Probably four years later I realized the thing had replaceable blades. Improved the shave no end. That was the sum total of his shaving instruction.
My son has a partner who trains hairdressers and barbers. Consequently she uses the Feather DX that he still hasn't worked up the nerve to use for shaving his neck when she cuts his hair. He has some DEs I gave him, which he uses on the weekends for relaxed shaves. He prefers his carts for the I'm-outta-bed-gotta-get-to-work shaves.
O.H.
Like many who have posted, my dad was a lifelong electric guy. When I became aware of shaving, he was using a Remington electric, at the time the commercial was going around "I liked it so much, I bought the company!" I don't know if he used a blade when he was in the Navy in the 1950s, but he was using an electric when I became aware of shaving. He went from Remington to a Norelco triple header but that was it.
Well, that's kind of overkill for a young teen with peach fuzz, so my Grampa stepped in and taught me. He used Barbasol foam in a can, but used a Gillette Fatboy adjustable with Gillette Spoilers in them, I remember that much. He got me one of these when I needed to learn.
I still have it, believe it or not.
That was a great razor to learn on, very forgiving, and hard to screw up with that, he told me "Always leave it on 3". I later got a non adjustable L-type. I asked him about a soap and brush because I was aware of it, but he said it dried his face out and he liked the Barbasol.
When I went to college and then into the Air Force I graduated to the TracII then the other multi-blade monstrosities, but discovered Williams shaving soap. I used that with carts from college days until I found this place when I went to DE razors about 13 years ago.
Funny, I was teased for using Williams, then there was a Williams club, now they lament its passing, but I think it was middling at best now, can't hold a candle to Cella or old Tabac. Or any number of current soaps.
But I fondly think of my Gramps for realizing my dad was useless in this endeavor and taking me under his wing. I was his third grandson, but my cousins probably learned from my uncle, my Gramp's son, because I think he was a wet shaver. Dad taught me many things. Shaving was not one of them.
Well, that's kind of overkill for a young teen with peach fuzz, so my Grampa stepped in and taught me. He used Barbasol foam in a can, but used a Gillette Fatboy adjustable with Gillette Spoilers in them, I remember that much. He got me one of these when I needed to learn.
I still have it, believe it or not.
That was a great razor to learn on, very forgiving, and hard to screw up with that, he told me "Always leave it on 3". I later got a non adjustable L-type. I asked him about a soap and brush because I was aware of it, but he said it dried his face out and he liked the Barbasol.When I went to college and then into the Air Force I graduated to the TracII then the other multi-blade monstrosities, but discovered Williams shaving soap. I used that with carts from college days until I found this place when I went to DE razors about 13 years ago.
Funny, I was teased for using Williams, then there was a Williams club, now they lament its passing, but I think it was middling at best now, can't hold a candle to Cella or old Tabac. Or any number of current soaps.
But I fondly think of my Gramps for realizing my dad was useless in this endeavor and taking me under his wing. I was his third grandson, but my cousins probably learned from my uncle, my Gramp's son, because I think he was a wet shaver. Dad taught me many things. Shaving was not one of them.
The Gen X "Dad was not present" vibe is strong here. [sigh]
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