How do I get my teenage son to shave?

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yukichigai

yukichigai

Diamond Member
Apr 23, 2003
6,404
0
76
Originally posted by: Amused
I never said she had to say "because I said so." She can show him all the reasons why having what looks like roadkill on a kid's face is a negative, and that's why she wants him to shave it.
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The problem with that is that's very much a subjective thing, not an objective thing. The root of it is, "I don't think that looks good," which boils down to the aforementioned, "because I said so." It's a stylistic and asthetic decision, not a functional one. Unless the kid gets lice or fleas having a beard doesn't hurt him. It may hurt his chance with the ladies, but not him directly. :p

The Scarf is technically subjective as well, but like I said I don't know anybody who thinks it's fashionable. He can grow it if he really wants, but I think if you offer him some incentive to at least try shaving the Scarf he'll find that he looks -- and feels -- a lot better.
 
J

Jzero

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
18,834
1
0
Originally posted by: Amused
I never said she had to say "because I said so." She can show him all the reasons why having what looks like roadkill on a kid's face is a negative, and that's why she wants him to shave it.
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That's reasonable. But if given all these reasons, he still wants to keep it, then what? You hold him down and shave it off for him?

That's definitely counterproductive. There are some situations where you need to make it clear who is the boss; this just isn't one of them.
 
X

xandy

Banned
Feb 3, 2004
143
0
0
buy him counter-strike. lol. 14 jesus im 16 and only have peachfuzz.

take him to get waxed, my mom tried 2 get me 2 do that.
 
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badmouse

Platinum Member
Dec 3, 2003
2,862
2
0
The Scarf is technically subjective as well, but like I said I don't know anybody who thinks it's fashionable. He can grow it if he really wants, but I think if you offer him some incentive to at least try shaving the Scarf he'll find that he looks -- and feels -- a lot better
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Okay, what's technically involved in the "scarf shaving" maneuver? Is there a web site? Should I take him to a barber for a lesson? A male parental figure would be useful, but dad's in another state with his new girlfriend. But this sounds like something no teen would want his mom to deal with.
 
yukichigai

yukichigai

Diamond Member
Apr 23, 2003
6,404
0
76
Originally posted by: badmouse
The Scarf is technically subjective as well, but like I said I don't know anybody who thinks it's fashionable. He can grow it if he really wants, but I think if you offer him some incentive to at least try shaving the Scarf he'll find that he looks -- and feels -- a lot better
Click to expand...
Okay, what's technically involved in the "scarf shaving" maneuver? Is there a web site? Should I take him to a barber for a lesson? A male parental figure would be useful, but dad's in another state with his new girlfriend. But this sounds like something no teen would want his mom to deal with.
Click to expand...
The Scarf is all the hair that grows from about the underside edge of the jaw down. Most kids his age won't be able to grow anything there that looks good, but he may be able to grow some of it decently. Basically look at the underside of his chin; wherever his hair starts looking sparse and ugly is the point from which he needs to shave. Certainly Adam's Apple-level and lower if he has any hair there.
 
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badmouse

Platinum Member
Dec 3, 2003
2,862
2
0
Originally posted by: yukichigai
Originally posted by: badmouse
The Scarf is technically subjective as well, but like I said I don't know anybody who thinks it's fashionable. He can grow it if he really wants, but I think if you offer him some incentive to at least try shaving the Scarf he'll find that he looks -- and feels -- a lot better
Click to expand...
Okay, what's technically involved in the "scarf shaving" maneuver? Is there a web site? Should I take him to a barber for a lesson? A male parental figure would be useful, but dad's in another state with his new girlfriend. But this sounds like something no teen would want his mom to deal with.
Click to expand...
The Scarf is all the hair that grows from about the underside edge of the jaw down. Most kids his age won't be able to grow anything there that looks good, but he may be able to grow some of it decently. Basically look at the underside of his chin; wherever his hair starts looking sparse and ugly is the point from which he needs to shave. Certainly Adam's Apple-level and lower if he has any hair there.
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Thanks, I'm printing out your post and I'll put it on his mirror, along with a nice new shaver. And then I'll bitch a lot. :D That should do it.
 
yukichigai

yukichigai

Diamond Member
Apr 23, 2003
6,404
0
76
Originally posted by: badmouse
Thanks, I'm printing out your post and I'll put it on his mirror, along with a nice new shaver. And then I'll bitch a lot. :D That should do it.
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Has he shaved before? 'cause the neck can be a difficult place to shave. Unless you got him an electric razor, in which case it'll be a breeze.

Don't fear teaching him to shave. Shaving your legs so they're smooth is a lot harder than shaving your face.
 
B

badmouse

Platinum Member
Dec 3, 2003
2,862
2
0
Originally posted by: yukichigai
Originally posted by: badmouse
Thanks, I'm printing out your post and I'll put it on his mirror, along with a nice new shaver. And then I'll bitch a lot. :D That should do it.
Click to expand...
Has he shaved before? 'cause the neck can be a difficult place to shave. Unless you got him an electric razor, in which case it'll be a breeze.

Don't fear teaching him to shave. Shaving your legs so they're smooth is a lot harder than shaving your face.
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You would seriously mention mom's leg-shaving to a 14-yr-old boy?? You're braver than I am.
 
yukichigai

yukichigai

Diamond Member
Apr 23, 2003
6,404
0
76
Originally posted by: badmouse
Originally posted by: yukichigai
Originally posted by: badmouse
Thanks, I'm printing out your post and I'll put it on his mirror, along with a nice new shaver. And then I'll bitch a lot. :D That should do it.
Click to expand...
Has he shaved before? 'cause the neck can be a difficult place to shave. Unless you got him an electric razor, in which case it'll be a breeze.

Don't fear teaching him to shave. Shaving your legs so they're smooth is a lot harder than shaving your face.
Click to expand...
You would seriously mention mom's leg-shaving to a 14-yr-old boy?? You're braver than I am.
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Leg-shaving isn't anything creepy for a kid. At least it wasn't for me. Hair grows on the legs, women shave it off. Big whoop. It's like a haircut, but for the shins and lower thighs. Nothing scary there.

Roughly the same process too: warm washcloth or warm water soak, apply some shaving cream, shave against the grain of the hair slowly, (first time anyway) all the same. Just women use a different, girly-colored razor than us guys.
 
TuxDave

TuxDave

Lifer
Oct 8, 2002
10,571
3
71
Or I guess if you want to try something REALLY different, do the reverse psychology thing. Every so often, go up to him and pretend to wipe some crumbs out of his 'beard', say he looks like an adorable little homeless man, and then give the beard a couple quick tugs.
 
yukichigai

yukichigai

Diamond Member
Apr 23, 2003
6,404
0
76
Originally posted by: TuxDave
Or I guess if you want to try something REALLY different, do the reverse psychology thing. Every so often, go up to him and pretend to wipe some crumbs out of his 'beard', say he looks like an adorable little homeless man, and then give the beard a couple quick tugs.
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Hehehe, reminds me of my friend's band in High School. One of the names for the first album they put out was "Go Shave, You Look Homeless."
 
B

Bryophyte

Lifer
Apr 25, 2001
13,430
13
81
If this is the only real problem with him, leave him the hell alone. Does he get good grades? Respectful to you? Focus on things that matter. His body is one thing he controls. If you feel embarrassed by him, that is your choice. Kids do a lot of things to embarrass their parents. Beards can be fixed in ten minutes when he's ready to get rid of it. It's not like he got a tattoo or is shooting up heroin or something.

Oh, and I'm not a teenaged boy. I am a mother who will be in your shoes all too soon.
 
K

KDOG

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
5,525
14
81
Look, its YOUR house and hes friggin' 14. Tell him to shave it period, end of discussion. Tell him he looks more like Osama than Gandalf. On the other hand, it prolly won't last long. About when hes 16 he'll be doing anything he can to look his best for all the little hotties - and that beard will dissappear.
 
kranky

kranky

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
21,020
156
106
I don't have kids, but most of my friends do and they have all gone through something similar with their kids. The consensus is - pick your battles. He's at the age where kids start testing the limits of their independence. You won't be able to fight everything because you'll never do anything but fight. So fight hard on the important things and don't fight the little things.

To me, this is a little thing. I understand why you want your son's appearance to be neat, but on this subject I'd let him do what he wants. It's not endangering his health, not affecting his grades, and not going to get him in trouble with any authorities. He'll eventually tire of it and shave it anyway, but he sure as heck won't want to shave it just because you don't like it.

I say let him be. Give him some independence on these kinds of issues and he won't need something more drastic to fight over.
 
S

shimsham

Lifer
May 9, 2002
10,765
0
0
Please, teenage and former teenage beard growers, tell me how you feel.
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lol

let him culture it while he can. when he gets older, having a beard may not be an option to him.
 
T

ThisIsMatt

Banned
Aug 4, 2000
11,820
1
0
Originally posted by: badmouse
Originally posted by: Amused
Tell him to shave, and mean it.

I swear, it pains me to see parents be such pussies these days.
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You're not a parent, are you :D? I have a lot of things I tell him and I mean it. The whole reason I'm asking this question here is that I personally don't care whether he has a beard or not, and I want to see if I need to expend my leet parenting skills on this matter, or if I can let it slide - looking for other people's opinions.

I didn't have a beard when I was fourteen, because I'm his mom. So I don't know whether it affects his whole teenage social life, or if it's unimportant. And I don't know what the "guy" thoughts are, okay? So, I'm asking.
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hahaha
 
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