Thread: Jungle Shaving

I have the amazing opportunity to serve two years in Suriname as a Peace Corps volunteer. I have been invited to serve as a business advising volunteer, working specifically on ecotourism projects. While at this point I do not know where exactly I will be placed, the odds are good that my assignment might place me in the interior. And by the interior I mean the Amazon jungle. Cool, huh?

The living conditions (at worst (or at best, depending on your point of view)) are like this: no access to the internet (so no browsing SRP ), no nearby stores, no electricity, no running water, no immediate access to larger towns, and a lot of humidity. Pretty much nothing like my life right now.

(A little vid of the possibility: http://www.strimoo.com/video/1383341...ibs-Vimeo.html)

Thus, the scenario is this. For two years I will be working the Amazon jungle with intermittent access to civilization. My shaving system needs to be light, mobile, and locally renewable for at least a year. And that is why I figure that a straight razor or two would be a good solution. I won't be dependent on blades.

Here is what I want to ask you gentleman:

What razors (preferably 6/8, 7/8) would handle the humidity well?

What should my sharpening system consist off? Which items would be light enough but also would last long enough?

Any other comments on how to handle the situations are welcome.

Edit: Here's the list so far:

SS Razor(s)

Barber Hones

Soaps (without fragrance)

Oil for Razor(s)

Nylon/Synthetic Strop

DE + DE Blades as Reserve

Is growing a beard and bringing a pair of scissors for trimming it out of the question? lol

If you really need to bring a razor I'd suggest a stainless one. For a year though you'll need soaps too. No running water? Is it really a good idea to need to hone razors on a wet hone then? Just thinking out loud here. Hope it's a good experience for you.

Hmmm...glad it is not me, although I respect the work you will be doing. Obviously you will not be able to achieve BBS daily. If I had to go to the jungle, I would take my pair of German stainless surgical prep razors and shave just once a week. The scales are also stainless steel, so they would not rust if the whole razor was kept oiled. I would take two barber hones, protected in a plastic case and bubble wrap. I would buy a (gag!) nylon or other synthetic strop, since leather could probably not survive the humidity and would rot. My soaps would last quite a while if I only shaved weekly, before my trip to the nearest town to buy rum. (only thing to do at night in the jungle, since even looking at a female will get you surgically altered with a large Machete!) My Peace Corps friend who served in the Dominican Republic in the 1970's warned me about this! He also came back with a bottle of rum daily habit, which required rehab.
Best of luck and don't ever omit taking your malaria pills, whatever else you do!
Regards,
Croaker

For sharpening your razor when it begins to pull, you should be able to get by with wood ash from the fire rubbed on a linen strop.

Find some oil to treat the edge after each shave and you'll extend the life of that edge. I've even heard some suggest that snot works in a pinch.

X

When I was in the army we still had to shave in the field. My seargent told me to use toothpaste for shaving cream. You just smear it on like indian war paint then rub water all over. There is virtualy no lather but your face does get slimey and that is what you are looking for. You will also have a nice minty fresh feeling for an hour or so.

Serving your country is not as fashionable as it used to be. A soldiers affect on a foriegn country is immediate but your work is probably more important in the long run. Your work as a peace corp volunteer can be just as dangerous as a soldier's so be vigilant. Thank you for your service.

Get a Wapi razor, ayears worth of soaps,you wont be shaving everyday so youcan probably cut that by a 1/3, a good strop, keep it clean with saddle soap and oiled with neatsfoot, a brush of choice and a barbers hone. BTW I would stay away from scented soaps or you will attract bugs by the bazillion(glycerine bars from hobby shops come to mind).Hope this helps.

I guess I would go with a Feather and 3 or 4 packs of blades. The environment shouldn't be a problem and you could get hundreds of shaves out of 60-80 blades.

Blasphemous to some, I know, but that's my suggestion.

Good luck

Originally Posted by Bill S

I guess I would go with a Feather and 3 or 4 packs of blades. The environment shouldn't be a problem and you could get hundreds of shaves out of 60-80 blades.

Blasphemous to some, I know, but that's my suggestion.

Good luck

I'd at least do this as a backup... a 10 pack of blades at WalMart are $1.50, I use them in my DE's and they give me a good-enough shave that I haven't tried anything else. If you changed them about once a week, a year's supply would take up about the same space as a deck of cards. Even less if you took them out of the factory case.

That way if you're in a hurry, or if your mirror broke, or whatever, you'd be covered. I think it will be a long while before I will be able to shave with a straight without a mirror...

Originally Posted by Philadelph

Is growing a beard and bringing a pair of scissors for trimming it out of the question? lol

If you really need to bring a razor I'd suggest a stainless one. For a year though you'll need soaps too. No running water? Is it really a good idea to need to hone razors on a wet hone then? Just thinking out loud here. Hope it's a good experience for you.

Actually, a beard AFAIK is fully permissible. But I want to stay as professional as possible and I figure less hair on my body will also be healthier.

There is water, often rainwater that is collected throughout the year. Then there are the rivers. Since honing isn't a weekly endeavor, I don't think it will be a problem to get some water for the hone.

So, SS razor + Soaps. Thanks.

Originally Posted by Croaker

Hmmm...glad it is not me, although I respect the work you will be doing. Obviously you will not be able to achieve BBS daily. If I had to go to the jungle, I would take my pair of German stainless surgical prep razors and shave just once a week. The scales are also stainless steel, so they would not rust if the whole razor was kept oiled. I would take two barber hones, protected in a plastic case and bubble wrap. I would buy a (gag!) nylon or other synthetic strop, since leather could probably not survive the humidity and would rot. My soaps would last quite a while if I only shaved weekly, before my trip to the nearest town to buy rum. (only thing to do at night in the jungle, since even looking at a female will get you surgically altered with a large Machete!) My Peace Corps friend who served in the Dominican Republic in the 1970's warned me about this! He also came back with a bottle of rum daily habit, which required rehab.
Best of luck and don't ever omit taking your malaria pills, whatever else you do!
Regards,
Croaker

Thanks for the insight. Let's hope I don't turn into Jack Sparrow.

Nylon/Synthetic Strop

Originally Posted by xman

For sharpening your razor when it begins to pull, you should be able to get by with wood ash from the fire rubbed on a linen strop.

Find some oil to treat the edge after each shave and you'll extend the life of that edge. I've even heard some suggest that snot works in a pinch.

X

Hardcore!

Originally Posted by CraigJ

When I was in the army we still had to shave in the field. My seargent told me to use toothpaste for shaving cream. You just smear it on like indian war paint then rub water all over. There is virtualy no lather but your face does get slimey and that is what you are looking for. You will also have a nice minty fresh feeling for an hour or so.

Serving your country is not as fashionable as it used to be. A soldiers affect on a foriegn country is immediate but your work is probably more important in the long run. Your work as a peace corp volunteer can be just as dangerous as a soldier's so be vigilant. Thank you for your service.

Thanks for the toothpaste advice, but I should be able to take two soaps with me for the beginning.

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

Get a Wapi razor, ayears worth of soaps,you wont be shaving everyday so youcan probably cut that by a 1/3, a good strop, keep it clean with saddle soap and oiled with neatsfoot, a brush of choice and a barbers hone. BTW I would stay away from scented soaps or you will attract bugs by the bazillion(glycerine bars from hobby shops come to mind).Hope this helps.

It does, sir. Thank you.

No Scented Soaps. Barbers Hones. Oil for Razors.

Originally Posted by mddittman

I'd at least do this as a backup... a 10 pack of blades at WalMart are $1.50, I use them in my DE's and they give me a good-enough shave that I haven't tried anything else. If you changed them about once a week, a year's supply would take up about the same space as a deck of cards. Even less if you took them out of the factory case.

That way if you're in a hurry, or if your mirror broke, or whatever, you'd be covered. I think it will be a long while before I will be able to shave with a straight without a mirror...

Good point. I will probably take 30-40 DE blades just in case.

Thanks for your input so far. I've accumulated a little list based upon the responses so far in the first post. I welcome any suggestions on specific make and model recommendations that I could buy.

One thing we did not talk about is the brush. Would the humidity make it hell for a badger brush?