Thread: Outdoor Shaving

Hello Gents....apologies for all as it's been several months since I've posted but still regularly checking the SOTD (I can't explain my attraction).

Anyway, I'm considering putting in an outdoor shower at my house as I routinely could use a shower before tracking dirt through the house. I got thinking that it might be kind of cool to put in a mirror in case the fancy struck me to shave out there as well. Just not sure I would want to put an entire sink and drainage system (shower would drain on the ground) out there.

Anybody done similar that might have suggestions? Is it environmentally bad to allow shaving cream to drain on the ground? Anyone shaved outside that can testify if it is as cool as my fantasy predicts?

I too have considered putting in an outdoor shower for the same reason you mentioned - if only I could find the money. I have shaved outside before but not with a straight razor. I went to Southern Sudan twice last year, and the only options for shaving were outside. It was certainly nothing glamorous - just a sink and a mirror on the outside of the shower house. I'm not sure exactly what your fantasy predicts, but it definitely was novel, standing there in remotest Africa with nothing but a towel on, shaving while others in my group walked past.

If you enjoy shaving outside, go for it.

However, as a former choral director, I remember buying a choral methods book that had a chapter on "Singing Outside With Your Choir" listed in the index. When you turned to that chapter, it only had one word on the whole page, "DON'T!". LOL

I am sure shaving outside might be pleasurable in the right circumstances, certainly better than trying to sing outdoors.

I have very fond memories of shaving under a tree, at a sink carved out of a single piece of stone, which sat on top of an oil drum, at my Grandmothers house in Cyprus. This was 35 years ago, the tree and the sink are still there. The sink has been damaged and when I last saw it, earlier this year, it had flowers planted in it. Very happy memories.

I suppose it depends on which type of soap you use whether or not it would be prudent to permit its residue to enter the ground water/near by stream, etc. That said, I've more than once fantasized about a morning shave on the banks of a creek where from I will soon extract breakfast. There is a magic in the sunrise as the light awakes the day. Surely a straight shave, as enjoyable as it can be, would only be enhanced with such a setting!

Peace,
Jim

Originally Posted by BigJim

I suppose it depends on which type of soap you use whether or not it would be prudent to permit its residue to enter the ground water/near by stream, etc. That said, I've more than once fantasized about a morning shave on the banks of a creek where from I will soon extract breakfast. There is a magic in the sunrise as the light awakes the day. Surely a straight shave, as enjoyable as it can be, would only be enhanced with such a setting!

Peace,
Jim

My thoughts exactly...well said sir.

As long as you're using natural soap, it should be no problem. See if you can get some Dr. Bronner's to lather up

I've never shaved with a straight outside, per say, but I did shave in the shack at the top of the ski lift one day this season as I'd woken up too late to shave before I left and the skiing was gorgeous when I started so around 11am when I needed a snack and some coffee from my thermos, I grabbed some cold water in a styro cup and face lathered with some proraso and used my ski goggles for a mirror. It was pretty cool sitting at the top of the mountain getting my shave on.

I had to shave outdoors A LOT when I was on active duty in the Army a number of years ago (long, long before I found out about straight shaving). It's really pleasant spring, summer, and fall. Shaving outdoors in the winter in Germany (and probably in many locales here in the US), not so much. That'll REALLY put you in the Polar Bear Club! And I don't know that I'd get all hung up about soapy water going into the ground. I doubt there's much in shaving soap that would be harmful in the amounts you're talking about.

From someone who has researched the effects of soaps and detergents on the soil,environment,plants and wildlife I can tell you that I wouldn't worry too much about the run off no matter the shave soap. While in higher concentrations the soap can burn plants and even higher concentrations cause many other problems I wouldn't worry too much about the small amount that you would be putting in the ground. What would worry me is if you used the shower on a regular basis and the waste was run into a garden or stream. The garden wouldn't appreciate the contaminants the stream would have a much higher tendency to be affected by the run off.
Basically consider the amount of run off that comes from washing your car, would your bathing/shaving be anywhere near those levels? I would hope not.

As for the aesthetics of it all; you are correct, it is awesome. I have shaved outdoors while camping and at my parents house just out of town. It just made the experience feel right. I would suggest a mirror that you could take inside to reduce the amount of build up on the mirror. When I have done it I only had a bowl of hot water for lather and my face. I wiped the razor.

Yeah, in the army shaving outdoors is common and somewhat enjoyable if properly equiped. It downright sucks in the cold though. As long as your water runoff is at least 50 ft from a water source( stream, river, etc.) contamination shouldn' t be an issue in the amounts your considering, but it will effect the soil chemistry in the immediate area. Goodluck