Thread: Marine needs Senior Shaver advice

I'd say skip the pre-shave oils. Hot towels do two things: the whisker absorbs water and becomes easier to cut, and the heat stimulates your face to release some of its own oil.

You should be safe lathering up, stropping, refreshing the lather then shaving. I don't know how strict the Marines are about your shaves. You might be able to do one pass with a little cleanup, or you might need two passes with a little cleanup. When I'm going for baby butt smooth (That's BBS) I can get there with two passes and a little extra time on my chin.

Don't be in a rush. Shave at night for the first couple of weeks until you really get things down. Send your razor to Lynn or one of the other honemeisters so you'll know what sharp is all about. The whiskers will be so scared they'll jump out of the way of the razor.

Originally Posted by sensei_kyle

The whiskers will be so scared they'll jump out of the way of the razor.

Nah, these are Marine whiskers we're talking about. I think the razor will probably salute and say "excuse me" before it cuts the beard

Originally Posted by ClassicMarine

How long would you suggest leaving the lather set before shaving?

Not at all. The hot water is the real prep for the beard and that's about two, two minute hot towel treatments or a shower. Then lather and go at it.

X

I don't use hot towels and generally don't shower before shaving, so I leave lather on for about 2 minutes (long enough for me to go downstairs, pick up a razor, strop it, go upstairs with it), rinse it, re-lather and shave immediately.

The choice on many of these things are up to you but this is what I do.
I strop before I shower, get out of the shower lather up my face and then shave. First with the grain and then against, proably 10 min but no more. I shave in the AM and I have a wife and two kids and one bathroom so speed is escential. The hot shower first makes all the difference.

I do the same thing as RichZ - takes me a bit longer, but its getting quicker.

I've yet to find a pre-shave product that makes any difference.

A great beard softening trick is to smear some hair conditioner on your stubble and let it sit while you're inthe shower and rinse it off just before you finish your shower.

I don't use hot towels, but I do splash hot water onto my face a few times before I apply the lather I've made separately in my mug - I also work the lather in (as opposed to just applying it from the mug), which helps soften and set up the bristles.

Just thought I'd mention another dirty trick, and this one works on detachment where the water may or may not be good to go from the tap/bucket/stream/mudhole....
Anyway it's worked for me....I wash my face, then slather on some Noxzema skin cream (yes, THAT Noxzema) then rinse that off with water hot as you can get it (I just use an old towel drenched in scalding water) Lather up, strop, and shave. Time from start of prep until completion of 3 passes is still under 10 minutes. Skip the ATG pass and it's even faster.
If the edge is as sharp as you like it to be, and your prep was good, this should be a relatively quick and painless process. The longest times for me was learning what angle did best to get some of those hairs that fight (for me the ones in the hollow of the left side of my neck do not like to cooperate....and make me try some interesting contortions sometimes to get them)
Good luck! And here I thought all Marines shaved with shards of glass....
John P.