The Shaving Superthread- All You Want and More....

[KerryBlue]

Legitimate question. Hair conditioner instead of shaving cream a no go? I know it's the weird thing but honestly ive had to do it a couple times in a quick pinch, but both times i had no burning or irritation sensations.

Just go to shoppers and pick up a tube of Proraso.. waaaaaaaaay better for your face and is easy and fast to use in a hurry.

 

[krimynal]

I think my French is good enough to understand what's up. If you have a legitimate medical issue for shaving, go through the tcat process so you eventually get a pcat that'll state "exempt shaving except for operational reasons". You may have some extra hoops to jump through for your ct, as you'll be on tcat, but once everything is done you won't have to carry a chit everywhere. I've had a few subordinates go through the process. It will take a while (year at least), but makes it official.

yeah I am currently on a course with some Med Techs , what they are telling me is that , I will apply for a medical chit , I am 100% sure to have it ( since my skin is a complete mess ) but since it will most likely take up to 1 year minimum ( since I have to do a 2 weeks period , then see the doctor back , then he gives me a 6 months period , see him back , then they send my file to Ottawa for a review , then Ottawa give me a permanent medical chit and change my medical file to make sure I don't have any trouble. )

The problem I have ( and the one they also confirmed I will have ) , is that once I have my CT Interview , they will check my medical condition and put me as unfit until I get my real medical chit approved by Ottawa ... and that means 1 year minimum until I can actually transfer.

And sadly I can't really wait that long , I know this one might take up to 1 or 2 years ...

 

[mrcheevus]

I a really liking the Dollar Shave Club's 4 blader.  And the price is right - they mail me 4 new blades a month for $6.50 CDN!

Good tips on shaving cream. 

 

[MarkOttawa]

Besides the excellent Proraso, also available at Shoppers is Real Shaving cream, from an English company:
http://www.realshaving.com/
http://www.beautyatcreightons.co.uk/product-category/brands/the-real-shaving-company/

Mark
Ottawa

 

[MarkOttawa]

Harry's razors--online only--are a bit different and good--cream I would say good but not great:
https://www.harrys.com/products

Mark
Ottawa

 

[kev994]

I a really liking the Dollar Shave Club's 4 blader.  And the price is right - they mail me 4 new blades a month for $6.50 CDN!

Good tips on shaving cream.

They're made by Dorco, online only.  I buy a year's worth for $40. They frequently have a $20 off $50 order and always have free shipping to Canada for orders over $40.

 

[VanIslander]

Went through the whole thread with CTRL+F but didn't see anything relating to moles...

I have 3 on my face/cheek that I absolutely cannot shave over with a regular razor.  One of them in particular is almost at right angles to my face and even the slightest nick means it bleeds for at least an hour.  Normally I shave the rest of my face with the regular razor, shave around the moles, and then buzz them real quick with an electric.

Would I have to get them removed for basic or something?

I'm not being a wimp, there's actually no way to shave these moles without bleeding everywhere.

 

[jollyjacktar]

I had a large mole on my face which could be a pain in the ass when shaving.  I had it removed after my threes.  I don't know about during basic as there's time constraints.

 

[Blackadder1916]

Would I have to get them removed for basic or something?

That would be up to you.  Will you be forced to get them removed in the military?  Unlikely, unless "medically necessary" and even then the decision would be up to you - you'll have to live (or die) with the decision.  What's stopped you from already dealing with the irritation of your moles?  Laziness?  Because you don't shave regularly as a civvy?  Or because you don't want (or can't) pay for the procedure?  And that is a possibility - the removal of your moles may not be covered under your provincial health insurance.  Generally, removal of moles are only covered if medically necessary (i.e. potentially malignant or interferes with function), otherwise it would be considered cosmetic.  Because they interfere with speedy shaving "may" not be considered a valid reason (in the military the reasoning may be more valid).  Depending on the physician making that assessment, it could go either way, but since many family practitioners may be wary about performing minor surgery with potential of leaving facial scars, the patient will often be referred to a specialist.


And then there's the other option.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-H-cWXr-n5I

 

[VanIslander]

What's stopped you from already dealing with the irritation of your moles?

I shave daily/semi-daily but as I already mentioned, I just do them with the electric which you can't cut yourself with.  It's not a question of irritation, it's a question of bleeding, every single time, for an hour or so.  They're not huge but they protrude from the skin.  It's not possible to just do them with a regular razor.

And if I can't use an electric at BMQ then my choice is between being hairy or getting blood on my kit.

And then there's the other option.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-H-cWXr-n5I

Awesome.

 

[ballz]

And if I can't use an electric at BMQ then my choice is between being hairy or getting blood on my kit.
Awesome.

Where did you learn that you can't use an electric razor at BMQ?

 

[VanIslander]

A friend in the Navy told me.

 

[Pusser]

Having and using an electric razor on BMQ is not an issue.  The old argument from when I did the course (30 years ago) was that you can't plug an electric razor into a tree!  Even then, that wasn't really an issue because battery-powered electric razors were readily available (albeit expensive back in the dark ages).  You might still have to have a standard razor on display for kit inspections, but there should be no problem with you keeping and using an electric one for actually shaving.  The key point is that you have to be sufficiently clean-shaven (except for mustaches or if you've been given "permission to cease shaving" - unlikely on BMQ unless you're a Sikh) at the appropriate times.  How you actually do it is largely irrelevant.

 

[Oldgateboatdriver]

If you are Navy, having an electric razor will not be an issue.

I used an electric my whole life and the only time I ran into a spot of trouble was much later in life: I was out with a division for a week-end of FF/DC training near Quebec city and we were quartered in one of the blocks in Valcartier. Apparently, the Army does not know yet that electricity was invented in the 1800's. My razor was getting discharged and I had to end up shaving in my room by unplugging one of the lamps  .

 

[vonGarvin]

I use one of these babies for shaving:

Smoothest shave ever.  And even cheaper than Dollar Shave club (though I like their blades as well)

 

[Rifleman62]

Thought this was you. :nod:

 

[KerryBlue]

I use one of these babies for shaving:

Smoothest shave ever.  And even cheaper than Dollar Shave club (though I like their blades as well)

This is the only way people should be shaving. On my baby face using that or my straight I can keep my face looking like I just shaved for at least two if not three days.

 

[c_canuk]

2 or 3 days!?!

Damn, I never thought I was a hairy dude, but on Monday after not shaving over the weekend I've got over 1/4" of thick stubble. (which was hell before I was turned on to safety razors)

I second Technoviking, a classic safety razor is the way to go, I have to take 4 passes(1 with grain, 1 side/hook, 2 against (1 full 1 just around my mouth) and it rarely irritates me, the Mach IIIs used to be ok, but they've changed something in them (or my face has changed...) and they suck now. Never was able to get a good shave out of a fusion.

Razorock is a great resource, they also own italianbarber.com. I've been keeping an eye out, apparently their shop designed slant safety is really good, and based on how it's always sold out before I get online to buy one when they get a new shipment in, It must be.

I've been working my way through a couple hundred blades that come in their sample packs... since December, I'm about 15% the way though them, cost me less than 100 bucks with cream and an alum block.

So far my favorite blades are the Rapira Voskhod, and the Gillette Silver Blue blades. Anything by Rapira is decent so far too. No so impressed by the Lord brands (Dull) or the Feather's from Japan (smooth shave but so sharp you can't help cutting yourself, zero pressure, not even the weight of the razor and still get +3 cuts)

There are lots of good videos on italianbarber's website if you need pointers etc. video reviews too

 

[KerryBlue]

2 or 3 days!?!

Damn, I never thought I was a hairy dude, but on Monday after not shaving over the weekend I've got over 1/4" of thick stubble. (which was hell before I was turned on to safety razors)

I shaved yesterday morning, and I can just start feeling my stuble coming back in. I can usually get away with shaving Sundays, Tuesday's and Thursday and I'm good.

I second your thoughts on Razorock, great company, great products and a great resource for someone learning to wet shave.

Feathers are some of the best blades that I have ever shaved with, terrifying sharp and will get you with even a mild razor the cleanest smoothest of shaves. One just has to be very attentive while using them cause one bad move and you'll be bleeding. My other go to's are Personna Blues, or Astra.

If you are looking for another Canadian wet shaving supplier there is always Mark of A Gentleman(markofagentleman.com)

 

[PuckChaser]

I shaved yesterday morning, and I can just start feeling my stuble coming back in.

When does the couple layers of skin you took off start growing back? [emoji2]