Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coasties...(and anyone who doesn't want to suffer through months of bad str8 shaves in your journey to glory).
Gather round and take a knee...
So you've watched the videos...you've read the tutorials...and you're stuck. You want to try Str8 shaving but dont want to (or better yet...can't) go to work for a month looking like you've been kissing Freddy Krueger's mother. What would your First Shirt say?
Scuba: "Top o the morning Sergeant Major!"
Mean SOB First Shirt: "Sweet Molly in a Manger Scuba...you look like you've just lost a fight with your razor this morning...are you so stupid you can't figure out how to shave?? Are you still in High School or are you in the military?? Do you want to represent the unit or dont you??"
Yeah...I never wanted to have that conversation.
Problem is...after reading all the materials, watching every video out there, I was left with the distinct impression I had no choice but to put down the DEs for a long while and stick with str8s only...for a month or so...in order to get my technique down.
In short gentlemen...this is pure, unadulterated poppycock.
If you truly want to learn Str8 shaving (and make no mistake...it is an art), then you'll do what it takes to get there. The #1 rationale I've heard over the two years here, on why NOT to use a DE is because by leaving it behind you remove the "crutch" keeping you from learning by doing and "suffering" through that first month or two. The more crappy your shaves...the more motivated you'll be to figure out why...problem is I could never go through that with my job..and neither can you! Can you imagine a Str8 shaver Newb who listened to this advice in the Old Guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns? NO! You can't....because he wouldn't be allowed to serve there if his face was a mess.
Well..if you recognize that you have the potential to use a DE as a crutch...and purposefully make yourself gradually use it less and less...then you can still get military-standard shaves from Day 1 (with the exception of perhaps a little razor burn in the early weeks).
In short...it is more than possible to learn and still use a DE regularly....period.
Now...its also important to point out, for those living in the barracks or dorms, that there might be some rules or regulations that you want to pay attention to about knives allowed in the rooms, length of the weapon allowed etc etc. Further, if you tell your First Shirt you are learning to str8 shave and are a relatively young Airmen, Salior or Solider you might get a stern look and talking to to make sure your head is screwed on straight (no pun intended). I want to state that I am NOT condoning keeping your hobby quiet from your leadership...you should feel encouraged to talk to them about it...but you dont want them to be caught off guard on a dorm sweep either
So then...bottomline...if you're in the military...and want to str8 shave but are concerned about getting crappy shaves up front...you can rest assured it can be done without problem...if you really want it!
Best of luck gents, thanks for your Service and...get back in the fight! HUA!
Feel free to post or PM me with questions if you're a military type and want to try but are a bit overwhelmed by all the stuff you can find online!
Gather round and take a knee...
So you've watched the videos...you've read the tutorials...and you're stuck. You want to try Str8 shaving but dont want to (or better yet...can't) go to work for a month looking like you've been kissing Freddy Krueger's mother. What would your First Shirt say?
Scuba: "Top o the morning Sergeant Major!"
Mean SOB First Shirt: "Sweet Molly in a Manger Scuba...you look like you've just lost a fight with your razor this morning...are you so stupid you can't figure out how to shave?? Are you still in High School or are you in the military?? Do you want to represent the unit or dont you??"
Yeah...I never wanted to have that conversation.
Problem is...after reading all the materials, watching every video out there, I was left with the distinct impression I had no choice but to put down the DEs for a long while and stick with str8s only...for a month or so...in order to get my technique down.
In short gentlemen...this is pure, unadulterated poppycock.
If you truly want to learn Str8 shaving (and make no mistake...it is an art), then you'll do what it takes to get there. The #1 rationale I've heard over the two years here, on why NOT to use a DE is because by leaving it behind you remove the "crutch" keeping you from learning by doing and "suffering" through that first month or two. The more crappy your shaves...the more motivated you'll be to figure out why...problem is I could never go through that with my job..and neither can you! Can you imagine a Str8 shaver Newb who listened to this advice in the Old Guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns? NO! You can't....because he wouldn't be allowed to serve there if his face was a mess.
Well..if you recognize that you have the potential to use a DE as a crutch...and purposefully make yourself gradually use it less and less...then you can still get military-standard shaves from Day 1 (with the exception of perhaps a little razor burn in the early weeks).
In short...it is more than possible to learn and still use a DE regularly....period.
Now...its also important to point out, for those living in the barracks or dorms, that there might be some rules or regulations that you want to pay attention to about knives allowed in the rooms, length of the weapon allowed etc etc. Further, if you tell your First Shirt you are learning to str8 shave and are a relatively young Airmen, Salior or Solider you might get a stern look and talking to to make sure your head is screwed on straight (no pun intended). I want to state that I am NOT condoning keeping your hobby quiet from your leadership...you should feel encouraged to talk to them about it...but you dont want them to be caught off guard on a dorm sweep either
So then...bottomline...if you're in the military...and want to str8 shave but are concerned about getting crappy shaves up front...you can rest assured it can be done without problem...if you really want it!
Best of luck gents, thanks for your Service and...get back in the fight! HUA!
Feel free to post or PM me with questions if you're a military type and want to try but are a bit overwhelmed by all the stuff you can find online!
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