US Marine shave?

[Krodor]

Several years back, a buddy of mine joined the US Marines, and he said he learned a 10-stroke method of shaving his face during bootcamp. I haven't talked to him since (lost touch), but it comes back to me every now and then...10 strokes? Golly, even with a 5-blade cartridge, how cover your face in 10 strokes? If someone is familiar with this, for my own curiosity, can they please post a series of drawings showing how this is done?

thanks!

Krodor

 

[oldspiceboy]

Hmmm? I wonder if he meant that a stroke was a pass in each of the different areas of the face? I do three passes and maybe a little touch up here and there but thats it. I couldn't imagine doing 10 passes. But if you count each movement of the razor across the face then I could see 10 strokes as being possible. Also shaving in 10 strokes could be used as a means of instilling discipline and attention to detail. To the armed forces its all about order and uniformity.

 

[The Nid Hog]

I don't remember a ten stroke method, but I remember being taught the "four primary directions of shaving." The end result was a pretty smooth shave.

 

[The Last Chimney]

Hm. I was there several years ago and was never taught anything shave related. We were just given (sold) a Mach 3, canned gel, and a bottle of Aqua Velva.

 

[BBrad]

Watching Gillette commercials on TV, they show a stroke starting at the sideburn and ending at the chin. x10, and you could be "shaved".

Problem is, long strokes do not a good wetshave make! It ain't a race - be nice to your face!!

Slow, short, and gentle strokes produce a higher-quality result.

A good shave is a crockpot recipe . . . quit using the microwave!

 

[buyandhold2018]

A good shave is a crockpot recipe . . . quit using the microwave!

What a fantastic analogy

 

[Optometrist]

Watching Gillette commercials on TV, they show a stroke starting at the sideburn and ending at the chin. x10, and you could be "shaved".

Problem is, long strokes do not a good wetshave make! It ain't a race - be nice to your face!!

Slow, short, and gentle strokes produce a higher-quality result.

A good shave is a crockpot recipe . . . quit using the microwave!

Short strokes, long strokes? Each to their own. I find the long strokes give me better control at maintaining the angle, and after 3 passes get a BBS shave.
There is no one correct way. It's what suits you best.

David

 

[gearchow]

A good shave is a crockpot recipe . . . quit using the microwave!

What a fantastic analogy

+1, although there are times I bring out the tech and hit the 1 minute button! Not a great shave, but I knocked them back a bit.

-jim

 

[doublebucklemonk]

There was a link to a straight shave demo on here a while back (I can't find the link now). I think it was linked from a newspaper article in the Times or the WSJ. It was a brand new shop but was decorated to look old school and they did the whole works from the hot lather machine all the way through the talc finish. The barber there demonstrated the 10 "strokes" of a straight shave. It wasn't 10 individual strokes and you were done with the shave, it was these are the ten types of strokes/razor grips/movements that are typically used on different parts of the face. He was showing things like using a "normal" stroke to go from the client's nose to clients right side of mouth, and then using a backhand stroke to go from the nose to the left side of the clients mouth.

 

[BBrad]

+1, although there are times I bring out the tech and hit the 1 minute button! Not a great shave, but I knocked them back a bit.

-jim

I will certainly agree that on some days "quick" is the order of business!! I, too, will take a less aggressive razor (Injector) and perform a "one-pass-wonder" shave that is quite acceptable when the need arises.

But, for most days, that can't take the place of the normal two to three pass, slow, gentle, careful, and relaxing process that I call quality shaving.

Oldspiceboy answered Krodor's original question best . . . in that it is a matter of discipline and attention to detail, both essential in training recruits. One also has to assume that most young men of boot-camp age have not yet mastered the shaving process, and would find such instruction beneficial as well.