How to shave like your grandfather

Photo By Sgt. Caitlyn Smoyer | A Soldier assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade uses a single-blade razor to shave his face during a shaving clinic May 22 at the brigade's organizational classroom. The purpose of this clinic is to teach basic shaving skills in hopes of reducing the number of Soldiers on shaving profiles. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Caitlyn Smoyer)  

FORT STEWART, GA, UNITED STATES

05.22.2017

Story by Sgt. Caitlyn Smoyer 

3rd Division Sustainment Brigade

Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade attended a shaving clinic May 22 at the brigade’s organizational classroom to learn the basics of wet shaving.
Sgt. 1st Class Bartholomew J. Anderson, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the brigade’s medical operations section, gave a block of instruction and provided hands-on learning for those who attended in hopes to reduce the number of Soldiers whom have shaving profiles.
After being asked by a previous commander in South Carolina to teach others how to properly shave, Anderson began doing research to find the best information for shaving. He spoke with dermatologists, doctors and barbers to learn about the different skin and hair types and the best techniques for shaving without causing pseudofolliculitis barbae, or otherwise known as razor bumps.
“There’s a few things I learned that really do make a better difference for a good, clean shave,” Anderson said.
Wet shaving means that the face remains wet throughout the entirety of the shaving process. The best things to use for a wet shave include a hot towel, single-blade razor, a shaving brush and a glycerin-based cream or soap. After-shave products, such as witch hazel or certain face lotions, are also a good idea to close up the recently opened pores.
The importance of the single-blade razor is that it does not cause the same irritation as the multi-blade razors. With a line of blades, only the last one cuts the facial hair; the others are simply pulling the hair further from the skin, which is a significant factor in causing razor bumps.
Before starting the shaving process, Anderson asked the participating Soldiers to first map their facial hair. Many people find that their hair grows in various directions instead of just downward. Creating a map of facial hair helps each Soldier determine which direction(s) it grows so that shaving with the grain is easier.
He then walked the Soldiers through the shaving process, providing tips and guidance to help each one of them walk out of the clinic clean shaven. “How to shave like your grandfather” is what he called it.
First, a towel soaked in hot water is placed on the bearded area. After waiting three or more minutes, an optional shaving oil can be applied to the face to provide an extra lubrication layer between the face and the razor. Then the shaving brush is lathered in the glycerin-based soap and brushed on the face using a circular motion. Placing no pressure on the razor, conduct short strokes with the grain and rinse after each one. Remove any excess soap with cold water and apply an after shave product to close up the pores.
“This is A way to shave,” Anderson said. “It is not THE way. There are a million different ways to scrape your face.”
Because having a shaving profile, whether temporary or permanent, creates a nonavailable status for deployment, it is important to reduce those numbers. The shaving clinic is something the brigade hopes to continue in an effort to do just that.
“It’s teaching a lot of young men, who never really learned how to shave, the right way,” Anderson said. “It’s a big difference in a man’s life being able to walk around with a smooth face.”

• Date Taken: 05.22.2017
• Date Posted: 05.23.2017 10:14
• Story ID: 234859
• Location: FORT STEWART, GA, US