Can a NCO make a Soldier use nair to remove facial hair?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 05:01:17 -0500

One Soldier has bad razor bumps, noticeable when he uses a razor for shaving. He worked on getting appointments but he had to push to the right couple times. Can a NCO make a Soldier use nair to remove facial hair?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2021 5:17 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 05:17:20 -0500

Nair? On the face? Yea, let's decide to have the Soldier burn the shit out of his face by using Nair. Have the Soldier try different brands/types of razors before going with that stupid ass suggestion.

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made Feb 10 at 2021 5:32 AM

MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 05:32:03 -0500

First, I can understand why this NCO is attempting to enforce standards.
Second, this same NCO needs to pull his head out of his fourth point of contact. Products like Nair have warnings on them about NOT using them on the facial areas for a reason.
Third, there are better ways of handling this. Many companies make razors and/or other products specific for those who have problems with pseudofolliculitis barbae.

Hopefully the Soldier can get with Medical and find out exactly what is going on and how best to treat it.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2021 7:07 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 07:07:40 -0500

To answer your question, no.
Additionally, I find it extremely sad that there is someone in our ranks that legitimately thinks that nair would be a viable option.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2021 9:16 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 09:16:44 -0500

There's a product called magic shave that's basically the same thing, it's a depilatory cream, specifically used by people who have razor bumps issues.

But this NCO is setting himself up for some serious blowback in multiple ways. This Soldier also needs to make sure he stops pushing back his appointments

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2021 11:06 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 11:06:01 -0500

Pseudofolliculitis barbae? It's a common problem in men of color. There are other treatments that don't involve Nair.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Feb 10 at 2021 11:22 AM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 11:22:34 -0500

Some one is setting himself/herself up for an IG complaint. The soldier can be told to shave, until he gets a profile, he is stuck with shaving. If he chooses to shave with peanut butter and a plastic spoon and it gets him to conform to regulations who cares. As a leader we cannot tell you to use product X over product Y. Said soldier may need to try different things until they get their profile.

Response by SFC Melvin Brandenburg made Feb 10 at 2021 2:28 PM

SFC Melvin Brandenburg — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 14:28:43 -0500

Nair is a bad idea to be used on the face. Razor bumps can be grounds for a shaving profile. Nair is unnecessary.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2021 6:56 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 18:56:21 -0500

This NCO is not a medical professional. If said soldier is having derm problems then he needs to go to sick call to be seen. Let medical do their thing. Temporary shaving profile on record while they sort it out and NCO accept what medical says as they are the ones in charge at this point.

When the NCO decided to make the soldier do something for a medical condition he has no tried to practice as a medical provider and also could have caused harm to the soldier. I get it he is upset the soldier is not meeting the grooming standards and it sounds like the soldier is not doing their part to make sure if they can’t meet the standard due to a medical issue to see a medical provider.

In the end though the biggest blame and harm is going to come to that NCO in this situation.

Response by SSG Dale London made Feb 10 at 2021 7:27 PM

SSG Dale London — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 19:27:13 -0500

Short answer: no. NCOs do not have the authority to make you use any particular commercial product. They can however order a soldier to comply with grooming and appearance standards without specifying the method used. If the soldier's appearance is unacceptable despite making an honest effort to comply the NCO may recommend the soldier try other methods. The moment that recommendation takes on the character of an order to use a specific product, the NCO has stepped out of line.
Warning: saying this to the NCO is not likely to result in a positive outcome for the soldier. Instead, the soldier should tell the NCO he is making every effort and he would be grateful if the NCO could help him get that appointment with the medics.

Response by Maj John Bell made Feb 10 at 2021 9:44 PM

Maj John Bell — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 21:44:08 -0500

Woe unto the Officer, SNCO, or NCO who by word or deed essentially tells a medical officer to "%$#& off."

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Feb 11 at 2021 12:08 PM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Thu, 11 Feb 2021 12:08:13 -0500

No.... but yes (ish)
If a Soldier does not have a valid profile, then an NCO CAN require the Soldier to present a clean-shaven appearance. The NCO cannot mandate HOW that is achieved.

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Feb 11 at 2021 4:44 PM

Sgt Dale Briggs — Thu, 11 Feb 2021 16:44:45 -0500

Lol, shaving bumps = a shaving chit.

Response by SSG George Holtje made Dec 7 at 2021 8:25 PM

SSG George Holtje — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 20:25:42 -0500

There are specific facial hair products. Nair is for legs and/or body hair

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2022 7:14 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 19:14:21 -0500

Short Answer: Sick call, he can receive a shaving profile and authorized use of an electric razor. He can also have all this appropriately put in his records.
Long Answer: NCOs can not order a Soldier to take or use medications, or products outside of a profile or while not serving in a medical capacity under a license physician i.e PA, Nurse, Doctor, Surgeon. Potentially using hair removal products before a PA or above can assess the severity of the bumps can cause scarring or in a field/deployed environment infection. So just go to sickcall do PT later in the day.

Response by SGT John Ball made Feb 27 at 2022 5:08 PM

SGT John Ball — Sun, 27 Feb 2022 17:08:58 -0500

Sounds like some hazing is going on here. In my day, if a troop was caught unshaven, then they were forced to dry shave and wear the razor taped to the pocket of their BDU top. That, I would consider hazing. This happened to me once, but I wasn't damaged either because that's the way the Army was in those days.