Thread: What ground is best for Thick Beard?

hey guys i havent made a post in a while beacuase ive mainly been tlkin with larryandro. he is sharpening a straight razor i got as we speak. If i were to buy another razor what ground should i get for extremely thick beard. the hairs on my beard are individualy VERY thick and are extremely hard to cut. This i why im coming into this SOO slow because i cant get a good shave. all i get is pulling and hurting the blade i have is a robeson shuredge 5/8 hollow ground. Would something else be better like a wedge or 11/16 or maybe a japanese razor? any thoughts would be appreciated thanks

I don't have an especially thick beard but I've read that guys that do like a 1/4 or a 1/2 hollow. Something like the TI Super Gnome or something similar. Stiffer blade with no flex and maybe a bit more weight for momentum.

Recently I honed up a Boker hollow ground for a friend of mine. With a few days growth, I gave her a test run. It sounded like a Keith Moon Drum solo on my face. Shave was good; just loud.

I personally dig the silence of a 1/4 grind.

Honestly, I think the different grinds shave relatively equal. The real challenge is putting an edge on the blade. I feel that the hollow ground blade is easier to hone and/or edge maintenance.

For me, I tend not to use a hollow ground with alot of growth (2+ days). Even with a good sharp edge, the blade tugs from time to time. I never had that issue with a thicker grind.

For the daily shave, I do tend to go for a hollow ground blade. This type of blade seems to give me a closer shave when the hair is short to begin with.

Good prep goes the distance.

Your question is more of a personal preference question, really.

Just buy both and keep the one(s) you like.

*ducks for cover*

As the guys mention above, those with thicker beards often report that the heavier grinds work far better for them. Get yourself a vintage wedge, or something heading that way & see how it works for you.
I like the variation, but find that when i do use my wedges, they are a lot less forgiving. If I do make a mistake, there's no flex there.

most people will say go head use wedge blade in your situation.i have seen couple razor which is hallow drind and mean to for heavy beard. I do have 1 of those blade name is jaguar and will take sharpest edge possible. This means most likely problem is not on the grind of the blade but blade quality itself. There couple other factors will help you.1 is to use scything motion.a good beard preparation.proprely honed blade.hope this helps

What hi_bud said got me to thinking of the Fillys I've seen that say on the blade they are for tough beards. I've seen other hollow grinds that said the same on their blades. I've always thought that was just marketing and they are no different than any other hollow but I don't know since I've never had one.

Personal opinion only: as long as the razor is sharp, any will do. I like bigger and stiffer blades, but I can get the same results with smaller hollow grinds. It's a matter of preference, and ergonomics, I think.

I have extremely thick coarse beard hair, it's like razor wire, and thick too boot. I know everyone says this but us mediterranean folks have some wicked facial hair.

I have never had the please of the 1/4 grind Le Grelot, I want to at some point snag one of these beauties. The closest I've have is a Wapi, similar grind, maybe not similar quality, however it shaves like a dream for me.

On the subject of which grind is best, I will say my best shaves come from the Wapi, and other such non full hollow grinds. I do get some close shaves with a a few of them, but the majority leave me unfulfilled.

Hollows require a much close blade angle to avoid flexing, and a much more rigorous beard prep routine, and extra comfort shave cream/soap( something with shea butter, coconut oil, esp Lanolin)

Robin, does have a point in that technique makes it 6 and 1/2 dozen of the other, if you really concentrate and take your time even a full hollow will give a baby butt smooth shave, but it takes more practice and well work.

I for one am lazy when it comes to working on my shaves, I prefer my blade to do the majority of it. I'm like Slash from Guns and Roses, I sound better on a Les Paul, but then again who doesn't the damn thing would make a blind kid with one hand sound awesome.

Cheers
David

I had a big problem going from the super-sharp disposables to the real straights, with the razor pulling and tugging and not cutting well, and talking and *talking* to me like a kid on a sugar high. My beard is pretty thick. I got a W&B 1/4 hollow / near wedge that took things up *severa* notches, and realized I had only been using a couple of full hollows. One of those was even Lynn-honed, so I know it wasn't my sharpening technique. Then I got a 1/4 hollow Helje and that has never been beat for mowing down whiskers without a beat. Also I have a 1/2 hollow Clauss (4/5 on the Henckel's scale) that comes in a solid third.

It's definitely true the wedges dont talk as much (give as much feedback), so you have to be a bit more careful - as they will thus cut you more easily, especially if you have them *very* sharp. I actually dont like all the feedback of hollows - I find it distracting, makes me think I'm doing something wrong. (Perhaps this is not the same for those with daintier beards.) I still havent been at this forever so I wonder if as my technique asymptotes up and out, if I'll be able to go back to the full hollows and get out of them what I need. But I doubt it.

Just my 2 cents, having recently been through this issue and - for now - out the other end.

Hmmm...

I used to think that a heavier beard required heavier grinds. Now, after acquiring many different grinds and sizes, I've found that I prefer 3/4 to full hollows.

I had the same kind of revelation that Seraphim did in this thread;

A hollow apology - Straight Razor Place Forums

It's all a journey, and fwiw my journey for the perfect razor for my heavy beard has arrived at a 7/8" full hollow (for now...). Who knows where it will end. The journey sure is fun.