Shaving hard beard?

Hi,
it's well possible that it's been stated somewhere else but i'm looking for a product to "soften" up my beard hair...
i tried shaving with the straight razor several times and it allways hurt like hell but my razor was sharp enough to cut a hair in two by holding it against the edge...my beard hairs were another thing though...then after taking a shower i tried it once more and it went quite smooth...a long hot shower did the trick for about half my beard but by then the other half was too cold to be comfy when shaving...
SOOOOOO, it there any product i can use?
My shaving cream is something from palmolive out of a tube..nothing fancy or to expensive...knive is a 6 i believe...been looking for a larger one because apparently they're better for a sturdy beard but haven't found a deacent one yet..
Thx

Hey I've also got a pretty sturdy, thick beard and I've found that mixing olive oil, castor oil, and tea tree oil together works well. I can't remember how much I put of each, but it did the trick for me. If you don't want to shower before shaving, hold a hot soaked towel to your face for a few minutes, then rub the oil mixture in, then hold the hot towel over your face again for a few minutes. Then proceed with your lather/cream. Reapply the oil/hot towel for every pass. It provides plenty of slip, and softens the beard pretty well.

TonyJ has compiled a lot of useful information in this article: Improving your preparation to get better results - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Personally, I use Castle Forbes's "The Pre Shave" for problem areas. Works like a charm.

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Originally Posted by BeBerlin

TonyJ has compiled a lot of useful information in this article: Improving your preparation to get better results - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Personally, I use Castle Forbes's "The Pre Shave" for problem areas. Works like a charm.

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Thanks for that link, I haven't read that one yet(-:

There are a variety of pre-shave products on the market, but you will probably have to order on-line if you aren't in a major market. One thing I do is to lather before getting into the shower and wash my hair and face last keeping the lather on as long as possible. I re-lather before stropping and touch it up a bit if needed. I also re-lather before re-stropping before my final pass. I know that is a lot of lathering, but it has made a difference for me. I use Col. Konk almond soap for all lathering.

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Originally Posted by atzerath

Hi,
it's well possible that it's been stated somewhere else but i'm looking for a product to "soften" up my beard hair...
...snip....

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Try Proraso but apply a pea sized bit to your wet face first
and build a whisker lather with it and your hand.
Then in a mug build a lather in the normal way. When
the mug of lather is done use your brush rework the lather
on your face into a proper lather.

Half way through the shave add a couple drops of water
to the mug, refresh the lather, reapply lather to your face.

I find the initial minute with full strength Proraso does
help my blade get its first clean bite on a whisker to slice it
off cleanly.

I get the same effect when I face lather with soap. The initial
30 seconds with "full strength" shaving soap conditions my
whiskers better than painting a lather on a wet face. It does
not work with all shave soaps but the better and older soaps
seem to all do it for me.

Time... do time how long you let your lather work. It takes
a good three+ minutes for my whiskers to lather soften...

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Originally Posted by atzerath

...knive is a 6 i believe...been looking for a larger one because apparently they're better for a sturdy beard but haven't found a deacent one yet..

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I don't know what that means (6/8?), but if you want something with more strength, getting a wedge or a 1/4 hollow is the way to go. It won't have as much flex in the shave. Getting a longer blade isn't a bad idea either because the more weight there is, the more momentum it'll have through the shaving stroke.

You can try oils, but thing is, they only provide slippage, they don't make the hair softer through hydration. Only good prep will do that well.

As well as the suggestions in the prep link, I'd try a different cream or soap and have a go at face lathering - that's useful time spent working on your beard with a brush, while you build lather at the same time.

thx guys, i'll have a look into this all...apparently conditioner would already help alot so i'll try that 2 night

Hey mate!!! Welcome aboard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My beard is kinda tough as well, especially around the chin area. I find the best thing to do is a good warm shower, and you can rub your whiskers with shampoo or condintioner, build up the shampoo lather and let it sit for a bit while you finish the shower. Then wash it off and keep your face moist. I then make sure my face is moist with warm water while i build up my shaving lather. I then lather my face nicely and put a hot towel on it for a few minutes. I then recoat my face with lather and start the shave. I find its best to start with the thickest area, because i find my hair gets tougher as time progresses, even with lather on.

So i start on my chin and neck, then mustache area, then i do my cheek and sideburns. Its a good idea to keep relathering as you need to.

Good luck mate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

+1 to all the advice already given.

Another member told me once that something else that works on a tough beard is a more wedge like razor. Apparently the stiffer grinds tend to plow through the beard a bit more easily than hollow grounds (which can catch or skip on the hairs a bit more), which can make the shave a bit more comfortable.

I dont know how much this is the case, as I've only just got my first wedge and I've yet to hone it so I've not tried it out yet. But it worked for this member so it may be worth a try?

Not that I'm trying to enable your RAD or anything..! :D