Better to shave with a thicker beard?

So I can't tell if this is resulting from technique or other factors, but it seems to me that I get better shaves if I wait for my beard to thicken up instead of shaving a stubbly shadow/whiskers. Is this true? Sometimes it's so hard to wait, because I'm one of those that just can't stand having a shadow or stubble. I still grow my beard pretty fast and within 3 days it's more than ready for a shave. But is there a time when it's too early to shave? Does shaving stubble dull a razor faster? Is there a different technique/prep that you should take when shaving short beards/stubble?

I'm again very grateful to be a part of this awesome forum where I can ask crazy questions like this. SRP ftw!

What makes the shave better? Less pulling/tugging, less irritation, smoother...not sounding mean or anything, just the better you describe it the better everyone can get a sense of just why it might feel better to you.

I've noticed the same thing for me, as shaving with more facial hair makes me have less irritation for some reason. If I shave every day, i seem to get more irritation. just my .02

exactly my problem. The blade does seem to grab and pull more with shorter facial hair. With just a little more care and concentration I can still get a pretty good shave all the same, but I just wondered if maybe it's also bad for the blade.

Coarse stubble hair can dull the blade faster, and I notice with my coarse stubble having only about a day and a half to grow out, I have to use shorter lighter strokes (mainly on my cheeks), but really if you get more comfortable shaves every other (which is what I do) or even every 2 or 3 days, then I would stick with that, and if you absolutely have to be clean shaven for some reason, then shave before your beard has started coming in. You could add some food grade glycerin (walmart pharmacy section usually near bandaids) about 2 drops to your cream, and if you aren't already, a good pre-shave, and aftershave balm instead of splash...you didn't say what soap, cream, preshave, or aftershave you use, so just throwing that in there for good measure. :chapeau

This depends on the occasion, if you need forwork or other things have are clean-shaven look, I would say all stubble every day.
Personally, I think on the day the best shave, there is more in your face than after 1 day, and more fun to see how good your razor glide through the hair.;)
But it is entirely up to you and your circumstances

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Originally Posted by quicksilver

So I can't tell if this is resulting from technique or other factors, but it seems to me that I get better shaves if I wait for my beard to thicken up instead of shaving a stubbly shadow/whiskers. Is this true?
Maybe it's because after 3 days your skin has recuperated from the previous shave. I think the base of the hair is always the same diameter but I may be wrong

But is there a time when it's too early to shave? Only if there's no stubble or the skin is irritated

Does shaving stubble dull a razor faster? I can't see why that would happen.

Is there a different technique/prep that you should take when shaving short beards/stubble? Not really. I actually spend more prep time on a longer beard & always shave with the spine as close to the skin as feasible. It's the taller scraping angles that dull the edge, like scraping a kitchen knife across the chopping board.

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YMMV anyone? ;)

I seem to have better shaves with less growth. When I let my face get long, the initial pass has a but more tug but that seems to make sense to me since I am cutting more hair. When shaving daily and removing stubble only, the passes seem to not have as much tug.

Either way, I am able to get a very smooth, close shave after 2 passes on my face.

I guess it really all comes down to your type of facial hair (some have tougher beards) and your technique.

I don't get any more tug with shaving every day, but do notice a closer, easier shave after 2 or 3 days growth and less weepers. I noticed when shaving with a DE or SE as well as when using a straight, but more noticeable with a straight. It would be interesting to know if there is a reason for this phenomenon.