Barber said I have the thickest beard he has ever shaved...

[poptart]

So i go get my first straight razor shave from a barber because I wanted to see what I was getting into here. He was using personna disposable blades. I told him I had a pretty thick beard to start with. He said I'm sure it'll be fine. The first pass down the cheek he said wow you weren't kidding. Long story short, the shave was patchy and not very close. It was pretty uncomfortable and the barber had to switch to a new blade just to finish. At the end he said the only other guy I have shaved with a thicker beard wouldn't let me finish because it hurt to bad.
So I have recently gotten my razor back from being honed by Sham over at razor and stone. He did a good job but I'm not sure it's worth continuing to try. The barber did pretty good prep from what I could tell. But I am just not sure if the straight razor thing is gonna work. Any thoughts?

[AFDavis11]

A real straight razor may function better because the grind geometry, right before the bevel, is thicker. If you want to shave, the traditional straight razor is a very effective tool. The thicker your beard, the more effective the straight razor is, comparatively.

The real problem, is with guys with fine wispy hair, not really thick, heavy beards. The thinness of a tradional Personna blade is no match for a thick, heavy beard.

This does not make you immune though, from the long learning curve associated with straight shaving.

[pixelfixed]

Your questions may not have an answere,If Sham honed the razor,it was shave ready.
How was your first shave with the blade? have you stropped it since.
Whats your prep routine? Lots of perameters here.

[poptart]

Your questions may not have an answere,If Sham honed the razor,it was shave ready.
How was your first shave with the blade? have you stropped it since.
Whats your prep routine? Lots of perameters here.

I have tried a few different pre shave techniques. Everything from pre shave oils to conditioner in the shower. Hot towels and mama bear soap. I have read a lot of different ways to do it and stroped multiple times before shaving on a Russian boar strop it seems to do OK for the first few passes and quickly seems less and less effective.

[pinklather]

Hi Poptart,

'first few passes and quickly seems less and less effective'.

Part of this is quite normal for a new shaver. You're gonna be brutal hard on your edge, even if you didn't have the proverbial beard of steel. Developing stropping skills and the shave stroke itself will wreak havoc on your edges. I think you'll find Sham and others will confirm this. This is where its helpful to have a method of restoring edges until your technique makes that less frequent. This doesn't have to be all honing, though at some point, its unavoidable.

You guys w/ the 'beard of steel' do have extra challenges, but I think the honorable afdavis tells you right about the straight remaining the strongest tool. I'm hoping the guys w/ nasty tough beards come out of the woodwork and weigh in on how to get through the learning curve. If they don't, I'd start a new thread on specifically that topic.

Best of luck. If I can be of help w/ edges, pm me. 'Just actual shipping cost to get it back to you. Also a technique where you can extend the time between honing.

[chay2K]

I am a barbering student, and at school we use disposable blade straight razors-- I can tell you from first hand experience that there is a big difference between them, and a conventional straight; especially for a guy like you. As AFDavis said, a straight razor is really your best option. We all go through a bit of an uncomfortable learning curve, with your beard, this learning curve will be even more pronounced.

Stick with it, and you'll be greatly rewarded.

[sheffieldlover]

What's the make of your razor btw?

[maddafinga]

Actually yes that is quite true Jimmy. The sides and back of the head really are very dense and thick hair. I used to mach 3 my head back in the day, and I can honestly say that I get better head shaves now with a straight than I ever did before. I am pretty sure the other headshaver people would agree with that assessment.

James.

My barber shaves my head once a week with his shavette. I get better shaves with it than I did with a cart back in the day.

I've got a beard of steel on my face, and shave it with my straight, no problem. My head dulls it incredibly.

[Endofab]

Are you able to sand furniture with your beard??

[thebigspendur]

I think if your barber couldn't give you a good shave he shouldn't be doing shaves.