Thread: Straights for Heavy Beards?

Originally Posted by BobH

Never could understand what difference the grind makes, sharp is sharp.

Bob

Admittedly, I have not shaved with as many blades as many you. Have shaved with maybe 30. Shaved with 1/4, half, 3/4, and full. Not yet a true wedge.
Two blades of the same grind can give different experiences. Steel quality, bellied, concave, I'm not sure if those are the reason for that?
But even with those different experiences, I agree with you.. not really sure the big difference in cutting power. Only real difference in "cutting power" is made by "how sharp is the blade". IMHO.
I like all of the grinds I've tried. My first SR shave was a
1/4 hollow heljestrand and to this day one of my favorite shaves. Though I mostly end up shaving with half to full hollows. My beard is course, very.

I've always been intrigued by guys saying their beard is coarse. Saying that because mine is the only one I've ever shaved, and assuming theirs is the only one they've ever shaved ...... how do they know ?

Before I got into this hobby, and I shaved with DEs as a kid, and most of my adult life with Gillette twin blade 'Good News' throw aways, I did one pass and called it good. I would have said I have a 'tough' beard. When I began doing multiple pass shaves I found that anything beyond 2 passes gave me irritation.

I had brushes that had 'scritch' on my face and sold them to guys who said they were soft with no scritch. Crazy but true. Anyway, I can shave with wedges, full hollows and in between. In my early days of straight shaving (2007) I preferred full hollows. I read about 'flex' and was surprised when I experienced it. I can still shave with any of them but I prefer 1/4 hollow and heavier.

My beard is still the coarsest/toughest I've ever shaved ....... albeit the only one.

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Wow! That speaks volumes. I suppose you told ME! Thanks for posting it, Ivan. It is simply about what some like. Not a scientific thing which can only be interpreted by a few. Not really an argument whatsoever, IMHO.
Now, guys can read and understand. Like it or not, My Friend, it will be subjective long after you and I are gone.
Enjoy yourself here. I shan't be back! The thread is your's and all conclusions, the last word, as well.
I have great respect for you. I know you are quite intelligent. Constant reminders there. I just wish your battles were better selected in promoting this forum instead of promoting divisiveness, which seems obvious here.
Best to you. Better days?
Tom

Huh? I don't understand what you are trying to say, and I have tried repeatedly to explain that in my view "not everything is subjective". I expect that when people disagree with me, or anybody else, they will make a counter argument and explain how the other person is wrong. I certainly never expected that somebody who I have personally selected to be recognized as a mentor would 'argue' solely with their emotions and refuse to even acknowledge basic facts - e.g. that putting a razor on a scale is not subjective.

Clearly, I do not see my posts as insulting, and I would expect that those who do would have the common decency to either explain it to me or ask another moderator to get involved, but certainly not acting passive aggressive.

I found one insult directed towards me, somebody called me a Troll.
Now, arguments are one thing and they are very important as nobody learns anything without them - without them everything is dogma and simple blind belief not subject to any challenge and change.
However, leaving the realm of arguments and reasoning, and resorting to accusations and name calling, is not acceptable and even though I have been extremely patient with this, things seem to be slowly getting worse, not better. This will have to change one way or another even if it takes bans.

My first experience with being called a Troll could be considered subjective , I think,,,
I was about 25 years old & on the job,,,, responded to a disturbance at an apartment building,, I rounded the corner as some kids were playing in the courtyard,, they took one look at me & ran into an open apartment screaming. I made an open question, "What the h*ll was that about?" One of my colleagues following behind me responded, "Cause you look like a damn Troll."

I had no idea what he was talking about,,,, so a day later I went to the library on Collins ave. & researched what a Troll was.
Co-workers can be damn cruel.
As far as I was concerned, I looked nothing like that "thing" in the book.

As I mentioned, according to Robeson, I most resemble this guy:




and subjectively he doesn't look to me like those Troll things either:

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I've always been intrigued by guys saying their beard is coarse. Saying that because mine is the only one I've ever shaved, and assuming theirs is the only one they've ever shaved ...... how do they know ?

Before I got into this hobby, and I shaved with DEs as a kid, and most of my adult life with Gillette twin blade 'Good News' throw aways, I did one pass and called it good. I would have said I have a 'tough' beard. When I began doing multiple pass shaves I found that anything beyond 2 passes gave me irritation.

I had brushes that had 'scritch' on my face and sold them to guys who said they were soft with no scritch. Crazy but true. Anyway, I can shave with wedges, full hollows and in between. In my early days of straight shaving (2007) I preferred full hollows. I read about 'flex' and was surprised when I experienced it. I can still shave with any of them but I prefer 1/4 hollow and heavier.

My beard is still the coarsest/toughest I've ever shaved ....... albeit the only one.

I think the terminology is wrong.
What people are really talking about is hair density .
I've also noticed that people with less density seem to suffer from irritation more than people with more density.
I have 2 brothers with less dense beards than me (my case studies)

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I've always been intrigued by guys saying their beard is coarse. Saying that

My beard is still the coarsest/toughest I've ever shaved ....... albeit the only one.

I'm no barber by any means but have shaved several men's beards besides my own. And it was course in comparison. But yes without that background hearing the proclamation of a course beard does sound funny.
Even still, I think that one might be able to discern that their beard is course without having the experience of shaving other men's beards... but I wouldn't want to know...

Someone has to say it: 'Can't we all just get along?'

Originally Posted by Razorfaust

I will say for my experience both blades being of equal sharpness a wedge blade inspires greater shaving confidence..... I don't believe one is better than another as far as shaving hair off your face but I can see how personal preference plays a huge role here we are all different some folks like a big hammer others would rather hit a nail more with a lighter one.

I missed this post. Now that I remember better, I'm glad that my first razor was a 1/4 grind. I believe that it was better to learn on... more forgiving, less play/flex, and other subtleties that escape me.
Though I still think that sharpness is most important, that fact is a given regardless of the grind and so should be omitted from preference and or argument for which is better for... so my sharpness argument was off topic.
I need more experience with "wedges" and less grinds. But what I can say is that the arguments that I have read in favor of "less grinds" for heavy beards is accurate.
I forgot the learning curve and the harshness that I experienced with full hollows as opposed to the relative ease of shaving with a blade that was closer to a wedge.
When I've let my beard grow in, and then shaved, my face is always happier when i use my 1/4 as opposed to my full hollow. For what ever reasons.

IM sure there are folks out there with coarser beards than me. Mine is just really kinky. Its a real perv.