Thread: Le Grelot and Heavy/Coarse Beards

I'm considering picking up a Le Grelot in the next couple of weeks, a quarter hollow grind. Wondering if any of you with coarse beards have any experience with them and how well they perform. I've never had a 6/8. I've got a 5/8 dovo special and Wapis that shave *ok* but not great, and two 7/8s that I'm waiting to be have sharpened if the post office ever finds the package.

They shave with the best of them. I have a pretty heavy beard also and find 5/8s just okay. My Le Grelot quarter hollow took a wonderful edge and one of my best shavers, if not the best.

How does one figure out if he has a coarse beard? What constitutes a coarse beard? Do we need to count the number of hairs per square unit and/or and couple that somehow with the diameter of the typical strand of hair? Do we use the hanging hair test? What if we've shaved off all our hair and have no hairs to hang?

These questions are, of course, somewhat tongue in cheek, but every time I see the statement, "I have a coarse beard", I wonder how does he know that and by what standards do the others of us shavers rate our stubble so we too can select the proper tonsorial tools for our own marvelous shaves.

If you can dul a razors edge on your chest hair, then you have a tough beard.

And the LeGrelot 1/4 grind is a fine razor to handle it.

Originally Posted by Bruce

How does one figure out if he has a coarse beard? What constitutes a coarse beard? Do we need to count the number of hairs per square unit and/or and couple that somehow with the diameter of the typical strand of hair? Do we use the hanging hair test? What if we've shaved off all our hair and have no hairs to hang?

These questions are, of course, somewhat tongue in cheek, but every time I see the statement, "I have a coarse beard", I wonder how does he know that and by what standards do the others of us shavers rate our stubble so we too can select the proper tonsorial tools for our own marvelous shaves.

Ah Bruce, while you were being partially TIC, I've had the same thoughts. And while I'm relatively new to both straights and DEs (~6 months now), I'm pretty sure I have quite a coarse beard for a number of reasons I won't bother to go into. That, or my prep and technique are absolutely atrocious. But considering I can get a fabulous shave with minor to no irritation (more so with the straight than the DE actually), I'm guessing it's the former and not the latter.

Thanks for the responses guys.

I got the basic Le Grelot with plastic scales from rasurpur and it's great on my course beard, is smooth to shave with, and is easy as pie to hone. So I'd highly recommend it. I think they still have some of the plastic scaled ones at rasurpur, as well as some really nice high quality scale options. Martin is awesome to deal with.

I've the great pleasure to own a Le Grelot 6/8 1/4 grind - also bought from Martin, who is a really nice guy to deal with - and I am really happy. It was my first straight and it get me hooked (I think I don't need to give more praise than that)...

Lucius,

Tongue not in cheek and razor no longer in hand today, I can only say that I concur with the others' comments about the Le Grelots from Martin at rasurpur.de. I have a couple of them (bad, bad RAD) and they are my favorite razors. I have others I also like muchly and plenty, but the Le Grelots are the favorites.

good luck, good shaving,

Originally Posted by Bruce

but the Le Grelots are the favorites.

Don't say that!

I've been looking for a Le Grelot for sometime now, I got to get one.

Originally Posted by Leon

Don't say that!

I've been looking for a Le Grelot for sometime now, I got to get one.

Then go buy one at Rasurpur before they are all gone!