Thread: Help shaving with my super coarse thick beard

I have the same problem. Really strong whiskers, so the razor has to be sharp as hell.
Most of the time i round the edge stroping it and then i need to go back to the stone.

Originally Posted by tcrideshd

If you have read a bunch on beginners, you will find this same thing going on all the time, guys expecting to get this down quick, it's a pride thing that most guys have that they don't want to admit they can't get it right now. It's not your beard, and it sounds like it's not your blade unless your stropping has degraded the edge, and just so you know sometimes it takes a year too start improving your edges with stropping and shaving takes a good 100 shaves or so to learn well.
So just keep at it, it will come, not to mention learning the different angles and way to make a pass will be a trial and error proccess that eventually comes together.
So take the advise to look up a mentor, they can see what your doing wrong and help. Oh and I shave with every kind of grind now, and my beard is steel cables, no issues with any f my blades as long as the edge is right. Tc

Of all the great advise given here, I'd go with this one.
Focus on honing your technique, not your blade..
I've been SR shaving for 2 years now, and still far from getting a perfect shave...

Patience & commitment will get you there...

Go contrarian. Don't try to soften your beard. Do no prep. Splash cold water on your beard, lather up cold, and shave cold. Pre-shower. Once I tried this, I haven't gone back. In days of old, the accepted belief was that you needed your whiskers standing up firm and stiff to cut them down. Give it a try.

Originally Posted by Smyth

Go contrarian. Don't try to soften your beard. Do no prep. Splash cold water on your beard, lather up cold, and shave cold. Pre-shower. Once I tried this, I haven't gone back. In days of old, the accepted belief was that you needed your whiskers standing up firm and stiff to cut them down. Give it a try.

I will actually try this tomorrow

Please report back. I'd like to know how it works out for you! Good luck!

Originally Posted by FAL

Remember the product for ladies, "Nair"?? The two times I have seen it used, it seemed to dissolve hair, now I wonder if the active ingredient could be used perhaps thinned a bit for those of us who have the extra tough beards? There are several chemicals that are used, so, time for Mr. curious here to do some experimenting, VERY carefully, I'll let you guys know what I find out, starting with Calcium Hydroxide.

Ouch!!

Saw a guy do this at the cottage once, was pretty horrible. He needed to shave but nothing was around, he figured he'd use Nair that one of the ladies had...think the instructions say leave on for 30-60 seconds or something like that, anyhow, once he rinsed off his face he was covered in deep pock marks, was pretty horrible, looked like his face was covered with terrible acne scars....that's something I definitely wouldn't try.

I think it says on the bottle "do not use on face"

Originally Posted by FAL

Remember the product for ladies, "Nair"?? The two times I have seen it used, it seemed to dissolve hair, now I wonder if the active ingredient could be used perhaps thinned a bit for those of us who have the extra tough beards? There are several chemicals that are used, so, time for Mr. curious here to do some experimenting, VERY carefully, I'll let you guys know what I find out, starting with Calcium Hydroxide.

I would not recommend the Nair course of action - I tried it once when I was younger in other areas and the outcome was pretty traumatic... Don't ask.

Adam

I had to replace a bathroom floor once because a bottle of Nair got spilled on the linoleum.

Originally Posted by RezDog

I had to replace a bathroom floor once because a bottle of Nair got spilled on the linoleum.

If that's not enough to convince you and I don't what is....