Thread: Help shaving with my super coarse thick beard

Had a great shave today after i refreshed up the edge with chrom ox and iron ox. Still haven't tried the cold water no face prep route

If you have a coarse beard, skip the cold water route, IMO.
Lather-up, hottest wet towel you can get from the tap over the lather. Hold it there for a full minute, another hot towel, another minute. Lather-up again and shave. Works for me, YMMV.

Originally Posted by sharptonn

If you have a coarse beard, skip the cold water route, IMO.
Lather-up, hottest wet towel you can get from the tap over the lather. Hold it there for a full minute, another hot towel, another minute. Lather-up again and shave. Works for me, YMMV.

There is no reason not to try the cold water route, at least once.

I would also suggest to try "not hot" water shaves. I have a strong beard too, and for me, the pre shower and extensive hot water washing not only softens the whiskers, but also softens the skin to much, resulting in more "flexibility" of skin and whiskers, making it more difficult to get a "sharp" and irritation free shave. As said, just try a shave with less hot water and less prep; you never know!

Originally Posted by Smyth

There is no reason not to try the cold water route, at least once.

I suppose seeing the difference will help!

Originally Posted by Maarten

I would also suggest to try "not hot" water shaves. I have a strong beard too, and for me, the pre shower and extensive hot water washing not only softens the whiskers, but also softens the skin to much, resulting in more "flexibility" of skin and whiskers, making it more difficult to get a "sharp" and irritation free shave. As said, just try a shave with less hot water and less prep; you never know!

A hot shower is akin to the hot towel. Everyone's skin and beard are different. Some like the cold shave. In fact, they swear it is the ONLY way to shave. Quite insistent and argumentative about it, FME.

I shower at night and shave in the morning, hence the hot towel.
Ah, but what do I know? What have barbers who give shaves known for a hundred or 2 years?
No need to try a cold water shave for me. I have had to do it on several occasions due to no hot water.

Again, YMMV

Irratation free and sharp go together. If your blade is right you will get a good shave as long as your prep matches "your" face, and your technique is good, some need a hot water shave, some don't, my friend Bob is a cold water shaver, it works for him, Obie's Hollywood face likes hot water, but it all starts at the edge of the blade and your level of experience. I don't care for cold water shaves for the same reason as our well known Obie, but I can get as good a shave without hot water too. My beard does well with the shower and prep, it's a very course wire like beard, but in a pinch cold water shaves work too, just think it knocks my edge down quicker, time will get you there. Tc

Thank you gentlemen for the advice

Yup, everyone's skin and beard is different so you just have to try various combinations that are suggested until you hit on one routine that works for you. Personally I do no prep, shave with cold water and do 4 passes but I do not expect anyone else to shave like that. It is simply what works for me after trying and eliminating many different things. There is no one size fits all routine to get to a good shave.

Bob

Originally Posted by sharptonn

I suppose seeing the difference will help!

A hot shower is akin to the hot towel. Everyone's skin and beard are different. Some like the cold shave. In fact, they swear it is the ONLY way to shave. Quite insistent and argumentative about it, FME.

I shower at night and shave in the morning, hence the hot towel.
Ah, but what do I know? What have barbers who give shaves known for a hundred or 2 years?
No need to try a cold water shave for me. I have had to do it on several occasions due to no hot water.

Again, YMMV

FWIW, I don't think cold is the only way to go. I can get a great shave with warm and hot, and with some soaps, it is easier to get a strong lather with warm water. And that is obviously an issue. But if cold does work for you, and you really like it, it is certainly a fuss-free way to go. So there's that. Everyone is different, which surprises me with respect to beards.

Interesting - when I shave with a kamisori, I have to do my left neck passes only South-to-North.
Maybe the fact that I am not doing any North-to-South passes accounts for the better neck results - not the kami.