Thread: Help shaving with my super coarse thick beard

I purchased a new Ralf Aust from SRD. Been trying to straight Razor shave for a couple months now. I started with a vintage Pipe Razor, and wanted to try a new modern. I just can't seem to get a good shave on my neck. I've tried every angle and razor just won't cut the whiskers on my neck. I can get a smooth shave on my cheeks. I know the edge was done right by SRD, so I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong. When I shave with my shavette I don't have this problem. My beard is like copper wire so not sure if that is a contributing factor. My face prep consists of a hot shower good facial cleanser and the shave immediately following. Watched all techniques on YouTube also. I have the same issues with the vintage SR also. My stropping technique is pretty good, much better now then when I first started. This whole problem I'm having really had me thinking to stick to my shavette and DE Razor, but I don't want to give up yet. I'm wondering if my extremely thick coarse beard is not conducive to achieve a desirable close shave I have been getting all these years DE shaving.

Any suggestions??????

Two things come to mind. What is the grind on the razor(s) you now use. IIRC a wedge or near wedge is preferable for your kind of beard. Thinner grinds are a little flexible and don't always shave cleanly. The other thing, often poo-pooed, is try using a cold water or lukewarm water shave. I don't have your kind of beard, but I do have problem spots and have found the aforementioned a good solution to my problem.

In terms of face prep I have, on occasion, used hair conditioner applied to my face while still in the shower. Just before applying lather I have used a small amount of a shaving gel in a can and rubbed it in the beard. Some have used a small amount of Cremo as a pre-shave.

Experiment around to find your solution. Adds to the enjoyment of this old/new way of shaving.

As Razorfeld said, try a near wedge, they plow through hair like a bulldozer through snow.

I have the same type of facial hair and the same problem. I've been trying different things and will continue to do so. I am right handed and oddly enough have been getting better results with my left hand on the left side of my neck.
I have been doing 2 full passes and a 3rd on my cheeks with the straight, then trying to do a small part of my neck before finishing up with my DE. That gives me a chance to see if I've made any progress and still get a close 3rd pass. I'm better than I was a few weeks ago, but still have a lot of progress to make, which doesn't really bother me. I enjoy a challenge

My RAlf Aust is a follow hollow.

could it be your stropping technique?
it only takes one bad pass to round out the edge.

Bleach, check around for a mentor and see if he has a wedge grind to let you try or borrow. A full hollow does nothing for your type of beard.

These two are in South Florida and available to help. PM one of them.

Hirlau (South Florida)
Double0757 (South Florida)

Thanks I'll try it out

The neck can be a tricky area with growth form all directions. I have to do some strange passes to get a good shave on my neck. There is the usual things with my neck, skin stretching, low angle, light pressure, but the thing that is different on my neck is that If I make my first pass from south to north it get a better shave than anything else. The rest of my face what order I do my passes in makes no difference, but on my neck it is a game changer. I think it is because my whiskers grow very flat to my skin and if I reduce it first they just lay in hiding tucked very tight against my skin. As always we all have different techniques to go with our different whisker and skin. Try it out you may be surprised, or think I'm crazy...

Originally Posted by RezDog

The neck can be a tricky area with growth form all directions. I have to do some strange passes to get a good shave on my neck. There is the usual things with my neck, skin stretching, low angle, light pressure, but the thing that is different on my neck is that If I make my first pass from south to north it get a better shave than anything else. The rest of my face what order I do my passes in makes no difference, but on my neck it is a game changer. I think it is because my whiskers grow very flat to my skin and if I reduce it first they just lay in hiding tucked very tight against my skin. As always we all have different techniques to go with our different whisker and skin. Try it out you may be surprised, or think I'm crazy...

My beard grows from east to west flat against my neck also