Thread: Maintaining a full beard with a str8

For the fall and winter, I’ve decided to grow a full beard and I’m hoping to maintain the neck line and cheek lines by using my straight razor. I know I’ll be able to maintain my neck line using my straight razor, but it’s my cheek line that I think will be difficult to maintain. I could use one of my DE razors, but would prefer to strictly use one of my straight razors.

My question is for those of you who have full beards, do you use your straight to maintain your cheek line? If so, what is your method? I’m afraid I am going to take a section of my beard out on my cheeks it I use my straight.

Any tips on how to go about doing this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Rob

Rob,

I couldn't grow a full beard if I wanted to--the steel wool grows in patchy, curse it--but I don't think it would be as hard as you suspect. I shave the back of my neck all the time with my straights, and I can barely see what I'm doing even with two mirrors. A straight would probably be easier on your cheeks than a DE because you can more clearly see where the edge is. A DE has a big head that obscures the blade's precise location.

I used to try to trim my sideburns and neck with a Mach 3, and a straight is much easier for me.

Go for it, I'd say.

Josh

You can try a shorter blade - say 2.5" or less (vs. 3")

I am not sure you need to, though. Just thought it would work in smaller sections = less potential for trouble?

Cheers
Ivo

I find that shaving around a beard is actually easier with a safety razor. BUT since joining this forum and perusing the threads, I use my straights much more often now. I find the best technique is stretching the skin. Pulling up the skin at the top of the ears, and pulling the skin on the neck are the trick for me to shave around the beard. Right now I'm wearing moustache and goatee, instead of the fuller beard in my avatar. This is even easier to shave around with a straight.

Yeah, prior to starting my full beard, I used my str8 to define the side and bottom of my sideburns, but I think it's going to be a little more tricky using my str8 to maintain the cheek line -- maybe not. I'm not worried about my neck line -- that shouldn't be a problem. I'm going to try using my str8 to clean up my cheek lines this weekend so I'll find out just how easy or difficult it is.

Side note -- using my str8 to define my sideburns is the best razor I've found of any razor I've ever used. It leaves the most even lines IMO.

Rob

I have a beard shaped like Dennis' avatar, and the straight is the easiest way to keep it defined. I don't stretch my skin, as my skin is tough enough that it isn't necessary. You will have to practice which strokes work best. Most of my definition occurs during the WTG & XTG passes with the rounded blades. The spikes can do it ATG, but I find it's easier to see on the first two passes.


Wayne

I don't have a full beard, but I had an extended goatee for a while. The Straight was good at keeping the edges defined, once it was more full grown and shaped. Once it's grown, if you take it slow up to where the hair starts, you'll feel it catch at the division line between the beard and clear skin.

There was one catch for me. It took me more time to shave carefully around facial hair than it does now with my regular goatee.

Thanks for the responses. Tried it out on my 15-day old beard and it went better than I expected -- on the cheek line that it. I figured my neck would not be a problem.

Glad that my str8s will still be getting some use and will be keeping up with improving my skill at using them.

Rob

No beard here but I do have a very full/long goatee. Drops down about 3 to 4 inches below my chin. I use my straights to go around it on my cheeks and neck however, I still find myself sometimes reaching for a DE to make sure that it is even. Some of the angles just seem impossible to get to. Also, before I start the shave I tie it all up with one of those hair bands that I've stolen from my wife and daughters. I had to start doing that after almost taking out a complete side while not paying attention.

-Pary

Originally Posted by JoshEarl

I couldn't grow a full beard if I wanted to--the steel wool grows in patchy, curse it--

I tried to go for the 'tough dude with stubble' look when I was in college (I had a baby face) but that didn't work our as I expected.
I had bald spots in my beard hair and that didn't half spoil the intended results.
And I still had a baby face regardless of the hair so I quickly decided to get back to clean shaven.