Originally Posted by
Mike_ratliff
I would think you wouldn't want a product to raise the hair, that is what skin stretching does...
any product that makes the hair stand up (like lectrashave) will either raise the folicle and cause cuts, or harden the hair.
If you look at the steps we take in our preshave routines, you will notice that almost every step taken is to soften the hair.
Instead of thinking along the lines of someone who uses an electric, and needs the hair to stand so the electric can bruitally yank it out, think of what will soften your beard for better results.
hot water, or hot towels, combined with conditioning agents, good soaps that contain high ammounts of glycerine
I use a Neutrogena preshave facial scrub in the shower, and in winter time will use hair conditioner on my beard before shaving. softer is better, and your razor will take care of the rest.
if you need better results, work on skin stretching, and the angle of your blade.
shallower passes (25 degrees?) with zero pressure, and more passes... or as I tell my friends when I teach them, just try to remove the lather, if you're using a good sharp blade you should be able to scare the hair right off your face.