Thread: I'm keeping the beard!

Originally Posted by Ryan82

You wouldn't happen to be Canadian by any chance?

Until I was a SR shaver I had a beard/facial hair of some sort ever since I could grow it. After high school I found successive jobs which involved working outside during Canadian winters, and I can tell every one here that a beard does help. Freshly shaved skin does not feel great when it's -30!

The last couple winters were, IIRC, the first that I didn't grow my winter beard. I just sucked it up, I guess.

Ah, the things we do for straight razor shaving.....

well...I'm not canadian, but I've had outdoor jobs myself. it may not get as cold here or stay cold as long, but it's cold enough for me. I did get as far north as michigan once. it was the only time I remember haveing to wear a coat in july.

Originally Posted by nickedNsliced

well...I'm not canadian, but I've had outdoor jobs myself. it may not get as cold here or stay cold as long, but it's cold enough for me. I did get as far north as michigan once. it was the only time I remember haveing to wear a coat in july.

Just for the record as far North as I am, July is still nice enough that we don't have to wear coats.... unless you get a crappy rain soaked one like we did this year

I rekon once you started with a straight its only a matter of time an you'll loose the beard due to wantin more real estate to shave on ..hehe ! goodluck

Originally Posted by Bred

I'm looking into straight razors for a few reasons:

1) Obviously way cooler than any other way of removing facial hair.
2) I love tools and any kind of gear (my other activities are rock climbing, archery, cycling, and I am pursuing a PhD in biology...it's nothing but cool equipment!)
3) If it really does provide a closer shave, then I'm in. I've had more than one lady comment on scratchiness even when it looks okay.


Here's the catch though...I have a beard and intend to keep it for the foreseeable future. Everyone says to start with the sideburns and cheek...that constitutes a large part of my beard!

Does anyone have some tips for starting out shaving just my neck?

how does everyone line up thier jaw? im running into a problem when im going top down on my neck i still cut the longer beard hairs.. also when going ATG and XTG any tips for keeping a straight line??

Originally Posted by ANGELO

how does everyone line up thier jaw? im running into a problem when im going top down on my neck i still cut the longer beard hairs.. also when going ATG and XTG any tips for keeping a straight line??

After a few months experience doing this I would recommend the following:

1) I have a $10 electric trimmer that I got from WalMart. It's battery powered. I just take the guard off and trim the line that I want first to better define the difference between stubble and beard. Also, regularly trim your beard around the line you want so that there aren't too many hairs that extend to where you shave with the straight. Then you can just carefully go under the long beard hair and stop where that line was and shave the line. The key is to not be too hasty and make lots of short strokes.

2) ATG and XTG...shave more or less normally for all parts away from your beard line and for the part right at your beard line just take a little extra time. Again, only do 1/2" to 3/4" at a time and go over that with short strokes, then move on.

Good luck!

i have been using a trimmer to line up first.. just wondering if anyone uses a straight only would like to ditch all electrics if possible

So I have had a beard in various forms and am now currently in the moustache mode . I came across this website.If you like beards and such and wanna challenge your blade skills,then check this guy out.The Quest For Every Beard Type | Jon Dyer's Blog . I'm rather fond of the klingon look as my beard was pretty close to that for a while. This guy has the hair type I wish I had.He can be real versatile .

i cant swing a lot of those but i have tried quite a few. getting those shapes with a straight is gunna take a bit of practice.

Originally Posted by ANGELO

i cant swing a lot of those but i have tried quite a few. getting those shapes with a straight is gunna take a bit of practice.

Indeed...and that my good fellow ,is what separates us straight shavers from the cartridge kids.No one ever said is was necessarily easy,but the reward is oh so much more fulfilling . I should also point out that I myself have not mastered all of these styles,but It does give a nice challenge to look forward to. Most folks don't even think about it when cartridge shaving. Hmmm makes me wonder.Do you suppose straight shavers on a whole are a more conscious type of folk than their cartridge counterparts whom I suspect are more just go,go,go, and damn the consequences ?

Originally Posted by Nightblade

So I have had a beard in various forms and am now currently in the moustache mode . I came across this website.If you like beards and such and wanna challenge your blade skills,then check this guy out.The Quest For Every Beard Type | Jon Dyer's Blog . I'm rather fond of the klingon look as my beard was pretty close to that for a while. This guy has the hair type I wish I had.He can be real versatile .

lol Interesting page, not sure how you found it, but mildly amusing all the same. I thought I'd had many styles over the years.... man, I don't even come close.