Thread: Beard training?

I tend only to use a straight on an evening or non work day, then do a clean up pass with an Ever Ready SE as there are odd hairs which lie flat and in the wrong direction to be physically able to an ATG pass with a str8.

I've been told that if I used a straight exclusively (without a SE or DE clean up pass) it would effectively train the growth direction over time and I'd result in getting better str8 shaves in the end.

So what's your thoughts, is that right, partly right or total hogwash?

Beard training? Interesting concept and I wont dismiss it completely but my take on it is more like str8 training. The more you use one the better you get and rather than training the whiskers you scare em senseless and they dont wanna come back!

I've recently started a pre-shave preparation ritual of soaking my beard in Single Barrel Bourbon for about a half hour before the shave. Since I've started doing this, when I shave the whiskers, the little bastards are too plastered to see the blade coming and are caught unawares. This also makes ATG passes work better because the whiskers are "weak in the knees" and cannot resist the blade.

Unlike Ace, I can't afford the single barrel stuff so I just tell my beard that if it isn't kind enough to get BBS in two passes I will drive to my MIL's house. The hairs practically jump out of my skin...

Right that's what I figured total hogwash!

I agree with Ryan, while I have no evidence to support the idea whatsoever, I believe that the concept of training the hair growth to a shaving routine was "discovered" by the marketing department of one of the larger razor manufacturers to make up for the fact that people had no idea how to use their new products and instead of teaching them how they just played the blame game. If I remember correctly this idea has been stated in every electric razor that I have purchased before I realized that using electric razors is the act of an insane individual. It's all about technique. Luckily, we have one of the greatest resources here in the collective mind of SRP.

Well I intend continuing using my straights in the morning for a bit just to give it a bit of a blast on technique.

Glad to hear it.

After all, pesky whiskers vs carbon steel used correctly - there can only be one winner really!

Originally Posted by Jeltz

So what's your thoughts, is that right, partly right or total hogwash?

I call hogwash on this one - I'd add more but that's all I can really say (or anyone else for that matter) on this topic.

I'll go so far as to say that if you let your beard grow to be at least an inch long,
[I]then[I] you might be able to start "training" the whiskers with a comb. But for
newly emergent whiskers? I don't think so.

Besides, who wants to wait until your beard is an inch long before enjoying a
wonderful straight razor shave?

But hey...good luck if you want to try it. Keep us posted....