Thread: Thicker or thin beard for first shave?

My razor is ordered... and should be to me fairly soon so I ask...

Should I let my beard grow out a little for the first time I use the straight razor, or should it be only a short time of growth for the first shave? Which will be easier to shave while learning? Does it matter?

I saw a video on here of a guy who had probably a couple of weeks of growth and shaved through it like butter... now, I assume much of that was his skill level, but it got me thinking about the first shave.

So, thoughts on that? Any other pointers on a first shave you want to through out there? (I've been reading stuff on here, but there may be something you just thought of or a specific thing you think is more important.)

Originally Posted by MichaelRork

My razor is ordered... and should be to me fairly soon so I ask...

Should I let my beard grow out a little for the first time I use the straight razor, or should it be only a short time of growth for the first shave? Which will be easier to shave while learning? Does it matter?

I saw a video on here of a guy who had probably a couple of weeks of growth and shaved through it like butter... now, I assume much of that was his skill level, but it got me thinking about the first shave.

So, thoughts on that? Any other pointers on a first shave you want to through out there? (I've been reading stuff on here, but there may be something you just thought of or a specific thing you think is more important.)

My face likes a few days growth. I vote thick. You will at least want a few days to let your face heal from previous shaves.

My job dictates a daily shave...

If possible 2-3 days growth I personally think yeilds a fantastic shave....
and it's just more fun to take off a heavier beard with a straight razor

Originally Posted by gssixgun

If possible 2-3 days growth I personally think yeilds a fantastic shave....
and it's just more fun to take off a heavier beard with a straight razor

+1 It just seems more satisfying!

Two or three days' growth may give you an optimally visible direction-of-hair-growth pattern while you are shaving as well.

i will have to lean the other way on this one i think it would be better to have shorter hair as it would make for an easier shave and you would put less pressure on the blade

i agree with jszbo a

michael

I've been using a straight for a few months. Normally my job requires me to shave every day, but when coming back from leave I had 8 days worth of growth. That was the best shave I've ever had.

Part of it was that it is so easy to see what you've done and what you haven't. Part of it is going from very fuzzy to very smooth. Normally my facial hair comes in very slowly, and is very light-colored. It is easier to see the grain of your hair. When compared to a multi-blade razor, a straight will work much better as it will not get clogged.

I'd go with 2-3 days.
J.

2 days growth is optimum for me. The feel of the blade on whiskers is a bit more pronounced, and I get a much better ATG cut because after just one day my blade only slides over most of the offending hairs, causing me to scrape and over pressure and do too many passes in the offending areas. And it’s just so cool to see a heavier growth get wiped off your face.