Are agressive razors more effective at cutting coarse hair?

[Zen Head]

From reading what's been posted here, I gather that a more aggressive razor will likely remove more hair in one pass, but will it have an easier job of cutting through coarse hair than a less aggressive razor.

[Millay]

Good question!
I think and i could be wrong as im a newbie that aggresivness of a razor reflects how close to the skin the blade gets.

[Koss]

Speaking for myself only... I agree that it does.

Cranking my Futur up to 6 on the first pass, then slowly going back down on the scale as I cut closer and closer to the skin. Thats my experience.

The last feather I tried out really helped to.

[gone down south]

IMO, an aggressive razor will cut closer, but how easily the hair is cut depends on the blade.

[SiBurning]

Welcome to B&B.

Hate to give an oblique response, but... Well, okay. Maybe I do like to give oblique responses. But, anyway...

There's also a question of whether your face can tolerate the aggressiveness. Assuming it's true that a more aggresive blade cuts more hair or more easily, that should mean you can use fewer passes to get a good shave. But it doesn't follow that this is the most comfortable way to get those hairs off. More passes with a less aggressive blade might be better.

There's a lot more to this, but the important thing is to find out what works best for you personally. You're unlikely to get an answer to that here. Some things you just have to try for yourself.

[DunEdinRanger]

I would think yes. But I could be wrong.

[andrewinman]

IMO, an aggressive razor will cut closer, but how easily the hair is cut depends on the blade.

I also believe it is partly due to the weight of the razor. For instance I can put the same blade a my Futur and I dont have the skipping but I will with a Tech. So my answer is blade sharpness and smoothness plus weight of your razor.( By the way my beard is very coarse and that's with the Futur on a 1.2)

[mdunn]

IMO, an aggressive razor will cut closer, but how easily the hair is cut depends on the blade.

this is what I would have thought

[pablo_h]

Yep, no point is using an aggressive razor with a red IP or derby. The blade can't do what the razor is asking in those circumstances. You need to pair up an aggressive razor with a feather, gillette yellow or iridium super, otherwise an aggressive razor will just tug and skip.

eg with a gillette adjustable, the max I can set it when using a red IP is '5', any more agressive and it's an uncomfortable shave. With a sharper blade, I can set it to '7' or higher and get the job done quicker with less passes.