Questions on shaving tough beards??

**cowboy76** · 12-31-2007, 03:09 PM

Hello.
I have been dealing with the arduous task of shaving via the straight razor,...arduous only due to the tough wiskers I have been graced with.

I have tried a few methods,..hot towel, different shaving creams to experiment with beard softening, etc. Some have been better than others, but all in all, I keep thinking that there just has to be yet a better way. Maybe a fellow her might be able to assist?

Thanks in advance.

**OldSchoolYoungin** · 12-31-2007, 04:15 PM

Is your blade honed professionally and stropped before each shave? Could be that the blade itself isn't sharp enough. Have you tried hair conditioner on your beard during the shower? This actually does help with mine, there's a noticeable difference in how tough my whiskers are if I don't do this. When lathering, I also let the lather sit on my face for a minute or so before starting to shave as this helps soften the whiskers also.

**sebell** · 12-31-2007, 04:23 PM

A straight razor can be the perfect tool
to tame your tough beard without any
of the irritation that a thin blade can
cause. However, it is absolutely critical
that the edge be honed and stropped
properly.

I like to spend quite a bit of time building
the lather and working it into my beard,
and let it sit on my face while I strop my
razor. I don't do anything fancier than
that.

Concentrate on your technique, and shave
with the point leading in a moderate slicing
motion, much as you would a while cutting
a tomato.

- Scott

**cowboy76** · 12-31-2007, 05:47 PM

thank you all for your suggestions. I am going to revisit the proper way to strop and sharpen the blade then go on from there.

I normally strop before shaving. I also let the lather sit on my face for a while too. I'm going to look into the moderate slicing motion also. thank you

**JBHoren** · 12-31-2007, 06:41 PM

Originally Posted by sebell

Concentrate on your technique, and shave
with the point leading in a moderate slicing
motion, much as you would a while cutting
a tomato.

Originally Posted by cowboy76

I'm going to look into the moderate slicing motion also. thank you

Let me caution you: a slicing motion on your face with a straight razor will, in fact, slice open your face. OTOH, a scything motion will not.

Learn the difference between the two, and be careful!

Smooth shaving in 2008...

**cowboy76** · 01-01-2008, 09:12 AM

Originally Posted by JBHoren

Let me caution you: a slicing motion on your face with a straight razor will, in fact, slice open your face. OTOH, a scything motion will not.

Learn the difference between the two, and be careful!

Smooth shaving in 2008...

Oh yes!...good point there!

Thank you

**OldSchoolYoungin** · 01-01-2008, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by JBHoren

Let me caution you: a slicing motion on your face with a straight razor will, in fact, slice open your face. OTOH, a scything motion will not.

Learn the difference between the two, and be careful!

Smooth shaving in 2008...

That suggestion didn't sound too great to me, either

**sebell** · 01-01-2008, 12:31 PM

What's a scything motion, and how do
you perform it with a straight blade?

The motion I was describing involves a
small amount of forward movement
along with the downward stroke. This is
similar to cutting a tomato, but much
less pronounced.

This stroke has been documented in
barber manuals for years, and if done
properly will absolutely not slice open
your face!

- Scott

**xChris** · 01-01-2008, 01:13 PM

I think it's just an argument of semantics

Scything has an arcing movement in the stroke (see Superfly's illustration below).

Slicing would be moving the blade edge horizontally without the vertical movement. That motion would definitely cause a cut.