I stopped shaving...

**Duggo** · 10-23-2006, 09:41 PM

You are not going to believe this.I stopped shaving so that I could grow a beard. That way I could see the direction in which the hair was growing. The price I've paid is I've been in the drugstore buying creams and soaps and who knows all what else. The guys there probably think I work there, they see me in there so often.

So, now that I've got a beard, I have taken pictures that I can now use as a referance as I shave. I do have some issues (dermitologically speaking). Which haven't cleard up since the hiatus began five days ago.....

Things I learned...

1. Like they said in Titanic (97) "The reflection in the mirror has changed". and 2. I've been operating under misconceptions, as far as direction of growth goes. I'm abosolutely posotive the guys at work think I'm nuts for doing this.

How I'm going to get this off is another question. I know, I know. Shave it. My question being is my scrawny little Merkur LH up to the job? A friend of mine sugessted a str8 razor, which I don't even have. Which is a good thing. You won't see my name in the Obits tomorrow morning.

Enjoy the Shave!

Duggo

**TimmyBoston** · 10-23-2006, 10:03 PM

To bring your beard back down to a manageable level. Start with a beard trimmer or hair clippers. You want to get it down to a short manageable length. My guess if you hack at it with your HD with 5 o6 7 seven days of growth you could get whacked up pretty bad, from what I remember you have a pretty thick beard, that would make it worse. And a straight could be suicide. Shorten it down with some kind of clipper then shave. Go with God.

**Jack Bauer** · 10-23-2006, 10:21 PM

I read somewhere on one of these message boards that you can actually train your beard growth to grow in whatever direction you want. Not sure about how to do it but if you are willing to grow it out this might be something you consider looking into. I think an easier way is to just take your time, slow down and focus on angle. Try shaving at night for awhile (or whenever you have the most time) until you have it down.

Chris

**jduffy** · 10-23-2006, 11:00 PM

I'm amazed at the length of whisker that a DE can tackle compared to a multi-blade. I could choke a multi-blade with about two days of growth. No problem for a DE.

**rtaylor61** · 10-23-2006, 11:02 PM

When you are removing a beard, it's not so much about what the razor can handle, but more about what your face can handle. Definitely trim it down as much as possible. Otherwise, you'll think you are pulling your whiskers out from the root.

Randy

**zachster** · 10-23-2006, 11:59 PM

I had a beard for about a year, once. I had bought a trimmer to keep it in some semblance of order. When it came time to remove the beard (it really did not look good at all, as my then girlfriend let me know quite vociferously), I used the trimmer to get it down to a manageable length, then broke out my long dormant shaving paraphernalia. Most enjoyable shave I ever had!

**htownmmm** · 10-24-2006, 04:00 AM

Trim first, then shave.

Marty

**av8or234** · 10-24-2006, 04:47 AM

I have found that this is where an open comb razor excels! Sometimes across a long weekend I won't shave and when I get back I just lather up and attack with my gillette open comb for the first pass or 2 and then finish the the HD or FUTUR. No problems, no pulling, and no burn.

**rucker3** · 10-24-2006, 09:28 AM

I find that I can shave any length beard I want with my straight. I have shaved off a months growth with the same ease I would have had with my daily shave. I just soaked my beard longer and used a freshly honed blade.

Mason

**BroJohn** · 10-24-2006, 01:22 PM

...and 2. I've been operating under misconceptions, as far as direction of growth goes.

I fumbled around the first month when I returned to the DE. After about three weeks, I discovered the 'real' growth pattern of the whiskers. After a few more days of trial and error of trying out different schemes for order of strokes, direction of pass, etc., it suddenly all came together. All at once.

Since then, it's been BBS (at worst, near-BBS) every day. No irritation. No weepers or bleeders or anything. No burning. No redness. No irritation. It just took a little while.

This will come together for you, too. Hang in there. I'm tellin' ya, one day it'll be 'right' and you'll smile --forever.

-- John Gehman

**Duggo** · 10-24-2006, 10:51 PM

Thanks BroJohn et al for the words of wisdom.

BJ: It's come together alright. I ordered the Devil's razor. A slant bar loaded with Feathers. I just hope I haven't lost my touch, after not shaving for 7 days....

I asked my old Dermi. about if I would/could change the direction that my hair grows by shaving in the direction I wanted it to grow. He said no. However. the growth pattern does look strikingly similar to the way I shaved over the years.

Where were you guys 30 years ago? You could have taught me to shave the right way.

Maybe the guys on that board are right, that you can retrain the way your hair grows. I don't know. Anyone know how it's done?

The slant comes on Friday!!! I can't wait. Too bad they can't e-mail me a Slant bar. :(

Duggo

**rtaylor61** · 10-24-2006, 10:54 PM

Duggo,

In the past year I have paid a lot of attention to the growth pattern of my beard. Directly below my chin, down to the neckline, it grows N-S. In the past few weeks, I have noticed that near the neckline, it is now S-N. It was not that way a year ago.

Randy

**catatonic** · 10-25-2006, 02:28 PM

my method for getting rid of beards:

1) with the grain pass with a straight razor. Goal: to remove the bulk of it, but not to abrade the skin or get anywhere close to BBS.

2) clean up and start the shave process over, but use your regular razor this time around.....now go for the gold if you feel like it.

**vespergo** · 10-25-2006, 02:38 PM

you should be able to take down a pretty large growth beard with a LH merkur like you have. just take it slow and rinse often.

if it's too long then you might want to start with barber clippers first, but it should be good enough to just start with the DE as long as it's not past a couple weeks growth.

i mean i've chopped into my sideburns for shortening them and it sure does cut them with ease.

**Duggo** · 10-25-2006, 02:52 PM

Originally Posted by rtaylor61

Duggo,

In the past year I have paid a lot of attention to the growth pattern of my beard. Directly below my chin, down to the neckline, it grows N-S. In the past few weeks, I have noticed that near the neckline, it is now S-N. It was not that way a year ago.

Randy

Randy,

in what direction were you shaving, during that year?

Duggo

**Lex Luthor** · 10-25-2006, 03:12 PM

I intentionally wait two to four days between shaves because my female friends dig the 'scruffy' look. I've gone up to 5 days between shaves before and my 1930's Gillette open-comb never clogs, ever. I just need to use really hot water to moisten the beard and whammo! Near BBS in ten minutes. Having said all that, I always use sharp blades, and obviously some people's hair grows faster than others. Good luck with your slant. Never tried one....