"Blue beard" from shaving ATG?

[roboboticus]

I've heard it speculated that shaving against the grain may contribute to "blue beard" effect, perhaps by putting pressure on blood vessels around the follicles. Is there any truth to this?

It tends to give me "red beard", but I'm still learning and looking for the right blade for my face.

 

[insomniac]

What is "Blue Beard"?

Is it like...

 

[RichGem]

I've heard it speculated that shaving against the grain may contribute to "blue beard" effect, perhaps by putting pressure on blood vessels around the follicles. Is there any truth to this?

It tends to give me "red beard", but I'm still learning and looking for the right blade for my face.

If I understand you correctly as to what you mean by "blue beard," DE shaving, at least when you first start out, can give your face a blue-ish look as the hairs aren't cut as low as with multi-blades. DE shaving cuts hairs at skin level, as the hairs continue to grow, they can look blueish. Multiblades yank & cut so that the hairs retract to a level below the skin & do not cause the blueish effect.

In any case, your skin will adjust and your technique will improve and the blueishness will be much less noticeable, if noticeable at all, in time.

As far as blood vessels or shaving direction causing this, I seriously doubt it.