Gray beard/stubble

[No Pressure]

This has probably been discussed more than a few times on the boards, but let's see if there are any "new" ideas:

What suggestions are there for shaving when your beard/stubble is predominantly gray? I've reached my early 40's and when I have stubble, my face looks like I've rolled around in white lint (which is why I now have to shave even more frequently now)! The hairs are much coarser, so is more prep basically the best thing to do?

 

[rickboone1]

Huh? The color of your beard hair doesn't change how you shave or prep.

Or are you asking should your prep change since you're shaving more often? Sorry, I'm slow.

If that is what you are asking, my opinion is you should always do a good prep. Your face will tell you if more is needed, however. It's all very individual. Me personally, my pansy face can go a week without shaving and need to prep like crazy to avoid any irritation.

 

[Topgumby]

Maybe it's all in my head, but since I've started to see some "silver threads among the gold" my beard seems more persnickity and tougher. I use a prep that consists of washing with an olive oil based soap in warm/hot water, lathering up and then letting the lather sit while I brush my teeth. Letting the soap or cream do it's stuff for two minutes seems to make a difference for me.

I got this routine from a 1950's article on the science of shaving. A nice side effect has been the props I get from the dental tech during check ups.

 

[Nickelodeon]

My beard is definitely becoming more wiry as it goes grey. Blades which used to give me a fine shave (Derbys for instance) are much less effective and I've switched to Super Iridiums and Feathers. The hair conditioner in the shower trick has helped too.

 

[bladebuff]

Gray facial hair does seem a little tougher as it slowly moves in with age. Gray hairs seem to need more prep time to soften, a good lather along with good strokes and a sharp blade. I find they do not grow as fast as my original color.

I use plenty of the warmest water I can, a mild glycerin soap prep wash along with more water. I face lather with soap mainly and make sure I build a nice dense and moist lather before starting to shave. Shave sticks like Valobra, Speick and La Toja also seem to work well when I rub them on my prepared face and then build lather with my brush. Something about how the hair catches the soap I believe.

 

[bill mcdill]

Good prep is one of the keys to a good close shave. If you have not, you should read the thread on "Kyle" prep. Great tips for the best possible prep of your beard prior to the shave.

 

[kingfisher]

Huh? The color of your beard hair doesn't change how you shave or prep.

.

Spoken like a guy who doesn't have any gray hairs.

Dude, let me tell you, gray hairs are not at all the same as your normal hairs. They're much more like wire. They are definitely harder to shave and take longer to appropriately prep.

 

[BroJohn]

My gray beard is *much* tougher than it was when brunette. I recommend using very sharp blades and changing them more often, and migrating to the exclusive use of a shave stick (and building the lather directly on the face), over use of creams and soap cakes.

HTH

-- John Gehman

 

[dpmtherrien]

+1 on all of the above. Isn't the aging process great?

 

[Topgumby]

...
Dude, let me tell you, gray hairs are not at all the same as your normal hairs....

What if gray hairs are your normal hairs?

Just repeat after me..."Distinguished...distinguished...distinguished..."

 

[RILEY]

+1 on all of the above. Isn't the aging process great?

It can be tough, makes you want to leave the cold wind whipped frozen tundra of Lambeau field all behind

 

[Hughies_online]

What? Does grey hairs in my beard mean that I am OLD?????

 

[flabajaba2213]

What? Does grey hairs in my beard mean that I am OLD?????

Not I, said the duck.

I'm going gray at 24. Of course, I like it. Being in sales, it makes me look "distinguished".


I love to make fun of my father, since he went totally gray at 18. Of course, he loves to tell me that at 18, he was getting shot at in Vietnam as a marine in 3rd force recon. That's kind of an argument stopper.

 

[Biffo]

What? Does grey hairs in my beard mean that I am OLD?????

No, just getting distinguished looking early, grey hairs below the neck however .........

 

[talibeard]

My beard is about 50/50 now at 45 and more prep doesn't help in my case; what it does for my hairs is counteracted double for my skin.

The only thing that really helps is picking the right blade (again).

 

[Greybeard]

My gray beard is *much* tougher than it was when brunette. I recommend using very sharp blades and changing them more often, and migrating to the exclusive use of a shave stick (and building the lather directly on the face), over use of creams and soap cakes.

HTH

-- John Gehman

Terrific advice (and bladebuff). I never thought of using shave sticks. I'm going to order a couple right away.

 

[mmack66]

I like to trick my razor:

 

[40_Caliber]

The greys in my beard seem totally different than the normal whiskers.

Greys are round, tough, wiry, and have a larger circumference. Normals are softer, flat, and curly.

Leaving the lather to just sit on the face for a couple of minutes before the first pass makes a big difference in both the ease and quality of my daily shave.

.40

 

[Tzar]

Well, I learning something here: never thought grey hair in beard could be any different than naturally colored hair.

I don't have yet grey hair in the beard. I'm only 38 and rather blond, so I still have plenty of natural color left it seems

 

[Tzar]

I like to trick my razor:

LOL

Reminds me of a remark I made once to my wife who was applying a "night cream" before going to bed. I asked her what was that on her face. She told me: it's a night cream. Puzzled, I replied back: how does the cream knows it's night ? Couldn't you use it during the day by tricking her to believe we're at night? She found the joke barely amusing