Shaving around a big ol' beard.

[nefesco]

Hello all!

I have a full beard and handlebar moustache, but I still naturally have to shave my cheeks and neck to keep from looking like a scruffy hobo. Since I grew my beard a couple of years ago, I had used a Braun electric razor to shave around my beard. It wasn't the closest shave ever, but it was convenient in that the electric razor would only shave the stubble and not interfere with my longer beard. Precision was unnecessary. It was easy.

The time had come to change the blades in my electric razor, and replacement blades cost a pretty penny. So, as I so often do, I turned to tradition and examined the art of wet shaving. I have a great vintage Gillette adjustable razor, two decent brushes, and some new-old-stock blades. Now I just need some soap and I'm set.

Then, the learning process. I've watched the how-to videos, I've read the articles, I've gotten advice from a friend... But one question remains unanswered: How do I wet shave around my beard? All of the resources I've found are for those wishing to shave their whole face. Are there different techniques or cautions used when only shaving parts of the face? Is this fascinating tradition of wet-shaving even going to work for me, or should I just bite the bullet and spend eleventy-bajillion dollars on replacement blades for my Braun?

Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks, gents.

 

[kg4ghn]

Welcome to B&B!

I think this is one of those things where you are just going to have to do it.

It really isn't very hard to not hit your beard, just be careful when you are trimming right next to it. The only problems you may have is if you have any acute angles in your beard. Still possible, just a little more difficult. Take it slow and you should be fine.

 

[nefesco]

Yep, that was my feeling, but I wanted to make sure.

Here goes nothing!

 

[jackmormon]

Welcome to the board. We have a lot in common. I am a wetshaver but also wear a very short beard. What works for me is to lather up my neck and cheeks. I then use my finger an draw a light line through the lather delineating where I want the beard to end and then shave below the line on my neck and above the line on my cheeks.

This way I get to enjoy both my beard and wetshaving.

 

[dpmtherrien]

I think you'll be surprised at just how close and precise you'll be able to use your DE around your beard. As mentioned just go slow and careful, after a few times you'll be shaving around your beard with no trouble. I don't mean that those few times will be an absolute disaster, its just that until you get used to shaving with your DE, it'll take a bit more time.

 

[fleshdunce]

Welcome to B&B!

I felt much the same as you when I first joined as I essentially always rock a beard myself. I find it has just taken practice to work around it. I find it is a bit more tricky than with the old Mach3 but once you get used to it you should do fine.

As someone else mentioned after lathering I too will often, though not always, mark a line on my face where my beard starts.

More specifically I've actually started to work a sort of j-stroke technique to go around my cheeks. Gives my beard a sort of curved trim down to the mustache..kinda dig it.

 

[nefesco]

Thanks for the advice, guys! I just had my first DE shave, and it was fun! Not as close as I had imagined, but that will likely change as my skills improve. The experience was well worth the $1.75 for shaving soap.

 

[wolfmanxiii]

Nefesco...GO FOR IT!

When I first started wet shaving it was during the winter, so I had a full beard at the time and only shaved my neck and cheeks.

I started off with a cheap Fromm Hair Shaper (basically a straight razor that takes injector blades) and eventually moved up to other straights and DE's as well. Of course once it got warmer I shaved most of the beard off and left some chops and the goatee sans the 'stache. I haven't looked back since. Of course AD's can make saving money a futile journey, but either way AD's or not I think you'll actually appreciate the act of shaving once you start in on traditional wet shaving. I know I did!

As for a technique for shaving around your beard...you'll mostly have to feel it out, but learn how to stretch on the neck (practice makes perfect) and take it a little bit at a time so you don't mess up your beard...next thing you know you'll be shaving with absolute confidence. Be sure to check out some of Mantic's YouTube videos; they are very informative.

 

[saltypete]

I too shave around a mustache and beard with a DE. I don't find it hard at all. Find the line around your beard and shave around it. I've never had a problem.

Pete

 

[nefesco]

Who knows? Maybe I'll enjoy shaving so much that I'll get carried away and lose the beard.

...Probably not though, it's pretty epic.

 

[kg4ghn]

Who knows? Maybe I'll enjoy shaving so much that I'll get carried away and lose the beard.

...Probably not though, it's pretty epic.

I have a goatee and I look like I'm about 12 if I shave it off(I'm 25). Plus the wife says it stays.


Not many guys can grow epic beards. Some people have thin patches. Me, my facial hair if I let it grow out is too curly to look right imo. The goat just works the best for my face.

 

[wolfmanxiii]

Who knows? Maybe I'll enjoy shaving so much that I'll get carried away and lose the beard.

...Probably not though, it's pretty epic.

Haha, that's exactly what happened to me...and mine was epic as well. Someone was finally able to convince me to grow out the Leonidas (300) beard so I did for the winter, but the girlfriend hated it and I started actually enjoying shaving so away it went. It'll always grow back so no worries there, now the hair on your head is a whole other story though

 

[wolfmanxiii]

and by the way this whole shaving thing...this is not madness really...
THIS IS SPARTA!!

Sorry I had to, if I didn't someone else would have.

 

[Greyfox]

I shave around my full beard and moustache everyday.