Tough beard hair can be, well, tough to shave. Facial hair that feels dry and coarse can be tricky to get a razor through, often leaving you with painful shaving cuts or razor burn after your shave.
Knowing how to soften coarse beard hair can help you to enjoy a more comfortable shave, as well as improving the overall look and feel of your facial hair.
Read on to see our top tough beard shaving tips :
How to Soften Coarse Beard Hair
If you are struggling to get your razor through your beard or regularly experiencing dryness, it is natural to ask, ' why is facial hair coarse?’ Facial hair can become dry and coarse if it isn’t kept properly nourished and hydrated. This can cause the skin underneath it to become itchy, flaky and irritated.
Washing your beard regularly can help keep it feeling soft and healthy – use a good quality shampoo and conditioner on it each time you wash the hair on your head, such as the King C. Gillette 3-in1 beard, hair and face wash. If your beard hair is especially coarse, try using the King C. Gillette Bard Oil which moisturises the beard and skin underneath, leaving facial hair conditioned and smooth..
It’s important to keep the skin underneath your thick beard in good condition too. Try to get into the habit of a consistent daily skincare routine that includes exfoliating and cleansing to remove excess oil, bacteria and dead skin cells from your face. Try to add a pre-shave cream to your routine, such as the King C. Gillette Face & Stubble Moisturiser which nourishes skin, helping to relieve dryness and irritation.
After shaving, use a hydrating post-shave beard care product like the King C. Gillette Beard Balm to keep any remaining thick facial hair nourished and your skin feeling wonderfully soothed.
What’s the Best Beard Trimmer for Coarse Hair?
Regular trimming is also important for keeping thick facial hair in the best possible condition, the King C. Gillette Beard Trimmer is a great tool to use.
Using a beard trimmer before going in with your razor means thick facial hair is less likely to get tangled, and it’ll be much easier to manage for a more comfortable shave.
When you’ve trimmed your beard down to a much shorter length (you can choose from length settings and 2 styling combs), use a Fusion5 ProGlide Razor Blade to give yourself a close shave. With five anti-friction blades, Fusion5 ProGlide is designed to get virtually every hair.
For a selection of trimmers and kits designed to give you the best possible shave, browse our full range of trimmers. With Gillette, you can be assured that your coarse beard is getting the best care possible, whether you are crafting a new sleek style or shaving it all off for a stubble look.
How to Shave a Tough Beard
Using the right razor blade and knowing how to soften coarse hair aren’t the only things you’ll need to know as you’ll also need to adapt your shaving technique if you’re dealing with especially coarse beard hair. Thankfully, tough beard shaving tips aren’t difficult, but they may take some time to get used to.
Firstly, you need to apply a good quality shaving gel, like Gillette Quick Rinse Shaving Foam, all over the area you’re planning to shave to help soften your thick facial hair. Let it soak in for a minute or two before going in with your razor - brush your teeth while you wait to speed up your morning routine.
When it’s time to start your shave, begin by making sure your hair and skin is hydrated, your shaving gel will help with this. .
Shave with the grain (in the same direction that your facial hair grows) rather than against it. This will help to provide a comfortable shave if you have a coarse beard.Pass your razor over an area until you are satisfied with the level of hair left, and take special care on sensitive areas of skin so as not to irritate them.
If you have sensitive skin, try the Gillette SkinGuard Sensitive Razor. It’s designed to absorb some of the pressure from your hand while you shave to help reduce irritation, and there’s extra lubrication between the blade and your skin for even more comfort.
Whether you are shaving a coarse beard or a thinner one, always make sure the blade you’re using is sharp before you start. You should aim to change your razor blade at least every 20 shaves, so explore our full range of razor blades to see which suits your needs best.
Coarse Beard Aftercare
Your post-shave routine is arguably as important as your pre and during-shave one, especially when dealing with thick beard hair and learning how to soften beard hair.
After shaving, make sure to use our King C. Gillette Beard Balm which can be used as a leave-in conditioner or wash-out mask. Our beard balm nourishes hair and skin underneath, helping alleviate patches of dry, coarse beard hair and leaving your beard soft and healthy. If beard balm isn’t for you, you can also opt for the King C. Gillette Beard Oil which conditions facial hair and leaves it with a healthy-looking shine.
For more information, and the best beard care tips, browse the remainder of our blog.
