Beard trimming and shaving

Shaving cuts the shaft, not the follicle

The visible part of the hair is cut, while the follicle located in the skin continues its activity. Shaving therefore does not create new follicles or make the beard denser. When re-growing, the severed end appears rougher than a naturally fine end, which explains part of the impression of hairs having become thicker.

Distance to skin changes result

The comb of a clipper maintains a distance between the skin and the cutting elements. It allows you to maintain a length, even if the result also depends on the direction of the hairs and the way you apply the device. A razor, on the contrary, seeks to cut much closer; a grid protects the skin while allowing hair to enter the moving blades.

Close trimming can cause ingrown hairs

A curled hair can come back towards the skin and penetrate it after cutting. Shaving too close, especially when the skin is tight or shaving in the wrong direction, can encourage this phenomenon. The small pimples that result correspond to an inflammatory reaction around the hair: this is pseudofolliculitis, particularly common with strongly curly hair.

Razor burn is a skin irritation

The burning sensation just after shaving can come from friction, repeated swipes or an irritant product. It does not necessarily imply an ingrown hair. Prepared skin, a product that facilitates gliding and a tool in good condition limit aggression, but changing technique may still be necessary if the irritation returns each time.

One blade doesn't solve everything

The safety razor allows passage with a single edge, which may be of interest to people bothered by multi-blade systems. The angle, pressure and number of passes remain decisive. Our preference for this tool on the blade side is due to its simplicity and its replaceable blades.

The shape obtained remains a question of distribution

Shortening the sides, keeping a little more material at the chin and freeing the neck redistributes the visible volume. Success depends above all on the available implementation and corrections; seeking to obtain more contrast by shaving ever higher can end up removing the material that gave the beard its shape.