Reading the discussions here at first made me happy that I don't have to deal with any of this anymore since wearing a beards for more than 5 years now, but life on the other side is not perfect as well: Every few days it's time to trim the beard, and I feel that that often actually takes longer than a full shave. A big factor to that is that trimming just feels so imprecise. I have to go over and over and over again, and at the end there's still at least some stray hairs here and there.
Am I doing it wrong? Do I have the wrong trimmer? I have a sturdy trimmer from Wahl that certainly seems to be the best I had so far, but maybe that's only relatively better?
I've started going to a barber for a full trim/shape once a month or so. Then any trimming I do is kind of as-needed. I think this kind of depends on how your beard grows in and how particular you are about stray hairs. I find that with beard oil/balm, my fly-aways are manageable enough between trims.
Beard oil is fantastic for making your beard feel softer and more manageable. For controlling shape, beard balm is generally even better, but I'm still learning to work with it; the one I have is basically a pomade.
Precisely why I wear one - it's my natural state. I've finally broken down and just get a beard trim at the barber, it makes for a nice experience, I look far better than taking matters into my own hands, and I don't have to deal with this stuff (the mess, time spent in the bathroom, etc.)
Every time I let a barber trim my beard I was very happy with the result, and I got the same impression that I would not be able to replicate that on my own anyway, so maybe that's just the answer.
Overall, I still feel that a beard is much less hassle. Unlike a clean shave, I have to go a pretty long time without a trim for my beard to really become "unsightly".
> Precisely why I wear one - it's my natural state
This. I guess I can understand some people prefer how they look shaven, but I can't understand spending so much time and money to avoid looking how you really look.
Maybe you just care too much. I trim my beard whenever my wife complains (once a month maybe). Takes about 10 minutes and that includes scissors to get the stray hairs and moustache.
are you oiling the razor after every shave? if you dont, or if you used to not, the razor is damaged and likely cutting poorly. You can buy replacement blades for 20$
Am I doing it wrong? Do I have the wrong trimmer? I have a sturdy trimmer from Wahl that certainly seems to be the best I had so far, but maybe that's only relatively better?