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According to this article it is not allowed to shave with a regular razor while it is allowed to use an electric razor as well as a depilatory (i.e., a chemical substance used to destroy the hair in order to remove hair as well as prevent future unwanted hair growth). The reason given is that shaving pulls the hair taught and destroys the beard. If the beard can still regrow, unlike the result of continual usage of depilatory, how is the beard considered to be destroyed anymore than after using an electric razor?

Also if shaving against the grain (i.e., cutting the hair opposite to the natural direction of hair growth) pulls hair taught and cuts it below the skin why wouldn’t shaving with the grain be allowed as the hair and skin would not then be pulled taught?

Thank you for any insight or explanation.

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    As far as I’m aware not all electric shavers are permitted, for the very reason you cite about shaving against the grain. The main thing is that one may cut his beard with anything which will not destroy the root and may not cut his beard with anything which will destroy the root.
    – DonielF
    Dec 24, 2017 at 23:22
  • @DonielF thank you for your response, but shaving with the grain does not destroy the root as the hair can still grow back. I don’t see why it’s not allowed to use a regular razor while these other methods are permitted. Shaving with the grain is no more destructive to the beard than shaving with an electric razor both permit the beard to grow back healthily and normally.
    – user372382
    Dec 24, 2017 at 23:25
  • Halachically there is no distinction between completely destroying the root and cutting below the skin.
    – DonielF
    Dec 24, 2017 at 23:27
  • @DonielF but a depilatory would destroy the root over time . Also shaving with the grain cuts hair at the level of the skin since the skin is no pulled taught in the process as it is when one is shaving against the grain
    – user372382
    Dec 24, 2017 at 23:30
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    @Laser123 That is exactly the root of the point I am trying to address. Isn’t an electric razor shaving just the same as a regular razor going with the grain in the direction of hair growth. Although some authorities such as the one this article uses allow for shaving with an electric razor but not with a regular fixed blade razor.
    – user372382
    Dec 25, 2017 at 2:01

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