Now, I have fairly robust facial hair-- if I wanted to look really clean-cut I’d probably have to shave twice a day. However, whenever I grow the stubble out for a few-- I don’t know, maybe four-- days, to the point where it goes beyond stubbly shadow and into maybe-beginning-of-a-beard territory, my face starts to itch like all hell and develop a rash around my jawbone and neck, and I pretty much have to shave it or else I go crazy. Why is this? Is this normal?
Because hair grows at an angle (note the grain when you feel it) and also curls so a short hair ends up poking you until it gets long enough to stand above the surface. It’s also why you get ingrown hairs.