1) STOP using any electric shaver. Think about it, you've shaved for years with an electric razor. How close does it get? NOT very at all. It will ALWays leave a shadow. WhY? Because of that very thin sheet of metal between your skin and the razor. That little thin metal is the length of beard you are leaving ON YOUR FACE.... Not shaving it off!!!! This is your shadow and every other men's shadow that you see.
2) Always Straight Razor shave the opposite way, If you're always shaving down, fine shave that way, but make absolutely sure that for every stroke down on your face you shave the opposite way "up" after on every part of your face. This is very important, don't miss a 'shave time' without doing it.
3) Stretch your shave times. Gradually extend the time you shave. If you have to take your shaving kit with you and shave mid-day the next day to start extending it. Eventually you will get to a point the beard starts to soften because you are not doing it each and every day or for that matter every day or two.
4) These steps help alot in removing your shadow. If you're looking into a mirror any time of day, even right after shaving, and you see a shadow, its because you're using the wrong kind of razor.