Thread: shaving head?

heys guys, i am looking for some help. i recently shaved my head and encountered HORRIBLE razor burn all over my head. i realize that most of it was due to the fact that it was my first time shaving my head, although i do believe that some of it was due to my razor(and ethnic background: part african). i started doing a some research on shaving techniques to reduce razor burn, and was surprised to find out that most new razors are total crap. i decided to dig a little deeper and found that the best way to shave is with a double edge or a straight razor. due to the fact that using a straight razor is possibly the coolest thing i have ever seen, i would like to try it to see if it will reduce my razor burn. it seems that to be able to shave my head(thick hair), i need a 7/8-8/8 razor. is this accurate? i am also having trouble even finding a blade of that size. i have looked on classic shaving and not seen any 8/8 and the 7/8 are pretty expensive for a guy that just wants to try it out. what do you guys suggest? sorry for the long post(short version below)!

cliff notes:
bad razor burn on head,
want to try straight razors,
don't know for sure what size,
bigger sizes very expensive,
HELP!!!!

As a fellow head-shaver my advice would be:
1) Start with a Schick injector razor. It uses a single blade and gives a great shave. It is much like using a cartridge razor so there is minimal learning curve involved. It would be an easy transition from what I assume is the present use of a cartridge razor.
2) I have used a DE razor and prefer the injector razor over DE for the headshave. If you go the DE route a long handled Merkur classic would be a good starting point for a head-shave.
3) Have you tried a Headblade? It is my preferred razor of choice when shaving my head. I recommend a sport version with a two blade Atra cartridge.
4) I have not tried shaving my whole head with a straight yet. I like the straight for my face but personally find it difficult on the back of my head. Others who use a straight razor for their head can give better info on this option.

thank you for the advice. i ahve looked into a head blade and do not think it is for me. ever since i started shaving i have had a fair amount of razor burn. i didnt exactly love it but i learned to deal with it. after trying to shave my head, i am done with cartridge razors for a while. i will look into a injector razor though. thank you. any other opinions?

I use a straight on my head. I prefer to use the straight unless I am in a hurry and use the Merkur 38C DE razor. If using a DE I like the short fat handle. After one experence with a multibladed watchamaheadshaver I tossed it in the trash and havent looked back. I had a horrable case of head zits. I have used all different widths of blades and find very little difference in shave quality. The blade must be very scary sharp to give a good shave. I would recomend a 5/8 or 6/8 Dovo at a price point you felt comfortable with. Jim at Vintage Blades and Will at Classic Shaving are both top notch and will be more than glad to help you. Tony Miller also has a starter set. Topher a member of this group was selling a kit with a good vintage razor, a strop and some soap and such. The most critical advice I can give a new shaver is get a SHAVE READY RAZOR. All of the above mentioned suppliers have a shave ready option.

Now for the head shaving I shave in the evening. The straight shave lasts longer before stubble sets in. I rub noxzema into my scalp and get into the shower last thing before getting out rinse off the noxzema. Dry scalp and mix up a good lather ( I perfer TGQ soap). Brush it on the scalp and strop the razor. After stroping freshen up the lather and shave with the grain of the hair. I then relather put the scales paralel to the blade and go aginist the grain. This I do by feel while streching the skin on my scalp taught. I don't use a mirror as it tends to confuse me. I then shave my face and am good to go.

I would recomend learning to shave the face before setting out to shave the head. Learn the angles and pressure/stroke before attempting to go at the back of your head blind.

Well thats about all of the shameless plugs I could get in for my favorite suppliers.

Don

thankyou sir, i will look into a dovo. anybody else have advice?

I'd echo what Junk said - learn to use a straight properly before attempting your head with one. You really do need to be on top of the angles, grips, stroke lengths etc before hitting your head because much of head shaving is done by feel. You don't want to be putting an unsighted sharp straight to the back of your head without first knowing what might happen if you change the angle, for example.

As for the size of blade - I've used everything from 4/8 to 8/8, full hollow to wedge. Benefits of a larger blade (or heavier grind, like a wedge) is that the weight does seem to provide extra momentum and helps get through the thicker parts of the hair with less fuss. Downside of these is that the fiddly bits around the ears are more fraught with danger, at least initially. As long as the razor's sharp though, it really doesn't matter what type of blade you use and will just come down to personal choice in the end.

You'll also find you don't tend to use the entire edge of the razor - I often just use the tip for some parts, the middle for others, and the heel for yet others - very rarely do I use the entire edge.

You've got a couple of choices in terms of how you approach head shaving with a straight. On the face, I think most people do an against the grain (ATG) pass after doing a with the grain (WTG) pass to get things quite smooth. You can do this on your head too - I think Junk does this - or not. I tend toward "not" - just a WTG pass, and to compensate for any sandpaper areas that develop I shave my head every day. Once you become more experienced and practiced it really doesn't take very long, and I find daily head shaves are no inconvenience at all. But different strokes for different folks, as they say.

One last thing - I'm basically bald on the top of my head, so things are easier for me than for someone like yourself, who I presume has a nice full head of hair to shave off. I *have* shaved other people's heads with a straight who have very thick hair, but you should probably keep my follicle status in mind when assessing whether what I've said is pertinent to your specific needs.

James.