Thread: How can I shave my own head with a straight razor?

Well, there were mishaps along the way to get to that point, so patience and practice should be key considerations for you at this point.

I think that sounds like a good idea - do what you are most comfortable with. Good stretching on your head is just as important as on your face - if you can stretch the skin away from problem areas (like the tops of the ears) you can avoid danger.

Good luck - and I would love to see a video of your head shave in the future too!!

James.

Originally Posted by MrShavedHead

Hi James,

many thanks for your quick answer. I watched your video and it is great to see how you do it so perfectly in such a short time.

I will be patient and try again carefully to shave my head with a straight razor. Maybe I should start with the parts I can see in the mirror and use the other razors on the oparts I can't see until I get more practice.

I'll keep you informed about my progress and hopefully I can show a video myself one day shaving my head so perfectly as you do.

Many thanks again and have a nice weekend in your wonderful backyard (what a nice place that is!!!).

Greetings

Take it nice and slow as suggested earlier. I only go WTG with a straight and finish with either a Rolls or a DE. I tend to nick myself going ATG with a straight. My biggest problem when I first started was using bad lather. I can now work up a decent lather, but the vast majority of my cuts were from using a lather that was not slick enough.

Good luck to you man and congrats on the descision to start straight shaving your noggin.

Many Thanks for your message. What lather do you use then? Until now I have used the Headblade lather which works very well for the Headblade razor or the Mach3. I will try the straight shaving of a part of my head today and I'll report the result.

Originally Posted by BigMallard

My biggest problem when I first started was using bad lather. I can now work up a decent lather, but the vast majority of my cuts were from using a lather that was not slick enough.

Good luck to you man and congrats on the descision to start straight shaving your noggin.

Check out Jimbo's thread

That's an interesting approach initially MrShavedHead. It looks as though you are actually using a 150 degree shaving angle. Or, in other words, you are using an angle that one would typically use with a stroke going from the forehead to the crown of your head. But instead you are going from crown to forehead in a scraping motion.

In the latter part of the video it looks like you are using a more typical stroke.

I think to get the best from the straight shave you should avoid the first kind of stroke - I am amazed it actually took hair off!

James.

I think the 150 degree angle is coming from missing practice and I agree that the second part of the video should be more the way I should do it.

I've got the feeling that it might be easier to have a straight razor with a shorter blade, mine is 7 cm long. Do you think it would help to have a shorter blade and if so can you recommend one? All offers of straight razors I've seen don't mention the length of the blade.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

That's an interesting approach initially MrShavedHead. It looks as though you are actually using a 150 degree shaving angle. Or, in other words, you are using an angle that one would typically use with a stroke going from the forehead to the crown of your head. But instead you are going from crown to forehead in a scraping motion.

In the latter part of the video it looks like you are using a more typical stroke.

I think to get the best from the straight shave you should avoid the first kind of stroke - I am amazed it actually took hair off!

James.

I will be patient with myself and I'll try to use the straight razor on part of my head today. I'll keep you informed about the result.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Well, there were mishaps along the way to get to that point, so patience and practice should be key considerations for you at this point.

I think that sounds like a good idea - do what you are most comfortable with. Good stretching on your head is just as important as on your face - if you can stretch the skin away from problem areas (like the tops of the ears) you can avoid danger.

Good luck - and I would love to see a video of your head shave in the future too!!

James.

I too am a head shaver. I shave every other day unless I am going out and need to look smooth. I use the same razor I use on my face and always do my head first sometimes I strop between head and face. I use 5/8 or 6/8 razors. A good lather of TGQ or C.O. Bigelow/Porasso. I shave after the shower and use no preshave except lather up before stroping then relather. I run my first pass like you would comb your hair streaching to the top of the scalp then run an ATG pass with a thin lather usualy applied with my fingers. I then do my face and finish off with bay rum or clubman. If you make a mistake you will get immediate feedback.

Don

Many thanks for your reply. It's really great how many people have reacted to my question. I'll try to shave part of my head tomorrow with a straight razor and I'll report my either success or the immediate feedback I get from making a mistake.

Originally Posted by junkinduck

I too am a head shaver. I shave every other day unless I am going out and need to look smooth. I use the same razor I use on my face and always do my head first sometimes I strop between head and face. I use 5/8 or 6/8 razors. A good lather of TGQ or C.O. Bigelow/Porasso. I shave after the shower and use no preshave except lather up before stroping then relather. I run my first pass like you would comb your hair streaching to the top of the scalp then run an ATG pass with a thin lather usualy applied with my fingers. I then do my face and finish off with bay rum or clubman. If you make a mistake you will get immediate feedback.

Don

After all your good advice I tried the first time since I got a member of SRP to shve my head with a straight razor. I need some more practice and I would be thankful for any advice referring to my first attempt. See the straight razor I used and the video I took below. Many thanks to all of you.

photo:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...5139-dovo.html

YouTube - My First Try With A Straight Razor