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Hi all -
I'm wondering if anyone is a consistent SR head shaver. I shave my head regularly, and use a cartridge. I use my SR for facial shaving, and am loving it.
For anyone who uses their SR for head-shaving, what good tips/techniques do you have to get a good shave on the dome? I am pretty confident on my technique (for the face), but am a little concerned about the areas of the head that I can't see while I'm shaving.
Thanks in advance!
I haven't done this either but I'm curious what others may chime in with. I have been giving serious though to head shaving because when retirement comes (soon) I may do it to save $ when on a far more limited income.
I do my face and head with a str8. WTG and ATG is a bit of confidence that you need.
Just WTG first try and if you have enough faith you can continue.
Your head is so nice and smooth as a baby's skin after a shave
Here a nice video that gave me insperatie
Straight Razor Head Shave
http://straightrazorpalace.com/I%20d...7&hl=en-AU%20#
Wait...should you relate your head to a babies bottom? I seem to remember getting in trouble for that in the third grade. :D
yeah man so soft, just not as stinky as most baby bottoms. hahaha
Yes
I seem to remember it took much longer than my face. Probably due it tighter follicle concentration.
When I lather up, head and face gets covered. First swipe rear to front clearing making clean path for free hand to stretch. Then working wtg down the right hand/right side of my head, around tops of ears and to the face.
Same routine then left side
When shaving around the ears, I'll grab and do a healthy tug on them too. For some reason originally I would never touch ears when stetchin
Xtg side head and face
Wtg back of head, left side, right hand. First above "sausauge roll" then below.
Same routine right rear of head, left hand.
Xtg right hand, right side, left hand left side. This cleans up behind the ears. Some reason feels like combing my hair, when I kept it.
Maybe atg face now and side of head, but most always atg rear of head, paying attention behind the ears.
I suppose hint for back of the head, until your comfortable blind shaving back, use your free hand to learn the angle for razor is angled at
I shave the top of my squash with the straight.I do a front to back,lather,then back to front, smooth as a bowling ball. Its not a complete head shave,still have the sides done with a #1 clipper. So go for it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am not doing this consistently, so I have not tried to get a complete BBS save from it.
But shaving your head with a straight can most certainly be achieved.
YouTube - Straight razor head shave
I just start at the top of my head [1] and work down, working my way from front to back on one side, then the other. Like you, I used to use a d/e or a cartridge for my head, but with a little practice I find the straight gets the job done in a lot less time.
I shave my head once or twice a week. Since a few of the days between shaves are going to be "stubble-y" anyway, I don't bother with an ATG pass; as that would only get me one extra day without stubble. For me, that's not worth the extra time and effort it would take to go for really smooth.
One pass, takes about 5 minutes, good to go.
[1]
About 10 years ago my hair took on that "Friar Tuck" look, so "the top of my head"
actually means about 2 inches above my ears, all the way around. :)
Now you see why I shave my head? Mikey don't do Friar-Tuck "do"s.
I shave my head twice a week. My hair grows in every which direction, and my head has all kinds of weird grooves and crannies. To really get a smooth head shave with the straight, I would need a superhuman ability to go WTG, ATG, and XTG on every plane - front, back and sides. What I've settled into is starting the shave with broad strokes of the straight, and then finishing it off with the Head Shaver or Gillette. Faster that way... and safer too ;)!
Thanks for all the comments. I did a test shave a few days ago, and it was similar to my first SR shave of my face. I just finished my second trial on the head, and it is fantastic!! I can't wait until tomorrow to do it again.
Thanks for the great videos as well!
I haven't worked up enough nerve to try the SR head shave. I thought about it but can't get myself to attempt it. I've been using a balding clipper and then finish off with the Norelco that's been gathering dust on the shelf. One thing I've noticed is even using the electric for my head, it's very tiring on the arms and depending on what kind of day I'm having, can even be difficult using this method.
My experience may help:Quote:
Originally Posted by rc05
I was afraid at first, because I was going to shave an area I didn't have any "feel" for.
I acquired that feel by shaving my face as usual, then starting at my sideburns I just worked my way progressively higher until I was at the top of my head. Working from "the bottom, up" this way, the muscle memory that I already had from shaving the side of my face just took over as I worked my way up. Once I had the sides shaved all the way up, I just started working my way toward the back-- again, shaving at the bottom, and working up.
I am not saying that I shaved in an upward direction. Shaved down, wtg, but kept making repeated passes moving upward as I progressed.
Made all the difference. Try it, you'll do just fine.[1]
[1] Normal rules apply. You will get the occasional nick at first, just like when you started SR shaving your face. It'll be okay. Styptic works on heads, too. And, of course, "Chicks dig scars." :)
Thanks Michael. Your method makes sense - shaving what you can see and progressing toward the rear of the head which has been my greatest fear, shaving an area that I cannot see. Finishing with an electric as I do now does not give a close finish on the head. Before I started this reply, I took my Feather (no blade) and proceeded to simulate the head shave as you described. Did not feel bad at all. As a matter of fact, I believe that holding the Norelco is one of the reasons it was so tiring. It is heavier than a SR and bulkier to hold. My hand has to be in a higher position because of the shape of the electric.
Looking forward to trying the SR head shave. Presently using a TI which is giving me a great face shave.
I've been straight razor shaving for about a month and head shavings are easier than shaving my face especially my chin, only two small nicks from setting blade straight up on head. nothing major so far
Hi folks,
I found this very old thread and writing to seek some advice.
I'm a novice shaver, just one month in the art and enjoying every shave. My technic with a face shaving is improved and I'm able to complete 3 passes. No major nicks or razor burns.
Now is a time go up to my scalp. I was shaving my head once a week for a last 15 years using cartridge. Few days ago, tried to go over the head (WTG) and amazed how straight forward it was.
Now my biggest concern: tonight was trying to go further and shave ATG :banged: I won't say that it was a disaster. My ears are still there, but to be honest, just gave up. I don't understand the technic I have to use, can't figure out the comfortable grip of the razor. :shrug:
Searched youtube, no much videos and no one going ATG.
To make long story short, I ned HELP please.
Thanks,
Danny
I shave my head about six times a week. I also believe it is easier than my chin. Although if you cut it it will bleed much more. The most important thing is getting the angle right as you go up and to be careful behind your ears .
I shave my head during summer and use a DE.
Haven't built up the courage to use a SR.
Thank you guys for yours input, but I still looking to challenge myself with a SR ATG at my sculp. :hmmm:
I could do the top and sides of my head with a SR, but struggled at the back and near my ears. I tried an open comb DE instead. Now I'm hooked. Very simple, no nicks, and yes... BBS! I use Feather blades. They work great with the open comb.
I don't have any problem to go with a blade over my back, but I luck to achieve the BBS. Only because cant figure out the right grip and technic.Quote:
Originally Posted by wayne394
Your idea to use Feather blades sounds good. Does the Feather blade will give me BBs with one pass only?
To get BBS you generally have to do two passes. I go WTG and ATG, then have a good feel around for any bits I've missed then do a touch up. Easy with a DE, but it won't replace the SRs for my face.
So, no alternatives? Only DE can go ATG? Sad...:cry:
Well, I don't personally do it but there's no reason why you couldn't go against the grain with a straight razor on your head. Just be careful for the first few times. You might have to do some short buffing type strokes through the thicker areas, and be careful of grip and angle in the places you cannot see.
James.
Thank you Jimbo!Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimbo
Would you be so kind to give me a grip idea. I cant figure it by myself.
Thanks
What grip do you use for against the grain passes on your face? That might provide a starting point.
My grip involves holding the razor in the usual way and then letting it rotate downwards until the edge is facing up. At that point the grip is: thumb on the side of the shank facing me, pointer finger opposite that, middle finger providing extra grip support, and the other two fingers cradling the scales. In fact if you removed the razor it would look like the what might happen if you tried to clap using your thumb against the pointer and middle fingers.
James.
There we go!
Thanks a lot!!!
Love shaving my head with a straight razor. I have been SR shaving for about two months now. I have gotten the smoothest head shaves ever the last two times I used a SR. I take my time and go WTG & XTG and done. A little tea tree to smooth off the head and avoid ingrown hairs and a solid moisturizer and my head shines like a Que ball. Love it
love bbs on my head, but dont alway have one.. why not your thinking i will shave every day. with bbs is that not possible for me
I used my straight about a week ago to go from a full head of hair to no head of hair, it took a while and blunted my razor a bit, the end result was OK but imperfect, i sustained 2 cuts on the top of my ear from where i slipped or misplaced the razor. I ended up buying a pack of cheap disposables the next day to use and just try with my straight from time to time and see how I go.
For some reason my head hair takes a toll on my straights so I just use a DE. Gone thru a few gillettes a merkur slant & just recently bought a new Muhle R41. The R41 with a feather blade is the closest thing to BBS so far for me.Quote:
Originally Posted by edhewitt
I have moved to disposable twin blades at work, not perfect but certainly good enough. At home I tried my gem micromatic open comb and that was very good though quite harsh. I got rid of all of my other safety razors a while back.Quote:
Originally Posted by onimaru55
I shave my head every night after work. I use DE, SE and straights to do it. I can achieve BBS in 3 passes with light touchups with both DE and SE, with zero irritation. The straights I just started using about 3-4 weeks ago, but I am getting consistently CCS in 3 passes without reverting the DE for touchups.
I imagine that much like technique with the DE and SE took time to achieve BBS, so, to will technique with the straights take time to develope to the point that I can get a consistent DFS/BBS shave out of it.
Either way, a CCS with a straight is WAY more fun than a BBS with a DE...
Hi, new here.
I managed to do a complete head shaved for the first time using the crown King shavette.
The feather gave me irritation if I did more than 1 pass ATG, I just ordered a Kamisori to try out hoping I can manage to use that and only that, no more finishing with cartridges for me
I'm scared to use a straight on my head. Have been using a str8 for less than a year and am still not confident enough in my skills or technique.
What I do use is a Merkur Futur and Feather blades.
Tried it once with a straight razor . . . going to stick with my DE for now. I am REALLY out of practice with the straights.
lolz you are checking the kids stuff.
you need to check the haircuts for the school boys
More power to you guys who shave your heads with a straight. I’ve been using a safety razor to do it for 30 years. I do it daily and finish with a BBS. I’m unfortunately too arthritic to get the back of my head with a straight. It’s just autopilot for me with a safety razor.
I've been shaving my head for almost thirty years with a safety razor. I have Parkinson's, so using a straight on the noggin is out of the question. However, with weighted forearms I now am able to get a decent face shave with my straights. I shave my head with an AC razor, either a Colonial General V2 or a Blackland Vector. Both razors deliver a velveteen quality BBS without fail. Prior to the AC razors I was using a Shake Sharp vintage razor with two stacked DE blades. In any case, I wanted to say that I really enjoy my face shaves with the straight, but because of my Parkinson's and Rheumatoid Arthritis cannot get at the back of my head with a straight in a manner that avoids severe bloodshed.
started with straight razor on the head a couple of weeks ago, only wtg for now. But I had one deep cut at the back that is nearly healed. Was going braille style.... going to keep at it, it's faster and feels better than any other razor I've used. Also you can let the hair grow longer between shaves, something that I couldn't do using safety razors as they would just clog up with more hair, that was a real chore that I won't have to worry about again.
Straight razor feels smoother on head than face and no irritation either. I guess the head skin is tighter and my face hair is coarser.
Gonna try xtg next time with stiptic pencil on hand🤞