Thread: 5 months of head shaving and things learned on the way

Having been living and working on a log cabin for the last half year, i have been able to alot some good time to learning the art of straight razor shaving. I've had a old razor for a few years but never set the time out to learn. However, if you add 30 plus degree heat, no running water and 2 weeks worth of beard itch, it was either burn it off or use the razor. scavenging through what i had there at the beginning and a piece of paper towel was the best i had to strop my razor. needless to say 2 hours of scraping and my face actually felt better. stopping to wipe tears out of my eyes as i pulled the hair off of my upper lip, became a great motivator to have better supplies when i moved all my stuff to the bush.
After watching a lou gossit jr. movie when he shaved his head with a straight as a kid i always thought it was cool. After browsing the wiki and seeing a few people shave their head in real life i saw that it was possilbe. and using a sharp tool first thing in the mourning usually starts my day off better.
I have been using my straight for the last 6 months, on my head for five and i thought i'd share some things i've learned on the way.
1. learning to shave your face is a good idea before trying round head. especially if you, like me find my left hand good for pulling skin, not holding a razor. getting used to holding the razor with the point to your elbow and out from your arm is essential, because you have to be able to do it blind on your head in spots.
2.i've found the being used to using the entire length of the blade makes shaving not only easier but more enjoyable. i found that there are spots where the heel of the blade works better (ie. stiffer hair on the crown of my head or the hollow curve in my neck right over my carotoid artery. the nose of the blade on more delicate of precise spots, or where a lighter touch my be needed or wanted.
3. the most dangerous spot for me on my head is over my mastoid bones behind my ears, where i've had to work out a sweeping pass to shave cleanly and without nicks.
4.shaving oil is a must before lathering and while i have not spent much time trying out different creams or soaps, i am using a cream right now and i use my fingers. it give me time to see if i need to be aware of any bumps or bleamishes.
5. while i still need to do a clean up pass on roughly a 1/3 of my head, i re lather and pass over my whole head again. to get to know my head better, to practise using a light tough and lastly to make the long smooth passes that i aim to be able to shave with, without needing a cleanup or touch ups.
6.always lock your cat out of the bathroom.
7. not so much now, but in the begining, it was a good idea for me to look at the back of my head in a couple of mirrors before going to town and talking to the girls at the store. looking in the mirror later to see that the lawnmover man got me was a ibit embarassing.
8.what started out as necessity(only a generator for power) was using a few well placed candle in the bathroom, has turned into my preference. i find my hand is more sensitive in the softer light and when in my blind spot, half my head, i'm less prone to over thinking what i'm doing.
9. always save the second cup of coffee till after done shaving.
10.after many shaves, and wondering if my razor was sharp enough, i have decided that i must be able to shave front to back over the crown of my head smoothly, if not, it is not sharp enough.
11.with the images of razor chipped from the sink or faucet burned into my head, i use a folded over tea towel and wipe my razor off.
12.always rinse off said tea towel before putting it into the laundry. does not go over well if someone doing your laundry finds it un rinsed.
13.and lastly and one of the most important for me to figuring out my head shave, reading and seeing how other people shave there heads is good information and knowledge. it wasn't until i looked reallly hard at my head, how it was shaped, how the hair grows and the fact that i had to adjust to using only my right hand, that i really started to be able to have good shaves and to be able to start to really improve.
this site and information iwas able to find on here was the best single source for to start to learn the art of straight razor shaving. thanks to everyone that contributes, it is very appreciated. and to anyone learning, like me, it only gets better.

Good tips. I've only recently begun to explore the straight razor nugget shave. Before that, I would use a DE or SE safety razor on my head and switch over to a straight for my face. The idea of going behind the head and running mostly off of feel with a straight razor for some reason always kind of freaked me out. Then one day a month or so ago, I said, "Bugger this, I'm just gonna take it easy and figure out how to do this." Knock on wood 4 or 5 spud shaves in and I'm still nick free. A nicely honed straight gives not only a superior shave but affords me another 2 or 3 shaves a week if I have razors to check out or just want some extra play time. As you said, it does seem to be a great test of a razors edge. The one I used on Saturday night (a Boker Barber Tip) mowed through a week's worth of stubble without a single pull. My only trouble spot is the area in close to both ears. I normally need to touch that up a bit with a double edge but other than that my whole head is straight shaved. It was a bit nervous at first but once you get used to it, it's a blast.

Good stuff!

I've been thinking about doing the bald thing again for the summer myself, but with a straight. Fortunately I use both hands...but still see how it can be difficult in the blind spots. I typically just went "clipper close", so this could be an interesting journey.

your description should help out others that want to do it. I started out with one hand but made a effort to learn to use both. Once in a while I use a straight to shave my head just so that I don't forget how to do it but nowadays prefer a feather straight (replaceable blades) for head shaves. The shorter blade is much easier to maneuver around and I don't have to hone my straights so often. thanks for sharing