this has me puzzled

im not certain if this is the right spot for this thread, but has anyone ever had this happen before, and why is it happening. got home from work, and hit the shower, today was head shave day. so i lathers up, and then strops my razor, put razor to scalp and she made the first passes like i was using a scraper to a head with nair. after a few more passes, it started to tug a little, so i restroped it, and it felt better again. this went on thru the whole head shave. so my question is this. it my razor still needing some hone work, or does tough hair have the tendency to force a razor to need restropping more often.

too many factors could be result of this.
1. quality of the steel.
2. onverhoned blade ( i cannot image how over hone blade will shave head hair must be only couple of days grow no more then that)
3. less likely using the razor angle , preparation etc.
i am not sure which one you have it.
gl

I rarely shave my head without re-stropping at some point in the process. I think those hairs are simply tougher than beard hairs, and you're cutting a lot more of them as well.

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Originally Posted by HNSB

I rarely shave my head without re-stropping at some point in the process. I think those hairs are simply tougher than beard hairs, and you're cutting a lot more of them as well.

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I've never had to re-strop while shaving my head, though I probably have considerably less to start with:). Think hi_bud's right, could be lots of things. Has the same razor performed the whole shave without re-stropping before? Could your first stropping have not been up to scratch for some reason or other?

In my case, I've used probably 30 different razors on my head. Some have been honed by professionals, a couple by the man himself... More often than not, I end up stropping at some point. The razor, the grind, or the honer don't seem to have much to do with it.

That leaves me with technique, or simply that the hair roughs up the edge a bit.
It certainly could be a technique thing, even after over 6 months of shaving my head with a straight, I'm still experimenting with the best approaches and strokes for different areas.

While I have never shaved my own head I have shaved a number of customer's heads before applying tattoos. I've done this with Bic type disposables and with Weck Sextoblade shavette type razors. That hair was far tougher than shaving my beard. The worst part of doing that type of tattoo is shaving the area.

to awnser your post, the blade is a joseph elliot apollo rings razor, so i doubt that the steel is junk. overhoned while may be possible, i dont think i did that, i did run it across my escher before i shaved with it, but i dont think i did so enough to overhone it. i did notice that the angle of my razor did vary on certain parts of my head, the back more often than not, hard to see back there, have to go from feel, prep was a hot shower, and some conditioner to help soften the hair.

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Originally Posted by AlanII

I've never had to re-strop while shaving my head, though I probably have considerably less to start with:). Think hi_bud's right, could be lots of things. Has the same razor performed the whole shave without re-stropping before? Could your first stropping have not been up to scratch for some reason or other?

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alan the razor does fine on my face, i have used different razors, on my head, and this was a first, but then again, sometimes you run into firsts for everything

I'm with HNSB. I used to shave my head with a straight and after months of experimenting, I decided to just use a double edge.

I would have to strop during the shave and I would have to take each razor to stone after about 2 shaves. My crown is quite thin now but the sides and back are still dense. I used razors I honed on my own and also ones I had previously sent out. My experimentation consisted of various steps to refresh my edge once it started tugging:

Just linen/leather stropping (typically 30/60)
CrO >> regular stropping
Naniwa 12k >> CrO >> stropping
Norton 8k >> Naniwa 12k >> CrO >> stropping

The best shave was always when I went down to 8k, and it would last probably two head shaves before I'd have to go back. It could still be my technique but after months of trying, I'm more inclined to think that the edges just dulled quicker when shaving my head. I have no such problems with shaving my face.

To compare, I go 3 shaves with a Derby blade in my DE before I have to change blades on account of pulling.

Instead of the hot shower you could try cold. I hear the cold water head shave is the living end. :D

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Instead of the hot shower you could try cold. I hear the cold water head shave is the living end. :D

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OUCH no thank you, although jimmy, currently this time of year a cold shower would be a wonderful thing for me, considering i work in a foundry, i melt down scrap copper and make new, HOT this time of year would be a major understatement.

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Originally Posted by wvloony

to awnser your post, the blade is a joseph elliot apollo rings razor, so i doubt that the steel is junk. .

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I wouldn't call your razor Junk but i will tell you this. problem you are having is a razor.
Joseph Elliot does have very soft steel. i have honed couple of them. You may not feel that while you use it on facial hair but i am sure head hair will break down(bend) that edge easily.