What an amazing place!

Hello,

I just found your site recently as I have been considering moving to straight razor shaving. I recently retired from the Marine Corps, and as such am used to getting hair cuts every week and shaving every day (whether I want to or not). I started losing my hair long ago, and have been completely shaving my head for the past 15 years or so. While I like the results from using my Gillette Fusion for this, I have been wondering what it would be like using a straight razor, and if it is even possible for a person to do to themselves. I used to get it done by a certain barber, back in the mid 90s in Quantico, but have found no other barber that even uses straight razors anymore. I loved the way it felt then, and I figured once I got good enough with a straight razor, I'd give it a try myself. I said all that to say this... I can only use my right hand for shaving. I have severe nerve damage to my left arm from the elbow down, to where I have virtually no feeling in it whatsoever, and as such, very little grip with the left hand. Is it even possible for me to use to straight razor for shaving my head without using the left hand? I have watched Lynn's videos and he says I should learn to use it, but with my condition, I'm not sure I could.

Could some of you veterans out there weigh in on this and possibly give me some advice, or at the least keep me from cutting my ears off?

Thanks in advance,

Nick the New Guy

Welcome to SRP, Nick! Everyone will do their best to make you feel welcome here. Enjoy the journey.

I would think if one can shave their face one-handed then they should be able to shave their head one-handed, too. But, I have no experience here and will let the head-shavers weigh in on this one. :)

Welcome to SRP. There is nothing anyone can't overcome. It is possible to do it one handed. Just find ways to stretch the skin to get close. Just take it in slow steps till you learn. Also maybe even try using a DE. imo are way better than the cartridge crap. And much cheaper. An Edwin Jager DE is about 40.00 and 100 blades for $10. Can give a BABBY bottom smooth - BBS shave.

Welcome Nick
:chapeau
You most certainly can shave your head, one-handed using a straight. I have done so myself on more than one occasion.
That being said I find it awkward around the ears and getting the blade angle correct around the back. Tend to end up with a few nicks or not a smooth enough shave (it's tricky changing angles to go against or across the grain)

I head shave every day or two using a DE (Gilette Slim adjustable) and having found blades that suit me am much happier and more comfortable than with my straights. Would be especially easy for you as you are used to using your Fusion for a few years now.
The DE gives a nice smooth shave without the need for the extra care with angles that a straight requires. Much closer and better shave than a disposable and doesn't clog if you've left it an extra day or two between shaves.

If you search head shaving on the forums there are a few discussions and some videos of guys using a straight for their head.
I made sure I was very comfortable doing my face, which I could see easily, before trying a head shave.

Enjoy the journey whatever you decide to try :D

Thanks for the replies gentlemen. I will look into a DE razor, but I fully intend on using the straight one day. I will get one for my face and as suggested, learn to utilize very well prior to carving up my skull. Around the ears may be extra difficult for me due to scar tissue, so I may just have to save that area for a different type razor. All I know is the barber did a wonderful job of it, and I sure loved the way it felt. Thanks again for the input.

Nick

Welcome to SRP:)

Yes, you can shave with one hand, both your face and your head.
I've been shaving my head daily for about 15 years or so, the last four with a straight.

I do use both hands, but you can do it with one hand, no worries at all.
A few awkward positions and moves might be required, but doable it is nonetheless:)

Check out Jimbo's video on this forum, it is a good starting point for a headdshave with a straight.

Good luck!

Hello, and welcome to SRP, and thank you for your service for our nation!! :chapeau

Can anyone point the way to Jimbo's head-shaving video? I've navigated all around, and used the Search function, but while I find references to it, I don't find the video or a link to it. (I don't even find the "video section" of SRP!) I'm normally good at this, I swear. :)

Thanks!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nickthenewguy

Hello,

I just found your site recently as I have been considering moving to straight razor shaving. I recently retired from the Marine Corps, and as such am used to getting hair cuts every week and shaving every day (whether I want to or not). I started losing my hair long ago, and have been completely shaving my head for the past 15 years or so. While I like the results from using my Gillette Fusion for this, I have been wondering what it would be like using a straight razor, and if it is even possible for a person to do to themselves. I used to get it done by a certain barber, back in the mid 90s in Quantico, but have found no other barber that even uses straight razors anymore. I loved the way it felt then, and I figured once I got good enough with a straight razor, I'd give it a try myself. I said all that to say this... I can only use my right hand for shaving. I have severe nerve damage to my left arm from the elbow down, to where I have virtually no feeling in it whatsoever, and as such, very little grip with the left hand. Is it even possible for me to use to straight razor for shaving my head without using the left hand? I have watched Lynn's videos and he says I should learn to use it, but with my condition, I'm not sure I could.

Could some of you veterans out there weigh in on this and possibly give me some advice, or at the least keep me from cutting my ears off?

Thanks in advance,

Nick the New Guy

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I have been shaving my head with a straight since 2008. I take my time. I also use two mirrors so I can see. I do one pass with the grain and one against.

Welcome to SRP Nick.

I am new like you. I lurked as a visitor for about a week reading and watching day and night, and joined the other day because of the great fraternity I saw here. All the information here just fueled my already burning desire to straight shave.

Your going to really like this place Devil Dog there is someone here that will be able to answer any question you may have. Here a little something that all of us Marine want and they are out there to be had the Clauss USMC Razors.Attachment 159457Attachment 159458

Those look pretty nice. Still waiting for my razor to come in the mail, then I will send it to one of the fine gentlemen here to get it honed and ready to go. I figure I'll be ready to start in a couple of weeks or so. Funny thing, with Marines...whether you were in 3 years or 30, whether you loved it or hated it, no matter what, when you see something with the ol' USMC on it, it's one of those must have things. Don't suppose one could still find any of those anywhere, could they?

Even though they have the USMC, they are gorgeous! (jk about the USMC - friendly rivalry. In '83 my USMC recruiter did tell me I had no chance of being a rifleman with my ASVAB scores being so high, and if I insisted on combat arms to go next door to see his best friend the Army recruiter)

Salute to all my brothers and sisters in Arms regardless of branch

Black Knights Scouts Out

Hey Nick,

Welcome. I echo others when i say thank you for your service. I'm a new guy too! I started with the DE and still use it as I'm learning the art of the SR (Straight Razor).

I too have some(minor) limitations with one arm tho nothing as severe as what you've described. As others have already said, where there's a will there's a way! I find myself in some pretty funky positions and am learning to shave without even being able to see the razor as I shave certain areas of my face.

Take it slow and enjoy this adventure of manliness and pamper yourself. You deserve it!

~mc
Should a guy named "Nick" even try a SR? Just joking of course. I kill myself. :rofl2:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nickthenewguy

Those look pretty nice. Still waiting for my razor to come in the mail, then I will send it to one of the fine gentlemen here to get it honed and ready to go. I figure I'll be ready to start in a couple of weeks or so. Funny thing, with Marines...whether you were in 3 years or 30, whether you loved it or hated it, no matter what, when you see something with the ol' USMC on it, it's one of those must have things. Don't suppose one could still find any of those anywhere, could they?

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The Clauss USMC Razors show up on ebay every so often but nowadays everybody wants one so they are scarce and the price gets driven thru the roof. If you look on ebay they show up every now and again.

I was told that the barber in the Monteleone does a SR shave. And there is another place on Magazine St too. I could be misinformed about the Monteleone though. As for shaving with one hand, I've found that there are things that you can learn from others and then there are things you will teach yourself....a lot of it you teach yourself. There will be a lot of so-so shaves until you get your whole routine together but I'm betting it will all come together. Say hello to Mario at the Napoleon House for me. I won't make it this year.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nickthenewguy

Hello,

I just found your site recently as I have been considering moving to straight razor shaving. I recently retired from the Marine Corps, and as such am used to getting hair cuts every week and shaving every day (whether I want to or not). I started losing my hair long ago, and have been completely shaving my head for the past 15 years or so. While I like the results from using my Gillette Fusion for this, I have been wondering what it would be like using a straight razor, and if it is even possible for a person to do to themselves. I used to get it done by a certain barber, back in the mid 90s in Quantico, but have found no other barber that even uses straight razors anymore. I loved the way it felt then, and I figured once I got good enough with a straight razor, I'd give it a try myself. I said all that to say this... I can only use my right hand for shaving. I have severe nerve damage to my left arm from the elbow down, to where I have virtually no feeling in it whatsoever, and as such, very little grip with the left hand. Is it even possible for me to use to straight razor for shaving my head without using the left hand? I have watched Lynn's videos and he says I should learn to use it, but with my condition, I'm not sure I could.

Could some of you veterans out there weigh in on this and possibly give me some advice, or at the least keep me from cutting my ears off?

Thanks in advance,

Nick the New Guy

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Welcome to SRP from a fellow Louisiana resident. You can shave with one hand. I use both hands but had to train myself to use the non-dominant hand.

I had the same curiosity about straight razors, having seen them in movies and barber shops. When I was a kid, the barber put hot lather behind my ears and shaved that area with a straight and it really felt good.

The Fusion was what drove me to traditional wetshaving, because of the discomfort and disappointing results. The fact you were successful with that tells me you have some skill I didn't have.

The double edge razor shaved like a dream but like you, I really wanted to use a straight razor. The straight had a steep learning curve for me but once I learned it was everything I'd hoped it would be and more.

I get a real kick from enjoying shaving, because it was such a miserable experience for most of my life.

Hi and welcome. Some shave with 2 hands some shave with 1. Every thing razor related is personal preference and everyone has to learn to do what works for them. A barber only uses 1 hand. A little experimentation will see you find what works. Good luck

Thanks for all the encouragement and the input all. I ordered 3 razors off the Ebay on the cheap, and they arrived today. I have a Clauss 8302, a Wostenholm Pipe, and a Robeson Suredge. Now to choose somebody off the member services page to send them to for a good honing so I can start doing this. Here is a pic of the razors, listed above, top to bottom (or Right to Left...whichever you prefer :P)

Attachment 159583

I know for certain I am going to get into honing my razors here sooner than later, but for the first time through, I would prefer to have somebody that has experience and knows what they are doing do it for me. I've been sharpening knives and tools since I was a kid, making them plenty sharp enough to shave all the hair off my arms and such testing edges, but I'm fairly certain this is something a little different. Anybody have a favorite person they go to for their honing?

My biggest issue with shaving in general is I have wicked thick facial hair, but at the same time, super-sensitive girly-man skin. My head I can shave every which direction, several times a day if I choose and never get razor burn or anything of the sort, but if I shave with the Fusion to shave my face, regardless of the fact that I only do one pass, with the grain, and don't carve myself up, I'm torn up for the next several days, so I end up using an electric during those days (that first shave after a razor shave is brutal for me). I've tried all kinds of creams and lotions to shave with, and even more after care products, but nothing seems to make a difference. After reading up on how comfortable even a super close straight razor shave can be, I absolutely have to give it a try. Even if I can only do it every other day, or every few days, it's better than what I have now.

And in regard to any skills I may or may not have with the Fusion, let's just say it was something I learned the hard way. The first razor I tried to shave my head with was a Bic disposable. After removing half the skin from he back of my skull, I decided to go ahead and use my "expensive" Mach 3 razors from that point on. The Fusion was just the next natural progression...especially once the PX stopped selling the Mach 3.

Glen (gssixgun) at Gem Star Customs. Just check the Member Services area in the Classifieds. Others are listed there, too. Good luck! :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by deepweeds

Can anyone point the way to Jimbo's head-shaving video? I've navigated all around, and used the Search function, but while I find references to it, I don't find the video or a link to it. (I don't even find the "video section" of SRP!) I'm normally good at this, I swear. :)

Thanks!

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Have found a couple of posts with the head shave but for some reason the links aren't working
Went and had a look on YouTube instead
Here it is...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clddLcJUJgk