Thread: shaving your head

I shave my head. Any way to do this safely with a straight razor. I can use an electric to get a pretty good shave -- fast, no cuts -- and a safety razor does a better job with a few nicks here and there -- not often, do the back by feel.

Since I'm going to be switching my face to a straight razor, I thought maybe there was a way to do your head. Doesn't seem safe, however.

Originally Posted by ziggy925

I shave my head. Any way to do this safely with a straight razor. I can use an electric to get a pretty good shave -- fast, no cuts -- and a safety razor does a better job with a few nicks here and there -- not often, do the back by feel.

Since I'm going to be switching my face to a straight razor, I thought maybe there was a way to do your head. Doesn't seem safe, however.

Sure, I use a straight on mine. Do some searches and you'll find some other baldies on SRP. I think Jimbo even has a nice video of him shaving his head.

It is a little more difficult so I'd advise that you master shaving your face first. When I say difficult, I'm mostly referring to the back of your head where you either have to just shave by feel, or use a second mirror.

Otherwise follow the same steps as your face; proper prep, I'll use either olive or jojoba oil as preshave, then go for it and stretch properly. I keep a cup/pot of water to rinse off the hair to keep it out of the drain. Have a styptic handy because head nicks/cuts/weepers bleed a bit more than ones you get on your face.

EDIT: Here's the video I was talking about:
http://video.google.com.au/videoplay...4977&hl=en-AU#

I shave mine with a straight, just need to get the nack of holding a mirror in one had to see the back! I got a few cuts at first but can almost shave my head without looking now. When I'm in a rush I use a product called head blade, like a Mach 3 razor that has little wheels and hooks to your fingers, awesome little deal like just rubbing the hair off very easy. I had seen one on classic shaving that looked nice in stainless (no wheels). Hope that helps!

Oh I have a pic of the head blade, it's the lil yellow on in my pic...

Thanks for the video. He really makes it look easy, but it's obvious he's mastered the straight razor. For a minute there I thought he was going to pull a van Gogh.

I'll stick with the electric for now when I'm in a hurry, and I still like the feel of a blade on my head in the form of a safety razor, but after seeing that video I feel a little more confident at giving it a try when I can shave my face as easily as he shaves his head.

Thanks again.

That guy in the video..... what a handsome chap he is!

Commiecat has you covered. Good advice he gave you, and if you follow it you will get great head shaves with a straight.

BTW, I personally would not recommend a mirror for the back, but if you can do it that way, more power to you!

James.

I use a straight as well, but I don't mess with lather for the most part.

The hair on the top of my head is so sparse, it seems to be a waste of time for me to lather/relather as I go... Perhaps that's because I only do it every 1-2 months or so also.

Anyhow, I do the hand mirror and face away from the vanity mirror trick to get the back of my head as well.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

That guy in the video..... what a handsome chap he is!

Commiecat has you covered. Good advice he gave you, and if you follow it you will get great head shaves with a straight.

BTW, I personally would not recommend a mirror for the back, but if you can do it that way, more power to you!

James.

Fantastic - a treat to have a whole other surface to dote on! Warm lather on you head must feel great (I think it would relax me into a sleep...). Right on!

Julian

I shave my head with a straight razor, but I've never bothered with a mirror for the back of my head, in actual fact I tend to lean forward and close my eyes while shaving. In time you just learn to do it by touch alone.

I have such respect for you straight razor head shavers. I feel like a sellout - I usually use a cartridge razor to shave my head in the shower, for convenience. I use a DE when I really want billiard ball slickness. But my first few attempts with a straight didn't go well at all.

I think I was really intimidated by it. And, I was also trying it around a year ago when I was still new to shaving even my face with a straight. I'm much more comfortable and skilled now, so I'll have to try it again.

Jimbo, your head shave video is mesmerizing. Nice work.