Thread: shaving my head

Been shaving my head with a DE for about four years now. Prep is about the same as with the face. Been experimenting with the straight lately but it does take some getting used to. The front of the head is easy enough since I can see that but the back is purely by feel. I really pay close attention and go real slow around the ears and so far I still have both of them. My straight does seem to need a few laps on the leather before moving from my face to the head but I haven't really seen a lot of dulling from the hair on my head. Seems the only thing to do is just keep practicing!

@ groovyd: The head is actually easier to do as you don't have to stretch skin as in a normal face shave. You might be right about the light blades, have never used them so can't confirm that. The guarded ones don't do it for me, the professional and super professional are very good as are the Kai Milds. I know most users advice to keep the feather flat against the face but that doesn't work for me, I have to use the same angle as with a straight. The new Feather SS is another story, this one has a different head shape that allows to keep it flat on the skin and it automaticly achieves the correct angle. Much less chance to cut oneself but personally I prefer the old DX feather razor.

A bit of training and you'll get there ;-)

Just be careful head shaving with a straight! It can get ugly fast.

Originally Posted by Snuff

@ groovyd: The head is actually easier to do as you don't have to stretch skin as in a normal face shave.

My experience with head shaving is exactly the opposite. I find shaving my head with a straight far more difficult than my face because I have really coarse hair on my head, and because it is almost impossible to stretch the skin in some areas which need to have the skin stretched.
Maybe it's just 'cause I got a fat head...

I do still shave my head with a straight occasionally, just to be sure I remember how. I spent over a year mastering my technique, but now I usually just use a DE - it's faster and easier.

How does a DE compare to a headblade cartridge? Do you do it in the shower and if so do you use a mirror? One thing about the headblade that attracted me is it appears to be easy to do in the shower without a mirror.

If a headblade is the curved handle that your fingers slips through and it takes mach III blades, I used one one time - for me I didn't find it any better than a mach III, but I was routinely shaving my head without a mirror - I put the handle between my index and middle fingers and kept my thumb near the blade.
Since switching over to wetshaving, I basically use the same technique with a safety razor. I can do it pretty quickly without the use of a mirror.

If need be, I could probably make a video of shaving my actual head with a safety razor (or a straight if it helps)...

Originally Posted by HNSB

If a headblade is the curved handle that your fingers slips through and it takes mach III blades, I used one one time - for me I didn't find it any better than a mach III, but I was routinely shaving my head without a mirror - I put the handle between my index and middle fingers and kept my thumb near the blade.
Since switching over to wetshaving, I basically use the same technique with a safety razor. I can do it pretty quickly without the use of a mirror.

If need be, I could probably make a video of shaving my actual head with a safety razor (or a straight if it helps)...

That would be awesome! Thank you! I should probably start with DE. I got the EJ89 which is a smooth shaver and a new Feather stainless DE which is a bit more aggressive, which would you use?

I haven't really experimented a lot with different DE's. All I have are old Gillettes - I don't even know the model names for them.
I never got that into DE's.

I guess if one is smoother, I would start with that one.

i shave my head twice weekly using merkur de s tried few vintage gilettes but cant seem to get them just right for my head . a good shaving cream first then thayers witch hazel post shave seems to work for me .

Definitely looks better. You will never be a handsome man but this is Definitely an improvement. hahahaha
Once you'r used to bare, you want nothing more.
I shave my head every day with a str8. It's easier than with a cartridge, and if you still shave with a straight , then all the way!
have fun