Head shaving with a straight razor

[Uncle Jackie]

Quick question folks, if you'd be kind enough to answer.

I'm new to the straight razor shaving. I bought a Dovo, had it professionally honed, and I have a strop that I use. When I use it on my beard (cheeks) and neck, it cuts through the hair like a warm knife through butter, but I'm having a heck of a time shaving my head with it, even if I let it grow for a couple of days. It seems to bind and chatter (sorry, I can't put it any better than that), and doesn't remove the hair so well. I'm using Proraso soap if that helps and Proraso preshave cream. I'm pretty good with the soap, as I have been doing that part for years, even while using the Mach 3, Proglide, etc. so I don't think that's the problem. I have tried a thicker lather, thinner lather, adding more water, less water and all combinations between. Is it just that skull hair is different? Does the razor need to be honed differently? I would have thought it be easier to shave the melon.

[paco664]

its gonna be angle/technique...

i used to shave my head with mine.... try shorter strokes and pay closer attention to angle...

good luck..

[Luc]

its gonna be angle/technique...

i used to shave my head with mine.... try shorter strokes and pay closer attention to angle...

good luck..

+1

The shaves won't be great right away, it takes practice. Make sure you strop your razor properly and after 5-8 shaves, you should see an improvement. After 20, it should be better even... It took me around 75 shaves before I could get a BBS... YMMV!

[SlyAggie]

I must say fellas, y'all have some cajones! I won't even try a DE on my head, and y'all are using straights! Have you seen the video of the guy shaving his melon with a very sharp cleaver?

anyhow, I bow down at your awesomeness in shaving melons with straights

[paco664]

I must say fellas, y'all have some cajones! I won't even try a DE on my head, and y'all are using straights! Have you seen the video of the guy shaving his melon with a very sharp cleaver?

anyhow, I bow down at your awesomeness in shaving melons with straights

i believe that guy is "honed"... a very active member here... he haunts the honing section *(go figure) and the straights section....

[Snuff-Belgium]

I used to shave my head with a straight but found that they loose there sharpness rather quickly when used for that. I moved to a Feather Artist Club razor for my head shaves, one pass is all it takes. I do use a buffing motion with the straight/feather razor and that works very good. Takes some practice.

[ladykate]

Quick question folks, if you'd be kind enough to answer.

I'm new to the straight razor shaving. I bought a Dovo, had it professionally honed, and I have a strop that I use. When I use it on my beard (cheeks) and neck, it cuts through the hair like a warm knife through butter, but I'm having a heck of a time shaving my head with it, even if I let it grow for a couple of days.

As was said - angles are important, prep is important, blade keenness is important. My head hair - especially in the back - is tougher than my beard. I make sure I have a sharp razor before I go after it. Unlike Paco, I do longer strokes - but I've been doing it a while so... may have learned my way there. Usually, when using a straight, I do a couple of wtg passes. Occasionally I do atg. DE is faster but I use my head for test shaves when honing razors. Gives me more acreage. Hardest part is understanding that you don't have to see what you are shaving. After that, it is all crimson.

It helps to *really* know when your razor is sharp and probably to be able to tune it up on some stones/paddles.

Also, +1 on the Feather. The Feather is quick and close - but regular straights are just fine, too.

[YetiDave]

I've used a straight a few times, but I can't seem to get consistent results so I tend to use cheap carts for that job. Occasionally I'll reach for a straight for a reduction pass though. It really is all in the angle

[leonidas]

..................head shaving with a straight razor ??????

......................you guys are some tough hombres................

[The Count of Merkur Cristo]

Headshaving with str8...oooh, please do be careful.

“A str8 razor can’t be sharpened on a piece of velvet”. AuthorUnknown

[ladykate]

..................head shaving with a straight razor ??????

......................you guys are some tough hombres................

Like straight razor shaving on your face, shaving your head isn't a big deal but all the chicks dig it so I like to brag about it. ;-}

Seriously, I was hesitant to start it - thinking I was doing it for all the wrong reasons (mostly bragging rights) - but after the first one, I realized that it was a piece of cake. I recently needed more acreage for testing razors and I had this big 'ol noggin' with about double my face area. Very convenient.

I have nicked myself seriously once - meaning that I had to hold an alum block against it for a few minutes. That was because I did a really stupid ATG move that erased all my smooth moves before that. Anyway... statistically, shaving my head is safer than shaving my face. ;-}

FWIW: I keep the blade at a relatively steep angle on the side of my head and move towards my ears. The blade naturally stops without trimming my ears off. Once you get past that hurdle, you are in the pink.

[cb91710]

I've used a straight a few times, but I can't seem to get consistent results so I tend to use cheap carts for that job. Occasionally I'll reach for a straight for a reduction pass though. It really is all in the angle

+1

I've used straight on my head a few times with varying degrees of satisfaction. No serious blood loss.. nicked the back of my ear once.
Main thing is working the area above my ears.

Stuck on a desert island with nothing more than my Wacker, brush, MWF, and hones, I'd remain clean shaven until rescued... but in civilization? I stick with the Fusion for my head.
Seriously considering going back to the M3 for my head due to cost and the thinner head.

[Triad]

BRAVE!!!!