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Head shaving pressure advice and input

So I've more or less mastered daily shaves with my face. 95% is smooth as butter, with some stubborn places maybe slightly less so but that just seems to be the nature of a few patches under my chin. Daily shaving my head however seems much harder. My head seems more sensitive to it. I also still have a full head of hair so while I'm decent at it I find that some of the areas with sebhorriec dermatitis under it (skin inflammation) can be a bit sensitive. I've often preferred a heavier razor for my head, but am experimenting with a ti razor. Something about my head hair seems to get more hung up on my ti than my face. Which is odd because i have that issue with aluminum on my face too but not with TI razors. Maybe because stretching it is harder. Of course I could just stick with my osprey ss but I'd love to just use one razor for the whole shave. Thus this posts question is two fold.


1) do you prefer a light or heavy razor for your head?
2) do you use pressure on your head with a light razor? Specifically a ti razor.
 
As an additional question does anyone find se razors better for head shaving? Never had luck with them on my beard but am considering the new blackland Sabre for my head.
 
I’ve been using a Muhle Vivo (R89) for head shaving. It’s both lightweight and mild. I apply a little pressure on the first pass, then less on subsequent passes. I’ve also discovered that my various skin blemishes don’t give me trouble if I shave every other day. I shave right after a hot shower and enjoy Proraso green pre-shave. I’ve only been head shaving for about a year though, so take it with a grain of salt.
 
I don't mean to hijack the thread, but does anyone use a straight for head shaves? Or do I have to dig out an old DE or, god forbid, buy a cart?
Doesnt bother me. I honestly can't imagine using a straight on my head but I've seen it done. The Swedish fella named Johann on shave and butcher has done it. But most seem to gravitate towards des for it. I don't find des difficult to use on the head. And I kinda hated the leaf.
 
I’ve been using a Muhle Vivo (R89) for head shaving. It’s both lightweight and mild. I apply a little pressure on the first pass, then less on subsequent passes. I’ve also discovered that my various skin blemishes don’t give me trouble if I shave every other day. I shave right after a hot shower and enjoy Proraso green pre-shave. I’ve only been head shaving for about a year though, so take it with a grain of salt.
I cant figure out if I prefer light or heavy for my head. I still have a whole head of hair and the top of my scalp grows in so many different directions the heaviness is nice to plow through it. But a light razor I enjoy because it warns you before you mess up. I'm really not sure 😭 guess all I can do is experiment.
 

gpjoe

Slickness is a sickness
So I've more or less mastered daily shaves with my face. 95% is smooth as butter, with some stubborn places maybe slightly less so but that just seems to be the nature of a few patches under my chin. Daily shaving my head however seems much harder. My head seems more sensitive to it. I also still have a full head of hair so while I'm decent at it I find that some of the areas with sebhorriec dermatitis under it (skin inflammation) can be a bit sensitive. I've often preferred a heavier razor for my head, but am experimenting with a ti razor. Something about my head hair seems to get more hung up on my ti than my face. Which is odd because i have that issue with aluminum on my face too but not with TI razors. Maybe because stretching it is harder. Of course I could just stick with my osprey ss but I'd love to just use one razor for the whole shave. Thus this posts question is two fold.


1) do you prefer a light or heavy razor for your head?
2) do you use pressure on your head with a light razor? Specifically a ti razor.

I've found that I prefer a lighter razor for head shaves.

One of my favorites is a stainless steel Vector, which even though SS, it is still light and nimble.

I also own and use two Shield GEM (Predator) razors exclusively for head shaves, one SS and one Ti, and while both are very effective, I prefer the lighter Ti model. I tend to use a lighter touch with the stainless razor and let the weight do a bit more of the work, especially on the top of my head (where, admittedly, most or the hair is long gone).

The only other lightweight razor that I found very effective on my head was an aluminum Razorock Eco, another SE razor that uses DE half blades.

The opposite is true for shaving my beard, where I prefer a heavier DE razor.

As an additional question does anyone find se razors better for head shaving? Never had luck with them on my beard but am considering the new blackland Sabre for my head.

I can't say that SE razors are better, only that I prefer AC and GEM razors for my head shaves. I need to point out that I've only tried shaving my head with a DE once, and quickly abandoned it for one of my SE razors.
 
Same as @gpjoe I use a RR Eco for my head which is light and needs a shallow angle but on my face I prefer to go steep with heavier DE razors.

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Please come join the Head Shavers Checkin!
 

Old Hippie

Somewhere between 61 and dead
1) do you prefer a light or heavy razor for your head?

Yer gonna hate me. :) Medium. I've tried light and while I can make it work well I'm always aware that I'm trying to make it work. (But I've done it enough to be good at it.) I've tried heavy and there is an attraction to what I call the "gravity-powered shave" but sometimes it can be a chunk to push around. My light razor is usually the PAA El Fantasma and the heavy is the Wunderbar with the Radio Knob handle. Both lovely razors, but not in the centre of my preferences.

2) do you use pressure on your head with a light razor? Specifically a ti razor.

Normally no. I don't have a Ti razor, although a couple of my razors have Ti handles (the Wolfman WR3 and the RazoRock Superslant L3++OC). With some razors, specifically shavettes, hair shapers and barber straights I aim to add no pressure to the mass of the razor. Usually that works out pretty well now that I've got some technique.

O.H.
 
So I've more or less mastered daily shaves with my face. 95% is smooth as butter, with some stubborn places maybe slightly less so but that just seems to be the nature of a few patches under my chin. Daily shaving my head however seems much harder. My head seems more sensitive to it. I also still have a full head of hair so while I'm decent at it I find that some of the areas with sebhorriec dermatitis under it (skin inflammation) can be a bit sensitive. I've often preferred a heavier razor for my head, but am experimenting with a ti razor. Something about my head hair seems to get more hung up on my ti than my face. Which is odd because i have that issue with aluminum on my face too but not with TI razors. Maybe because stretching it is harder. Of course I could just stick with my osprey ss but I'd love to just use one razor for the whole shave. Thus this posts question is two fold.


1) do you prefer a light or heavy razor for your head?
2) do you use pressure on your head with a light razor? Specifically a ti razor.

I face and head shave weekly. I used a Fatip Grande exclusively for three years on both face and head. Recently I switched to a OC95 Lupo with a Titanium Handle. The switch increased efficiency and skin comfort.

So I've more or less mastered daily shaves with my face. 95% is smooth as butter, with some stubborn places maybe slightly less so but that just seems to be the nature of a few patches under my chin.
If you have great success with your face shaves, that is easily transferred to your head shave. But switching razors, blades from face to head changes all the dynamics and muscle memory and feel established with the first razor. It isn’t wrong or incorrect just very much more difficult to replicate good results.

Daily shaving my head however seems much harder. My head seems more sensitive to it.
Skin and beard conditioning may be a factor. Do you shower before your shave? Proper whisker hydration is essential to successful shaves. If you are prone to skin flare ups a pre shave will help in enhancing skin health and aid in lubrication accommodating protection from the sharp apex of a steel blade.

Of course I could just stick with my osprey ss but I'd love to just use one razor for the whole shave.
If you have excellent shaves with a particular razor with face shaves. The head shaves might only need a slightly different pressure from face shaves. And slightly different grips on the razor handle to accommodate the change in shave angles with head shaving. My handle grip on head shaving is usually chocked up close to the razors head. My pressure is slightly increased. More-less just slightly less than the razors head weight.


1) do you prefer a light or heavy razor for your head?
My Fatip Grande which is a coated brass razor with a hollow handle it is a medium weight razor. I endeavoured to maintain that weight and balance with the SS Lupo’s head by using a Titanium handle. The first Ti handle I used was oaky. I switched to another Ti handle 6 grams heavier which made the razor slightly handle heavy but increased the razor’s performance. Sometimes changing handles can make a remarkable difference in a razor’s performance.

2) do you use pressure on your head with a light razor? Specifically a ti razor.
Ti razors are a medium weight compared to stainless steel on the one end and aluminum razors on the other end. My stainless steel head Lupo, with Titanium Handle is slightly handle heavy and I unweight the head pressure totally for face shaves and slightly for head shaves.

Using the same razor for both face and head shaves makes it easier to maintain muscle memory and make pressure adjustments more accurately. In both face and head shaves I use a light grip on the razor handle. The head shaves however my grip on the handle is closer or right under the razor head. On my head shaves I also use my free hand to feel for beard stubble and lightly stretch some skin areas.

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I've been shaving my head for two years now. My favorite razors for balancing depth and delicacy, combined with a good blade, are the Edwin Jagger 89, Yaqi Ghost 70 in aluminium, Karve Brass A plate, Razorock Mamba 70. I shave every other day or every three days. For daily shaving, including the head, I limit myself to one pass plus a cleansing pass with EJ 89, all the others would irritate me if used daily. I always use a very light pressure, two passes WTG and XTG, and a new blade. I have hard, thick hair, I'm "mediterranean". I hope it helps.
 
Also following this thread.

I prefer a light razor. Specifically Ti. New to head shaving. Just a couple of months. I shave every other day and use a blade only once as my head dulls the blade pretty quickly. My head is fairly sensitive to razor burn if I do multiple passes or XTG or ATG. I get good results if I only do a single pass with touch ups using just slight pressure with the Henson Aluminum mild. I switched to the Henson titanium and liked that even better. Just about perfect weight using virtually no pressure. The mild razors work well for preventing irritation but not the closest shave. Yesterday I tried my new Blackbird Ti with the mild plate. It feels a tad lighter than the Henson Ti but is a little more aggressive which initially seems to give a closer shave. Still learning the BB so Ill have to say little to no pressure seems
to work well. I use Nacet blades which cut better than the RK blades that Henson provides.
As others have mentioned prep can make a big difference. I head shave only after showering. A couple days a week I exfoliate in the shower which is a big help in softening and helping the blade to glide. I use a pre shave oil or PAA Cube to lather with first before lathering. Both will help soften the hair and make cutting easier.
 
Gillette Guard (single blade) plastic disposable is probably the best for head shaving....
Schick adjustable is OK
Most of the DE razors will work, but I NEVER apply pressure.....when I started I took a "biopsy" of my scalp w a Merkur slant applying pressure.....that bled and hurt .
 
Use a Schick Injector for head shaves, and you don't have to worry so much about pressure or no pressure. Or about anything else, really. It just works.
 
There is no cushion on the top of your head... It's just skin and skull. As such, a mild razor is key for me. Also I use soap that has some cushion or protective. I can feel the blade a lot more with shaving cream. Razor weight is medium to light. No more pressure than normal. I have found that SE razors are major no go for both face and head. Way too aggressive and blades are not as sharp as DE.
 
If I let it go for a week or more 1st pass head shave is a straight razor. 1/4 hollow or 1/2 hollow, full hollow will take tye path of least resistance and that sometimes stings a little. 2nd pass will be with a safety. Usually an old gillette tto. If I stay up with it just an old safety every few days.
 
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