Does anybody here properly shave their head?

[deadohsky]

...I think I'm going to try shaving cream next as I don't think that the soap is thick enough for me.

I had that problem as well and when i tried the creams they just wouldn't lather to the extent i would like, so i use both. Put a small dab of cream in the bowl, get some soap foaming on the brush and then into the bowl with the cream, gives a perfect lather for me.

[Frosted]

Good advice - If I can't get a good thick lather I might as well forget it but I think that'll work.

[Owens187]

Owens - the razor's dragging way too much and just won't cut the hair around my chin going with the grain. It's actually better for me to shave across the grain on the first pass.
I think I'm going to try shaving cream next as I don't think that the soap is thick enough for me.

I dont even bother doing with the grain, with athe DE razors, especially on my head. All ATG, all the time. Just works better for me. Or, get a straight razor for the face, and use the DE for you head like me! LOL

I had that problem as well and when i tried the creams they just wouldn't lather to the extent i would like, so i use both. Put a small dab of cream in the bowl, get some soap foaming on the brush and then into the bowl with the cream, gives a perfect lather for me.

This is called superlathering, alot of folks do the same thing. Personally though, I get a much better lather with soap only. Also, some folks swear by oiling your face up with some olive oil before applying the lather. Makes the razor glide better.

Frosted - You're just not lathering it up right, I guarantee it. I had the same problem at first - weak, thin lather. Now I get the most fluffy, thick lather you can imagine. Just takes practice.

Try this, others do it differently, but I've found this to work best for me:

1) Fill your sink with the hottest water possible. Put your brush in it and let it soak for 3-5 min.

2) Pick up your brush and immediately move it into your lather bowl. Let the excess water drip into the bowl.

3) Squeeze the rest of the water out of the brush and into the bowl. This is about the perfect amount of water, in my experience.

4) Move your brush onto the cake of soap and swirl 20-30 times, and then put it in the center and twist back and forth a bunch of times.

5) Swish the brush around in the bowl to get all the soap into the water.

6) Squeeze the brush out into the bowl again, then swirl it over the soap again 20-30 times.

7) Now its time to lather. Quickly swirl the brush in the bowl, starting with small tight circles, and progress to larger circles as the lather thickens. Then switch your technique to where youre kind of "flipping" the lather over, like mixing dough or something.(bring the bottom to the top, etc)

Seems like alot, but I do all this in 2-3 minutes.

What your looking for is an instantaneous "explosion" of lather. All of the sudden it wil just thicken like crazy. Keep going until there are no large air bubbles, just tiny little ones, and the lather looks like cool-whip.(do you have cool-whip over there?)

Heres what it should look like:
Click on this



Also, on youtube search for a guy by the name of mantic59. His videos on lathering and shaving are excellent.

[Frosted]

LOL @ **WHEW!**

We don't have cool whip over here, but we have Mr Whippy ice cream :-). This is all good lather advice.

This stuff ain't easy is it? Also I'm finding that different people have different methods which they swear by so I think I'll take the tips, use them and find out what works best for me.
I'd definately find it easier to shave solely against the grain whereas others tell you that you have to do the 3 pass shave, with - across - and then against. Going with the grain tears me up - and I'm still terrified of using this thing on my head, so it's not going to happen for quite a while. Having said that, the hair on my head is quite fine - whatever's left of it.

[Monkey]

Personally, I have a much easier time shaving my head. I have it down to two and a half minutes. My face is about five minutes with two passes and some times I still tear it up when I use too much pressure. Let the razor do the work, no pressure.

Owens users almost the same method as I do but I use less water. I soak the soap with a tsp of hot water while soaking the brush, dump the water in the soap into the (now empty) bowl and attack the soap with a squeezed out dry brush. From there it's the same method.

It all depends on the soap. Some need more water, some less so don't be afraid to experiment with it.

Also, the head has less flesh so it should be easier.

[Frosted]

That's the problem Monkey - if I just leave the weight of the blade to do the work it just skips over the hairs and catches - even if I apply a little force and speed it up.

[Monkey]

It's probably your angle. 20 degrees or less (i never busted out a protractor though) is the goal and feels really weird the first couple times. There is definitely a learning curve to it. Just keep with it and you'll be there.

[Frosted]

You've just posted that as I've found that that's the problem myself browsing Badger and Blade

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=130110

[Monkey]

That's a great forum for reference.

[Frosted]

I also found a thread that some resort to cartridge use now and again.

[GoVegan]

I also found a thread that some resort to cartridge use now and again.

That's kind of like going back to smoking once in a blue moon. Stay away from the cartridges! Just like cigarettes, cartridges are expensive, addictive and just generally bad for your health. Once you find a DE routine that works well for you, you will never use a cartridge again. If worse comes to worst - shave after you shower.

[Frosted]

So - I soaked my face in very hot water and sterilised the blade. Lathered up tonight with a Palmolive stick instead of the hard soap. The stick is far superior and it only costs 50p a stick. I brushed it in well and there was a fantastic lather - unlike the soap.
I let that sit for 5 minutes.
Started shaving and changed the angle of the blade to a less harmful angle - it still cut my face off around the chin. I've got quite a chin and the single blade isn't coping with the contours even though the shave was slightly better overall - and there's still no way this is going any where near my head.
I'm definately doing everything right.

So - I went out and bought a Mach 3.

[GoVegan]

Noooooooooooo to Mach 3. Next thing you will be buying after that will be panti liners!

[lxskllr]

Noooooooooooo to Mach 3. Next thing you will be buying after that will be panti liners!

:^D

Sad but true...

[GoVegan]

I am thinking that your razor is the issue. I have an old open comb razor with a Derby blade and I can guarantee that the razor will not leave uncut hair behind. Don't be afraid of aggressive razors. If you use them properly you will not get cut and have the best shave of your life. Here is a sweet razor!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-GILLETTE...item1e5e2ce562