Monday, December 19, 2011

The best type of shaver for your head?

The aim of the advice and suggestions I give on HeadShaver.org is to make it easier to have a close, comfortable, and convenient shave. The question of what type of razor to use for headshaving is a pretty common one. So, what are your options?

A shavette - a type of straight
razor that uses disposable blades.
The most old-school option is the straight razor. You've probably seen one of these on TV or in a movie, but may not have come across one in real life; they're something of a specialty item. They've been around for hundreds of years, and were once the primary way that people shaved.

A straight razor requires skill and care to use - careless use can result in serious injury. Keeping the blade at a good angle (something like 30 degrees) is essential for good results. This can be a challenge sometimes even when you can see the shaving area (as when you shave your face), but shaving the scalp is even trickier. While it can be done (and you can find videos on YouTube of people using straight razors on their scalp), I don't recommend them for shaving your head.

For everyday shaving, straight razors were largely supplanted by safety razors in the early 20th century. The double-edge safety razor is enjoying a resurgence these days, with a number of forums and communities that consider the DE razor to be the best way to shave your face. The razors are still a specialty item; the only place I can find them locally is at antique shops, but a number of online retailers sell them. One of the big draws to DE razors (aside from aesthetics) is that the blades can often be had for very reasonable prices - it's not unusual to find a pack of 10 good blades for under $2 at online retailers.


Though the DE safety razor has a guard in place to prevent big gashes (making them considerably safer than straight edge razors), they do require some care and skill to use. The blade still needs to contact the skin at a good angle, for instance. Traditional wet-shaving enthusiasts usually recommend a multi-pass approach, shaving first with the grain, then across the grain (and sometimes against the grain) for a very smooth shave.

You can certainly shave your head with a DE razor (I've done so in the past), but it's not something I recommend unless you're interested in the challenge and experience of it. While you're learning, it's pretty easy to draw blood, and it's fairly time-consuming if you want a smooth shave - it wasn't uncommon for me to take 30 to 45 minutes, and that was after much practice and effort.

The razor you're most likely to see advertised in contemporary media is the cartridge razor. The current champion (in terms of TV time) is probably the Gillette Fusion ProGlide, but there are many, including Gillette's Trac II, Atra, Sensor, Mach 3, Schick's Hydro and Quattro, and various generic versions of these razors.

The great innovation of the cartridge razor is that it holds the blade at a fixed angle relative to the position of the cartridge, and that it holds the blade at a fixed distance to the skin. This essentially reduces the skill required to shave, and makes it possible to shave more quickly and with less chance of nicks or cuts (though it is still possible to draw blood; you should never be careless with a sharp blade). Some models have a fixed head, but most have a pivoting head that changes position for you as you move over the curves of your face and scalp.


Another popular shaving option is the electric shaver. Unlike the other types of razors mentioned here, electric shavers can be used without wetting the skin, which can be very convenient. Their design also generally precludes nicks and cuts, though some people do find electric shavers irritating on their skin.

It's easy and safe to use an electric shaver on your scalp. I spent most of the past 3 years using one as my primary shaving device. The only downside is that electrics generally do not shave as close as a blade razor. I've tried a number of different models over the years, and while you can get a pretty close shave, it's never quite as smooth as I really prefer.

When all is said and done, I recommend the cartridge razor for headshaving. They are easier and quicker to use than straight or DE razors, and they shave closer than electric shavers.  I also really like shaving with oil, which provides a great shave and moisturizes your head.  SirHare.com creates some great products for Bald heads.

The question of which cartridge razor to use? As with many things, it comes down to personal preference. I've used quite a few razors over the past decade-and-a-half of shaving my head, and I can honestly say that almost all of the cartridge razors I've used are capable of giving  you a good, close, comfortable shave. Use whichever one you're already comfortable with.

20 comments:

passc said...

I don't think there is any razor that can not be use for any purpose. It all depends on the person using it and how careful the person is. left for me, I prefer straight razor for shaving.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Unknown said...

The Safety razors are made to last for a lifetime and added with the craftsmanship and quality by best quality safety razor blades this razor is sure to be around for more than one lifetime.

James Franklin said...

Recently I have stopped to use a cartridge razor. Now I'm using a safety razor. It provides me the most closer and smoother shave and the shaving cost is so low. Best safety razor

Milton Dom said...

The information you have given in the blog really marvelous and more interesting.

Top Shavers

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

I don’t waste my free time that’s why I read the informative things when I got this blog I really enjoyed reading this.
Electric Shavers

PVC Banner said...

Thanks I love it. I hope that more and more Blogger will use this feature in the future, because it just makes the internet better I think!

custom shirts online said...

I have read your article, it is very informative and helpful for me.I admire the valuable information you offer in your articles. Thanks for posting it

Unknown said...

nice post

Steve said...

If you want to take a headshaver you can try this products. Because I used this one and I found more comfortable to work with this. So I hope you also find the best service from here.

Aslay Sin said...

If you miss the close, smooth shave, you got in a barber shop, or wish you had been alive to experience that, a safety razor shaving kit might be what you need. Safety razors offer a shave that is unlike anything you can get from grocery store razors. best safety razor

best electric shaver said...

whether you want a smooth and close shave without any face acne.so you use electric shaver which can provide you best shave.braun shaver is best electric shaver and also remington best electric shaver available in the market.

Masood said...

Superbly written article, if only all bloggers offered the same content as you, the internet would be a far better place.. razorwang blog

pheobe22 said...

superb way of explaining, and great blog to get wonderful information. best electric razor 2018

Anonymous said...

I would recommend you to use clippers if you are shaving head. Check out the best clippers for 2018

Unknown said...

Your website is for sure worth bookmarking.
Shavers Paradise

Viktoriya said...

What is all the hoopla about Indian Hair extensions? The newest hair extension product in African American beauty salons today is Indian Hair. best hair trimmer in india

James J Burkhardt said...

The information you provided in your blog post was unknown to me before reading it. Thank you for sharing this important information with me! There are several advantages to using the color blind test to identify and comprehend color vision deficits. Medical practitioners can use this test to precisely diagnose and classify different types of color blindness by displaying a sequence of images and patterns designed with meticulous care. It is not only important for diagnostic purposes, but also for improving the quality of life for color vision-impaired people.

Anonymous said...

I value the diverse ideas you bring to the table, fostering a more inclusive and enriching online community. CPS Test is a must-try for Minecraft enthusiasts; it leveled up my clicking abilities in no time!