smooth

[palmerproject]

hiw did it take you guys to get to the point where your head is perfectly smooth. does it require making two passes, once with and another aginst the grain?

[palmerproject]

whats your best advice to get that perfectly smooth shave?

[D.A.L.U.I.]

Practice, practice, practice.  Two passes work for me, against the grain.  Take your time--it's not a race!

[RoWilJr]

Practice... Then you find your rhythm. I go ATG then WTG.

[kalbo]

My regular barber takes good care of keeping my head smooth. Stretching my scalp and shaving against the grain using a straight razor.

During the times I do my own head shave, I would also stretch my well lubricated scalp and shave against the grain with a disposable razor.

[mrzed]

I do multiple passes in multiple directions to assure a smooth shave.

[Lynchy]

Hey,

It takes time and practice... For me it's multiple passes, usually against first then with, then tricky areas (behind ears etc)

[Sir Harry]

Once WTG, then once ATG

[Mr Jules]

Once WTG, then once ATG

Yep. This works best for me, too.

[mangosink12572]

Practice  - -practice   is so right - - -I always   went against and with the grain  once or twice  - -if I missed - - -- - - but now  - it is much easier as there is very little on top    --

I have a little fuzz that grows and  is very easy to shave - - - I give the dome  - -a once over  lightly  - - -- -and that does the trick for me.

[palmerproject]

i just finsshed shaveing for the day and i think i did a pretty good job it's the smoothest i have ever been. feels so good.

[xabydaddy]

I try not to obsess about getting it completely smooth this time around. I had a bad experience about a year or so ago wherein I actually peeled my scalp like a potatoe. This time I have promised myself that I will live with a little bit of fuzz. I just have to make sure I don't go past two days because it grows back gray.

[Frontier Guy]

Still learning, but this morning was exceptional.

ATG, WTG and then a variety of swipes going 'other directions' to get it all.

I'm allowing plenty of time so I can be careful ... but just as much to enjoy the whole experience from that initial scrap to the final rinse and feeling smooth as glass.

[erikwillke]

The good news is everyone has a system and technique that works for them.  The bad news is you have to figure out what works for you

I use most of the same techniques on my head as I do my face except one.  I'll explain in a bit.  I'm new here so I don't know how much has already been discussed in other topics but let's consider what hair is.

It looks like a long pine cone.  It has scales that for the most part are closed up on itself.  Chemicals and warm moisture open the hair so it fans out.... like  a pine cone.  Once it opens the moisture and chemicals will soften the hair so it can be cut.  Normal human facial and head hair is as strong as a copper wire of the same diameter. I've noticed some guys here talking about safety razors and straight blades.  They will agree, I'm sure, that the most important part of a shave is getting the hair hot and wet.  I like to use a washcloth with as hot of water as I can stand and hold that in place for about three minutes.  To be really effective you should apply the shaving cream, massage it into the hair with your fingertips in a circular motion.  That covers every side of the hair.  Let the hot washcloth warm your hair for about three minutes.  Wipe off the shaving cream and re-apply in a circular fashion.  THEN shave.

On my face I shave WTG, then ATG, then Across the Grain.  Here's the difference between my head and face.  On my head I only shave ATG.  Here's my reasoning. With straight razors and safety razors there's only one blade.  The straight blade actually "bends" the skin down and gets to the hair as close as it can get.  You use a bit of pressure.  Safety razors cut exactly what it comes into contact with so you cannot use much pressure at all, just multiple passes.  When it comes to modern, 3-4-5 blade razors it relies on the first couple of blades to progressively pull the hair out of the hole, cutting the hair, and then allowing it to spring back into the hole, leaving smooth skin behind.  Since there is less skin on the head I would imagine that it doesn't have as much pull and recoil as the face. For that reason I only shave ATG to give it as much hair to grab onto as possible.

I have found that with my head, if I go WTG then ATG I don't get a very good shave.  Mostly spiky. So I only go ATG.  Like I said before , YOU have to find out what works for YOU.  Also bear in mind that your grain is not altogether uniform.  It will go in different directions.  Dont' forget the cowlick in the back, most people have one.

One final note on shaving creams/gels.  The purpose of shaving cream is to chemically aid the opening and softening of the hair and to act as a barrier between the blade and your skin.  Again, the following statement is my personal opinion based on experience on MY skin.  normal, aerated foam from a can is the fasted way to get razor burn on your dome, even worse than straight soap.  Mainline gels like Gillette are ok but not much better than foam.  Two brands that I use are Headblade Head Slick and Baldguyz.  I use Headblade mostly.  There is another out there that I have not tried yet but want to.  It has micro silicon beads in it and a very little goes a long way.  Keep the lubrication (gel or cream) wet for the best job.

Hope this helps.

Erik

[Bilko1]

I shave with the grain & against the grain twice & then massage a little moisturiser afterwards to make the dome shine. My wife loves the smooth feel everytime I shave & she cann't stop herself from rubbing her hands over the sly head. You will find a system that works for you, only remember to take your time & not rush.