New Sly Guy intro and some questions

[Slyguylou]

Hello, folks,

FNG here with an intro and some questions as well.

This is gonna be a long post, so I don't blame ya if you just move on... but I'm hoping you won't.

Questions in bold.

I'm a 51 year old sort of new'ish sly guy.  I've had "spartan" coverage since I went into the Army at 21, (kept a high and tight throughout), then once I left the Army I kept it a buzz cut.

Started with about 3 mm maybe?  Eventually over the years took it down to I think 1 mm... then for the past 3 years I've used the Wahl Balding trimmer with a 6x 0 blade.

Just this Christmas; 2018, I got myself a HeadBlade ATX and decided to "take the plunge."

I gotta say, after using the HeadBlade ATX for 3 days I'm pretty disappointed.  I can't seem to get that BBS feel that I'm wanting.   I looked sly to the eye... but not to the hand.  I've since read that it's not really made for that, it's more made for ease of use and less chance of irritation.  Any truth to that?  Are any of you who use it able to get BBS shaves?  I keep having to touch it up with my 4 blade Bic razor.

That's even using the Headshed exfoliant first, and Headslick... still no BBS

Reading more here, having found this site seeking advice on how best to do things, I picked up a Gillette Fusion Power, (meh <shrugs> I'm a gadget guy so anything that's a gadget... like a vibrating razor blade, intrigues me, LOL).

Now THIS gets me BBS !!!  Does the HeadBlade really not work well for BBS quality shaves... or do I need more practice with it?  Even if that's the case, I wonder, why bother, since I'm LOVING the save quality that I'm getting with the Fusion, (I just actually find the HeadBlade easier to use frankly).

I have some minutia detail questions regarding my routine that hopefully folks here can help with, (I tried searching and couldn't find the specific answers).

I do this every morning so far for 5 days now.

1) Fill a cup up with cold water, and soak a washcloth in cold water, and bring into shower.

2) Run shower as hot as I can stand.

3) Soak my head for a few minutes to wake up and get that stubble nice and fluffy with water and open the ol' pores.

4) Headshed my scalp and face where I shave, (I have a goatee now but thinking about the full beard/bald head look).

5) Rinse out the Headshed and hopefully gunk and grime it's removed.

6) Headslick my scalp and face where I shave.

7) Brush my teeth allowing Headslick to set for a bit.  <-- I've read that you should let this set, but every video I see they go straight from applying it to shaving... which is correct?

8 ) Shave my face.

9) Shave my head, (by this time the Headslick appears to have dried up, so I start rubbing around again, and it gets all lathered up again... so again, should I not let it set a bit?)  So far this is taking me about 10 minutes, give or take, to get a BBS feel.  I'll keep the slick going, (I find there's enough on my head that if I rub my hand around my head again, it lathers up a bit again), and I keep doing this and searching for some sandpaper to shave down.  Once I'm happy with the feel, I rinse my head under the shower, feel around for more rough patches, find a few, shave them down, rinse again... then I'm happy.

10) I then use the cold water in the cup and washcloth to rinse my head again and wipe it down; the idea being to close the pores?.  <-- Should I not rinse at all in step 9 above with the hot shower water, and just rinse with cold water?

11) Get out of shower and towel off, patting my head dry not rubbing <-- Uh... why pat and not rub?  Never could find this answer.

12) Once dry I tend to find some more rough patches and go over them again with the razor.  Wonder why I didn't feel these until after I've been out of the shower for about 5/10 min?

13) Blot my razor blades dry with a towel and put them in some baby oil.

14) Rub in some HeadClear aftershave.  I don't mind the sting, but keep reading about how alcohol based aftershaves are bad for the skin long term, (in all my years of face shaving since 15 years old, I've NEVER used aftershave and know next to nothing about it.  Had I known more, I may not have had some of the acne issues I did... I've since learned this here in head care, so I've passed the info on to my son as well).  Any better alternatives?

15) Get dressed and finish up getting ready for my day, then add the Headlube, (matte as of now).  I'm not using much but the more I rub it in, the more pronounced and white it shows.  I've sort of been dabbing some off with a bit of toilet paper.  Am I using too much?  I really don't put much on, a "Pump's worth," since I bought the pumps for the lotions.  Maybe not rub it in as much?  Or will it soak in by the time I get to work, (about 45 minutes after I apply it)?

I don't know if it's the fact that I've been keeping my head close to shaved for years, being 51 having lived in FL for 25 years, or what... but my skin/head seem to be pretty tough.  I've had no irritation... so far... using the Headshed each day, or going over my head repeatedly with the razor even after my head is dry, (step 12 above).  I've never nicked my head so far either, (knock wood), maybe I'm lucky or it will catch up to me... we'll find out.

So... that's me and my routine.  Any thoughts, suggestions, answers to the questions?

I'm getting totally obsessed with the sly BBS feel.  I've been off most of the days I've been shaving the head, (today was the first day I shaved... day 5 of shaving... that I had to go to work), and during the day whenever I feel some patch I didn't notice before... or has obviously simply grown back... I've been taking the razor to it until it's BBS again, LOL.  Hello, my name is Lou, and I've become a BBS junkie... they say the first step to recovery is admitting that you have a problem, LOL.

Thanks all for the help you've already provided me from all your posting here, and to any help you can provide with this post.

I look forward to being a part of the Sly community.

Take care,
Lou

[slybeard]

I was never able to get BBS with the Head Blade as well.  I do much better with the regular multi-blade cartridge razors.  I like the Fusion as well, but I am a cheap guy, so I use the Fusion knock-off that Wal-Mart sells for about half the price and find it works just as well.  But a lot of guys do get a good shave with HB and say it takes some practice.  I shave in the shower as well, but I take a much simpler approach.  I shower first to give my head plenty of time in the hot water and steam, then apply shave cream and go to work.  Rinse well in the shower and that is it.  No other products.  I shave daily or every other day.

Also, we all have difficult areas that are hard to get smooth.  For me, it is just behind and above my ears where my skull bone protrudes a bit.  I just do the best I can with a few passes and stop, otherwise I will get razor burn.

[Magoo]

You are making to much of a simple head shave , especially since you say you are thin on top already. You can easily get to be OCD with shaving . I personally just wet my head warm water , less than a minute, apply some cream or soap , then shave with Barbasol 2 blade disposable. Then some witch hazel . If I miss a few spots, I hit it with an electric razor. Is it perfectly BBS ?  No but plenty good enough. No matter how smooth you get it , in a few hours it no longer will be. The Head Blade you mentioned, some love it , other do not.

[Slyguylou]

Thank you both.

For me it may be the newness of it all and the novelty... which like many things may wear off in due time, LOL.

My whole shower routine probably sounds more time intensive than it really is.  I've clocked it and the shortest time was 19 minutes and longest 22 minutes... so call it 20 minutes.

That includes soak time, head and face shave, teeth brushing, (yes I do this in the shower... long held over habit from my Army days), and washing entirely, (and with my voluminous size... that's no small task believe me, LOL).

So, it's not like the head shaving routine is really adding all that much time to be honest... maybe another 10 minutes.  Frankly, it's not adding any time at all really since I was just soaking under the spray for most of the time before I started head shaving.

I'm sure in time the OCD thing will wear off, but other than the obsessing over the BBS quality... the rest of the routine, (Headshed, etc etc), I find relaxing and enjoyable... helps wake me up too... especially that sting from the Headclear aftershave.

Appreciate it, and glad to meet ya.

Take care,
Lou

[chrisphilly123]

I was never able to get BBS with the Head Blade as well.  I do much better with the regular multi-blade cartridge razors.  I like the Fusion as well, but I am a cheap guy, so I use the Fusion knock-off that Wal-Mart sells for about half the price and find it works just as well.  But a lot of guys do get a good shave with HB and say it takes some practice.  I shave in the shower as well, but I take a much simpler approach.  I shower first to give my head plenty of time in the hot water and steam, then apply shave cream and go to work.  Rinse well in the shower and that is it.  No other products.  I shave daily or every other day.

Also, we all have difficult areas that are hard to get smooth.  For me, it is just behind and above my ears where my skull bone protrudes a bit.  I just do the best I can with a few passes and stop, otherwise I will get razor burn.

I've seen the adds for the Head Blade and I'm tempted to try it. That said, my regular Gillette has been working for years. If I knew a new product could reduce my daily 10 mins shave to less time, I might consider it. Otherwise, the less clutter the better: bathroom and garage and kitchen.

[reddog]

Hi Lou! Yes, it's easy to become obsessed with getting a BBS head. I shave daily because I don't like stubble. The closest I've come to perfectly smooth is to not shave for 2 or 3 days, and use a fresh razor. The Headblade didn't work for me.

Enjoy sporting a bald head! It's pretty easy to get hooked on having a smooth, great looking dome.

[Laser Man]

I used a HeadBlade when I first started shaving, but found I got a better shave and had more control with a Gillette Fusion, so after about three months with the HeadBlade, I switched to the Fusion and haven't gone back.

Regarding your other questions, here a few answers:

1) you don't need to use HeadShed every day - a couple times a week is fine.
2) give yourself a little time to get used to shaving.  BBS is hard at first, but after a while you'll get really close on a regular basis.
3) the cold water rinse closes the pores and helps give a nice shine.
4) you can rub your head with a towel to dry it.  Patting is not mandatory!
5) you don't need to use ClearHead every day, especially if you are not experiencing any razor burn.
6) I stopped using HeadLube because it made my scalp feel greasy and sticky, especially in warm weather.  If I use anything, It's Nivea Aftershave Balm.  It contains no alcohol and leaves no greasy feel.

[chrisphilly123]

Hi Lou! Yes, it's easy to become obsessed with getting a BBS head. I shave daily because I don't like stubble. The closest I've come to perfectly smooth is to not shave for 2 or 3 days, and use a fresh razor. The <a href='http://bit.ly/headbladesbg'>HeadBlade[/url] didn't work for me.

Enjoy sporting a bald head! It's pretty easy to get hooked on having a smooth, great looking dome.

good word, 'hooked.'  i didn't think it was possible, but the older I get, the more I embrace and am hooked myself. I say that because when i was early 20s I think some people would think a guy my age with no hair was the exception. Now, late 30s, it's almost a right of passage.

[Slyguylou]

I used a <a href='http://bit.ly/headbladesbg'>HeadBlade[/url] when I first started shaving, but found I got a better shave and had more control with a <a href='http://bit.ly/gilletteblades'>Gillette[/url] Fusion, so after about three months with the <a href='http://bit.ly/headbladesbg'>HeadBlade[/url], I switched to the Fusion and haven't gone back.

Regarding your other questions, here a few answers:

1) you don't need to use HeadShed every day - a couple times a week is fine.
2) give yourself a little time to get used to shaving.  BBS is hard at first, but after a while you'll get really close on a regular basis.
3) the cold water rinse closes the pores and helps give a nice shine.
4) you can rub your head with a towel to dry it.  Patting is not mandatory!
5) you don't need to use ClearHead every day, especially if you are not experiencing any razor burn.
6) I stopped using HeadLube because it made my scalp feel greasy and sticky, especially in warm weather.  If I use anything, It's Nivea Aftershave Balm.  It contains no alcohol and leaves no greasy feel.

Thank you all so far for the welcome.

LaserMan, thank you for your point on point answers.

As I mentioned above, I'm sure some of this newness and novelty will wear off and I'll cull my routine, but for now, I enjoy all of it.  Again, except my OCD on BBS.

I'm a perfectionist who is himself so far from Perfect that it would take the light from Perfect a few million years to reach me    This causes me much agita at times.

As for the HeadShed... gotta say... been using it each morning for 5 days so far and I simply love the feel of it... sorta like a massage on the ol' bean.

I've read some folks find it irritates their skin if used too often, but so far, that hasn't been the case for me, nor any nicks/cuts either.

My Dr, nurses, any phlebotomist... anyone who may be stabbing me with a needle, ALWAYS comment on how tough my skin is and how difficult it is to get a needle in me... I wonder if that "skin toughness" translates to my head too and is why I've... thus far... never cut myself shaving either my face or head, and why the daily HeadShed isn't bothering me.  Nor is going over my dry head obsessively with a razor bothering me.  I've even been using toilet paper to check for blood... so far so good... blood is staying on the inside where it belongs.

<shrugs> Who knows?

Glad to hear I can go back to rubbing head to dry it... patting is annoying 

I guess the jury is still out on HeadLube... again, not sure if I'm using too much, or if it's supposed to be a bit white but will fade/soak in and not be white... like an overabundance of sunscreen.

Take care,
Lou

[Tyler]

@Slyguylou welcome to SBG!

Use the razor that works best for you. There's no need to let the HeadSlick settle in. Just lather a bit on and shave.

[DoberDaddy]

I tried the head blade when it first came out, the blades were crap.

I used a Mach III, the vibrating one, and soap, that's it. I do it in the shower, and my head is as smooth as a bowling ball.

[Quiet_Dan]

I'm a Mach3 user also, and that works great for me, I just use a little body wash in the shower and follow it with my hand to check for smoothness