I have finally committed some time to getting comfortable with a DE on my head. Around November I added a Merkur 39C slant to my razor collection. I also let the head shave go for a while. I decided in March to go back to clean but was only shaving every 3rd day or so which let's my hair get kind of long-for a cartridge. One weekend morning, I decided to try the 39C on my head rather than clippers then multiple passes with my headblade to get it really clean. While I have tried other DE combinations before with moderate success, I have never found it to be as easy or as close as I got with the 39c. I am now giving myself time to use the 39c every time I shave my head. I still do a quick cleanup pass with the headblade but am getting much better with the DE. Just like with my face it just took some practice, I guess. I have found that the 39c shave feels closer after 2 day growth than the HB did after just 1.
Excited to be almost fully committed to the DE shaving and moving away from cartridges. I can comfortably get 4 face shaves and 2 head shaves from a single feather blade. As I said, I still do a little cleanup with the HB but the blade I have been using has lasted a 3 weeks with no catch because it is doing so little.
Daily routine is hot shower with Dove face scrub on the head and face.
Lather with Proraso and tweezerman brush
Shave with Merkur 39c with Feather blade
Alum Bloc
Clubman Aftershave
Olay complete to finish.
Sometimes I will add a preshave oil, but don't notice much difference. I also sometimes add ice before the Olay to soothe, close and tighten pores. Nothing I use is expensive but it all adds to better all around shave. As my son approaches his teen years, I am already planning how to introduce him to shaving properly instead of with the canned crap and cheap disposable I started with.
The HB will probably always get some use, but I now greatly prefer the slant and as I continue to use it regularly, I get faster, more comfortable and more efficient.