Headblade Sport Ultimate Head Shave, 1 razor
|
List Price: Our Price: $8.34 You Save: $7.99 (49%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Health Care See more product details |
|---|
Customer Reviews of Headblade Sport Ultimate Head Shave, 1 razor
Customer Review: Very disappointing
Summary: 2 Stars
As a confirmed baldy, I am always looking for a better shaving system for the tricky curves and contours of my gleaming pate. I was very excited to find the Headblade which seemed like the perfect concept at the perfect time (when more men are shaving their heads in order to hide the fact that they have no hair). I ordered both types, the original one and the one with the tiny wheels. Alas, neither one was very good.
There are a couple of reasons for this: one is the razor the Headblade uses, the Atra. It's just not enough razor for the job, period. I use (and have been using) the Mach 3 from Gillette which I think is the best razor system ever conceived. I had been using it for face and head shaving for about 4 years when I got the Headblade (I used the first of the Mach system before the Mach 3). After cutting myself about five times (cutting your scalp is unpleasant as the bleeding never seems to stop), I got the hang of it and was able to use the Headblade as indicated on the accompanying foldout. It is very easy to use, the whole idea - using a more natural motion (akin to simply smoothing your hair back - or pushing it forward -for those with hair, that is) that doesn't require you to turn your wrist in an unnatural angle as you have to do with an ordinary razor - is a good one. However,
it doesn't shave worth a darn.
The lame Atra blades are too wimpy, and the carriage - while easy to move along (mind the front edge doesn't tip forward and peel off an inch or so of skull paving while you're at it!) - seems too light-weight and skittish in the palm of the hand. There is no swivel at the front of the carriage to allow the blade to dip left or right (there is for the forward/backward tilting, of course, most good razors have that now) as it encounters those natural swales and arroyos that the human skull possesses (and that only come to light once the hair is absent). For this, one needs a wrist. Yet, this would seem to have been one of the purposes of the Headblade to begin with: some kind of allowance for these dips and bumps that go off at right angles to the travel of the blade. Apparently not (and it would probably be even more dangerous than it already is had they included a swivel). The wimpy razor blades themselves load up on hair and shaving foam (or gel) very quickly and need constant rinsing (yes, I tried using the thinnest film of shaving gel, still a big problem: load-carrying capacity. The razors clog so fast you can barely get in one good long swipe before you're swishing it in the basin again).
With my Mach 3, I have a much more robust shaving head which is amply sensitive to the topography of the head (and neck - do NOT try shaving the back of your neck with the Headblade! Remember those rolls on the back of Sonny Liston's neck? Well, guess what...We ALL got those! Use your ordinary razor for the back of the neck, the Headblade will only carve new lanes into the ripe and unwary flesh of your nape in seconds flat. Talk about adding new - unwanted - infrastructure, I have my own Highway to Nowhere back there now!
OK. It's simple. The Headblade is a terrific idea but the execution is wanting. The plastic carriage is too squirrely and the Atra blades are a joke. If you must get one, I suggest you get the one with the tiny wheels; it makes it a lot easier to lay the weight of your hand against the back and keeps it from leaning forward and tilling the capillary-filled bone-upholstery we call our scalp.
Customer Review: Fun novelty, not the closest shave
Summary: 3 Stars
I was both hesitant and optimistic after reading the Headblade reviews on Amazon. Optimistic because there were a lot of positive reviews; hesitant because the negative reviews seemed to be written much more thoughtfully than the positive ones (several positive reviews were written by spouses of Headblade users, others were in the ballpark of 'headblade rulez').
After using a Mach 3, I decided to give the Headblade Sport a try. The novelty is a lot of fun, and appeals to the gadget-lover in me. It felt really cool to slip the little yellow race-car on my finger and start head-mowing.
If, aside from the fun factor, the most imporant things that one would want out of the Headblade are closeness of shave, time saved, and ease of use, here are my observations:
Closeness: The shave is somewhat close, but the Mach 3 most definitely shaved closer. I took the Mach 3 to my head immediately after shaving thoroughly with the Headblade, and the Mach took it noticeably closer.
Time: If you only want a good-enough shave (getting pretty close but not as close as you could, and leaving a few stubbly spots in the crevices), then you can shave your head pretty quickly with the Headblade--maybe five minutes or less with practice.
Ease: The "slicking the hair back" motion of the Headblade is fun and novel, but I'm not sure if it's really much easier than a Mach 3 (I could do long, broad strokes with a standard razor just as easily as with the Headblade). Once you account for cleaning up the crevices and tricky areas that the Headblade isn't going to get on a quick pass, it's probably not going to be any easier than using a Mach 3--in fact, you may find it to be more difficult.
I'm now using a Gillette Fusion, which is the closest shave (and least amount of irritation) that I've found for my head. If you want a really close and complete shave, you'll probably agree, and steer away from the Headblade. If, however, you're looking for a tool to give you a decent (but flawed) shave fairly quickly, then you may really like this sporty little razor.
Customer Review: Convenient and foolproof if I don't follow the instructions
Summary: 5 Stars
The Headblade works very well for me. I have fine hair and the only way that I can get any razor to take it off--rather than just slide over--is to shave in the opposite direction from the way my hair grows. So I do that with the Headblade, using the triple-blade cartridges, and I get a close shave that is practically nick-free. Simply taking this gadget and using it as instructed does not do the trick for me at all. Fortunately, I did not read the full directions before I began to use this thing but just did what I do by instinct: shave in the back from my neck up. I don't have much hair left in front or on top, so there is not much to worry about there, but it does take more than one pass for me to get every hair.
I once bought the double-blade refills and immediately started nicking myself all to pieces. Maybe I am clumsy, but for some reason the triple-blade gives me a smoother shave as well as a closer one. I also use shaving oil instead of Headblade's shaving cream and I love it for neatness and lubrication. Using oil with the Headblade and shaving in the direction that works instead of the direction they say keeps my head clean and smooth. It is important to keep pressure off the blade itself: I usually don't even rest my index finger on it but just let it shave under its own weight. The thing is balanced almost perfectly for my hair. I've had the sport model for about five years now and it is the handiest grooming tool I've yet to find. Niftier than my moustache comb!
Customer Review: I don't care what you say, this thing works!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have shaved my head off and on for the last 17 years. Sometimes just for the heck of it and sometimes for charity. Sometimes to get into a Mariners game.(Go Buhner. I know he's retired but still he's cool!)
Anyway, as for the actual shaving of my head, I've done it hundreds of times with all kinds of different razors and I have never found a product that worked as well as this does. It works best on the top of the head. With a single pass, and I go against the grain, it takes it down to baby bottom smooth! On the sides and the back it takes a little more work. I find the hair at the top of my head grows in one direction only but on the sides it grows a little from the front to the back, which makes for a challenging angle, at the nape it grows sideways, and at the point of the crown it grows in circles (cowlick!)
So I've learned to shave my head according to how my hair grows and this works just fine. Better than fine, it's excellent and better than any face razor I've ever used on my head. Way better than Bic, far better than Schick, and even better than battery powered Gillette Proglide Fusion. I've used them all, and I like my face so I don't buy the cheap stuff. The Headblade with the push design does better than all of them. One caveat is that I do use their triple blade and the headblade sport. I've not tried their double blade.
Anyway, I don't work for Headblade, and their products aren't that cheap, but they do work and very well!
Customer Review: Quick but has drawbacks...
Summary: 2 Stars
Their is no doubt that the Head Blade could be a great product. 2 things need to happen to make this happen.
1. The company needs to update to modern blades.
2. Change the design for easier clean out.
The head Blade will give you a quick, uniform shave if you follow the instructions and take your time. However most any modern "stick" will give you a closer shave. I shave my head daily and have done so for over 10 years. I demand a skin close shave and the head Blade cannot deliver this type of shave. If our hair only grew in 2 directions like the company would like you to believe then the product would be fine as is.
As we all know...this is not the case. In order to get your dome "skin tight" you must shave against the grain. For me this means nape to crown, forehead to crown, and then sides up to crown. 4 directions...not 2. The head Blade simply is NOT designed for that type of ultra close shave. It's a time saver if you want a sloppy shave but it actually will cost you time if you want the best shave possible due to sheer awkwardness and all the touching up you have to do.
It is my opinion that the Head Blade company is in business to sell their gels, oils, scrubs, etc...The "space age" Head Blade is just the means to do so.
If quick and dirty is your goal, get a head blade. If you prefer a precise skin tight shave then stick to the modern 3/4/5 blade traditional units on the market.