What You Actually Need to Know Before You Start
The Microtouch Titanium Head Shaver is a foil shaver meant for close, smooth finishes on the scalp. It uses a thin titanium-coated foil membrane over oscillating blades. The titanium coating is supposed to reduce friction and last longer than bare steel foils. In practice, that means less tugging on coarse or curly hair types, but it doesn't change the fundamental mechanics of how a foil shaver works. Here's the part most people skip. This isn't a rotary shaver. You don't use circular motions. You use short, back-and-forth strokes against the grain first, then with the grain for the final pass. Rotate your head, not the shaver. The foil needs consistent pressure across its entire surface, and if you're angling it like you're using a razor blade, you'll miss spots and irritate skin. I ran into a specific issue recently with a customer who kept getting ingrown hairs right along the occipital ridge. Turns out he was pressing too hard on the second pass. The Microtouch doesn't need downward force. It glides. Once I told him to just let the weight of the unit do the work and go slower, the ingrows stopped completely. That's the kind of thing you only figure out after a few bad shaves.
Microtouch Titanium Head Shaver Manual
Getting Started Charge the unit before first use. The battery needs a full cycle. Plug it in and leave it for about 8 hours even if the indicator light suggests it's ready sooner. Lithium-ion cells settle into their actual capacity after a couple of proper charge cycles. Skip this and you'll be working with about 60 percent of the runtime you'd get otherwise. Wash and dry your scalp thoroughly before shaving. Any moisture left on the skin changes how the foil glides. It sounds minor but it's the difference between a clean pass and pulling at hairs halfway through. Use a pre-shave solution if your skin is sensitive. The Microtouch works fine on dry skin, but a quality pre-shave liquid creates a protective barrier that reduces post-shave redness significantly.
Shaving Technique Start against the grain on the top of your head. Move slowly. Don't rush. Each stroke should cover about half the width of the foil head. Overlap your strokes by roughly a third as you move across. The pattern matters more than speed. People who go fast tend to miss patches near the crown and behind the ears where the scalp curves. For the sides and back, you'll need to use a mirror or have someone help you. The Microtouch has a pivoting head that helps it conform to curves, but it still can't reach every angle on the back of your head without some maneuvering. Tilt your head forward and side to side while holding the shaver at different angles. Take your time with the nape area. That's where most people get a uneven finish.
Get the Full Details
The second pass goes with the grain. This is where you pick up the short hairs the first pass missed. If you're happy with a very close finish, do a third pass diagonally across the grain. Some people skip this step and it's fine. Your results will vary depending on hair coarseness and growth patterns. Cleaning and Maintenance Tap the shaver head over a sink after each use to remove loose hairs. Then use the small brush that comes with the unit to sweep out the foil screen. Do this weekly with a drop of mineral oil on the foil if you shave regularly. A drop is all you need. More oil than that just attracts lint and dust from the air, which clogs the foil faster.
Replace the foil and cutter block every 12 to 18 months with regular use. If you're shaving daily, closer to 12 months. The titanium coating wears down eventually. When you start feeling tug or notice the shave isn't as close, it's time. Don't try to stretch it past that point. A dull foil causes more irritation than a sharp one ever would, and you'll spend more time going over the same spot trying to get a clean result. Common Problems Battery degradation is the main long-term issue. After about two years of regular use, you'll notice the runtime dropping. The Microtouch doesn't have a replaceable battery in most models, so when the charge life gets to under 20 minutes, replacement of the entire unit is usually the call. There's no workaround for that.
Skin irritation is another frequent complaint. If you're prone to razor bumps or pseudofolliculitis barbae, the Microtouch can actually help because it cuts above the skin surface rather than scraping below it like a blade. But if you press too hard or shave too aggressively, you'll create the same inflammation regardless of the tool. Light pressure and fewer passes is the answer, not switching products.
Download and Support
The official Microtouch Titanium Head Shaver Manual is available on the Parry Manufacturing website. You can find it under the support or downloads section. If the link has moved, search for "Microtouch manual PDF" and look for a site ending in parryco.com. That's the manufacturer. Anything else is probably a third-party upload that may be outdated or incomplete. For troubleshooting beyond what the manual covers, Parry offers customer support through their website contact form. Response times vary but are usually within a couple business days. They're not overly responsive on phone, so writing out your issue clearly with the model number and what you've already tried will save everyone time. If you're considering buying this shaver used, check the condition of the foil screen carefully. A micro-tear in the foil will pull hairs and can cause nicks. There's no way to repair a torn foil. You have to replace the entire head assembly, which means sourcing a replacement part. Make sure the seller includes one if the original is worn.
