diff --git a/lib/httparty.rb b/lib/httparty.rb
index 2ea6b3c..5a7b5f3 100644
--- a/lib/httparty.rb
+++ b/lib/httparty.rb
@@ -268,7 +268,9 @@ module HTTParty
     end
 
     # Declare that you wish to maintain the chosen HTTP method across redirects.
-    # The default behavior is to follow redirects via the GET method.
+    # The default behavior is to follow redirects via the GET method, except
+    # if you are making a HEAD request, in which case the default is to
+    # follow all redirects with HEAD requests.
     # If you wish to maintain the original method, you can set this option to true.
     #
     # @example
@@ -517,6 +519,7 @@ module HTTParty
 
     # Perform a HEAD request to a path
     def head(path, options = {}, &block)
+      ensure_method_maintained_across_redirects options
       perform_request Net::HTTP::Head, path, options, &block
     end
 
@@ -529,6 +532,12 @@ module HTTParty
 
     private
 
+    def ensure_method_maintained_across_redirects(options)
+      unless options.has_key? :maintain_method_across_redirects
+        options[:maintain_method_across_redirects] = true
+      end
+    end
+
     def perform_request(http_method, path, options, &block) #:nodoc:
       options = ModuleInheritableAttributes.hash_deep_dup(default_options).merge(options)
       process_headers(options)
diff --git a/spec/httparty_spec.rb b/spec/httparty_spec.rb
index 23574fb..63edc7c 100644
--- a/spec/httparty_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/httparty_spec.rb
@@ -588,6 +588,33 @@ RSpec.describe HTTParty do
     end
   end
 
+  describe "head requests should follow redirects requesting HEAD only" do
+    before do
+      allow(HTTParty::Request).to receive(:new).
+        and_return(double("mock response", perform: nil))
+    end
+
+    it "should remain HEAD request across redirects, unless specified otherwise" do
+      expect(@klass).to receive(:ensure_method_maintained_across_redirects).with({})
+      @klass.head('/foo')
+    end
+
+  end
+
+  describe "#ensure_method_maintained_across_redirects" do
+    it "should set maintain_method_across_redirects option if unspecified" do
+      options = {}
+      @klass.send(:ensure_method_maintained_across_redirects, options)
+      expect(options[:maintain_method_across_redirects]).to be_truthy
+    end
+
+    it "should not set maintain_method_across_redirects option if value is present" do
+      options = { maintain_method_across_redirects: false }
+      @klass.send(:ensure_method_maintained_across_redirects, options)
+      expect(options[:maintain_method_across_redirects]).to be_falsey
+    end
+  end
+
   describe "with multiple class definitions" do
     before(:each) do
       @klass.instance_eval do