How to Shave Your Head Smooth (and Maintain the Hardcore Style)
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There are numerous reasons and benefits to why a man would opt to shave their head. They might be chasing fashion, doing it as a lifestyle choice, experimenting, or masking their baldness. According to research conducted, women consider bald men stronger, taller, balder, hotter, and more authoritative than men with a head full of hair. With such thoughts, why not go bald?
Unfortunately, deciding to shave your head is the easiest part. Shaving your head smooth is one of the toughest processes for a newbie. It’s hard enough to shave your face, let alone spots you cannot see on your head. It requires some time, experience, and patience to pull it off. With some guidance from this piece, you’ll have an easy time as you shave your head smoothly.
But first, before we go into the “how to shave your head smooth steps”, it’s important we answer one question:
Should I Shave my Head?
First of all: Should you shave your head? For most guys, the answer is automatic since you want to cover up the receding hairlines. But if it’s purely about changing your look, you might have to consider a couple of things. The last thing you want is to look like a clown.
Before you run a razor across your head, consider the following:
- Allergies
- Sunburn
- Hair type
- Head shape
- Breakouts
- Dandruff
- Razor burns
- Razor bumps
Preparation for Shaving Your Head
Before reaching for a men’s razor or a shaver, ensure your hair is of workable length (it should be stubble). Hair longer than a couple of millimeters will only clog your razor and cause painful pull and drag when you shave. If your hair is longer than stubble, you should use a set of the best balding clippers for head shaving first to reduce it to a manageable length (less than half an inch).
With the best electric clipper, you should get your hair to 0.5mm in length. This is the perfect starting point for a close, clean and smooth shave.
It helps if the electric shaver has the following features:
- A dual cutting blade that allows multi-directional hair cutting
- An ergonomic handle designed to fit in your palm for ease of use even when shaving the back of your head
- A 180 rotating head that provides complete control over the clipping angle.
Head Shaving Tools
Picking the right tools is essential because you’ll use them often to maintain your bald look. Like with everything else in life, the tool you pick is all about personal preference. However, whichever you pick, remember the goal is to shave slowly and work methodically. Working slowly and following a pattern will increase your chances of success than jumping all over the place with an electric shaver.
The tools you’ll need include:
Clippers
A hair clipper is designed to crop rather than balding. However, we should point out that there are a couple of clippers in the industry that remove hair closer to the scalp. If you are looking for the best hair clipper, the Wahl brand is a great place to start.
Electric shavers
These are a little more convenient, safer, and comfortable to use than a head razor. Although some men insist they do not achieve the closest shave, with a little bit of prepping, informed decision, and the best electric shaver in hand, you’ll get a great performance.
We should point out that shaving your head is different from shaving your face. Not only is the size and shape different, but the texture of the hair is different. Also, with head shaving, you don’t get to see what you are doing. You’ll be forced to awkwardly reach to the sides and back of your head for an even shaved look (you can use a hand mirror to see these spots better).
With these differences in mind, picking the best head shaver will ensure you cover a large surface area fast, be comfortable as you shave your head, feel your progress along the way and conform to the contours of your head for a closer and even bald finish. Many electric shavers are used for head shaving, even if they aren’t specifically designed for such. Therefore you don’t have to throw away your current shaver or look for one that can conform to your head’s shape. Though if you have the money, you can spoil yourself.
Like it is with face shaving tools, the choice of the rotary or foil you pick depends on your personal choice. For a great head shave, you want to focus on technical specs and capability more than anything else. However, this doesn’t mean going for the most expensive shaver in the market. Generally, a mid-range Phillips or Panasonic electric shaver will do the trick.
Wet Shaving (Shaving Cream/ Gel)
If you prefer using a cartridge or maybe one of the best disposable razors for men instead of a double-edged safety razor (or if you are hardcore – go for cutthroat razors) then you should choose one with a flexible head, and that has three or five blades. Such a cartridge razor will get you sufficiently close to your results.
The more blades a cartridge razor has, the less one needs to go over a spot. In turn, this reduces the chances of getting irritations. The flexible head moves and flexes according to the contours of your head. Like you would do when shaving your face, always use a sharp blade and follow a strict pre-shaving routine.
We recommend starting jumping in the shower or using a cloth dampened with warm water. This will help open the pores and soften the hair in readiness for the shave. Also, use the best pre-shave oil on the market to achieve a protective layer between the skin and the blades. This helps the razor to glide evenly and smoothly and keeps your skin moisturized and hydrated at all times.
If you have sensitive skin or are susceptible to razor burns, you should use a quality traditional shaving cream or the best shaving creams for head shaving, or a shaving gel for extra protection and added comfort. When using gel or shaving cream, you should warm it in your palm and apply it evenly to your scalp.
You must shave with the grain (just like you would when shaving your face). This reduces the drag and helps prevent getting ingrown hairs. The skin on your head is naturally taut. But even then, you should pull it a little tighter, especially around your ears and at the back of your neck. This prevents unnecessary creases and grooves as you work to get a closer shave.
Once you have finished, rinse your head with cool water to close the pores and get rid of the shaving cream left. Also, pat your skin dry with a clean and soft towel. If you’ve nicked yourself, treat it with an alum block. But if it’s a cut, a styptic pen will work better to stop the bleeding.
Finish off with alcohol-free aftershave cream or balm to condition and rehydrate your skin. As it is with all forms of shaving, there are times you’ll experience some slight irritation post-shave. This is normal, and it shows that you made a little too many strokes over your scalp. Alternatively, it could mean you applied too much pressure to the top of your head – so go a little easier next time.
How Often Should you Shave Your Head?
The frequency of shaving your head will depend on how fast your hair grows and if you are fine with having stubble on your scalp. Unless you don’t like having stubble, we don’t recommend shaving more than every two or three days. The more times you shave your head, the higher the chances of experiencing skin irritation.
How to Shine Your Shaved Head
The shine is crucial to your look. Below is what you need to achieve a good shine.
Use Oil on Your Scalp
Oils are the easiest way of giving your scalp a shine. You can use beard oil or baby oil. If you want to have the best look, go for jojoba oil. When oiling your head, remember a small amount goes a long way. A dime size should work wonders. Spread it evenly and rub it thoroughly into your scalp.
Use Wax on Your Head
This is an alternative to oils. There are over 73 billion options. Shop for the best and one that appeals most to you. Follow the instructions that come with your wax.
How to Maintain a Shaved Head
Shaving off the hair is the first step. Congratulations on doing great on that. Now you have to maintain your new hardcore style. No one wants to see a gross scalp. Fortunately, taking care of yourself isn’t difficult.
Bald Head Shampoo
A shaved head needs to be washed. Despite being exposed to the weather elements, the skin on your head doesn’t respond to soaps in the same way that skin in other body parts does. It’s not enough to run a bar soap over your head. You want something to moisturize and break down the oils. A small amount of shampoo will go a long way.
Moisturize Your Scalp
Unfortunately, moisturizing shampoo isn’t enough. You need to moisturize your scalp as well. Contrary to popular belief, shaving your head doesn’t protect you from dandruff. You’ll need to lotion your head regularly. Some moisturizing sunblock will go a long way too.
Prevent Sun Damage
This is probably the most important tip to learn. Hair protects your head from the sun. And now that it’s done, you’ll need products to protect it. You can start with a hat collection and sunblock with an SPF of 30+. Sun blocking helps to keep your skin healthy and even gives it some shine.
How to Shave Your Head Smooth Parting Words
There you have it – a quick guide on how to shave your head smooth (and maintain it). If you are ready to take the plunge, go for it. Just remember to invest in hats and sunblock to get the best experience from your new look.