Shaving your head – Tips for the beginner

Shaving their heads is an art, a perfect bald man committed to years of figuring out what works for them. But for your first time shaving your head, a few simple guidelines will help your first shave go smoothly.

Shaving their heads, for some, is a scenario they have mentally gone through many times before taking a razor to their scalps. For others, their first head shave is impulsive and impromptu. I must say that my first head shave was a bit of both. I had the benefit of some knowledge of head shaving technique, but basically had to figure it out for myself. A good beginner’s guide on how to shave your head sure would have been nice. In that spirit, here’s a pretty comprehensive rundown of the basics, from someone who’s been bald by choice for 17 years.

Be careful

One of the mistakes people often make when shaving their heads for the first time is forgetting that a previously unshaven scalp is very sensitive.

It’s understandable to want a perfectly smooth head right away. I know I did it the first time. Bald means smooth, and you want to be bald. But this can cause the inexperienced head shaver to shave the same areas repeatedly from multiple angles, putting too much pressure on the scalp and often continuing after the shaving cream has stopped offering lubrication and is starting to get sticky. The result can be cuts, irritation, and ingrown hairs that mar your beautiful bald head the next day. Not good.

Clean your scalp and lather well

The first thing to keep in mind is a clean scalp, free of dirt, excess oil, etc. If you’re shaving your head for the first time and don’t have a friend who’s handy with a razor, I’m guessing you’ve cut your hair down to your scalp and are now covered in hair clippings. Before continuing, wash your head with soap and water. Better yet, take a shower. If this isn’t practical in your particular circumstances, at least wipe your head with a warm cloth.

Your next concern is good lubrication. There are many good products out there, some specifically for shaving your head. Some commercial shaving creams are better than others. If you opt for canned shaving cream, I recommend purchasing a moisturizing shaving gel specifically for sensitive skin. I prefer the Aveeno shaving gel, with colloidal oatmeal.

Canned shaving cream should still be used with a shaving brush. Put a generous amount of gel on your head, moisten the brush and apply the shaving cream to your scalp in a firm circular motion, like brushing your teeth. Work your way around your head, washing the brush from time to time. Don’t be in too much of a hurry. Lathering up is an important step and can be fun too.

Myself, I haven’t used shaving cream in years. I think a good bar soap (natural handmade soap, not your typical Irish Spring or Zest) does a great job. Some types of hand lotions are nice, as are sugar scrubs made with natural oils. I personally like to use a sugar scrub, which exfoliates and leaves a light layer of oil that I lather on. I’ll go into scrubs in more detail in a future post.

use a good knife

Now that you’re lathered up, get yourself a razor with a new blade. Always use a new blade on virgin scalp. I can’t stress that enough. You’ll be experiencing a bald head for the first time, so don’t turn it into a red, sore, itchy head.

I have tried just about every popular razor and in my opinion the best one for shaving your head is the Gillette Mach 3. There are cheaper razors, there are fancier ones, and there are others made specifically for head shaving. but of all the options, the Mach 3 is the best head shaver out there. Its design allows foam and hair to pass through, requiring less rinsing and, unless the hair being shaved is longer than an eighth of an inch, it’s virtually clog-proof. And it also seems to give the most comfortable head shaves per blade of any other razor I’ve tried. A blade can last me two or three weeks, and still give a good shave when its indicator strip has not only changed color, but has almost completely worn away in the middle. But I am a head shaver of almost 20 years. For a beginner I would recommend changing razor blades much more often. If the razor seems to pull or drag or feels uncomfortable on the scalp, change the blade. As your scalp gets rougher and you become more experienced with shaving your head, you will find out what works for you.

Direction of hair growth.

There is some debate about shaving for or against the grain. If you want a smooth head, you have to shave against the grain. However, I don’t recommend shaving the back of your neck against the grain, at least not at first. Anything above the ears is generally fine, but being a little too keen on the first shave can cause a neck disaster. It may not be obvious at first, but the next day it will look like a pepperoni pizza.

What I recommend for a first time shaver is a simple front to back shaving motion. Start at the forehead and shave towards the back of the neck in nice, smooth strokes, trying not to go over the same spot more than a couple of times. You will get nice and soft top and sides. The back will feel rough if you stroke it up with your hand, but it will still be quite smooth in the other direction. Do it this way for a week or two, and then you can try angling the strokes slightly along the grain. After a while, your scalp will get used to shaving and you can go against the grain at the back.

Never forget that if your head starts to get dry or sticky while shaving, put on a little more foam, or at least moisten it a bit, so that the razor glides smoothly. This is also a good time to wet a couple of fingers and move them in small circles over your scalp. You’ll feel any spots you haven’t straightened and you’ll know which way the hair is growing. There will be areas that require shaving in more than one direction. The crown is particularly tricky, but care also needs to be taken around the hairline, behind the ears, and where the sides meet the top of the head. Feel while you shave. It will make the job easier and prevent the foam from drying out. For the sake of cleanliness and moisture maintenance, you may want to try shaving your head in the shower.

Care and maintenance

When it comes to caring for your shaved head, I’ve never been one for creams or lotions, but you’ll want to avoid drying out your scalp. An oily scalp is more likely to be a concern, as your bald scalp continues to produce oil for a head of hair that isn’t there. All you need is an occasional cleaning with a cleansing wipe or pad in addition to your daily shower.

The time of day makes a difference. The most convenient time to shave your head is probably in the morning, but it comes at a small price. Your scalp swells very slightly while sleeping flat and then shrinks again after you get up. That means your smooth morning shave won’t stay smooth for long. If you get up for a while before shaving, the swelling will have a chance to go down and you’ll be able to shave closer. Evening is a great time to shave as you get a very close shave and it actually feels great to go to bed with a fresh shaven head. But night is usually not the time for a daily shave, as it won’t be fresh for the next day.

However, sometimes it’s a good idea to shave a second time at night if you’re going out, just to freshen up your head and get rid of that five o’clock shadow.

As for how often to shave your head, that’s totally up to you. Personally, I’m so used to being bald that I don’t feel clean if I grow a beard, so I like to shave my head every day. Some people go for a few days because their scalp is irritated. I used to, but in my experience, daily head shaving actually conditions the scalp better in the long run and keeps it cleaner, thus preventing breakouts. Skipping days actually seems to increase my chances of skin irritation, itchiness, or acne.

try it for a while

The other deciding factor for me is that I see myself as a bald man, and that’s how I want to be seen. For me, the occasional beard detracts from my baldness. It’s a reminder that the potential for hair still exists there.

In the end, you can ask ten head shavers for advice and get ten different answers. Shaving your head is a very personal thing, and if you commit to keeping a bald head, you’ll experiment a bit, which is really the only way to determine what works for you. But I hope I’ve given you a place to start.

And to digress for a moment from the practicalities of being bald by choice, there is a psychological and emotional aspect that should not be ignored. Emotionally, that first shave and the knowledge that you really are bald is an intense emotion, but it can also be accompanied by initial doubts or regrets, as well as a significant amount of self-consciousness. You may feel good, but you may also feel like the whole world is watching you. For the most part, they are not, and that feeling will pass with time. If you decide to shave your head, commit to keeping your head bald for at least a month. You’ll be much more comfortable with your baldness by now, your scalp will be used to shaving, and that pale, never-shaven skin tone will have evened out to match your face. And even if you’re tempted, don’t cover your head with hats unless you need protection from the sun (and you will). Constantly wearing hats will only trap dirt and oil next to the most acne-prone parts of your scalp. And besides, what’s the point of being bald if people can’t see your bald head?

By the way, after 17 years, baldness may feel more comfortable and natural to me, but arriving at any time of day and feeling my scalp smoothly shaven is still a high.

Happy head shave.