Shave Your Head

Shaving your head is a sharp, stylish way to cut back on daily grooming annoyances like shampooing, conditioning and styling. Shaved heads are an attractive alternative for people who are balding or just want to add an edge to their look. Learn how to prepare your head for shaving, shave it clean and maintain your shaved look.

Steps

Preparing to Shave your Head

  1. Buy supplies. If possible, invest in high quality shaving supplies. Good supplies will result in a closer shave and fewer nicks and scratches. You'll be saving money on shampoo and conditioner, so make up for it with the following items:
    • Electric clippers. You'll use clippers to trim your hair to the shortest length possible before shaving with a razor. Good clippers can save you a lot of time, and they make shaving with a razor more effective.
    • A razor. Buy a high quality razor for this purpose; a cheap one could leave you with a lot of nicks if you aren't careful. Some companies make razors designed specifically for shaving heads.
    • Shaving cream or oil. Lubricating your head well is key to achieving a good shave. You can use a cream or oil meant for shaving faces or legs, or buy a kind specifically for your head. Just make sure it has good moisturizing properties.
    • Aftershave. Again, use the aftershave meant for the face or legs, or choose one specially designed for shaved heads.
  2. Choose to have a friend help or plan to do it yourself. There are pros and cons to both approaches. Consider the following when you're planning your head-shaving experience:
    • A friend can make sure the back of your head and other areas that are hard to see get shaved cleanly.
    • If you like the shaved look and want to keep it indefinitely, it's not practical to have a friend help out every time. The sooner you start practicing shaving your own head, the better you'll be at achieving a great shave yourself.
  3. Set up your bathroom barbershop. Drape a sheet or tarp over the floor and make sure the drain in your sink is covered. Shaving your head can get messy, especially if you're starting with long hair.
  4. Trim your hair to {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}}. The final step in preparing to shave is getting rid of your long hair so it doesn't get tangled up in your razor. Set your electric clippers to the shortest setting and use them to evenly trim all of the hair on your head to {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}}.

Shaving Your Head

  1. Get your head wet and apply shaving lubricant. Run your head under hot water in the shower for a minute or two to help soften your hair and scalp. Rub your head thoroughly with shaving lubricant or oil. Keep the bottle nearby so you can reapply it when necessary.
  2. Start by shaving the front of your head. The hair is lighter and thinner near the face, making it easier to shave. Save the coarser hair toward the back of your head for last, so the lubricant has time to soften it.
    • Shave from your forehead to the back of your head in even rows.
    • Use steady, firm strokes. Don't press too hard, but make sure you apply enough pressure to get a close shave.
    • Rinse the blade with water to remove hair as often as necessary.
  3. Shave the sides of your head. Working in upward strokes from your neck to the top of your head, shave the hair off the sides of your head.
    • Be careful when shaving behind your ears; use one hand to hold your ear down so you don't nick it with the razor.
    • If you encounter a cowlick, do your best to shave against the grain of your hair growth.
  4. Shave the back of your head. Use a steady hand to continue shaving the part of your head you can't see. Work in upward strokes from the base of your neck to the top of your head.
    • Be especially careful not to rush the process as you shave the back of your head. Allow the razor to glide smoothly over ridges and valleys to avoid cutting yourself.
    • Use a hand mirror to check your progress, and reapply shaving cream or oil as necessary to finish up your shave.
  5. Rinse your head. Wash away the hairs, then take a look in the mirror at all sides of your head.
    • If you missed a spot, apply more shaving cream or oil and go back over it with the razor.
    • Don't go over your scalp twice unless it's necessary. If you're using a good razor, one pass should be enough to remove the hair, and a second pass will only irritate your scalp.
  6. Use aftershave. When you're satisfied with the job, rise your scalp, pat it dry and apply a moisturizing aftershave. This will soothe any razor burn you may have and protect your newly exposed skin from getting dried out.

Maintaining Your Shaved Look

  1. Wash with a gentle soap or shampoo. There's no need to use expensive shampoo on a shaved head; instead, you can wash your scalp with body soap or a less expensive shampoo. Just make sure it doesn't have drying properties, since your scalp is more sensitive than the rest of your body.
  2. Moisturize your scalp often. It's important to continue protect your scalp with a moisturizing lotion, since it is no longer protected from dry air and other elements with a layer of hair.
  3. Use sunscreen or wear a hat. Your shaved scalp is susceptible to getting a bad sunburn, especially if this is your first time shaving. Make sure you wear plenty of sunscreen, and wear a hat if the sun is especially strong where you live.
  4. Shave often. If you want to maintain your shaved look, it's easiest to shave new hair about once a week. The process will be much faster than it was the first time you shaved.



Tips

  • If you have never shaved your head before, be aware that your head will be considerably paler than the rest of your skin. One way to avoid this is to use a pair of clippers and trim down to a quarter of an inch a few weeks before shaving all of it off. A couple of weeks of greater sun exposure will help your scalp to get a little tanned.
  • To make your clippers last longer, brush hairs out of the blade, then turn the clippers on and place a drop of blade oil on the parts of the blades that meet while running. Turn the clippers off and store them.
  • Experiment with frequency; shaving your head too often may increase skin irritations, while shaving too infrequently (every 2 weeks or more) may require using the electric clipper each time rather than going straight to blade.
  • If acne blemishes appear on your head after shaving, this can usually be controlled with a mild disappearing 2.5% benzoyl peroxide cream or gel. Use this before applying your moisturizer.
  • Blade shaving is best done after showering as hot water and soap softens the hair. Be sure to run some hot water on your face and head just before exiting, and don't bother drying your head.

Warnings

  • Do NOT use chemical depilatories such as Nair on your head, as these are extremely harsh on the skin and dangerous if they come in contact with the eyes.
  • Keep a washcloth within reach. If shaving cream starts to run down your forehead, wipe it immediately so it doesn't get into your eyes.

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Sources and Citations

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