The Ultimate Guide for the Perfect Bald Head
Why?
Losing your hair through premature balding can be very distressing and lead to a lack of confidence and self-worth.
This was particularly true in the past, but nowadays it has been somewhat alleviated by the trend for celebrities, both male and female, to champion baldness and make it seem more "sexy".
Bruce Willis, Andre Agassi and Ben Kingsley to name but a few, are good-looking, masculine and attractive to women, yet the sexy and beautiful Amber Rose is the picture of femininity.
Obviously, the bald look will suit some more than others, and if you have the option of a full head of beautiful hair, you will likely choose to keep it.
However, it may be that you have tried all the various hair growth lotions such as Minoxidil and Finesteride (popular Brands are Regaine and Propecia), food supplements and lasercombs in the hope of restoring your crowning glory and discovered that they are not working for you.
If you are balding naturally, then the choice to embrace the baldness and shave what you have left can be a liberating experience. It will certainly take away all the anxiety and stress associated with worrying about, and continually monitoring, the progress of the condition.
Professional treatment option
Professional treatments at clinics can have good success at restoring hair growth, and hair transplants are the ultimate choice for some individuals.
You would need to be prepared for a long haul though, there are no "quick fixes" and if you do end up opting for transplant treatment, you could be looking at anything from around $4K up to $15K+ depending on the area and type of transplant treatment.
What are the Advantages of Shaving your Head Bald?
Aside from the advantage, previously mentioned, of not worrying about hair loss any more, there are a few other advantages to consider:
- DIY - no need for expensive and time consuming trips to the barber or salon any more, a bald head can be easily maintained at home, in comfort and at your own convenience
- Saves Money - apart from saving on salon trips, there is are ongoing savings to made by not needing to purchase hair care products (although this must be offset against the products that you will require to keep your head looking good, there should still be a saving)
- Confidence - by taking matters into your own hands and embracing the baldness you are increasing your sense of being in control and therefore your self confidence
- Sex Appeal - research studies have shown that many women find bald men attractive, believing them to be assertive and intelligent
- Memorable - there is no doubt that your bald head will stand out in a crowd - it makes a statement and people will likely remember you for it!
Disadvantages of Shaving Your Head Bald
Of course, there will be disadvantages to having a bald head, not least of which being the weather factor:
- Winter Cold - you naturally lose a lot of warmth from your head, and your hair acts to protect the head from the cold. You are going to need to invest in some snazzy hats to keep your bald head from freezing over!
- Summer Heat - conversely hair acts as a barrier to the sun to help stop it from burning your tender scalp. You will need to keep some strong sunscreen and a hat available as a shield in the summer. Quite aside from the obvious health risks and pain involved in burning, no-one can say that a red, sore and flaking scalp is a good look!
- Regular Shaving - to ensure you keep your bald head smooth you will need to shave it regularly - probably every 3 - 4 days depending on your individual hair growth rate
- Skin Care - as the need for hair care is decreased, so the need for good skin care on your head will increase - it is particularly important to avoid a dry scalp and so you should regularly use a good moisturizer, preferably with some UV protection
- Razor Burn and Ingrown Hair - as with any area of the body, if you shave your head you are at risk of razor burn and/or ingrown hairs. There are ways to minimize the risk, which are outlined later in this article
Pros of Shaving your Head
- No trips to the barber/salon
- Can be done at home
- No more hair care
- Increased Confidence
- No more stressing about hair loss
Cons of Shaving your Head
- Need to shave every 3 - 4 days
- Head protection sometimes required
- Regular moisturizing
- Risk of razor burn and ingrown hairs
How to Shave your Head Bald
So, you've made the decision to take the plunge and shave your head, now you just need to decide whether you are going to go for the clean-shaven "polished" look or the very short buzz-cut which has become so popular.
For a really good buzz cut we would advise you to go and get the job done professionally, at least to start with, after which you can have a go yourself if you wish. You will need to equip yourself with a decent pair of clippers.
If you decide on the clean, completely bald look, then you can fairly easily achieve this at home - after all, it would be impossible to remove too much hair or be left with a bad hair cut!
First Time
If you are shaving your head for the first time, these are the steps you need to take to ensure a satisfactory result:
- Trim your hair down to very short stubble. This can be done with scissors, but better still, use hair clippers on the shortest setting.
- Get your head as wet as possible, with warm water - as hot as you can comfortably bear. This will soften the hair and make it easier to shave without irritation and reduce the risk of ingrown hairs. Ideal is to shave just after a hot shower.
- Have a shaving mirror ready and shave in front of a mirror so that you can see the back of your head.
- Use a shaving lubricant, whichever you prefer is fine, just make sure to use plenty of it, and leave for a few minutes on the hair, to soften it still further. We would recommend using pre-shave oil as well, especially if you have sensitive skin.
- Start at the sides, with the softer, finer hair and work towards the top. Gliding the blade slowly and evenly in the direction of hair growth, start shaving, trying not to go over the same area more than once. You will need a good razor with new, sharp blades to get the best results.
- Take time to progress over your head cleanly, without exerting pressure. Shaving in the same direction as the hair grows naturally will reduce the risk of irritation or ingrown hairs, whereas shaving in the opposite direction gives a closer shave. Make sure to rinse the razor every 2 or 3 strokes. For the first few times, we would advise that you only shave in the direction of hair growth, until your scalp is used to being shaved, and you are proficient.
- After shaving, wash your head using cold water to close the pores and remove any shaving cream/oils. Pat dry gently with a clean towel.
- Afterwards you can apply a gentle aftershave lotion, much the same as when shaving your face, Aloe or something similar would be ideal. Avoid alcohol based products as they have the effect of drying the skin.
Maintenance
To maintain your bald head, you will likely need to shave it every 3 - 4 days, but this really depends on your individual hair growth rate, as it does vary from person to person.
As your head gets used to being shaved, you may find that shaving first with the direction of hair growth and then against it will give you the closest and most smooth results.
Tips for Avoiding Irritation from Shaving your Head
Most importantly, make sure that you follow the correct steps to prepare prior to shaving. Using a pre-shave oil before your shaving cream helps the blade to glide over the skin so that razor burn is less likely.
Regular exfoliation is important to prevent build-up of dead skin cells and oils on the skin.
Make sure that you don't apply pressure - the easiest way to irritate your skin is to press too hard and "graze" the scalp.
When you are shaving the back of your head, look down so that the skin is stretched nice and taut.
Make sure that you are holding the razor at the correct angle and that the blade you are using is nice and sharp - we would advise using a safety razor.
Shaving in the same direction as the hair grows will lessen the chance of ingrown hairs.
We have published a separate, in-depth guide with advice and tips for irritation free shaving.
Bald Head Care
Protection
It is very important to protect the head from the sun - make sure you use a good, strong sunscreen and plenty of it.
The scalp is one of the most sensitive areas of your body, so you need to keep re-applying the sunscreen frequently.
Don't forget the back of your neck and your ears and remember, even on cloudy days, the scalp can burn very easily. On very sunny days a hat is a must!
Equally, on cold days you will need to keep warm by covering up with a good, woolly hat.
Washing
Although you have no hair, you will still need to keep your head clean and whilst you may be tempted to just use your usual shower gel or soap, they can cause the scalp to become dry and flaky.
It is best to still use a touch of shampoo for the head, and then a conditioner/ moisturizer to keep the scalp soft and smooth.
Exfoliating
Exfoliating is just as important on the head as it is all over your body, to stop the build up of dead skin cells and oils between shaves.
Regular exfoliating will lessen the risk of ingrown hairs as the pores are clear and unclogged so that regrowth is not inhibited.
Moisturizing
A bald head is susceptible to becoming dry, due to both extremes of weather (sun or cold) and so it is important to moisturize regularly.
Perfect for this is something like argan or tea tree oil, and it feels wonderful when massaged into the head.
Massaging the head has the added effect of stimulating good blood flow to keep your scalp healthy.
What makes your bald head shinny?
I am a women that has bad hairloss I shave daily and its a pain. I wear wigs and wish I get find a permanent solution to the shaving problem. I would like a beautiful bald head.