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3 Big Tips for Wet Shaving Your Head Bald

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There is nothing like wet shaving your head; not only does it feel nice, the end result is a clean, smooth look that can’t be achieved by buzzing your head down with no guard on the clippers. Shaving does take some time, effort, and patience, but I will show you some tips that can make the whole process more efficient and effective.

Make Sure Your Shaving Cream is Applied Consistently

When I talk about consistently, I’m not referring to frequency; instead, it is talking about how you are using your shaving cream or gel.

This tip is primarily aimed at those who have been losing their hair for quite some time and don’t have that much on top; however, it can still be useful for those who are experiencing recession as well as individuals who just love the look of a shaved head and do it for their own enjoyment.

More often than not, the hair on your head grows in varying thicknesses, and if you lack hair on the top of your head, it’s obvious that there will be different sections. When your shaving product is applied to your scalp, there’s a good chance that it will stick to the back and sides much better than on the top.

This is especially true if you have stubble.

A common mistake that people make in this scenario is that there will be significantly more cream in these stubbled regions than on the bare ones. This creates the potential for an inconsistent shave.

Tackling this issue is quite simple, and can be done in two different ways.

The first way is less cost-effective and requires a little bit more effort on your part, and that is to apply more product to your head in the areas that need it.

The second way is equally as practical, can save you some money and product, but takes slightly more time. This involves removing the excess cream to the areas that could use more of it. If you use a shaving brush, you might be able to remove some of it from the bristles and transfer it to your head.

Regardless of which method you choose, it is crucial that you have the same amount across your head because that will create a seamless and effortless glide, and the end result will be a cleaner wet shave for your bald head.

Going With The Grain, or Against it?

This underrated tip is useful on any area of the body, but it is especially useful for those who shave their head.

Whether or not you are completely bald, individual sections of the head are prone to grow hair in different directions. Facial hair is also known to do this as well.

Going against the grain in areas that are pretty thin already typically won’t cause you any issues and will be easy to shave regardless of the stroke that you choose.

However, in areas that usually retain their thickness, such as the back of the head, you will want to go with the grain because that will be the path of least resistance.

By going with the grain in these thicker areas, you reduce the likelihood of you developing painful and unsightly problems like in-grown hairs and razor bumps. Although they tend to be a relatively minor inconvenience, there have been some rare scenarios where people have had shaving nicks turn into bacterial infections.

It’s a scary thought, but these issues can be entirely prevented for the most part, with some preparation.

It’s a mistake to rush through without any consideration for how your hair grows, but with some awareness, you will learn and it will become second nature. After a certain amount of practice, you won’t need to spend time thinking about the direction of your hair.

Additionally, some people like to go across the grain. This is a viable shaving technique which has seen plenty of use on the neck and the sides of the head, but some individuals with sensitive skin still might experience some irritation.

Take the time to learn what works best for you so that you can eliminate potential skin problems while still getting the closest shave that you can. There’s a good chance you’ll probably end up using multiple techniques.

Don’t Cheap Out On Your Razors

If shaving your head is part of your daily routine, you probably go through razor blades relatively fast, and thus, you may have been trying to find ways to cut down costs, possibly opting for sub-optimal methods.

If this sounds like you, you should stop and take a good look at what you’re using and evaluate if it’s really the best one for you. In reality, the kind of razor that you use matters, and it can make a world of difference in the entire shaving experience.

There are many excellent razors that are specifically catered to wet shaving a bald head, and if you’ve been using a generic one the entire time you’ve been shaving your head, you’re doing yourself a disservice.

If you opt to use a standard razor, a good one will usually adjust to the movement of your skin by rotating along with it, which is very intuitive. The HeadBlade (Amazon affiliate link) and other cartridge razors are the first ones that come to mind that do this.

The replaceable cartridges will also consist of multiple blades which also result in a closer, more comfortable shave. Some might even include two separate sets of blades, which will allow you to either go with the grain or against it.

If you’re a traditionalist and prefer to use a safety razor, those are completely fine and get the job done perfectly too. Many of them are adjustable and replacing the blades in them are also affordable than cartridges, so they are still an effective alternative.

Safety razors do have a learning curve though and require some skill to get the best shave. Even if you’ve been using them for years and have developed your technique, the cartridge razors mentioned before are also worth a shot and might make life a little easier.

No matter what you choose, a well-made razor will offer a lot of lasting value, and should never be underestimated. Even some experienced shavers sometimes fall into the trap of using generic disposable razors in an effort to save some cash.

Never skip out on a great shave in favor of holding onto a few extra bucks; you’ll be thanking yourself every time you shave your head.

Conclusion

Wet shaving your bald head, in theory, is actually very simple, especially if it’s been a staple of the start of your day for a considerable amount of time. After doing it for so many times, it becomes smooth and natural in no time.

Nonetheless, there are still things that even shaving veterans might not be aware of or need a little reminder. This tips discussed here can make shaving that much better and can be put into practice immediately.

From lathering your shaving cream properly, paying attention to the direction of your hair, and using the best razor for your head, you are setting yourself up for the perfect shave. By spending a little bit of time doing these things, skin irritation and uneven shaves can be a thing of the past.

About the Author

Ian R. is the owner and editor of HappilyBald, a website dedicated to the beautifully bald with buyer’s guides, how-to articles, maintenance tips, and fashion advice.

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4 thoughts on “3 Big Tips for Wet Shaving Your Head Bald”

  1. Shave in the shower for best results.
    Use a good shaving cream like Cremo or a shave soap. Heck, even some handmade soaps have lots of lanolin and work well.
    Shave in small sectors of your head; don’t use a long stroke. Rinse, lather, repeat, you know.
    If you feel the razor starting to “skip” on your head, you need to stop and apply more cream/soap.
    The more experience you acquire, the easier it gets.
    But beware: you will start to experiment with different razors, blades, soaps, oils, etc.
    But that’s what makes it fun.
    Good luck

  2. I’ve been shaving my head now for a little more than 30 years, using Gillette multi-blade razors for about 20 of those years. Then I switched to DE razors and used a Merkur Futur for 7 years or so. Then I switched to SE razors. I now use Asylum RX and Paradigm razors on my face and the Alumigoose razor with Feather Pro blades on my head. It’s a very safe combination and a nick is a rarity. No matter what I was using, I always shaved against the grain, going from neck to crown and I’ve never had any irritation problems at all. Well, all except one time when I first got the Asylum RX loaded it up with a Feather Pro blade which, I didn’t know at the time, turns the RX into a very aggressive razor. By the time I got through shaving my head, I looked like I was about half way through the Death Of A Thousand Cuts. It wasn’t pretty. The Paradigm and the Asylum RX are also very suitable to use on the head with the Paradigm using Feather Pro blades and the Asylum RX using Feather Guards or Kai Mild Guards. I can’t say that I enjoy shaving my head. In fact it’s kind of a PITA, but I look a lot better without hair than with the little I have left grown out. And my wife loves the feel of my freshly shaved bald head. What more could you ask?

  3. When I switched to wet shaving a little over five years ago, I wondered how I was going to shave my head with minimal blood loss. I started with a mild double edged Edwin Jager DBL89. Very mild, and very forgiving. Once I got comfortable with it and started building a collection, I switched to a Merkur 39c long handle slant. This is giving me the most consistent shave since I switched to it. You do need to give it respect and don’t rush, or you will pay the price with nicks and cuts.

  4. I shave my head daily, been shaving it for about a year. Here are things I have learned.
    1. It takes a great shaving soap to get the job done right. Using many types of creams and soaps, I have settled for two main brands. Stirling and PAA, these seem to work in hard or soft water, are slick and have a slick feel after the razor does its pass. (I have no affiliation with either company)
    2. The lather should be on the loose or on the moist side (not runny). It takes longer to shave your head and that lets the lather dry out quicker than on the face. Keep your lather on the moist side.
    3. The first pass should be top to bottom, using short strokes every time. If you try going round and round or bottom to top first, your razor can skip or tug causing a Nick or burn spot. Going top to bottom is a more natural movement and you have better control of your arm in this direction. Then go the other directions after the top to bottom pass.
    4. Use a light razor or an over ballanced razor*. A light razor will lessen scraping the top of your head. When you have your arm over your head there is less control making a heavy razor scrape the top if you have the angle slightly off. You can also use an over balanced razor ( * I just made that term up ) a razor with a very heavy handle makes it easy to ballanced out the weight of the head making for less pressure on the blade for a easier shave.
    The ones I use are bakelite or aluminum razors. Long heavy handle razors work great if the handle balances out the weight of the head.
    5. Use a sharp blade, don’t try to squeeze every shave out of a blade. I use a new blade every time.
    6. Use an after shave ( AS ) balm to moisturize your skin every time. If you use AS with alcohol, apply the moisturizer after, every time.
    7. Don’t try for baby but smooth at first, just a good shave then stop. Let the gord get used to being shaven for a while, say a month or so.
    8. If you find you have “over shaved” your noggin, apply witch hazel to your skin to help heal and calm the skin. The kind without alcohol!! Then apply your moisturizer. Skip a day or two if you really did it bad, apply the witch hazel and moisturizer daily, then be gentler next time.

    This works for me.
    From one head shave to another.
    Happy shaving!
    tp

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