Bald is Beautiful
I always promised myself that I would not be one of those guys who holds on to past hair glory or tries to do some form of combover. If my hair thinned, I would shave it off! Much bolder and more powerful than worrying about how my hair looks after coming out of the pool or the ocean. It’s no fun being in a bathroom with bright makeup lights above the mirror and clearly seeing my scalp through the thinned version of my once glorious mop.
I finally took the plunge in 2021 after a couple of years of noticing the thinning trend. Mind you, I could pass. There’s still hair up there, it’s just that the sides are much thicker than the top. It was june, my birthday month, and I was also picking up my brand new Tesla, a milestone which had been a goal for a few years. It was the perfect time to reveal my melon to the world in all it’s shiny bullet shaped glory.
If felt incredibly empowering and a bit vulnerable. The reactions from my brother and son who went to pick up the car with me were of shock, but also appreciation and approval. Most of all, I liked it, and I felt like a new man, ready for a new chapter.
How to Shave Your Head
If you’re starting from scratch, you need to first hack whatever hair is on your head down to nearly bald. You can use a home barber kit for this- just shave it off.
If you’re going for clean, the Yul Brenner, Captain Picard look, then there are a few ways to go about it. I did a ton of research online and also asked some bald guys I knew, and tried a bunch of tools and methods. I’ll share my top 3, and below with some notes.
When you get to shaving your head, there are some basic practices to follow:
- Get your head wet and warm- hot shower, hot towel- this preps your scalp for a clean shave
- Get a good shave gel- I highly recommend EZ blade. It’s the best I’ve found. Women in my life have borrowed it and then converted to it for leg shaving, declaring it to be the best shave they’ve ever had.
- Shave with slow and smooth strokes. Not too long. Be patient.
Top 3 head shaving methods:
- Safety Razor with a good blade, plus excellent shave gel. This has gotten me the cleanest closest shave. It’s also the most difficult method, and you are shaving a round dome with a straight blade. with patience, it will give you a beautiful shave, but you may get an occasional nick or cut. i often use the ssafety razor on my neck and around my ears, even when using another method for the main portioon of the head
- Multi blade pivoting head razor with lube strip- You will get a great shave with this, and much less risk of cuts. I use a lady’s razor. I’ve tried a few brands, men’s and women’s. I like the women’s better. The one drawback with this is that if you’ve let your hair grow a bit long, they tend to clog.
- Electric multi head shaver- Super hyped and lots of players in the space, this gives me a good shave, but not as good as blades. Many of these, or all, can be used in the shower. This is probably the easiest method, and my go to when I want to get it done quickly. Not as good on neck and around ears, but most have an attachment for edging.
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- Note- I’ve tried the top, most expensive ones, and also the no-name Amazon models. Honestly, there’s not much of a difference. You’ll pay extra for things like name branding, ergonomic grips, extra battery life, and styling, but at the end of the day, you have to replace the blades every month or so, and it’s really just a motor and rotating blades. The one I use cost $30-35 and replacement blades are $6-7
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What about a foil shaver? I tried a high quality one and didn’t get a good result. Straight cutting surface, curved head. I think this would be better for face and neck.
Post Head Shave Tips
- Cold water is the first step for me- close the pores, soothe any skin irritation, rinse off
- Witch Hazel- this is a step I don’t always follow, but it also soothes the skin and helps with any nicks or irritation
- Oil- I go with sesame oil. It’s recommended in ayurveda as being great for the skin. I drop a few drops of lavedar oil in my bottle of sesame because I like it. You could drop any essential oil in there. Tip- do not buy toasted sesame oil- it has a very strong smell!
I know that some people wax after soothing and oiling. I’ve never done it so I can’t advise on it.
Spiritual Growth and Cultural Perceptions of a Shaved Head
Across cultures and spiritual beliefs, cutting hair is often viewed as a symbolic act of release. It represents the shedding of past experiences and emotional burdens, helping individuals move forward with a lighter, renewed sense of self
By releasing attachment to our appearance, we free ourselves from the distractions of the material world. With a shaved head, we embody the spirit of simplicity, humility, and inner focus. We remind ourselves that true beauty lies within, and that our worth is not measured by our physical form.
And finally, this from CBS News; Men with shorn heads are seen as more dominant, confident and masculine than men with hair, according to a new study published online in July.
Happy head shaving! May you feel renewed and empowered as you proudly expose your one of a kind shiny dome to the world!