Getting a close shave when you go for the bald head look can be accomplished in a number of ways. I generally use a disposable razor but have used electric shavers in the past too. I just find disposable razor blades to be quicker and more efficient when shaving my head.
The question is how can you get the closest, best shave for bald head awesomeness without cutting yourself of otherwise irritating your skin?
We’ve already spoken on this website about shaving with the grain. In involves shaving in the direction of hair growth and is the generally recommended way to shave. For most men shaving with the grain will suffice especially if you only shave your face.
Shaving against the grain can irritate the skin for some men. It involves shaving in the opposite direction of hair growth. It can lead to reddened skin, ingrown hairs and razor bumps. When I was a kid, I remember trying shaving against the grain for the first time on my neck with my cheap BIC Sensitive (yeah right) disposable single blade razor. I paid the price as I cut myself in several places. My neck was red and irritated for a few days. I didn’t shave against the skin for years as a result. This was well before I was shaving my head.
Once I started using better quality razor blades, I tried again to shave my neck against the grain and it turned out just fine. I’ve been doing it since on my head and neck no problem. It gives me a closer shave than shaving with the grain on these specific areas. It just took me one instance with a cheap razor to stop shaving against the grain for years.
Shave Against The Grain
I’ve found that I can shave against the grain successfully without skin irritation and get a better shave. Specifically, I shave the back of my head, the top of my head and my throat. Perhaps you’ve found it too, or perhaps you’ve never tried. You might also have had a bad experience like I did.
Shaving against the grain gets the hairs on the back of my head and top of my hair much closer than shaving with the grain. It’s that simply. That’s why I do it each time.
If you’re going to shave against the grain, use a decent quality razor. Stay away from the cheapest single blades. Don’t confuse cheap single blades with a Double Edge (DE) single blade razor though. A DE razor is something different. It’s the original safety razor that followed the straight razor. Good quality brands like Merkur, Parker, Edwin Jagger and Mühle offer a wide range of blades and handles with varying prices.
DE razors shave hair at the skin level so if you suffer from ingrown hairs a DE razor can help. They tend not to lead to ingrown hairs as opposed to multi-blade razors and electric shavers that use lift and cut style systems to shave hair much closer that fall below the skin after cutting. This can lead to ingrown hairs for some men.
Whatever you use, pick a decent razor. Don’t be afraid to try a few different brands and styles. Ask your friends what they use by way of comparison.
Use A Decent Quality Shaving Cream
You don’t have to pick a cheap brand from the pharmacy or grocery store either. Check out a decent shaving soap. You can buy yourself a shaving brush and bowl and get the whole shaving experience. Some guys swear by this method.
You can also try a shaving gel from a can. You can buy those at the same place you buy canned shaving creams. Gel tends to be slicker than foam from a can. If you have sensitive skin, a gel might worth a try.
You can also try a shaving cream from a container and use it in conjunction with the aforementioned brush and bowl. These products tend to be more expensive but all come in very natural versions often with a variety of interesting scents, too.
Having said all of that, I currently use both a canned shaving cream and a cheap tube of Palmolive shaving cream from a tube (click the link to check out my review). The Palmolive product goes on more like a soap with some thickness to it. It doesn’t easily wipe off the face like shaving foam does.
Use A Razor Blade
Instead of an electric shaver, I have found that a manual razor blade is quicker and more efficient than an electric shaver to shave my head. Electric shavers do tend to reduce if not eliminate the chances of cuts which of course is a benefit if you tend to cut and nick your skin.
Having said that, I do admit that using an electric shaver on the back of my head – I have a rotary head shaver from Philips – does eventually produce a very close shave. Once done I can rub the back of my head and it’s smooth as you can imagine. I just have don’t the patience to use an electric shaver.
Conclusion
- While most shaving pros suggest shaving with the grain in the direction of hair growth, shaving against the grain can produce a closer shave.
- This is particularly true (for me) for the back of the head and throat areas.
- The first time I shaved against the grain, I used a cheap single blade disposable and I badly irritated my skin and cut myself.
- I use a razor blade to shave my head as I find it is quicker and thus more efficient than using an electric shaver.
- Electric shavers do give a good shave even on your head and do reduce the chances of cuts. It just takes longer in my experience.
How do you get the closest shave on your head? Let us know in the comments below!
