Thread: looking for tips on shaving my head

As the title says I am looking for tips on shaving my head. I know there are some of you out there that shave your heads and as I have never done it before I am looking for some pointers. I currently work outside all day long and am worried that if I just shaved it off it would burn rather badly so I figure that I will give it a buzz cut ie 1/16th inch or so for a week to offer some protection while hopefully allowing my scalp to tan enough that when I do shave it it wont get burned. i dotn know if there is any logic to this approach but it made sense to me so unless anyone has any other ideas I think thats how im approaching it. I figure I will do as much of the shaving with a straight as possible but I think I am probably going to have to turn to my old gillette DE for some of the work in the back. there is no real reason for me doing this now, I have large ears and know that it will look awful but I figured why not now and as I have a lot of hats that I never wear it might give me a reason to start wearing some. So any ideas on Prep, execution, or how to avoid being burned while spending 8+ hours a day in the sun would be appriciated.

Absolutely let your scalp get a little bit of sun without going over board getting a sun burn on top of your head really is one of the worst pains I have felt. I have shaved my head for about eight years now but have only tried a straight on it once and had so much blood in the sink it was like a murder scene. I know head wounds bleed a lot but it was bad, I think I was trying to go to fast. I will try again soon and go much slower this time, that is going to be the important part for me at least.

I started head shaving w/ a straight and switched to a DE because it was doing a number on my edges. I started doing the back of my head by using two mirrors but I know just do it by sense. When I touch my chin to my chest it really makes the whole back of my head taut and easier to shave.

As for being in the sun, I can't offer you anything besides the obvious; wear a hat and/or use sunscreen.

I've been losing my hair since I was in high school and starting buzzing my head after college (I'm almost 42 now). I started shaving my head about 3 years ago just 'cuz it's simpler than dragging out the clippers and cleaning up afterward.

If you aren't balding and/or haven't shaved your head before, be careful outside in the sun! As previously mentioned, getting a sun burn on the top of your head is incredibly painful; like no other sun burn you've had before. Wear a hat and/or sun block. Buzzing you hair shorter sounds like a good idea, but still be careful about how much exposure you get. Even after you think you've got a good tan, you can still get burned.

On another note, I've been wondering how many guys around here actually shave their head's w/ a SR. After my worst-ever first SR shave a couple of days ago, I'm not gonna be trying it any time soon!

I shave my head daily.
I use either a straight, a DE or a Feather artist club with replaceable blades.
What all these have in common for me while shaving is:
My hair groath up there allows me to start from the very top and shave down from there in all directions.
Well, more or less

I agree with the thought of trimming it down to allow the scalp to get used to the sun.
Furthermore, do only WTG for the first couple of times you shave completely.
Your skin will have to adjust to this new "bullyuing"
You will look good with just that, a shadow on the dome is less Don Johnson than your average five o'clock shadow.
When you finally attempt the full Monty, keep the angles low, even lower than on your facial ATG.
It takes a bit of practice, but there is really nothing more to it than your facial shave.
In the beginning I used a two mirror solution, but after a couple of months I really had gained the needed skills to do it blindly.

Good luck with it.
You'll soon get the hang of it

Yes short for a bit with sun is a good idea on a virgin scalp. Using sunblock would be wise too, since your scalp hasn't had sun since you were two years old.

I think you have been straight razor shaving your maw a while? Be prepared to feel like a newbie learning all over again on the melon.

I remember taking the straight to my head, it was like deja vu not getting a smooth shave. Used to think the phrase"your skin needs to get used to the straight" was just a polite way to say hang in there. Realized when taking the straight to my head as a seasoned straight user it is true.

Few tips. Don't be afraid to grab those dumbos to see around blind spots and stretch skin. Some reason, I used to think those flaps on the side of head should be hands off-wrong. Hardest angle and area to get close on my noggin is right behind the ears, that dips in. Just above and outer edges of the sausage roll on the back of neck. Just need alternate hands, yoga poses and concentration so as not to van gogh yourself.

Use short strokes. At least for me, head follicles are a higher ratio per area than my mug.

With the grain is straight forward. I lather face and head. Start at crown of head, work down to my chin(well goatee) For me, then XTG the face with trim of the goat.

XTG at back of my head, I hold the razor solid and rotate my head. Will move the razor very little XTG back there. And I will XTG the sides of scalp.

I'll then atg the back of my head. Razor held diagonal, pulling it atg. Sorta straight pull sything I suppose. I don't really atg the sides of head or face, but used to when skin was getting used to it. So when starting, you might.

I used to use mirrors to look back there, but now shaving blind is easy.

Thanks for all the replies, I've been using a straight on my face for about 9-10 months and like to think I picked it up pretty quick. I wasn't worried about the actual shaving part but am quickly rethinking those thoughts given the words you fine gentlemen have shared. That said I look forward to the challenge my head has been buzzed down to an 1/8 of and inch and I figure in a week or so I'll take it down to a 1/16 to follow shortly with the actual shaving. One more question what should I look for in terms of aftercare? Is it cool to just splash a little ogallala bay up there and call it a day?

Post shave I do same as my face.

Not uncommon for me to splash to much after shave or witch haze in cup of hand, so nice I can use residual on my scalp.

For me, same with the aftershave lotion that I use.

Man, you guys got me beat on the manly scale! I go Headblade all the way...

I do it as I'm showering. Don't need a mirror and just go by feel. After the shower, I shave my face and then witch hazel followed by AS on both the head and face.

As far as sunburn goes... sunscreen and a good hat. I've been shaving my head for the last dozen years or so and being sunburned on top of your noggin sucks big time! Man, talk about misery...

Whichever way you go, good luck!