Should I shave my head? Benefits, precautions, and how to do it
How to shave your head safely
You don’t want to rush your first shave, so leave yourself plenty of time.What you’ll needInstructions
- adequate lighting
- hand mirror to check the back, the sides, and behind your ears
- scissors or clippers
- razor with a new blade
- shaving cream or gel
- moisturizer or aftershave lotion
- soft towel
If you have long hair, cut the bulk of it off before shaving. Get as close to the scalp as you can. It may help to use clippers. Then, give your scalp a thorough washing with warm water.
Next, follow these steps:
- Apply shaving cream or a warm compress to your scalp for a few minutes to soften the hair.
- Use a sharp razor. Dull blades make nicks and cuts more likely.
- Start with the top of your head. Use gentle strokes, going in the direction of hair growth.
- Rinse the blade after every stroke to get rid of excess shaving cream and hair.
- Move to the sides, taking care to fold your ears down to avoid nicks.
- Shave the back of your head, working down toward your neck.
- Use a handheld mirror to make sure you haven’t missed any spots.
- Rinse your scalp with cool water.
- Pat dry with a soft towel.
- Apply moisturizer or aftershave lotion.
You can also use an electric razor, but the result may not be as smooth. On the other hand, it’s faster and easier because you don’t need to use shaving cream or keep rinsing the blade.
How often you’ll need to shave depends on how smooth you want your head and how quickly your hair grows.
