Once the hair has been softened, apply a liberal amount of shaving cream or gel and give it another
moment to penetrate the softened hair and scalp. The shaving cream helps to lubricate the skin and will help to prevent razor burn and nicks.
Finally, it's time to start shaving.
Using the razor of your choice, place the blade end against the scalp and drag it in the direction of
the hair's growth. Be sure to use very gentle pressure when shaving the scalp, especially when you have scars or uneven surfaces on the head.
Unlike the skin of your face, your scalp has been protected from the elements by the hair and is unused to being shaved. Therefore, it will be
much more sensitive and may be more prone to nicks and cuts while shaving.
{Note: You should be aware that the scalp has a great many blood vessels which provide nutrients and
oxygen to the hair follicles. If you nick yourself, you will likely find that the scalp will bleed much more profusely than other areas of the
body, and it will likely be slower to clot. Use cotton or tissue soaked with alcohol to disinfect the cut and help to stanch the bleeding.}
Take your time while shaving. You can always make a second (or third) pass with your razor, and
spending the extra time being careful is preferable to spending it treating unintentional cuts. Besides, having a head covered with nicks and
cuts is less than attractive and ruins the look you're trying to achieve. Also, rinse your razor thoroughly with warm or hot water between
passes on the scalp to remove shaving cream and hairs that become lodged in the blades. If you experience discomfort during the shaving
process, you can use cold water to rinse the blade and will find that this helps make shaving more comfortable.
Once you've completed the shaving process, use your towel (wet this time with cool water) to wipe off
excess shaving cream and remove the cut hairs that may be left behind. Then apply lotion (with SPF protection of at least 15) to the newly
shaved scalp to moisturize, soothe and protect the newly exposed skin.
After leaving the lotion on for a few moments to be absorbed, you can use a hand towel (with a bit of
vitamin E oil) to gently buff the scalp, if you want a "shiny" look.
Maintenance Shaving:
A common question regarding having a shaved head is "how often do I have to shave to maintain my
look?" It's a good question, but one that's difficult to answer, as it depends on the individual. How dark is your hair? How quickly does it
grow? Both of these factors will determine how often you must shave to keep your scalp smooth.
The average person's head hair grows around ½ inch per month - that's 1.25 cm or 12.5 mm. If the
average month has 30 days, then the average person's hair will grow a little more than a millimeter every 3 days. If you are blonde and your
hair is fine in texture this may be barely noticeable, but if you have black, coarse hair, you may see and feel the stubble after only one day.
A good rule of thumb can be to follow the schedule you have for shaving your face, since the color of the facial hair and head hair are usually similar in most cases.
Bonus Treatments:
Of course, now that you've shaved your head, you'll need to do a few things you've probably never
considered before - namely cleanse and moisturize your scalp. Now that there is no hair to protect your scalp from the everyday dirt and grime
that assaults us every day, you'll want to consider your scalp as an extension of your face. Use your daily facial cleanser on your scalp as
well as on your face to remove dirt and oils and to prevent blemishes.
You also need to remember to apply a sunscreen to the scalp, since the newly exposed skin will be
very sensitive to sun damage. The sunscreen can be included in a moisturizer to help prevent the loss of moisture of the scalp and avoid a dry, scaly appearance.
