Frequently Asked Questions

No, I can't.

I do not manufacture nor do I distribute any shaving-related product. In fact, I do not sell any products at all on this site. I am not financially connected with any enterprise that makes or distributes any shaving-related product. I don't have an 'in' with any such person or company.

I occasionally get a free sample from a distributor or manufacturer, but that's a rare thing. There's no advertising on this site, and I don't get money from other people for reviewing or mentioning their products, so I'm not making any money from this site at all. I'm not the right person to ask for free stuff.

If you're looking for free samples, try checking out websites that specialize in getting free stuff. Yahoo has a listing of freebie sites which lists at least 100 different websites that may be worth checking. Or type the name of the product you're hoping to get and keywords like 'free' or 'giveaway' into Google or some other search engine. Sometimes, you can get lucky by contacting the manufacturer or a retailer directly, as well. Good luck.

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I'm not aware of a proper term. Terms that I've heard or read include: bald, bald-by-choice, shaved, smooth, hairless, skinhead, Mr. Clean, cue-balled, and smooth-skulled. Other terms exist; use what you are most comfortable with. Note, however, that "skinhead" properly refers to a subculture that got its start as a working-class movement in England in the 60's, and is not really appropriate for the majority of people with shaved heads. Bald is probably the most proper term for anyone without hair.

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Well, it depends. If you follow the advice on this page closely, you shouldn't bleed, and it shouldn't hurt. There is sometimes some slight irritation, which usually indicates that you passed over your scalp too many times with the blade, or that you were pressing too hard. Nothing serious, but it's an indication that you should take it easier next time.

It's likely, though, that if you shave your head regularly, you will, at some point, nick yourself. I've been shaving since 1996, and I've nicked myself many times, usually due to inattention. You get used to shaving day after day, and you slip. Or sometimes it's because I'm in a rush, and not sufficiently careful.

Cutting yourself while shaving your head is not normally something to be worried about, though. It's not that painful, the bleeding doesn't last very long, and it heals pretty quickly.

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I don't normally offer recommendations for how often one should shave. After all, it's really a matter of personal choice: how smooth you want your scalp to be, how sensitive your skin is, and how much work you want to put in.

I've communicated with people who only shave once a week, people who shave a couple of times a week (like me, usually once every 2 or 3 days), those who shave daily, and a select few who actually shave more than once per day. Each choice has its advantages and disadvantages.

Personally, I like shaving every 2nd day. After the 2nd day, the stubble's a bit much for me. But I don't really want to shave every day, as it gets a bit tiresome.

A good rule of thumb is: you'll probably want to shave your head as often as you normally shave your face. The stubble will grow at the same rate on your scalp as on your face.

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Shaving your head will not, in and of itself, affect the rate of your hair's growth in any way. However, belief that shaving does affect hair growth is common. There's an article in the ShaverLog about this.

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Any reasonably sharp razor and any good shaving cream should produce decent results, if used with due diligence. However, some products are more comfortable and easier to use than others, and may produce better results.

Personally, I prefer the Gillette Mach 3 razor and Edge ProGel shaving cream, and have used them for years. You may or may not like them as much as I do. Check out my page of product reviews for alternate suggestions.

You may also wish to read this ShaverLog article about razor blades and this ShaverLog article about shaving cream, for more comments about these products.

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There are two precautions that occur to me, depending on the time of year that you shave your head.

If you shave your head in the warmer part of the year, you'll probably notice that your freshly shaved scalp is lighter in colour than your face and the rest of your body. This is because your hair has been sheltering your scalp, and the skin hasn't synthesized melanin (ie. you haven't tanned in that area). At this point, your scalp is more vulnerable to getting sunburned than the rest of your skin. You should always protect your skin from the sun, but at this early stage, it's especially important to wear sunscreen to protect yourself.

If you shave your head in the colder part of the year, you'll probably notice that you feel breezes more than you used to. Before you shave, your hair provides some insulation against drafts and cold. Just after shaving, you'll probably be especially sensitive to breezes, because your scalp just hasn't experienced direct breezes before. It's analagous to wearing a beard for a while, and then shaving it; for a while, your face is more sensitive too. Gradually your scalp will become accustomed to the change, and you won't be over-sensitive. In the meantime, though, wearing a hat if it's cold or windy may provide the protection you want.

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As mentioned in the previous question, if you shave your head during the warmer months, you'll often notice a difference in skin tone between your scalp and the rest of your skin. This is because your hair acts as a barrier to sunlight, and as a result, your scalp hasn't had much opportunity to synthesize melanin (ie. tan).

Given sufficient exposure to sunlight, your scalp will tan and will eventually match the tone of the rest of your skin. For most people, a week or two is all it will take, given moderate exposure to the sun each day.

For those who can't wait that long, and can't stand to have a pale head, there are always 'sunless tanning' products, which will help darken your skin until such time as it is sufficiently tanned on its own. I've never used such a product, so I cannot recommend one personally. Check out Sunless.com for product reviews, advice, and more. There's also a ShaverLog article about sunless tanning that you might want to check out.

Remember, though, that at this stage your scalp is especially vulnerable to sunburn. Don't overexpose your head to the sun just to get a tan. Remember to wear sunscreen if you're going to be outside for any significant length of time. Sunburns on the scalp can be very painful.

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Most people are not intimidated by a shaved skull, but some people do have a reaction to it. There are multiple reasons for this. One possible reason is that the shaved head has been associated with some nasty things in the past decade or two, including neo-nazi skinheads, bikers, and convicts. Much of the "nasty-ness" of this image is media-manufactured, but some people hang on to these images and stereotypes. Another reason is that the shaved head is still outside the norm. Though more and more people are doing it, it's still a small percentage of the overall population. Anything not completely mainstream will tend to provoke some negative reaction. Finally, there may be a connection with our primitive past. The loss of hair on top of our heads, especially when combined with the growth of facial hair, tends to emphasize our jaws and teeth, our natural weapons. This is also a possible evolutionary explanation for male pattern baldness, mentioned in an answer to a question on the Discovery Channel a while back.

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Once you shave your head, you'll hear this one often, especially in winter. It's often accompanied by the observation that most of our body heat is lost through our head. While this is true, it's also true that most of that is lost through our ears. Having no hair is (theoretically) only 20% colder than having a full head of hair. Seriously, though, it is colder, but not as much as many people think it is. It's analagous to a full beard vs. a shaved face. If it's really cold outside, most people wear a hat anyway, shaved or not.

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It's fashion, pure and simple. Fashion goes in cycles, always moving along on some whim or fancy, always changing. Eventually, most everything under the sun will be fashionable for a time (remember the 70's?), and then will fade away. There's no real rhyme or reason.

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There are other methods of removing your hair, but as in everything, they each have advantages and disadvantages. In my opinion, shaving is the easiest and cheapest method of hair removal, and the other available methods each have serious drawbacks that would prevent most people from using them.

There's an article here which offers more details about the different possible methods of hair removal.

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Razor bumps are a serious problem that affects men with coarse or curly hair. It's especially common among African-Americans and people of Middle Eastern descent.

There's a detailed article here with information about avoiding it and treating it, plus some links for additional information.

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I'm aware of two specific products that match this description.

The first is the HeadBlade. It's a product sold by a company in California. They have a webpage at www.headblade.com, which contains a lot of information about the product. You can purchase their product through the page, also. I have tried and reviewed this product, so you can check it out on this page.

The second is the DOVO Headshaver. There's a review of it here; it's available for purchase from Classic Shaving.

One person who asked this question insisted that there is another product designed for head-shaving besides the HeadBlade, and it was electric in nature. Generally speaking, most electric shavers can be used to shave one's head, though they're not specifically designed for it (see this question).

An anonymous visitor recently pointed out the Wahl Baldfader. It can be purchased from Amazon and other retailers. The Baldfader is "an ultra-close clipper with fine-tooth, surgical steel blades that create and maintain today's extremely close fades to bald hair styles", according to Amazon's description. I don't think this is the product I was originally asked about, but it might serve someone's needs.

If anyone is aware of another product that is specifically designed to shave one's head, let me know.

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Most of the email I get is from men who want to shave their heads, but I've received a few notes from women who wanted to shave their heads and were hoping for information or links that were specific to them. Most of my advice applies equally to men and women (I think).

For more information, try these links (thanks to Jim for bringing them to my attention):

Baldfiles (Includes a message board)
Bald is Beautiful on Women (Plenty of pictures, and lots of links)
Why some women shave their heads
Untressed - A book by Lunette Press, full of artistic nudes featuring women with shaved heads.

Also, I've added a small section to the site that's specifically for women, which includes some additional links.

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No, I haven't. I have heard from people who have done this, however. They indicate that they don't get as close a shave when using an electric shaver on their scalp, but at least one person indicated that they liked the results. Personally, I don't feel comfortable with the idea of using an electric shaver on my scalp. My head has bumps and curves that I don't believe an electric shaver can accomodate as well as my razor, but that's my preference. I know of nothing that would prevent you from using an electric shaver if you would prefer.

I do have a few reviews of electric shavers, which you can find on the Reviews page. They have been submitted by other people who have tried electrics and have passed their comments on to me.

I recently received the following comments from John Brooks [john6411 (at) yahoo (dot) com]:

In response to this question on your FAQ page, I currently use a Norelco Reflex with the lift and cut system. You were correct in your statement that the cut is not as close as a blade, but it is quite satisfactory for everyday use. I find it easier to use the electric on an everyday basis, and use a blade on those occasions when I want a really close shave.

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