Read This Before Shaving Your Head
Changing up your look can be a sure-fire way to give you a big boost in confidence. Whether that means investing in some new clothes, getting a tattoo, or exploring a new haircut that you've always wanted to try, it can leave you feeling great. Glamour outlined that one of the boldest hair trends has become much more popular among women over the last few years: shaving your head.
It seems like an easy style to achieve but here's what to consider before going out and shaving your head yourself. Glamour wrote, "a buzzed head represents a fearless, done-hiding movement, and in both fiction and real life," and if you're thinking of shaving your head you'll be in the company of some seriously stylish people.
According to L'Oreal, shaving your head won't just cut down on styling time in the morning. It can be an awesome statement of your personal fashion. However, Esquire writes that it shouldn't be something you do on a whim and there's some preparation that needs to take place before you grab your clippers.
Plan ahead
Before you shave your head, Mackenzey Forrey, a stylist at Bumble and Bumble, told Esquire that it's good to know the shape of your head. It'll help you know what your outcome will look like. "A nice round head shape is best," they said, "Check for bumps, divots, ridges, and flatness. Face shape is not that important; anyone can shave their head if they want."
Similarly, Allure recommends that you pick how short you want to shave your hair before you do it. Look at pictures for inspiration and get to know the language associated with buzzing your hair. There are numbers associated with the size of your clipper guard. Zero is as close to the scalp as possible and it goes up to an eight.
Raquel Fajardo, a barber manager at Fellow Barber in New York, also told GQ that you should consider cutting your hair down as short as possible before you shave it. "If you don't get it short enough, you risk pulling hair and uncomfortable tugging when trying to administer the actual razor," she said.
Go to a professional the first time
Shaving your head may feel like a big style change. L'Oreal explains, "shaving your head for the first time is a big step, and it's one you may want to consider letting a professional handle. A hairstylist will trim your hair down first, then carefully buzz off the remainder of your mane for a perfectly shorn style."
Andrew McCormick, a stylist at Bumble and Bumble, echoes this to Esquire. He argues that you should treat buzz cuts like any other big hairstyle change. You may feel comfortable doing it yourself over time but not straight away. "Start by going to a professional," he said, "The professional can cut the hair you still have to balance out what you're lacking. This requires as much, if not more skill as any other haircut."
In order to come out with the look that you want, L'Oreal recommends that you look for people who are rocking a similar look that you want to try. Not all shaved hairstyles are the same and you have a few options. If you can show your stylist pictures it may help the initial big chop go as smoothly as possible.
Low maintenance doesn't mean no maintenance
You may think that cutting all of your hair off means that you can say goodbye to the days of treating and styling. However, Healthline explains that there may be some things to consider after shaving your head. As you're exposing your scalp to the elements, perhaps for the first time, you may notice that your skin becomes dry, itchy, or irritated, the outlet notes. Similarly, you may experience ingrown hairs and you should protect your head from the sun.
Maintenance may also be an issue as Allure details that your hair may grow back surprisingly quickly, meaning you may have to trim it more than you would with longer hair. Stylist Mackenzey Forrey told Esquire that depending on how fast your hair grows, you should consider getting a trim every three to four weeks.
GQ, meanwhile, recommends that straight after you've shaved your head, you should rinse with cold water in order to close your pores. You can also use tea tree oil or witch hazel, which has natural antibacterial ingredients. L'Oreal also recommends that you continue to shampoo and condition your hair and keep your scalp moisturized.