Finaly did the deed - never looking back

[MattTheRicker]

Hey guys!

I am 25, and teach high school choir. My hair had been slowly going bald since I graduated from High School. I tried a combover for awhile, and eventually decided that I would just buzz my hair short to try to cover up for the bald spot on my head. Over time I kept buzzing it shorter and shorter, and had finally had enough. As soon as the school year was over, I read some of the posts on this board to work up the courage, and a little more than a week ago, I finally did the deed. I didn't have many of the awful irritation problems that some other guys have reported. I got my headblade in the mail today and used it for the first time tonight - it was a bloodbath. I'm pretty sure that I was using too much pressure. The device definitely has a learning curve to it.

I do have a question, though: After I shave, my head feels completely smooth, yet most of my head looks like I still have very short stubble - mostly around the sides. It is obviously completely smooth, so I am wondering what the heck is going on and what to do about it. Any advice would be appreciated.

I'm excited to be part of 'The Brotherhood'!

[Timmay]

Welcome to the Forum bro. Glad to have yo here

[PBurke]

welcome bro. that is just the dreaded shadow. until that hair goes away, we all have to deal with it.

[Mikekoz13]

Welcome to the Forum! As PAulie said... it's just the shadow... no big deal.......

[Paul]

Welcome Matt.  The other bros have it right, it's just shadow and you pretty much have to just deal with it.   That is the one advantage of going grey, you shadow becomes hardly noticeable.    And you are right about the Headblade, the pressure needs to be on the wheels and not on the blade.  Take it slow and easy and you will get the hang of it in no time. 

[schro]

Welcome Matt.
Way to give Mother Nature the Bird!

Paul is right, keep the pressure on the back of the HeadBlade (wheels or little plastic nub on the "Classic" version) and the nicks will be a thing of the past.

[GaryT]

Hey welcome brother! It's been said many times but the shadow is normal. If you've lurked here you should know all the posts that come from guys that are looking at lasers etc as a way to permenatly get rid of it.

[Papa Don]

Welcome to the site Matt.  So glad you have joined in our World.  I can definately say that you will like it here.  These guys are the best.

[adam_r_todd]

Looks great.  Welcome.   

[bem75]

Welcome.  The shadow will get better, over time.  I was using Rogaine, prior to accepting my baldness.  I stopped using it, when I starting shaving my head.  Since then (about 4 months), I can tell that I have lost a lot of the hair that the Rogaine was saving.  So, the shadow is diminishing, along with the hair that was once there.

Also, I thought that I was getting it smooth at first.  Then, I learned a few secrets and it is now smoother than I ever thought possible.  That has also helped with the shadow.  In fact, a guy told me last night that my head looked the smoothest that it has ever looked.  He even commented that there was no shadow.  Cool!

So, keep with it and read through the Shaving Techniques post in the Head Shaving forum.  That was a huge help for me.

[Sooner Steve]

ONe of the things I do to help with the shadow is to shave against the grain of how my hair grows.  It grows at different angles on my head. So I have to adjust and shave that direction.  It takes a little longer but I see a smoother shave.  Good luck.

[joergHH]

Welcome here!

Glad you found this best site of the web.

Very good looking sly head.

I'm a Headblader too. It's a learning curve and finally you have the smoothest feeling.

Best wishes.

J

[Razor X]

Looks terrific.  Welcome!

[DCdome]

Hey Matt!

Welcome aboard,  Don't worry about THE SHADOW.  Just keep the head smooth.  As time goes by and you experiment a bit (and as others have suggested) you will probably be able to get an even closer shave and that will help.  Alternatively, just grow old like me and the grey hair takes care of the problem.  Of course, other problems develop like hair in the ear and ..... well, you'll find out on your own in time.

But most importantly:  congrats on shaving the dome and it's great to have you in the brotherhood.

[Razor X]

When you get a little more color on your scalp the shadow won't be quite as noticeable.