welcome to the forum. looking good. and the video was cool - did I count that you lathered and scraped 4 times? just be careful you don't get your scalp irritated.
Honestly, I didn't keep track. All I knew is that I wanted to take my time and do it right, without gouging my head or something. I knew if I was bleeding out anywhere or had any scabs, it'd take away from my confidence when it came to showing in public. From now on it obviously won't take that much time or that many "rinse and repeats." I will take note of your words though and make sure I keep it down so it takes less work.
I did follow the video with a shower and Nivea After Shave Balm on the head. So far no issues minus the occasional goosebumps from coldness. Feels incredibly strange but that shower previously felt GREAT.
I appreciate all the replies and comments so far. I had class tonight (my first truly public outing) and had a moment or two of self consciousness as I passed out test results to a class full of students for the teacher. I swear I heard a "because they're scared" at one point when I called names of those absent weren't replying and I asked to myself out loud "Really?"
However, even if they did say it, I felt okay with that considering I'm going to school to be a cop.
All in all, I have to say for those thinking of doing it:
Ya know, you can sit here and read everybody saying "JUST DO IT" as I did this morning. It won't matter what they say until you, yourself, know. And it's not a sudden epiphany where it all becomes clear, it's more of the fact you realize "hey, what the hell, I'm reading this forum so why NOT?!" I really don't personally recommend this for those with deeper self-esteem issues as-is. Shaving your head will NOT solve those issues and may, in fact, make those issues worse. However, that said, if you feel even just "okay" with who you are (read: you don't have be the most confident guy out there) and you're considering it, do it. You really have NOTHING to lose, minus the hair. I know reading it makes you feel one way but when you're going through the process, it's so different. Again, if you've just got an ounce of confidence in ya before you take the plunge and shave it all off, you're going to make it.
It may be rough for a little bit depending on how receptive you are to people (or on the other end of that: how paranoid you are) but you gotta throw that confidence you had before shaving back in your own face and say "ya know what, I'm doin' this" even if those times may come where you feel a bit outta place.
I won't say it's a spiritual rejuvenation or a cleansing, as I don't believe in that stuff. You won't add any confidence to your life if you had none to begin with when you shave everything. However, if you find that little bit that you have (or a lot in some cases) and use that as your foundation for doing it, I think anyone can pull this off.
It's weird the first day as you're passing cars in a parking lot and looking over to see yourself. Looking up at security camera displays and noticing no hair. It's not that its HARD, its just that its different. You're missing something that has been around you for years. Its a hard break up but as we all know, even breaking up with the one you thought you loved the most something else comes along and steals that spot right back.
Keep your head up, keep it shaved, and smile even if you're in line at the store looking up at yourself in the security TVs. You'll make it and in doing so, you'll be able to look back and know that you made it to a point that some people would love to have the balls to get to. That, in itself, is a confidence boost.
Anyway, now I'm ranting but yeah...
It's nice. It's definitely nice.