First time head-shaving - doing it myself

• First time head-shaving - doing it myself by regularJ101 on 07 Jan, 2012 17:48
• So I'm in a stressed out mood right now. I work in a dollar store as a cashier and at the end of my shift today there was $80 missing in my cash register. I've had shortages in my cash a few times, but this has been the highest so far. I had a short of $40 about 2 months ago and my boss made me sign a paper. Not only that, I had a short of $20 yesterday. So that's 2 shortages in a row, even though my boss made no mention of it when we saw each other today, it's pretty bad when you have 2 high shortages in a row...
  
  You're probably wondering what this has to do with head-shaving. I'll get to the point now. Tomorrow is my scheduled date to shave my head for the first time. I really do not want to shave my head at the barber's, then go to work and have my boss fire me (if he will, that is). Can you guys imagine that kind of feeling? Whatever I'll be feeling about my shaved head (happy or upset, relieved, free), and then having it all crashed with me being fired... So what I plan on doing instead is shaving my head after work (if I will work) and shaving my head by myself since all the barbers will be closed at the end of my shift.
  
  Is this an okay idea? Will it be dangerous or a bad idea to do it myself the first time? Can I use regular razors I use for my face? Will it take longer? What do you guys think?
• #1 by Ming the Merciless on 07 Jan, 2012 18:16
• Razors won't work well on a regular length hair--at least not with any ease or speed.  Other posts in the past give aspects of the following advice, which I'm sure someone will amplify on and improve.
  
  First, the hair needs to be buzzed very short with electric hair clippers (the barber would do this, too).  Clippers w/o a "guard."  If you have no clippers, buy a pair.  You might say, "Why spend money on something I'll use once?"  Well, you will have them should you shuttle between hair and sly in the future.  I found my pair a useful investment.  So, clippers, and this will leave you with hair only a millimeter or so long.  Do this over a newspaper and in front of a mirror, and get the neck, too (a hand mirror is a big help).  THEN you need to think "razor."
  
  But hydrate that hair first!  Shower and shampoo thoroughly.  With hair softened, what follows is just what I do when I go from "some hair" to sly.  I lather with almost any shaving cream (some swear by gels, but I find cheap foam works OK for me)--not thickly, just put some on the palm of the hand and smear it all over the dome.  Then, to save money by not using a high-tech blade for what is basically prep work for the future, I sacrifice one or two disposable razors with the first passes.  Take it slow, a few square inches at a time, rinsing the blade after each pass.  I shave m.o.l. against the grain first pass.  Then, I lather a second time and use the first razor a second time, or the second razor the first.  And shave again.  Wipe the head clean and with your hand feel for spots that still feel rough, and touch up with as many (un-lathered) passes as needed to produce what smoothness you want (or can get).  Throw out the disposables and get one of the regular razors sly guys recommend on various posts for future shaving.
  
  I have, however, said in the past that most razors will produce relatively OK results unless you are hypercritical about matters, but I won't get into debates about "My razor is better than your razor, nyah, nyah!"
  
  You might move even to the next stage, once you achieve sly, and put a nice shine on the dome with one of the HeadLube products--I use "Glossy" and I glitter in the sun.
• #2 by regularJ101 on 07 Jan, 2012 18:19
• Why can't I just cut the hair by pulling lightly and cutting at the end all over the scalp, and then shave?
• #3 by Slynito on 07 Jan, 2012 19:01
• You'd have to be tougher than a one eared alley cat to do it that way. Ming, knows what he's talking about. Buzz the hair down to the scalp and then proceed like he suggested...good advice.
  
   
• #4 by regularJ101 on 07 Jan, 2012 19:32
• Quote from: Slynito on 07 Jan, 2012 19:01

  You'd have to be tougher than a one eared alley cat to do it that way. Ming, knows what he's talking about. Buzz the hair down to the scalp and then proceed like he suggested...good advice.
  
   
  

  
  I don't understand. What is so tough about it? I'm going to cut all my hairs until they're super short and then shave it. It's like shaving a beard, only with more hair, right? Plus, I won't have the time to get that kind of equipment tomorrow and I want to be different before going back to school Monday.
• #5 by kalbo on 07 Jan, 2012 19:47
• You seem to be determined to go ahead with your plan, nothing wrong with that. It might take a longer time since you will be starting with long hair. Just be careful with the scissors and have ample supply of razors, enjoy the transformation and post before and after pics if you can. Best regards.
• #6 by Paul the Headblader on 07 Jan, 2012 23:14
• sorry you had to pay that cash!
  Shave to become free!