want a flesh color pate

[Marcam]

Hi guys,

I started shaving my head March 20th, and have gone from using Fusion Power to using the Headblade (with Atra blades - $6.50 for 15).

I'm just wondering if / what I need to do to get my head to look the color of the rest of my skin.  No matter how close I shave, and how smooth it feels, it's still the "five o'clock shadow" color.

Would this be fixed by tanning, maybe?

[TheSlyBear]

Welcome to SBG!

If by tanning you mean getting too much sun or resorting to tanning salons, skin cancer doesn't make anyone look better.

The shadow you see is something everyone who still has hair has. As the skin on your head darkens, which it will do naturally over time without resorting to ultraviolet, it will become less noticeable, but will never go away completely.

[Marcam]

Don't worry, I'm not the tanning booth sort.

I'm actually a programmer by trade and a geek by choice, so the only time my skin sees sun is during my commute, and occasionally on weekends -- and with the weather we've been having, I'm still waiting for that to happen.

I was just checking if that was something that would sort itself out over time / sunlight.

[D.A.L.U.I.]

Depending on the color of your remaining hair you'll have a shadow to one degree or another that defines your hairline.  Although it is lessened by the natural tanning that occurs it will always be there much as your face has a shadow of your beard.  As time and mpb march on the top of your head will become very much like the rest of your skin, but the side--that will be a shadow like your beard, but somewhat less pronounced unless you have very dark and dense remaining hair.  Frankly only another sly guy who shaves his head would notice.  Not to worry---always looks better than the Bozo ring or hairy toilet seat that would be there if you didn't shave! 

[Marcam]

That's what I was hoping to hear

My hair is (was, I should say!) almost unnaturally dark, thick, and very stiff - to the point that I couldn't think because of overheating if it had been more than 3 weeks since my last haircut.  The rare times I've let it grow out, it always goes straight out into an afro.

I'm loving my daily shave now, though.

[Mr Jules]

I'm loving my daily shave now, though.

Good man. 

Been shaving sly now for 3 months. During the second month notice my head taking on natural skin tones, too. Yours will too.

[Lynchy]

I'm loving my daily shave now, though.

Welcome!
Couldnt agree more!

[kalbo]

Welcome to the Brotherhood of the Bald

[Paul the Headblader]

It's the shadow effect you're talking about.
It happens to all the guys that have hair but decide to shave it off.
You'll get used to it, and it'll be less visible in time.
Whath out for the UV, it may really mess up your life

[Baldstu]

It's the shadow effect you're talking about.
It happens to all the guys that have hair but decide to shave it off.
You'll get used to it, and it'll be less visible in time.
Whath out for the UV, it may really mess up your life

All humans and animals hav to respect the sun

The morefair skinned you are , more respect , Paul is right . Sun ages skin , seen that happen to friends ,alsoseen a couple of guys end up in casualy who got really ill .us sly guys heavy duty sunscreen and a hat . Dont mess with the sun . I peronally favour the victorian craze of pale faces .

[Sir Harry]

Welcome aboard and Good Luck!

[Mike]

I have noticed that when I first shaved, I had the same problem. My hair is still at the same rate of growth it was when I first started but now the shadow isn't as noticable. Maybe the hair is used to being shaved or my scalp has toughed to allow better color but either way, my shadow is much less noticeable now

[yelloboy32]

First day back to the shave and the shadow is the reason that I've had the back and forth battle of shaving vs. super low over the last five years. Now, I'm fully committed and know over time, the shadow will become less noticeable.

[waine]

Marcam, thanks for your post, I am coming to terms with my overly light scalp colour and my whatever "O clock" shadow. My skin looks green sometimes under the office lights' which I am not happy about. I find myself tanning under the winter sun out of desperation. It may be working. I will persevere as a 33 day baldie.

SaintC, I almost pissed myself laughing at your post! "The Bozo ring."