few beginner questions!

[Poozlies]

Not sure if this was the right place to post this, but I shaved my head yesterday (posted some pics in the intro subforum)

but had a few beginner questions:

What should I wash my head with in the shower?

Are there any recommended brands of hats (cheap but good) or retailers or types you guys would recommend?

And i've seen a few posts here mentioning a brush, are they talking about a shaving brush(which i have) or a brush to rub on the head? (weird question but i have to ask haha)

THAnks!!

[Cave Dweller]

In the shower, I use a plain old bar soap. Dial, usually.

Yeah, the brush everyone talks about is the shaving brush. The higher quality ones are made from badger, but there are good boar bristles out there too that cost a lot less. The biggest thing to remember when buying any brush is to get a stand for it. I have a really cheap, plastic one ($4.50) that I keep in my medicine cabinet. It hangs the brush bristles down, so the water does not go into the handle. Water in the handle not only will grow mildew, it loosens the glue that holds the bristles, thus causing the whole brush to fall apart.

Like I said in another thread, I normally just use a bandanna or do-rag to cover my head.

[Poozlies]

In the shower, I use a plain old bar soap. Dial, usually.

Yeah, the brush everyone talks about is the shaving brush. The higher quality ones are made from badger, but there are good boar bristles out there too that cost a lot less. The biggest thing to remember when buying any brush is to get a stand for it. I have a really cheap, plastic one ($4.50) that I keep in my medicine cabinet. It hangs the brush bristles down, so the water does not go into the handle. Water in the handle not only will grow mildew, it loosens the glue that holds the bristles, thus causing the whole brush to fall apart.

Like I said in another thread, I normally just use a bandanna or do-rag to cover my head.

cool! thank you! yeah i have one hat but I'm going to go for your advice and go get a nice bandanna tomorrow until I adjust more to the hat. haha thanks!

[mrzed]

I rarely use a hat. In winter, if I'm going to be out, I wear a knitted pull on cap.  Rest of the year, just use sun screen liberally if I'm going to be out for any length of time.


The brush is the shaving brush. Nice for lathering up the shaving cream and putting it on your head and repeat if needed.  I have the cheap brush for now, but hope to win the nicer brush from Mike K, in the Scotty's ride raffle.

[tomcj2]

I own over 50 brushes.  I prefer Badger, but I also have two great Boars brushes and 1 good synthetic.  In another forum that I belong to there is much discussion about hanging brushes vs standing them up to dry.  The consensus is: it makes no difference.  I don't notice any difference.  After I rinse the brush and shake it out I squeeze it in a dry towel and hang or stand it up to dry.  I think that it is important to have at least 2 brushes so they dry out thoroughly between uses.

Badger brushes need not be expensive.  I have bought a few complete brushes and several knots from
http://www.whippeddog.com/

$28(actually pay the additional $5 and have the handle drilled for a shorter loft)  will get you a nice looking Silvertip Badger brush delivered to your door (in the USA)

[Timmer]

I usually just wash with a nylon mesh scrubby thing and one of the Nivea for Men body washes/shampoos.  The nylon may be a bit too harsh for someone just starting out.  When I started I just used soap and a washrag.

I've got a variety of baseball caps that I pick up here and there.  I like a good boonie hat or bucket hat if I'm going to be out in the sun for a long period of time as the tops of my ears burn worse than my head does.  For spring and fall I have an Irish Tweed Newsboy cap and a Fedora.  For winter I wear a Stormy Kromer or a watch cap.

I don't use a brush, just some shaving creme or Headblade Headslick.  I can only justify so many things at one time for my personal grooming.  If I start using more than my wife does, something's wrong.

[g_bald]

I love my shaving brush. I don't recall it being too expensive, but it is a badger hair brush. I love the crisp brushes on the nearly shorn scalp, rubbing in the soap/Headslick (depending on what I feel like), plus I think it helps make the hair stick up a little more to really get a nice, close shave.

I try to go with light hats (I mean weight not necessarily color)... Under Armour makes some nice lightweight hats. They sit well and feel good. I generally wear one because I can burn easily if I forget to wear a protectant.

As for the shower I have used regular soap (I got a bunch of Lever 2000 a while back and working though that) or a body wash (right now I am using the Old Spice body wash).