Hi Guys! New here, need some advice.

[slaspisa1]

Hey Everyone,

I've been a lurker for a while, and this place has been an awesome resource! Recently decided to become a member in hopes of getting some advice. I've posted a few before pictures of me when I was buzzing down to a 1, and within the last month, I've decided to take it all the way, as you can see in the other pictures. My questions are:

1. You can see that I still have that "shadow" and it doesnt appear that it is shaved down all the way, my whole head feels smooth, but I cant seem to get it down to get the real sly look. Any advice or tips? I shave with that new "glide razor" the one with the ball that contours to your skin.

2. Secondly as you can see from the one picture, I get a pretty bad rash, and break out after shaving, is there anything I can do to help with this?

Thanks again to everyone who posts here, you guys are awesome!

Link to pictures:

[tobler1]

Hello.  You look excellent smooth, so I hope you're enjoying it.  I can't really speak to the rash issue, since I've never had that problem.  As for your shadow, well, there really is nothing you can do.  I have a full head of hair, and I have a full-on shadow as a result.  Wherever you have hair you are shaving, you will shadow unless you're willing to go to the extreme and expense of laser hair removal or something like that.  So my advice is to enjoy how you look and keep shaving!

[gwsmallwood]

I have the shadow too, no matter how close my shave is.  The rash sounds like too much pressure and or too many passes with the razor.  You might consider moving to a wet shave routine at a minimum,  maybe even combined with moving away from the cartridges and over to a DE safety razor.  That's what I did.  If you don't want to take the time for that and your set on cartridge razors, at least eliminate any ATG (against the grain) passes.

[slymyke]

Welcome, Slaspisa1!

Luckily for you, both looks work great for you.  You can go with a short buzz or shave it. 

I don't think the shadow is bad at all on your shaved shots.  A lot of guys get great results by using a shave oil to reduce irritation.

I don't shave daily, and so I don't use it.  I don't mind the stubble in between, but I'm also lucky to have hair that doesn't seem to really start showing for a few days.

[reddog]

One way to lessen the shadow is to get some tan on the dome. Tobler, actually there is a way to have no shadow at all. Wait until you have all grey hair! I am bbc, and have no shadow at all.

[Frontier Guy]

One way to lessen the shadow is to get some tan on the dome. Tobler, actually there is a way to have no shadow at all. Wait until you have all grey hair! I am bbc, and have no shadow at all.

LOL reddog ... I was going to post the same thought until I read yours. My shadow doesn't show either because the hair is gray. That may be the ONLY virtue of maturity!

[Magoo]

The shadow you will have to live with. The breakout is from trying to hard to diminish the shadow.Try not going  atg for awhile and use some witchhazel after.

[Sir Harry]

Welcome! In the future when you razor shave, try rubbing your head with an ice cube. That helps close pores and prevent breakouts. Sadly, shadow is a part of life for us baldies.

[Goatee]

Welcome.

When shaving always shave with soap / cream on the head. When you remove the soap/cream dont go over that patch until you re apply the stuff. Also, dont press down to hard.

A good product i use is called 'Bump Patrol'. Really a great product for you head. Look it up on google.

All the best

[slaspisa1]

Wow guys!

Thanks for the awesome responses, I'm going to give some of these ideas a try to reduce irritation, I suppose I'll have to live with the shadow, as mentioned. Thanks!

[invaray]

Something that helped me was Noxzema. A product that has been around for years, contains camphor menthol and eucalyptus oil. It cleans the pores makes your head feel better and moisturizes. Put in on your head leave it a while and wash off. I remembered my sister walking around with this stuff on her face when I was a kid and gave it a try on my head.

[120inna55]

You've received excellent advice so far.

1.  If your head is smooth, the shadow is your dark hair under the skin. As reddog said, a tan will lessen it.

2.  The rash can be a little more complex.  It took my daily shaving for a month and then every other day shaving for an additional month before my skin got used to it and settled down.  I'm bald-by-choice (BBC).  So, I have a smooth scalp for 4 to 6 hours after shaving, then I have velcro stubble that can take the pillow case off a pillow with one turn of the head.

Rash/bumps/redness can be difficult to judge.  Un-raised, redness without bumps will likely respond well to continued daily shaving, but taking care to reduce repeated passes.  Raised areas and bumps probably require resting the scalp.

Keeping a sharp clean blade is important.  Dunk or spritz your blade with isopropyl alcohol or Barbicide after each shave.  Also, make sure you wash your scalp well prior to shaving.  I recommend Lucky Tiger Face Wash.  Get your scalp really wet with water that is as warm as you can comfortably stand (comfortably is the operative word).  Apply about a quarter-sized puddle of Lucky Tiger in your palm and agitate it in your hands a few seconds, then vigorously rub it into your scalp.  It will not lather up much, but once it becomes slightly foamy, you've agitated it enough.  Then rinse.  You scalp may feel a little slick like you didn't completely rinse off the product.  That's ok, and it will act as a pre-shave oil. 

Then use your shaving cream/soap.  Even if you don't intend to start wet shaving with a double-edge razor, I highly recommend to move up to quality shaving soaps or creams applied with a brush.  While there are many from which to choose, and that discussion is beyond the scope of this thread, let me just say that the goal of a brush-applied cream or soap is to be a slick shiny barrier---not light and airy.  Shaving cream in a can actually dries your scalp because of the propellants.  The manufacturer counters this by adding artificial lubricants which don't quite cut it.  Folks without skin issues may not have any problems with this. I know folks who shave with water only.  My skin won't abide with that, and I'll bet yours won't either.

When you shave, rinse your blade often.  As has been stated, if there is no cream or soap on the area, resist the urge to shave it.  Don't try to remove all the stubble on the first pass.  Change your goal such that you are simply taking down the stubble with each pass.  This will keep you from compulsing over on area and repeatedly dragging a blade over it. For a while, maybe reduce your standards.  Don't try to get BBS all over.  You will find that you don't see what you actually feel.  Your skin will thank you.

When you're done, rinse with warm water.  Don't try to dry your scalp completely with a towel.  Do not scrub your scalp.  Just blot it a little.  Then splash on some witch hazel (chilled works best and feels good).  Next, either rinse with cold water or rub down your scalp with ice cubes.  The melting ice will rinse the witch hazel. I found that just leaving the witch hazel on my scalp caused redness (I have uber sensitive skin), but I needed it for it's antiseptic properties.  I get bumps otherwise.  Then, while your scalp is still a little damp, apply a good balm or aftershave.  Nivea for Men Sensitive Post Shave Balm is a good one you can get at most places.  If you prefer an after shave, try Speik.  Then, for about 30 minutes, try not to sweat.  If you do, re-rinse and apply after shave splash again. You may want to try using an alum block instead of the witch hazel.

One caveat: Be careful about using too many products (pre-shave oils, after-shave balms, lotions, etc.)  For instance, if I use the Thayer's Alcohol-Free Unscented Witch Hazel with Aloe Vera and leave it on, then apply Nivea afterwards, I get a raised rash.  I tried it out by doing that on my shoulder.  I made an "x" with the Nivea and within seconds, I had a raised "x".  The Thayer's or Nivea alone won't do it. Rinsing off the Thayer's eliminated the issue.  The point is, if you vary too many products at once, you may run into issues and have difficulty identifying the culprit.

[ksshane]

I dont really have much to add.  You already got some terrific advice.   

Im just going to say I have two small areas on the back of dome that I tend to over work because the hair grows at an odd angle.  So from time to time I get a little razor burn in those areas...   I use a generic aloe gel daily that I picked up at the local drug store and I never break out with a rash or anything.

Having said that.   I think you already got plenty of better advice and I see a few things Im going to try myself.