27 and decided to shave

[Frias]

Hi. Greetings from Portugal.

I´ve decided to shave my head, but before I do that, I have some questions you might hopefully answer me.

First of all, let me apologyse if my English isn´t totally right.

I´m going to shave my head. First I´ll use a clipper, then I´m afraid to use the razor. I´m thinking that an electric shaver would be less agressive to the skin and would irritate less than the razor or not cause razor bumps.
What do you advice? And why?

Thank you.

[reddog]

Yes, you can use an electric shaver and you will be bald. I use one alot. You might not be baby butt smooth, but you won't see any hair. Make sure you clip it super short first. I have used a beard trimmer.

[invaray]

(1) trim your hair as short as you can with an electric trimmer being careful not to scrape your skin.

(2) take a warm shower.

(3) with hair still wet apply shaving cream

(4) use a razor like mach 3 the blades are spaced enough apart wont clog too often.

(5) rinse with cool water.

(6) enjoy your smooth head

You can use an electric razor first it just wont cut as close as a razor.

 http://www.headshaver.org/shave_your_head.html

[Frias]

Yes, you can use an electric shaver and you will be bald. I use one alot. You might not be baby butt smooth, but you won't see any hair. Make sure you clip it super short first. I have used a beard trimmer.

Thank you.

First I´ll trim my hair very shortly and then I´m thinking to use the Philips Aquatouch. Will it work well? How often do you use your electric shaver? Since it´s my first time, I´m afraid to use right away the razor because I don´t want to have irritated scalp or razor bumps. If I use the Philips, that will not happen, right?

[mrzed]

When I first shaved my head, I had been using a Wahl clipper with no guard for several weeks first.  Then used a Schick Hydro 5 razor With The Grain WTG.  Did that for about a week. Then ventured into ATG (against the grain), and it was VERY SMOOTH.  I still shave with a razor (Head Blade Sport -- not the ATX you can get in stores. It does not shave close enough, and they will admit this).

Never used an electric razor on my head.  It did not shave close enough on my chin. Never thought of using it on my head either.

[AJ Q-Ball]

Welcome Frias! I've never used an electric razor on my head because I never cared to use it on my face. I always preferred wetshaving.  If you use a regular razor, make sure you shave WTG. ATG can give you a nasty case of razor burn, especially since your scalp is not used to being shaved.  Like the others have said, clip off all of the long hair first before you apply shaving cream/gel.

[Cave Dweller]

Welcome, Frias!

Like Invaray and AJ, I don't think you have anything to fear about the blade razor if you go slow and shave with the grain of your hair the first few times. It is the same kind of process you probably went through when learning to shave your beard. It just takes some practice to get your scalp accustomed to the blade.

In any case, it is good to have you with us, sir.

[Frias]

Thanks for the feedback, but like I´ve said, I´m from Portugal and in the stores there isn´t that much choice of products like clippers or aftershaves that specifically prevent ingrown hair or razor bumps.

I don´t want to be like a strawberry with all the irritation and "redness" in my scalp because I have a sensitive skin. That´s the main reason I´m afraid to use a razor. With the electric shaver, it will cause less irritation on the skin and less prone to ingrown hair, right?
I don´t shave my beard with razors in many years, in fact I have a long beard that I groom with an electric trimmer and I think that this look will be nice to me.

So I´m thinking I´ll first use the electric shaver in the firsts weeks then when the skin is used to, I´ll shave WTG with a gillete proglide styler. What to you think?

I´ve been reading the others posts and you seem all very friendly, like the "baldhood of the razor".

[gwsmallwood]

I think it's fine to start with clippers at no guard and go from there.  I started that way for 30 days and decided I wanted to try shorter.  So I moved to a beard trimmer for a few weeks before deciding that I wanted to move to a razor.  Now I've moved on to DE razors, and I'm already contemplating straights.

Start with what's easiest and find the spot that works best for you.  You might decide that clippers are short enough for you to be comfortable and not need to worry about moving on to a razor.