Sly Bald Guys Forum

Head Shaving, Grooming & Care => Trimming Your Head/Hair => Topic started by: Faustus on November 13, 2012, 06:37:42 PM

Title: Difference between #1 and #0?
Post by: Faustus on November 13, 2012, 06:37:42 PM
Hi everyone,

Quick bit of background information: I'm 22 and my hair is thinning on the top. As a result, I've been getting a buzz-cut which seems to help some. I've done a #2, #1.5, and #1.

My question is: how much different is a #1 to a #0?

I'm finding that even with a #1, it's still quite noticeable (more so from behind). I've added a few images. The shorter hair is a #1. The longer hair is about 2 months after a #1.5.

Any opinions on how a #0 would look?

Thanks
Title: Re: Difference between #1 and #0?
Post by: tomgallagher on November 13, 2012, 07:08:07 PM
Zero is as short as it gets but doesn't beat a razor.
Title: Re: Difference between #1 and #0?
Post by: Razor X on November 13, 2012, 07:22:44 PM
Zero is as short as it gets but doesn't beat a razor.

Actually, there is 000, 0000 -- all the way up to six zeroes (I think), but at that point it's um, splitting hairs.   :*))

Once you get down to a #1, you should really be fearless about going shorter, because it will grow back in a few days.    Buzz down to a zero and in three or four days it will grow back to a #1.  There's really no risk at this point.

And once you get down to zero, anything shorter will not look much different.  At that point, just shave it off because no one will notice the difference -- but it will feel a lot different.  You can get back to a #1 from a a full shave in a week.

So what are you waiting for?    ;D
Title: Re: Difference between #1 and #0?
Post by: warhawk on November 13, 2012, 07:31:42 PM
In baseball terms... zero is like hitting a triple.  Why go for a triple when you can hit a HOME RUN with a razor! O0  I love to hit HOME RUNS all the time.  Keep us posted in your road to slyness.

WARHAWK O0
Title: Re: Difference between #1 and #0?
Post by: mrzed on November 13, 2012, 07:31:48 PM
I agree with Razor X.

Once you go below #1, you might as well shave it all off with a razor blade. It will look about the same, but it feels much better shaved smooth.

Also the 'shadow' that you see in your photos with the buzz will be much less noticeable when you shave it bald. And in the RARE case that you don't like it shaved, you're only a few days until your back at a #1.

But do apply the 30 day rule should you shave.  There are many guys on this site who will testify: I struggled with making the shaving decision, but the moment I shaved my head I was wonder why I waited so long.

A shaved head is incredible, whether Bald by Nature or Bald by Choice ( BBN or BBC).

Let me urge you to shave your head now. Take the plunge. Go for it. You'll like it.

Title: Re: Difference between #1 and #0?
Post by: Laser Man on November 13, 2012, 07:37:18 PM
With a 0 buzz, your head will feel like sandpaper or Velcro.  At that point, you'll have an idea of what you'd look like shaved, but as the others have said, the feeling of being shaved is completely different (and infinitely better!)
Title: Re: Difference between #1 and #0?
Post by: Frontier Guy on November 13, 2012, 08:17:39 PM
I don't think I could cope with a zero cut.  The satisfaction of a smooth daily shave is SO worth the effort.

Try it. I'm betting you'll like it.
Title: Re: Difference between #1 and #0?
Post by: Andrei on November 13, 2012, 11:48:39 PM
IMO the #0 is better than the #1, but the razor is even better than the #0.
Experiment with the clipper settings and then with the razor too and see what you like best.
Title: Re: Difference between #1 and #0?
Post by: stasiu on November 14, 2012, 07:14:10 AM
IMO the #0 is better than the #1, but the razor is even better than the #0.
Experiment with the clipper settings and then with the razor too and see what you like best.

Agree with Andrei
Title: Re: Difference between #1 and #0?
Post by: Slynito on November 14, 2012, 09:24:45 AM
All good advice...if you tried shaving and didn't like it you can come back to a buzz in a few days or a week. Good luck.
Title: Re: Difference between #1 and #0?
Post by: bbcguytom on January 28, 2013, 10:11:37 PM
The pics entitled 'short' are the best, in my opinion.

Tom
Title: Re: Difference between #1 and #0?
Post by: MarkMusicNYC on January 31, 2013, 01:31:14 AM
I'm assuming you have adjustable clippers--the kind with the lever on the side and the plastic guards?

A #1 guard leaves hair at 1/8 of an inch, or about 7 days hair growth (which is, on average, 1/2 an inch a month).

Take the guard off and push the lever so the clippers are in the longest position. That's also called a #1 (because it's the same as a #1 blade on detachable clippers) and leaves hair at 3/32, or about 5 days of hair growth.

The lever in the middle position is called a 0A (zero A), and will leave about 2.5 days of hair growth.

The lever in the closed position is called a 000 (triple zero), and will leave you with 1 days' growth. That's the shortest that adjustable clippers can cut. FWIW, most people would perceive a head clippered with a 000 as being shaved, so there's very little appreciable difference between this length and a razor. Although I know some guys who have cold feet about being sly tend to think it's the difference between some hair and no hair. You will in fact have some hair, but unless it's very dark and thick it'll be hard to see from even a couple of feet away.



Title: Re: Difference between #1 and #0?
Post by: merase on February 02, 2013, 10:53:17 PM
As a person who varies his number on his buzz cuts from time to time, I must say that the 0 leaves your head feel all sandpaper-y. It's an odd feeling, but it does come close to matching the appearance of a shaved head. The 1 is just a really short buzz cut. I think that you'd be most happy just with a shaved head though. Feels much better than a 0.
Title: Re: Difference between #1 and #0?
Post by: kcmeder on February 08, 2013, 07:49:32 PM
Hi guys! I'm new here but not to the bald look. Mother Nature and genetics took my hair at 25 and I'm 60 :D. I tried the longer look and I looked like a scarecrow. I've been shaving or using the #1 or #0 look for a good 25 years and would never think of having my "cul-de-sac" even an inch long. My advise is to experiment like the rest of the guys wrote, find a length to your liking and stick with it.
Title: Re: Difference between #1 and #0?
Post by: Lynchy on February 08, 2013, 09:38:43 PM
Hi guys! I'm new here but not to the bald look. Mother Nature and genetics took my hair at 25 and I'm 60 :D. I tried the longer look and I looked like a scarecrow. I've been shaving or using the #1 or #0 look for a good 25 years and would never think of having my "cul-de-sac" even an inch long. My advise is to experiment like the rest of the guys wrote, find a length to your liking and stick with it.

Welcome mate!
Title: Re: Difference between #1 and #0?
Post by: mrzed on February 10, 2013, 04:52:22 AM
As a person who varies his number on his buzz cuts from time to time, I must say that the 0 leaves your head feel all sandpaper-y. It's an odd feeling, but it does come close to matching the appearance of a shaved head. The 1 is just a really short buzz cut. I think that you'd be most happy just with a shaved head though. Feels much better than a 0.

I don't know. I think back to the summer that i took off the guard and just buzzed away as short as the clippers would do. It did feel like sandpaper. It was tight and bristly. But I liked it. If for some reason i could not shave, i'd like to go back to the clippers every few days and sport the zero. Almost looks bald and has an ok feel.

Looks like the original poster has never checked back, but good discussion nevertheless.

Title: Re: Difference between #1 and #0?
Post by: Blitzed on February 10, 2013, 05:57:46 AM
The base problem for "looking" short clipped or hairless has to do with the colour of one's hair. Dark hair against light coloured skin, even quite tanned skin, will show more. I.E. the O crop while clearly very short will still show and reveal where the unwanted spaces are. A shaved head conceals that problem, at least for a bit. In all circumstances there's up keep. Unless, of course, you want to cover your balding spots with excess hair....
Title: Re: Difference between #1 and #0?
Post by: baldjoeg on February 10, 2013, 09:55:32 AM
Welcome to SBG. Givethe razor atry. It will grow back in a few days if you don't like the look. Good luck.
Title: Re: Difference between #1 and #0?
Post by: Todo Duro on February 18, 2013, 01:19:45 PM
Agree with most replies, with a #1 you can definitely see the stubble, not so much with a #0. And while there's little visual difference between a 0 and a shave, the subjective feelings couldn't be more different. For my part, I actually quite like the velcro/sandpaper feel so I'd call it a win/win situation :)
Title: Re: Difference between #1 and #0?
Post by: bbcguytom on March 02, 2013, 03:07:04 PM
If you like a 'sandpaper' feel & still want to show the least hair-growth, go for a '0'; if you want a smooth feel, just shave it. Or, try both & see what you like more..at this point, differences between a '1' & '0' are irrelevant.
Title: Re: Difference between #1 and #0?
Post by: chrisphilly123 on April 01, 2017, 01:59:11 PM
Hi guys! I'm new here but not to the bald look. Mother Nature and genetics took my hair at 25 and I'm 60 :D. I tried the longer look and I looked like a scarecrow. I've been shaving or using the #1 or #0 look for a good 25 years and would never think of having my "cul-de-sac" even an inch long. My advise is to experiment like the rest of the guys wrote, find a length to your liking and stick with it.
  very wise. well said.