Welcome Ro,
Here, you will receive a multitude of methods/product suggestions that will assist you in acquiring the needed skills you are looking for in the area of
"whacking thyself in thy cranium with thy sharp blade" - and they are
ALL extremely
GREAT PRODUCTS and
FABULOUS METHODS, but here's a method i used in the beginning (and still use often) that is both inexpensive and gets great results:
1) Wash and buzz hair as close to the scalp as possible. (NO guard on clippers to get as close to the scalp as possible)
2) Wet hair, and cleanse again with a product called NUTRITIONISTE gel cleanser w/microbeads (bright lime green tube that is sold practically everywhere - Rite-Aid, K-Mart, Wal-Mart,CVS, etc, and your favorite gel shave cream (Edge, Nivea, Gillette, or an excellent menthol cream shave made by a company called Headblade). Mix the cleanser with the gel/cream in the palm of your hand and massage it into your scalp throughly.
Do this in the shower, if possible. Have your wife/girlfriend assist you (however, I strongly suggest
NOT at the same time-[LOL]). If you're doing this solo, head for the bathroom sink.
NOTE: While at one of the above mentioned stores, buy either a Fusion razor or something called a HeadBlade (
http://www.headblade.com to view a photo of it so you know what you are looking for)
3) Going
SLOW, go
WITH the grain first, then if you desire going still shorter,
REPEAT, but go
AGAINST the grain the second time around.
4) Rinse your blade often, and go over any rough spots you feel w/your fingers.
REMEMBER- GO SLOW when whacking your noggin with that blade, or you may nick or cut yourself (nickin one's self is more than likely than not considered to be somewhat of a "normal occurrence", when you are new at this, but nicks and cuts can be minimal -
preparing the scalp is the KEY!
5) When done, rinse with cold water (as cold as you can stand it) to close pores, and slap a noggin' moisturizer on that dome of yours and you're ready to rock! There are a number of good moisturizers on the market: HeadLube (by HeadBlade) Glossy or Matte Finish, Nivea,etc. ( I am sure you will hear about many more once others start posting their own favorite routines here.
Just remember to take your time, and feel free to experiment. Sometimes you will find all products from one brand name that will get you the results you are looking for, and sometimes you may get better results by using a combination of products, from more than one company to achieve the results you are looking for.
Hope this info has been of some help to you.
Later...
-Cap'n Noodles -