Caring for a bald head isn’t as paint-by-numbers because it appears. Certain, plenty of guys will most likely be washing their bald dome with bar cleaning soap, as if it’s simply another physique half—but it surely’s not. It’s your scalp. Whether or not it sprouts hair or not, you’re coping with some finicky pores and skin right here, very like your face. It’s vulnerable to stubble, but in addition to oiliness and dryness—and all of the complications that include these variables, like pimples, shine, and dandruff.
On high of that, your bald head is a bullseye for UV rays on a scorching sunny day, and it creates some lovely blind spots on the subject of shaving and protecting easy. Given all of those components, it’s sensible to observe a bald head street map till you’ve obtained the hold of issues—together with the no-look spherical shave. Listed below are the primary aspects of look after a bald head.
Tips on how to Wash a Bald Head
Must you swap shampoo for bar cleaning soap or use a facial cleanser throughout? Really, you’ll need at the least two of them, if not all three.
One factor we frequently overlook about haircare—and particularly shampoo—is that we’re specializing in scalp well being as a lot as we’re on hair. Final we checked, you haven’t misplaced your scalp. That stated, you received’t must shampoo fairly often, and while you do, it’ll be with good intention—to mitigate the oily movie your scalp nonetheless produces. You’ll additionally wish to management flaking, which is commonly attributable to oily buildup in addition to excessive dryness.
The answer: Use a dandruff shampoo as soon as weekly, at minimal. The hero substances on this shampoo are typically the standard dandruff foes (zinc pyrithione and ketoconazole) however we additionally extremely advocate for salicylic acid—an ingredient frequent in skincare, particularly towards oily and acne-prone pores and skin. Tempering oil manufacturing, unclogging pores, and breaking down lifeless pores and skin cells (to advertise smoothness and even complexion up high), salicylic acid is the bomb—and balm—to your bald scalp. Strive: Neutrogena T/Sal Salicylic acid scalp shampoo.
Alternatively, since salicylic acid isn’t antifungal like zinc pyrithione and ketoconazole, it’s extra of a preventative measure towards flaking. When you’re vulnerable to buildups or want to truly deal with flaking, then use a shampoo with certainly one of these two antifungal substances—then swap in a salicylic acid cleanser on the between days. You would wash as soon as every week with the antifungal choices, then wash your head with a normal facial cleanser (with salicylic acid) each different day. This’ll work successfully to manage oil manufacturing, in addition to forestall dryness, pimples, and dandruff. Strive these two merchandise: Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoowith Ketoconaole and La Roche-Posay Effaclar Facial Cleanser with Salicylic Acid.
[Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo with Ketoconaole, $14.84; amazon.com]
Lastly, when you use a bar cleaning soap that’s focused at facial cleaning (ditto for a physique wash) then it’s completely positive to make use of this on high of your head, too. Simply be conscious of how oily or dry issues stand up there. It would swimsuit you to lather head to toe in a single fell swoop most days of the week, however you need to nonetheless preserve the anti-dandruff shampoo or oil-controlling cleanser on the prepared for once-a-week deployment, at the least. Strive: Dove Males+Care Physique + Face Bar cleaning soap, which is cheap and clutch for facial and bald-head cleaning. Why break the financial institution if what you favor is a pared-down routine? This artificial stuff is sweet and retains pores and skin hydrated.
Earlier than we start, right here’s your tutorial on shaving bald heads. Now onto an outline of the perfect choices out there to you. No matter which you select, bear in mind to tug the pores and skin taut and take it gradual—simply as you’d whereas shaving your face. And use contemporary, sharp blades!
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Cartridge Razor
Given that almost all of us grew up shaving with cartridge blades, the educational curve isn’t going to be too tough with this one. The principle factor you need is a versatile, pivoting head to hug the angles of your personal head with aplomb. Strive: GilletteLabs Razor with Exfoliating Bar.
When you aren’t already shaving your face with a safety razor, then now isn’t the time to begin. You wish to have understanding of this instrument and its weight, in addition to its optimum angles earlier than you begin working it over the bottom of your head. When you’re comfy with these items from the soar, then it shouldn’t be any harder than a cartridge razor. The perfect factor about security razors is that they’re much less prone to created ingrown hairs and shaving bumps, notably for coarse and curly hair varieties. Strive: Bevel Security Razor for Males.
You would additionally introduce a wholly totally different instrument to the combination—a well designed “mower” that glides round your head (with razors beneath). It’ll forestall side-to-side motions so that you simply don’t get reduce, whereas additionally rigorously switching instructions because it goes. It will probably look slightly daunting, however belief that it’s up for the duty—offered you correctly lubricate the pores and skin. You probably have particularly coarse or curly hair, nonetheless, these aren’t the choose for you. These hair varieties ought to be extra conscious of the course they shave their hair (with the grain) to forestall furling up below the pores and skin. A instrument like this may shave each which manner with little discerning. Strive: HeadBlade MOTO Head Shaver.
Everybody ought to personal an electrical razor, no matter whether or not or not they use a handbook one. Consider how usually you desire a quick, simple shave. To not point out, consider how good it’s to get visibly easy outcomes with none danger of an infection, nicks, cuts, bumps, ingrowns, and so on. These electrical choices may require extra frequent use, however given how a lot time they save per shave, you’re already profitable. Even when you favor the razor, preserve one charged and prepared for the quick tidyings and the weekends away. You’ll get mileage out of it in your face too. Word: the rotary heads navigate the contours of the top (together with the chin) with slightly extra ease than the foil choices. Some manufacturers even promote palm-held rotary shavers—for probably the most ergo-friendly no-look shave possible. Strive: Philips Norelco Electrical Rotary Shaver.
Shea Moisture Facial Scrub and Cleanser with Salicylic AcidCourtesy Picture
Skincare for Bald Heads
Consider your scalp as an extension of your face. As an alternative of deploying hair care, you’ve now obtained much more skincare to observe. But it surely’s simple.
Cleanser: Once more, it’s essential wash the scalp each day—ideally twice, simply as you’d wash your face within the morning and night time. Be sure to forestall extra oil and dryness (and in flip, pimples and dandruff) with prescriptive shampoos, facial cleansers, or facial bar soaps.
Exfoliant: By exfoliating your bald head usually, you retain it easy and stop clogged pores in addition to tough patches. You may make this so simple as washing it with a washcloth each day or utilizing a focused product (like a salicylic acid cleanser or bodily scrub a few times every week). A salicylic possibility permits you to mix this step with cleaning, and in flip prevents extra oil buildup and fungal flaking. Strive: Shea Moisture Facial Scrub and Cleanser with Salicylic Acid.
Moisturizer: After cleaning (and exfoliating), you’ll must lather on a moisturizer. The one you employ in your face can be utilized throughout your dome. It will forestall indicators of “picture getting old” on the scalp—like darkish sunspots, wrinkles, and positive traces—all by shielding pores and skin from skin-damaging toxins and pollution. It is going to additionally assist retain moisture contained in the pores and skin and stop dryness. Use a moisturizer year-round, morning and night time. You might have to select one prescriptive to your scalp-type too (oilier scalps ought to go for a lighter, oil-free moisturizer). The season or time of day may affect the product you employ as effectively. Go together with one thing mild on the peak of summer time or in the course of the day, and a denser product at bedtime, throughout winter, and even after a shave. Strive: Kiehl’s Oil Eliminating Anti-Shine Moisturizer; or Ursa Major Soothing and Hydrating Face Balm.
SPF: Everytime you go exterior, put on SPF—even on cloudy days or when indoors by the window—as a result of your scalp is more likely to get burned than the remainder of you. Maintain it shielded with SPF30+, reapplied each two hours when instantly out within the solar. When you’re sweating or swimming, then put on a water resistant possibility with safety as much as 80 minutes (reapplied at that interval). Ideally you possibly can select a zinc-powered bodily sunscreen (versus a chemical one), however having some type of protection is what’s most crucial. Lastly, be certain it’s coming from a product that’s marketed as face-friendly. Some SPFs are engineered only for the physique and can in any other case clog the pores in your face and head. Strive: COOLA mineral face sunscreen SPF 30; or DRMTLGY Mineral Facial Moisturizer with SPF 45.
