How to avoid irritation after shaving your head

Shaving your head is a big decision, but it can also be a great way to ease into your new look.

The first thing that many people worry about when they decide to go for the bald look is how their skin will react after shaving, and for a good reason: if your skin is particularly delicate, shaving can cause irritation and itchiness.

Whether you're a razor novice or want to ensure you don't end up with bumps or irritated skin after shaving off your hair, check out these tips from professional barbers on avoiding irritation after shaving your head.

Use a razor specifically made for shaving your head

For best results, use a razor specifically made for shaving a bald head. Some of the best companies developing razors for bald heads are Remington and Skullshaver.

These razors often have a head guard that protects the skin from irritation and a pivoting head and long handle for easy maneuvering.

They should also contain a lubricating strip on the head of the razor to prevent friction between skin and blade.

Start with clean hair and skin

You'll want to start with clean hair and skin.

Use a gentle scrub or loofah and warm water to clean the area thoroughly before shaving, then use a moisturizing shampoo afterward.

Avoid using soap or body wash: they can leave your skin feeling dry, making it more susceptible to irritation.

Apply shaving cream or gel before you shave

Applying shaving cream or gel before you shave will help lubricate the skin and hair, making it easier to shave. It can also help to reduce irritation.

It’s essential to use a shaving cream or gel for sensitive skin. Shaving creams and gels that contain menthol can cause burning in some people, so make sure you choose one specifically designed for sensitive skin if this is an issue for you.

Shave with the grain of your hair growth, not against it

Shaving against the grain, or "going in the opposite direction of your hair growth can cause irritation and bumps on your head: shaving against the grain means that you are cutting a lot more hair than you would be if you shaved with it.

As a result, when this excess hair grows back in, it will be thicker and more coarse than before—and even worse, it will curl around and become ingrown hairs or razor bumps (which leave red spots on your head that can last for weeks).

Knowing what direction you're shaving in is essential, so you don't cut too much off at once.

Don't be too rough by pressing hard on your skin with the razor

Shaving your head can be a liberating experience, but taking care of your skin is also essential. Using the wrong technique can lead to irritation, redness, and sometimes even razor bumps.

To avoid this, ensure that you don't press down with the razor too hard when shaving and only shave in the direction of hair growth.

Rinse off after shaving

You can use warm water for this, but cool water will also do the trick.

It's essential to rinse off the blade and shave cream from your head after you have finished shaving: doing so will prevent irritation from developing on your scalp later on in the day or night.

Moisturize once finished

After shaving, give your head a quick rinse and pat it dry. Once the moisture is gone from your scalp, apply moisturizer to help protect against irritation and redness.

You can use a rich cream or lotion for this purpose — a little goes a long way when using these products on your head.

Balance your shaving schedule

If you shave your head regularly, it's crucial to balance your shaving schedule with the ingredients in your hair products. At the same time, if you don't shave often enough, there will be a lot more dead skin on your skin that can cause irritation and ingrown hairs.

If you're unsure how often to shave, try shaving every 2-3 days during the first week of shaving your head. From here on out, depending on how fast your hair grows and how thick it is, you may be able to get away with shaving every five days or so (or less).

Conclusion

If you follow these steps, you won’t have any problems shaving your head. Plus, if you shave regularly, your skin will get used to it, and the irritation will go away.

We hope this article has helped show how easy it is to avoid shaving irritation or razor burn on your scalp!