10 Things To Know Before Shaving All Your Hair
That quote about shaving your changing your life. It can feel immensely freeing to just shave it all off. Not to mention how cool your going to look.
There's something about shaving your hair that really changes everything; your perceptions of self and the ways others perceive you. It can also feel liberating to shave it all off and just be.
And while everything changes, there are a few things regarding maintenance, your self image, and peoples' changed behaviours towards you, you might want to know before taking the plunge. Here are ten things that you may find helpful.
Cut The Length Before Buzzing
It will be easier to maneuver the buzzer through your hair, and it gets you into a certain frame of mind. Like "that's right, world! I'm really shaving off my hair!"
People Will Want To Touch
People around you are going to feel tempted to pet your head. Maybe you will even like this. The fuzz feels soothing, but just be aware: people might reach out without permission often.
There Is Still Stigma
Photo by Braxton Apana on Unsplash
The common misconception around shaving your head is that you're either chronically ill or if you're cishet, people may immediately assume you're queer. Be prepared to be treated differently.
Your Hair Will Grow Fast
For financial and convenience reasons, you may want to get your own buzzer than to spend money every two weeks at a barber (or however long it takes for your hair to grow). All you need is one hand mirror and your bathroom mirror so you you can see the back of your head.
At-Home Maintenance Requires A Few Supplies
Make sure to get a trash bag or a hair cloak for easier cleanup, because the tiny residual hair will be everywhere. Inescapably, you're going to want to also take a shower after a trim to get all the little hairs off.
Know your buzzer
Photo by Caique Silva on Unsplash
There are levels to this stuff, and numbers r for the size of the hair-clipper guard. Zero means bald; eight, is about an inch of hair left behind. Without a guard (clipper only), you're at zero.
Follow The Grain
Don't shave against the grain—it will result in a more polished final look. You can tell the grain by the way your hair falls.
Everything Else Changes
You might obsess over other aspects of your body. Suddenly, the shape of your ears or your nose, or even your acne seems to jump at you; be it for the good or the not so good.
Fewer Hair Products
You will use less product, and the products that you do use might change. You might find that you need to switch to shampoos to accommodate dry scalp and maybe use some mousse to smoothen your hair when it starts to grow.
New Styling Possibilities
Experimenting with hair color is a lot easier with a fresh buzz because you need much less bleach, and the application is far less messy. Not happy with the result? Wait a week or two and start all over again.