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How To Get A Shiny Bald Head

Sure, you can rock a bald head, but learning how to get a shiny bald head really takes the look to the next level. Whether you’re an all-natural baldie or you shave to keep the look, shininess conveys an attractive confidence in your style.

Table of Contents

How To Get A Shiny Bald Head

It takes a combination of products and practices to keep your bald head shiny, but here are the cliff notes:

  1. If you shave your head bald, make sure it’s a close shave. (You can wax your head instead. Or maybe you’re one of those lucky, all-natural, shiny bald guys.)
  2. Once you’re bald, wash your scalp daily to keep it healthy.
  3. Use baby oil, facial lotion, or sunscreen to put the shine on your bald head.

That’s really all there is to it. The real challenge is knowing how to get a close shave, how to keep your scalp clean, and what kind of shiner will work best for you – which is what we’ll talk about below 🙂

How To Shave Your Head Bald

Pre-shaves, clean hair, and a good razor are key to getting a close shave that gives you a shiny head.

You can use a pre-shave oil or gel to soften your skin and hair so that the razor glides smoothly. I also recommend one of the best all-natural shampoos for men to soften your hair follicles for an easier shave. If you haven’t noticed, soft is the key word for getting a good shave. Do everything you can to get your hair and scalp soft.

Some beard products are OK for your head if you have a beard oil or pre-shave that you’d like to use. Just check the label to make sure it doesn’t come with any warnings about using it on your scalp.

If you have a lot of hair to take off, consider starting the job with an electric razor or trimmer, then finish with a traditional razor fresh out of the package and a generous heap of shaving cream. The closer the shave, the shinier the head. (Here’s how to sharpen your razor for a close cut.)

One issue you may run into: if you’ve never gone bald before, your scalp might be bumpier than you realize. Be patient and go slow so that you don’t nic yourself. If your bumpy scalp is too hard to navigate with a razor, consider waxing your scalp instead.

Is It Better To Wax Or Shave Your Head?

Here are the benefits of waxing your head: 

  1. You can go longer between waxes, think 3-6 weeks. If you shave, you have to shave more frequently to keep your head completely bald.
  2. Your head will be shinier because you’ve pulled the hair follicle out at the root.
  3. You don’t have to do any of the pre-shave rituals that we talked about above. Actually, you shouldn’t exfoliate at all before you wax.

Here are the downfalls of waxing your head:

  1. It hurts like HELL.

Professionals in the hair care industry can use high-quality tools to help minimize the pain you’ll feel while waxing. But don’t trust anyone who says you’ll feel no pain at all. Waxing is an uncomfortable process, to say the least.

Though, I do recommend trying both waxing and shaving at least once. Some guys really appreciate how long they can go between waxes – it’s low-maintenance compared to shaving.

Does Waxing Your Head Stop Hair Growth?

Waxing your hair won’t stop your hair from growing, but it will slow it down, per se.

Wax tears out your hair at the root, so it takes at least 3-6 weeks for the hair to start growing back. And you’ll still have a few weeks after that for your stubble to come in. Shaving only cuts off the top portion of the hair, so it starts growing back almost immediately.

You don’t have to worry about “permanently” taking off your hair when you wax. In fact, ask any woman, and many will say that it feels like their hair grows back thicker after they wax their legs. That may be partially because your hair is healthier when it’s younger and closer to the root.

How Do I Make My Bald Head Shine?

The fun part! Now that you’ve shaved or waxed properly, let’s put the shine on that bald head.

There are two classes of products in the bald head world: powdery or slippery. Powdery products make your head look less shiny. Slippery products make it look more shiny.

So think about some of your common slippery bathroom products. Lotions. Sunscreen. Oils. Gels. One of the most common bald head shiners is actually baby oil. It’s gentle on your scalp, great for your skin, and it puts the shine on your head.

For sunny days, I recommend sunscreen instead. It protects you from burning and it does an equally good job of shining.

If you like how hydrating lotion feels against your scalp, choose that for your bald head shine. Just pick a moisturizer that’s safe for your face. If you use hand cream, there’s a good chance that it’ll clog your pores or cause acne.

Can A Bald Spot Grow Back?

Natural bald spots don’t often grow back. Maybe you’ve heard a few “hair miracle” stories, but for the average guy, a bald spot is there to stay.

Now, if you’re waxing or shaving your head, your hair will grow back until you start naturally going bald. Waxing and shaving don’t permanently remove your hair or hinder future growth, despite the rumors you may have heard.

Is Shaving Your Head Bald Good For Your Hair?

If you have damaged hair from your blow dryer, straightening/curling iron, bad shampoos, chemical dying treatments, or any other exposure to the elements, shaving your head can be a fresh start. But going bald won’t necessarily change the way your hair grew originally.

Think of it this way: the ends of your hair are the oldest part of your hair. Over time, the strands get dry, brittle, and frizzy. By shaving your head, you’re cutting off all of your most-damaged hair.

Some guys feel like their hair has improved when it grows back because it’s healthier than before. But really, that’s just your natural hair without all the damage.

How Do You Keep A Bald Head Healthy?

One of my most vivid memories from my teenage years is when my friend’s dad looked me dead in the eye and said, “Have you ever watched a bald man put on sunscreen?” I bet you can imagine what happened next.

That shine on your bald head is more than just a style choice – it’s actually pretty healthy. Sunscreens, lotions, and oils are all meant to protect your scalp from dryness. If you’re going bald for the first time, you may not realize just how dry your scalp can feel without hair to protect it and lock in moisture.

So to keep a bald head healthy…keep it hydrated!

Use sunscreen daily so that you don’t get a red, shiny bald head. Wash with a shampoo for bald men when you shower so that your skin doesn’t get dry or dandruff-y. All of those habits will protect your newly exposed skin, and they’ll give your head a rocking shine.

Frank Edwards is a men's grooming & style expert who is "internet famous" for being able to simplify complicated grooming routines into easy, yet effective rituals any man can do. As a professional analyst, he has spent years researching the biggest brands, products, experts, best practices, and breaking news in the space. He takes this analysis, tests it out on himself, and then documents everything in his writing. As a result, his experience-based articles are considered by some to be the gold standard in men's grooming and men's style.