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BLDN guide

How to shave your head for the first time

By BLDN EditorialUpdated

A first head shave goes wrong in predictable ways: too much hair left for the razor, too much pressure, no moisturiser afterwards. Get those three right and the rest is easy.

Budget forty minutes for the first one. It'll take ten by the third time.

Ink sketch of a calm, freshly shaved man looking slightly to the side.
Field sketch — BLDN

What you need

  • Clippers (no guard) or a dedicated head shaver
  • A shave gel or cream that lets you see where you've been
  • A razor you already get on with, or a rotary head shaver
  • A hand mirror to check the back
  • A fragrance-free moisturiser, and SPF for tomorrow

Step by step

  • Clip everything down to stubble first. A razor will not cut through length — it will clog and drag.
  • Shower, or hold a warm damp towel on your head for a minute. Warm, softened hair cuts far more easily.
  • Lather properly. Thin lather is the main cause of nicks around the crown.
  • Shave in short strokes with the grain first. Let the razor's weight do the work; pressure causes irritation, not closeness.
  • Work in sections: front, sides, crown, then the back with a hand mirror.
  • Rinse, feel for missed patches with your palm, and only re-lather areas you're going back over.
  • Rinse cool, pat dry, moisturise.
  1. Ink sketch of clippers taking the hair on the scalp down to stubble.
    Step 1Field sketch
  2. Ink sketch of a warm damp towel pressed over the scalp to soften the stubble.
    Step 2Field sketch
  3. Ink sketch of shave lather being worked over the whole scalp.
    Step 3Field sketch
  4. Ink sketch of a razor drawn in short, gentle strokes with the grain.
    Step 4Field sketch
  5. Ink sketch of the back of the head being checked with a hand mirror.
    Step 5Field sketch
  6. Ink sketch of a palm feeling the scalp for missed patches.
    Step 6Field sketch
  7. Ink sketch of moisturiser being applied to the freshly shaved scalp.
    Step 7Field sketch

The bits people get wrong

  • Going against the grain on the first pass. Do it later, and only if your skin tolerates it.
  • Reusing a dull blade — dull blades tug and cause bumps.
  • Skipping the back of the head, where the grain changes direction.
  • Forgetting SPF. A freshly shaved scalp burns faster than you expect.

How often

Daily for a mirror-smooth look, every two or three days for a light shadow. Many men alternate: a head shaver mid-week, a proper wet shave at the weekend.

Sources

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