At some point or another, lots of us consider shaving our heads. Maybe you’re just curious as to what it would look like, or maybe you’ve noticed your hair getting thinner and you think it might be time.
Either way, there are pros and cons to shaving off your hair. I’ve been shaving my head for nearly 20 years, so I’ve experienced every pro and con there is.
I wrote about the disadvantages of shaving your head, and now it’s time to look at the benefits. Read on to find out about the physical, mental, aesthetic, and financial advantages of shaving your head.
What are the benefits of shaving your head?
Shaving your head can bring a lot of benefits, including low maintenance, improved perception, and a newfound appreciation for your appearance.
Save time and money
First, the most obvious benefit. Shaving your head can save you time and money by reducing the need for frequent trips to the barber. It also means you won’t have to spend money on hair products.
This makes it a frugal and low-maintenance option for men who are looking for a hassle-free grooming routine. I for one don’t miss having to drag myself to the barber every few weeks for an awkward encounter with someone I didn’t fully trust to give me the haircut I asked for!
Of course, there are other expenses to consider, like the cost of a head shaver. The upside is that this is a one-off purchase, which pays for itself in the savings you make on those monthly haircuts.
Here’s my recommendation for the best electric shavers for shaving your head. If you want a spoiler, I recommend the Skull Shaver Pitbull.
The Platinum model comes with a few accessories and extra battery life, but you can grab the Silver (which I own) for half the price:
Skull Shaver Pitbull Silver PRO
- Wet & dry shaving
- 90 seconds and done
- Flexible shaving heads
- Cordless use up to 30 mins
Perception is reality
Studies have also shown that men with shaved heads are perceived as more dominant. In two separate studies, men with shaved heads were rated as more dominant, taller, and stronger than their counterparts with full heads of hair (source).
This improved perception can be beneficial in both personal and professional settings. If you want to change how people see you, shaving your head is a surprisingly effective shortcut to a more masculine image.
A look into the future?
Shaving your head can also help you see what you would look like if you were to go bald. This can help alleviate anxiety for young men who are worried about hair loss in the future.
The initial shock of seeing such a different person in the mirror is often overcome by how good a shaved head looks on a lot of men.
And even if you have a weird-shaped skull or the look simply doesn’t suit you, at least you have time to get used to the idea. This brings me to my next point…
Free yourself from vanity
Far too many young men attach their sense of self-worth to their appearance, especially when it comes to their hair.
Shaving your head can help overcome vanity and allow you to focus on who you are as a person, rather than attaching your self-worth to your hair and appearance.
This shift in perspective can lead to a more fulfilling and fulfilling life as you focus on your inner qualities and character, rather than your physical appearance.
Mix it up
Another benefit to shaving your head is that it provides a way to experiment with a different look without having to commit to it permanently.
Going from an extreme haircut to an extreme lack of hair often means that your old clothes, accessories, and facial hair (or lack of) don’t work anymore.
But on the plus side, what a great excuse to experiment with a new image.
Freedom
One advantage of shaving your head that will make you the envy of your friends is the freedom it provides.
As a bald man, you can wear hats or participate in activities like swimming and sports without having to worry about ruining your hairstyle. I often allow myself a friendly chuckle when my friends spend 20 minutes perfecting their hair for a night out, only to lose that perfect style as soon as it rains.
Hot days, cool heads
On hot days, a shaved head feels better. While everyone else is sweating into their hair, your freshly-shaved scalp is a couple of degrees cooler.
Obviously, this comes with the proviso that sunscreen is important. Tanning your bald head is a great way to instantly look better with your new image, but sunburn is a big no-no.
I’ve been caught out by this a few times and these days, I make sure I don’t leave the house without sun protection on sunny days. Here’s my recommendation:
Sun Bum Skin Care SPF 30 Daily Sunscreen Face Mist
- Vegan and reef-friendly
- UVA/UVB protection
- Packed with Vitamin E
Save time every morning
Shaving your head also means you don’t have to spend time styling your hair.
Simply throw on your clothes and you’re ready to go. After a shower, you can simply wipe down your head with a towel, moisturize your bald head, and you’re ready for the day.
Scalp hygiene
Furthermore, shaving your head can lead to a reduction in oily or flaky scalp issues. Shaving off your hair reduces the accumulation of hair products, dirt, and oil that can clog hair follicles and cause irritation.
Shaven-headed and bald people still need to use shampoo to keep their scalps healthy, but when the hair is longer, it can trap oil and debris.
This leads to an increased risk of developing an oily or flaky scalp, and it can cause an unpleasant smell and breakouts.
However, when the hair is shaved close to the scalp, it allows the skin to breathe and prevents oil, sweat, and dirt from building up.
That, along with using the right shampoo for your scalp, will maintain a healthy bald head. I wrote a full roundup of the best shampoo for bald people to help you choose the right one.
It helps with medical conditions
As mentioned above, shaving your head makes it easier to keep the scalp clean and free of excess oil, which can reduce the likelihood of developing an oily or flaky scalp.
This is especially important for men who suffer from conditions like seborrheic dermatitis, which causes an itchy, red, and flaky scalp. Shaving the head can help reduce the symptoms of this condition by removing the irritants and providing a clean, smooth surface for the scalp.
It’s important to note that a shaved head does not guarantee a reduction in oily or flaky scalp issues. However, it does provide a cleaner and less congested surface that can help reduce the likelihood of developing these issues.
Shaving your head by choice is one thing, but what about men who are losing their hair? Well, all the above reasons still apply. However, there are a few extra benefits to be aware of:
The benefits of shaving your head when you start to bald
Shaving your head when you start to experience hair loss can be an empowering decision. Not only does it help you take control of your appearance, but it also provides several other benefits that can improve your overall confidence and well-being.
Appearance
The simple truth is, bald looks a thousand times better than balding. Thinning hair is unsightly, but a well-groomed, shaved head looks much better.
As hair starts to thin, it often makes men look older. Shaving your balding head can actually make you look younger and, let’s face it, better. Here’s a full article on how to be bald and attractive if you’re not convinced.
You may have had great hair when you were younger, but don’t kid yourself that people can’t tell you’re losing it now.
Of course, you could go for another option. A hair transplant doesn’t hurt as much as you might think, and it’s a lot more affordable than it once was. The main selling point is that a hair transplant is permanent.
The main thing is that you stop living in fear and denial, and take action. This leads me to my next point:
Take control
Instead of letting hair loss happen to you, shaving your head allows you to take ownership of your appearance.
Suddenly, you’re not a victim of Male Pattern Baldness, you’re in the driving seat, taking control and dictating your own appearance. Would you rather be a ‘sufferer’ of hair loss or the person in control?
Better to own it, than to let it own you.
Stop worrying and start living
Many men are self-conscious about hair loss and experience worry and anxiety as they start to lose their hair.
If this sounds like you, then you’re not alone. Millions of young men all over the world are currently going through the same thing. It’s perfectly natural, and nothing to feel embarrassed about. I certainly felt it, and it took me longer than I like to admit to change my mindset.
Shaving your head can help alleviate these concerns and increase your confidence. Instead of worrying whether people can tell you’re going bald, you can show the world that your hair doesn’t dictate who you are.
Shaving off your remaining hair literally means losing the thing that’s causing all that worry. Once it’s done, most men feel a sense of relief and a new confidence and excitement about their fresh start.
Does shaving your head have any benefits for hair growth?
Shaving your hair doesn’t affect hair growth. There is plenty of misinformation on the subject, but shaving your head won’t make your hair grow back thicker, and neither does it make you go bald. Removing the hair above the scalp doesn’t affect what happens underneath.
Hair growth is affected by a number of factors, none of which have anything to do with shaving. These factors include:
- Age: Your hair settles into a mature hairline in your late teens and early 20s, and men have a higher chance of hair loss as they get older.
- Genetics: Male Pattern Baldness can be hereditary. Take a look at the older men in your family for an unscientific prediction of how your hairline will look in the future. Don’t believe the myth that baldness skips a generation!
- Hormones: MPB is often caused by the effect of DHT (dihydrotestosterone), which affects the health of hair follicles in the scalp. There are several forms of DHT blockers with numerous side effects.
- General health: Poor diet, stress, lack of sleep, and some illnesses such as autoimmune disorders, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease can lead to hair loss.
- Medication: hair loss is a side-effect of several medications, including acne and blood pressure drugs, anticonvulsants, immunosuppressants, beta-blockers, steroids, and of course chemotherapy drugs.
What are the benefits of shaving your head as a woman?
While there are definitely pros and cons to shaving your head as a woman, the main benefit is the feeling of liberation and confidence reported by so many women.
I’ll never fully appreciate what it’s like to experience the world from a woman’s point of view, but I can empathize with this confidence boost. Lots of women report that while they once hid behind their hair, shaving it off is the push they need to face the world as the person they really are.
With no hair to hide behind, they are suddenly exposed, and many say they feel a new sense of confidence as a result.
Speaking to Glamour, lots of women say they felt transformed after shaving their heads. “Immediately after I cut my hair, I felt powerful, like I could accomplish anything,” said Cherí Pinero-Walker. “I fell in love with the woman that was hiding behind all that hair. I feel like a completely different person.”
Of course, you’ll save money. No more trips to the stylist, fewer products, less shampoo (but not none, as mentioned above). Not only will you save cash, but time too. All that time blow-drying, brushing, and styling adds up!
There are also benefits to others if you choose to donate your freshly-removed hair to charity. Locks of Love exists to help financially disadvantaged children with illnesses that cause hair loss.
Are there any benefits to shaving a baby’s head?
There are no benefits to shaving a baby’s head, although people still do this in an attempt to encourage thicker hair growth. This is a futile exercise, as hair growth and thickness are dictated by the health of the follicles underneath the scalp, not what happens above it.
Hair follicles are subcutaneous (meaning that they are located below the surface of the scalp). Cutting the hair above the scalp has no effect on their health or how well they produce new hair.
In some cultures, including Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, and Jewish cultures, the first haircut is a right of passage. Some of these involve shaving the baby’s head, but they are spiritual and symbolic practices and don’t have any physical benefits.
Summary – should I shave my head?
In conclusion, shaving your head can bring a number of benefits, including less maintenance, improved perception, and a newfound sense of confidence.
If you have a full head of hair and you’re thinking of trying out a shaved head, I say go for it. If worst comes to worst and you hate it, it will grow back. What’s more, your hair won’t grow back any different than before you shaved it.
If you’re balding, don’t be pressured into shaving your head for the wrong reasons. Hair loss is stressful, and not everyone is comfortable with buzzing or shaving their head, right away. Many aren’t willing to accept that it’s the only option, and rightly so.
People should be free from pressure to make a certain decision, and hair systems, medication, SMP, and transplants are legitimate solutions.
The main thing is not to delay taking action, because balding is a terrible look. Personally, life as a bald man has been good to me and I’d recommend that anyone experiencing hair loss at least tries the shaved head/buzz-cut look.
Many people agonize over hair loss only to find that they’re relieved when they shave their head because they’re free from the worry of whether people can tell they’re losing their hair.
By taking action they feel a sense of control, rather than the helplessness of knowing they’re losing their hair. If you can have the confidence to face the world as a bald man, it’s an attractive quality to have.
If you’re not sure whether to shave your head, this might help: What would I look like with a bald head?
If you’re ready to take the plunge, you can get the clippers out and try a buzz cut or go all the way and shave your head bald. If you use them regularly, don’t forget to keep your clippers clean and keep the blades sharp!
If it helps, check out my recommendation for the best razor for shaving your head and make sure you know how to shave your head with a razor before you start.
And there are plenty of other products for bald heads too, if you’re in the mood for some retail therapy.
Have I missed out any other benefits? Let me know in the comments below!
