Being bald means thinking about hair (or scalp) care in a whole new light. Fortunately, taking care of a shaved head is easy with these six tips.
Every year, tens of thousands of men, women, and kids shave their heads for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. They do it for one reason — to #DFYchildhoodCancers.
Whether you’ve recently shaved or you’ve been sporting the no-hair look for years, do you know the best bald head care practices? Neither did we, so we turned to the men and women who have helped more people go bald than anyone else we know: our St. Baldrick’s barbers.
1. Don’t ditch the shampoo and conditioner
Those tiny hairs on your head may be hard to see, but they still need some love! Oils and dirt can build up on a bald scalp, so be sure to use a dab of shampoo when you shower and follow up with a moisturizing conditioner to keep that head flake-free. And while soap or body wash may seem like an easy option, they can have a drying effect. It’s best to stick with products made for hair.
2. Shield your scalp from the sun
This was our barbers’ most frequently-given advice, and it’s an important one to remember because being bald and burnt isn’t fun!
Hair keeps your head warm and protected. Now that you have less insulation on top, you might find yourself paying more attention to the weather report. On chilly days, cover up with a beanie. And when the sun is out, throw on some sunscreen or a hat.
Even on cloudy days, spending time outdoors can leave you with a scorched scalp, so don’t skimp on the sunscreen for your head, ears, and neck.
3. Keep hydrated and moisturize
Especially during the dry winter months, or if your head gets a little too much sun, your scalp can become dry and rough. Get hydrated by drinking plenty of water and using a sensitive-skin moisturizer on your head.
4. Try a scalp massage
Some people say that rubbing a bald head brings good luck. That may or may not be true, but our barbers let us know that stimulating your scalp promotes good blood flow and encourages healthy hair growth.
Here’s how to do it: Starting with all 10 fingertips on your head, apply gentle pressure and move your fingers around your scalp, working from your forehead, to the crown of your head, and down to your neck. It’s easy to do on your own — or you could try convincing a loved one that rubbing your bald head will bring them good fortune.
Did you know scalp massages may also help stimulate hair growth? It’s true! Check out our How to Grow Out Your Hair: 5 Tips From the Best in the Business post for more information.
5. Tell ‘em why you shaved
Walking around with your newly-shorn head, you’re bound to get some questions. Be ready with some good answers! Let people know that you shaved your head with St. Baldrick’s to raise money for children’s cancer research. Pediatric cancer is the number one disease killer of our children, and researchers need better funding to find cures.
Get more ideas here, and let people know that they can still donate on your fundraising page at StBaldricks.org.
6. Hold your head high
You shaved your head to help kids with cancer, and that’s something to be proud of! So throw your shoulders back, hold your head high, and rock the bald with confidence!
Many of our shavees say that shaving their head gave them a boost of confidence, and we think that’s great. In fact, we want to see your bald head! Take videos and photos of your virtual shave, tag St. Baldrick’s AND use #VirtualShave2020 + #DFYchildhoodCancers because we would love to share your virtual shaves with our community!
Ready to rock the bald and #DFYchildhoodCancers? Sign up to be a virtual shavee!
Read more on the St. Baldrick’s blog:
SBF
Tweets »
