Most men will experience hair thinning and hair loss. It's part of life for the average guy, but the exact process presents different things to each person. This is mostly due to genetics, but lifestyle also has an effect.
Once hair loss becomes significant, many men will eventually arrive at a key question: Should I shave my remaining hair and go bald?
It's a big question - and a big change in appearance. But it's also one that many men have done before and are happy to have embraced fully. Whether you're already sporting a shaved head or curious about how to go about it, this guide on how to look good bald will help you get there.
Bald Head Care
Your bald head care routine should be a lot like your skincare routine. That's because the focus is treating your scalp—which tends to be fairly sensitive skin that's quite similar to the skin on your face.
Before you determine exactly which steps and products should be part of your bald head care routine, consider the following common concerns. As you do, take note of which ones apply to you, and take that into account when deciding how to best care for your scalp.
Do Bald People Use Shampoo?
Yes, many bald people use shampoo to cleanse and hydrate their scalps. Even though you don't have hair, you still need to take good care of your bald skin.
Choosing shampoo for bald head care is similar to what you would do when selecting a product for your hair. A formula rich in natural ingredients will soothe and hydrate your scalp is best. Avoid products with harsh detergents or artificial fragrances, as these can be drying and irritating.
How to Treat Dandruff on Bald Head
Do bald people get dandruff? You might guess they don't, but dandruff and flakes are actually quite common in bald men.
Treatment always starts with an anti-dandruff shampoo. The problem here is that many dandruff products are made with harsh chemicals, smell bad, and irritate your scalp severely.
To avoid those issues, choose a natural product that addresses flaky skin without scorching your poor scalp.
How to Get Rid of Dry Skin on Bald Head
Dandruff and dry skin on bald heads are both common sources of flakes. If you’re struggling with dryness, make sure you use a moisturizer to hydrate and nourish your skin regularly.
The best time to do this is immediately after showering. Dry off, then apply a thin layer of moisturizer to your entire scalp.
Reduce Sun Exposure
You can also prevent dryness on a bald head by minimizing sun exposure. That's tough when you don’t have any hair to protect your scalp.
But if you want to look your best bald and prevent a variety of health concerns, you’ve got to keep your scalp out of the sun. The best way to do that is to wear a hat or cap while you’re outdoors.
Wear a Hat
Sick of wearing ball caps? Try a variety of hat styles and make this your signature look. You may not love it at first, but ditching a hat is a bad idea. Direct, unprotected sun exposure for prolonged periods leads to scalp sunburns, flaking, and a heightened risk of developing skin cancer.
Use SPF Products
Apart from keeping your scalp covered with a hat, your next-best option is to use an SPF product regularly. That's essential for preventing long-term sun damage—which can lead to discoloration, age spots, pigmentation inconsistency, and other skin health issues like clogged pores.
How to Get Even Skin Tone on Bald Head
Uneven skin tone, age spots, liver spots, and similar issues are often caused by the long-term accumulation of UV damage. Yes, the sun is aging your skin and altering your scalp tone!
The sun’s UV rays cause melanin production to ramp up as your skin attempts to prevent damage. Over the course of many years, however, the harm becomes permanent and you develop dark or light spots.
The easiest method for getting an even skin tone on a bald head is to prevent it in the first place. Prevent tone variation by keeping your bald head covered with a hat. When that's not an option, use an SPF product to prevent the sun’s rays from damaging your skin.
Best Bald Head Care Routine
The following steps and products comprise the best bald-head skincare routine for men. Adjust based on your skin type, scalp condition, and individual needs. But in general, these tips will help you look your best bald and stay confident.
Cleanse
The first step in any skincare routine - including your bald head care routine - is to cleanse. You want a clean slate on which to build.
For your scalp, you can choose to use a shampoo or a face wash. Either is fine - so long as you go with a gentle formula that won't strip away all oil or dry out your scalp.
For a refreshing natural scent and gentle cleansing experience, go with our Daily Strengthening Shampoo. Its combination of peppermint and tea tree oil invigorates the senses while also reducing bacteria and preventing irritation.
If you're concerned about flaky skin, your best option is our Relieving Dandruff Shampoo. It combats this pesky condition with Ziziphus Juazeiro bark extract - a natural alternative to the tar, zinc, and other harsh ingredients you'll find in typical dandruff shampoos. It's also made with jojoba and aloe vera for a hydrating, scalp-soothing experience that relieves itchiness and inflammation.
A facial cleanser is another option for cleansing your scalp. Our Clarifying Gel Face Wash is designed for guys with normal to oily skin. Instead of the strong, artificial detergents you'll find in most soaps, our face wash is made with gentle coconut-based cleansers.
How Often to Wash Your Scalp
Most guys are fine washing their scalp once daily in the shower. To maintain a healthy scalp, choose products with natural ingredients that effectively cleanse without stripping your skin of essential moisture.
If you have oily skin, you may find that washing more often is necessary. In that case, wash both your face and your head at the same time, twice daily—morning and evening.
Be careful not to overdo it. That's a common mistake made by guys with oily skin. Too much washing can irritate and dry out your skin. Twice a day is plenty for maintaining a healthy scalp.
Condition
Conditioner soothes, nourishes, and hydrates your scalp - so don't quit using it just because you've gone bald. Simply massage conditioner all over your scalp, then rinse away.
Try our Revitalizing Hair & Scalp Moisturizer. It includes the key ingredients aloe vera, borage oil, and avocado oil - which fight flakes, inflammation, itch, and irritation.
How Often to Condition Your Scalp
For the best results, use conditioner on your scalp 2-3 times per week. Take note of how your skin feels afterward and adjust the frequency as needed. The goal is to have smooth, non-irritated skin that resists inflammation and flakes.
Exfoliate
Due to the high number of pores and sebaceous glands in your scalp, it's important to make exfoliation a regular part of your bald head care routine to prevent the buildup of dead skin. But remember, less is more when it comes to exfoliation—you don't want to overdo it.
Our Renewing Face Scrub is gentle enough to be used on your scalp without causing irritation. Its scrubbing particles, made from jojoba beads and pumice, effectively remove dead skin without being harsh or harmful.
How Often to Exfoliate Your Scalp
We recommend you exfoliate your shaved head at least once a week, but no more than three times. Exfoliation is a crucial part of your scalp care routine, as it helps remove head grease and dead skin, prevents ingrown hairs, and clears away any leftover shaving cream residue.
It’s especially helpful to exfoliate immediately before a shave, so align your scrubbing and shaving days for the best, smooth results.
Shave
Just like when shaving your face, it's important to wash and exfoliate first so you're working with clean skin, clear pores, and no excess dead skin cells.
If you're aiming for a shaved head, always use a clean, sharp razor and a moisturizing shaving cream like our Smooth Brushless Shave Cream. Instead of foaming up and barely lubricating your skin with tiny air bubbles, this shaving cream goes on thick with a rich texture that coats your skin, ensuring a close and smooth shave with minimal irritation.
Be sure to shave in the same direction as your hair growth for the best results and to minimize the risk of ingrown hairs. Rinse your razor thoroughly with warm water after each stroke to maintain hygiene and ensure a smooth, irritation-free shave.
Replace your blade regularly, as used blades dull quickly and create conditions for bacteria growth, cuts, and nicks.
Soothe
Right after you shave, it’s time to soothe your scalp and complete your scalp care routine. Use our Instant Relief Aftershave to quickly cool, moisturize, and calm your skin. This will keep any redness, irritation, itch, or post-shave burn to an absolute minimum.
On non-shaving days, using a moisturizing balm will help maintain hydration and keep your scalp smooth and revitalized.
Alcohol-based aftershaves are not ideal for your bald head—or your face, for that matter. Although alcohol is antiseptic, it’s also dehydrating and leaves your skin dry and tight.
For many guys, this can lead to even worse irritation than if they had used nothing at all. Instead, opt for our soothing, calming aftershave lotion or moisturizing balm to ensure your scalp stays healthy and hydrated.
Moisturize
On the days you don't shave your head, you still need to moisturize your scalp after you wash it to maintain healthy moisture levels. Our lightweight, fast-absorbing Daily Essential Face Moisturizer is a great choice.
Its oil-free formula absorbs quickly and won’t leave a greasy look or feel. Packed with natural ingredients like aloe, hyaluronic acid, jojoba, and green tea extract, it also contributes to keeping your skin bright, smooth, and hydrated.
Additionally, essential oils in the moisturizer provide an extra boost of nourishment while supporting the natural balance of your scalp’s moisture.
Protect
The sun is the #1 enemy of bald men. Its damaging UV rays cause sunburn, dryness, and irritation. That's without mentioning the increased risk of skin cancer if you spend lots of time in the sun without any kind of protection.
Going to be outside in the sun? You need to take steps to protect yourself from prolonged exposure. The two easiest ways to do that are:
Wear a Hat
Cover your head with a hat to stop UV rays from cooking your skin.
Use an SPF Product
A mineral-based SPF sunscreen or moisturizer with SPF 30 or higher is ideal for protecting your scalp, especially if you’re dealing with baldness. That’s exactly what you get from our Element Defense Moisturizer. It offers broad-spectrum, zinc-based UV protection of SPF 45—without the potentially harmful chemical ingredients found in so many other sunscreens.
Instead, it's made with natural ingredients like zinc oxide, green tea extract, and sunflower oil. The result is a hydrating lotion that protects your skin from UV damage, making it an essential sunscreen for those embracing baldness.
Remember to Reapply SPF Often
Even the best natural SPF lotion needs to be reapplied often to keep your skin safe from the sun. That's especially true if you've been sweating or swimming. Remember to put more SPF on every 2-3 hours to keep your protection at maximum.
Keep Your Bald Head Looking Great
There's tremendous confidence, masculinity, and pride in owning your appearance and choosing to go bald. It's not an easy choice for many men at first, but it can be quite empowering.
Build your confidence and embrace the look by developing and sticking to an excellent scalp care routine. You'll get noticeable results that impress everyone around you and keep you at the top of your game.
