What is head shaving?
Head shaving or shaving of one’s hair right down to the scalp is a cultural/social/religious phenomenon or practice that is undertaken by a lot of people.
If one dives into the realms of history, one can find cases of head shavings in cultures as old as the Greeks, Holy Roman empires, and most prominently the Egyptians.
Significance of shaving the head
- Religious-In numerous cultures and sub-cultures around the world, the shaving or tonsuring of the heads and bodies is a form of religious sacrifice or as a pledge of allegiance. In the Hindu religion, babies get their heads shaved on a ceremonial basis whereas many Hindu and Buddhist monks shave their heads periodically. In Islam, there is a custom of shaving one’s head but it is not mandatory or permanent.
Certain Jewish sects practice a unique brand of head shaving for religious reasons.
- As a physical mark of captivity or slavery-Throughout known history, it has been noted that men who were imprisoned, enslaved, or held captive, had their heads shaved in varying manners as a brand or a mark.
- Military practices-Several military personnel and defense force soldiers shave their heads for both customary and practical reasons. In hand-to-hand or close-quarters combat situations or situations that require operating in hot and humid conditions, usage of extensive combat gear, or wearing of helmets, a shaved head helps in a myriad of ways.
- Sports-Several sports personalities shave their heads for both comfort and practical on-pitch reasons. Players like Mr. Zinedine Zidane, and Mr. Hashim Amla shave their heads not only as a style statement but also as a means to help improve their on-pitch efficiency.
Head shaving subcultures
There are instances where it has been documented that several cults or subcultures have or had emerged that practiced the concept of shaving their head with a head razor or other similar commodities. Some of these are the-
- Skinheads-During the 1970s, many of the youth picked up the head-shaving fad wherein they shaved their heads right down to their scalps. Most of these were done as an affiliation to the musical scene of those days.
- Gender roles-Several people shave their heads with head razors to signify and display their sexual orientation, like with the LGBT community and others likewise.
Shaving of the head is also done by many as a show of support for their close ones who have been diagnosed with cancer and may have lost their hair due to chemotherapy.
Lastly, head shaving is done just as a fashion statement or as a last-ditch measure to tackle male pattern baldness.
How to achieve a perfect shaved head
- Moisten hair and scalp- The first step to achieving a smooth head shave is to moisten the hair and scalp prior to picking up the head razor.
- Pick up the shaving gel/cream-This step contributes to softening the hair further for a smooth head shave.
- Choosing the proper tool- One can use a proper razor, trimmers, or blades for shaving.
- Shave along with the patterns and lines-As a word of caution, always follow the hair line, the scalp undulations,and the ear area.
- Apply antiseptic or cream- After shaving, apply a layer of antiseptic cream or lotion to minimize the burn from any unforeseen cuts or nicks.
- Moisturize- It is advised to moisturize the scalp and wash it after the aforementioned processes.
- The final one-Use a towel to dry your bald top and glance in the mirror to enjoy it.
Stuff needed to get that perfect bald top
There are certain commodities one will need to achieve that shining shaven head-
- Shaving cream,
- Lots of water,
- Razor,
- Moisturizer,
- A towel,
- Antiseptics.
Make sure to keep your head razor clean and maintain proper hygiene.
The benefits
There are certain benefits of shaving one head, both health-related and for grooming, they are listed as follows-
- Hair loss and pattern baldness affect both males and females. Shaving the head helps to counter hair loss and minimize it.
- Shaving the head helps to cut down and save the precious time we otherwise would have wasted grooming it.
- Head shaving helps us to save money by avoiding going to the barber or groomer.
- Head shaving helps give us a new look and something new to try out.
Final verdict
While shaving the head, one must be careful with sharp equipment and exercise some degree of carefulness. Also, keeping the equipment clean and maintaining hygiene is a must.
