Why should I be proud of my baldness?
It's not a nice message, but 8 out of 10 men will sooner or later experience hair loss or baldness. It is of course a bit of a shock if you experience your first hair loss. Many men also experience disbelief, insecurity or shame. You can of course feel insecure about this for years, but you can also accept your new baldness with pride. You can portray your bald head as a newly acquired masculinity. It becomes part of your new self. By maintaining and caring for it perfectly, your bald head is just as much part of your appearance as your mustache and beard, for example. In this blog we tell you everything about shaving and caring for your scalp.
The story of Dennis Baltzer from Better be Bold
Without you noticing it at first, your hair becomes thinner and thinner. It usually starts at the top of the crown. You are standing in front of the mirror and suddenly you see the scalp emerging from under your hair. Or the inlets near your temples are getting bigger. You don't want to believe it, but unfortunately it is irreversible. This also happened to Dennis Baltzer of the new care brand Better be Bold: from hair loss to a new startup.
During his holiday in Bali in 2016, he noticed that the hair on his head was thinning and falling out. It scared him a lot and it caused him a lot of worry and stress. His hair loss had a major impact on his state of mind. 4 long years of uncertainty, sleepless nights and a lot of experimenting with hair care products and treatment methods to stop or reduce hair loss. During his holiday in Spain, the strong wind caused his bald spots to reappear. That was the moment for him to accept his baldness with pride and confidence. Because he never wanted to be one of those men who cut their last locks of hair across their heads, he had a barber shave him completely bald.
The decision to shave your head is a courageous decision and very liberating. According to Dennis, it was one of his best decisions in life: be free, be happy, be bold.
After shaving his scalp, he was immediately confronted with the pitfalls of a bald head: very dry skin, annoying persistent and visible skin irritations and shiny skin. Because he could not find a good care product, he and his friend Roberto started developing a cream specifically for caring for the newly shaved and bald scalp.
What is hair loss and what are the causes?
Hair loss has various causes. The most common reason for hair loss is hereditary, but there are also other reasons such as stress and lack of sleep. About 80% of men will sooner or later suffer from hereditary hair loss. The cause is a hereditary hypersensitivity of the hair roots to the body's own substance dihydrotestosterone (DHT for short).
The first signs appear at a young age, usually from the age of 18. Many men probably recognize the moment in front of the mirror when you notice that your hair feels a little thinner. Or that the hairlines recede and the inlets near your temples become larger. This is the initial stage of baldness.
The next stage is the so-called tonsure. The scalp at the crown emerges and becomes increasingly larger. In the beginning it is a small circle on top of your head. Subsequently, the hair on both your front and back of the head also disappears. This is also jokingly called an "airplane runway". Ultimately, a little bit of hair remains at the temples and the back of the head.
In the beginning you will try to disguise the thin spots by combing the hair over them. Or you can change your hairstyle a little bit. You may use shampoos and conditioners to strengthen the hair. But at a certain point you come to the point of making a choice: just accept it, do nothing and leave the hair as it is or shave your entire head bald and smoothly.
Which razor is suitable for shaving my head?
Every day we speak to customers who ask which razor is most suitable for daily shaving of the scalp. Many men started with the regular cartridge razor from, for example, Gillette or the safety razor. After some time, many men start looking for a more suitable razor. The ergonomics of a regular razor with handle are natural for shaving the face and beard. On your scalp you have no view of what is happening above your head. The long handle of your razor is awkward to hold at the top while shaving.
It is not without reason that the American razor brand HeadBlade is extremely popular. We sell various razors from this brand every day. The razor is designed in such a way that you can shave your scalp smoothly and comfortably in a controlled manner. The ATX razors are particularly popular. It has a sturdy rubber grip so you can hold it well. It fits comfortably in the hand. Due to the slightly curved shape and the wide wheels, it lies perfectly and stably on the rounded bulge of your skull. The entire design of the razor ensures that the razor blades make the right shaving angle with your skin.
How should I shave my scalp comfortably and smoothly?
If you have decided to shave your head, it may be wise to visit the barber for the first time. You will probably receive useful tips so that you can shave your scalp yourself next time. You are standing in front of the mirror with your new HeadBlade razor. In the beginning it feels awkward and it is exciting for a while. How should you shave your head smoothly and comfortably?
Before you start, first clean the skin thoroughly with a mild soap or cleansing gel. You can easily apply shaving foam and distribute it on your scalp with shaving soap and a shaving brush. You can of course also use a shaving gel. You apply a shaving gel with your fingers and it provides a smooth, protective gliding layer.
It is best to shave with the hair growth. Always start at the top of the head and shave from forehead to back. With your other hand, follow the razor and pull the skin a little taut. Shave with calm, even and straight movements and do not apply too much pressure. While shaving, rinse the blade regularly. Make sure the razor wheel is in contact with the skin. This means that the razor always has the correct shaving angle. After the crown you can shave the sleeping area step by step. Use your right hand to shave the right part of your head and your left hand for the left part.
After shaving, rinse your head thoroughly with cold water and dry.
How should I care for my newly shaved scalp?
After shaving comes the after shave treatment and care. The bald scalp is vulnerable and can quickly become irritated:
- razor burns;
- dry flaky skin or greasy shiny skin;
- sunburned skin.
After shaving it is important to take good care of your skin:
- soothe freshly shaved skin to prevent razor burn;
- moisturize to prevent dry flaky skin;
- nourish for a healthy and vital scalp;
- regulate natural sebum production to eliminate oily, shiny skin;
- protect (sun protection) the skin against the sun's harmful UV rays.
Better be Bold After Shave & Face Balm
Convenience serves the man. You can use this balm to soothe the scalp after shaving and it has a caring effect. It contains some super anti-aging ingredients, such as Q10 and Hyaluron. These substances reduce the first wrinkles in your skin. Men hate greasy sticky creams. This cream does not feel greasy and is immediately absorbed by the skin. It contains no animal ingredients and is therefore vegan-friendly. It is also environmentally friendly because it does not contain micro-plastics and it comes in recycled packaging material.
Headblade after shave balm Headlube Matte
This special neutral balm hydrates and cares for the scalp after shaving. It contains, among other things, Aloe Vera extracts. This also gives it a calming effect. Most men don't want a shiny head after shaving. This balm ensures a matte, non-shiny scalp. Due to the light composition of the emulsion, it is immediately absorbed by the skin.
Headblade after shave balm Headlube Glossy
Unlike the Headlube Matte, this unscented moisturizing balm provides a perfect silky shine to the bald scalp.
The bald scalp is exposed to sun and cold every day. This causes dehydration faster than the other facial parts. Due to increased sebum production, you are more likely to suffer from greasy, shiny skin. The scalp is vulnerable and can quickly become irritated during and after shaving. The Bald Cream is a fresh, lightly perfumed care cream with an active moisturizing, softening and protective effect. It provides a healthy and natural matte complexion. Use this cream daily and you will no longer have a greasy, shiny ball.
All Better be Bold products are vegan-friendly, do not contain micro-plastics and come in sustainable packaging made of glass or recycled plastic and cardboard.
Better be Bold Sun Fluid for Face & Scalp
This is a unique care product: care and sun protection for both the face and the bald head. It has a very high protective sun protection factor SPF30. Because the water is water resistant, it continues to do its protective work all day long. Men absolutely hate greasy, sticky creams. This light emulsion is quickly absorbed by the skin, so no sticky film on the skin. It is an unscented care product. So you don't have to worry about smelling like sweet coconut or peach all day long.
Many sunscreens contain substances that are harmful to the coral. By using these sun protection products, these harmful chemicals end up in the sea. Sustainability and the environment are top priorities at Better be Bold. This sun protection cream is therefore not harmful to marine fauna and coral.
