How to Shave Your Head Clean Like A Pro
Show us a man who loves his work and we’ll show you one who doesn’t even know he works for a living.
Image: Shelley Salehi (Farzad’s wife and Shop Manager)
Behold, our skin-nourishing, exclusive Tobacco-scented Shave Cream, tested and approved by Yaletown’s very own.
Whether you’re embracing baldness (which respectable) or prepping for life as a Shaolin monk (equally respectable), shaving one’s head’s as crucial a skill to learn as any other in life.
And while we could’ve consulted anyone of for this piece, we called our old comrade, faithful collaboration partner and revered Vancouver-based barber, Farzad Salehi.
As a self-taught grooming veteran — with 34 years of work notched — Salehi plies his trade in sometimes rainy, yet well-tempered Yaletown, Vancouver, a destination neighbourhood replete with well tempered people, waterfront parks like you’ve never seen, patios upon patios and a buzzing nightlife.
But like a lot of businesses railroaded by 2020’s wrath, Farzad’s has weathered the worst. And as top barber in his territory, no one’s wondering why. Since 2006, thousands of downtown Vancouver’s men have sworn by Farzad for their grooming needs. He’s that good. And like his wife and trusted Shop Manager, Shelley Salehi, once wrote online, “…[back] when the shop was open seven days a week…Farzad would have one client at eight in the morning and stay all day in the shop without another client until he was about to leave at 8:00 pm, and someone would [usually] walk in. Of course he took the client. This is how you build a business, by putting in the time and not giving up when times are slow.”
Farzad can execute one hell of a haircut, his beard trims are on-point (just look at his), and his straight shaves are out of the movies. But Farzad’ll shave your head clean, too, and if his head’s not proof enough, he’s good at that, too.
Let’s begin.
Pretend It’s Home Improvement, Invest In The Best Tools
Don’t use a twice used disposable for this. You’ll want to ride the contours of your head with little ease and zero friction, so go for a HeadBlade to get it right.
Any type of blade could do the job, but Salehi’s all about HeadBlade’s ergonomic superiority.
“If we’re talking about shaving my own head at home, I believe using a tool is all about what you can get used to and what you feel comfortable with,” says Salehi. “I remember going to the public bath when I was a kid with my dad and there was guy who was there often. I saw him many times holding a double-edge blade without a handle in between his fingers while he’d shave his face. Yes, I know it’s crazy to even imagine that and I’m not recommending it because it’s extremely dangerous. However, a good tool makes life a lot easier. I myself use a HeadBlade on my head in the shower, and sometimes I do use a shavette.”
You purists can take the safety or straight razor routes, but keep in mind those are beasts. They’re heftier and come with learning curves, so if you’re new to shaving your head, HeadBlade it. But if you want to wing it, hey, there are worse things to wing.
The Routine:
Complementing Farzad’s Shave Cream is our Tobacco After Shave Lotion, which smells way better than it sounds.
“For shaving my own head, I shave in the shower and I’d use some hair conditioner, which, of course, helps make the shave a lot smoother.”
“If I’m shaving a client, I’l definitely use the same process I do for a face shave; I’ll start with a little bit of moisturizing lotion to loosen hair, and a few rounds of hot towel treatment before I start.”
The heat from the towel helps unclog pores, which smoothens skin for an easier shave.
“Then,” says Salehi, “I’d apply some cream with a brush before taking two passes with a straight razor, and I’ll add more hot towel treatments in between and at the end.”
Remember, Salehi’s a pro, so he’ll switch from going with the grain to going against it based on your hair growth and hair thickness. If you’re not a pro, go with the grain as much as possible where your hair’s typically thicker (like the back of your head), and against it where it’s thinner.
“I’d then finish the job with a good after shave balm that’ll rehydrate skin and make it smell great.”
Wait Only Two, Max Three Days Between Shaves
You can get away with 48 hours of no shaving, but like Salehi said before — go any longer and you’ll need a run or two with your clippers before the wet shave part. “I wouldn’t go longer than three days,” confirms Salehi. “If the hair is long, the combination of shave cream and shaved hair will form a paste that gets caught between the blades and your handle, and it’ll make the shave more laborious and less enjoyable.”
“Let's say a man wants to take his hair down on the sides enough to do a wet shave. Would something like, say, a Wahl Peanut suffice for the job?” — the common man.
“Sure, of course,” says Salehi. “If you’re planning to shave yourself, that will do the job. And as I said before it’s best not to have the hair get too long before doing a wet shave. But if you want to pay a visit to your local barber then it doesn’t matter how long your hair is, your barber will look after all of that.”