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Head shaving is the practice by some men and women to shave the hair on their head. Males make up the majority of people who shave their heads, but females engage in the practice as well.
There are a wide variety of reasons that this is done. It can be done for religious, cultural, or aesthetic reasons. Many balding people will shave their head; examples include Michael Jordan, Kurt Angle, Slayer's Kerry King, and Andre Agassi. Another example is for medical reasons–a person having head surgery will often need to have his head shaved in order to enable physicians to operate on the area in question. Members of the armed forces are often required to have their heads shaved upon enlisting. Head shaving is also a traditional form of punishment for criminals in some countriesBody Arts - Hair from Pitt Rivers Museum.
Throughout most of the 20th century, head shaving was considered somewhat unusual, and sometimes low class, in many Western countries. The low class connotation came from the fact that many working class seamen and dock workers shaved their head to prevent lice. However, in Britain, these same workers began a movement known as "skinhead" out of pride for their class and ethics. Head shaving has since become extremely common in alternative culture, especially in the Oi!, punk rock, and heavy metal music scenes.
In other Western countries the level of social acceptance towards shaved heads varies.
Practice
Head shaving can be performed by most regular razors or electric shaving kits, coupled with any regular shaving cream or shaving oil (used for shaving a beard). One company, Headblade, produces a razor designed specifically for head shaving.
Because it is generally hard to shave long pieces of hair, people shaving their heads usually first cut their hair down to a fine stubble before shaving it off completely. Incidents of cutting one's scalp with a razor are common, but generally are avoidable if precautions are taken.
Depending on your skin, you might find that you can get away with using a cheap disposable razor to shave your head or you might opt for a higher quality and probably more expensive razor which could offer better performance. Using an electric shaver generally results in fewer cuts but will most likely take longer to complete than with using a manual razor. Using an electric shaver with a built-in gel dispenser can further help to reduce razor burn and can help to provide a better shave since the gel helps to lubricate the skin.
Exposure to the sun
Those who shave their heads should be aware of the effect of sunlight on their heads. As with other exposed areas, sunlight can be damaging to the skin on their heads as well, especially as they have a greater amount of skin directly exposed to the sun. Those who are out in such light should either wear sunscreen or a covering. Sunburn on the head can result from unprotected exposure to the sun, as well as other medical complications.See also
References
External links
"Head shaving"