Should I Buzz My Hair Before Shaving It Off?

Always buzz your hair before shaving your head.

A Razor Will Cut Hair

Very short hairstyles of less than one inch, such as a buzz cut that has grown out a bit, can be shaved with a razor. The thickness of the hair will make a difference in how short the shaving stroke can be and will also affect the evenness of the result. If your hair is already thinning and fine, a trim with scissors before shaving may be all you need.

A Buzz Is Recommended

Samantha Gunn, hairstylist for Atlanta Vanity Concepts, recommends buzzing hair longer than one inch before shaving with a razor. "Not only will longer hair clog a razor, which can cause hair to be pulled out, but you won't get the smoothness," she says. With longer hair, shave gels and creams will sit on the hair, not the scalp, and will not offer the best protection against nicks and cuts.

Bottom Line

When shaving your head, it is best to trim or buzz your hair first. Samantha Gunn recommends using the guards on a set of clippers to gradually buzz your hair down to 1/8-inch length, then applying a shaving cream or lotion before taking a razor to your scalp.

References

• Samantha Gunn; Stylist; Atlanta Vanity Concepts
• Head Shaver: How to Shave Your Head