Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Grooming

Take Care of Your Chrome Dome With These Top Tips

Katie Dickens
By

Bald grooming
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Bald can be beautiful whether it’s by choice or faulty genetics. But it requires a different approach then if you sported a full mane. It’s exposed skin after all so think of as an extension of your face and give it the same level of care. And between so much outdoor time, daylight hours, and a strong summer sun, you’ll need to go the extra mile with UV protection. To help you on your way to your best bald, we asked Dr. Adam Geyer, Kiehl’s Consulting Dermatologist to give us a, um, head’s up on the ideal upkeep.

A Different Approach 

Recommended Videos

It might be an obvious point to make, but your bald head is basically a big target for the sun’s rays. “It’s more susceptible to skin cancer and accelerated aging because of the direct way in which UV rays hit the top of our head rather than tangentially on the face,” explains Dr. Geyer. “Because of the increase in photo-aging, the skin of the scalp usually remains more coarse and thickened than the skin on the mid and lower face, which thins with chronologic aging.”

Take Cover 

Related

Dr. Geyer calls out excessive sun exposure as the biggest concern for baldies. “Chronic exposure to UV rays can create a spectrum of problems from an increase in the number of brown spots to an increase in redness of the scalp, as well as multiple hits to the DNA in the cells of the scalp, which can lead to skin cancer.” For all those reasons, he strongly suggests regular usage of sunscreen. A lightweight, water-resistant, broad-spectrum (so sweat doesn’t negate your careful application) formula is your best bet.

Get a Routine

Thoroughly cleanse your head with either face soap or shampoo that targets the scalp to “keep oils and skin cells from accumulating on the surface of the skin,” says Dr. Geyer. And he warns just like when the skin on your face gets dry, especially in the winter, when flaking or itching or both develop, add regular moisturizer usage to your regimen. As already discussed, sunscreen is an essential step for all hairless wonders. But before you slather that on, “use of an antioxidant serum under a sunscreen every day to help to keep the skin tone more even and minimize the formation of brown spots.”

Manual Products
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Check out some of our favorite products above, from left to right: Kiehl’s Deep Micro Exfoliating Scalp Treatment ($20), Sachajuan Scalp Shampoo ($28), Kiehl’s Facial Fuel UV Guard ($38), Anthony High Performnce Facial Cream ($45), Malin + Goetz Vitamin E Moisturizer ($46).

Editors' Recommendations

Katie Dickens
Katie Dickens
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Katie Dickens is a Manhattan-based beauty and grooming writer. She has held staff positions at Glamour, In Style, People…
Beard care for Black men: An expert gives us their top tips
Give your beard the TLC it needs and deserves, and take better care of your facial skin while you're at it
Black beards can come with their own unique challenges.

Whether you are looking for an elegant whisper of facial hair like Mahershala Ali, or the slightly thicker, dapper brush of Idris Elba; the shaggy, soulful scruff of Quest Love, or the luscious, thick styling of James Harden’s bristles, a beard can be a statement of style with immense impact. Those aesthetic grooming choices come with their own struggles, though for most men of African descent, Black skin is prone to ingrown hairs, razor bumps, and even keloids (a scar that can result from scar tissue growing over the wound formed by the ingrown hair).
To get the very best advice we could for beard care for Black men, we checked in with Gillette Barber Council Member Barry Hairston. He is a Dallas-based barber whose clients have included Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry and Sacramento Kings Center-Forward Tristan Thompson. Hairston has several pro-athlete clients in the Dallas area, including NBA and MLB players.

The professional shave

Read more
Dr. Squatch Offers the Best Way to Build Your Own Bundle of Body Care Products
The Dr. Squatch bar soap selection is amazing for the holidays.

Generally, with men's body wash and body care products, you're stuck with the few scents each brand offers and there's not a whole lot of variety to switch things up. That's a shame because much like cologne, it's nice to be able to change your base scents. Maybe you don't always want to smell the same? Fortunately, Dr. Squatch offers a wide selection of options, with several scents to choose from, as well. The names may not give it away, but each scent is strong and aromatic. Some examples include pine tar, fresh falls, bay rum, cool fresh aloe, wood barrel bourbon, and much more.

Whether you prefer bar soap, beard oil, or another body care item entirely, Dr. Squatch now offers something called the BYOB Squatch, or build your own bundle. With it, you can customize the items you're getting while taking advantage of a 30% off discount. Each bundle comes with various products -- like the Suave bundle which includes soaps, deodorant, hair care, and more -- but you can choose the scent. There are soap sets if you only want some body wash, and bigger sets that include some of the other products that Dr. Squatch offers. There's even a Try 'Em All Bundle that includes a bar of soap in every original Squatch scent. Regardless, we're going to take a closer look at some of the best Dr. Squatch bundles, that allows you to save and stay ultra fresh! Try one of these and you'll probably get a good share of compliments over the holidays!

Read more
How to Manscape: Tips and Tricks for Taking Care of Body Hair
manscaping shaving body

No matter what season, it's always a good idea to maintain your manscaping regimen. After all, keeping your nether regions well-groomed will fend off swamp crotch, and make you feel more confident in the buff.

A full body cleanup can be tricky, so we spoke to Grooming Lounge founder Michael Gilman to get some tips on pruning back your body hair.
Start With a Shower
Just like shaping your hair or beard, every manscaping session should begin with a shower. Use an exfoliating bar of soap or body wash to scrub away any dead skin cells that could cling to hair follicles. "Exfoliating will keep ingrown hairs at bay while lifting the hair follicles," Gilman says. It also softens your hair, making it easier to cut, which also means fewer nicks.
Use a Trimmer or Razor
After you've hopped out of the shower, you need to decide whether you want your body hair trimmed or clean-shaven. In both cases, you should start with a great electric trimmer, which reduces the risk of irritation, ingrown hair, and cuts compared to a razor. Look for a gadget that can easily mow through the curves and crevices of your body.

Read more