One advantage of being bald?
You have a front-row seat to everything happening on your scalp.
One disadvantage?
You have a front-row seat to everything happening on your scalp.
Dry skin. Oil. Flakes. Buildup.
There's nowhere for it to hide.
That's where exfoliation comes in.
Should You Exfoliate a Bald Head?
Exfoliation removes dead skin cells from the surface of your skin. For a bald scalp, gentle exfoliation can help remove surface buildup and leave the skin feeling smoother.
But there's an important distinction:
Exfoliating your scalp should not mean aggressively scrubbing it.
More friction isn't automatically more effective.
Physical vs. Chemical Exfoliation
There are two broad categories of exfoliation you'll see in skincare.
1. Physical Exfoliation
Physical exfoliation uses small particles or a textured surface to physically remove dead skin cells from the surface.
This is the approach we use in The Bald Shampoo, which contains bamboo powder to provide gentle physical exfoliation while cleansing the scalp.
2. Chemical Exfoliation
Chemical exfoliants use ingredients such as acids to loosen and remove dead surface skin cells. Different exfoliating acids work differently and can vary significantly in strength.
If you're already using active skincare ingredients on your scalp, be careful about stacking multiple exfoliating products together.
How to Exfoliate Your Bald Head
Keep it simple.
1. Wet your scalp.
Warm water is plenty. You don't need to steam-clean yourself.
2. Apply your cleanser/exfoliator.
Use enough to distribute it comfortably across your scalp.
3. Massage gently.
You're cleaning skin, not sanding wood. Use light pressure and let the product do the work.
4. Rinse thoroughly.
Don't leave cleanser or exfoliating particles sitting on your scalp.
5. Moisturize if your scalp needs it.
If your head feels dry after washing, follow with an appropriate moisturizer.
How Often Should You Exfoliate a Bald Head?
It depends on what you're exfoliating with. Some exfoliants are designed to be used occasionally, while lighter physical exfoliation can be gentle enough to incorporate into a regular cleansing routine.
Your skin type, shaving routine and other skincare products all matter too.
As always, pay attention to your scalp. If it becomes persistently red, sensitive, sore or irritated, that's a pretty good sign to back off.
Can You Exfoliate Before Shaving Your Head?
Be cautious about combining multiple sources of irritation. Shaving itself physically interacts with the surface of your skin, so aggressively exfoliating immediately around a close shave may be too much for some people.
If you're prone to irritation, experiment with separating your exfoliation and shaving routine rather than piling everything together at once.
What About Flaky Skin?
Flakes don't necessarily mean you need more exfoliation.
A flaky scalp could be ordinary dry skin, but dandruff and several skin conditions can also cause scaling or flaking.
If you're dealing with flakes, start here:
Meet The Bald Shampoo
We built The Bald Shampoo because a bald head shouldn't be an afterthought in the shampoo aisle.
It's a daily exfoliating scalp cleanser made specifically for bald heads, with bamboo powder for gentle physical exfoliation and a seaweed based emulsifier that helps moisturize and condition the scalp.
Wash. Exfoliate. Get on with your day.
For the rest of your routine, read our Complete Guide to Bald Head Care.
