So you’ve plucked up enough courage and decided to shave your head, whether it’s experimenting with a new look or you’ve raised the white flag on your balding. You’re now left with the big question of how to achieve the best look for yourself.

What Is a Buzz Cut?

A buzz cut is an all over short-style haircut that is usually carried out with an electric clipper. It can vary in different lengths and modifications, though it is always relatively short.

Pros Ideal for first timers

Ideal for first timers Not as drastic

Not as drastic Variety of styles

Variety of styles Cheaper option

Cheaper option Better for sensitive skin Cons Messy process

Messy process Unkept look in-between cuts

Unkept look in-between cuts Missing areas

Pros of a Buzz Cut

Ideal for first timers

If it’s the first time you have ever shaved your head, then a buzz cut is the ideal method for you.

You can simply pick up your clippers and get going. There’s no learning curve, at least not with a buzz cut. You can achieve your desired look quickly in no time. Go all over your head and it’s done! Just like that…Easy!

Not as drastic

Now you’ve set your mind on shaving your head but you’re still apprehensive concerning the look. I fully understand, you’re willing to take the step of shaving your head but you’re trying to slowly ease into the process, that’s why the buzz is perfect for you if you’re in this situation.

It’s a less drastic look. Your hair is simply shorter than before but you haven’t got rid of all of it just yet. It’s going to shock you a lot less, especially the first time you do it.

Another key point, with the less drastic option of a buzz cut. Those who are in the experiment camp, you are able to grow your hair back quicker if you weren’t really enjoying the new look.

Variety of styles

Most men mistake a buzz cut as one and only style. In fact, there are several different forms of a buzz cut. Buzz cut styles include the burr, butch cut, crew cut, flattop, and Ivy League etc.

Military induction buzz cut. This is the infamous hair cut that new recruits are given when they have been inducted into the military. This is done by using no guard on the clipper, or shaving on a 0.5 or even a 1 guard.

Granted for those gentlemen who are balding, the shorter the better in this instance. Using clippers on the top of your thinning dome and applying a skin fade on the sides can achieve wonders.

Cheaper option

These days electric clippers are available just about everywhere and at very cheap price. Although it can get troublesome trying to figure out which clipper is the best for you, the chances are just about every single clipper on the market will do the job when it comes to a buzz cut.

The added benefit of not needing any other products also keeps that money in your pocket. It’s just one product that you need and you are all set.

Better for sensitive skin

By far, the main reason to go for a buzz cut is to avoid the possibility of those nasty razor cuts and irritation.

Many men, like myself have sensitive skin and get irritated so easily if the wrong products or equipment is used. A buzz cut is going to avoid any of these unwanted grievances. Just make sure to not cut your head with those clippers, they are still very sharp!

Cons of a Buzz Cut

Messy

Whichever way you end up buzzing your hair, you are going to have to deal with the inevitable clean up afterwards.

Your hair is going to be everywhere, I’m almost certain I spend more time cleaning up the little hairs than I do cutting my hair down.

Just know that your partner, family or roommates are not going to enjoy finding little hairs everywhere in the shower or bedroom.

Unkept look in-between cuts

When you’ve initially had your buzz cut, it looks great! But when you’re balding and certain areas start to grow in thicker than others it can give off the wrong look.

Most men will start displaying the horseshoe pattern as the hairs start growing back patchy. Makes you look sloppy and untidy. Defeating the object of the sharp buzz cut.

Missed areas

Buzzing your hair is a quick and easy method, but you might find that at times you’ve missed a spot in the back of your head or that one section is longer than the others because you didn’t go over that area as much as the others.

This really infuriated me when I first started buzzing my hair. After a while you become better at noticing these little missed areas, but nothing is more annoying than after you’ve finished and someone says this bit is a little longer…noooo!

What Is a Wet Razor Shave?

A wet razor shave is basically shaving with water using a traditional razor, not an electric razor.

The process uses a form of shaving cream, soap or gel to lather the shaving area. Traditional razors can vary greatly; from a straight razor, single blades razor, safety razor and many more.

Pros Sharp clean cut look

Sharp clean cut look Won’t miss spots

Won’t miss spots Becomes part of the routine

Becomes part of the routine Wide variety of razors Cons Steep learning curve

Steep learning curve Expensive

Expensive Time consuming

Time consuming Irritation

Pros of a Wet Razor Shave

The clean cut look

Using a wet shaver razor is by far; no other method comes even close to achieving that clean cut look.

It gives your head that smooth, sharp dome, that many people would agree is the best look balding men can achieve.

Won’t miss spots

Contrary to going with a buzz cut, a wet razor shave is going to give you a super close shave. Allowing you to alternate angles, switch from right to left, up and down till you’ve taken all the remaining hairs and stubborn patches out.

Using your fingers to run through your scalp, you are going to have no problems with any missed spots or hairs cut at different lengths.

Becomes part of the routine

Although it takes time and practice to perfect the clean cut look, many argue that with time it becomes part of the routine. Just like any other morning bathroom activity e.g brushing your teeth.

Wide variety of razors

The market is full of so many different razors that with a bit of experimenting and testing you are bound to find the perfect razor.



It took me a couple of tries until I found a razor that gave me a sharp cut with no issues. It might take a while but there are plenty of options to choose from.

Cons of a Wet Razor Shave

Steep learning curve

It can be extremely intimidating the first time you go for a wet razor shave. Do you go against the grain or with it? You feel like you don’t know what you’re doing, which direction to go. It’s just not as simple as going for a buzz cut.

Expensive

Often an overlooked factor is the cost involved in going with the wet razor shave.



There are cheap razors on the market but these are not going to give you the best possible results and when you are constantly using disposable razors, the price is going to rake up throughout time.

The better quality razors do a much better job but of course come with a bigger price tag.

Other products such as shaving creams, ointments, shaving brush, the aftershave products such as moisturisers and those that minimise the glare on your new smooth dome. It most definitely is not a cheap method.

Time consuming

Unfortunately it can be time consuming to get the ideal look, with time this will become like second nature but one issue that doesn’t go away is the need to shave your head every other day or at most 2 days.

Even those gents who have excessive balding, find that if they don’t shave their head frequently, it starts to grow back and you get that patchy hair popping out.

You are going to find this issue in both methods but the buzz cut gives you more time in between shaves.

Irritation

This is the main reason why so many men refuse to deal with razors. They can cause razor burns and bumps. As well as major irritation on the back of the neck and temples. This can last a couple of hours, even days if your skin is very sensitive.

Of course there are lotions to help deal with these problems but a lot of men simply don’t want to deal with this potential issue.

Still Unsure?

If you still can’t quite decide on which method to go with, then the answer might lie in the type of hairloss you are experiencing.



If your hair loss is thinning all over and the hairs volume is the same consistency then a buzz cut is ideal for you. The reason for this is because when it’s all cut down in length, the thinning will become less noticeable and there won’t be any patches of baldness.

If however, you are experiencing hair loss mainly to your crown and hairline then it’s beneficial to go with the wet razor shave.

It’s important to understand that you don’t need to choose one method and stick with it, most men will start of at a buzz cut first and later transition into a wet shave. This is a natural transition I’ve seen a lot of guys go through.

It’s also advisable to go with a combination of the two. Use buzzing your hair down as a prep for later shaving it with a razor. This helps with the time management aspect greatly.

Conclusion

In the end it all comes down to personal preference. I personally decided after trying both, that the buzz cut was the best option because of my sensitive skin. Though, I would highly recommend that you try both and experiment until you find what’s truly best for yourself.