Caring for a bald head isn’t as paint-by-numbers as it seems. Sure, a lot of guys will probably be washing their bald dome with bar soap, as if it’s just any other body part—but it’s not. It’s your scalp. Whether it sprouts hair or not, you’re dealing with some finicky skin here, much like your face. It’s prone to stubble, but also to oiliness and dryness—and all the headaches that come with those variables, like acne, shine, and dandruff.
On top of that, your bald head is a bullseye for UV rays on a hot sunny day, and it creates some beautiful blind spots when it comes to shaving and keeping smooth. Given all of these factors, it’s smart to follow a bald head road map until you’ve got the hang of things—including the no-look spherical shave. Here are the main facets of how to care for a bald head.
How to Wash a Bald Head
Should you swap shampoo for bar soap or use a facial cleanser all around? Actually, you’ll want at least two of them, if not all three.
One thing we often forget about haircare—and especially shampoo—is that we’re focusing on scalp health as much as we are on hair. Last we checked, you haven’t lost your scalp. That said, you won’t need to shampoo very often, and when you do, it’ll be with good intention—to mitigate the oily film your scalp still produces. You’ll also want to control flaking, which is often caused by oily buildup as well as extreme dryness.
The solution: Use a dandruff shampoo once weekly, at minimum. The hero ingredients in this shampoo tend to be the usual dandruff foes (zinc pyrithione and ketoconazole) but we also highly advocate for salicylic acid—an ingredient common in skincare, especially toward oily and acne-prone skin. Tempering oil production, unclogging pores, and breaking down dead skin cells (to promote smoothness and even complexion up top), salicylic acid is the bomb—and balm—for your bald scalp. Try: Neutrogena T/Sal Salicylic acid scalp shampoo.
Alternatively, since salicylic acid isn’t antifungal like zinc pyrithione and ketoconazole, it’s more of a preventative measure against flaking. If you’re prone to buildups or need to actually treat flaking, then use a shampoo with one of these two antifungal ingredients—then swap in a salicylic acid cleanser on the between days. You could wash once a week with the antifungal options, then wash your head with a standard facial cleanser (with salicylic acid) every other day. This’ll work effectively to control oil production, as well as prevent dryness, acne, and dandruff. Try these two products: Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoowith Ketoconaole and La Roche-Posay Effaclar Facial Cleanser with Salicylic Acid.
[Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo with Ketoconaole, $14.84; amazon.com]
Finally, if you use a bar soap that’s targeted at facial cleansing (ditto for a body wash) then it’s perfectly fine to use this on top of your head, too. Just be mindful of how oily or dry things get up there. It might suit you to lather head to toe in one fell swoop most days of the week, but you should still keep the anti-dandruff shampoo or oil-controlling cleanser at the ready for once-a-week deployment, at least. Try: Dove Men+Care Body + Face Bar soap, which is inexpensive and clutch for facial and bald-head cleansing. Why break the bank if what you prefer is a pared-down regimen? This synthetic stuff is good and keeps skin hydrated.
Before we begin, here’s your tutorial on shaving bald heads. Now onto an overview of the best options available to you. Regardless of which you choose, remember to pull the skin taut and take it slow—just as you would while shaving your face. And use fresh, sharp blades!
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Cartridge Razor
Given that most of us grew up shaving with cartridge blades, the learning curve isn’t going to be too difficult with this one. The main thing you want is a flexible, pivoting head to hug the angles of your own head with aplomb. Try: GilletteLabs Razor with Exfoliating Bar.
If you aren’t already shaving your face with a safety razor, then now isn’t the time to start. You want to have a good understanding of this tool and its weight, as well as its optimal angles before you start running it over the backside of your head. If you’re comfortable with these things from the jump, then it shouldn’t be any more difficult than a cartridge razor. The best thing about safety razors is that they’re less likely to created ingrown hairs and shaving bumps, particularly for coarse and curly hair types. Try: Bevel Safety Razor for Men.
You could also introduce an entirely different tool to the mix—a smartly designed “mower” that glides around your head (with razors underneath). It’ll prevent side-to-side motions so that you don’t get cut, while also carefully switching directions as it goes. It can look a little daunting, but trust that it’s up for the task—provided you properly lubricate the skin. If you have especially coarse or curly hair, however, these aren’t the pick for you. Those hair types should be more mindful of the direction they shave their hair (with the grain) to prevent furling up under the skin. A tool like this will shave every which way with little discerning. Try: HeadBlade MOTO Head Shaver.
Everyone should own an electric razor, regardless of whether or not they use a manual one. Think of how often you want a fast, easy shave. Not to mention, think of how nice it is to get visibly smooth results without any risk of infection, nicks, cuts, bumps, ingrowns, etc. These electric options might require more frequent use, but given how much time they save per shave, you’re already winning. Even if you prefer the razor, keep one charged and ready for the fast tidyings and the weekends away. You’ll get mileage out of it on your face too. Note: the rotary heads navigate the contours of the head (including the chin) with a little more ease than the foil options. Some brands even sell palm-held rotary shavers—for the most ergo-friendly no-look shave imaginable. Try: Philips Norelco Electric Rotary Shaver.
Shea Moisture Facial Scrub and Cleanser with Salicylic AcidCourtesy Image
Skincare for Bald Heads
Think of your scalp as an extension of your face. Instead of deploying hair care, you’ve now got even more skincare to practice. But it’s easy.
Cleanser: Again, you need to wash the scalp daily—ideally twice, just as you’d wash your face in the morning and night. Make sure to prevent excess oil and dryness (and in turn, acne and dandruff) with prescriptive shampoos, facial cleansers, or facial bar soaps.
Exfoliant: By exfoliating your bald head regularly, you keep it smooth and prevent clogged pores as well as rough patches. You can make this as simple as washing it with a washcloth daily or using a targeted product (like a salicylic acid cleanser or physical scrub once or twice a week). A salicylic option allows you to combine this step with cleansing, and in turn prevents excess oil buildup and fungal flaking. Try: Shea Moisture Facial Scrub and Cleanser with Salicylic Acid.
Moisturizer: After cleansing (and exfoliating), you’ll need to lather on a moisturizer. The one you use on your face can be used all over your dome. This will prevent signs of “photo aging” on the scalp—like dark sunspots, wrinkles, and fine lines—all by shielding skin from skin-damaging toxins and pollutants. It will also help retain moisture inside the skin and prevent dryness. Use a moisturizer year-round, morning and night. You may have to pick one prescriptive to your scalp-type too (oilier scalps should opt for a lighter, oil-free moisturizer). The season or time of day might influence the product you use as well. Go with something light at the height of summer or during the day, and a denser product at bedtime, during winter, or even after a shave. Try: Kiehl’s Oil Eliminating Anti-Shine Moisturizer; or Ursa Major Soothing and Hydrating Face Balm.
SPF: Whenever you go outside, wear SPF—even on cloudy days or when indoors by the window—because your scalp is much more likely to get burned than the rest of you. Keep it shielded with SPF30+, reapplied every two hours when directly out in the sun. If you’re sweating or swimming, then wear a water-resistant option with protection up to 80 minutes (reapplied at that interval). Ideally you can choose a zinc-powered physical sunscreen (versus a chemical one), but having some sort of coverage is what’s most imperative. Finally, make sure it’s coming from a product that’s advertised as face-friendly. Some SPFs are engineered just for the body and will otherwise clog the pores on your face and head. Try: COOLA mineral face sunscreen SPF 30; or DRMTLGY Mineral Facial Moisturizer with SPF 45.
There’s no doubt when the weather turns colder as we settle into winter, stouts take center stage. And while we enjoy all its iterations: standard stout, imperial stout, and robust barrel-aged stouts, we think this malty, chocolate-filled beer’s close cousin deserves a little respect as well. Of course, we’re talking about the oft-overlooked porter. And the best porters, oh buddy, they’ll have you rethinking your seasonal bevvie of choice.
For those uninitiated, the porter style had its genesis in England like many other iconic beer styles. It first appeared in the 1700s and is (you guessed it) named after porters—individuals tasked with transporting luggage.
A confusing origin story
“Stout is the direct descendant of porter. In the 1700s, it was common to use the word ‘stout’ to refer to a bolder, higher-alcohol version of any beer style, much in the same way we use the word ‘imperial’ today,” says Zach Fowle, advanced cicerone and head of marketing for Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. in Phoenix, AZ. “Porter was the most popular beer of the day, and over time, “stout porter” became a popular variant. But by the late 1800s, demand for regular porters evaporated, and stout porter shortened simply to stout.”
But more has changed between the 1800s and today than just our penchant for wearing top hats. “Today, most brewers seem to market beers as either stout or porter based on vibes, rather than on any notable stylistic differences,” he says.
Specifically, porters are known for their dark, almost pitch-black color and rich, sweet flavor profile. If you were to drink a porter and a stout side by side, you might even have difficulty discerning the differences between the two.
Stout versus porter is an enduring topic of discussion in the brewing industry. “While there’s no debating the porter came first—and stout used to be called stout porter, so it was a stronger version of a porter—the lines have become very blurred over the years,” says Rob Lightner, co-founder of East Brother Brewing in Richmond, CA.
“I would venture that even among professionals, a blind taste test would often yield inconclusive results,” says Lightner.
The difference between porters and stouts
Porters tend to be on the milder, more chocolatey end of the spectrum, Lightner says, whereas stouts are typically a little stronger and more roasty. Of course, this isn’t a hard and fast rule
Fowle agrees, “Porters tend to be fruitier, sweeter, and less bitter than stouts, with cocoa and caramel flavors in balance with dark malt bitterness. And stouts are usually hoppier, drier, maltier, and more coffee-forward—and may even have a touch of acidity.”
Whether or not they fit neatly into boxes, one thing’s for sure: both make for incredible cold-weather brews.
“As the nights grow longer, drinking a light, summery beer just doesn’t seem right,” says Fowle. “Porter is the perfect style for the transition to winter: warming and toasty yet not too heavy, with flavors of coffee, chocolate, and pie crust that correspond with autumn weather and holidays.”
It’s the perfect time to broaden your repretoire. Sweet, robust, warming, and well-suited to the season, here are the best porters to drink now.
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1. Deschutes Black Butte Porter
There are few porters more well-respected than Deschutes’ iconic Black Butte Porter. It’s brewed with Cascade and Tettnang hops as well as 2-row, Chocolate, Crystal, and Carapils malts as well as wheat. This 5.5% ABV year-round offering is great for cold-weather drinking because of its mix of roasted malts, coffee, and chocolate. It’s a robust, subtly sweet beer perfect for imbibing on a crisp fall night.
The key to 360-degree muscle: 90-degree eccentric isometrics. It might seem like we’re throwing a lot of geometry at you, but the concept behind time under tension (TUT) is simple, says Joel Seedman, PhD, owner of Advanced Human Performance: “Perform the lowering phase of a movement in a slow, controlled fashion, usually 3 to 5 seconds; pause in the stretched position, typically around 90 degrees; then perform the lifting phase in a powerful yet controlled fashion.” Believe us, a time-under-tension workout can humble even seasoned lifters…Eccentric isometrics are like the pressure cooker of training.
“Rather than mindlessly performing slow-tempo reps, you’re using the increased time under tension as a means to fine-tune your body mechanics and alignment, which requires more mental engagement and focus,” Seedman adds.
If you want to forge functional muscle mass and strength while simultaneously bulletproofing the joints and connective tissue, give this 10-move, full-body eccentric isometrics workout a go.
Directions
Perform the following moves as 90-degree eccentric isometrics following the above protocol. Use heavy weight, but not at the detriment of proper form. Rest 60 to 90 seconds between sets and 2 minutes between circuits. Perform once every 2 to 4 days for optimal results.
Best Time-Under-Tension Workout for Total-Body Strength
Circuit 1
Marius Bugge
A. Barbell Back Squat
Set a squat rack up with heavy weight, then grasp bar and step under it. Squeeze shoulder blades together, then stand to unrack bar and step back with feet shoulder-width apart. Inhale, hinge at hips and slowly bend knees to 90 degrees. Pause, keeping natural arch in low back, then extend through hips to powerfully stand. 3 x 4-6 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Renegade Row
Start in the top position of a pushup with hands shoulder-width apart on moderate-to-heavy dumbbells (shown). Explosively drive right elbow back to row dumbbell toward ribs while balancing on opposite hand and feet. Pause, then slowly lower weight, stopping a few inches above floor. Switch sides after all reps are done. 3 x 5 reps each side
Circuit 2
Marius Bugge
A. Dumbbell Bentover Row
Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding two moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in front of thighs, palms facing you. Push hips back and hinge torso forward so it’s nearly parallel to floor, soft bend in knees. Dumbbells should be near shins. Drive elbows back to row weights toward ribs. Pause, then slowly lower down for 3 to 5 seconds. 3 x 4-5 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Incline Dumbbell Chest Press with Legs Raised
Set an adjustable bench to a 30- to 45-degree angle and lie back with dumbbells in either hand. Engage core and lift legs off floor, flexing feet. Press weights overhead, palms in. Slowly lower to 90 degrees, staying tight and compact. Pause, then drive weights up directly over chest. 3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 3
Marius Bugge
A. Dumbbell Bulgarian Squat
Stand lunge-length in front of a flat bench, holding heavy dumbbells in each hand by your sides, palms facing in. Rest the ball on top (shoe’s laces) of your right foot behind you on the bench. Slowly lower your body until your front thigh is parallel to the floor. Pause, then drive through your heel to stand. Switch sides after all reps are complete. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
Marius Bugge
B. Single-leg Romanian Deadlift
Stand with feet hip-width apart holding dumbbells or kettlebells. Drive right leg up, foot flexed, knee aligned with hip, making a 90-degree angle. Hinge at hips as you slowly lever your torso toward floor, lowering weights and driving right leg back for counterbalance. Hold, then squeeze glutes to reverse. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
Circuit 4
Marius Bugge
A. Pullup
Hang from a pullup bar using an overhand grip with legs extended and feet flexed. Engage lats and draw shoulders down your back, then pull yourself up until chin is higher than hands. Pause at the top, then slowly lower. Pause at bottom, then reset before your next rep. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Kneeling Overhead Barbell Press
Hold a bar with moderate-to-heavy load at shoulder level with forearms perpendicular to floor. Kneel at end of bench with feet flexed to grip edge for support. Inhale, engage your core and glutes, then press the bar overhead, pushing your head forward so it passes your face, exhaling at the top. Slowly lower until elbows are at 90 degrees, then hold to maintain tension. Begin your next rep from here. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 5
A. Dumbbell Pushup
Place hands on dumbbells (this provides greater range of motion) at shoulder width and feet wider than shoulder width with just toes touching the ground. Keep head neutral and hips high to increase tension on core, chest and tris and reduce stress on spine. Slowly lower to the floor. Stop once elbows hit 90 degrees, pause, then push up to start. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
B. Biceps Curl
Stand with feet hip-width apart with moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in each hand hanging by sides. Engage biceps to curl the weights up, keeping upper arms still. Pause at the top, then lower slowly. Don’t let arms drop all the way down to keep greater time under tension on biceps. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
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If you haven’t picked up a jump rope since elementary school, you’re missing out on a fantastic cardio workout. Not only will you burn a ton of calories in a short amount of time—200 to 300 calories in 15 minutes—but jump ropes can also improve your coordination and agility. Better yet, jumping rope doesn’t require much space, so it’s easy to do at home, and it’s often more mentally stimulating than jogging or swimming.
Choosing a Jump Rope
When deciding which jump rope is best for you, it’s important to determine what your goals are. While lightweight speed ropes are popular for cardio-focused training, weighted or drag ropes will be best for those focused on strength training.
No matter what your training goals are, we’ve got you covered with this roundup of 10 jump ropes from top brands including Crossrope, TRX, Rogue, and more.
The Best Jump Ropes of 2022
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