Shaving head with a razor rather than with clippers

jakeca
jakeca Member Posts: 92
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
After having my head shaved really close with clippers last Saturday, I am finding the stubble to be annoying. Does anyone shave it clear to the skin with an actual razor? Will it irritate my skin too much? Any input?
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Comments

  • Jadie
    Jadie Member Posts: 723
    #2
    Hi Jakeca
    I buzzed mine too.
    Hi Jakeca

    I buzzed mine too. My head was so sore and the stubbles were annoying. I have heard that if you shave it the soreness will go away. (didn't know that at the time) I am sure that someone who has shaved theirs will chime in and help you.

    Hugs
    Jadie
  • Marcia527
    Marcia527 Member Posts: 2,729
    #3
    When I told my oncology
    When I told my oncology nurse that I shaved my head, she said, "No, you might get an infection." I wonder if she thought I meant with a razor. Too late. I had already used clippers. Maybe she was afraid I'd cut my head if using a razor.
  • Chellebug
    Chellebug Member Posts: 133
    #4
    Marcia527 said:

    When I told my oncology
    When I told my oncology nurse that I shaved my head, she said, "No, you might get an infection." I wonder if she thought I meant with a razor. Too late. I had already used clippers. Maybe she was afraid I'd cut my head if using a razor.

    I never tried a razor, just
    I never tried a razor, just clippers. I always used the clippers on the lowest setting. There were a few hairs that held on tight and never fell out. So, I'd used the clippers on them about once a week to keep them short.
  • Eil4186
    Eil4186 Member Posts: 949
    #5
    I used clippers and a razor.
    I used a clippers but was unable to get some little patches towards the back of my head. When my husband came home, he shaved my head carefully with a new disposable razor and was able to get every bit of hair. If doing gthis though you must be very careful not to cut yourself because with low blood counts infection is an issue. Good luck. Eil
  • phoenixrising
    phoenixrising Member Posts: 1,508
    #6
    My husband used clippers at
    My husband used clippers at a very short setting and I think the little stubbies just fell out.
  • tasha_111
    tasha_111 Member Posts: 2,072
    #7
    Eil4186 said:

    I used clippers and a razor.
    I used a clippers but was unable to get some little patches towards the back of my head. When my husband came home, he shaved my head carefully with a new disposable razor and was able to get every bit of hair. If doing gthis though you must be very careful not to cut yourself because with low blood counts infection is an issue. Good luck. Eil

    Shaving
    Hi, I buzzed mine on lowest setting then used hubbys electric shaver to finish off. My sister (who is a haidresser) then suggested I get some tattoos and body piercings, which I DID NOT do. Julia
  • mmontero38
    mmontero38 Member Posts: 1,510
    #8
    I first buzzed my head with
    I first buzzed my head with the clippers at the lowest setting and then I shaved with an electric shaver. It was much more comfortable once that stubble was gone. HUgs, Lili
  • tasha_111
    tasha_111 Member Posts: 2,072
    #9
    mmontero38 said:

    I first buzzed my head with
    I first buzzed my head with the clippers at the lowest setting and then I shaved with an electric shaver. It was much more comfortable once that stubble was gone. HUgs, Lili

    SNAP!
    Hey Lili.....
  • marciadh
    marciadh Member Posts: 6
    #10
    Marcia527 said:

    When I told my oncology
    When I told my oncology nurse that I shaved my head, she said, "No, you might get an infection." I wonder if she thought I meant with a razor. Too late. I had already used clippers. Maybe she was afraid I'd cut my head if using a razor.

    I Had Folliculitis
    After my hair started falling out, my husband gave me a buzz cut. When that started coming out, I became obsessed. I rolled a sticky tape lint roller over my head, combed at it constantly over the sink to watch the stubbles fall out, and finally broke out the razor to get rid of the rest. Ended up with a case of folliculitis that was horrible. I could not lie down on a pillow, I could not wear a scarf on my head because it hurt for anything to touch it (even air). Seriously, I couldn't sit near a ceiling fan or vent, because I couldn't have air blowing on it. I itched, scratched and cried. Oncologist had to send me to a dermatologist. Ended up on antibiotices, putting steroid cream on my head, and a camphor lotion to dry up the bloody pimply bumps all over my head.
  • ladybug22
    ladybug22 Member Posts: 646
    #11
    shaving
    I shaved my head my self with a razor and shaving cream. I had no trouble when i sheaved my head. Good luck to yoou
  • Mary Sue
    Mary Sue Member Posts: 3
    #12
    My husband bought a shaving set
    My husband bough a set for shaving your head. Thee is no irration and now husband a son shave when I do . . . a family who shaves together stays together. . . LOL
  • mmontero38
    mmontero38 Member Posts: 1,510
    #13
    Mary Sue said:

    My husband bought a shaving set
    My husband bough a set for shaving your head. Thee is no irration and now husband a son shave when I do . . . a family who shaves together stays together. . . LOL

    Lol Mary Sue. My husband
    Lol Mary Sue. My husband and son also buzzed their heads when I had to do mine. Solidarity is a powerful thing. Hugs, Lili
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #14
    I had it buzzed...
    by my hair stylist. She cried the whole time...lol...

    After that, I used BUNCHES of Mary Kay pink 'axle grease' moisturizer...don't know the real name of it...lol...but it WORKED sooooo well!!!! No itch, no pain. And, when out in the sun, I used sunscreen...I burned very badly one time, and that was it!!!

    Hugs, Kathi
  • mimivac
    mimivac Member Posts: 2,143 Member
    #15
    KathiM said:

    I had it buzzed...
    by my hair stylist. She cried the whole time...lol...

    After that, I used BUNCHES of Mary Kay pink 'axle grease' moisturizer...don't know the real name of it...lol...but it WORKED sooooo well!!!! No itch, no pain. And, when out in the sun, I used sunscreen...I burned very badly one time, and that was it!!!

    Hugs, Kathi

    My hair is coming out
    I didn't think I would be emotional about it, because I knew it would happen. It started coming out in the shower last night and this morning there was a lot on my pillow. It is right on time: 2 weeks to the day of my first treatment. So, I started crying and crying about it -- not just the hair, but the fact that I wake up every morning thinking about cancer now. That this is my life now. It really got to me, I guess. I am headed to a wig shop this morning....

    Good luck to everyone going through this particular part of the journey right now.

    Mimi
  • Jadie
    Jadie Member Posts: 723
    #16
    mimivac said:

    My hair is coming out
    I didn't think I would be emotional about it, because I knew it would happen. It started coming out in the shower last night and this morning there was a lot on my pillow. It is right on time: 2 weeks to the day of my first treatment. So, I started crying and crying about it -- not just the hair, but the fact that I wake up every morning thinking about cancer now. That this is my life now. It really got to me, I guess. I am headed to a wig shop this morning....

    Good luck to everyone going through this particular part of the journey right now.

    Mimi

    (((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))
    Just wanted to send a big hug your way. I can so relate to your feelings.

    Jadie
  • divablu
    divablu Member Posts: 75
    #17
    Shaved head ...
    Did mine with clippers. Didn't mind the stubble, it just fell out anyway! Now I have skin and a minimal gray!
  • CrystalW
    CrystalW Member Posts: 31
    #18
    Shaving head
    Well I know you are all going to think I am crazy but after my kids and husband shaved my head, I too had the stubble going on. Quite frankly it hurt to even have hair so I found one more purpose for duct tape. Yes, I said good old duct tape. My husband, being the invent guy he is, thought it might work. Well it did. We began by putting a strip of duct tape on my stubble and gently pulling it off. Low and behold the stubble came out on the tape. It didn't hurt, in fact it felt good. Try it. You might be plesantly surprised. Good luck...

    Crystal
  • CrystalW
    CrystalW Member Posts: 31
    #19
    mimivac said:

    My hair is coming out
    I didn't think I would be emotional about it, because I knew it would happen. It started coming out in the shower last night and this morning there was a lot on my pillow. It is right on time: 2 weeks to the day of my first treatment. So, I started crying and crying about it -- not just the hair, but the fact that I wake up every morning thinking about cancer now. That this is my life now. It really got to me, I guess. I am headed to a wig shop this morning....

    Good luck to everyone going through this particular part of the journey right now.

    Mimi

    Hair coming out
    Mimi, Now might be the time to shave your head. Don't let the beast control your life. You Control IT. You look like a young funky kind of person who likes to have a good time. I hope that is an accurate assumption of your personality. If so, have some fun with wigs. You might find, as I did, that wigs aren't your thing. If so, get some cool scarfs. There are alot of different varities of them out there. Just make sure that you keep something on your head at night. You lose alot of heat out of the top of your head and you will find yourself being cold even in the heat. If you are losing your hair now you will likely lose your facial hair as well. Be mentally prepared for that. I was not. The hair on the head was easy for me, the hair on my face was not.
    Good luck in your journey. Keep posting here. There are alot of very wonderful people here to support you.

    Crystal
  • NorcalJ
    NorcalJ Member Posts: 187
    #20
    mimivac said:

    My hair is coming out
    I didn't think I would be emotional about it, because I knew it would happen. It started coming out in the shower last night and this morning there was a lot on my pillow. It is right on time: 2 weeks to the day of my first treatment. So, I started crying and crying about it -- not just the hair, but the fact that I wake up every morning thinking about cancer now. That this is my life now. It really got to me, I guess. I am headed to a wig shop this morning....

    Good luck to everyone going through this particular part of the journey right now.

    Mimi

    Crying
    Hey, don't feel bad about crying. Logic and emotions are not connected. I knew I was going to lose it, had an appt. with my hairdresser to do the deed, and still had a fit of Niagra falls the night before the appt.

    Definitely be very careful about what you use, or who does it, if you shave your head. Like someone up ahead of me said, your white blood cell count is down and that could easily lead to an infection (as someone else mentioned) if you get nicked. My hairdresser used a brand new shaver, but no razor of any kind.

    We all understand your feelings about cancer being your life now. But "this too shall pass".
    My hair is in the process of growing back, I'm done with chemo and rads, and still think about BC, but maybe every 10 minutes rather than constantly.

    Call the ACS about their "look good, feel better" class. They not only teach you how to do your make-up when you're missing some eyebrows or eyelashes, but they give you a big bag of really nice, cosmetics and even a free wig.

    Good luck, you WILL do fine, just keep looking forward, and come back here and tell us if you've decided to be a blond or redhead with your new wig LOL!
    HUGS,
    Jan
  • divablu
    divablu Member Posts: 75
    #21
    DUCT TAPE!!!
    I love it! LOL LOL

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