To Shave or Not to Shave—That is the Question

There comes a time in every hair loss journey when you have to ask yourself: Do I just shave it all off? For me, that time arrived when my bio hair had become so thin that the only style I could manage was a teeny, tiny bun on top of my head. Not cute, not functional, and definitely not working with my wig routine.

Since I wear full lace wigs and use Walker Lace Front Tape (½ inch) to secure them, I need a clean, smooth surface to get the best hold. I tape both the front and the nape for a solid 5–7 day wear. But there was a problem, the tape at the nape kept peeling off because my hair was getting caught in it. Annoying? Yes. Fixable? Also yes. The only solution was to shave the area.

Facing the Fear

Now, let’s be real, shaving my head felt terrifying. I wasn’t mentally ready to go full-on buzz cut just yet. But I also couldn’t keep battling tape that refused to stick. I had hit a cross road and it was making me feel frustrated so, I decided to ease myself in with baby steps.

Step one: I bought some hair clippers from my local supermarket. Not some fancy, overpriced one, just a basic clipper that could do the job. Then, I took a deep breath and shaved a small section at the nape, about 4 inches wide and 1 inch high. The result? I looked like I had some sort of futuristic barcode at the back of my head. But guess what? It wasn’t that bad! In fact, it felt weirdly liberating and, most importantly, the tape stuck like a mother!

Shaving = Freedom (and a Flawless Wig Install)

Encouraged by my little victory, I started shaving more “anchor points” i.e. strategic areas where my wig tape needed maximum grip. Turns out, I don’t actually mind shaving parts of my bio hair when it means my wig stays secure AF. Now, I even shave my temples (I have a low hairline, and those baby hairs were just getting in the way).

So, Should You Shave?

If your hair loss has reached a stage where you no longer feel comfortable wearing your bio hair in public and you’re toying with the idea of shaving it all off, don’t panic. You don’t have to go all in at once.

Try this instead:

            •           Start with a small section at the nape this area is usually covered by your wig, so you won’t have a heart attack every time you catch yourself in the mirror.

            •           See how it feels spoiler: it’s not as scary as you think.

            •           Enjoy the insane improvement in your wig security.

Taking these small steps has made me realise that when the time comes to shave my whole head, I’ll be ready. It’s all about trial and error, feeling the fear and doing it anyway.

So, if you’re standing in front of the mirror, clipper in hand, wondering whether to shave or not?just know, you’ve got this! And if all else fails, remember: barcode chic is in.