If you’re fully bald or you’re on your way to being fully bald, you may have noticed that the top of your head reacts to light differently than your face and the rest of your body. Depending on your skin type and personal preferences, you may have a bald scalp that is too shiny or too matte. Either way, you’ll need to understand what causes these differences and why you may prefer one over the other.
Whether you’ve had a bald head for years or you’re just worried about what the future might bring, you probably have a lot of questions concerning shiny bald heads vs matte bald heads. For instance, how shiny is too shiny? Is there a way to prevent or get rid of shininess? What does a matte bald head look like? Is matte preferable? Finally, what’s a quick and easy way to eliminate too much shine on a bald head?
In today’s guide, we will answer all of these questions and more, but first, let’s examine why bald heads tend to be shiny in the first place.
Why Are Bald Heads Shiny?
Even if hair on the top of your head is a distant memory, you probably recall that your hair follicles would become oily when they went unwashed. This is partly because sebaceous glands that produce oil are often found near the root of hair follicles. Even when those follicles die and you lose your hair, the sebaceous glands remain and continue to produce oil. As a result, many men with bald heads or male pattern baldness tend to see more oil on the top of their heads. This is simply the result of excess oil being produced without much or any hair to absorb it.
So why all the shine? Just like the oil (sebum) on your face, oil on the top of your head reflects more light than the skin itself. It’s the same reason that it’s readily apparent when someone is sweaty. The liquid reflects light more, and you can see those sweat droplets shining in the light. While oil produced by the sebaceous glands is not always as visible as beads of sweat, it is still a liquid that reflects light, creating a shinier appearance.
It’s also important to note that sweat can produce shininess on a bald head. Just like oil, sweat on the top of the head is often absorbed by hair. Without hair, the sweat will be more visible on the top of the head and will either gather in beads on top of the head or roll down over the neck and face. Either way, “shininess” may be the temporary result of excess sweat, or it may be a more long-term condition resulting from excess oil production.
Having A Shiny Vs Matte Bald Head
Now that you know a little bit about what makes bald heads shiny, let’s look at the differences between a shiny and matte bald head. As previously mentioned, a shiny bald head is almost always the result of excess oil that has nowhere to go; there’s no hair to absorb it, and it’s not substantial enough to just roll down your skin like sweat can.
A matte bald head is the exact opposite. Rather than looking shiny, it looks dull. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It simply means that there’s no shine to it. Matte skin often occurs when there’s less oil production. For example, overly dry skin is more likely to have a matte appearance, though it also may be accompanied by less appealing characteristics, like redness and flaky skin. If your scalp has a matte appearance, it just means that your sebaceous glands are not producing as much oil.
So which is better: a shiny bald head or a matte one? No one can answer this question definitively, as it comes down to personal preference. That said, many bald men prefer to draw less attention to their scalps. A shiny appearance naturally draws the eye, so matte might be preferable. However, shiny skin can also look young, healthy, and vibrant, so if this is the look you want, you may prefer a shiny appearance.
In the sections below, we’ll help you learn how to go from a matte to a shiny look or a shiny to a matte look.
How To Get A Shiny Bald Head
If the top of your head is dull and has virtually no shine, you can make it shiny — albeit temporarily. The easiest way to make a bald head shinier is to add the ingredient that’s missing: moisture. If your head has a matte appearance due to dry skin, you simply need to apply an all-purpose facial moisturizer regularly. This will add a certain degree of shine to the top of your head while also reducing flakiness.
Alternatively, you may want to use actual oils to replace the sebum that creates a natural shine. You should look for shiny bald head products that contain natural oils and extracts like rosemary. If you shave your head to maintain a clean look, you might consider an after shave balm with some of these ingredients. And even if you don’t shave your head, an oil-rich balm or hydrating mask could help you get the shine you want.
How To Make A Bald Head Less Shiny
If you’re like most bald men, your head has a natural shine that you want to reduce. This is far more common than wanting to go from matte to shiny, but once again, it all comes down to your personal preference. If your head is shinier than you’d like it to be, it almost always comes down to excess oil. Fortunately, you can easily fix this with the right skincare regimen and products.
There are a variety of ways to cut down on oil production, and that should be your main priority. Here are some steps you can take to reduce oil and minimize shine:
- Use Astringent Products - Astringent pads or wipes are a great way to reduce shine and tighten pores at the same time. Many of the best astringent products contain natural oil busters like witch hazel and citrus.
- Keep Your Scalp Clean - Oils build up on your scalp over time. Even though you may not have hair there anymore, it’s important to keep the area clean with a gentle yet invigorating shampoo. This removes excess oils and helps reduce shine.
- Avoid Heavy Moisturizers - While it’s important to keep your head and scalp moisturized, using heavy moisturizers is a quick way to increase shininess. To minimize shine, use gentle moisturizers that won’t leave your head feeling oily or greasy.
Though these are all solid recommendations for the long term, you might be looking for a quick fix to a shiny head, and we’ve got exactly what you’re looking for: Anthony’s Instant Fix Oil Control. Our proprietary formula utilizes ingredients like orange peel oil and silica to absorb sebum and create the matte appearance you’re looking for instantly. As an added bonus, the natural ingredients work together to reduce the size of pores so that you can worry less about shininess in the future!
Want to learn even more about shiny bald heads vs matte? If so, be sure to check out the great products and solutions available at Anthony today!
