# Why are bald heads shiny? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 7, 2008, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-bald-heads-shiny/444364 "2008-04-07T19:06:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-bald-heads-shiny/444364/1 "2008-04-07T19:06:05Z")
Seriously, what’s the deal with that? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-bald-heads-shiny/444364/2 "2008-04-07T19:17:57Z")
[QUOTE=friedo] Seriously, what’s the deal with that? [/QUOTE] Because the skin is pulled tight over bone with no muscle undrneath and no hair to dull the shine? ---
**Author:** ![GilaB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@GilaB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GilaB)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-bald-heads-shiny/444364/3 "2008-04-07T19:37:35Z")
But that’s arguably true of other areas, like the bridge of my nose, or my elbows. Neither is nearly as shiny as a bald head. ---
**Author:** ![Walpurgis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Walpurgis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walpurgis)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-bald-heads-shiny/444364/4 "2008-04-07T19:48:31Z")
Speculation: The scalp produces a lot of sebum. You’ll get greasy hair if you don’t wash it, and the scalp will still produce fat even if there isn’t any hair = shiny head. Although I’m sure it varies. When I shaved my head, it wasn’t shiny at all. ---
**Author:** ![Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alive_At_Both_Ends)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-bald-heads-shiny/444364/5 "2008-04-07T20:08:22Z")
[QUOTE=Grammanaut] When I shaved my head, it wasn’t shiny at all. [/QUOTE] But a shaved head isn’t the same as a bald head. The hair is still there, although cut off flush with the skin. If the hair is dark it’s still visible, and that would probably spoil the shine. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-bald-heads-shiny/444364/6 "2008-04-07T20:41:51Z")
Mr Sheen. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-bald-heads-shiny/444364/7 "2008-04-07T20:55:25Z")
[QUOTE=Grammanaut] Speculation: The scalp produces a lot of sebum. You’ll get greasy hair if you don’t wash it, and the scalp will still produce fat even if there isn’t any hair = shiny head. Although I’m sure it varies. When I shaved my head, it wasn’t shiny at all. [/QUOTE] That’s my experience, even though I am technically only half-bald. ---
**Author:** ![ignis\_glaciesque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@ignis\_glaciesque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ignis_glaciesque)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-bald-heads-shiny/444364/8 "2008-04-07T21:17:20Z")
[QUOTE=Alive At Both Ends] But a shaved head isn’t the same as a bald head. The hair is still there, although cut off flush with the skin. If the hair is dark it’s still visible, and that would probably spoil the shine. [/QUOTE] And the shaven head was likely not shiny because the process of shaving must’ve scraped off all the oil and gunk that skin normally puts out. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-bald-heads-shiny/444364/9 "2008-04-07T21:27:51Z")
Don’t some bald men wax their pates, so as to increase the sheen? Or did all those MGM cartoons I watched growing up lie to me? ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2008, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-bald-heads-shiny/444364/10 "2008-04-07T21:33:20Z")
[QUOTE=Grammanaut] Speculation: The scalp produces a lot of sebum. You’ll get greasy hair if you don’t wash it, and the scalp will still produce fat even if there isn’t any hair = shiny head. Although I’m sure it varies. When I shaved my head, it wasn’t shiny at all. [/QUOTE] I think you’re onto something here. My bald head is shinier at some times than others. I shampoo every morning, and I think I’m less shiny right out of the shower. Now a medium-hot day, a good sweat going, you could see your reflection. ---
**Author:** ![slaphead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@slaphead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slaphead)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-bald-heads-shiny/444364/11 "2008-04-08T08:38:29Z")
[QUOTE=11811] I think you’re onto something here. My bald head is shinier at some times than others. I shampoo every morning, and I think I’m less shiny right out of the shower. Now a medium-hot day, a good sweat going, you could see your reflection. [/QUOTE] Odd. I’m the opposite. Immediately after my morning shower, my smooth shiny pate is so reflective I need to wear a cap in order to prevent small birds flying into my noggin and dazzled drivers from crashing. It becomes duller over the daytime (accurately reflecting my mental acuity). If I apply some moisturiser due to feeling a bit dry, it kills the worst of the gleam. [QUOTE=Colophon] Mr Sheen. [/QUOTE] I believe Pledge has a strong following as well… ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-bald-heads-shiny/444364/12 "2008-04-08T11:04:28Z")
[QUOTE=Colophon] Mr Sheen. [/QUOTE] Nah, Simoniz. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2008, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-bald-heads-shiny/444364/13 "2008-04-08T13:58:57Z")
[QUOTE=11811] I think you’re onto something here. My bald head is shinier at some times than others. I shampoo every morning, and I think I’m less shiny right out of the shower. Now a medium-hot day, a good sweat going, you could see your reflection. [/QUOTE] Ditto.