Tag Archives: Hardware

A Guide To Head Shaving For Men

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The History Behind Head Shaving

From very early records, it is possible to see evidence of head shaving amongst ancient Mediterranean settlers from Greece, Egypt and Rome. Religious aspects of head shaving can also be seen in many movements with, perhaps, Buddhism being the most widespread, especially visible with the Hare Krishna movement. Devotees have their heads shaved in preparation for entry in priesthood, although it is not restricted to the Hare Krishna movement. Indeed, Hindu monks also shave their heads and Muslim men are advised to shave their heads after the pilgrimage of Hajjas it is said to be three times more rewarding than clipping their hair short.

More modern examples of head shaving include the military, where shaving is seen as a rite of passage into their commissioned posts. As of 2006, a shaved head is the standard haircut within the United States Army, the United States Marine Corp and also the United States Coast Guard. Sportsmen in some disciplines also shave their head, swimmers to reduce drag, and boxers and cage fighters as an attempt to intimidate their opponents. HeadBlade, one of the leading manufacturers of head shaving hardware, have long been sponsors of fighters within the Mixed Martial Arts series, including top athletes such as Shane Carwin. Perhaps the most widespread reason for someone to shave their head is that, quite simply, it is a very liberating experience and very fashionable.

There are also celebrities all over the world are sporting the “bald is best” look with stars such as Bruce Willis, Andre Agassi, and Billy Corgan from the Smashing Pumpkins to name but a few who have ventured down this path. So what is the easiest way to shave your head? Follow these simple steps and a smooth head can be yours.

Step 1 Choose your Shaving Hardware

Many people shave their head using a standard razor and blade combination. Just like shaving your face, the more “tech” the blades for example, Gillette Fusion or the new Hydro range from Wilkinson Sword, the smoother the shave seems to be. There are specialist manufacturers such as HeadBlade which receives great reviews. The big advantage of HeadBlade is that there is more than one point in contact with your scalp at all times so it is easier to avoid “nicks”.

Step 2 First time Headshavers

You need to trim as much of your hair as possible. To do this, a standard set of electric “hair clippers” can be used with the guard taken off. Many high street shops have these and they are easy to use. With your hair dry, buzz the fuzz but please take care! It is often easier to get a friend or partner to do your first trim.

Step 3 Almost ready

You need to really “wet” down your hair. Hair usually takes about 3 to 4 minutes to properly “wet down” so taking a shower is an ideal way of making your shave as comfortable as possible. If you can’t take a shower, trying using a flannel that has been wet with nice warm water. It seems to do the trick but make sure the water isn’t too hot; you don’t want to place a boiling hot flannel on your already sensitive scalp!!

Step 4 Lather up

Use a good quality shaving gel or oil (foams tend to dry your skin out). A particular favourite of many head shavers is King of Shaves AlphaGel, or HeadBlade HeadSlick. Massage it well into your scalp and then prepare to shave!

Step 5 Shave

If you are using a HeadBlade, use your preferred hand, place your index finger through the loop and adjust it for comfort. With the blade leading, gently smooth the HeadBlade over your scalp, using your fingers and base of your hand as a guide. Do not press down on the HeadBlade, just let it glide. Shaving “with the grain” is advisable until your skin becomes accustomed to being shaved. It doesn’t shave as close as against the grain but is most definitely kinder on your skin. Flip the HeadBlade around when you come to do the back of your head so that you will again be shaving with the blade leading.

Step 6 Wash and Protect

Once your scalp feels nice and smooth, wash off any excess gel with warm water and gently pat down your scalp. To finish off, use a good quality moisturiser to maintain your scalp in tip top condition. If you live in a sunny climate, don’t forget to slap some sun protection onto your scalp, sunburn can be very unpleasant.

17 Steps for Proper Network Equipment Refurbishment

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Many network equipment resale companies claim they test your products extensively. If you go through a secondary market to purchase used network hardware, make sure your products have gone through the following steps comparable to what Network Liquidators offers:

  1. When a piece of networking equipment is first received within the facility, it should be first subjected to a physical inspection to ensure no damage was incurred during shipping and handling.
  2. It is then required that all internal and external serial numbers match, and all manufacturer labels and markings are intact. Any devices found with these deficiencies should be returned to the seller.
  3. All units that do not have their tamper stickers intact, or are broken, should be opened and heavily scrutinized. If the main board or other internal components are missing hardware, the device should be returned to the seller or completely refurbished by certified technical engineers.
  4. If a piece of network equipment has any repairable minor damage to the case or has missing screws or mounting brackets, we will fix and/or replace those pieces or parts.
  5. All network equipment should be powered and run at all input voltage capabilities that the device can maintain.
  6. All network products should be upgraded to the latest diagnostic software and tested at the highest level possible.
  7. All network hardware should be allowed to warm up to normal operating temperature before any further diagnostics are performed. This helps in finding any thermal problems the device may have.
  8. If the network equipment has the ability to run internal diagnostics they should be performed. It’s beneficial to a customer if all internal diagnostic results are recorded and a copy is included with the unit when purchased.
  9. Any empty chassis we acquire should be populated to capacity with known functional blades to ensure all slots, power receptacles, and connectors are functional.
  10. All hot swappable cards, power supplies, and modules should be tested to ensure they do not leave you with down time in the event you ever need to change a faulty component. Even a fail-over device should be tested.
  11. All network switches should have every port individually tested to ensure they operate at optimal and peak performance.
  12. All redundant systems should be put through fail over tests to verify reliability.
  13. All network equipment should be configured and tested under real conditions to insure proper operation. This includes all layer 2, 3, and 4 protocols that the device is designed to support.
  14. Once a piece of network hardware passes all diagnostic steps, it should be thoroughly cleaned and packaged for stock.
  15. For accuracy, any device that has been in stock should be rechecked prior to shipping when it is selected to fill an order.
  16. If a network unit from stock is updated with a different operating system, additional diagnostic tests must run to include a new test results included with the unit.
  17. Finally, All products should be professionally packaged in either the original manufacturers boxes or with our with a state of the art packaging system since delicate systems are being transported.

With these 17 major steps in play, there is no reason anyone should expect any device from not working or being damaged during the shipping process. No one wants to go through the hassle of doing a return in any industry. Therefore, buying equipment from reputable resellers is that much more important.