So you’re thinking about starting off 2016 clean and new by shearing your mane down to a low buzz. Not a bad idea, actually—if the style suits your dome, a buzz cut can make any guy look like a new man right quick. But before you go ahead and tell your barber to take his clippers down to their shortest setting, you need to know what you’re getting yourself into. Because while short cuts can be relatively easy to maintain, they do pose a few unique obstacles that your standard snip doesn’t. Here, how to handle all the new factors you’re about to face now that your hair is at an all-time low.

Protect Your Scalp

First and foremost, the most important thing you need to be careful of, now that you’ve cropped your hair within an inch of your scalp, is in fact your scalp itself. Without the usual protection your locks provide, it’s exposed and, having not borne the brunt of the elements for many moons, especially vulnerable. To what exactly? Well, sunburn, for one. Pale and pasty, your scalp doesn’t normally see the full force of daylight, so if you’re not inclined to rubbing sunscreen all over your dome, might we suggest wearing a hat if the forecast calls for excess brightness. This is a good idea on particularly blustery days as well, since windburn isn’t exactly a walk in the park, either.

Oh, and one more thing: Now that you don’t have much hair, dandruff doesn’t have anywhere to hide. Make sure it doesn’t rear its ugly head by using a dandruff shampoo at the first sign of dryness up top; Malin + Goetz makes a great option that’ll soothe your scalp and get rid of flakes fast.

Watch for WildnessRead More11 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Getting a Buzz CutBy John Jannuzzi

Here’s the thing about buzz cuts: It’s precision and fine lines that make them look their sharpest. Just think back to when Brad Pitt sported the style; clean and exact, stray-less and perfectly kept around the edges, the man’s hair displays a sort of total control that’s both authoritative and lacking in pretense. That’s exactly what you’re going for, and don’t think for a second that it’s attained by simply setting and forgetting. No, it takes regular maintenance. Which is why, if you’re going to have a proper buzz, get a set of clippers of your own—most any will do, but these by Wahl are both stylish and seriously effective. Between haircuts, use them to keep the edges in check, paying careful attention at the sideburns, over the ear, and at the nape of the neck. Also, it wouldn’t hurt to run a touch of product through your hair; nothing too heavy, but a light crème like the one by Martial Vivot will tame even the slightest unruliness and work wonders to keep up the air of control that you’re trying to achieve.

Eyes Out on Length

Finally, get to know your barber, since you’re going to be seeing a lot of him. That’s because, visually, it’s quite a bit easier to notice a change in the length of your hair when there’s not all that much of it to begin with. So if you decide you want to stick with your newly shorter ’do, then book a standing appointment with the man every two weeks or so, and let him level things off like the professional he is.

Or, of course, you could do it yourself. But when did D.I.Y. really ever work out the way it was supposed to?

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