Can Muslim men shave their heads bald?

Shaving the head is part of Hajj and Umrah

At the end of Hajj and Umrah, men either shave their heads or shorten their hair. The Quran mentions both:

The Prophet ﷺ prayed "O Allah, have mercy on those who shave their heads," and only on the third request added those who shorten their hair (Sahih al-Bukhari 1727). So a bald head is not just permitted, it is a symbol of worship. See What is ihram?

Shaving outside of Hajj

Most scholars of the four schools say shaving the head at other times is simply allowed. When the Prophet ﷺ saw a boy with part of his head shaved, he said: "Shave all of it or leave all of it" (Sunan Abi Dawud 4195). That gives two equal options, and full shaving is one of them.

A few early scholars, including a narration from Imam Ahmad, disliked regular head-shaving without a reason, partly because it was once a sign of an extremist sect. Most later scholars, especially today when a buzz cut or bald head is ordinary in the West, see no problem. Practical reasons like hair loss, heat, sport or simply liking the look are all fine.

What to avoid

• Partial shaving (qaza'): bald patches with long hair left elsewhere. If you go bald, go bald all over.
• Showing off or copying a hateful group: a shaved head linked to a gang or extremist look sends the wrong message, so keep the intention clean.
• Muslim women: the ruling here is for men. Women shorten their hair slightly in Hajj and generally don't shave their heads, except for a medical need.

Hair, sunnah and wudu

Whether you shave it all or grow it out, both are fine. If you're thinking about the opposite style, see Can Muslim men have long hair? Shaving doesn't affect your wudu: you still wipe over your head, even if it's bald. Cutting body hair also links to the wider topic of fitrah hygiene. See What is fitrah hygiene in Islam?