Confidence

[RT Bald]

Hi guys really glad I found this forum. I have had my head shaved for about 2 months. I have been losing my hair for about 15 years. I get a mixed bag of reactions mostly positive but some ask why I did it. They say my hair wasn't that bad...anyway.

I have recently found that a number of people have noticed that I have lost confidence. I have always been a fairly confident person and this seems to be pretty noticeable. My girlfriend even noticed it. She says I look great and she loves my shaved/nearly shaved (I use a trimmer no guard) head.

I am wondering if anyone else has gone through this loss of self confidence and if so how did you shake it off???

[Sooner Steve]

Hey RT. First of all, welcome to SBG.  As for a loss of confidence, I would say it went the other way for me.  Of course, I was tied to a "hair system" for 23 years prior to going sly.  It made my confidence sky rocket.  If your girl is all for it, sounds like to me that should get you through.  Good luck. 

[RT Bald]

Thanks Sooner. I wish that was it as well. Just can't quite put my finger on it.

[Baldboss]

Welcome, RT.  I'm the same as Sooner - shaving increased my confidence.  I can't really say why, but it did.  If you and your gf both like it then you've got it 90% dealt with.

[D.A.L.U.I.]

I think your friends may be picking up a on feeling a lot of guys have right after dealing with the issue--the anticipated reaction of their friends and family--and that anxiety, not loss of confidence--is what they're seeing.  Once most of your friends have seen it, then it goes away.  All the new people don't know you anyway but shaved.  But you've already got the support that counts as has been pointed out.  You'll find, after you've been here a while, that many of us didn't get that and some still don't.  Nonetheless, we maintain our Sly Style.  

[RT Bald]

Thanks for the information. I think that sounds about right. I do feel like it is waning a bit recently. Hopefully it will just go the way of my hair......lol

[GaryT]

I'm with saintc here. You're too concerned with everyones opinion but you got it made man! In no time you'll feel just the opposite. It takes a very confident man to make that kind of change!! Some go through their entire lives without having the strength to make a decision like that. Stick around, you'll fit right in.

[Mikekoz13]

Welcome to the Forum RT!

Usually the confidence level goes the other way once shaved...... Sounds like yoou may be a little insecure about your new look.
Stand tall and be proud my friend....you only get one life so enjoy everyday. Your lady loves it so imagine how much more she will like it when you walk confidently!

[SultanofSwing86]

I often get nervous when meeting people who knew me with hair, it seems to be the anticipation that you know they are going to say something and not knowing if it will be negative or positive. I suppose in the end it shouldn't matter as it's your head and you might as well do as you like with it.

[slyatlast]

Exact opposite here as well.  It was a tremendous boost to my self-confidence when I shaved my head.

[SBG Math Guy]

Exact opposite here as well.  It was a tremendous boost to my self-confidence when I shaved my head.

I agree with what he said.   I gained so much confidence since going sly.   

[crazy.irish.celt]

I often get nervous when meeting people who knew me with hair, it seems to be the anticipation that you know they are going to say something and not knowing if it will be negative or positive.

This has always been my primary fear.  Specifically, meeting people that I know don't like me for one reason or another... I am always anticipating a decisively negative response. 

[Antimidas]

The first couple of days I was nervous.  I felt like I was walking around naked.  But I have gotten to the point that I don't really care what any of them think.  I like it and they will get used to it like I have.  I have taken enough teasing and ridicule in my life that I won't allow room for it to affect me anymore.  In fact the last time I let something like that affect me was September 17th, 1988.  That is the second and last time that I blacked out in rage and attacked someone.

High school is over.  I kept things bottled up so long that I eventually snapped, lunged across the drill seargent's desk, grabbed him by the throat and threatened to kill him.  I had no knowledge or control of my actions until I was already on the other side of the desk.  It immediately got me an appointment with a psychiatrist, but no long term adverse effects.  And since that day, I tend to kill people off mentally if they piss me off.  The rage no longer accumulates to the point that I snap.

I have disposed of all of those who were friends with me for something superficial.  Call me an unbalanced sociopath, but I consider life too short to worry about the negativity of others when it comes to my appearance or personality.  After all, we can't like everybody.