Ey up

[Rogozhin]

Hey lads,

Might not be able to post here much, but in any case I wanted to say you guys are one of the few forums on the web I truly respect. Sure, people have taken the piss out of you before, but you've maintained a kind of bald integrity through it all, and you actually have something useful to teach.

I've been balding since I was 17 - I'm 20 now. I'm developing that terrible Y-pattern on my head at the moment and I'm literally days away from cutting it loose for good. However, I'm wary of shocking the people I love with this sudden alien-head look (I'm slim build, and don't have a particularly freaky skull-shape), though you know there will always be an initial shock; I want to reduce it. So my question is basically this: how many of you went down to a really low number on the clippers before you went fully clean-shaven? I'm thinking this is the way to go for me, but need some pro advice. Bear in mind the particular balding pattern I have - very thin at the front section of the 'Y', very thick at the back. Will it look desperate if I clip it down over a period of time? Should I just go straight to full-on clean-shaven and take the sh*t?

Here's a shot of my hairline - it's about a year old, so imagine it slightly worse than this and you go it. Would get you a more recent one, but I since seem to have subconsciously learnt to lift my head up when a photo is being taken to hide the inevitable... I've become an 'anti-balding artist' and that's what worries me most.



TL;DR: I'm definitely getting rid of it at some point. Does anyone have experience in grading it back over several months/years, and is this a worthwhile option, or will the front just look ridiculous?

Cheers Sly's.

[Razor X]

I went shorter in stages.  It's always a bit of an adjustment when you take it down to the next shorter length, but within a day or so you get used to it.   I also had the the thinning in the front.   Even though buzzing your hair makes a big improvement, the thinning and recession are still there for the world to see.  There's really no way around that, which is why I was never completely satisfied with a buzz cut.  The only effective way to deal with a receding hairline is to shave your head completely.  I always had a fear of developing a Larry-from-the-Three-Stooges look.  Once the recession at the temples becomes severe, you really have to keep it short or it will look reallly bad.

There's nothing wrong with doing it in stages.  Start with a #2 (1/4") and after a week or two take it down to a #1 (1/8").  It's a little scary, but take comfort in the fact that it will grow out to a #2 within a week.  Likewise, when your head is shaved, it only takes a week to grow back to a #1. So if you can get comfortable with a #1 first, knowing that you're only a week away from your comfort zone makes it a lot easier to take the razor to your scalp.  Some guys prefer to get it over with all at once, but if a gradual approach is easier for you, then that's what you should do.

For what it's worth, I think you'll look fine shaved.  You should definitely give it a try.  Whether you do it all at once or over a longer period of time is entirely up to you.

[Mikekoz13]

Many o fthe guys went shorter first and gradually to limit the shock of that first smooth shave. I think SLY will be a good choice for you...... You are obviously a man of good taste with that Stella Artois in your hand.........

[Timmay]

Welcome to the site bro. Glad you found us and you enjoy the site.

I would suggest what Razor and Mike have just said.  Take it down in stages.  I wore my hair short (not clippered) for a long time.  Then I got to the point where I would use the clippers to take it to #2 and sometimes a #1.  I wore it that way for about 3-4 months then I decided one day to use no guard.  I wore it with the no guard for about a month and I decided to just shave it off.  That was the end of the story.  From that point on...I have always shaved it smooth.  Only once have I grown it back for a month.

Yes you will get some people who will be shocked...but hey, its your hair Right?  Do what makes you happy.  My only concern is you mentioned waiting months or YEARS!  Dont wait years....it will only prolong it for you.  Just jump in there and do it.  Wear it clippered down for a month or two and then shave it off.  I think you will be glad you did.

Good Luck

Timmay

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

Welcome.  Good decision to get on with going Sly--it's better than letting nature take you there, hair by hair.  Buzz was my road, although fairly short, just over a month from a #3 to skin.  When I got the barber to do a #4, I realized I wanted it shorter, so a week later, he did a #3.  I took over there, and after two weeks went to #2  then after a week I did #1--three days later--clippered w/ out a guard, then after going to the gym--razor time.  Never regreted anything except that I didn't do it years earlier. 

[Papa Don]

Man, welcome to the site.  I must concur with the men who have posted.  I know you will enjoy the site, so jump right in and join the information and conversations.  Good luck on your decision!

[Arnie]

Welcome to SBGs!

I began balding for real when I was 19...started to finally where it short when I was 26...then went sly when I was 35...

The lesson I learned is that I wish I would have just did it when I noticed I was balding...it took too much out of me to maintain what little hair I had as it was going away.

Take care, look forward to your decision and your future posts!

[Razor X]

I began balding for real when I was 19...started to finally where it short when I was 26...then went sly when I was 35...

The lesson I learned is that I wish I would have just did it when I noticed I was balding...it took too much out of me to maintain what little hair I had as it was going away.

That pretty much mirrors my experience as well.  The huge advantage that younger guys have today is that a shaved head is perfectly acceptable in all walks of life.  For those of us who are a little older, it really wasn't an option when we first started noticing that we had MPB. 

[Iconic]

Practising my Brando imitation here and shouting "Stellaaa"

I took the gradual approach too. I bought the clippers with a comb long enough for me. Then I buzzed my hair in stages  starting from 36 mm (1,4 ") and going to 3 mm (0,12" or so called #1 setting). It took time and looking back now perhaps should have gone straight to #2 or 1 (some will say should have shaved).

Being an anti balding artist is familiar to me. It soon becomes second nature but I think that's the dangerous part of it. Namely, it makes being ashamed of balding so natural. Yet, why to be ashamed of what you look like being a man? What a dilemma. You naturally start to position yourself to hide your balding when somebody points a camera at you and so on. Looking to the mirror and wondering if it's gonna look as bad in the sunlight or not...But sometimes it looks just fine and you are cool about being the way you are. Of course, please understand that I'm not talking about you now, these are reflections what I felt a couple of years before buzzing.

I took my time and maybe I couldn't have done it earlier. But I can't say how good I feel now walking outside when it's windy and rainy. Free from thin stringy hair.

[stasiu]

Mate:

Young guys balding today have awesome websites, such as this one, to explore and learn and get support.  Back in the early 1970's, when I was your age, there was NOTHING that gave you support.  

Start clipping your hair shorter so everyone can get used to the balding process.  Before you know it nobody will notice your hair getting shorter and shorter and then just razor it smooth !  Best and cheers !  ----Stasiu

[jrppsuobx]

Welcome!! I started with cutting close. Never looking back now!!!

[warhawk]

welcome 2 the sly fraternity.  glad that ya joined the best forum on the internet.  keep us posted 2 your road 2 slyness. 

WARHAWK

[OzPete]

Welcome to SBG!

[Rogozhin]

Gawd bless Brando's shaved head!

STELL-AAAAAAAAAAA





Wow - thanks for the great replies - I'm definitely going to buzz it to #3 now, and after that take it gradually back to a close shave. It really, really helps having this support; I guess it's more than most of you ever got. Once I've gone fully smooth I'll spread the good word, but till then I'm just gonna be edging cautiously towards the look. I'll post pics when I'm satisfied.

Cheers guys, checking up on you soon -

[ozzie]

Look forward to seeing your results. Took me a while. #2, then #1, then finally ... WOOHOO!