Give the new guy some courage.

[FightFan]

Sup guys,

Well I'm 24 from UK and have been receding since I was about 20 very slowly i might add but this past year its just seem to speed up.  No one really noticed or mentioned anything until last year. Now it seems complete strangers feel the need to comment (how kind of them). My family are pretty brutal about it and are always giving me some grief about it, especially my older sister and younger brother.  

I really hate the winter with the rain and wind, after 5 minutes outside my hair looks ridiculous and i get some weird stares too, I've stopped swimming which I loved and prety much going out if I know the weathers going to be bad. I always told myself if I start going bald( all my uncles on both parents sides are bald and my father started to lose his hair in his late 30's , so I suspected it might happen) i'm going to shave it off at the first signs. But when that happened I convinced myself it wasn't too bad. But if i have to start arranging individual hairs in a certain way to cover it up then its coming straight off (I got to that stage about a year ago).  But I promised myself i would shave if I ever get a bald spot at the back..... well I noticed that about 3 months ago.

At the present minute i'm getting through about a can of hair spray a week and spending ages 'fixing' my hair in the mornings. I just dont have the courage to shave my head. I had my head shaved when I was 18 and it looked truly terrible.

My girlfriend and mother are totally against me shaving my head. Thats why I have signed up here all you guys looked so cool with a shaved head and theres no negativity here so im thinking f**k it so tomorrow I will get it done and its all from reading how liberated you guys have felt after doing it.

Sorry for the life story and thanks for reading, wish me luck.

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

Read through the threads about To Be Bald.  Plenty of young guys have faced this and are doing quite well, excellent in fact. 
Girl friend,  what kind of relationship is it that she wants you to have balding hair, does she fear that a sharp looking sly head will keep her on her toes to keep you?  If so, you'd better think that relationship through, it will melt faster than your hairline.
Mothers--she still thinks about combing her "little" boy's hair on the way out to school.  You're 24, not 4.  Does she ask you about her hair style?  This is about you, and you have to make this decision.  At least try it out for 30 days--and see what new "birds" I think you guys in the UK used to call them will look to land in your tree .

[daran]

I was in the same situation and can only say I wish I shaved my head sooner.  I have found new joys I never would have done because it would show my thinning hair.  I now scuba dive, swim, walk in the rain and wind and generally live a better live.  I have gotten more attention from women also.  I hit the gym and buy nicer clothes and it makes a difference.  Good luck and just shave it off.

[thebaboun]

Hey Flightfan!

We "were" in a similar situation. I am 24 as well! I was scared to go sly and shave my head because I thought it would like someone who has leucemia or HIV...But guess what, I DID IT and it suits me well. You know, some people like it (most in my case), some do not, some will better like the way you looked before but still think you look good. There will be many reactions out there. Is it just hair man, I mean it is not THAT A DIFFERENCE, especially if you are already receding on top.

Post us a picture and show us how you look. Remember, what is important is CONFIDENCE AND HOW YOU THINK YOU LOOK. It is normal for your mother to worry like that. As for your girlfriend, if she really loves you she will accept it, if not, than #### ####!!!!

I mean, just get a "clean cut" you do not need to shave it all with a blade...Rase it at #1...It has to be clean, because honnestly, now for me it looks ridiculous a man with some "wholes" on his head. You will like it! Let us know !

[ozzie]

Welcome to the forum, FightFan. And congratulations on realizing that the time has indeed come! 

Put that razor to work and don't forget to post a pic, mate!
 


 

[Razor X]

Once you shave your head, the negative comments about thinning/receding hair tend to stop.  You may initially get some comments about your new look, but not as many as you might think.  Shaving your head sends the signal that you've taken control of the issue and aren't going to let it rule your life and that tends to shut up the smart alecks.

[wpruitt]

Welcome FightFan

[OzPete]

Welcome to SBG!

[andrew]

Welcome FightFan ....     You've gotten some good advice from the bros.  Most of us here were very nervous about taking the leap.  But, you'll likely find that once it's done, you'll get a few comments here and there, but they'll get used to it very quickly.  Also, you'll probably get lots of positive feedback ...

Your mother and gf will just have to deal with it, if that's the decision you've made.

Give it a 30-day trial ...  You won't regret it.

[Tyler]

My girlfriend and mother are totally against me shaving my head. Thats why I have signed up here all you guys looked so cool with a shaved head and theres no negativity here so im thinking f**k it so tomorrow I will get it done and its all from reading how liberated you guys have felt after doing it.

Sorry for the life story and thanks for reading, wish me luck.

It's good that you are not letting the disease to please your girl and mother keep you from shaving your head.  Make sure you shave and keep it shaved for 30 days straight.  This will give you and your family time to adjust to your look.

Welcome to SBG!

[Mikekoz13]

Welcome to the Forum FF!

Quite simply..... it's not your Mom's or your girlfriend's head. If they love you it won't matter to them.... you will still be you.... but a happier you.

Read the stories on this Forum about new found confidence at the hands of a simple razor. Look at the faces of the confident men that come to this site. Then grab your razor and take the first stroke to a new happiness.

Peace

[Rob]

don't live your life for others: live it for YOU.  If you want to be SLY you can be: but you gotta do it for yourself and not for anyone else.

[xnewyawka]

Welcome to SBG's, you've come to the right place for encouragement.
 
Right off the bat I'm going to echo Rob on this one. You will be shaving your head for you, and only you. If it's what you want, and how you plan on taking control over your mpb, then you just have to go ahead and do it.
 
Don't you want to be free from worrying about what you can and can't do because of your hair?

Get it done and over with and get out there and have fun, live life free.

And like the other guys' have said, don't worry about what anyone else will say or think. They will come to realize that this is the new you. 

Good luck and post up a pic when you can.     

[Dome of Steele]

I went through the same exact thing FF.  The endless styling and sculpting, hating the wind and rain, always wondering how my hair looked. 
I also talked to a few sly guys when I was younger and told myself I'd do it too if the time came. 
Finally when the anxiety got out of hand, I used a great excuse to buzz my head.  A backpacking trip through Europe.  That way if anyone asked I could just say it was just less to hassle with. 

Your life will be better post sly, I promise.  Instead of endlessly sculpting your hair and obsessing over it all day, you get up, you shave, and you don't mess with your head the rest of the day, except maybe to give it a nice rubbing. 

I was 25 when I did it, so we're in the same area of age, so just do it mate!  (notice my attempt to use British wording)

[RyanJP]

Welcome.