Love it but still feel strange

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

sometimes in public I just feel uncomfortable knowing that everybody is looking right at me.

Sorry, you're not a bad looking dude, but really hardly anyone notices you--really, it's in your head, your great looking shiny sly head.   

[imb]

Yeah I sort of get where you guys are coming from, I'm certain I've felt that way in the past. It's probably a part of getting used to the look and becoming more comfortable in your own skin. I think in the end what matters is how you perceive it. Now I think it's pretty cool that I stand out and that I don't look exactly like everyone else, I think it adds to a certain curiosity that people have towards me. If anything now I worry that many men will recognise the benefits of a clean shaven head, and that I'll just look exactly like everyone else.

[pdxtodd]

Hi Slick,

When I first saw your postings I though that you were posting something off of a photographers promotional website.  I thought that you and your wife were models.   You pull the look off perfectly.    Ta2Guy said it best though - we are way more self conscious than other are of us and our newly bald heads.    As I round the corner on my 5th month of being sly I can honestly say that I don't notice other people looking at my head.   I actually feel more in the norm than not.   I was eating lunch in the buildings cafe yesterday and out of the 12 or so guys eating lunch -- I only counted 2 guys with hair longer than a #1 and I work in a professional services office building.     

[usmcpelon]

I too thought your photo was from a fairy tale story.  However you are  a good looking guy especially with the bald head that nothing should prevent you from enjoying the pleasures of being bald.  There comes a time when we have to say the hell with everybody else, I like being bald and that’s what counts.  You’ll get over the feeling of being bald in no time.  It’s a strange feeling when you are with a lot of people, and you’re the only bald guy.  Your ears turn red and they feel hot, you turn around and a lot of eyes are on you.  The truth is a nice looking shave head turns head.  People are amused by a bald head.  They keep staring at it until it disappears from view.  

I work with a bunch of bald guys, so I feel right at home at work.  In public it doesn’t really matter to me anymore.  I enjoy the feeling of being bald and comfortable all the time.  I keep bumping into a lot of bald guys in my area, and we always make eye contact say hello and smile.  We are able to make that connection that only bald guys can.  Were bald and we see ourselves in other bald guys.  Am I making any sense here.

[Baldgoal]

I am now almost 3 months in to being Bald By Choice, and I have just started to get use to the guy in the mirror.  It has been very strange to look and see the great looking bald guy in the mirror and realize that it is me.

Now that I have been bald for almost 3 months it is refreshing to be past the comment period.  The people around me have accepted the look and I love it.

Now if the head would just color evenly I would be happy.

[Dr.Mr.Ed]

I am also only a few days into being sly, and sometimes feeling pretty self-aware of my naked dome. At the pool, with a hundred people around there were a few others sly guys (who were already nice and tanned and looked very natural).

Running out to the store and such, I still feel a bit odd. Especially as cashiers vaguely recognize me, but don't say anything.

However, yesterday I went to the Strongman competition and IPA meet at York Barbell (power lifting competitions). I've never felt more at home without hair! While these guys make me look like a twig, there is something to be said for being clean shaven around dozens of others. I would say a solid 1/3 of the competitors were shaved while about 20% of the audience was.

After this past experience, I think I've gone over the hump for being self conscious!

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

However, yesterday I went to the Strongman competition and IPA meet at York Barbell (power lifting competitions). I've never felt more at home without hair! While these guys make me look like a twig, there is something to be said for being clean shaven around dozens of others. I would say a solid 1/3 of the competitors were shaved while about 20% of the audience was.

After this past experience, I think I've gone over the hump for being self conscious!

I think another thing is at work here too, after we ditch the combover, rug, thinning dying mop, whatever, most of us really begin to notice how many others have moved on from mpb in the only safe and sane matter other than enduring the ruins on an unshaved scalp.  But now, within the past several years, I think the tipping point has been reached in many parts of our country where most guys of all ages, but most obviously in the 20-early 40 crowd have adopted the sly look or at the very least a very short buzz in response to mpb.  It's even becoming the "cut" of choice, at least in most major big cities, for the older guys like me.  It's clean, sharp and neat, it always improves appearances--it doesn't make a model out of a troll but even then it's still an improvement. 
I guess the only thing I wonder , didn't you notice a lot, I mean a whole lot, of sly guys when you were in NYC at your sales meeting?  Didn't you feel just a little out of place there in the last days of your thinning dying mop when you  saw the general trend?  Just curious.  It's the same in every large major city in the States I've been to recently. 

[Dr.Mr.Ed]

I guess the only thing I wonder , didn't you notice a lot, I mean a whole lot, of sly guys when you were in NYC at your sales meeting?  Didn't you feel just a little out of place there in the last days of your thinning dying mop when you  saw the general trend?  Just curious.  It's the same in every large major city in the States I've been to recently. 

I actually noticed the opposite. At the conference and around the offices, I noticed a lot of "unchecked" MPB. They just had the regular thinning look with relatively short cuts or else the top was gone with a moderate length horseshoe around the sides. The comb-overs thankfully seem to have disappeared.

Walking the streets - yes, I certainly saw a ton of sly guys. I haven't noticed the look propagate to the "professional" world quite as quickly. I will of course be keeping more of an eye out during my upcoming trips - I'll be in DC in about a month.

[Noodles]

Slick and Regi,

Excellent advice that was passed on down to me when I first went through the same type experience many moons ago, during my first few weeks of going sly....
 
---Wear your newly shaved scalp with pride. There are many many guys out there who would love to take a razor and go sly, but cannot (or will not) take that final step in meeting that challenge, due to suspected non-approval issue by either spouse, other family members, or close friends. You've made the decision to shave it all off, now it's time to back up that decision with a Positive Attitude!!

The FIRST person whose opinion should truly matter to you is YOUR OWN!!

Hope this helps.

- Cap'n Noodles -

[kenny57028]

Yes I do feel like the oddman out at times especially being 18.

[Bilko1]

I wouldn't let it bother you. The "strange" feelings eventually leave as you become more relaxed with the "new" you. At least, this has happened with me. Don't know about others, though.

[Slick Head]

Thanks guys! I have really got used to being sly now and with all the comments and support you guys have given me nothing really bothers me anymore. Its who i am and my nice smooth head is a big part of who i am! 

[Timmer]

There's a guy at work.  Total toilet bowl of hair, with the added "feature" of a band of hair across the coronal suture.  This poofy band of hair.  It's the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen hair-wise.  And it's this golden blond color so he almost has a halo.  I've caught him looking at my rock more than once.  I finally said, "Dude, in case you're wondering, it's time to shave it."  His response?  He looked forlorn and said, "I know.  My wife won't let me."

So...when you're feeling a lil down...just remember...you're not THAT guy.

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

"I know.  My wife won't let me."

It's not an excuse, "Ask forgiveness not permission!"--it's in the Bald Man Laws. 

[xnewyawka]

"I know.  My wife won't let me."

It's not an excuse.  

True, as saint said it's really not an excuse. I have a couple of guys at work who have told me the same thing.