Hair color

[Razor X]

When deciding whether to shave completely or sport a little stubble, did the color of your hair factor into your decision at all?  I think stubble can work well with dark hair, but with lighter hair it's barely visible and can look patchy from a distance.  Same thing with beard styles; there are a lot of styles -- chinstraps, for example -- that I don't think work as well with lighter hair, because even if you have crisp, clearly defined lines, they don't always look that way from a distance.

[Omega]

I was blonde as a kid... I now have mousey brown hair and any stubble I get turns ginger!

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

Personally, and facial hair is one of the most personal decisions, I think the "stubble" look requires first and foremost density of growth.  If you've got the density you can carry off almost any length.  H/o w/ average or less than average density, there has to be some length or it just looks messy and unkept.  Color isn't as important, even dense gray hair has enough contrast w/ the skin to look ok. 
But, I think I've seen some pictures of you without the beard--I'd keep it, just my thought.

[TheSlyBear]

No, hair color was not a factor.

[Nate]

Considering I am a guy in that boat now I have black hair so the biggest contrast (until I tan my head)

I can honestly say my concern in shaving and especially stubble is how patchy my hair loss is. If its even sure it can look quite good and hide the effect but the other side is if its patchy then it might look ten times worse :S

(Im the guy with all the excuses currently) 

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

I can honestly say my concern in shaving and especially stubble is how patchy my hair loss is. If its even sure it can look quite good and hide the effect but the other side is if its patchy then it might look ten times worse :S
(Im the guy with all the excuses currently) 

Excuses--yeah, but you're putting them out there and at least to me it shows you're trying to deal with them.  I don't know how you ever got into a swimming pool though, you must have had a bundle of excuses why not then too!
Seriously though, one reason I ditched the buzz for sly was that my hairline had retreated leaving two "spots" in front of uneven size in front and a strip on top between the ears and it looked ridiculous to me--other people probably didn't notice--but I did.  Sly, at least before a little sun for a week or so, I had two "spots."  I guess mpb finally finished them and the strip off, although I can still feel stubble, the "runway" is clear of any visible shadow remnants of my dying mop.  For me, buzz only works if the remnants are symmetrical--otherwise it's tumbleweeds. 

[Nate]

Fully agree

Buzz short only tends to work if its general thinning all over in an even fashion otherwise it could look bad

Funny how we are really our own worse critics. I guess as Humans we tend to fixate on things like hearing knocking noises in our car engines. We hear them like its dire yet no one else hears them at all

I have a million excuses to deal with. I talked to my best friend about it last night and he was supportive. Told him about going to Thailand and shaving it to see what its like. Definitely think it will drop a few jaws at the family dinners. I would like to get a new look anyhow... I stop myself doing things because of my hair yet wouldnt it be nice to just be able to go out and face the world. Go climb K2 or do some boat racing or not worry about my hair if I go sky diving or riding my motorcycle

I am sure you guys sympathise with my psychology and most of you must think back and remember the days when you were thinking the same thoughts as me

Everyone seems to finally take the plunge later on in life also it almost seems like a natural phase of acceptance and aging. When in your 20s or 30s you hold on for dear life and stress over love and family and being overly self conscious.

Is there anyone here that thinks some guys pull off the short naturally balding look. Ill be honest the guys that do (we all refer to the superstars celebs who sport the balding look) they are in ki11er shape and are really good looking guys with or without hair would be irrelevant

[Razor X]

Everyone seems to finally take the plunge later on in life also it almost seems like a natural phase of acceptance and aging. When in your 20s or 30s you hold on for dear life and stress over love and family and being overly self conscious.

Most guys with advanced MPB were losing their hair in their 20s and 30s; it is in no way uncommon.  The guys who are older than that and just getting around to shaving are doing so because it wasn't an option when they were in their 20s and 30s.

[tomgallagher]

True. When I was that age you were tagged as either a Cancer patient or a Nazi.

[reb123161]

Hair color didn't factor in to my decision.  I just always thought the dudes shaving their heads had their acts together and I was jealous of them in many ways due to my comb-over doo.    I really agree with tomgallagher about the perceptions of SLY folks years ago.  Skin-heads and Nazis came to mind. 

[phigg]

True. When I was that age you were tagged as either a Cancer patient or a Nazi.

Totally.
..or a bad guy.. the few shaved head dudes in movies were always villains - like Lex Luther.
The hero always had thick flowing locks.
Glad things have changed so much in 20 years.

[Smooth_Operator]

In working my way down to sly, my hair color was definitely a factor - it is/was about as dark brown as you can get without it being black.  I've been conditioning myself not to obsess over shadow, since my remaining hair grows quickly and is so dark that shadow is an inevitability unless I shave every few hours.  If I go 3-4 days without shaving, I once again look "balding" and not sly, primarily b/c of my dark hair.  It's not really a matter of skin tone contrast, just the way it is.

As a dark-haired guy, whatever stubble you have will show up more (whether you like that look or not is personal preference) but on the flip side, it also more quickly shows where you don't have hair.  So I opt to stay within 2 days of sly.  Interesting thing... the stubble looks best when shaving head and face in the same "session," vs. having a cleaner cut face with longer head hair or vice versa.

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

If I go 3-4 days without shaving, I once again look "balding" and not sly, primarily b/c of my dark hair.  It's not really a matter of skin tone contrast, just the way it is.

Exactly, and it's especially true if the mpb has not progressed in a symmetrical pattern or if the hairline has left one or more "islands" near the front of the head.  In those cases the "fashionable" stubble just looks like tumbleweeds and IMO you're just better off to keep it sly, daily or at the most every other day. 

[kenny57028]

I had dark brown hair which looks good as stubble, but I don't like havin the horseshoe stubble. If I didn't have MPB I'd pry shave my head in the summers I like the way the stubble looks.

[Rob-Raz]

MPB on top trumped what concerns I may have had about hair color!!


Oh and Nate.........shave your dang head already!!!!!!!!!!