A New Day

[Smooth_Operator]

Hi Guys - I had started writing this as a quick intro, but got carried away!...

While I'm an expert at balding (having spent about 10 years of practice working at it day and night ;-) ) I'm just a novice at being Sly, with only five weeks since razor first met scalp.  Over the past decade, I went from a long ponytail to cut, cropped and buzzed in various stages.  Last year I went guardless for the first time and hated it - my head has a weird shape, what's this funky ridge?, how awful is it that it comes to a point like that... blech.  "Last time I'll do that."  My "excuses engine" was running full throttle.  Well, over the course of the year I worked my way back down from a 4 to a 3 to a 2 to a... 1... to a... dare I go guardless again?  I dared.

This time, I stepped back from the mirror.  With your face pressed up against a two-dimensional reflective surface, everything looks amplified, especially imperfections.  Three to five feet away... not so bad... actually, that looks pretty good.  Using a beard trimmer (not an electric razor) to maintain that stubbly look was a pain, and after a month of weekly touch-ups I decided to take the plunge.  Occasional lurking on this forum over the past couple years and the idea of the 30 Day Rule are why I went Sly.

I had always thought of shaving my head as a last resort... the final thing you do when your hair loss overwhelms you and breaks your spirit... the only way to make the best of a bad situation.  So I dug out the Headblade I had bought two or three years ago as my "Plan B" and made a swipe down the center of my skull from forehead to neck.  There was no covering this, and no going back... the rest was easy.

Since then, there's been no *wanting* to go back.  Going sly gives you as much confidence as it shows to the world, and people notice.  It says that you have self awareness, that you are willing to expose your self by exposing your head, and that's just the way it is.  The feeling is 100% different from even buzzing without a guard, and after the first week shaving had become something I looked forward to doing (whereas I've always hated shaving my face). 

So, bottom line... I love the look and feel, most "ladies" love the look (some don't, but the majority do... and those that do *really* like it), and it's honestly the best thing I've ever done for myself.  Not exaggerating.  So if you're on the fence, balding, choosing where you sit in a restaurant so there's no light over your head, always offering to take photographs so you don't need to be in them, wearing hats... join us and come out of hiding.  As Ben Kingsley said, shaving your head "is the opposite of disguise."  You're not giving up your hair, you're gaining control.  The first swipe is the hardest.  If you can think of three or more reasons not to do it, that's your "excuse engine" talking for you... be honest with yourself and look for the root cause of these excuses, and work on fixing that.

You deserve to be confident, so take the first swipe, hold your head high and embrace being Sly.

-T.

[xnewyawka]

Welcome to SBG's forum Smooth. Good to have you join us and that's a great first post.
I think you summed up many points, and hopefully it will help some of the guys who are struggling.

I especially like your using Ben Kingsleys' quote, and I quote :  "Shaving your head is the opposite of disguise."  You're not giving up your hair, you're gaining control.
Simple and true. Enjoy your new freedom!    

[Papa Don]

Welcome Smooth!  You gave a great first post.  Also, the picture of that confident man is not bad either!!!

[tomgallagher]

Welcome to the group.

[ozzie]

Welcome to the forum Smooth_Operator. Great intro! 

[The Noggin]

Welcome to SBG!

Looks like sly is working for you.

... shaving had become something I looked forward to doing (whereas I've always hated shaving my face). 

Exactly my feelings as well.

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

Welcome, great post. 

[wetherb67]

WOW.   AWESOME post. 

The title "A New Day" is SO appropriate.

In my case, living with MPB for many years was bad enough....but having constant patches of seborrheic dermatitis flaking, just added to the mental stress of it all.    Flaking might not seem so "serious" so some folks, but with the thinning hair I was always trying new things and always self-confident about there being patches of white flakes.

Since the razor hit my scalp, there has been NO TRACE of the dermatitis or the flakes.   This has been incredibly wonderful for me.  Any of you guys out there who have had SD or flaking issues know what I mean.  To be released from that stress of wondering how bad it looked.....is just incredible.  I almost get choked up thinking about how much my self-esteem has improved since I went fully sly.   

I am thankful that I found this forum and the great guys here....I may not have made the jump without the encouragement.   THANK YOU guys.   

[Gambrinus]

Welcome Smooth   

[Mikekoz13]

Welcome to the Forum S_O!!! Nice first post!

[Rob]

Welcome: looks smooth : good to have you here, and a great first post

[Sgt. Pate]

Welcome home! 

[reb123161]

Glad you are with us....looking good!

[Arnie]

Welcome to SBGs!!!

[JBGood]

Come on in! Make yourself at home BBro!