Why do you, or have you, shaved your head?

[Craig Reed]

I know there has been a lot of talk about this on different threads on here, so please forgive me if this is in the wrong section. As some of you know I have had my own struggle with hairloss that caused me much trouble at the young age of 20. Now 26, I have been shaving my head for 5 years, and don't know why I made such a big deal about it.

I was depressed, lost a lot of my confidence, stayed home a lot, and when I did go out, I was the "hat" guy. I was be scared that someone would ask to see my hat, or take it off of me and expose my thinning hair.

I know many of you can relate to this, but I think it is cool to find out why, and how many of you started shaving your head in the first place. For me, it was because I was going bald anyway. I know many people have full head's of hair who shave their head as well. If you don't mind taking a second to answer this poll, I am hoping to get a sample of 100 to pull from!

http://tinyurl.com/2baawwp

Thanks fellow Sly guys, and those of you who are on the fence, just jump in, the water's fine!

[kenny57028]

I answerd your poll, but I spose I'll share my life lessons again. I first learned I was goin bald at 17 when there was a kid behind me that yelled "Hey your going bald!" Ya talk about a mental mind f**k. I kept it short and progressivly kept going shorter and so did my confidence during the next few months and eventually started shaving for 9 months with no guard. And 3 months ago took a razor to my head and haven't looked back since. I still struggle somedays when I think "man would i look better with hair" but thats when I step back and tell myself that I don't have hair anymore and I look better sly.

I just want people to know that if you go bald young like me that its not the end of the world. I'd rather not read another story of a young person like me that gets so spun up in the emotional cycle of hairloss that you go to the point of not wanting to leave your house or even in some cases to the point of suicide. I know I was there, but hairloss isn't as bad as you think. I strongly suggest doing the 30days to any lurkers that come here it is a very life changing experience that the SBG have come up with it. An even tho at 3 months I still have my moments its better than where I was at 3 months ago.

[Craig Reed]

Kenny,

I was you 5 years ago. I couldn't believe it. I was in shock, and to be honest I never really noticed it, even on myself, until others started pointing it out to me. Like you, I began shaving with clippers, with a 2 attachment, then a 1, then finally no blade. But there is nothing like the freedom of just taking it all off - not to mention you can let it grow back for a day if you want and it still will look good.

I am a daily shaver however! 

Stick with it, your friends will always give you crap, mine still do after 5 years, but just keep in mind they are doing it because they are your friends. Leave the ones behind who are harsh, or really seem to care, they aren't worth it. I always think to myself, "damn I would look good with hair" but my girlfriend loves the "sly" look and there are plenty of other women out there just like her! Just be confident in yourself, and you will find your way.

It looks good on you and just keep moving forward - a windshield is larger than your rear view mirror because you need to look forward more than you need to look back.

[kenny57028]

Ya I know what you mean I get the comments of skinhead or some other random name but its always in a spirit of good fun. 3 months ago I would take offense if someone said something and now I jsut laugh it off because I've accepted the way I look. 3 months ago I would get comments about how I look better with hair now the comments are that they don't remeber what I look like with hair or that I'd look wierd with hair. It's wierd to think that we still picture what we look like with hair sometimes and think man everyone pry thinks id look better with hair when in reality society just remebers us as sly now.

[reb123161]

I shaved mine due to loss of hair and a completely foolish looking comb-over.  It is amazing that something as trivial as hair and shaving it, can give one the confidence and happiness they lost for many years.

[kenny57028]

I shaved mine due to loss of hair and a completely foolish looking comb-over.  It is amazing that something as trivial as hair and shaving it, can give one the confidence and happiness they lost for many years.

Yes or in my case the confidence I never had. For some reason when I look back and think of what I looked like with hair I always wondered why I didnt like the way I look, but somehow me being balds made me appreciate the way I look.

[Craig Reed]

We all tend to believe that "all eyes are on us" when we go out. Everyone is starting at my bald head, or everyone is looking at me weird. When in reality, everyone has their own things going on, their own insecurities, their own problems, and their own life stuff they are dealing with.

99% of people don't take a second look. And to the 1%, they are probably just jealous that they don't have the confidence to take such measures with their own insecurities.

The truth is, the world doesn't revolve around us individually - and that is hard to accept when you first take such drastic measure from going from hair, to no hair.

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

We all tend to believe that "all eyes are on us" when we go out. Everyone is starting at my bald head, or everyone is looking at me weird.

I really never had significant problems w/ the "looked at" thing once I shaved, but I had big problems w/ the combover/receding hairline.  I was always watching to see if people were looking at my hairline, or through the hair at the end once I noticed that.  I also was very careful where I stood--never in front of a mirror so that the back of my head was also visible.  It was very restricting.  Once shaved, and I adjusted to the new dude in the mirror, I rather enjoyed and enjoy the looks.  Makes my day, actually.  I know I look the way I want to present myself--neat, and alert. 

[CraftyGuy]

In short, I shave my head simply because I want to.

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

In short, I shave my head simply because I want to.

So, for you, it's a play on Descartes, "I think, therefore I am." becomes for the SBG, "I shave, therefore I am."  Nice

[CraftyGuy]

In short, I shave my head simply because I want to.

So, for you, it's a play on Descartes, "I think, therefore I am." becomes for the SBG, "I shave, therefore I am."  Nice

Well said - I like it! 

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

In short, I shave my head simply because I want to.

So, for you, it's a play on Descartes, "I think, therefore I am." becomes for the SBG, "I shave, therefore I am."  Nice

Well said - I like it! 

Well it was Descartes that gave the original, Je pense, donc je suis.  So this would be Je me rase, donc je suis.  Sly is philosophical. 

[Craig Reed]

If I were to let my hair grow out, it would be thin, but not overly "bad". But, I figured, why wait? I am obviously going bald anyways, so I might as well get used to it sooner than later.

I agree that I was worried about more looks when I was thinning with hair, than I am being bald. People are so used to it now, professional athletes, actors, etc all have shaved heads and it is becoming more expected by people when one is beginning to lose their hair.

And boy does it cut down on the "getting ready for work" time!

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

And boy does it cut down on the "getting ready for work" time!

Less is more, less hair, more time for you, and "more" better appearance.

[Craig Reed]

Agreed!