New Member, on the fence on the issue

[bdizzle]

My Story

Well I'm a 23 year old under (not un)employed college graduate who's had thinning hair for maybe a few years? now. I'm not sure exactly how long my hair's been thinning on top, because I think it's always been somewhat thin on the top, I just never noticed it. I had slightly longer hair in my teenage years so I never really paid much attention, however in recent years I've come to the conclusion that my hair is thinning on the top and has receded, at least on the temples.

My biggest problem with going sly? Holy sh*t I can't imagine I'd look any good bald. I'm short (like 5'8 on a good day), thin, (155 lbs), pretty damn white, and I've had my hair short in the past (down to a 0 in buzz) and people have told me I didn't look good. Heck, I got the most comments on being balding when I had my hair buzzed down short, because that's when you could notice the thinness on the top the most.

I really just can't imagine looking good, full sly either, because I have a BIG ass head. I know my situation's not hopeless, and the majority of posters are going to say, "just do it", I guess I just need the affirmations lol. I've enclosed a few pics, the last two are fairly recent (within say 2-3 weeks) so they're a pretty good presentation of where my hair is at right now.




(I actually think it looks pretty good in this pic)



Anyways there's one more pic, but I can't get it to upload for some reason, the first two were taken like 1.5 years ago, the third one about 4 months ago maybe, and the last two were taken a few weeks ago. Even though they're not really great photos, I think the thinness in the top is noticeable in at least a few of them. Suggestions? Advice?

[Papa Don]

First off, let me welcome you to the forum Bdizzle.  Yes, most of the members will say to shave it smooth.  IMO this is something that has to come from you.  If you are worried about other people's attitude, don't!  Your personal appearance is about what you like.  Friends and family can really be hurtful in these areas.  Remember, it is all about what you like.  If you were to go Sly, it will grow back in a very short time.  Persoanally, yes, I would shave it.  Mainly just to see what it would look like. I had a full head of hair and lost a bet.  So off it came.  I had no intention in the beginning to keep it smooth.  It felt so great that I have shaved everyday for the last two years.  I have no intention of ever going back to hair.  I really is overrated.  You have come to the right forum for your inquiries.  The brothers will help in any way they can.  Please remember on your hair loss, no drugs, rugs or plugs! These things will ruin your health and pocketbook.

[Ming the Merciless]

Agreeing with PD.  Give it a try.  It's not as if going SLY is like getting a tattoo.  If you try it and don't like it, a month will take you back to square one*.

From Ming's POV, there is NO such thing as a head that does not look OK if SLY.  It might not be what you like (after dipping into the water), but SLY is FAR better than halfway measures.

*but if "square one" is creeping MPB... what ARE you waiting for?   From age twenty to the grave, SLY will never let you down.

[The Noggin]

Welcome to SBG, bdizzle!
I don't say "shave it", I say: "Don't be afraid."
You may go sly for the look, but you'll stay sly because of the feeling.
Visually it's not a big difference between buzzing at #0 and shaving, but the feeling is SO different.
It's all in your mind. When you're ready, go for it!

[lordmage]

welcome you got some sound advise for the brothers i have a big head too and i get nothing but good comments from all around me. it is all about how you feel and how you project that feeling.

[Razor X]

I don't think your hair looks bad in the last couple of photos.  It is thinning but you still seem to have good coverage, for the most part.

You need to come to terms with the fact that it is thinning and that it will continue to thin.  And that makes your statement "I can't imagine I'd look any good bald" irrelevant.  You need to figure out how to look your best with what God gave you to work with.

If you're worried about your head size, remember that having hair on the sides and little or none on top can give the illusion of a bigger head.  It can make a forehead look longer than it really is -- and shaving off the surrounding hair can make it seem less so.  It's worth giving it a try to find out.  The worst that can happen is you don't like it and it takes two weeks to grow back out to a #2 buzzcut length.

Another thing to consider is that growing some facial hair can make the shape of your face seem different, and can draw attention to the lower part of your head and away from the top.

I think the buzzcut in the first picture looked good.  You can tell that it's thinning, but that's something you're going to have to deal with sooner or later, no matter how you cut your hair.  If you can get used to wearing it that length, it makes the transition to totally shaved very easy, because you can quickly revert back to it if you want to.

Change can be difficult to adjust to, but taking charge of the situation by cutting your hair really short or shaving it completely is very empowering and confidence-building.  Don't listen to the naysayers; the decision is yours and yours alone.  Just bear in mind that the universal advice for all balding men is that shorter is better.  I think all of us already know that on some level, but coming to terms with it and taking that first step isn't always easy.  But once it's done and the 30-day trial period is over, most guys are sorry they didn't do it sooner.

[BaldWriterBob]

Welcome to SBG. You've come to the right place for help and advice. (For some reason your pics are not showing up right now)

[xnewyawka]

Welcome B. Razor has given great advice. The choice is fully yours.
You still have plenty of hair, so try different things. The buzz cut is good, you may even want to go a little closer next time. Try a shave and if you don't like it, you'll be back to a buzz in a week.
Good luck.

[ozzie]

Welcome to the forum! 

[Arnie]

Welcome to SBGs!!!

Just do it...it will grow back if you really want it to...chances are you won't!!!

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

Well as far as a big head, I can barely squeeze into a 7 7/8's hat size, some "adjustables" aren't adjustable enough to cover my melon so if big heads contradict sly, didn't happen for me.

Your pictures indicate to me at least that you have a few years of "hair time" left, it will be thinning all the time, but you'll have hair of some sort.  But, that being said, as the time passes not only will you progress toward full blown bald, but some of your friends will start too because the sats tell us by age 30, approximately 30% of the male population is bald to one degree or another.  It may be that when you see others in the same situation you'll feel confident enough to shave.  Personally, I agree with the rest of the SBG's general statement, try it, give it 30 days and you may like it as much as we do.  In any event, after 30 days, you'll have removed the question mark in your mind about doing it, because you already will have experienced it.  So, if you decide to try to coach a few more years out of you hair, you'll know where "home" is and perhaps it will be easier for you when it gets beyond hiding at whatever length.  Just don't use drugs and screw up your body, surgery and scar your body or rugs and ruin your finances.   

[mangosink12572]

You look great with the 0 buzz - - -don't let anyone tell you any different

Listen to Razor X  -he knows what he is talking about

Welcome to SBG

[njbill]

I think you still got a decent amount of lettuce to work with.... you're not at a Costanza yet. 

[Sgt. Pate]

Welcome! 

[IK]

I don't think your hair looks bad in the last couple of photos.  It is thinning but you still seem to have good coverage, for the most part.

You need to come to terms with the fact that it is thinning and that it will continue to thin.  And that makes your statement "I can't imagine I'd look any good bald" irrelevant.  You need to figure out how to look your best with what God gave you to work with.

If you're worried about your head size, remember that having hair on the sides and little or none on top can give the illusion of a bigger head.  It can make a forehead look longer than it really is -- and shaving off the surrounding hair can make it seem less so.  It's worth giving it a try to find out.  The worst that can happen is you don't like it and it takes two weeks to grow back out to a #2 buzzcut length.

Another thing to consider is that growing some facial hair can make the shape of your face seem different, and can draw attention to the lower part of your head and away from the top.

I think the buzzcut in the first picture looked good.  You can tell that it's thinning, but that's something you're going to have to deal with sooner or later, no matter how you cut your hair.  If you can get used to wearing it that length, it makes the transition to totally shaved very easy, because you can quickly revert back to it if you want to.

Change can be difficult to adjust to, but taking charge of the situation by cutting your hair really short or shaving it completely is very empowering and confidence-building.  Don't listen to the naysayers; the decision is yours and yours alone.  Just bear in mind that the universal advice for all balding men is that shorter is better.  I think all of us already know that on some level, but coming to terms with it and taking that first step isn't always easy.  But once it's done and the 30-day trial period is over, most guys are sorry they didn't do it sooner.

Yet again Razor has hit the nail right on the head with his post!

I would actually advise not shaving it just yet... Not sly. In the picture where you say your hair looks good, I think it looks great! You're losing a bit of hair, but that is fine!

What I would say is though, if you KNOW your hair is going, which you will know best, I would shave it now, as people that know you will remember you as having a full head of hair, and never as a balding man. I wish I never got to the stage of badly balding before I did it, because now people will remember me as the person who shaved his head because he was going bald, if that makes sense.