a right body type for being bald?

[bushido]

usually whenever i think of a bald man i think of a tall muscular man, or a tall big man....in general..tall men

I am a short skinny man,26yrs old 5'5" 140lbs. Currently i have long hair down to my waist but i am getting what i believe to be hints of baldness. Ive had long hair for 8 years now and ive had a thing for long hair all my life. I either want to instantly fix it, or instantly get rid of it all, Id hate to watch it go every morning which has been the case lately. I dont think that i would look good at all with a bald head seeing as how im so short and skinny (also im a white guy whos quite pale)

What are your opinions on this? i ordered some rogaine but i figure by the time it starts to work it may be too late and seeing as how ive had this hair for nearly a decade its become part of my image.

[buddha]

My advice is to take time and give this adequate consideration. If you like the way your hair looks at this point remember that if you scrape it off that, in all likliehood it will take 8 years to get it back to where it was. By that time you may very well be balding and it will be time to scrape it off anyway. So think about this.
As far as somatotypes are concerned I don't think that there is a particular body structure that has the market cornered on slyness. I'm tall (6'-3") and slender but I've seen guys who are short, skinny, heavyset, etc who can carry it off. Your concern with a particular physique being singularly well suited to shaving the dome indicates to me that you have doubts as to whether you could carry it. Yet another reason to wait. Not that this is THE BIG DECISION of your life. This is only about appearances. But I have read posts in here from guys who were teetering on the brink of clinical depression over a receding hairline, then shaved their heads and became suicidal because they didn't like the way that looked.
If I were standing in your shoes I would ponder this situation, maybe go to a stylist and see what she (I say she because as a woman she has a better idea what women think about what looks good on a guy) might recommend. Take your time.
As far as Rogaine do some research, don't just watch the commercials. I've heard 2 main negatives about it and others like it. 1) Some of the substances in it are less than helpful for certain areas of the body (read: genitalia), and 2) it is a short term fix, meaning that if you stop using it the hair falls right out all over again. In short, a waste of money and manhood.

[Mikekoz13]

Welcome to the Forum!

Buddha gave good advice.

[Razor X]

If you've got concerns about your physique, join a gym and bulk up a bit.  That will give you some increased confidence to decide what to do about your hair.

As far as long hair being part of your image, we all reach points in our lives when our images change, sometimes voluntarily, sometimes not.  Don't ever define yourself solely by your outward appearance.  There is more to you than just your haircut.

Why not try a haircut that is less drastic than a headshave?  Take off as much length as you feel comfortable with and see how you like it?

[marty22]

welcome. we need a pic to further determine.

[schro]

If you've got concerns about your physique, join a gym and bulk up a bit.  That will give you some increased confidence to decide what to do about your hair.

As far as long hair being part of your image, we all reach points in our lives when our images change, sometimes voluntarily, sometimes not.  Don't ever define yourself solely by your outward appearance.  There is more to you than just your haircut.

Why not try a haircut that is less drastic than a headshave?  Take off as much length as you feel comfortable with and see how you like it?

I was thinking the same thing as I was reading your post.

[buddha]

If you've got concerns about your physique, join a gym and bulk up a bit.  That will give you some increased confidence to decide what to do about your hair.

As far as long hair being part of your image, we all reach points in our lives when our images change, sometimes voluntarily, sometimes not.  Don't ever define yourself solely by your outward appearance.  There is more to you than just your haircut.

Why not try a haircut that is less drastic than a headshave?  Take off as much length as you feel comfortable with and see how you like it?

I was thinking the same thing as I was reading your post.

This is certainly an option. The confidence problem is more an inner thing than anything else. I don't know if you are an MMA fan but there is a fighter in the UFC named Mike Swick, AKA "Quick Swick" for the speed at which he has knocked out several opponents. He has absolutely no lack of confidence yet he is skinny to the point of almost being gangly. I would never say this to his face. He was sly for awhile early on. I don't know anybody that would challenge a guy like Swick because he was skinny and bald but this has more to do with an inner confidence than how much iron you can lift. Since your screen name is "bushido" I assume that you have at least a passing interest in the martial arts. Maybe channel some energy into that area as well as general fitness. I've known several people who were literally transformed by MA training because it gave them the ability to see that there were things they were capable of that they never would have thought possible.
People exude confidence not so much through their biceps as their eyes (although biceps certainly don't hurt).

[The Noggin]

I'm sensing you're not very comfortable with your body, so you're building your image of yourself on your hair. Perhaps some form of sportive activities can help you.

[bushido]

Thanks for everyones responses, im going to visit one of my friends thats been cutting hair for many years and get it cut short, its been a very long time, hopefully the progress will be slowed by the shorter hair. over the past 8 years every day ive worn it in a tight ponytail, slept with it in a ponytail, so less weight, less being tied back, less being combed. im not insecure about my body or anything. ive been into martial arts sence i was 6 or 7 and as of the decade i like being the warrior with the nice thick head of long flowing hair hahaha, but believe me its just about more trouble than its worth. everyone wants to touch it, it gets caught in everything (car doors, elevators, the part of the seatbelt that winds up when u release it.) and washing it takes forever. i canceled my order for rogaine, hopefully they accept it...because ive never been the type of person to care about popular style , never any tattoos, jewelry, or anything like that so i thought to myself why spend $50 for 3 months worth of product, $200 a year, every year so that i can keep up with my style, and possibly the side effects. my only persuasion to buy it was the customer reviews on drugstore.com. i havent watched tv in years to see commercials, i just know that its something that people use for going bald. I must admit, women love my hair and they will go out of their way to talk to me because of it (not why i grew it, but who wouldn't enjoy more women speaking to them) but lately ive been thinking that the hair is all they see. thanks for your help, and i might post some pictures once i get my hair cut, you cant really see a whole lot now because of all the hair and i dont wanna mess with it too much until i can get it cut
   

[Jack21]

With hair that long and in a pony tail you might well have some traction alopecia - hair loss resulting from constant tension as in a tight pony tail. You may not be balding or you may be. Don't go and do something drastic like going from 3 feet of hair to 1/3 of an inch. Hell, when I was a teenager I grew my hair for about a year and then cut it short and I was NOT happy. Now I have no choice obviously. If your hair is down to your waist now why not cut it half way. It would still be long but maybe you'd get a better idea if traction alopecia is what you have going on or just good old fashioned male pattern balding or diffuse thinning like the rest of us.

[bushido]

With hair that long and in a pony tail you might well have some traction alopecia - hair loss resulting from constant tension as in a tight pony tail. You may not be balding or you may be. Don't go and do something drastic like going from 3 feet of hair to 1/3 of an inch. Hell, when I was a teenager I grew my hair for about a year and then cut it short and I was NOT happy. Now I have no choice obviously. If your hair is down to your waist now why not cut it half way. It would still be long but maybe you'd get a better idea if traction alopecia is what you have going on or just good old fashioned male pattern balding or diffuse thinning like the rest of us.

ive heard of traction alopecia but im still unaware of its details. is this permanent? as the details for my situation, i notice hair coming out when i wash it and every once in a while when i comb it for quite some time but i just always thought that it was just a bit of loose hair that was natural, i thought that a few hairs on a comb were natural for anybody. as my hair is now, my hair isnt receding on the sides above the temples but its mostly in front where my hairline is, where its usually pulled back the most..but i cant see the top of my head or anything, i took a video of different parts of my head and i think i can see another area but i wont know for sure untill i get my stylist to take a look at it. i still think ill give short hair a try though because i believe ponytail every day is whats messing it up, and my hair isnt the type to stay in place once its out of the ponytail it gets in my face and everywhere, as long as its still there is more important than having it long. as much as i see the samurai in the old black and white samurai movies with the tops of their heads shaved and a ponytail its a normal look for them ,but i dont think that would be a good look for me 

[Basqueman]

Here is a link to details regarding Traction Alopecia


http://www.surviving-hairloss.com/Traction_Alopecia.html

[Razor X]

Most guys experience a little recession at the temples between the ages of 25 and 30.  It doesn't necessarily mean you have male pattern baldness; it could just be the development of a normal, mature hairline.  Most guys don't have the same low, straight hairline in adulthood that they had when they were kids.

[bushido]

i decided that ill get it cut, but keep it a little bit lengthy, i forgot to mention this, for the past 2 weeks my scalp has been a bit tingly and sensitive around the top of my head and nowhere else...not sure if this is a common thing when people are starting to loose their hair or if its because my hair being too tight. sorry for getting my own post off topic, im helpless in this matter, also any shampoos or anything that can help with keeping your hair in? or strengthening it (haha i know this is the wrong place to ask about shampoo) right now im using a tea tree shampoo and conditioner

[Jack21]

The more I hear from you the more I think that you have some traction alopecia going on. Cut it shorter, lose the pulled back pony tail, and I have a feeling you'll be fine. Sensitivity and tingliness at the hairline are not characteristic of typical mpb. I could be wrong, but I don't think you have much to worry about. Of course you could always go bald by choice but my sense is that a change that drastic might knock you for a loop. If I were you I would cut it gradually shorter and shorter until its a 3 or 4 on top. I mean that's what I'd do if I still had hair. As for the body - I do spend a lot of time in the gym and am very strict with my diet but that's how I've been for years. Honestly my look is probably not optimal. I look intimidating to those who don't know me. That's fine if you're 17 and trying to prove how manly you are, but at my age having women my age saying "excuse me sir" as they pass me in the doorway is not my idea of bliss.

i decided that ill get it cut, but keep it a little bit lengthy, i forgot to mention this, for the past 2 weeks my scalp has been a bit tingly and sensitive around the top of my head and nowhere else...not sure if this is a common thing when people are starting to loose their hair or if its because my hair being too tight. sorry for getting my own post off topic, im helpless in this matter, also any shampoos or anything that can help with keeping your hair in? or strengthening it (haha i know this is the wrong place to ask about shampoo) right now im using a tea tree shampoo and conditioner