To do or not to do!

• To do or not to do! by pad.roc on 18 Jan, 2011 09:35
• Hi everyone,
  
  This is a great forum and I think its a great resource. This is my first post here.
  
  I am a 26yo guy and I have been facing MPB since I turned 18. At that point, I thought I was too young to be losing hair and started using Rogaine. Everything was fine till I turned 22 and realized, I didnt want to keep using chemicals all my life. I stopped using it and my hair has been thinning since then.
  
  It got worse recently with increasing stress and personal issues. So after a lot of speculation, I decided to get a #3 buzz. I really liked the results. I could see that my skull is nicely oval, no bumps or irregularities and I looked good. I am a brown guy and so I dont think my head is pale or needs to be tanned if I shave.
  
  But I still cant decide if I should take the final plunge and shave it all off. My family and friends think I am insane. They keep telling me, your hair isnt that bad yet, just cut them short and you will look fine. Been using the western NY frigid winter as an excuse for not doing it (yea, we had -7F this weekend).
  
  I am not sure what I am asking for here, I know I will look good if I shave, I know I gotta do it sometime sooner or later. I am almost prepared mentally. But somehow cant get myself to do it. Maybe its the fear of looking different, fear of people's reaction. Just confused..
• #1 by The Noggin on 18 Jan, 2011 09:49
• Welcome pad.roc!
  Let me assure you that there is nothing you have to be afraid of.
  I bet the excitement of your first shave will be so overwhelming that any possible negative comments will just drip off of you. And if you ever need support, we're always here to help. Go for it!
• #2 by xnewyawka on 18 Jan, 2011 17:23
• Welcome pad. You're heading in the right direction now. I would suggest giving yourself a closer buzz with a # 1 guard. If you like the #3 you should like the #1, and it will give you more of an idea of how you will look. It will also allow you to get used to having shorter hair.
  For the frigid NY Winter, well, that's why they make knit hats/skullcaps, beanies etc. Get one.  
• #3 by Paul on 18 Jan, 2011 17:28
• Welcome pad.  If you feel you want to shave it down, do it.  You won't be satisfied until you scratch that itch.   It's your head and if is going to make you feel comfortable, the others will come around.
• #4 by LibraryMichael on 30 Jan, 2011 13:17
• Just go for it. If you don't like it, it will grow back. But I bet you will like it.
• #5 by Arnie on 30 Jan, 2011 20:50
• Ditto on what everyone is saying...JUST DO IT!!!
• #6 by Nonick on 30 Jan, 2011 20:54
• Ditto here.  Been there, done that, shaved the noggin!    It's all mental; once you get past that it's a piece of cake!
• #7 by Basqueman on 30 Jan, 2011 22:46
• Welcome Pad.  My situation was similar.  I sat on the fence for awhile about fully shaving.  I gradually cut my hair shorter and shorter to the point where I was using no guards at all.  I was clipping my hair with no guard for a couple of months.  Everyone got used to how I looked with just stubble.  Then I finally shaved.  I did it at my own pace and went fully Sly when I was ready to.  When that day finally came I just did it on impulse.  Its been a month now and I have no regrets!!