Young and about to take the plunge!

[Partyofone]

Hi Guys,
21 at University in the UK. MPB started when I was 18, no problems really until I hit 20 and it was getting to me. I have/had lovely brown hair, girls loved it, I loved it. I still have pretty good coverage, and most of the time nobody notices it - BUT - I notice it, daily. It got to the point where it nearly became debilitating. Wind/Rain and I wouldn't leave the house. My hair gets slightly messed up and anxiety levels rise - I am then desperate to get out of whatever situation I'm in.
It's somewhat had a detrimental effect on my social life. I started refusing to go on nights out/to the cinema because of the weather or because I knew it'd take an hour to get ready to get my hair perfect, and by this point, I'd be drained of energy.

In a way, it's a tale of two cities. To the outside world, I'm confident, sociable, I have excellent relationships with good looking women - that's never been an issue, I'm intelligent and successful at university. On the inside, it completely destroys any self esteem I have.

As soon as I started noticing some of these symptoms I knew I had to do something to prevent it from a) getting worse and b) ruining my life. Rational me said, it's only hair. My mind however told me it's a status symbol, sex appeal, makes me who I am.
A few things this has stopped me from doing: Letting girls spend the entire night/wake up with me. Outdoor pursuits. Wearing a helmet. Wearing a hat. Sports. Travelling. Holidays.

So, I told myself to snap out of it, and decided I'd shave my head. Fortunately I'm one of those people who couldn't care less what people think, for me, this is all about how I feel. Even so, I haven't be able to just 'do it'. So I decided to tie it in with charity fundraising I was doing - the typical raise X amount and I'll shave my head.
Well, this week, I hit my target for said headshave, so it will be happening imminently.

I'm sorry the introduction is long, but I just wanted to say Hi and tell you my story (which I have only revealed to one person) Feels good to get it off the chest.

Sly, here I come.

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

Welcome, well thought out--see you on the Sly Side soon.

[BaldHDbiker]

Welcome aboard and enjoy.

I think you'll love the new look and not having to worry about a hair out of place. 

[seahawk guy]

Hi Partyofone. Good time to go Sly now the weather is getting warmer here in the UK. Don't forget the sunscreen! Show us a picture soon.

[AgeTwentyTwoBaldy]

Nice to see another young face around here. Take the sly challenge with boldness and you shall be rewarded! 

[xnewyawka]

Welcome, you are definitely making the right decision in shaving it down. Way to go!   

[Slyfive]

Welcome! We have a very similar story, and i can tell you for certain, that sly is the way to freedom

[Paul the Headblader]

welcome.

[Papa Don]

Welcome to the forum Partyofone.  Good that you chose the charity to jump off the fence.  This way, you both win!!  We hope to hear from you often!

[Skimdude]

Welcome brother!

[Cropduster84]

Welcome to the board.

As someone who suffered in his teens and twenties with hair anxiety, worrying about it being messed up by the weather, I can completely understand.

I'm not yet sly, but I shave weekly to a #0.5 with my hair clippers, and it's such a great sense of freedom. It made me ten times more confidant then I ever was with a full head of hair.

Plus shaved/sly will ALWAYS look better than balding

[mrzed]

I'm not yet sly, but I shave weekly to a #0.5 with my hair clippers, and it's such a great sense of freedom. It made me ten times more confidant then I ever was with a full head of hair.

If you like buzzed to 0.5 .... you'll enjoy shaved bald.  It's a whole different experience. If you think buzzed is freeing, bald is even more so.

[Partyofone]

Thank you for the welcomes everyone, it really does help.
It's also nice to be able to talk openly about this. Most people would never understand how painful this process can be - for them, 'it's just hair'. That is, until they start balding...

I suppose my biggest fears about doing this is rejection from the girls I see, and whilst this says more about them than it does me, it'll still hurt. I doubt any would have a problem, but still makes me apprehensive.

Anyway, I have a feeling that by this time next week, I'll be sly.

[Razor X]

Thank you for the welcomes everyone, it really does help.
It's also nice to be able to talk openly about this. Most people would never understand how painful this process can be - for them, 'it's just hair'. That is, until they start balding...
 

The pain stops the moment the last bit of hair has been shaved off.  It may be hard to see that now but if you just take that leap of faith you'll see that it's true.  The most common reaction we hear from the newly sly is "I should have done it sooner."

[xnewyawka]

Thank you for the welcomes everyone, it really does help.
It's also nice to be able to talk openly about this. Most people would never understand how painful this process can be - for them, 'it's just hair'. That is, until they start balding...
 

The pain stops the moment the last bit of hair has been shaved off.  It may be hard to see that now but if you just take that leap of faith you'll see that it's true.  The most common reaction we hear from the newly sly is "I should have done it sooner."

Razor's right, I said it myself when I first shaved. The feeling of freedom is amazing once you let go. Give it a shot, you're gonna love it.