On the fence because of my wife

[Crofax]

Just wanted to say hi and ask for some advice! I am 35 years old and have really started receding in the past few years, it used to bother me (a little) as I have a youthful face and you can’t avoid the fact that you look older with receding hair! Personally I have gone through phases of shaving (using clippers either #1 or no guard) since I was about 16 so I was not that bothered by my impeding follicle defeat, it only started to irk when I realised that I was trimming it out of necessity rather than choice! But what ya gonna do?

I now have very thin hair on top, the receding hairline is stable but the top is too thin to grow out without it looking wrong, so I keep it trimmed with clippers and no guard. I will prefix this by saying that I am a confident fella, yes I am balding but I think I look good with it trimmed right back! A bit of facial stubble and paying attention to my dress sense ensures that I am still regularly on the receiving end of smiles and backward glances from the opposite sex =)

I have been debating about getting the razor out for a few months now, this forum is a great resource for practical advice, the only reason why I have not done it is that my wife is adamant that she prefers me with at least "some" hair, I tried to explain that if that is the case we are both in trouble because nature will rob her of that in just a few years but she really does not like the idea!

I know it will look good, I am one of those annoying people that can pull of any look =) But I do care about my wife’s opinion, has anyone got any experience of dealing with reluctant spouses?

[Mikekoz13]

A lot of the guys on here have had this issue with their significant others.

The bottom line is that you need to do whatever will make you happy..... of course within the limits of your marriage vows. 

Since you have so little hair anyway... I say just shave it one day. Once she rubs that smooth new scalp she will like it..... and dude you will look good shaved.

[marty22]

shave it!

[stasiu]

Welcome to SBG !  I agree with Mikekoz13. 

You can pull any look and maybe your wife is afraid you will become a shaved head magnet to other ladies.  You just have to convince her in your special way that she always has first and exclusive rubs 

[nuts]

I was much older than you when I shaved my head - was 63 - and my wife was not keen at first with the new look.  It only took a few weeks before she accepted that I wasn't going to grow it back and now she wouldn't have it any other way. 

[TheSlyBear]

I'm sure she consults you when she gets a haircut, no?

 

[Razor X]

It's not going to look much different than it does now. Maybe you can shave it twice a week and let the stubble grow back in between as a compromise?  It might be a way of easing into the sly look.  Once she sees that it's not a drastic change she might acquiesce.

[BaldHDbiker]

Shave. It's your head and you need to be comfortable. My wife wasn't very excited about me shaving but has been coming around.

[mrzed]

I'm bald by choice, so I have not no good reason to shave my head (of necessity). I just do it 'cause I like it.  Wife was not cool with it at first, but at 3 months, she's getting used to it and no longer fussing about it.

[marshd1000]

For years I tried to convince the associate pastor of my old church to shave his head.  He did not do a combover as he combed his hair back but it was quite see thorough.  He had told me that his wife did not want him to.  But finally, one day I got a email from him with a pic of him totally sly.  He totally was suited for the look and now his wife likes it.  But if you did shave, it grows back to a crewcut in about a couple of weeks.  So you really should at least try it!

[Lynchy]

If you want to you should just do it!

I'm sure she will understand if you explain that you wish to try it!

Goodluck!

[Paul the Headblader]

Uwm!
If she loves you, she'll be ok with it.

[Crofax]

I'm sure she consults you when she gets a haircut, no?

Fair point! I think it is down to social etiquette, women can change their hair style and colour at a whim but men feel a need to consult their wife's before making a change which is actually more out of need than a colour and cut! But in saying that we all want to feel attractive to those we love so their opinion does matter. I was just discussing this very topic with her while she was using her hair straighteners (the irony!) and her view was "in a few years you wont have a choice but now you do, and I prefer it as it is now". I wont change her mind, and I know she will get used to it the choice I have now is do I respect her wishes or do I do what I want.

What I might do is shave it with no guard then take it back even further with my beard trimmer, gradually bring it in

[Crofax]

Took it back with my beard trimmer. See what she has to say about that 

[Slyfive]

Looks great! Mine wasn't keen but now she LOVES it and wouldn't want the hair back.