Newb coming up on his 30 day finish line.

• Newb coming up on his 30 day finish line. by Pratzie on 05 Jun, 2012 19:03
• Hi all, nice to finally be part of the forum as i've found alot of information here but never wanted to post.
  
  I recently decided to go sly about a week before my 30th birthday (May the 14th).  I had the entire week before that off and I had been kicking around the idea for a few years.  I've always had nice thick brown hair in my younger years and thru high school but started thinning on top and at the top back crown part of my head (Noticeable in the pic I posted Pre-Sly).  It thinned enough to have a baseball sized bald spot on the crown and the entire top down to my bangs was thinning to the point where if I did clip my hair once a week it looked awkward with the thicker stuff on the sides. 
  
  So anyway, the Tuesday before, it was raining out and I was sitting him and said eff it its going.  Mid-life crisis maybe? Not totally sure but I said WTH.  Ive buzzed my head once before about five years ago and it was a shock and I let it grow right back.  This time was a similar wave of "Oh boy what did I do?" but i carved a line right up the center so there was no turning back.
  
  I used a Fusion razor (same as my beard) for the first time and it was a little rough.  Lots of razor burn, no aftershave so it was a little red for the first 24 hours.  I found I could only go about a day in between shaves but since that first time i've been using the Headblade.  First three times I took some nice chunks out of my dome but on the 4th shave i've had it down pat and haven't had so much as a nick.  Anyway, after that first time i remember going back to the mirror a few times that first hour to keep getting another look.  It really only took me about a half hour to realize I liked it and decide I wouldn't be going back for some time. (Second pic is about 20 minutes after that first shave).
  
  Still trying to some different combinations of lotions/shave gels/blades/astringents and exfoliants but im fairly confident in my skills now and just recently picked up some witch hazel and St Ives Apricot scrub so im looking forward to trying them out tomorrow afternoon.  Prob gonna post in another thread about when and how to use each, i've kinda seen a bunch of different suggestions there.
  
  I just wanted to say thanks for alot of the posts ive already read, its been nice to see people having similar issues and talking about them and finding suggestions to fix them.  Its really a nice change of pace, not having to deal with any hair and the reaction my friends and family have when they see me this way for the first time. Ive had numerous people tell me I look like Bull Hurley from that 80's movie Over The Top, and a few more ask me what kinda bike I have (Used to ride a Yamaha Virago but haven't in years). 
  
  Anyway, keep up the great job with the reviews, tips and other advice thru out the site!
  
  ~Pratzie
  
  
  

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• #1 by warhawk on 05 Jun, 2012 19:32
• Hey Pratzie:
  
  Welcome 2 the sly fraternity.  Glad that ya joined us.  U look like a natural. 
  
  WARHAWK
• #2 by Frontier Guy on 05 Jun, 2012 19:54
• Welcome Pratzie, looking good.
  
  I'm in my first month of sly-dom ... it can be a bit daunting to purchase and try out the wide variety of things which folks have mentioned here, and then decide what works for you. But all in all, it's been a joyful experience.
  
  Hope you will participate in the forums - keep us posted on your initial 30 days and whatever responses you get from folks around you.
• #3 by IllinoisBaldy on 05 Jun, 2012 20:05
• Welcome Pratzie.
• #4 by Paul the Headblader on 05 Jun, 2012 23:19
• welcome and happy b-day.
  looking good bald. keep it.
• #5 by balddoc on 06 Jun, 2012 03:46
• Welcome Pratzie. A definite improvement
• #6 by RoWilJr on 06 Jun, 2012 06:54
• Welcome to the Sly Pratzie 
• #7 by Natedawg on 06 Jun, 2012 08:48
• Welcome, Pratzie. I'm glad this site could help you, and that being a baldy is working out for you..
  It looks great! 
• #8 by mangosink12572 on 06 Jun, 2012 08:53
• Lookin GOOD on top  - - -enjoy the freedom of the BALD noggin.
• #9 by Mr Jules on 06 Jun, 2012 11:37
• Great sly look and good beard to match. Keep up the good work.
  
  Oh and welcome to SBG forum, too !
• #10 by yelloboy32 on 06 Jun, 2012 14:00
• Congrats!! Looking good. At the two week mark myself and it all seems natural already.
• #11 by mrzed on 06 Jun, 2012 18:42
• Welcome!  The bald look is good on you.
  
• #12 by kalbo on 06 Jun, 2012 19:34
• Welcome to the bald brotherhood Pratzie. You wear sly really well.
• #13 by Sir Harry on 06 Jun, 2012 21:31
• Welcome, Pratzie! Looks good!