I love it, but... nobody else does : (

[thisguymike]

It wasn't so much my thinning hair that made me do it, but the fact that it was going grey and making me look older than I was willing to accept.  So the other day I sheared it off with no guard on the clippers, then finished it off with my rotary electric shaver.

My immediate reaction (well, after I'd showered all the loose hair off of me!) was that it looked great.  I felt liberated with the new look, and very confident.  It was as if I was meant to be bald.  The problem I have is that since that time, nobody has said anything remotely positive about it, and two women that I know have each said that they don't like it.  So then I thought, "Pah! Wenches!  I shall go about the town and collect smiles from women that do like it!" Sad to say that I haven't had any smiles from women whilst out and about either.  Just one would make all the difference!

At this point I'm having doubts and not sure about keeping the new look.  I really don't want to go back to grey, thinning hair, but at the same time I want to be able to attract the ladies!  Is it just a case of getting used to the look and projecting more confidence with time? 

Photo attached (although it's a day or two of growth showing):

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/140/mike14062012.jpg/


Mike

[Frontier Guy]

Welcome ThisGuy,

I shaved for the same reason - the gray was becoming overly wearisome. It's been 29 days so far.

Looking at your photo, I think you look great. I'm not sure why you are not receiving positive responses - unless you are not feeling comfortable with the change yet.

Others will chime in with their two cents, but I think you should commit to shaving for 30 days which will allow yourself and others to become accustomed to the "new" you. I think it's a "keeper."

[mrzed]

Mike, I'd like to encourage you to apply the 30 day rule.  Your head looks great shaved bald.  With the few days growth I can see the grey showing a bit.  Keeping that shaved daily will 'hide' the gray. 

The 30 day rule gives you and others time to adjust and accept the new look. You'll get better at shaving your head. The time required will drop dramatically.  It will become a habit.

While your working through the 30 days, look around and notice all the other guys with bald or shaved heads. There are a LOT of them out there.  Just this morning I met several shaved bald guys at the Farmer's market. There were several I spotted on the sidewalk on the way home, and last night at the English Country Folk Dance there were several shaved bald guys.  You are not alone.  It just takes a little bit to get used to it and to let others get used to it.

My wife was not crazy about it at first, but this morning gave me about a 30 minute head rub.  Made my day! I'm about 5 months out.  Shave daily. Don't plan to grow my hair back any time soon.  Still getting compliments. More now, than at first.

[IllinoisBaldy]

Welcome Mike.  They'll come around in time.

[TheSlyBear]

Gray and thinning hardly sounds like a "chick magnet".  

Seriously, give it the 30 days and assess how you feel about it afterwards.

It may not seem intuitive but how you feel about yourself greatly influences how others do.

[thisguymike]

Thanks for the positive comments guys 

I will definitely stick to the 30 days and see how I feel at the end of it.  After all, I've already shaved it so might as well give it a fair chance!


Mike

[KDusk]

Hey Mike, I think you look great with a shaved head. Remember there is always a difference in opinions between people that already know you and people who don't. Not that any other opinion than yours should matter, but since you were talking about attracting the ladies: I think you won't have any problem with that since the shaved head looks very manly on you. The women that said they didn't like it were probably just shocked by such a drastic change, but don't let that take you aback, they too will come around in time.

[valldo]

Give it the 30 days. your confidence will grow and as it happens it will affect you less what others say. I would only recommend to shave it clean with a blade and give it a little shine

[cobbster6]

Hang in there Mike.  I been sly for 20 years and still don't miss the hair.  Just stay with it and never look back.

[mrzed]

Agreed. Don't forget to go for the shine!

HB glossy lube does a nice job. So does aloe vera gel.

[Frontier Guy]

While your working through the 30 days, look around and notice all the other guys with bald or shaved heads. There are a LOT of them out there.

While you are noticing the bald guys, you'll likely be more aware of the guys who should be bald. Today I noticed several who really need someone to alert them how detrimental their hair (whether gray, thinning, or bald spot) is to their overall appearance. Take a look around and you will be even more convinced that at some point (like now) it's time to go sly.

[Sir Harry]

Welcome, Mike! Looking at the picture, sly looks better IMO...Good Luck!

[kalbo]

Welcome to the bald brotherhood Mike. You have the head and the face that rock the bald look. All will be better in time.

[Bluebriz]

I can only echo what everyone else has said.  You look good with the sly look.  As you become more used to it and feel more confident with it, you will give off a more confident vibe to everyone you meet.  Soon enough, people won't even remember what you looked like before as they become totally used to it.

[Natedawg]

While you are noticing the bald guys, you'll likely be more aware of the guys who should be bald.

No kidding! I see it all the time and wonder why they don't do themselves the favor. Heck, the guy who sits in the cubical behind me is 63 and sports a snow-white horseshoe. I mean, if he's happy with it, that's what matters, but it looks like an unfinished job to me.  


thisguymike, I can't say anything that hasn't already been said, but the important thing is that YOU are happy. Don't live to satisfy others. As illinoisbaldy said, they will come around. The ones who truly matter will, anyway. You look great, dude.