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Finally decided to take the first step!!! by spider170383 on 17 May, 2007 08:53
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Hello Sly's, I'm new to this site and only just signed up.
Most of my early life I had very thick dark brown hair. Everytime I went to the barbers they always commented on how thick it was and how tough it was to cut. In the last 7 - 8 years I have noticed my hairline receding which was a worrying sign for me. At the time I thought I had my mother's hair because her's was always thick. When I was about 20 (I'm 24 now) I had noticed my hair on top thinning out and a slight bald patch showing up on my crown.
About 12 months ago I went from having an undercut hairstyle to being buzzed to a #2 and kept it like that for a while. Recently I decided to grow my hair out a bit and spike it like what I did in my school days. After doing that I noticed that it didn't look the same as when I use to have it a couple of years before. Not only was my receding hairline showing a lot but a line at the top of the fringe was clearly forming, and the small bald spot on my crown was more visible, no matter what I did.
A few days ago I looked in the mirror and thought to myself, "this is looking ridiculous trying to style my hair like this while it's thinning out at this rate".
My girlfriend told me she prefers my hair longer but after noticing how quickly I'm going bald, I realised that I don't have much of a choice but to go a LOT shorter so my head doesn't look "patchy".
I own my own clipper set but it took me a few good days though to work up the courage to take the plunge. I didn't tell my girlfriend what I was planning to do (I really love her dearly and so does she) but I knew either way, I don't have much choice.
After discovering this site I read heaps of comments and facts about balding and the best solutions I knew I wasn't alone. Even seeing a lot of pictures of people's before and after shots I knew it wouldn't be as bad as I thought.
So finally I went into the bathroom, pulled out my clipper set and first put on a #2 guide. I ran it all over and looked at it and it was still very noticeable that my hair was dark at the sides and lighter on top due to it thinning out. So I put a #1 guide on and went over again and this time it doesn't look noticeable and I now believe I look better than before the buzzcut.
Shortly after I rang up my girlfriend and told her what I did and explained the reasons behind it and she was good about it. It's a great comfort that she loves me for who I am and not my looks :-)
Had to go to basketball practice shortly after and they were a little surprised with me showing up with hardly any hair but didn't say much so they either they might've saw it coming anyway or just think it's only natural.
Contemplating whether to take the guard off my clippers and take it all off or wait until spring and summer to do it (as it's winter here at the moment, and it gets cold at night). I have done it a couple of times in the past so I already know what it's like, just got to get used to the fact that it feels like valcro on top after I have done it. It certainly saves me heaps on getting a barber to cut my hair for me as well.
Any feedback on my pic is always welcome :-)
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#1 by BALDANDRE on 17 May, 2007 09:09
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Welcome aboard dude!
The sly look will work for you...yes, you should take the guard off the clippers...it will look 100% better than the buzzcut you say looks better on you now!
See how you like the buzzed bald look, then when you're comfortable try taking it down slick to the skin...nothin' like it , my friend!
Good luck on your journey to the "new" you...you'll love it once you're here!
Keep us posted on how it goes
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#2 by PigPen on 17 May, 2007 09:36
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Yeah, I think you can rock the look well. If it gets too cold, some of us recommend and do wear beanies. But they tend to try and slide off the slick noggin.
Welcome aboard as well! -
#3 by Paul on 17 May, 2007 09:39
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Welcome to the forum spider, glad you joined us. Clipping it down in stages can be a great way to get accustomed to the change. Do what is comfortable for you. But by your pic, you would certainly rock the totally sly look and once you are down to clippers with no guard, it isn't much of a journey to Sly. Bet you'll want to do it then and there.
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#4 by Rhymez on 17 May, 2007 10:02
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Welcome to the site man!
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#5 by Stu on 17 May, 2007 11:22
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Welcome Spider! You've already done the most important thing by admitting the obvious -- the hair is going the way of the dinosaurs. There are no cures, and you're on the right path by buzzing it down. Nothing is more sad than seeing a perfectly decent guy trying to cover up hair loss that is obvious to everyone else Take it as slow as you need to go, but you will feel great liberation when you take it all off. It sounds like you have a keeper with the girlfriend who accepts you as you are. You're fortunate for having that going on. Good luck my future bald dude.
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#6 by KALBO on 17 May, 2007 12:38
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Welcome to SBGs spider170383!
I agree with everyone else...scale it back on the clippers and you'll have a good sense of how it would look, but based on the pic...WHY NOT JUST DO IT? If you don't like it, it won't take too long to grow it back. Although I'm sure you won't want to grow it back once you go SLY!
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#7 by mikesj on 17 May, 2007 12:51
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Welcome to SBG's Spider. You've come to the right place for advice and support. Congratulations on dealing with your hairloss in the most sensible way, just cut it off. Based on your pics, you will wear the totally sly look well. You've taken the biggest step already.
Keep us updated. -
#8 by Tyler on 17 May, 2007 13:19
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Spider, welcome to Sly Bald Guys! I recommend trying it without a guard as it will only take a couple days to grow back to where you have it now. Either way, it looks good!
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#9 by YOSP on 17 May, 2007 13:50
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Spider, welcome brother...
shave it off, you will grow (no pun intended) to love it as you get used to it, plus having your girl's support is another +
check out some other topics and posts and you will see the positive -
#10 by Sgt. Pate on 17 May, 2007 14:03
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Right on bro, congratulations and welcome!
When you're ready to shave, you'll wonder why you waited!
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#11 by spider170383 on 17 May, 2007 18:24
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Thanks very much for all of your support guys :-)
Thanks Tyler, maybe I will try it without a guard on the clippers next time. Like you said, it will only take a couple of days to grow to where it is now.
The more I look at myself in the mirror and my pic, the more convinced on how the Sly look will suit me.
I'm now willing to try anything! -
#12 by champ007 on 17 May, 2007 20:16
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Welcome spider170383. I know exactly how your feeling right now. It's gonna get to ya, and you won't be completely satisfied until you shave it. All I can say is YES, it will change you and you won't be dissapointed.
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#13 by SLYinKC on 17 May, 2007 21:02
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Hey Spider, Glad you're here. Let me tell you that I buzzed shorter and shorter for a period of 3 to 4 years. I was never satisfied and always wanted to take it shorter. It just took me awhile to work-up to the "total shave". It was only less that 2 weeks after I found this site that it all came off. What a relief! Let me warm you that if you're not satisfied with what you have right now, you might as well save yourself some trouble and just go ahead and do the shave. I promise it will be much easier and more satisfying than trying the buzz thing.
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#14 by spider170383 on 18 May, 2007 04:40
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Probably around early next week I'll take the next step and buzz my hair with no guard and depending on how I feel at that moment, I MAY shave it smooth with a razor.
Just taking things step by step at the moment. I'll attach a picture once I have done it :-)