New Guy, Slowly Coming to Terms

[GhostSpectre21]

Hey guys, been browsing these forums for a little bit, but wanting to come into the fold.

About Me: Unfortunately I'm 19, and a lot of my hair is fading away. It seems to have quickly creeped up on me. I have my good days and bad when looking in the mirror. This night started out bad, but somehow I'm already seeing positive in my hair loss. I do consider myself on the fence about shaving/buzzing. But recently its been much more about when, and not if. I've been curious about shaving my head since high school, but never took the dive. And now years later, I'm thinking about doing it just cause I know I don't have much hair.

I've had a few comments recently about how less hair I have had from some family, but also the "big-head" bald look wouldn't work. And while I'm not self-conscious about my big forehead, I DO have a big forehead (all dem brains 'n such  ). That's the biggest thing holding me back. I don't mind the big forehead with some hair, but I am worried about it without any.

Anyways, probably rambling on too much for you guys. I do want to take the dive sometime, just not right now haha. I have a family wedding soon, so minimal a few weeks away. In the mean time I do want to get a haircut, just as short as I can. I'm thinking over Winter break I'll make the dive, and get my 30 days.

I am seeing the positive side of things to come though. I am becoming more self-conscious about my hair/lack of and is effecting me now. I find myself wearing hats pretty much all the time (all though to be fair, I did get an awesome hat of my favorite band- Rammstein). And to not worry much about cleaning/maintaining hair is sounding very appealing. I'm super nervous and at the same time looking forward to hearing that buzzer going.

Thanks for taking the time to read this ramble if you did, and it's been super awesome to get this off of my chest. Hope to spend a lot of good time here. Pics to come sometime.

[Sir Harry]

Welcome and good luck with whatever you decide.

[Razor X]

Your forehead won't seem as big when the hair is gone. A lot of people have the same sorry and usually they find that a receding hairline can create the illusion of a protruding forehead. Don't let that hold you back.

[Frontier Guy]

Welcome Ghost,

If you've poked around the forums a bit you've seen a lot of posts by other guys your age and in the same situation, so you are definitely not alone.

Regarding the "big forehead" ... your hairline defines the forehead. Once the hairline is gone there is no more "line of demarcation" and the forehead won't be much of an issue.

And lastly, if you are already feeling self-conscious, it will only become more pressing as time goes by and you hear other comments or you become more aware of hair thinning.

Choose the right time to shave it off (you'll feel great), but don't prolong the agony of HWS ("hair worry syndrome").

Again, welcome.

[Viking]

Dude, your story is a familiar one to me, I can understand what you are going through. The first thing to get over is the fact that it IS happening and it isn't going to stop, yeah it may seem like a bit of a bummer at your age but, y'know, it is what it is! Don't try and see shaving it off as somesort of last resort and the only option, see it as a style of it's own. Take a look around and you'll be suprised how many dudes are rocking the shaved look nowadays, just take a look on here to see how many guys with a full head of hair have decided to go down the shaved route.

Just give it a go, if you don't like it it'll return to the way it was in not too long a time. I personally went from shoulder length hair to grade 1 all over, it was a bit of a shock to look in the mirror but I dug it at the same time!!

I went through the same knock in confidence, but look at it as a new start, a new you, a new confident you. It sounds like your into your metal, a nice shaved dome is a pretty cool metal look if you ask me!! 

Loosing your hair isn't the end of the world, it's happening to millions and millions of people, but it could be the start of a new one for you. Looking back (I'm 29 now) I'm kinda pleased it happened to me young, at least I got it out of the way already!! 

[GhostSpectre21]

I should've gone to bed awhile ago, just too much going on in my head right now.

Thank you guys, I'm already thinking of when, but I will wait until after the wedding at least. No need giving everyone a heart attack (right now  ).
And Gearhead, I think you've put the nail in the coffin so to speak (not that anyone else hasn't helped). I am learning drums right now, and I think it'll be a nice start into my next stage of life. Also, looking at my favorite musicians, I'm finding many of them are sly, just another thing to inspire me. Also, playing as Agent 47 (can't wait for Absolution) and watching Breaking Bad is great inspiration. Something about being sly is super badass sometimes.

I usually don't give a s*** about what people think, but this is a big change (but at the same time, is it really?).

I want to get this damn hair off. I was thinking about just getting it buzzed first (first time at that for my whole head, not just quick tune up) and shaving being the next step if I like it. After all, it's just hair.

[Viking]

Cool man, I used to play the drums too! 

Yeah give it a buzz first, I went grade 1 then down to no guard and tbh I've not gone fully sly for more than a few days really but I feel it is the next step!

[Beardman]

Hey  Ghost, welcome to the family!

I wish I had the idea to shave my head at 19, I first noticed I was receding at like 13 or 14... but it took me until June this year to take the plunge (I'm now 25) There are many sly metalheads out there, I am one of them \m/ and I think it is a very fitting look. And I have no doubt you will rock the sly look, regardless of your big forehead, or anything else you are worried about. I am yet to see a bald head I didn't like, and I doubt you will be the first!

I was thinking, if you are so keen to at least buzz your head, why not do it now and maybe the the wedding you'll already be sly and it'll be your big reveal!

Good luck with whatever you decide on bro and feel free to keep us up to date!

[kalbo]

welcome to the bald brothrhood GhostSpectre. As you said in your post....its just hair. Best regards.

[Razor X]

With respect to the wedding, I used to feel self conscious about meeting people that I hadn't seen since shaving my head. I once stopped shaving for a week before a wedding, thinking I'd feel less abnormal with SOME hair, even if it was mostly a fringe.  What I found when I got there was that I still got teased by a couple of middle aged smart asses who were more than delighted to see somebody else had developed MPB. And to make matters worse, there were two or three other sly guys in attendance and I felt disgusted with myself for not being one of them. If I'd kept my head shaved I would still have been heckled but at least my self respect would have been intact. That was the last time I ever attempted to grow any hair back in order to try and appease other people.

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

Two things:
1.  Reality check--if it's not your wedding, you're not going to be the center of attention.  Yes, some may comment, but most will be enjoying other things and admiring the bride.

2. Do you really want pictures of the happy event to follow you the rest of your life showing what your balding, not sly, head looked like?  Then the comments go forever!  Draw a line under it, your hair time is over it's time to move to sly.

[-Doug-]

RazorX and SaintC gave you good advice. Would you rather be the balding guy at the wedding or the guy that took control and shaved his head?

Welcome to the SBGs!

[Paul the Headblader]

welcome

[GotThereandThenSome]

I hear your concern. I'm only Sly a month but when I decided to do it it was best thing. My hair was thinning into a very pointy widows peak and also losing a lot in the middle. I went sly 2 days before a major event where 150 of my friends were. You'd be amazed what a rush it is to go sly and even more so when everyone congratulates you on being bold. I think you will have no regrets... I thought I would but I was extremely wrong. I love it and I'm certain you will too.

[Bilko1]

Hi!

I agree with the guys here. I think that if you are thinking about going sly, then to get used to the idea you should go to the barbers & get your hair buzzed off with a #1 grade or even a #0 grade. You will love it.... guaranteed.

Once you get used to the new "bald" you after a couple of days or so, get your head shaved completely smooth. It is a great experience feeling the razor scrape that stubble off your head. You will really enjoy the feeling of becoming hair-free.

All the best,

Bill