The rest of the world doesn't notice

[Razor X]

There have been a few threads going lately where some of our new members have expressed some reservations about transitioning from zero-guard buzzes to completely shaved. Once  you do take the plunge, you can rest assured that no one other than yourselves and the people you are living with or are intimately involved with will notice.  Here's a story that helps to illustrate the point.

Recently at a dog show I met up with some friends who are involved in the same breed rescue group that I volunteer for.  There's one person in particular, with whom I regularly meet -- maybe three or four times a year -- around the Delaware/Maryland border when transporting rescue dogs back and forth along the I-95 corridor.  I've known this lady for ten years.  My head  has been shaved for nine years and I've been wearing a goatee for seven.   Admittedly, I hadn't seen this lady in four or five months -- but when I ran into her at the show, the first comment she made was, "You grew a beard since I saw you last," and she was sincerely shocked when I told her it had been there for seven years.  Granted, over the last year I've let it grow in a little longer  than I used to, and it's significantly greyer than it used to be, so either or both of those could be the change she was reacting to.  But the point is, she couldn't identify exactly what was different and in my experience, that's pretty typical of most people.  So, do you really think that if people can't remember if someone is clean-shaven or bearded, that they're going to notice 1/16" or less of stubble is missing from someone's scalp?   Think about it ....     

[Frontier Guy]

So true.

Not as subtle as the change from stubble to smooth, when I shaved (from #2 to bald) several people thought I was wearing a different shirt -- never occurred to them my hair was gone.

[Razor X]

So true.

Not as subtle as the change from stubble to smooth, when I shaved (from #2 to bald) several people thought I was wearing a different shirt -- never occurred to them my hair was gone.

Prior to that did you wear the same shirt all the time? 

[Razorhead]

Agreed. People noticed more when I went from a #2 buzzcut to a zero. When the razor came out after the zero buzzcuts no one really noticed because at that point u r pretty much "shaved" already.

It's funny though I get more compliments and acceptance with a shaved head than any crewcut or high n tight cut.

People just notice different things and they r not always the right things. I had a coworker say to me "you shaved ur head!" when in reality I have been shaving my head for a couple  years and in reality I just shaved my goatee off for the first time after a few years. People r just funny!

[mikesj]

People who I ran into years after going sly recognized me as the same person I was before I went sly. Other than the comment "you look great" , my lack of hair wasn't a topic. Going sly should be based on what feels right ...the rest of the world don't really notice what the change was.

[TheSlyBear]

I know I've told this story before, but:

The day after the first time I shaved, going from a no-guard buzz, to sly, I was in a one-on-one with my boss, and about 20 minutes into the meeting he asked "Did you get new glasses?"

[Mikekoz13]

Excellent post Razor!


I've been wearing a goatee for about 5 years now. A couple of months ago I suddenly shaved it off without saying a word to anyone prior to doing it. Other than my wife and kids.... nobody even noticed. I grew it right back.

[baldjoeg]

Great post Razor.

It is funny what people do notice and what they don't. Only a couple of people noticed when I went sly a few years ago. I am probably one of the worst when it comes to noticing new things on people.

I think that it is great that you do some volunteer work for a dog rescue organization. What a great cause and a great need as well. We had a rescue dog, Roxie, that we had to put down in May because of enlarged kidneys and lymes disease. I still miss her a lot. We will probably get another in the future. She was a Golden Mix and a great dog. What kind of rescue dog group do you work with?

[theman]

Great post Razor.

It is funny what people do notice and what they don't. Only a couple of people noticed when I went sly a few years ago. I am probably one of the worst when it comes to noticing new things on people.

I think that it is great that you do some volunteer work for a dog rescue organization. What a great cause and a great need as well. We had a rescue dog, Roxie, that we had to put down in May because of enlarged kidneys and lymes disease. I still miss her a lot. We will probably get another in the future. She was a Golden Mix and a great dog. What kind of rescue dog group do you work with?

I am sorry to hear about a member of your family !  I have had to put down two, it was so totally painful.  I have had to much things what some people would call worse.  But not to me alot of tears were shed on both occaisions. 

[baldjoeg]

Theman,

Thanks for your kind words. I appreciate it a lot.

[Andrei]

When I first buzzed my hair off (no guard) people thought I had shaved it. Well, I got to that point too.
I think it's kind of difficult to understand and see the difference between a 0 buzz and a shave for somebody that never tried them both.

[Razor X]

Great post Razor.

It is funny what people do notice and what they don't. Only a couple of people noticed when I went sly a few years ago. I am probably one of the worst when it comes to noticing new things on people.

I think that it is great that you do some volunteer work for a dog rescue organization. What a great cause and a great need as well. We had a rescue dog, Roxie, that we had to put down in May because of enlarged kidneys and lymes disease. I still miss her a lot. We will probably get another in the future. She was a Golden Mix and a great dog. What kind of rescue dog group do you work with?

I do Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier rescue.  I am sorry about Roxie.  I also lost one of my dogs in May and I know how painful it is.  It does help to get another dog.  The newcomer will never take the place of the dog you lost, but it does help with the healing process.

[Mr Jules]

So, do you really think that if people can't remember if someone is clean-shaven or bearded, that they're going to notice 1/16" or less of stubble is missing from someone's scalp? 

If someone I knew came up to me and said: "I've noticed you've gone from a no guard buzzcut to a shaved head", I would be unsettled, because I think they'd be paying too much attention to my head !!

In any case, it's the beard which attracts comments. The shaved head is a complete non-issue now.

[Beardman]

So, do you really think that if people can't remember if someone is clean-shaven or bearded, that they're going to notice 1/16" or less of stubble is missing from someone's scalp? 

If someone I knew came up to me and said: "I've noticed you've gone from a no guard buzzcut to a shaved head", I would be unsettled, because I think they'd be paying too much attention to my head !!

In any case, it's the beard which attracts comments. The shaved head is a complete non-issue now.

I find the exact same thing. I always have people commenting on my beard, but no one normally comments on my head. Only one of my mates does, he loves to give it a good rub everytime we catch up and always encourages everyone around us to do it too haha. It's always a good laugh.