I will be shaving my head come morning. Looking for support!

[jonathanp63]

Hi everyone,

I've been reading through a lot of posts in this board for the past couple hours.  So here's my reasoning and situation:

Needed a haircut a couple weeks back.  Joked to my fiancee that I was considering a drastic change and that I may want to shave my head.  We both kind of let the subject die that night.

Then, earlier this evening, my fiancee gave me a #4 buzz (she typically does this for me) and all was fine.  She then starts doing the finishing touches with scissors that come with my Wahl buzzer set.  She clipped a little too high on one side of my bangs.  I take a look, and I'm not too happy at how it came out.  So, I suggest going down to a #3 might help a little.  We do that and there really wasn't any improvement.  We left it at that.

We meet with her mother later and show her the cut I'd just gotten.  She points out to me that I have a receding hair line on my left side (mirrored in pictures below) and that my hair is thinning slightly on top.  Fiancee pointed out the thinning a while back but I ignored it.  Her mother then suggests, "If it's bothering you, maybe you should shave it all off!"  I jump at the thought and tell my fiancee that I like the thought.  She says that she thinks I should wait until after her company's Christmas party in two weeks.

We ended up talking about it some more and she gave in to the idea and said it's my head and my hair; do what I want!  I definitely treasure the few times I will hear those words through marriage.

I personally don't think my thinning is too bad, but I definitely don't like the bang mess up and receding hair line that I never noticed.  I am comfortable taking the leap, but want some encouragement from people who have already taken their leap.  This year has been full of life changes for me already; engagement, moving, lay-off and restarting somewhere new, and, on a positive note, I have lost 40 lbs and finally met my ideal weight.  My fiancee's mother is also fighting breast cancer and undergoing chemotherapy.  She has had no hair for several months now.  I feel she would appreciate the gesture as we are very close and I try to support as much as I can.

I start a new job this week and I feel going in with a nice, smooth head would boost my confidence through the roof.  I have never had my hair shorter than what is in my pictures.  I previewed pictures from other posters with a no-guard buzz and it definitely could be a stepping-stone prior to shaving, but I want to rid it all.

I appreciate all of your feedback!  You all seem to be very kind people with honest opinions and concerns.

[chgobuzzbald]

I think you would look great and should go for it. All the stars are aligned for this - fiance says its OK, starting a new job where no one has met you yet. Even if they remember you from an interview most will not recall exactly how long your hair was so this is the PERFECT time to shave it all off. Read some of the posts on here about technique, new razor, warm water, do not put pressure on the blade etc. Just go for it and enjoy what is a fun and liberating process. If others question your new haircut you can say you are supporting your mother in law, have thinning hair now and wanted to not look like a balding guy but rather a confident bald guy. You will have great support around here as well. Stick with it for 30 days though, do not grow it back right away whatever you do even if you have regrets. Keep in touch with us here at SBG.

[Andrei]

Welcome Jonathan,

Well, to me things are pretty clear, you want to do it so this is the perfect moment.
Make sure you buzz all your hair with that Wahl clippers (no guards attached) and then go for the razor.
Enjoy the experience and keep us posted!

[Sir Harry]

Welcome! I think that you can pull the sly look off, and to help enhance your look, growing some facial hair might help....Good luck!

[Beardman]

Welcome aboard mate, your mind seems pretty made up, you don't really need our support, just go for it

As chgo said, now is the perfect time to give it a go, starting off in a new job, no one will know the old you and to them it will be like you've always been that way 

[mrzed]

Keep the beard. Shave the head. Keep it shaved for life.it's a good style.

[Frontier Guy]

Jonathon, welcome.

Just do it. You don't need encouragement here -- you've got everyone and everything in your life pointing you this direction.

It will simply be the next milestone in this year of transformation for you.

The experience will be awesome.  Please post back with how it does and an updated photo.

You're ready for it ... enjoy the transition.

[jonathanp63]

Thanks all for the replies and good morning!

I am going to have a tasty breakfast and then get to work on this sly head!  I'll definitely post a picture for all once I am finished.

Hoping I can work out after.  Is it possible my skin may become irritated if I start to sweat?

[balddaniel]

Jonathan,

You are a nice looking guy,  I say go for it you will look great and your confidence will go through the roof.

[marty22]

welcome and I wouldnt be too drastic during the lst week of a new job.

[jonathanp63]

Hi all!

Just finished everything.  Went over multiple times with a razor.  Took quite a long time to make everything even.  I am very pleased with the turnout.  I do have a shadow look to it...not sure if I am missing a tip on shaving closer to the skin or if it is just because of the darkness of my hair?   Tips would be appreciated!

Thank you all for the kind words and support.  And to the previous reply, I have not started my new job yet.  So they will only know me from day 1 as sly not abruptly changing my look.

Edit: forgot to post the picture!  Here it is.

[Razor X]

Looks good.  The shadow is due to the darkness of your hair.  Nothing much you can do about that.  It won't be quite as obvious once you get some color on your scalp.

[jonathanp63]

Thanks Razor. Definitely starting with the 30-day challenge. I don't think it will really be a challenge whatsoever! I just went out for the first time today and it seemed as though l got a lot of people looking at me. Not in a bad way at all! I am pretty shy in person and especially with strangers but I felt more confident with myself than usual.

Again I thank everyone for taking an interest in my first time going sly!

[Switchy]

 

[baldjoeg]

Welcome to Sly Bald Guys. You look great sly. You will like the look better every day.

Congradulations on taking the plunge. I have no regrets myself.