Are balding men "Socially Obligated" to Shave Their Heads?

[benlen]

This is something I've been thinking about for awhile. Obviously, no one is socially obligated to shave their head, evidenced by the millions of partially balding men I've seen throughout my life in public places: airports, malls, cities, etc.

But I've always held a prejudice against men who are obviously balding and not shaving their heads, while men who shaved their heads I have always viewed in a positive, badass kind of light.

This prejudice even extends to men like Jason Statham, who only buzz their hair loss rather than shaving it.

For example, when I'm on the subway and I see a guy with a shaved head who has done so to combat hair loss, I always think, "Good for you dude! You look so much better than if you let your balding hair grow!"

And when I see an obviously balding guy, I think, "Gross man! Shave that s#@t off!"

And in terms of balding, I specifically mean guys with large or unsightly bald spots. If someone just has a receeding hairline but styles it well, that's fine.

And the prejudice extends mostly to younger men, not to older guys.

So my question to you guys is, is this just a personal prejudice of mine, or is it a "new social attitude" amongst the latest generation towards balding men? What do you think? Is there a social stigma now associated with balding men who refuse to shave their heads?

[Razor X]

I wouldn't say there was a social stigma per se, but shaving is definitely becoming the norm.

Nice beard, BTW.

[Bald Hobbit]

Actually, I think men are socially obligated to try to salvage what little is left. That's why everyone is so surprised when they find they like a smooth dome.

[Switchy]

New social attitude I think  more men are finding that they would feel better buzzed, or shaved and also look better.  Many jokes with hair like Donald Trump for instance.  Of course there are some as Jessie Ventura with a pony tail.  Old hippy from the 60's lost in the millenum.

[Bald Hobbit]

Yeah, whenever I see a balding guy, I'm thinking, "Dude, shave your head! Go B.A., your genes are screaming for you to just toss the lot!"

It would be awesome if my uncle would do it. He's a norwood 2.3, and is under the impression that if one shaves it, it'll grow back even thinner, due to some coincidences with gym buddies shaving for years and then balding. And I know he could pull it off.

[OMBrandon]

I feel bad for the guys who don't buzz or cut their comb-overs. I can understand severe balding, but the 5-10 strands of black hair plastered over a shiny dome never did make sense to me.

Bear

[nuts]

Certianly there is no social obligation but in recent years with many more men adopting much shorter hair cuts they have come to realise that going sly is just another step and the end result is so much better.  Fortunately the dreaded comboverf is becoming a thing of the past apart from dorks like Donald Trump.

A friend of mine aged about 63 unfortunately has a nearly bald head and goatee and what hair is left is pulled back in a ponytail.  I want to grab him and shear it all off  - perhaps in the future!

[OzSly]

I don't think there is a social stigma, just that society is more accepting of the nude nut.
I know when I first started going shy back in 1996/1997 in Oz, crikey!!    I got some stares and comments but now days the amount of Sly people out there is amazing, young and old. They have their own reasons.

Me, if I see men trying to hang on to their last strands of hair (like my brother with his combover  ) yeah it look silly but hey whatever floats their boat and makes them happy.

 

[Laser Man]

I think it's a generational difference.  When Boomers like me were young, baldness was something to be avoided / delayed as long as possible, hence toupees, transplants, Rogain, etc.  A shaved head was something associated with gangs, bikers, etc.  Movies depicted villains with bald heads all the time.

It's different now.  Shaved heads have become more mainstream and younger guys can pull it off without anyone thinking it looks strange.

[Beardman]

I don't think they are socially obligated at all. There are still more people out there that refuse to shave it then those that do.

It is just that shaved heads are becoming more acceptable in this day and age.

[Frontier Guy]

I think we've all stated about the same thing.

Before I even contemplated shaving my head I never gave it a thought - for me or for anyone else. But now that I've done it I am much more prejudiced (which I'm not happy about) when I see guys (of any age) with hair loss that would look so much better with a clean scalp. And who's to say they are not content "as is" in which case it's none of my business. But still ...

[Sir Harry]

I think MPB buzzcuts are decent if a balding guy just doesn't want to razor-shave his head.... I can accept a guy if he has MPB and the horseshoe is pretty much clear of hair....Some guys with MPB that don't shave their heads can still pull the MPB look off good if they are comfortable with themselves and sport a decent moustache a la Dr. Phil (Notice in a lot of commercials you see guys with MPB horseshoes sporting a moustache and actually look decent)...But MPB ponytails and combovers do look crappy but if the wearer is happy, we should leave well enough alone.

[Lynchy]

Meh .... Each to there own!

I think it looks terrible but if it makes them happy then let them rep it.

[leighmundo40]

I don't think that there is a social pressure, it just has become more fashionable and acceptable.

I'm not SLY, but I keep what I have buzzed short, my preference is that I feel I look better with some hair.

Though, like others have said, when I see guys with combovers and pony tails I do think to myself "That is WRONG! you would look SO much better with it cut short"

[Viking]

Gotta echo most of the views already expressed here really. Surely its about what makes you comfortable and happy, if that is a slick dome or bald on top with a tail then so what. Shaving it all off makes me happier whereas my dad has the horse shoe grown in a cm or so, personally I think he'd look a bit silly if he had it a totally sly dome, but that is maybe because I'm used to it.

Sure, I see folks who seem to be trying to hold on to what little they have left and think it looks odd or amusing but that is just my opinion and rightly so they shouldn't worry about my opinion, just their own. I'm sure there are people out there who look at us sly dudes and think that is odd or amusing so whatever makes you happy!

It's places like this that are helping those who may not think they have an option to balding. Quite often a slick dome can be stereotyped quite negatively, people don't want to be seen as some sort of Nazi skinhead or wannabe badass, when in reality its just a way of styling the top of your head, it doesn't make you any different on the inside!