Feeling really depressed

[balddaniel]

I have to agree with isleepinthebuff you are a good looking guy and think you should at least try a short buzz and see how you like it.

[ZachM]

Markus, I would say buzz it shorter and shorter or shave it all off.  I had a lot of the same problems you had.  Not feeling good about myself at all, worrying if my thinning hair was going to be a problem for me my whole life.  I have since shaved my head and I feel more confident all the time.  I too had a high forehead when I was able to grow hair. 

I would say first off you need to stop the comparisons to other people, YOU ARE YOU no one else.  Give the slick dome a try, you might like it.  Not sure if you can grow a beard but give the bald and bearded look a try.  As others have said you are a good looking dude, you just gotta find your way out of this rut you are in. 

Lastly, feelings like this never last forever and trust me, it will get better with time.  Good luck bro.

[MarkusToe]

saintc, that's a great article, already feel more confident about going bald - on my drivers license photo I do have quite short hair and I like the look - https://www.evernote.com/shard/s1/sh/b868a7d3-544c-4cbb-b6f2-f236a2916fb8/a19708f63099f9e194c8b52a8e520bdd

but doesn't one look much different being bald then with a short haircut?

[MarkusToe]

and thanks for all that support - I really feel a lot better now and all of you are looking great bald! 

[TheSlyBear]

but doesn't one look much different being bald then with a short haircut?

Yes. And that's exactly the point. You'll look much better.

You'll also be amazed at how different (and fantastic) it feels.

[benlen]

MarkusToe, judging from your profile picture, I'd say that you'll have no issue sporting a shaved head. You have a well shaped head just for that purpose––be lucky, a lot of bald guys don't! Your ear shape is good and it appears you have a good jaw as well.


Ultimately, I won't order you what to do one way or another, but what I will say is that it's an indication that you're leaning towards a shaved head just by your presence here on this forum.

The key is not seeing shaving your head as saving face or as a "last resort." See it instead as an opportunity to better yourself and move on from hair loss. Not having to think about my thinning hair when I look in the mirror anymore is a great, palpable and daily relief in my life.

And when you shave your head, reward yourself!

By shaving your head you're creating an entirely new physical image for your life––research what types of clothes to buy to appear more dapper, perhaps start working out. See the shaved head not as a loss but rather as a transition to further adulthood.

This can and should be a transformative experience.

[benlen]

Further, don't see shaving your head as a sad thing. Don't lament the loss of your hair. Instead, see the advantages:

1) No longer worrying about rain ruining your illusion of hair.

2) Being able to shower or swim worry free, diving into the ocean or pools or lakes without stringy, limp hair.

3) Feeling younger again.

4) Having a style that YOU control and you have command over, like when you had good hair.

5) Demonstrating to women that you're aware of your hair loss and it isn't an issue––nobody likes someone who can't move on or is stuck on something in the past.

6) Choosing a style that, fortunate for newly balding men, is now socially acceptable and even encouraged for men facing hair loss.

7) Freeing yourself from enslavement to false hope through "proven" hair loss "cures" like Rogaine and Propecia.

[mrzed]

and thanks for all that support - I really feel a lot better now and all of you are looking great bald! 

I found all the profile pictures of guys happy with bald heads that was such an encouragement for becoming  BBC.

Now I'm bald too, and I love it. Shaving my had is fun every morning.

Had an extended shave for Christmas day to be sure it was extra smooth.  I love rubbing the smooth dome.

Hope yo'll make the switch shortly.

[MarkusToe]

thank you benlen, this is a really great forum and your support is really moving (can I say that?) I feel so much more confident and are starting to look forward to my new "hairstyle". I will keep you updated!

[Slyfive]

Hi Markus, the fact that you, and countless others, myself included, are forced to confront underlying issues when facing hairloss, is a difficult, but potentially game-changing situation. This reality check gives you the opportunity to better your self-image, as the external often helps to trigger deep emotions internally.

[isleepinthebuff]

Take it slow man, get used to it. I think you would benefit from the siodes and back being shorter and buzzed as at the mo they make the top seem thinner (been there and done that)

Take the sides shorter, then once used to that buzz down to a 2, 1, 0 then sly

[MarkMusicNYC]

Markus, you've gotten some GREAT advice in this thread. I agree with ISleepInTheBuff: take it in stages. Go to your barber and get successively shorter buzzcuts on top with the sides and back shorter and faded into the top. Eventually--probably in 2 or 3 haircuts or so--you hair will be short enough on top where the sides and back will need to be taken to the skin. At this point, you'll be able to see exactly what you'd look like with a shaved head. Assuming you like the look (and I think you will) from there you'll be comfortable enough to either buy a cheap pair of clippers and start giving yourself clipper shaves, or just go all way and use lather and a razor.

The thing to keep in mind is that the more hair you have, the more you call attention to the fact that you're thinning and/or receding. Lots of guys that are losing their hair assume that growing it longer will make it less obvious--I know I did for a period of time. The point of no return for me was when I noticed in photos that I had a lot of thinning in the crown area (my longer hair made it incredibly pronounced) and that my hairline on top sat well behind my hairline on the sides.

I think you're going to be AMAZED at how much happier and more confident you are once you get rid of your hair. Seriously, it'll feel like a giant weight has been lifted from your shoulders.