Trying to make sense my bald head

[chgobuzzbald]

I too can grow a mostly full head of hair, though thinner on top ( I made the mistake of hair transplants when I was younger and quite insecure about losing hair and it was a disaster to the point I had some micro tattoos done on my head as in my photo to conceal the surgery scars) but rarely do grow it  now.
 I cant say anything about China having never been there but here in Chicago anywhere I go in the city about 25% of all men are shaved smooth or buzzed down to the skin, hair loss or not. It is just another haircut now and quite expected. Some days it is closer to 35% shaved. I do notice a generational aspect to this in that most anyone over perhaps 60 or 70 still clings to notions popular when they were young that all men must  have hair at any cost or are viewed negatively some how. That idea is dying out. Do not get attached to it, it does not serve you. You look great buzzed/shaved and do enjoy the experience of shaving with a razor, soap, get a shaving brush and really enjoy the experience. Badger Brush.com has a whole section on head shaving technique with soaps, brushes, double edge razors guys find helpful in head shaving. There are guys there too that are bald by their own choice and prefer it that way.
Let go and enjoy being bald, it does feel great to rub your hands over a freshly shaved head as you will discover. That feeling becomes expected and desirable.
Perhaps in China you are not seeing this look yet but I imagine it will become popular there too. Or perhaps China is a temporary assignment for you ?  In any case let go of ideas about needing hair to be successful or handsome because you already are with your head buzzed/shaved in your photo. If this site had been around when I got the idea to do transplants it would have saved me a world of hurt. Listen to us please.

[Goldn Scalp]

Evening guys,

Reddog,
The tanned skull + white Van dyke does come out well indeed!
When you say “the attitude it gives me” could you please elaborate? 

Chgobuzzbald,
Thanks for the advice and the website, it is very helpful.
Been living in China for nearly 10 years and although you can spot one or two baldies here and there, hair is pretty much the norm.
The situation both you guys are both describing features shaved heads in astonishing proportions!!! Maybe I should relocate in the States hehe.
In my home country, it still carries a significant social stigma, which I was not fully aware of until I became bald.

As Buddha said (the gent from the sly bureau) I can ponder and mull and ponder all I want, there is nothing I can actually do to stop that. Might as well let it go…

Spent some hours on a website strongly advocating for hair restoration yesterday evening and there was a guy whose post signature was all the pill and lotions he used daily. It scared the living s%^&t out of me. I refuse to be defined by the daily regimen of chemicals I put into my body.
Will post again after I shave my head tomorrow...

Thanks
Goldn

[chgobuzzbald]

Glad we are being of assistance to you. Which is your home country ?  I have recently bought a small shaving brush and a cake of shaving soap. I prepared some very hot water in a cup and dipped the brush in for a minute, then used it to whip up lather on the shaving soap cake in a cup, which made hot lather. Also used a towel dipped in hot water and microwaved for a minute as a pre-shave wrap for my head to soften the hair. Felt great and then used the hot lather with the brush which in itself feels good and then tried a few different razors during my headshave. I spent maybe 45 minutes just enjoying the sensation of the headshave and the freedom of doing it before I was done. My head was as smooth as glass for at least 8 hours after the shave. I enjoy the shaving very much so don't rush it. I also have a Panasonic Es electric wet/dry foil shaver I run over my head as well with lather and used that too. An hour of fun and loved the shaved look and feel afterward. Enjoy the fun and freedom of your headshave. If China is not bald enough for you then come to the States !

[Goldn Scalp]

Just took a look at my first post and I apparently left it out. I am French and now bald (talking about accumulating handicaps:) ).
Your shaving ritual looks interesting. I do not have soap bags, Gillette foam will have to do in my case.
I saw Tyler's beginners 30 days rule and I must say I am afraid my skull will get irritated if I shave it too much too soon:/ What do you think?
When you mentioned it felt smooth for 8 hours, does it mean it start becoming scratchy afterwards? I thought it was going to take longer for the hair to grow Anyway, will shave it tomorrow and tell you how it feels and lasts afterwards.
Have a nice week end
Goldn

[Bluebriz]

Welcome Gold'n!
I live in a small town in Japan, where there are few enough foreigners that we all attract plenty of stares, even more so with the bald head!  That said, I've been here almost 6.5 years now, married not far off 5 years and with a 2 month old baby boy (sleeping on me as I write this clumsily on my phone).
The looks from others will soon become inconsequential to you.  They won't matter at all.  You know that you can't really do anything about your hair loss and as soon as you accept that and take the bull by the horns, the sooner your confidence will grow because you'll be in control.
Regarding the head irritation, don't feel like you must shave every day to begin with.  Every two days or even three if necessary will give your head enough time to recover before the next shave.

[Goldn Scalp]

Thanks Bluebriz,

I guess biting the bullet still is the only way to go. Traveled to Japan a few times a couple of years back, I must say envy you a great deal.
Since my skin tends to get irritated easily, I intend to rinse my scalp with Betadine to prevent any zits from arising (actually i dont even know if such a thing could happen, I am making analogies with my beard when I shave it).
By the way guys, what should I expect after my first shave? Burning, itching, excessive sweating?!
I guess I will know soon enough...
Goldn

[Sir Harry]

Hey, Goldn:

Some things you may want to try after shaving to prevent irritation are: 1. rub your head with an ice cube after shaving, 2. Witch hazel is a good alternative to aftershave if you can't stand the sting of aftershave. There are other tips I am willing to share if needed. P.S. I don't know what you looked like with hair, but your bald head is one of the better ones I have seen as of late. (and I'm not exaggerating). Good luck!

[mrzed]

I saw Tyler's beginners 30 days rule and I must say I am afraid my skull will get irritated if I shave it too much too soon:/ What do you think?

Not to fear.  Most likely, the first few days there will be a mild numb feeling on your scalp. This goes away pretty quickly. It's not bad, just feels a bit 'strange'.  After all, you've not shaved your head before. Scalp is used to having hair there. I've seen a few guys post here that they get some irritation. Resolution is typically: Don't press so hard with the razor. Don't try to be super smooth in the first week or two. And if you need to shave every other day. DO apply a lotion after each shave, Hand cream would work if you have nothing else. Head Lube glossy or matte from Head blade. Nivea head balm or the likes. etc.

When you mentioned it felt smooth for 8 hours, does it mean it start becoming scratchy afterwards? I thought it was going to take longer for the hair to grow Anyway, will shave it tomorrow and tell you how it feels and lasts afterwards.

Hair grows FAST.  By evening your head will feel like sandpaper.  If you skip a day it will feel like velvet. In 3-4 days, you'll look like a tight buzz haircut and in a week, "Where did all this hair come from?"  The longest I went without shaving since starting was 6 days. I was sick in bed that week.  The amount of hair to shave was like starting all over, although some of the first week syndrome was not there.

Head shaving takes the least time if you do it daily.  And do expect a long shave the first time. You're new at it and there's lots to shave. I took about 45 minutes first time.  Now it's about 5 minutes daily.

Yes, hair grows fast and when it's shaved you notice it a lot.  For me, the 'worst' part was after the first pass of the razor across my head.  I'm not finished yet, but committed to shaving my head, as this swath was already done. I had to go forward.  Once my head was fully shaved I felt good about it. Do follow the 30 days rule. Make that commitment up front. By 30 days you won't want to go back to hair. You'll be used to it, and so will others.

Go for it. You will look great with a shaved head. And no more worries about looking balding, thin hair, and looking old.

[buddha]

Since my skin tends to get irritated easily, I intend to rinse my scalp with Betadine to prevent any zits from arising

Check with an MD or an RN about the safety of betadine. If you have it in a concentrated form it can actually be toxic to human tissue which is why it is such an effective germ killer when used topically. My concern would be if it got into a cut undiluted. I honestly don't know what effect this would have on the tissue beneath the skin. I'm thinking that you might only need to use enough of it diluted in water to take on the color of weak tea. I would use distilled water for this purpose.
Also, the betadine we have here is deep red and it can actually stain the skin a reddish brown color. Be careful with this stuff.

[nuts]

From your photo I thought you were shaved. 

[jarheadj]

To understand going BBC, it's a matter of personal choice. I remember the first time I shaved it in my early 20s when I was stationed in Italy in 1992, a bunch of us guys decided to shave our heads down with a razor for an upcoming deployment. I was kind of hesitant as having my head buzzed off for boot camp and remembering how ugly it looked, didn't want to see that again however when we all did it, and razor shaved it, I just remember how empowering it looked and felt. It wasn't a "normal" look back then, especially in Europe so walking down the streets of Naples and Rome, Getting that "double take" from folks walking down the street, it just inspired confidence as I felt I was my own person and "bucking societal expectations." Over the years of my military career of growing and then shaving it off, discovered that although the hair looks decent, the Sly look makes life a lot easier. It's easier to maintain (if you're taking the time to shave your face, the extra five minutes to shave your head just becomes a part of your ritual), you look stronger and once folks are used to it, it just becomes you. As I've mentioned earlier, once I retired, I grew it out and all I saw was a constant, grey reminder that I'm old now so "rockin the sly look" makes me feel younger and reminds me of the young "Hard Charger" Marine that I was the first time I shaved it. It's all about projecting confidence. When you come to accept it and make it you, then it will be nothing but a thing. I know several of my Marines and non Marine friends who shaved their heads because of my look (I know because they asked me to and I shaved em down myself). You'll be surprised.