Thinking About Shaving My Head - need advice

[slymyke]

You said your wife is supportive and wants you to shave it.  You said it may cheer her up if you do.  Don't put it off any longer.  Show her the support she is showing you.   Countless men and women have done this in support of a friend or loved one. 

I don't see how a shaved head cannot look professional.  I see it all the time in every profession. 

Go for it.  You won't regret it. 

[Goatee]

A shaved head with the right clothes can look very professional and smart.

[mrzed]

The 'very scary' ends within the first day of shaving your head!  That's it.

Once you shave your head, you can enjoy rubbing your smooth scalp. If feels very refreshing!  I internally fretted for a number of weeks before shaving my head.  Once done .... I sat back and enjoyed it, and kept shaving. 

The easiest way to get over the 'scary' part is to just do it.

[Cave Dweller]

Reading this thread is like reading the synopsis of  a dozen or so other stories posted here. You really are going through a lot, sir, and I am glad for you wife's sake that she has completed the chemo. I hope her prognosis is positive.

All I can add to what the other gentlemen have stated before is that if you really want to shave, the only way to get past the anxiety is just to do it. Once you start the process, all that fear and worry you are feeling melts away. Mine stopped the moment I took the first swipe with the trimmer and knew there was no going back.

[Sir Harry]

Brian, it seems you are worried about others' reactions than your own....I'm willing to bet that when you follow through, you may get a few questions and/or comments, but after a couple of days, it won't matter....in fact, that beard you are growing is probably going to take some attention away from your head. I have a suggestion Do you have any bald/balding friends that could do it for you? Continued good health and good luck to you both.

[Mike E. P.]

You are nearly there. It seems like you really want to do this and are excited about the prospect of what shaving will do for you. It sounds like it's time to do it. Take a deep breath, stop thinking about it and do it.

I doubt anyone at work will rethink their opinion of you. You will still look professional with a bald head - better, even, I bet.

Do it and give yourself a chance to get used to it. This could be transformative for you.

[warhawk]

Brian... do not worry about work and your VIP clients.  IMHO.... all clients are VIPs.  A super, slick shaved dome looks very professional!!!!  I wear mine with pride when I'm at work and on my off days.   Matter of fact, 99.9% of the SBG members who shave their dome KNOW that a super, slick chrome dome shows extreme professionalism.

Again... do not procrastinate and embrace your chrome dome.  Do not hide it!  Show it with pride by shaving your dome.    Keep us posted to your road to slyness.

WARHAWK

[AJ Q-Ball]

As someone who has been permanently sly for 15 days now, there is no way I would go back to having what little hair I had left.  Plus, I have received a plethora of positive comments from everyone I know.  Like slymyke said, I can't see how a completely shaved clean head isn't professional. That just blows my mind.

Like Sir Harry said, comments will stop after a couple of days.  He is very much correct when he said that. Many people who see me on a regular basis commented when they first saw me sly and now it's old news. You'll find many people will be indifferent anyway. Just remember that the questions and comments from others last for just a very short time. If I had it to do over again, I would have done the exact same thing.

[Laser Man]

Just to reinforce what others have said: 1) you can look very professional with a shaved head - people in all different professions sport shaved heads these days.  2) Yes, people will comment at first, but they quickly move on with their busy lives - your haircut isn't all that important to them after the initial time they see you.  We all fall into the trap of thinking we are the center of attention in everyone else's lives, but in reality, we aren't.

[Semi-Sly]

I am a Federal Government Lawyer - a pretty professional environment IMHO.  I recently became bald by choice.  Both my supervisors and my clients have commented on how good it looks! 

I don't see how you can go wrong with a clean shaven head.  It is the Uber Professional look!

[BrianFromCalifornia]

Thanks to everyone for all the support.  Took off the system last night to clean it my wife and I took a good look at how things would look.  Probably need to see a dermatologist to get a couple of spots taken off but overall looked ok.  The advice to just do it is the right one I'm sure.  I'm getting there ...

[reddog]

Hi Brian, I have been silent so far, but I can tell you, you won't stop thinking about it until you take that last step, and do it. Sounds like you have a lot of support. Nobody is going to freak out, and you will feel relief right away. If you don't like it, you will be surprised how fast it grows back.

Once I shaved off my full head of hair, I couldn't wait to show my new baldness off to everyone. Do it if and when YOU are ready, but odds are you will like it. No other feeling like it.

[mrzed]

Man, all of this cheerleadling discussion makes me what to go SLY again!

Wait a minute. I can't do that. I"m already sly! 

Shucks.

Just me a guy that has not seen me for several years.  His first comment was about my sly head.  Positive.

[Curly]

sorry im just now reading this Brian.... I had a Hair system for 10 years. from age 25 to 35...I remember many days like what you are describing minus a wife with cancer.. I see that this post is little old and hope your wife is getting better. But, back to the hair system. I beat myself for years trying to get the nerve to take it off. My dad and I owe a business with 200 customers. So, what would they say? what would my friends say or people in general?   many nights of staring at myself in the mirror thinking what to do. I hated myself for ever wearing the thing but I just couldn't take it off.. every 3 weeks I would go in and have them do there thing to the hair system. 200.00 dollars a month.. I felt so fake... so, after a couple years of back and forth I  finally told a couple buddies now is the time to take this thing off. So,I Made the date to do it officially with them. They came over and we had a few drinks. Oh My Gosh ?!??!?!?!? was it one of the hardest things to do!!!!   That night I shaved it down... the next day felt so good taking a shower without that rug on which you said you have done....Next, the hard part, facing people........ The best thing for me was to look people in the eye and say .. " I'm bald "....THATS ALL IT TOOK..... yes, I had few people give me a little heck but 99% has been positive.. Now, I worry about more important things...Being bald or shaved now is so so minor.. I say do it sooner rather than later.

But, I have a friend that still wears a toupee and he says he is not ready to take it off....I say to him every time " Its your life, you do what makes you feel good "..... I can tell it is bothering him or he wouldn't bring it up but I'm positive to him.... So, Brian, when you are ready, do it.. I felt exactly like you and it took a couple years..

[Goatee]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Great story. Nothing like a bald head! Love it