Week one

[Wigout]

My first week into the 30 days and I have some observations/experiences to share:

First, about shaving. I tried a blade. I have been shaving my face with a blade for thirty years, so I'm no stranger to the device. I can shave my face, maintain my goat, almost in my sleep. Taking the blade to my scalp felt like trying to ice skate in gravel. Nothing about the motion or holding the blade felt natural. It stuck like Velcro. I bought a Norelco wet/dry and it works like a charm. 5 minutes of circular motions around the dome and its baby butt smooth.

Second, about shave frequency. My job had me on the road this past weekend and I left all shave supplies home. The hair on my head grows faster than the hair on my face. Miss one morning and that night trying to sleep, scalp stubble pulled my pillow around every time I moved my head. Tee shirt drags and sticks when getting undressed. Again, the Velcro analogy seems appropriate. I am now committed to a daily shave routine. It reduces "shadow" and in general looks cleaner anyway.

Third, changes in perception from others. I am 6'6" and weight between 250 and 275 depending on my recent diet/work out routine. Not that I have ever had people disrespect me as a reflex, but there is no doubt there is now a subtle, underlying fear of me when dealing with strangers. I assure you it's unnecessary as I am a quiet and composed gentleman, most of the time. Women openly flirt with me. I enjoy that part more than my girlfriend does.

All in all, it has been an educational week for me. I love not having to maintain hair. Shaving in the shower is akin to a morning scalp massage. As many of you have stated, "you will wonder why you didn't do this long ago". I am beginning to feel that way.

Thanks again for the great community here, all of you have a sly day!   

[Sir Harry]

Glad that you're starting to catch on! Thanks for sharing your story.

[reddog]

Yes, I have experienced all of your observations! Including the open flirting by a gal, with my s/o right there.  I'm only 5-9, but feel taller when sly. I scared a kid in the grocery store that was acting up, just gave him the stink eye. I used the electric shaver the first 2 weeks, then my scalp toughened up and could use the razor, but still use the electric a lot.

[g_bald]

Sounds great, Wigout!

I haven't had a lot of luck with rotary shavers. I got a Skull Shaver recently but I have better luck with the dual-foil 8103S Panasonic. I wonder if there's something I am doing wrong?

The look of unease, yes this happens. It happens to me and I can assure you I am not a threatening looking person by any stretch of the imagination!

It's nice that women flirt with you... I can only imagine the looks your girlfriend gives you. You're a sharp looking guy sly, they must love that.

Thanks for sharing and glad you're enjoying!

[Laser Man]

Your observations all ring true.  Regarding the "initmidation factor" that you are noticing with people acting differently toward you, I started a thread about this very topic short after going sly.  I noticed that strangers were acting more deferential, like letting me go through a door first, calling me sir, etc.  It felt kind of weird because the only thing that had changed was my haircut.  I think I've become used to it, but it will still catch me off guard occasionally.

[Cave Dweller]

Sometime back when I was considering going smooth and was worrying about how I would look, I read the results of a study in which subjects were shown a series of pictures of men and were asked to give their impressions about who those men were based solely upon those pictures. Some of the men had full heads of hair, some were balding and some were fully bald. In almost every case, the subjects said the fully bald men were more masculine and aggressive. The least "macho" were the ones who were balding. 

The twist to the study was that the men pictured fully bald were the same ones pictured balding and with hair. That was the only change in their appearance as their expressions, attire, etc. were identical in the pictures.

There is something about Sly.

[g_bald]

There is something about Sly.

Couldn't have said it better myself!

[geeman]

I had this happen yesterday, I was in my car sat behind a lady, in her 40's, waiting to use the air machine to check my tyres, she didn't move, so I got out and as I walked up to her window, I noticed she was reading the cars owners manual, I assumed, looking for her tyre pressures, I tapped on the window, softly, and began to tell her that her tyre pressures were on a sticker on the inside of her door, she looked up, almost screamed and said she would move immediately! I replied, no no, I was just telling you where your tyre pressures are, she then laughed, as did I, and she thanked me for being "a really nice guy" lol...

[slymyke]

Geeman, did you give her the same facial expression as in your current avatar?   

[geeman]

Lol.....I could understand it if I had! No...I was wearing my big friendly smile expression

[Bilko1]

Firstly, welcome to the fellowship of Sly.

Your comments / observations are all true, especially about how others view you. Several people (and ones who should know different at that) all treated me as if I was a totally different person once I had my head shaved. Some people had a respect & apparent fear when they saw the shaved head. I'm glad to say that most folks now see me as the same gentle & kind guy that I was before the change to a baldy by choice. Why people seem to think that just because a guy has his head shaved makes him any different than from before is a mystery to me!