Opinions, Please!

[casciom]

Hey everyone, here's the deal: I'm 20, have a receding hairline, and I haven't had a buzz since i was in 4th grade. I'm extremely nervous about buzzing or shaving my hair, but I'm so freakin tired of messing with my hair every two seconds, checking it in mirrors and the general stress and anxiety that stems from my hair. I'm ready to be free, but I'm worried I'll only feel more self conscious. Anyway, here's the deal via photographs. Thoughts? Comments? Concerns?

[Laser Man]

If you've reached the point where you're constantly fixing your hair, it's time to go for the buzz.  Yes you will be self conscious at first - most of us were - because it's a big change.  Yes, you'll get comments, some mean / harsh, but guess what? People will adjust to your new look and move on with their lives.

A shaved head is more common and accepted these days, so give it a try.

[Cave Dweller]

Wow. That's quite a comb over you managed.

It sounds like you are ready to take the plunge.

As npsbg said, we all felt anxiety about how we would look smooth, but once you take that first swipe of the razor to shave the hair off, that anxiety really does go away. It really is a very liberating feeling.

You are going to look fine.

[warhawk]

Hey everyone, here's the deal: I'm 20, have a receding hairline, and I haven't had a buzz since i was in 4th grade. I'm extremely nervous about buzzing or shaving my hair, but I'm so freakin tired of messing with my hair every two seconds, checking it in mirrors and the general stress and anxiety that stems from my hair. I'm ready to be free, but I'm worried I'll only feel more self conscious. Anyway, here's the deal via photographs. Thoughts? Comments? Concerns?

Hi Casciom:  1st of all welcome to the sly fraternity.  If you are ready to be free. . . then the sooner you "take the plunge", "do the deed", or in simpler terms "shave your dome" the better.  The longer you wait the worse it will get.  I can guarantee that when you do the deed.  You will be saying to yourself. . ."Why did I not do it sooner".

Keep us posted to your road to slyness.  The sly life gets better each and every day. 

WARHAWK

[casciom]

I have a naturally high hairline, been that way since I was born, so the receding appears more advanced than it really is. My whole life I've kept long bangs to try to cover my high hairline, but since it actually started receding its taken more and more work, and i'm just tired of worrying about it. I just have to get the courage up to take that leap, maybe ask my close friends and family what they'd think. In any case, I'm sure I;ll do it eventually, once it gets bad enough.

[g_bald]

I fought the idea it was going for a long time myself, I really needed to go sly and commit to it. Insterad I had gone shorter and shorter buzz cuts to compensate. Now that's done and over with.

Yes, the shock will be there. Truth be told, when I finally went sly not many people said anything because it's true that it was so short it was practically smooth anyway. I just committed to making that happen.

Maybe you decide to just go full sly or in stages, do what you think will make YOU happy, for that's what counts the most. I'd say that you'd look great in full shave. I wish I had gone this route sooner than I did, but now that I am here (in more ways than one) I feel more confident and uplifted. Hopefully this forum and your friends and family will be supportive and encourage you to do what you feel will make you less self-conscious and more self-confident !!

[isleepinthebuff]

I don't think it looks like a comb over in the first pic, I actually think it looks ok. Obviously my tip would be 'don't walk around holding your hair back like it is in pic 2"..... But seriously and joking aside, you do have a high hairline, it might be receeding but I think a buzz haircut will show that more. A lot of the reason a lot of us go "sly" is to hide what's left of our hairline. I noticed mine far more when I buzzed it then when it was long, despite being worried about it.

I'd say you can probably go for a bit longer without shaving it but a less heavy hair cut might also help the look a bit too

[Wigout]

If you are feeling stress over your hair now, others are picking up on it. I would say give the shave a try. You will get used to it faster than you think and lose the anxiety. You can always let it grow back, but I bet you will be happy you did.

[stasiu]

I don't think it looks like a comb over in the first pic, I actually think it looks ok. Obviously my tip would be 'don't walk around holding your hair back like it is in pic 2"..... But seriously and joking aside, you do have a high hairline, it might be receeding but I think a buzz haircut will show that more. A lot of the reason a lot of us go "sly" is to hide what's left of our hairline. I noticed mine far more when I buzzed it then when it was long, despite being worried about it.

I'd say you can probably go for a bit longer without shaving it but a less heavy hair cut might also helo the look a bit too.

Welcome to SBG !

I agree and think you need a somewhat shorter haircut which will be a good change for you and not focus on the hairline concern.

The sadness in your eyes has me concerned.

For goodness gracious in the name of hairgods sake ... smile and enjoy your youth !

So many of us have been down this route and look at us now ... bald and wise with a sly smile. 

Keep us posted !

[casciom]

Thanks all for the advice. Stasiu, I appreciate the concern. I'm actually very happy with much of my life. I've got a great girlfriend, I've got pretty good friends and great family. This hair situation just has me feeling really self conscious, and just worried about a negative impact on peoples' perception of me, how they treat me, how they will react. I think and hope my girlfriend loves me enough to accept it, but I can't help thinking how it might negatively impact our relationship. I'm trying to get up the courage to bring it up with her, but it hasn't happened yet.

[mrzed]

With or without hair, it's the same you inside.

I have a young 20 something friend.  Recently spent an evening with him and he repeatedly told me that he was going to grow his hair out.  The next day, he called to say that he buzzed it, no guard, but he was not going to go any shorter.

Then while I was out of town, he sent a photo with a clean head!  Shaved it off.  Over three days he went from a traditional short men's haircut to bald.  His comments .... bald is so smooth. Easy to do. Looks good. Feels good. 

He has an appointment at a University in a week or so. Says he's going to grow it out for a few days prior to that interview, then shave it bald again. 

He has more hair than you do.  I probably have more hair than you do.  We both really like the bald look.  If you have not already, review the 30 day rule.  Shaving bald it a major change.  It takes everyone a little bit to get used to it.  But until you do, look around and notice all the bald guys around.  It's a man's style.  Go for it.

[geeman]

Welcome, great advice been offered, down to you now....if you want all the anxiety to go, to not have to worry about how your hair looks, then "simply" buzz it.....I couldn't stop smiling when I first did mine, your confidence will return and you will be left with the same thought we all have... Why did I wait so long....

[alexk15810]

Wow, I don't normally say this of combovers but yours actually looks ok and you can probably still pull it off just fine for a while longer should you not want to buzz it.

But either way I can tell you will look great buzzed or bald. You have a strong chin and bone structure. I'd say give it a try and buzz or shave it if you're curious. It will always grow back if you don't like it.

[Michael]

I don't think it looks like a comb over in the first pic, I actually think it looks ok. Obviously my tip would be 'don't walk around holding your hair back like it is in pic 2"..... But seriously and joking aside, you do have a high hairline, it might be receeding but I think a buzz haircut will show that more. A lot of the reason a lot of us go "sly" is to hide what's left of our hairline. I noticed mine far more when I buzzed it then when it was long, despite being worried about it.

I'd say you can probably go for a bit longer without shaving it but a less heavy hair cut might also help the look a bit too

I think Slyest is right, that the buzz would show more of the receding hairline, I would just go all the way sly! 

[Bilko1]

Firstly, Hi & welcome Casciom!
Secondly, you have been given lots of good advice & suggestions here - it's up to you what you do with it all.
Thirdly, If your gf really loves you it will not matter whether you have hair or not.
Fourthly, my advice would be to say to your gf that you want to cut your hair short & give her the chance to give you a buzzcut - but ensure that she knows that you want your hair really short. If she agrees, set a date & time for the "deed". Once she has buzzed your head, simply let her know that you would like your head shaved bald and that you would like to give her the honour of giving you your first real head shave. Ensure you have all the right equipment, though.

All the best,

Bilko

(p.s.: keep us posted on the progress & post some pics if you can)