I'm Back... And hesitant to take the plunge again

[luckyone824]

I used to be a member of the site and deactivate my membership, but now I'm back. I'm 21 and dealing with MPB WAY too early in my life. Anyway, I shaved my head in May, and I didn't like and grew it back. It's at a decent length now and I like it. However, the receding has been getting worse. I've been working out at the gym frequently to compensate and now actually like my appearance more. However, my balding is noticeable. The widow's peak has become more accentuate (http://www.flickr.com/photos/90483978@N05/9206253096/in/photostream/) and on top, it's getting somewhat thinner and drier. My barber even noticed it and joked that I would be bald in 5 years...

I've been so hung up on what he said the past 2 weeks, and I'm realizing how vain I am. My hair has always been my best feature and I've always taken pride in it. I'm constantly trying to style it so it's not noticeable and checking the mirror. It's just hair, though, and I really shouldn't care. SO I'm thinking of shaving it off again and actually keeping it that way for the rest of the semester to get used to it.

It shouldn't constantly bother me so much and honestly, I hardly have time to date, so it won't matter anyway... I'm just so scared to do it. No one my age is actually bald and the whole pompadour fad is quite strong. Should I go for it at this point or should I enjoy my remaining hair?

[luckyone824]

Actually, to force myself to do it, I'm going to make a bet with people on the forum. If I get at least 5 good reasons for why I should do it, and if more people think I should do it then not do it, I'll stay bald for the rest of the semester.

[Cave Dweller]

Somehow I knew it was you before I saw the pictures. Welcome back. Glad to see you are OK.

Like you said, it's just hair. And Sly really is only a hairstyle. This is something you have to decide for yourself. No one can or should make the decision for you.

I can honestly tell you, though, that your first step in coming to terms with losing your hair is to get past your hairline being something you rely upon for your self image.

The question you really should be considering is do YOU want to shave off your hair?

[luckyone824]

Somehow I knew it was you before I saw the pictures. Welcome back. Glad to see you are OK.

Like you said, it's just hair. And Sly really is only a hairstyle. This is something you have to decide for yourself. No one can or should make the decision for you.

I can honestly tell you, though, that your fist step in coming to terms with losing your hair is to get past your hairline being something you rely upon for your self image.

The question you really should be considering is do YOU want to shave off your hair?

I'm not totally sure if I want to; I had mixed feelings concerning the last time I went bald. Also, I've been working out and I'm more noticeably toned, so maybe it'll look better. It was somewhat weird-looking when I was quite thin. However, I feel that it will help me get past my hairline issues. I mean, I tell myself that it doesn't matter, but I remain self-conscious. I think if I shave it off and keep it shaved, then I can just get used to being a bald guy and move on. Is this a good reason at all?

[chgobuzzbald]

Go for it now that you feel more confident about your body.

[mrzed]

With or without hair, it's the same you inside.  As many of the guys here will testify, the bald look is very much in style, even for younger men. It's FEELS good. And you don't have that "I'm going bald" look and feel.  Just skip that step and move to bald directly.

I'll vote for bald now. 

[luckyone824]

With or without hair, it's the same you inside.  As many of the guys here will testify, the bald look is very much in style, even for younger men. It's FEELS good. And you don't have that "I'm going bald" look and feel.  Just skip that step and move to bald directly.

I'll vote for bald now. 

What exactly is the "going bald" look and feel? I was possibly thinking of buzzing it tonight with a #2 or #1 and keeping it like that for a while. Or should I just shave it with no transition at all?

[jarheadj]

I gotta say this since you mentioned the pompadour. Last year, after I retired fm the Marine Corps, I grew out my hair and when I went to my barber with several inches of hair and told him to cut it however he wanted. Well, being the fad, he gave me the pomp. First off, having to have THAT much product in your hair to maintain the style sucked!!!!! Then you walk down the street and EVERY dude you come across has the same stupid haircut. Then I went onto my barber's website and every pic (hundreds of em) that he's posted in the last year has him cutting Pomps on his clients! It's almost assembly line!! It took me about a week but after that, washed out all the product and never went back, it's disgusting!!!! It took me six more months to slick my head back bald where it belongs and the one thing I learned is that it's important to be yourself and what you makes you comfortable with yourself. The whole pomp thing? It's just an artificial, hard to maintain style brought back by barbers in an attempt to sell $50 bucks worth of product with each haircut and guaranteed return appts to keep it up. Don't follow bogus trends, follow your own motivation and style!!!

[Mikekoz13]

You need to re-evaluate your attitude toward your life. You come to a forum (for the second time but under a new name) and ask strangers for 5 good reasons to shave your head. Really?

I think your hair looks fine as it is and that you're obsessing over nothing. if you don't like your hair the way that it is, shave it and be done with it. Either way... quit whining about it.

Part of becoming a man, and yes even a young man, is getting your priorities straight and moving past things that DON"T REALLY MATTER.

My 16 year old son a has a 16 year old FRIEND that has been shaving his head for a few years because he has had alopecia most of his life. You know how much it bothers this young man??? NONE!! ....because he knows that in the big picture of life it just doesn't matter.

Time to re-prioritize..............

[luckyone824]

You need to re-evaluate your attitude toward your life. You come to a forum (for the second time but under a new name) and ask strangers for 5 good reasons to shave your head. Really?

I think your hair looks fine as it is and that you're obsessing over nothing. if you don't like your hair the way that it is, shave it and be done with it. Either way... quit whining about it.

Part of becoming a man, and yes even a young man, is getting your priorities straight and moving past things that DON"T REALLY MATTER.

My 16 year old son a has a 16 year old FRIEND that has been shaving his head for a few years because he has had alopecia most of his life. You know how much it bothers this young man??? NONE!! ....because he knows that in the big picture of life it just doesn't matter.

Time to re-prioritize..............

You're right. I'm being an idiot for whining so much. I'm just going to do it and be done with this useless worrying.

[TheSlyBear]

That's a wise step.

[luckyone824]

That's a wise step.

Idk about wise... but it's definitely a bold move. I do have a bunch of meetings this week, so it'll definitely make everyone pay attention to me lol

[luckyone824]

I went to my stylist today and just got a #1 buzz and it looks good. I'm gonna keep it like this.

[Cave Dweller]

I am completely sincere when I say that I hope you really are happy with it this time.

[NeedAdvice2013]

WOW! Have not been on site in a while....but MikeCoz13 gave some sound advice! (Now...if "I" could only apply it to me..........