Taking the Plunge

[Darksade]

I have been debating on whether or not I should shave my head for a while now. For the past few years, I have been thinning drastically on the top of my head (the sides of the head are full of hair). I am in theatre and love it, and recently my costume designer asked me to shave my head. I know that it won't happen for a while because I am uber nervous, but would love some thoughts about what I would look like with a buzzed head. (I don't want to go completely shaved, but keep it very short or fuzzy).

Some have told me that I have similar facial features to Jason Statham, and agree to a certain extent.

Thoughts? Also, I am only 22 years old.

Thanks guys...it's good to be here!

[mrzed]

1. You have the perfect 'excuse' to shave your head.  The costume designer requested/required it! 

2. A buzz-no-guard and a shaved head from stage distance will look the same. (but a shaved head feels uber smooth and something you'll want to experience.  For me, that was the best point of shaving bald.  I love the feel of the very smooth head after a shave.

3. It will make you look more mature, rather than old.  The thinning hair seems to have an old look to it.  Bald exudes confidence and maturity.  A nice plus for your play character and yourself.

I'd encourage you to give it a try.  What an opportunity!

[Sir Harry]

Welcome, Darksade! Aside from the (slightly) receding hairline, you don't look too bad. Unless it is required for the job, I would not shave my head unless it was something I wanted to do. A nice short buzz would be a start, though to diminish the obvious thinning. If the buzz does not work out, you can always either go back to where you are now, or go sly. Good luck with the hair and the theater!

[Mikekoz13]

Welcome to the forum!

Don't let your age deter you from giving shaving a try if you want to. We have more than a few young members here on the Forum.

[bennett11]

i would start with a buzz and see if you like it.  I suspect you will.

[Razor X]

Why did the costume designer ask you to shave your head? Is it for a specific role? If so, I wouldn't hesitate. Perfect excuse to try out a new look.

[Darksade]

I have been curious about doing it for a while. Family always said that I should try it, and I have wanted to. I have a receding hairline and have the bald patch coming in on the top of the head (harder to see in this picture).

1) if I cut it, will it grow back the same, less, or stronger if I happen to not like the look?
2) Does wearing a hat have any effect on re-growing it?

Also, to answer some of your questions, the buzzed head is required for a specific role that I am playing. Does anyone see me with a shaved head? It is very difficult for me to visualize it on myself.

-you guys rock!

[Sir Harry]

I think you have the head shape for sly....but if you follow through and shave it off, you could always grow some facial hair to offset the newly shaved head...just a suggestion.

[g_bald]

Welcome to the forum!

It's funny, a while back a friend asked me to shave my head for a movie role he wanted me in (small indie thing, not a blockbuster) and I said no (not to the role but the shaved head).

Now, I would be cast in a second... - unfortunately the film project fell through.

I can see you sly easily. You have a good head shape for it and I think you'll enjoy it immensely. Maybe you'll get recurring roles and go on a world tour and be a famous sly guy! Well, you can dream, right? 

You should just find a barber or a pair of clippers, set them as short as possible and turn them on and cut. The anxiety will be high until you start doing it. I felt the same way and I ended up getting my own clippers and buzzing my head all the time. Now it's the razor's turn to caress my scalp.

Good luck and hopefully your role is a smashing success!

[slymyke]

Welcome, Darksade.

My thoughts are:   

First start letting your facial stubble come in.  When it is where you want it, buzz your hair down to match.  You have nothing to lose. 
*Your costume designer requested it
*family agrees with it
*you were told you have similar features to Jason Statham. 

Now, I want to say, "Shake a leg"... but maybe for you I should say, "Break a leg"...   -lol.   

[Tim1776]

Hey Darksade,

You look quite a bit like I did when I was your age about a decade ago.  Went from awesome hair at 17 to not so awesome by 22!

For me, in hindsight, I wish I'd given the tight buzz a try, just to see what I thought and if it was something I could deal with going forward.  Instead, I'd spent the previous few years determined/obsessed with finding a way to get my great-looking hair back.  My thoughts at the time were, if I buzzed it, there would be a "finality" to it all that I wasn't ready to accept.

The thing is, though, it isn't "final", since you can go right back to the way you look now pretty quickly, if you really want to (you just can't go back to the way you were with all your hair without taking...drastic measures).  To answer your questions:

1) If you cut it, it will grow back exactly the same - at least for now (if you're thinning quick, it'll continue to thin quick).

2) Wearing a hat doesn't matter.  Balding guys are just associated with hats because they tend to use them to cover it up.

If you do cut it down, in future theater auditions, you can always do what Patrick Stewart did when auditioning for Laurence Olivier (at the 3:15 mark):



Good luck!

Tim

[oakdan5]

I think that ESP with your family supporting it go for it, there are many ppl here who get quite negative reactions from their family and friends and it makes it more difficult. My dad has always pressured me to keep my hair and stay on mess. I think a large part of this is that he lost his hair at a very young age and didn't fully accept it ever really. He kept a comb over through his early 40s until he finally shaved it off/down. I know it was a much different time back then but has always wanted me to keep my hair. I think also you have a good head shape and with your role it will give a great excuse to try it out.

[mrzed]

Shaving your head will hide all of the thinning and the bald spot on top!  That's good. 

You COULD grow it back, if you wanted, but do give it the 30 day rule.  By then, you won't want to grow it back. You'll have figured out shaving and your like the morning smooth.  Just a little self pampering.  It's really nice.

[isleepinthebuff]

You have a perfect reason to - the role. Anyone family or friends that sayd "why have you done it" You can hide behind the role.

In the meantime,

I'd certainly buzz the sides and back of your head as this may make the top look thicker in the meantime. However it is receeding and be aware that shaving it down can accentuate the hairline. it's still taking control but shaving to the hairline can really show off where it's going. However, that's not a bad thing (it beats overly long thinning hair or the dreaded comb over!) and you should try and embrace it and THAT's what sly is about rather than a look or feel. it's about being confident in yourself.

[wpruitt]

Welcome Darksade. Try the buzz.  You may want to keep going shorter.