Taking the Plunge

[Mike E. P.]

I started to notice my hair receding at 17. I dealt with that and stressed over that until I was about 30. The more I worried, the more hair I lost. I never told anyone how I was stressing over this and that was bad, too.

At about 30, I got a very short buzz. With that buzz, it was hard to even tell that I was balding.  Now at 50, I have no hair on top, but the process from 30 to 50 was not bad because my hair was so short and the balding gradual. Now I keep it so short, it pretty much looks sly. I use clippers once a week. Occasionally, I shave it all off and I do like the feeling!

Getting that first buzz was scary, but once I did it, i felt great. I learned that I am not defined by my hair.

When you're ready, do it! I bet you'll be glad you did. Worse comes to worse and you don't like, it'll grow back quickly enough!

[Razor X]

Getting that first buzz was scary, but once I did it, i felt great. I learned that I am not defined by my hair.

When you're ready, do it! I bet you'll be glad you did. Worse comes to worse and you don't like, it'll grow back quickly enough!

Exactly. Even if you end up not liking the result, you'll never regret having tried it. If you don't try it, you'll always wonder.  It's easy to come up with dozens of excuses why you can't do it, but if the rest of us all managed to do it, so can you.  And many of us did it at a time when shaved heads were a lot less common than they are now.

[Vogi_the_bald]

Hey Dark,

I am a little late here, but look at me. I am 24 (almost 25 years old.) I started the head shaving way younger then you. I started to get the buzz cut somewhere around the age of 7. Of course in my youthful exploring and finding my self, I have had long hair and mo-hawks. But ever since I had that first buzz cut I always waited for summer because my parents would shave (buzz) it all off. Then Around 13 i found out that i could buzz my head any time I want.  I buzzed my head. and after that the longest i ever had it was about your length. For the last year I started buzzing my head every other week. I now SHAVE my head every day. The feeling of a freshly shaved head is simply the best thing in the world. We are not lying. (I actually get annoyed when i wake up in the morning and have my 16 hour stubble.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE SHAVING YOUR HEAD.

The 30 day rule.    Shave your head for 30 days. Just to see how you look and to get used to it.

Your head is tender. It is like your face the first time you shaved your hair. It will toughen up and then you will hardly remember when you didn't shave.

The cost. The initial set up for me cost roughly 30 bucks- 10 for razor 10 for refills and ten for shaving cream and lotion. I have used the same blade since I started shaving. It can last a week to a month.

The confidence. NO MORE THINNING. You control how you look. Like we all said before, you will look mature, not older.  I look like I am 13 with hair more then 2 weeks of growth. Now I look relatively around my age.

Maintenance. Shave every day to every three days. and once you get good enough, it will take you about 5 minutes tops. Then if you want to go out, you dont need to comb it, style it, put product in it, and you get an awesome shine.



Sorry for the LONG reply, but I suggest doing what I did. BUZZ your hair. If you like it, go sly (shaven head).

[Cave Dweller]

Welcome Darksade,

There is no better excuse for losing the hair than doing it for a character. I had to go bald for Warbucks when I played him twenty years ago. My job at the time, however, would not allow for such an "extreme style" (the company's words), so I had to wear a skin wig that required grease paint makeup. I wished every night that I could just shave it all off rather than using spirit gum to glue that latex film to my head.

You are going to look fine. And if you decide you don't want to stay that way after the show, you at least will have a great photo for your portfolio.

The show wouldn't happen to be Waiting for Godot?

[Michael]

It is a plunge, but you sound like someone that can do it! Take the 30 day challenge get some sun on the dome carefully, shave with the grain for a while then go for the tigers tale and go against!  Keep your blades sharp and use good lotions and creams.

[Darksade]

The show is Orestes 2.0. It is a very weird modern rendition of the Greek tragedy of Orestes. Not many people know this weird show though. I will have some good memories with this show haha. I will most likely be at least buzzing my hair within the next couple days and will upload pictures to show you guys what my new look looks like!

[Vogi_the_bald]

I am looking forward to it. Good luck on the show. Knock them dead.

[Darksade]

Thanks everyone for the words of encouragement! It turned out great and I might just have to keep it after all! You are all awesome!

[Cave Dweller]

Congratulations, sir!

Post a pic when you get a chance so we all can give you a virtual high five.

[Bilko1]

I think if you have been encouraged / requested to shave your hair off, that you should. Like others have said, that you will look more mature & not older is very true. Not only that, but you will feel very positive & confident, too.

I would encourage you to go for a short buzz first of all & if you like it and feel ready for the ultimate "haircut", just go for it & have your head shaved smooth. I would advise that you have an experienced barber do the first shave, though.

All the best & welcome to this great & encouraging fraternity.