At 24, go for the shave?

[ilbrontolone]

The first photo represents the #1 I got a couple months ago in generous lighting so it looks like I have more shadow on top than I really do.  The second represents now.  The balding really kicked in around 19 and I actually grew my hair back out extremely long (had a thick rockstar mane in high school) in spite of that and it looked OK, but noticeably thin and straggly.  At 21, I got a #3 and have gradually gotten shorter and shorter buzzcuts since then. 

Anyway, I definitely hate the way it looks grown in at this point, and essentially, the thing that's preventing me from regularly buzzing it to a #1 is being cheap and doubting my ability to buzz my own head.  But I mean, if one's buzzing it very short anyway, what's it matter?  I need to just get the buzzer (or whatever you call it?).  Either way, how do you think it would look shaved?  Most of the men in my family have gone bald young but none of them have done the complete shave.

[Sir Harry]

Welcome! The number 1 in your first picture looks pretty good if you are not ready to go sly just yet...but in the second picture, the thinning is pretty obvious....I don't see any harm in going for the shave now, and if you follow through and don't like it, you'll be back to where you are in the first picture in about two weeks...If you go sly and decide to keep it, growing some facial hair could help to detract away from a newly shaved head until you're used to it...Good luck!

[Mike E. P.]

Since I've been a member of SBG, I have been shaving all the way. However, before I was shaving weekly with a Wahl clipper using no guard.  Like you, I was getting my head buzzed at the barber and I kept getting it buzzed shorter and shorter, but it killed me to pay the barber to do that as frequently as I wanted it done.

So I learned to buzz it myself.  I used a hand mirror to help me to do the back of my head. When I was first learning to do it, I would have my wife or daughter check me to make sure I didn't miss any spots. Eventually I got really good at it and didn't need a spot checker.

Now that I shave all the way with a razor, it's easy to tell if I missed a spot by feeling.

So you can learn to buzz it yourself. And judging by your photo, you would look great totally sly.  Good luck!

[ilbrontolone]

Thanks guys.

And Mike, that does sound just like me (of course, minus the wife and daughter part!).  I really don't want to be spending money on a buzzcut every 2 weeks or even once a month.  So letting it grow out is largely due to a practical concern as I strongly prefer it buzzed down short! 

[EarlBald]

You're not bad looking with thinning hair, but you look much better with a buzzcut.  Try shaving it down to the scalp.  I think that you'll be pleased with the result!

[kalbo]

Welcome aboard. Be the first and inspire other members of your family to go smooth. The buzz is a good indication that you will rock the smooth dome.

[mrzed]

The buzz cut is as easy as running the vacuum over the carpet.  It's all one length, just back and forth. The blades don't touch your head. No risk of nicking yourself.  Before going sly myself, I would run the clippers at 'no guard' almost daily, just to get into the habit of shaving, intending to go there eventually.  When you buzz daily, there is not much hair to trim so it goes very quickly. And your hair look the same every day. You never get the "Oh, you got a haircut" comment again.  It's always buzzed tight.  I just did the buzz by feel.  It's pretty easy to feel when all is uniformly buzzed, especially at #1 or no guard.  Likewise, I could not afford the frequent barber visits.  By the way, it feels great buzzed. 

When you are ready, just substitute a razor for the clippers and apply the 30 day rule.  The difference in look is minimal from buzz to bald.  The feel of a smooth head is great.  It looks like you took charge and boosts confidence, whether you need that or not.  Bald is just a good look on a man.

Stick around. Keep asking questions. Mike E. P. had some good comments above.  I'm looking forward to seeing you post SLY on of these days, and introduce the rest of your male family members to SBG.

[stasiu]

Welcome aboard. Be the first and inspire other members of your family to go smooth. The buzz is a good indication that you will rock the smooth dome.

Buying your own clippers and buzzing yourself will come easy after a few times.  Or have a friend buzz your hair.  If you are a regular customer, ask your barber if he'd give you a discount for frequent buzzes.  Doesn't hurt to ask.  Good luck !  I predict you will be the first sly smooth guy in your family very soon.

[slymyke]

Welcome, Ilbrontolone! 

The look of the #1 buzz cut works well for you.   I have a similar story to Mike E.P., and think a lot of guys do too.  Buzzing short for a while, then giving a shave a try... and liking it.    You can go back and forth between a shave and an #1 pretty easily, and both looks would be good for you. 

[isleepinthebuff]

I think the buzz looks better than the second pic because (sadly) that does draw attention to your hair line. I buzzed my hair and it's much cheaper to do it yourself than keep going to a barber and much easier.

You'll be able to tell whether you're doing ok by the hair that falls.

The buzz really suits you, so don't worry. I don't think you have to fully shave yet. So do a 1, then get used to it and do a 0 and then when you feel ready, in however long you can make the decision on whether to shave

[Razor X]

I'd get good and used to a #1 and then experiment a little.  Go a little shorter than a #1 when you feel ready. It's only a matter of a few more days to grow out. 

[baldaholic]

I think you can pull it of - the shaved head.
The #1 cut looks good, and as said before, to buzz yourself is really easy.

Clippers are not expensive - you can buzz #1, or clippershave, or shave with a razor - it should all look good.
If you don't like it shaved, it will be clippershaved in no time, and back to #1 shortly after.

Regards

[fcb2001]

I'd go the shaving cream and razor route.

[bennett11]

You look good with buzz cut and as been mentioned not difficult to do yourself.  After a time I am sure with will go for  a shave - comes naturally.

[Adamski1972]

Blad or a buzz suits your face/head shape so do whatever your comfortable with. If your asking the question will I look good bald you'll probably end up giving it a go out of curiosity as I did. Good luck with whatever you decide.