Newly-minted Sly

[PabloSanDiego]

I posted in the Shaving Routine thread but I'll do a quick intro here too.  I've been balding on the front/top of my head for longer than I can remember now (since my 30s), and have been saying for years that one day I'm going to shave it.  I was in the Navy (active and reserves) and just retired in June 2013 after 30 years, and told my wife that once I retired I was going to grow a goatee (not allowed in the Navy) and start shaving my head.

I did grow the goatee right away.  As for my head, somewhere in the past few years I started to just have my barber take the clippers with the "Number 1" plastic attachment and do my whole head.  But my hair was pretty black in some parts on the side and back just above the neck so it really wasn't like shaving....barely 'sly' at all.  I just looked like an old balding dude.  As I got closer to shaving it all, the last few times I had her use the 1/2 attachment which really left just a stubble anyway, probably what I'd have now if I didn't shave for 2-3 days.

So on Super Bowl Sunday morning, I went to the store and bought a Gillette Fusion Pro Glide Power and some shaving gel, and went for it.  The first time took about 20 minutes, I did it by feel and it went well.  No cuts so far either after 4 days.  It's funny, but one of my main fears is that I'm going to lose my concentration and accidentally shave part of my eyebrows off!  Anybody else worry about that?

My profile photo is my self taken shot with my iPhone minutes after my very first shave.  I sent it to my wife and a few friends to give a preview.

I guess because I was cutting it so close already, nobody really said much, just a few compliments.  From straight ahead, I really don't even look different.  The side and back views are different though.

Anyway, as I keep reading in here, the question I now ask is: "Why did I wait so long?".  I absolutely love every aspect of it.  I've already been told I look younger (always a good thing), and I think I just look better, it seems like a natural look for me right off the bat.

And now finding this site makes it even better.  I still have a lot of questions, especially on skin care for my scalp.  Today was my fourth day shaving.  I really like the super smooth feel but my hair grows fast.  It feels perfectly smooth after I shave in the morning but even at lunch when I pull off my t-shirt at the gym to work out, I can feel some stubble and the shirt sticks like "velcro" and I don't like that.  And when I get home from work, it's even worse/longer.  I want to get as close a shave as possible.

My head is naturally oily, but also today for the first day my scalp is feeling a bit dry, even with the oil, if that makes sense.  I know I need to start putting something on my scalp after I shave, but there are so many products guys are using and no clear consensus.  So I just need to do some more research.  As I like the super clean and smooth look, I plan to be a daily shaver.

Other than that, I'm on my way and happy to join my fellow sly friends on here.  Sorry this so long, I'm just pretty excited about this and how well it's going!

Pablo

[wpruitt]

Welcome Pablo!

[zetaeffe]

Welcome!! Looking great!!

[nuts]

Great introduction.  Glad you are happy.  Looks great and the goatee complements the bald head very well.  As you say 'why did I wait so long'

[Mike E. P.]

Welcome Pedro! Like you, when I first shaved sly with a razor, hardly anyone noticed since I had been buzzing with no guard for a couple of years. Also like you, my head does n't remain smooth for long. I can feel the stubble after a couple of hours. But I'm lazy and only shave about twice a week so I've learned to put up with the stubble.

Enjoy the Forum and post often!

[Frontier Guy]

Welcome, sly seems very natural on you. Enjoy it, and don't overthink the annoying details such as "five o'clock stubble".

[EarlBald]

Welcome, Pablo.  The totally bald with goatee look fits you very well.  Congratulations on shaving it all off.

[PabloSanDiego]

Thanks guys!  One major thing that was holding me back was the laziness factor.  I thought it would be a pain in the butt to shave my head every day.  It was easier to just get the buzz cut every 2 weeks or so.  I know 4 days isn't enough to judge anything yet, but so far I actually enjoy doing the shaving, and this morning it probably just took 8 or 10 minutes.  Maybe after the novelty wears off it'll become more of a chore, but so far so good.

Another thing is saving the $18 every 2-3 weeks for the haircut, but I'm going to miss the head massages I got after my "shampoo" from the little shop where I got my haircuts.  The nice little Vietnamese ladies are going to miss my $3 tips too. 

That money will now go to Fusion Pro Glide blades and the lotions and gels I'm going to end up trying.

Thanks again for the encouragement, the whole experience has been 100% positive so far in every way, including the camaraderie on here.

[slybeard]

Welcome, and your sly dome looks great.

[TSE]

Welcome Pablo!

Shaved head look with the goatee really works well for you!  I was also worried about shaving off an eyebrow ... but so far, I've lucked out.  I will say though, I have managed to cut my ear when I wasn't paying attention.   

[Sir Harry]

Welcome Pablo! Looks great, enjoy the forum!

[mrzed]

Nice. another, why did I wait so long guy. 

Make yourself at home and post often.

[djones]

Looks natural like you have been sly for years.. no tan lines, looks great!

[PabloSanDiego]

Thanks.  I didn't have any hair on top before and on the sides I've been having it buzzed with the 1/2 attachment (1/16" I think?), so I must have picked up a tan thru the short hair.  The back has a tan line still but it's not that noticeable.

[PabloSanDiego]

I just put this together, as much for myself as anything.  These shots are all from December 2013, within the last 2 months.  As you can see, there wasn't a whole lot of hair left to shave off!  All I can think of now is why did I go around like that for so long?  The new look is SO much better!