Need some encouragement

[djones]

 When I first shaved I hated it my wife loved it and I was determined to do the 30 days now I love it ...you look great , it's better without the aviators in my opinion..and sure looking younger and better than the pic with hair..

[stasiu]

Looking great !  I have some scalp birth mark coloring near my left ear and a bit of a tan does help, however, remember those birth marks, head shape etc. just makes you a unique Sly Bald Guy !  Welcome to the group !

[tobler1]

Looks great!  No need to be self-conscious...

[Razorhead]

Hi Slim,

I think you look amazing. You are being too critical. I think the new look makes you look a lot younger. You can totally get away with a shaved head. Get the razor out! It suits you.

[mrzed]

You look top notch with the sly style.  Nothing to worry about. Give yourself the 30 days to get used to it.

Perhaps a bit longer to recognize the new you in a mirror or glass. 

[chgobuzzbald]

You look great shaved. Never trust a female stylist because they all think everyone must "want" to have hair at any cost. Try to find a men's barbershop where they do head shaves , that's a great experience. Shaved smooth is a great look for you.

[Frontier Guy]

Relax, keep it shaved, and give yourself the 30 days to adjust to it.

As for it taking too long compared to your previous routine ... the time will substantially diminish as the 30 days pass.

Almost two years in for me; wouldn't go back for anything. And that slight additional shave time in the morning - that's not a burden, that's a luxury that I am tending to myself rather than everyone else.

[Lith]

Yea I have to agree with the others. You look good sly and if I were you I'd keep it . But yea.. Give the 30 day challange a try!

[djones]

You look great shaved. Never trust a female stylist because they all think everyone must "want" to have hair at any cost. Try to find a men's barbershop where they do head shaves , that's a great experience. Shaved smooth is a great look for you.

I agree when I had hair, women didn't cut it...I always went to the barber ,listen to old men tell lies while smoking their pipes waiting to get a hit shave..

[Slim]

Thanks for the support guys. I'm feeling much better about it and have decided to try it a while longer. I'm still not entirely convinced, but I don't think my other hair choices are any better. It may be time to man up.

I've got some tan now, not enough, but when I see myself in a mirror the look doesn't jar me anymore. I'm getting used to it. I tried a smooth shave with an electric razor and got some ugly red bumps. I'm afraid to try a blade because of cuts. I don't think the smooth, shiny look is what I want at this point, bumps or not. I bought an Andis clipper that reviewers say clips down to a five o-clock shadow, waiting for it to arrive. I'm thinking that might be the ticket. I think I prefer the five o'clock shadow look, and only partly because shaving my scalp is difficult and kind of weirds me out.

I should try a barber shop, and get out of the nursery. I have always preferred beauty salons because there are women there. I'm single and work in a male dominated industry, getting the opportunity to listen to the girls chatter amongst themselves while I was getting a hair cut and scalp massage was something that I enjoyed. But as I said, it may be time to man up and get out of the nursery.

[Slim]

Today I threw my hair products away, including the Rogaine. I'm learning to like this look. I think this is going to be my look from now on. I don't think I'll ever grow hair back again. I may not be the pretty boy I was in my youth. (I know, stop laughing). But it's okay. I'm taking authority over the way I look, taking control of my baldness. Whether I look "pretty" or not doesn't matter.

... wear that skin like a badge. You can use it to create an image of toughness -- or as an erogenous zone, if you choose. Either way, by being open and honest about your baldness, you seize the initiative and assert your authority. You are in control[/size].

A quote from the end of the book "Bald!: From Hairless Heroes to Comic Combovers" by Kevin Baldwin. A book I would encourage every balding man to read. It is written by a British author so it a lot of it is UK specific but by the end of the book you'll actually want to go bald.

[Mike E. P.]

Wow, Slim!  Good for you.  Congratulations! None of us are the pretty boys we once were

So glad for you.  Gonna have to check out that book!

[greatnessinc]

Wow, Slim!  Good for you.  Congratulations! None of us are the pretty boys we once were

So glad for you.  Gonna have to check out that book!

Nonsense!
I'm prettier now than I ever was 

[Mike E. P.]

Wow, Slim!  Good for you.  Congratulations! None of us are the pretty boys we once were

So glad for you.  Gonna have to check out that book!

Nonsense!
I'm prettier now than I ever was 

Yes, I am mistaken, Greatness!  You definitely are!