Newbie needs Florida referrals

[Semi-Sly]

Hello.  I just joined today.  I am about to become "Bald Not-Entirely-By-Choice".

I am 59 years old and while I still have a full hair line, my hair is very, very thin and fine - and mousy gray - you know, "old guys" hair.

I'm a semi-retired Cop.  In about two weeks I am participating in a fund-raiser with a bunch of other Cops and Firefighters to support the child of one of the Firefighters who has leukemia.  The little boy is very bummed about losing his hair and so we want to show him that it is "cool" to be bald and to raise some funds for the family. 

I have read on your site about the "30 Day Rule" and I figured, what the heck, I might like to test fly this "Sly" thing you guys all talk about.  Only trouble is, I will be traveling in Florida for about 10 days after the fundraiser and will need to have the dome maintained while I am on the road.

Do you guys know of any good barbers in Central Florida that do head shaves?

Please let me know.

[nuts]

Good on you - a very worthwhile project.  A number on this board became sly by participating in similar events.

Once shaved why not just buy a good razor etc and shave yourself.  Then having another 'professional' shave could be reserved for a treat.

[slymyke]

Welcome Hairy1 !

I like how you guys are supporting the boy who is losing his hair.  I hope and pray the best for him. 

I'm sure you will like your new look.  You can easily maintain it yourself with the minimal shaving cream and razor.   I've never had a barber do mine, but there are three locations of Floyd's Barbershop in the Orlando area (2 in Orlando and 1 in Winter Park).  They do head shaves and seem to be really cool.   I pass the one in Winter Park a couple times each day, and always want to pull in just to look around...lol. 

Have a great trip! 

[Semi-Sly]

Thanks guys. 

I don't have any kids of my own but I have lost a niece to cancer when she was only 16.  Each year I look for another kid to help out, usually the child of one of my brothers in arms or law enforcement. 

This year's little guy is the 6.5 year old son of a firefighter in Florida.  The little guy was just diagnosed in January and his hair started falling out with the very first Chemo treatment.  I am told that he was really upset.  He rarely allows anyone to take his photo unless he is wearing a hat.    Both his Dad and Mom shaved their heads in an attempt to feel less self-conscious and lots of Cops, Firefighters and warriors from around the country are joining up on his Facebook page to show him that he is OUR hero! 

His Dad's department is holding a number of fundraisers to help the family out with expenses and one of them is a "Shave-A-Thon" being held in a couple of weeks.  I am taking part in it.  It is not that big of a deal.  I have done this before.  My personal appearance means nothing if I can help lift someone's spirits.

If you want to sponsor me, you can go to:  http://bit.ly/1d4hjYt and click the "+" next to my name (Randy Huizenga)

While appreciate the advice to jump right into shaving myself - I know me and I know that I will use that as an excuse to just let it grow right  back.  If I am going to keep this for 30 days I am going to need some help "getting used to it".  I am not real sure that I want to try shaving it myself right out of the box.  (I don't even like shaving my own face - I go to my local Arab barbershop for a face shave every week).  f I screw it up, or nick myself, or get frustrated I know I will take that as an excuse to not keep it shaved long enough to get used to the look.  I would rather stop in at a good old fashioned barbershop every third day or so while I am traveling and just let a professional do it.  That way I am more likely to keep it for a few weeks and "maybe" get used to keeping it.  then, when I get home, and I am in my own bathroom with a couple of mirrors, etc. I will be more inclined to keep up the look.

I'll be on the road for almost two weeks traveling through Leesburg, Lake City, Orlando, Bradenton, Sarasota, Miami and Naples before I start heading back to Chicago. 

If I can figure out a way to take a photo and post it here I will share the nightmare with guys and see what you think!

Thanks for any barbershop tips that you can give me.

Randy

[Sir Harry]

Welcome to the forum! I think it's a noble cause you are taking on for this young boy....and to a small extent, all of our kids who are losing their hair in these situations. Does your Arabian Barbershop do headshaves? When I was in the Middle East in 2010, some of my better headshaves came from the local barbers there. They took their time, and the sanitation level was surprisingly high. Either way, good luck to you and if you don't trust yourself with the razor, you can always go the clipper route. There is no written rule that says you have to be a razor shaver to be a sly guy if you know what I mean.

[BBCESQ]

I was in Orlando a few months ago and decided to treat myself to a face and head shave.  I went to Floyd's Babershop and had one of the best experiences of my life, also one of the most expensive at $30.00 for the head and $30.00 for the face (give or take) plus tip.  If you are looking to splurge, I say go for it.

http://www.floydsbarbershop.com/default.aspx

[Semi-Sly]

Sir Harry:

To answer your question; yes the Arab barbershops in my neighborhood all do full head and face shaves with a razor, along with threading your eyebrows and waxing your ears - all for only $15! - so I know that once I get home I will be able to maintain the bald look if I can keep it up while I am in Florida.  I am afraid that if I cannot keep it up from the get go in Forida I will just let it grow back.

so, it is just while I am in Florida that I will need to find barbershops that do good headshaves.

By the way, I did a split tour in both Iraq and Afghanistan in 2009 and 2010.  I did a second tour in Iraq in 2011- 2012 and got stuck there with the last 146 troops left in the country after the pullout.  (I am a retired Naval Reserve Officer but I now work full time for the Dept of Defense and still deploy.  I may be going back to Afghanistan in September which is another reasons I would like to try to keep up the BBC for a while).

[Sir Harry]

Randy, first off thanks for your service, and God's speed if/when you return to Afghanistan....Yes, I remember all that good stuff that you just mentioned, and that $15 sounded about right.....(I served in the Active Army and National Guard for 23 years before calling it a career in July). As far as the BBC, clippers are a nice way to keep the head closely shaved and it pays for itself in about five headshaves or so....Good luck!

[Arnie]

WELCOME TO SBGs!!!