new member with questions

• new member with questions by skydancer on 13 May, 2010 21:23
• Right now I have a full head of hair, but it's very thick, coarse, and curly, and I'm always fighting it in the morning.  It is very hard to style.  I am considering going to a buzz cut again or even bald.  I don't know what to do. I'm tired of being insecure of my hair when I go out in public.  Here's a few pictures of me:
  
  Here's what I look like now:
  
  http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v106/134/49/691075453/n691075453_1393308_4118.jpg
  http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2088/134/49/691075453/n691075453_5780560_6561.jpg
  
  And with a beard:
  
  http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v261/134/49/691075453/n691075453_3489625_6228.jpg
  
  Now this is what I look like with a close buzz cut.  As you can see, I have very large ears, and that is why I fear going back to a short hairstyle again.
  
  http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs617.snc3/32440_10150193641600454_691075453_12430820_1575599_n.jpg
  http://hphotos-sjc1.fbcdn.net/hs617.snc3/32440_10150193641615454_691075453_12430821_8334415_n.jpg
  http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs557.ash1/32440_10150193641645454_691075453_12430823_1147618_n.jpg
  
  And by the way, I'm 27.  I'm in the medical field so a short haircut would make life easier.  I welcome your opinions!
  
  Ryan
  
  
  
• #1 by Justin on 13 May, 2010 22:25
• Try shaved with the beard  Best of both worlds.
• #2 by ozzie on 13 May, 2010 22:29
• Welcome to the forum Ryan. You look good with or without hair mate. Your ears are just fine. We alway are very critical of ourselves in the mirror. Believe me, nobody else really notices that much. You are going to be curious forever if you don't try it, so you might as well go ahead and shave your head. If you really don't like it, it won't matter too much 'cos it will grow back in a week or so. Chances are though, that you are gonna love the freedom a sly dome gives you.
  
   
• #3 by skydancer on 13 May, 2010 22:37
• Quote from: ozzie on 13 May, 2010 22:29

  Welcome to the forum Ryan. You look good with or without hair mate. Your ears are just fine. We alway are very critical of ourselves in the mirror. Believe me, nobody else really notices that much. You are going to be curious forever if you don't try it, so you might as well go ahead and shave your head. If you really don't like it, it won't matter too much 'cos it will grow back in a week or so. Chances are though, that you are gonna love the freedom a sly dome gives you.
  
   
  

  
  I'm scared of what my family might think.  My mom was shocked when she saw the buzz a few years ago.  Told me it looked bad and unprofessional and I wouldn't get a job etc.  The buzz cut was awesome when I was a trucker and on the road - very low maintenance.  After my mom's comments though I grew my hair back and never went buzz again.  Honestly, I hate dealing with hair.  Some days I wish I were destined to go bald, though that is not likely to happen to me.
• #4 by InProgress on 14 May, 2010 00:21
• Bald with a full beard would look great on you.
• #5 by ozzie on 14 May, 2010 02:32
• Quote from: skydancer on 13 May, 2010 22:37

  
  I'm scared of what my family might think.  My mom was shocked when she saw the buzz a few years ago.  Told me it looked bad and unprofessional and I wouldn't get a job etc.  The buzz cut was awesome when I was a trucker and on the road - very low maintenance.  After my mom's comments though I grew my hair back and never went buzz again.  Honestly, I hate dealing with hair.  Some days I wish I were destined to go bald, though that is not likely to happen to me.
  

  
  Funny you should say that. My mother has been on me about my hair my entire life. When I had long hair "back in the day" she complained about it. When I finally cut it off ... yep ... she complained about it. My girlfriend at the time actually burst into tears. Talk about unnerving. Just comes with having a family, I guess.
  
  While sporting a #1 or #2 buzz cut for several years (which Mother finally got used to), she had never seen me sly until I just recently came back home for a visit. (I live in the States, my family is in Oz). I had toyed with the idea of letting it grow out to a buzz cut before I arrived, but frankly, that's just not me any more, so ... biting the bullet ... I warned her by phone that I was now sporting a completely shaved head and steeled myself for a verbal onslaught.
  
  Guess what? She likes the sly look on me. Completely threw me for a loop. I guess having a few famous local footballers that she likes sporting the sly look these days probably helped, but ... who knew??
  
  My point is, you just have to be true to yourself, do what you think is best for you. You just don't know how your family and friends are going to react, but the self-confidence you will get, just by the simple act of shaving your head, will put you above any flack you might get.
  
  So ... like I said previously, just go for it. Give it 30 days like folks around the forum always suggest. If it doesn't work out, it will grow back quick enough.
• #6 by usmcpelon on 14 May, 2010 08:07
• If you hate dealing with hair like most of us here at SBG, then shaving your head would be the best thing for you to do.  What other people thing shouldn’t matter, because most of the time it is really what we are thinking about ourselves is not what people are saying about us.  Take it like a man and shave it off, you won’t regret it and I guarantee you that you’ll love the look and feel of a clean shaved head.  Your mom will get over it sooner or later, just like everybody else.  They will get used to seeing you bald and by the time you know it things will be normal as before.  My girlfriend works in the medical field, and there are many bald guys working in here department. 
  
  As far as the ears are concern, you look fine.  We are also looking for some imperfection in the way we look.  Just look at the bright side, your bald, comfortable, confident and that’s all you need.  Who care about what everybody else thinks.  I was self conscience about some issues with my head, but it all boiling down to just being comfortable and confident wanting to be bald.  Go ahead and shave it.
  
• #7 by GASlick on 14 May, 2010 11:27
• You have exactly the same hairline that I have! I'm in the medical field as well and short hair definitely makes life easier.
• #8 by Gambrinus on 14 May, 2010 12:34
• First off, I'll second that you look fine with or with out hair.  Your ears aren't as big as you think they are, and that your mom will live.  My mom HATED my head when I first went Sly.  She begged my wife to talk me into letting my hair grow back (which my wife knew better).  Now she clips coupons for razor blade to give me.    You'll be OK what ever you do, but  I'll tell you like I tell everyone else.  I wish I would have started going Sly when I was in High School.  I absolutely love the freedom. 
• #9 by marty22 on 14 May, 2010 18:35
• I wish I had lasered mine off at 25.
• #10 by BALDANDRE on 14 May, 2010 21:58
• Bro...shaving it all off slick bald will look great. The buzzcut looked good..but shaving it off clean is just that..a nice clean look..go for it..you'll love it..no fuss..and with your work that's a good thing!!!
• #11 by Razor X on 14 May, 2010 22:10
• Quote from: skydancer on 13 May, 2010 22:37

  
  My mom was shocked when she saw the buzz a few years ago.  Told me it looked bad and unprofessional and I wouldn't get a job etc. 
  

  
  Mothers always say that at first.  Eventually they come around if you stick to your guns.
• #12 by MikeInPdx on 14 May, 2010 23:10
• Your ears are fine and you look fine either way. Do what feels right for you.
• #13 by skydancer on 15 May, 2010 17:17
• Thanks for all the advice and encouragement guys.  I'm going to be a groomsman in my sister's wedding (July 17) so I won't do anything before then.  I think she would be upset with my having no hair in her wedding.  So that gives me some time to think about it.