First reactions

[Semi-Sly]

It has been 9 days since I shaved my thin, but full, head of hair. Before doing this I grew a full beard, clipped short to about a 1.5

I am on vacation and did,t see anyone who knew me "before" , so to them it was a non-issue.

Over the last few days however I have met up with some old friends who have known me for many years. 

The BFF absolutely hates the way I look!

One of the two other couples who have seen me say that I should definitely keep the Baldie and the beard.

The second couple was noncommittal

One old friend to whom I sent a selfie said that it is a definite keeper.

I am going to Atalanta for a funeral tomorrow and then must end my vacation and start for home. 

I am dreading facing the family.  I already know that they will not like it one little bit!

[Itall]

It only matters if you like it. Stick with it if you like it.

[mrzed]

For those back home, the 30 day rule starts when you arrive.  They need some time to adjust.

Hang in there.  You got some positive feedback.  I would not rely on a photo comment.  You need to see the bald guy in person to really see how it looks. 

[reddog]

It's like anything else, there will be lots of different opinions. I liked my new look so much, I think the confidence showed and I got mostly positive comments. After 10 months of being bald, nobody seems to care. I'm dating a lot right now, and I don't even mention I have a full head of hair! I still get a little nervous when meeting an old friend that is seeing me bald for the first time. If you like it keep it, if not, well, you tried it.

[Mike E. P.]

Like Reddog said, everyone's got an opinion. The bottom line really is, how do YOU like it? And I think you really have to give yourself the thirty days to get used to the look before you can really determine whether or not you prefer yourself with or without hair.

[slybeard]

In general, people are not comfortable with change and the initial reaction when going sly is usually negative.  It takes some time for faimily to adjust to the change and be objective with their opinions.  So do not have a knee jerk reaction.  Take it all in and understand where it is coming from.  In the end, it is your decision, the family will eventually adjust.

[4fit]

Just another benefit of being an old man, I am 50 and one could care less if I had hair or not. Maybe old guys are just expected to be bald.

[Semi-Sly]

Well I am back from vacation and some of the reactions to my bald head are as follows:

The Colonel I work for likes it.  He confessed that he thought that my former flattop made me look dated

My best buddy hates it - really hates it.

My mother was shocked and dismayed

My coworkers don't like it

Saw most of my family at Palm Sunday dinner today.  Stunned silence, ("if you can't say anthing nice......")

People at church were "surprised", (once again, if you cannot say anything nice.....)

Then tonight, I opened my email to find a message from my barber wondering what has happened to me and if everything is O.K.

So, suffice it to say, I am not feeling good about having shaved my head.

Randy

[mrzed]

For those back home, the 30 day rule starts when you arrive.  They need some time to adjust.


I agree with your Colonel

[Blitzed]

Two Things.

1. Our esteemed moderator Doug used to have a quotation that said, "What others think of you is none of your business..."....although they seek to make it "your" business however disinterested in your opinion you may be.

2. I think there should be a 30 day rule for everyone else, families, co workers, casual acquaintances, really close friends....if after thirty days you like it and decide to keep it, tell them they've had thirty days and now....it's time to shut up and go on with some of the things you don't like about them-offer to "share" what those might be with them. Quid pro Quo.

[Mike E. P.]

Randy,

Do you like it? You've lived with it a while. How does being shaved make you feel? I think if you do decide to give it the thirty days, you will know for sure how you feel and your family and friends' comments will stop. Everyone will be used to the look and this part of the journey will be over.

[baldjoeg]

Harry1. I think that You look great sly. I agree with the Colonel.

[Semi-Sly]

Since you ask me what I think; here it is:

a.  I know that I look best with hair - hair of a comb-able length, which is why even though I have worn a flattop for 34 years I let my hair grow out to a comb-able length the last two winters.

b.  In my humble opinion I rock the "World's Greatest High Tight and Brutal Flattop".  I know that flattops are "dated" and I have even been told by some people that it makes me look "like an old gay guy", but I really love my flattop.  It makes me feel good and reminds me of my youth as a Naval Officer and later as a Police Officer.   BUT - keeping up the WGHTnBF requires weekly visits to my barber at a cost of $21 each cut an a 60 mile round trip drive - and which requires that I devote every Saturday morning to my flattop barber.

Here in Chicago we have nine months of Winter and three months of bad sledding!  Even tonight, as I type this message, it is SNOWING again.!!!!  I wait all Winter for Summer to come and this year, as I turn 60, I want to do as much as I possibly can.  I am not willing to give up my Summer Saturday mornings to my barber this year!  I want to be as easy care as possible.

c.  So, even though I do not think that Bald and Bearded is my best look, (I think it shows my age)   I have decided to stay sly for the whole summer and then make a decision in the Fall as to whether or not to stay sly through the Winter.

  So, tonight I made the commitment to BBC and visited my local Arab barber and got a fresh new shave on the dome!  He first shaved it with a straight razor with the grain, then against the grain, then all over with a Wahl electric shaver.  Then he felt all over my scalp, stretching the skin and shaving against the grain over those spots.  He then showered my scalp with Old Spice after shave, then with a skin cream, and finally rubbed my neck with cologne - all for $12! 

But being Sly isn't going to work for me if I have to be OCD about it!  I want this thing to be EASY and NATURAL for me.  I know that some of you have been bugging me to shave my own head - but I just hate to shave and don't have the patience for it.

I don't like shaving my face, much less my own head,  so I will just trim the beard and run my Wahl  bald clipper across my noggin once a week unless it is convenient for me to drop into my local barber for a shave.

But if I am busy traveling, or doing something fun, and I happen to miss a week - I am sorry but I am not going to obsess about it!  So I ask you guys; will I still be considered "sly" if my hair runs wild to a length of #1 now and again?  If so, then consider me committed to being BBC and SLY.

[nuts]

Don't obsess.  Do whatever is comfortable for you and we will still consider you a sly guy.  And it doesn't make you look old.  Just wait till you really are old.

[Mike E. P.]

Sounds like you've really thought about it and have a good plan. By the end of the summer, you may find that you like the sly look and decide to keep it. If you go back to the flat top, can you find a barber that is closer? That drive would be a deal breaker for me. And I'm too cheap for a weekly $21.

I have always hated shaving too. This past fall I grew a full beard and loved not having to shave my face every day. However, I actually like shaving my head. I only do it twice a week so I'm not spending too much time. Recently I have become a fan of wet shaving. Using a safety razor, nice brush, and shave soap adds to the pleasure. I shave Wednesday and Sunday nights. I pour myself a drink, put on some music and take my time. It's very relaxing.

Don't worry about the upkeep. Do what you can and what makes you feel best.