Just buzzed really short - not sure what to think

[SweSly]

So I finally took the plunge and put an electric clipper to my head. Attached pictures of before and after. Even though I am pretty far into balding with a big and apparent thin area on my crown (not visible in the pic though) I still felt I looked allright from the front. This new style looks crazy weird.  Did I just do a horrible mistake? 

[Goatee]

Million times better!! Nice one

[Mike E. P.]

Not a mistake at all.  Buzzed looks very good on you.  Coming from someone who doesn't know you and hasn't seen you before, I'd say the buzzed look is better on you than with hair.  I know it will feel strange at first, but give it a chance and you will come to love being sly.  Welcome to the club!

[Cave Dweller]

Congratulations on taking the plunge, sir. You look fine.

That feeling of "Did I do the right thing?" is a big reason for the thirty day commitment. The new look can be a surprise to both you and those who know you, so you need to commit yourself to staying this way for thirty days and not make any decision as to whether to stay this way or grow everything back until those thirty days have passed. Give yourself time to adjust and become accustomed to the look, then you will be able to have a calmer, more objective opinion about it.

I have a feeling you will be hearing compliments.

[slybeard]

Good improvement

[tobler1]

I think the buzz looks good, also.  So I'd recommend keeping it buzzed for 30 days.  If you haven't grown to like it by then, you can always grow your hair back out.  But good on you for trying it!  And you may find you really prefer the shorter look!

[Razor X]

I agree; it's an improvement.  Thinning hair doesn't really look good on anybody.

[Sir Harry]

I think it was a good move..it made your balding less obvious.

[wpruitt]

Looks good !

[slymyke]

It takes a little getting used to at first.  It looks good, though.

[SweSly]

Thanks for the encouragement!

Congratulations on taking the plunge, sir. You look fine.

That feeling of "Did I do the right thing?" is a big reason for the thirty day commitment. The new look can be a surprise to both you and those who know you, so you need to commit yourself to staying this way for thirty days and not make any decision as to whether to stay this way or grow everything back until those thirty days have passed. Give yourself time to adjust and become accustomed to the look, then you will be able to have a calmer, more objective opinion about it.

I have a feeling you will be hearing compliments.

I hope so... my mother wasn't too happy about it, she tried talking me out of continuing it. I'm surprised you guys think it looks better, to me it feels like I look older but in a bad way (because I'm only 21, no offence to you guys, you all look cool!). Kind of made the balding more obvious by showing exactly how much of it has actually gone, if that makes sense. Worried it will affect my chances with the ladies.

But I think I will try the 30 day commitment all the same! Suggestions on what else to do to improve this "new look" are welcome  

[Cave Dweller]

... my mother wasn't too happy about it, she tried talking me out of continuing it.

Yep. Moms can be the worst. Afterall, you messed with the way her "baby" looks.
It took mine over a year to stop asking if I had decided whether to grow back my horseshoe.

As for your fear that the buzzed look makes the hairloss appear worse, I have to disagree. The thinning, in my opinion, makes a man look much older than his true age. When mine was thinning and receding rapidly in my early twenties, I used to love going to carnivals and playing the "guess your age" booth game. I won every time, and the hawker usually would not let me see what age he had written down as his guess.  The few times I saw it, the number was ten to fifteen years older. I really wish shaved or buzzed had been acceptable as main stream looks back then.

[Itall]

Looks great.

[Mike E. P.]

Even with shaved head, you still look 21 (or younger!) If you carry yourself with confidence, you shouldn't have a problem with girls. 

[slymyke]

At the risk of sounding like I am telling you to go completely "sly"... I think you might want to.      You are almost there anyway.. and the greater reduction of stubble may help give a more "intentional" look to the baldness.  A completely shaven head hides the balding by being completely bald.  You may have a shadow, but it will be less than the stubble, and less noticeable.  Also,  you have a slight mustache growing in the pics... maybe you can add the goatee part and go for a circle beard.   This will change the whole look.