False Self-impressions

[slymyke]

I went out to eat tonight and one of the servers at the restaurant was balding pretty badly.. but don't worry, he had it under control.  The hair on the sides and back of his head was bound into a ponytail that went halfway down his back.  The super-thin strands of hair that remained on top of his head were long and bound in the ponytail as well.  I'm thinking this must be giving him the FALSE impression (in the mirror) that his hair is not that bad yet. 

Why is it that the false fear of looking funny with a bald head keeps many guys from shaving their heads... while they let themselves look far worse by holding on to remnants of what once was? 

[rss114]

It seems like a generation thing one of my profs has the same style

[Razor X]

I was walking to the train one day last week on my way home from work and was behind a guy who was probably 10 years younger than I am. He had waist length  hair that he kept playing with the whole way.  He was obviously very proud of it.  Unfortunately when I caught up with him I saw that he had a fairly advanced receded hairline.  He will most likely be bald in a few years and seems to be the type that will be totally unable to handle it.  I'm sure the sight of my bald head scared the crap out of him.   

[invaray]

Yes and then there are the guys that never take their hat off. I have a friend that is bald on top keeps what he has left trimmed but that hat is never coming off his head. He looks fine without the hat have only seen him without the hat once. He is so ashamed of his bald head although it is one of his best features.

  When he saw I had shaved mine off he almost seemed angry, it has to be confusing for someone that feels their hair is who they are. Make the transition and let it go.

[rss114]

Invaray that is absolutely the way my dad is bald on top bit never takes off his hat

[Sir Harry]

Bald guys with ponytails, horseshoes  and skunk stripes. If your remaining hair can be compared to something related to an animal, well...you know what you need to do...

[Mike E. P.]

Maybe that ponytail reminds him of better days.  Maybe he loved it so much in the day and can't let it go even now that he is balding.  Even though I think and know he would look a hundred times better sly, it would be great if he had accepted his situation for what it is and doesn't care what anyone else thinks.

[SWvic]

I figure that having even some hair is still considered "normal" regardless of how god-awful it looks.  I'm sure he'll come round when he starts combing over his eyebrows to hide the patch 

[stasiu]

I figure that having even some hair is still considered "normal" regardless of how god-awful it looks.  I'm sure he'll come round when he starts combing over his eyebrows to hide the patch 

Maybe he's going to have a full-head toupee made out of the pony ?  I know a guy in his mid-70's who wears a toupee with a hairline that starts like an inch above his eyes and is thicker than a teenager's hair - NOBODY can notice - haha.

[Blitzed]

I must hang out, when I have time to hang out, with the wrong crowd. I know several guys, bikers, who have the tonsure look and a full pony tail, usually in one long braid when they ride. This may be more of a lifestyle than an evasion of reality but...in some cases the pony tail is part of who they are. Now, as to skunk stripes.......

[Cave Dweller]

I figure that having even some hair is still considered "normal" regardless of how god-awful it looks.

Could not agree more. In my opinion, there is nothing "wrong" with a guy who chooses to keep his hair in whatever horseshoe or other balding pattern it may take. It is who he is regardless of whether anyone thinks he would look better completely smooth. The combover, however, is a whole different matter...

I also agree with Slymyke. I cannot imagine how those guys with the ponytail topped with a balding dome do not realize the long hair just draws more attention to their hairloss. But, hey, if it makes them happy, who am I to challenge them?

[4fit]

I agree with Cave Dweller ......to each his own. Men with ponytails combovers or crypt keeper hair may or may not think they look as good as we do with shaved heads I don't know, but as long as they feel good and secure about themselves and their look I guess that is all that really matters. I would not take kindly to someone telling me I really should grow some hair on my head. I shave my head because I have MPB and it is not a pretty  case of MPB. Uneven front recession, thin on one side thick on the other. It was a hot mess. Super close buzz cuts did nothing to help the situation a blade became my new best friend. A friend that came and took care of my problem once and for all. I love having a shaved bald head it works for me. My love of the style is partially because of my hate of the alternative.  Now I feel much more confident however if I had been one of the guys where partial hair made me feel good about myself I would have gone that route. Again, whatever makes y o u feel good is the way to go.

[Sir Harry]

If my post above came across as if I was saying that ALL men who have horseshoes with or without ponytails and skunk stripes need to shave their heads, my apologies. The post above was more at men who complain out loud about their balding situation but won't take any action about it.  If a man is happy with his hairstyle, then everyone else needs to back off.

[SWvic]

Good point, Sir Harry... even still... a ponytail???