How short do I go?

[BoringUsername814]

I've pretty much come to terms that it's time to buzz my hair. My only concern is, as you can probably guess by the title, what grade to use. In the pictures I've posted, it looks like there are bald spots when in direct light, although when I use mirrors and look closely, there are no real bald spots. Just very thin. I don't want the buzzing to make everything more noticeable if possible. My thinning is a little asymmetrical, so I'm hoping that won't stand out at all. Any help would be greatly appreciated, and if you need more pictures or anything to get a better understanding just let me know. Would prefer not to go all the way bald.

PICS:

[Tyler]

Why not go to a 0 and then let it grow in and see which length that you like?

[jbrit25]

My hair was pretty similar to yours, in the level of thinning. I took mine down to a 2, wore it for about an hour and then went sly. Once I got down to that level, it was easier for me to visualize myself sly. I think 2 to 3 is a good place to start. My thinning is also asymmetrical and once I buzzed it, I thought it looked a little patchy. Good luck.

[Semi-Sly]

I am currently in barber School.  We advise all men with thinning hair; "Less is More" (the shorter the better)!

Men whose hair is like yours on top often want to keep it as long as they can.  We tell them to cut the sides down to a bald fade to make whatever hair they leave on top appear to be "more"

guys who are going to buzz - well we just try a few lengths till we get down to one that disguises any unevenness.  If I were you I would try "2" but be prepared to go shorter right away if it doesn't look "right".

But I am going to tell you the truth - you hair is dark, and it is so much thicker on the sides than it is on the top that when you buzz it you are going to be struck with the Male Pattern Baldness that you see.  So, I predict that if you do buzz your hair you will soon be going to a "0" or a full shave.  It will look better than a #2 or #3 buzz on you.

[Jordan1991]

I echo the recommendation to start at say a #3 guard to get used to it, but be prepared to go shorter.

My balding is similar, and I found that even at a 3 it looked kind of messy.

[BoringUsername814]

I echo the recommendation to start at say a #3 guard to get used to it, but be prepared to go shorter.

My balding is similar, and I found that even at a 3 it looked kind of messy.

Since a 3 was kind of iffy, do you think a 1 or a 2 would work for me? Don't want to go all the way since I don't really think I have the face/body for it right now, but I also don't want it to look the way it does right now. Also, how do you think the hairline would be? It doesn't seem as bad when I'm not in the direct light.

[Jordan1991]

What ever you are comfortable with?

[beardbald]

My hair loss was very similar. I can still get hair at the front but it's fine and starts waaaaaaaaaaay back. It's at the top that it's fine and I ended up with a bald spot.

For me I went to a two I think but then started to realise that showed the hair loss just as much. I shaved to a 0 on a Friday as I had two days before I went back to work and for a while the Friday shaves were what I did until I got used to it. I then started wet shaving my head as again I felt I could see the hair loss through the shadow 

[mrzed]

I'm BBC. Once my buddy suggested that we try a shorter haircut a number of years ago, I've just gone shorter and shorter until there is no shorter left.  I really like it. Never dreamed I'd sport a BBC hairstyle.  But I really like it. Both the look and the feel.

It's worth a try.  Your choice on the length, and how quickly you progress to bald.