Should I or should I not?

[rwizzle14]

I am 21 years old and on the fence about shaving my head and could use some suggestions.  My hairline has been thinning and receding for years now and now it is pretty darn bad.  I am pretty self conscious about my hair too. I literally wear a hat everywhere I go and sometimes skip out on things that requires me to go somewhere where I cant wear a hat.  All my buddies make fun of my hair and I am pretty tired of it.  I am a pretty pale person so I know my head is gonna be super white but I just dont think I can continue with this hair the way it is.  I have never shaved my head before so thats why I am very nervous about doing it for the first time.

Any tips or reccomendations would be great. Thanks!

[rwizzle14]

more pics

[kerryman]

You still have a good bit there so even if you shave it off it will grow back.I think it will look good shaved too.You could start at a no 3 or 2 and work your way down. If you start at the higher blades it will give you a feel for it.Or you could just say f##k it and go sly and live happy ever after .  Just my advice anyway best of luck with it but you have to make the call yourself as it's your head

[TheSlyBear]

Here's a flowchart to help you through this complicated decision:




 

Seriously, you'll look great. Keep the beard.

[stn87]

You have a thick beard, which complementary look great with a shaved head.
You should try and if you do not like, you re-grow hair.

Good luck with that

[Semi-Sly]

Should you shave it?

Will you look better?  - Almost certainly, but that is a matter of personal taste

Will you FEEL better? - Most assuredly.

So what is your personal taste?

[nicolaus]

I'm very sure that you'll look great with a shaved head. Don"t hesitate!

[beardbald]

I think your hair looks fine as it is, so there's no need to shave it unless you want to. Yes there is some receeding but you still appear to have thick hair so if you razor you'll have some shadow, if you clipper you'll still see the hairline.

However it's a decision only you can make

[Sir Harry]

No matter which way you decide to go, you have excellent beard coverage which will contrast nicely with a buzz cut or even sly should you go that far. Good luck!

[Cave Dweller]

I am in agreement with the gentlemen before me.

You obviously are disturbed by your situation, and for that I am sorry, but I do not think your hair's current state is bad. You look like a fairly typical mature male.

If you want to shave it, grab your clippers/razor, work up the inner fortitude, and take the first swipe. That anxiety melts away once you start. I think you will look great smooth. The scalp tans up in a few weeks. There is a very liberating feeling that comes with letting go of the hair that is causing you so much anxiety.

This is, however, your decision alone - and always should be.

[reddog]

It sounds like you really want to try a shaved head, go for it! You always wear a hat, so if you don't like it, it will grow back fast. Keep in mind, you posted on a forum where most of us are headshavers. I have a full head of hair, but shave it daily, and I like the look and feel.

[stasiu]

21, balding, self conscious and getting teased by friends ?
My hairline looked like yours but I was only 19.  Yes, I went
thru the same like you but I kept trying to hide it until it was
very obvious. Save a bunch of bald anxiety and start buzzing
it closer and closer or just take the plunge and razor it smooth.
Either way, you are "heading" down the right bald track by doing
something now.  Good luck !

[amatlock2778]

You look so much like an old friend/ co worker who i lost touch with other than through facebook. I always thought he would look much better if he shaved his head completely smooth, but i never worked up the courage to tell him, as at the time i hadnt even made the choice to shave myself yet, and i, like reddog above, am bald by choice, still have full head of thick hair. So now i am telling you, yes you would look much better shaved, so just do it, i think youll be very glad you did.

[Laser Man]

Your hairline is receding, but you've still got a decent head of hair.  The important piece of your post, however, is what you reveal about how you feel.  At 21 if you are avoiding social situations because you are concerned about wearing a hat or how your hair looks, you are heading down a bad path. At 21 you should be enjoying life, not fretting over your hair.  You're wasting both energy and time - and neither should be wasted.

My advice: go to a barber shop and get a short buzz (say a 2 or 3) and have the beard groomed.  See how you like that look.  If it suits you, keep it for a while.  You can go progressively shorted as your hair thins and if you ultimately end up shaving your head, great.  But the important thing is to take control of the situation so that you enjoy life the way a 21 year old man should.

[VOT]

Really don't think that it is bad to b honest. If you want to try just buzz it short before going on holiday in the summer