Wow! You have a beautiful head of hair! May I ask a few questions? Firstly, how old are you?Many guys start balding in their teens and early 20s. I consider myself quite fortunate. I didn't start noticeably balding until I was 45. I am 54 now and I've been shaving my head since June of this year.Just from looking at that one pic you posted which doesn't show the "M' that well, it appears to me that you may have a lot of time left before you have to make a decision. Going from the amount of hair you currently have to bald is a huge step. I wouldn't recommend it right now, unless you're really feeling it.But like others have said, since you've been a lurker here and decided to join and start posting for advice means that it must be bothering you at some level. I can tell you this much. I, too, had a lot of hair. Not as much hair as you, but still a lot, so when I started balding, I was crushed and went into a deep depression about it. It really felt like the end of the world to me. I struggled with that for 9 years. When I finally reached the acceptance stage earlier this year and shaved my head, it was the most liberating feeling I ever had. I so wish I did this long ago.My advice is to take your time. Keep reading stories and info here. Keep asking advice and opinions. When you're ready, you'll know it. Good luck to you.
The day before I shaved my head for the first time I had hair that was only about half as long as yours. Were it not for the fact that I was extremely sparse on top, and the northern Wisconsin deer flies, I would have kept it. I had maintenance down to a science, wash it in the shower, run a brush through it, tie it up and out the door. It added about 5 minutes to a shower.I guess what I'm saying is that, were I to be in your position, I would keep it. As a head shaver for the better part of 19 years I know I'm going against the grain in a bald guys' forum but those are my thoughts. If the hair length is creating problems for you or you're just tired of it then slice it off and go sly but I would give this a lot of thought. You obviously have a lot of time invested in that head of hair and sly is not for everybody. In most cases what I'm inclined to say is that going sly is just a haircut, give it a few months and it will grow back if you don't like the smooth dome. But in your case that would take years so this is more than just a haircut, it is a life change. But best wishes in whatever you decide and if you do decide to shave you have a great place here to hang out, figuratively speaking.