Shiny bright future?

[PJ]

'lo gents,

I'm PJ, born in Europe 39 years ago, lived in the US for a bit and now in South Africa. I have had long hair, and quite a lot of it, for 35 years. But the last 3 years it's thinning fast (as it was the first year, yup basic math). And I always hated bald spots, spermwhale styled foreheads, so it's time for me to live up to my own standards and get it all off.
Time also because I'm trying to pick my arse off the ground and get out in the world a bit. For 15 years I was with the same girl, we broke up hard, but after some years of sulking, I'm yearning for a new soulmate. And I'm not going to go at it with a bald spot the size of a dime on my crown: I'll take my chances and go bald. Even though I read through the forums and read a lot of 'My woman likes me better with hair'. If I feel like an ageing fool, I can't have self pride, there will be most likely no woman to try and make me grow hair at all.

Now it sounds like I'm all in, but I have a couple of questions, and hoped to get some feedback before reaching for my clippers:

First, I have a huge surgery scar. Say 5 inches, on the left side of my dome. NOT from a lobotomy, just from a nasty mole-type-thing that was removed 20 years ago. There's some discoloured skin too, and little moles left, but in fact I don't really know, who ever sees the top of their head, neh? The question is is: would I rather go on looking like a wanna be 19 year old rockstar with only a thinning attempt at the required rockstar coiffure, or sport a nasty scar on a sly skull.

Second, I have never been able to shave close. Electric, blades, gel, foam .. it all leaves me in a rash like I quaffed agent orange all night. So I use a beard trimmer with no comb on it and leave 6-o'clock. Would you think my scalp will be just as sensitive? I have never (habitually, ahem) shaved any other body parts. And yes, I did not try anything else the last 7 years or so. Any revolutionary stuff I missed?

I  attached some pictures, in order 15, 5, 2 and 1 year old,

I'd appreciate any and all comments and oh, bloody awesome website!

PJ

[Paul]

PJ welcome to the forum.  Really great to have you with us.   Since you have never taken any step towards slyness before the best best would be to go in a series of steps, clipping down with the longest first, getting used to that and then taking it to the next step.   By gradually decreasing your hair length this will allow you to get used to each step, see how much you like that and then move on to the next.  If you reach a stage you don't like, it does grow back.   It doesn't matter how long it takes to get where you want, but rather that you find a length you are comfortable with.  You will probably be surprised that clipping it down is something you really like and will want to go further.  Good Luck.  Also, where is S.A. do your live?  I have friends in Kloof outside of Durbin, a few in JoBurg, and in Emilo.  Lived there myself and anxious to get back someday. 

[Robmeister]

Welcome, PJ...

Excellent advice from Paul.  Other standard advice around here that WORKS.....is shave it and give it a minimum of 2 or three weeks to determine whether or not you like it.   It will always grow back if you don't.   But we rarely have folks that don't like it and grow it back (a few might.....most don't).

As far as the imperfections.....we all have them and we tend to be most critical of ourselves when others aren't.

I've got a car accident scar on my noggin....as well as a weird red area....and a mole on my neck.   Who cares....give it a go, mate

[n00tch]

There are a ton of scar removal and scar lessening products out there. I've never used one, so I suggest you do some heavy research if your scar is making you have second doubts about being sly. I'm a recent convert ( 2 days ago ) and I'm loving it!

Welcome to the forums mang!

[warhawk]

pj....welcome 2 the sly brotherhood.  glad that ya found us.  listen 2 the gr8 advice from paul & robmeister.  don't let that scar prevent u from shaving the noggin'.  hey...everyone of us has some imperfections.  besides the scar will give u some personality.  well...keep us posted 2 your road 2 slyness.  and  c  ya  'round the forum. 

 oh, bloody awesome website!

i agree....this is a bloody awesome website.

WARHAWK

[Alexander215]

My scalp was hella sensitive the first couple of nights. But after about a week it desensitized.

[xnewyawka]

PJ, welcome to the SBG site. I agree with the other bro's, you won't know til' you give it a try.
It's your decision how you want to go about it, but whether you pick going down gradually with clippers or shaving it off all at once, I think you'll come to the same conclusion.
Probably you will end up saying " Why didn't I do this sooner".
Let us know how it goes, good luck!

[ugabulldog]

Welcome PJ, I used to have long "fabio" hair back in my early to mid 20's, I am 38 now. I cut mine when it started thinning plus I needed a change, plus it is out of style, bald is definetly in. As far as the scar, I have about a five inch one on the back of my head from hair transplant surgery (back when I had long hair and felt like Sampson) At least your scar isn't from something stupid like that. I think you will like being sly. The worst part of it for me is the whiteness of the scalp which goes away with time. Peace out.

[wpruitt]

Welcome PJ ... your other choice is to just jump in and slick up the dome!

[OzPete]

Welcome PJ!

[jcroce1994]

Welcome PJ. 

Sounds like you're up for a new beginning in several areas of your life.  Let go of that thinning hair, and you'll see that some of the things we think are so important, really don't matter all that much.  Hair is just one of them.

Best of luck!

J

[KALBO]

Welcome to SBGs, PJ!

I echo what everyone else has told you...so why not try it out?  I am sure you will like it and keep the look...if not, you could just grow it back!

[SLYinKC]

Welcome, PJ, go for it!!

[jusbnme]

Welcome PJ.  I can't add anything else.  The other sly bros have covered it from every angle.  Just take the advice and feedback and think about it and make your own decision.  I don't think you will be disappointed if you do shave it though.  Just remember the key points.  Trim it down in "steps."  Use a set of clippers first and go down to about a #2 or #1 guard.  Then try it with no guard at all.  This will let you picture what you would look like after shaving with the razor.  If you think it may be for you go all the way.  Like many have said, if you don't like it you can always grow it back.  Hey bro, nobody is perfect.  We all have imperfections.  They make you who you are in my opinion. 

[PJ]

'lo guys,

Thanks for warm welcome and damn good advice, on th einternet, that's not to be taken for granted. LOL on a lighter note, a i was chatting to a ladyfriend from abroad, and she felt threatened buy a website for guys, not about cars, chicks, computers or sports, but about grooming and not  ... how does one say .. clearly coloured by sexual preference.

Now yup, I went and took most of it off .. and I like it. Got good comments as well. And yes some remarks about the scars, but I'd rather have that as a conversation opener then the one I was using till now ("Do you think this rag smells of chloroform?")

THanks for your support, and I'll be around, definitly

PJ