First post - What motivates your slyness?

[flyforaslyguy]

Hey guys,

I have 'lurked' here for about a month or so, making visiting here an almost daily occurrence. Of course, my interest in these forums like most people was provoked by a discontentment over hair loss, and who better to look to in such a situation than those who not only embrace their baldness but use it to embody an 'attitude', one which promotes self-confidence and being content with yourself.

I'm in my early 20's, have been losing my hair since my late teens and I shave my head with clippers- 0 guard and am on the edge of moving into the sly world. Although I will be shaving (especially after equipping myself with all the usual headblade accessories), I have been questioning my exact motivation for doing so. I think my current cut satisfies me enough in tackling the MPB issue, so there isn't an overwhelming need to go down the sly route at the moment.

This is where the question comes in - for you guys, do you shave to look better in covering your baldness (and let me say you guys all seem to sport the look really well) or is shaving your head indicative of something greater and more meaningful?

I hesitate to define what I mean by 'greater' and 'meaningful' as I imagine it differs for everyone, but for me I think it comes from a desire not to let my perception of self be ruled by something as unimportant as hair, and also to make a statement to myself that regardless of the reactions of others around me (I imagine there will be some as im not friends with anybody balding or shaved at my age) that I can define myself by far more than appearance.

What are your motivations people? Maybe your observations can help solidify my thinking before I take the plunge.
By the way, its good to finally contribute, i think these sort of issues are underplayed and can really affect a persons self image, so i think its great that there is a place where everyone can help each other overcome their concerns. It seems to have worked out well for most of you! 

Cheers guys.

[The Scottish Ambassador]

Motivation??? Hmm!! A desire to finalise a process that i have been going throught for a long time. Lets face it, when u get to the no guard on the clippers stage, there really aint no goin back.

Well, that is until it grows back in again 

[BALDANDRE]

I hesitate to define what I mean by 'greater' and 'meaningful' as I imagine it differs for everyone, but for me I think it comes from a desire not to let my perception of self be ruled by something as unimportant as hair, and also to make a statement to myself that regardless of the reactions of others around me (I imagine there will be some as im not friends with anybody balding or shaved at my age) that I can define myself by far more than appearance.

Awesome first post bro!

Yea, part of it is because of what a shaved head can do for your confidence and personal strength..

I have had a slick shaved head for 15 years...and it's all by my choice, because I have a full head of hair..

I've ALWAYS dug the look of a bald head..and have learned just how powerful it can be in changing one's life!

Go for the bald head bro...

you'll dig it!

[GASlick]

I have to back up Andre here.  I too have a full head of hair.  My motivation was a need for some thing different.  I had short hair, long hair, blonde, brown, grey and yes, even orange one time.  LOL

I think the shave look is awesome.  Some in my family and friends think I am nuts to shave off a perfectly full head of hair, but who cares.  It's my hair.  Each story is unique.  Hope you find some motivation hanging around here with us.

[SBG Math Guy]

My hairloss is not so bad now.  But what I really wanted to get out of
shaving was the elimination of dandruff and itchy scalp.   Those were
were really hard to deal with on a daily basis for 4 years.
Now that I have a shaved head my head doesn't itch and no dandruff.
I cannot be happier and ask for more.

[Brkeatr]

That's easy for me.....my lack of hair motivates my slyness, especially the big bald plate on the back of my head. I have tired many different hair styles and ways of combing my hair and nothing looked good at all. Finally I went to the buzz cut and it looked better , so the next thing was shaving it all off and it's the best look I have had....

[daran]

I was motivated by the fact that I was loosing m hair and it was a way to take control of the situation.  It sounds weird but I would rather be completely shaved bald then to have a bald spot.  Good luck with your decision. 

[hammerdrill376]

My turning loose far faster than it was turning grey...so back in the early summer I buzzed it, shaved it...and now am a proud SLY GUY

[Paul]

First off welcome to the forum bro, great to have you with us.   I am in the same boat as GASlick and Andre and Andre's comment about changing your life.  Being sly shows that you are in charge not the other way around.

[D.A.L.U.I.]

If you're losing your hair, it's a continuous process, sometimes rapid, w/in 2 years, sometimes long, 5 and more, but the key is continuous--it's not going to reverse in 99% of the cases--it sometimes will if it's a symptom of another medical problem.  But for me, the receding wasn't even, I had patches of different sizes abandoned in the front, then a strip between the ears--it was worse than Bozo the Clown.  So, I went through the insecurity of balding, to being totally bald, smooth and confident.  Although there are shadows, now very faint, of the patches, and the strip can be seen, I prefer the clean smooth look of Sly.  I sometimes told people after I first went Sly when they asked why, "Mother Nature started the fight and I finished it!"  The clear implication and feeling is that I'm in charge of my appearance now--it's a significant part of the the freedom sensation I believe we MPB guys get once it's gone.

Try it, you'll like it, and you will wonder why you waited so long to do it. 

[Mikekoz13]

Welcome to the Forum! Nice first post.

Well I was motivated partially due to MPB. But there are a couple of shaved guys in my wife's family and they have always looked awesome....... so one day I just did it.

[Alexander215]

Control over going bald

[DuffRyder17]

well first off like many others here I am losing my hair.... and when  first start losing hair I was in denial, then depressed, and then I shaved my head and I was surprised how well it fits my personality and lifestyle.

1. I always wanted to appear edgier, a bit more bad ass if you will
2. its efficient. I am somewhat of an amatuer athlete, I compete in amatuer tennis, I also love running... and if you turn on the tube and watch most pro sports many athletes are sly
3. it's easy to maintain... I know shaving takes some time but.. I used to spend a ton of time styling my hair... I am kinda vain when it comes to my looks, but atleast now once my head is shavd, I am done worrying about it for the rest of the day.

[PE#1]

Welcome.   

Like most others it started because of some thinning.  But I also just dug the look on other guys so I wanted to try something different. 

[time2shine]

Welcome man.
I struggled with confidence while losing hair, and shaving it gave me a sense of owning my hair loss.  Having it shaved clean looks better than balding, in my opinion (and pretty much everyone else's opinion on here ), and as weird as it sounds, I feel honest when I'm bald and free.