Before and after mpb pics. plus reactions

[Papa Don]

Sean,
You're a nice looking young man.  The trouble is that the world is cruel.  You must arise above the petty friends.  Embrace yourself for who you are.  If you think shaving your head will help, I say go for it.  And by the way, a hearty welcome to the gang.  Keep us posted on your progress and feelings.  We all do care!

[SBG Math Guy]

Hey Sean,   first thing a woman who says I don’t want to date a 20 year old who’s balding is probably younger than you right?  I wouldn’t call that a woman.  Yeah ok by age when you are 18 you are a man or woman but that’s just a number.  Girls who are below age 20 have A LOT to learn.  There are many things in life we don’t know and we will know as we grow older.  As we grow older we start to know ourselves better.   So that same “woman” could be dating a bald guy 3 years from now (or even next year!!).  People change so much because they realize what they used to go for is not the bed of roses they thought it would be & that what they thought tastes bitter actually tastes good.   
Your guy friend laughing is not even funny.  I know it’s for a joke but that’s nonsense.  They are immature (once again the age factor, they have a lot to learn). 
Let’s hope that one immature girl (and yes girl not woman) will not reduce your confidence toward women.   

[Tor]

Welcome to the site. Agree with what others have said. As far as self confidence, I can tell you for sure it will go through the roof when you have kept it shaved for ....... a month or a little longer. It sounds to me that the only way your confidence can possible go, is up. So get started, and keep us posted along the way.

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

If you look at my avatar it is obvious my hairline is receding also.  I'm not as young as you, so listen to the younger guys.

 Your hairline won't be as noticeable. Mine isn't.

GASlick--are you now an MPB, and accept you're no longer a BBC?   Sly makes it so easy!

[imb]

I agree with the other comments so I wont reiterate them. Can I ask about where you live and the kind of people you mix with? Because they sound pretty superficial and immature. I go uni, so it's age ranges 18 and above, and granted I don't notice a lot of people balding, I do notice a fair few. It's not as unusual for young people as is often made out, it's just that people don't often recognise it in its early stages. Then of course many people with a full head of hair are far from good looking. It's not easy coping with baldness at a young age, but for me I consider myself better looking with a shaved balding head then many people with a full head of hair, objectively. You seem to be a good looking chap too so I reckon you should have a similar mindset.

With regard to the jokes the balding ones are so often stupid and not funny. The best thing you can do is smile and show it doesn't get to you. But I do sympathise, if people constantly go on about something, even for something you didn't consider a problem, it can undermine your confidence. If it persists, you have to wonder whether mixing with these people is ultimately good for you. Whether you should even bother spending your time with these juvenile people. I have to say those are the kind of comments I'd expect from a 16 year old rather than people of your age. I personally haven't had those kinds of comments, yet at least, and if I did I might be liable to point out that these full haired chaps aren't so flawless themselves

[Cam]

Man, the people where you live PISS ME OFF. I can't believe the things that have been said to you. Any guy that would use a pic of him with his grandma for his avatar can't be a bad person. f**k the naysayers, bro, they don't mean anything in this world. Shave your head, forget the losers, and remember that you are the sh*t.

[DJ_Bald]

Dude...your 20 years old. Many women/guys in their 20's tend to be rather insensitive when it comes to baldness.
Guys when your younger love to rag on other guys...it makes them feel better about themselves.
Shave your head and be at ease with your hair loss...its never coming back. Ever. Take control, you will be happy you did.
As far as the girl ? Shes ONE girl among many...trust me not every girl feels this way.
I can tell you this from experience....you can either go thru years of denial while
 your hair slowly falls out or you can shave it...NOW and be done with it.
I wish there was someone to tell me that when I was your age... peace.

[kenrh]

Sorry to hear that you are getting a bad time from your friends.  However, with friends like that who needs...  I agree with the rest of the replies - take the plunge and shave it smooth.  I believe you will neve go back to having a little bit of hair.  It really is a great feeling.  Sue, the first time out makes you a bit nervous but in the end it is thw way to go.

GO FOR IT AND ENJOY NEW FOUND FREEDOM!!!

Ken

[samoanseb8]

Mate,
               You're a good looking dude, so don't worry about it. Like the boys said, shave it off. I'm only 23 and i'm receeding fast too....Ive been that way since I was your age too...a piece of advice; work out at the gym...it will do wonders for your confidence. The reason guys lose confidence by balding is because it is out of their hands and guys like to be in control of their bodies. One thing you can control is having a healthy body (I'm a personal trainer by the way so I'm preaching a little here) And i guarantee the ladies will appreciate it more than a head full of hair, because it takes discipline and hard work to achieve. Oh, and i dabble in psychology a bit too, and from what i hear, ladies look at a mans face rather than the top of his head when feeling initial physical attraction, but thats just common sense right!? chin up mate, and remember the best tool a man can have in life is confidence.!

[Razor X]

I'll just add my voice to the ones who have already said, "Shave it."  I think it will be a great look for you.

Also, in my experience people will tease you unmercifully when your hair is thinning and receding, but the teasing stops the moment you shave your head.  At that point they probably realize that you no longer care, so there's no point in teasing you about it.  Or it could be that you look like a badass and they're afraid to mess with you.   

Shave your head, and hit the gym and build up your pecs and biceps and you'll look far better than your hairy friends.

[changeling]

I think the saying goes, "You can't fly with eagles if you run with turkeys."  All the guys gave you great advice and insight.  And regarding working out, I'm 58 and after going SLY, got back into doing push ups.  Up to 100 a day.  And doing chin ups too.  Gonna have arms like steel soon.  Bald head + biceps = a badass look and lovin' from the ladies.

[Ghost1988]

everyones advice is good but i have a little more to add onto from my own experience.

like i said im 20 also and my hairlines by far worse than yours (i was actually a lot more insecure about it today because i was at the doctors and i felt everyone was staring at me cuz of it). anyways........

ive learned that if you go along with the negative remarks from your friends it not only makes your friends stop, it makes them realize that you dont care about your hairline. the worse thing is to LOOK like your self conscious about your hair. if they crack a joke about your balding just say something like "ouch! low blow" with a laugh and smile ". if you make fun of yourself with them it bores them so they stop. you may even gain a little respect from them. ive also noticed its a POSSITIVE thing to kind of pick fun at your hairline in front of girls when first meeting them if your self conscious. it makes you feel more comfortable, and more than none itll make girls laugh and theyll think your cute and funny.


keep your head up man. i know its hard. its easier said than done, but you HAVE to force yourself to stay strong. i still have a hard time looking people in the eyes at times because i feel that they are looking at the top of my head, but i try to command myself to look at them and its not so bad.

and remember......theres people out there that have less hair than you. even people the same age as you like me. my hairline is 2 times as thin as yours.

relax 

[Bensen]

good statement ghost

[MLNHD]

Sean -- A balding head is what it is:  a balding head.  It's reality for many men.  A fellow can choose to let it define him, bring him down, shatter his confidence, &tc.  It can consume his every waking thought and turn him neurotic.  Or he can take the bull by the horns and finish the job that genetics started.  He can accept the fact that it is part of the package that makes him uniquely him and build from there. 

The arrogance and cruelty of youth results in thoughtless comments and ribbing from friends and acquaintences.  (Probably more from friends.)  When you shave that pate, the worst of the ribbing will go away.  When you can joke back the sting is gone. 

As to the females who put all their emphasis on a man's hair -- clearly they need to shop elsewhere.  Remember, none of us, however old/young/handsome/ordinary/hairy/bald &tc., is appealing to everyone.  And who cares?  When you decide to be comfortable with your look, whether coifurred, buzzed, or Sly, you will attract to you those folks to you who are a good match. 

When I look at the pics it's obvious that you'll look very sharp Sly.  You look good buzzed.  And I'll say that in the non-buzzed pic, what my eye is drawn to is your hair.  In the buzzed shots, what my eye is drawn to is your face, particularly your strong eyebrows. 

Now, do the deed.  Chest out, chin up, melon shining.  Good luck!     

[The Scottish Ambassador]

Sean -- A balding head is what it is:  a balding head.  It's reality for many men.  A fellow can choose to let it define him, bring him down, shatter his confidence, &tc.  It can consume his every waking thought and turn him neurotic.  Or he can take the bull by the horns and finish the job that genetics started.  He can accept the fact that it is part of the package that makes him uniquely him and build from there. 

The arrogance and cruelty of youth results in thoughtless comments and ribbing from friends and acquaintences.  (Probably more from friends.)  When you shave that pate, the worst of the ribbing will go away.  When you can joke back the sting is gone. 

As to the females who put all their emphasis on a man's hair -- clearly they need to shop elsewhere.  Remember, none of us, however old/young/handsome/ordinary/hairy/bald &tc., is appealing to everyone.  And who cares?  When you decide to be comfortable with your look, whether coifurred, buzzed, or Sly, you will attract to you those folks to you who are a good match. 

When I look at the pics it's obvious that you'll look very sharp Sly.  You look good buzzed.  And I'll say that in the non-buzzed pic, what my eye is drawn to is your hair.  In the buzzed shots, what my eye is drawn to is your face, particularly your strong eyebrows. 

Now, do the deed.  Chest out, chin up, melon shining.  Good luck!     

Wow couldnt have put it better myself. Go for it Sean