Emotional Distress

[Kratos]

Ok.  I'll work on finding one that I can scan.

Man I'd kill to see those pics!

[zzaapp]

(big edit)
How do I come to terms with my balding and feel confident about my self.

Kindly help.

Confidence comes from within.  I would suggest that you start by taking a good look at your inner self and seeing your own worth. 

If you have had success dealing with CEOs, it is not your hair that brought you success, it is your knowledge, demeanor and skill. 

A shaved head with a sharp looking business suit is a powerful look.  Much more so than combing it forward to cover (the "horseshoe" would be preferable to that).

Your plan to go short is a good one.  I had a #1 buzz for years before going sly, and it worked out well.  It also allowed me to build up some skin tone so I didn't show pasty white the first time I shaved.

As for the ladies, the charming and delightful Mrs. ZAP has been with me through hair, balding, combovers, horseshoes, buzzcuts and sly.  It hasn't made much of a difference to her.  A woman of character doesn't pay much attention to the superficial.  Character, like confidence, comes from within.

 

[DuffRyder17]

Another question: How important are looks for success in life? A guy like Bruce Willis or Sean Connery will never take their baldness as a show stopper.What about an average person like me?

Tomorrow, I walk into the meeting room to present to the CEO of my client and he is expecting a good looking and smart Marketing Manager to show up and he finds this bald guy. Do you think this makes any sense?

I've been meeting with CEOs since I was 22.  At that time I had spiky, died blonde hair.  Everyone said I should let my natural hair color come out to be more professional.  I continued to meet with CEOs after shaving my head.  I even had the CEO of my company ask me to grow it out a bit to be more to be "more professional."  I never did.  Why?  Because what these people didn't know was that to be successful I had to have the MOST confidence I could and my choice, not theirs allowed me to have the most confidence; especially at a young age.

There's another thing I learned.  CEOs and smart business people don't give a sh*t about your appearance; they want to know that you're going to provide them with what they need and you are going to be professional when doing it.  How do I know this?  I've seen many deals closed and be successful and the people that closed the deal looked so horrible in their dress and the way they took care of themselves.  Yet, it seriously had no bearing on their confidence. 

My suggestion is to skip all the steps of buzzing it short and just shave it.  It sounds like you need a more dramatic and quick approach to help you out.  Plus, you are going to be lying to yourself and your family if you don't just come out and do what you want to do with your hair.

Also, I don't buy the whole story of you getting an Indian girl if you shave your head.  One of my Indian buddies shaves his head and just married a beautiful Indian woman.  I've attached a picture for proof.

You can do it man! 

The Rainman is right, You tell the world who you are, not the other way around.

[SBG Math Guy]

I agree with Tyler.  Forget the buzzing it short and go ahead shave it.
I remember when I did the short buzz thing I did not like it.  In fact, if that's how I would look with a
bald head I would say forget it it's not for me.   But after shaving it I actually like what I see.

[Razor X]

I agree with Tyler.  Forget the buzzing it short and go ahead shave it.
I remember when I did the short buzz thing I did not like it.  In fact, if that's how I would look with a
bald head I would say forget it it's not for me.   But after shaving it I actually like what I see.

The thing about buzzing vs. shaving is, when you buzz, no matter how short it is,  you're still trying to cling onto your hair.  It may be just a little bit of hair, but you'r clinging onto it nonetheless.  Getting rid of it completely helps you break through that emotional barrier and gain confidence.  Some guys need to go shorter in stages, but if you anticipate that you're going to get a lot of flack from the family about buzzing, then I agree that it's probably best to just shave it completely now and get it all over with.

[privateryan.ryan]

Hi guys,

I know that going sly is ultimately going to happen..but the past few days having been overwhelming for me..I was just not prepared suddenly to look clean shaven..so I decided to buzz cut..and honestly I feel like sh*t.

I will wear it for a while and if I am not able to get in terms with it, I will clean it up..
On one hand I still can't believe that I lost so much hair by age 24 on the other I want to quickly get over this and run faster to achieve my missed goals..

How long did it take for you to get to terms with your MPB from the day you figured it out to the day you decided to completely remove it?

[Tyler]

Hi guys,

I know that going sly is ultimately going to happen..but the past few days having been overwhelming for me..I was just not prepared suddenly to look clean shaven..so I decided to buzz cut..and honestly I feel like sh*t.

If you know that Sly is going to happen, why delay the inevitable?  We're telling you that you WILL feel better with a shaved head than a buzzed head.  Give it a shot!  You can grow it back to a buzzed look in a couple of days.

[Razor X]

If you know that Sly is going to happen, why delay the inevitable?  We're telling you that you WILL feel better with a shaved head than a buzzed head.  Give it a shot!  You can grow it back to a buzzed look in a couple of days.

Exactly.  The longer you wait, the longer you prolong the misery.  Get it over with! 

[R o b 6]

Hi guys,

I know that going sly is ultimately going to happen..but the past few days having been overwhelming for me..

You have a decision to make. Two choices:

1. You can do what you're doing and let it happen (you aren't in control; passive)

or

2. You can make it happen (decisive; confident; in control)

So, what'll it be?

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

Hi guys,

I know that going sly is ultimately going to happen..but the past few days having been overwhelming for me..I was just not prepared suddenly to look clean shaven..so I decided to buzz cut..and honestly I feel like sh*t.

I will wear it for a while and if I am not able to get in terms with it, I will clean it up..
On one hand I still can't believe that I lost so much hair by age 24 on the other I want to quickly get over this and run faster to achieve my missed goals..

How long did it take for you to get to terms with your MPB from the day you figured it out to the day you decided to completely remove it?

You are on the edge of taking control of an inevitable situation, you're going bald.  You're not suffering from a disease, you're not becoming less of a person.  MPB will happen to 50% of guys by the age of fifty.  Right now you're still a young adult and there aren't that many peers that are experiencing this process--there's no way to make that any easier.  But you've faced the fact, now you have to consider the final step, shaving.  That will put you in front, in charge.  Your hair follicles will continue to shut down but it won't be apparent to the world because it will be largely invisible.  If you don't, your appearance will be a a balding person--and I personally believe that's a weak look.  If you do, shaved clean, it looks strong, it looks professional, it shows that you've dealt with the issue and moved on.  You're going to have to accept the fact that it will take time to get used to the new guy in the mirror--but that comes, meanwhile you get on with your life.  The balding issue is over, a minor issue that you can put behind you. 
Shave it, post up a picture, and move on with life.

[PeripheralxMvmnt]

Youre almost there bro! It is a huge weight lifted off of your shoulders when you finally take that final step and take it all off.


Hang in there! 

[Ricktus]

How long did it take for you to get to terms with your MPB from the day you figured it out to the day you decided to completely remove it?

Well I can tell you that personally, I started losing my hair at 17 and combed it over/wore hats/generally had no confidence whatsoever up until I was 24. That equates to 7 years of emotional distress! During that time I tried longer hair, buzz cuts, a variety of hats, just plain staying in and hiding from the world - none of those things made me feel any better.

When I shaved my head at 24, I was quite weirded out when I woke up the next morning and wondered what the hell I had done and how my co workers were going to react. By the end of that day, I had garnered enough compliments to realise I had done the right thing. By the end of the week, I felt like a new man, I liked the way I looked, and more importantly my hair loss was now not an issue. Such a relief after the previous 7 years!

That is honestly how it worked out for me. Hope that helps you reach a decision Matey!

Rick