About to take the head shave plunge

[ludeakris7]

Hi all! I'm a 28 yr old guy about to take the head shave plunge.javascript:replaceText('%20:-[',%20document.forms.postmodify.message); Mother nature has been dealing me the genetic card since I was a teenager. I started noticing my hairline receding at 16 and it hasn't let up since. On top of that my top hair has been thining too. Fortunately I have sported a caeser style cut which actually looked good up to about a year ago when my thinning top hair started looking unhealthy. My cut is so short I'm basically bald anyway because I have blond hair...so in pictures I look bald neway. For some reason though I am having anxiety about just shaving it. I shaved it once when I was 19 and it was a good look for me. I grew it back out cuz I felt weird about it. I have a good head for it I'm attractive and I sport the goetee which helps. I'm the type of person whom is really critical about my hair because I've always been trying to hide my balding. I always wear a hat but when I can't (ie dinners, work, functions) I get stressed. I'm sure some of you have had a similar issue and I'm looking for a little support I guess. At this point my hairline is halfway back on top and my crown is starting. The hair I do have is pushed forward to cover but its looking super thin and now is def looking comb-forward or "hawning". Its time to do it and I have no choice but I wanted to explore other peoples stories....maybe to gain a little confidence. I'm planning on doing it before a 9 day vacation with my wife whom is 100% for the shave (I think she doesn't like my hair right now cuz she stopped touching it) next month so I have some time to get some color on my dome. Thanks for listening everyone and I look forward to being a Sly-Guy.
concerned about balding

[Paul]

First off, welcome aboard.   If your hair being blond and already so short that it can appear sly why not go the whole route.  Shave it and keep it that way for 30 days.  You said you already liked the look on you so you just need to get comfortable with staying sly.  They are plenty of sly guys around today so that should take the edge off.  If you have any questions, just ask away, the guys hear are always ready to help.

[Mikekoz13]

Welcome to the Forum LK7!

Take Paul's advice.... 30 days.
The nervousness that you had as a boy of 19 will not be there as a Man of 28.

[ludeakris7]

Thanks guys for the nice welcome and words of wisdom lol. I really think I’m having anxiety about all this is because for the past 10 years I’ve been trying to hang on to my hair, so its really a big time psychological issue. I’m sure it will be a relief not having to hang on to my hair anymore but it’s a major change in my mind. Honestly I know deep down that I will be happier and prob more confident (after reading some other posts relating to confidence and self esteem). It makes sense in the fact that I lose my self confidence when I’m worrying about my hair, so if I don’t have to worry about it I can only be confident. As for the 30 days….my choice to shave is a one way ticket so it will be a forever slyguy decision. Reason being that my hair has receded so much (halfway back) that if I shave it and try to grow back it will look retarded during the regrow process. I’m sure I’ll feel weird initially like I did when I was young but I think being that I have “manned” out in my appearance and mindset I will have no problems stickin with the sly look. After reading some other stories I’m starting to realize that I really don’t have it that bad. I’m basically already a slyguy with my hairstyle now so it shouldn’t be such a shocker to people…its not like they didn’t notice my hair was going away. Lol  I’m sure everyone agrees that trying to hide it is vain and unattractive. I’m at the point now with my hair that I feel I am portraying that vainess n just looking like a D-Bag. I’m really enjoying the slyguy and am looking forward to truelly becoming a slyguy. It really helps to be chatting with people in the same boat. Any first shave recommendations…based on mistakes of others? Also, I have really good tanning skin, so does your head tan similar to the rest of you i.e. time to darken and sensitivity? I’m doing it before a 9 day vacation (in a month) down the shore so I’m balanced before work.
Thanks all!

[Razor X]

... my choice to shave is a one way ticket so it will be a forever slyguy decision. Reason being that my hair has receded so much (halfway back) that if I shave it and try to grow back it will look retarded during the regrow process.

Same here.  Once you accept that you're going to be bald no matter what you do, it's a lot easier to shave.  Sounds like you've reached that stage of acceptance, so the rest should be a piece of cake. 

Just one bit of advice:  shave it now -- right now.  Why postpone the inevitable?  It's Friday; you have the whole weekend to adjust.  The anxiety you're experiencing is from the anticipation.  Get it over with and you'll feel better immediately.

[ludeakris7]

I would do it now but I really want the time to get color and used to it before I go to work..I just don't want my co-workers staring at a light bulb colored dome. Trust me, I've been playing in the mirrors by pushing it back so I look bald...so yes I am def in anticipation. I am however each day getting more acceptance of whats going on. I know it sounds vain, the whole color thing. But I think it will make me feel better about the new me and the decision. Thanks for the push off the cliff though lol

[R o b 6]

Just one bit of advice:  shave it now -- right now.  Why postpone the inevitable?  It's Friday; you have the whole weekend to adjust.  The anxiety you're experiencing is from the anticipation.  Get it over with and you'll feel better immediately.

Welcome...like Razor X suggested, shave it now -- today -- and  by the time you go on vacation, you'll be converted 100% to slick sly. It's unlikely the coworkers and others will even notice or respond on Monday if you already have it pretty short/thin. Trust me. A total nonevent and I regret postponing it and timing it just right due to concerns about wanting others to like it or get used to the change.  The joke is no one cared. Either way, sounds like you are on the edge...take the leap!

[ludeakris7]

I need a haircut anyway today! lol So do I spend 30 on a cut or 30 on a blade/cream/sunscreen etc? I know what you'll say.lol Yes I am being concerned about other peoples opinions and I need to get over it. I think what I needed was you guys. I might be grabbing some stuff on my lunchbreak.hehe

[Razor X]

I need a haircut anyway today! lol So do I spend 30 on a cut or 30 on a blade/cream/sunscreen etc? I know what you'll say.lol Yes I am being concerned about other peoples opinions and I need to get over it. I think what I needed was you guys. I might be grabbing some stuff on my lunchbreak.hehe

$30 on a haircut?  Seriously?     Not worth it at all, once you've reached the stage where you've lost enough hair that you're ready to shave it.  Just stop by the pharmacy and get yourself a good razor and some headslick.  Buzz your hair as short as  you can before you start shaving.

[R o b 6]

I need a haircut anyway today! lol So do I spend 30 on a cut or 30 on a blade/cream/sunscreen etc? I know what you'll say.lol Yes I am being concerned about other peoples opinions and I need to get over it. I think what I needed was you guys. I might be grabbing some stuff on my lunchbreak.hehe

Now you're talking! Just trying to spare you the anxiety I had. The relief and confidence boost, once it's done, are incredible. Have a barber do it for you cheap and finish it off at home with a good razor. Spend the $30 celebrating instead.

[DCdome]

Hey ludeakris,

Welcome aboard SBGs man.  Glad to have you with us.

Many of us have been where you are now.  I agree with the guys that it would be good to shave the noggin now.  Why wait?  But if you do wait until vacation, that's okay too.  Just stick to the deadline that you set.

One thing:  after you have a shaved dome, ditch the hat.  It is important for your self-image and pride that you wear the look proudly.  and why wouldn't you man.  You have already said that you look good with a dome.  (Only proviso is that you take proper precautions against sunburn and that means wearing sunscreen and even a hat outdoors if you will be exposed to sunlight for a significant period.  Don't want to hide the new, handsome, shaved dome under bandages  .)

[ludeakris7]

Yea 30 for a haircut. I kept going to this women because she did my hair the way I wanted because I was so picky about it. It was 25 then I gave her a couple bucks and a couple to the shampoo girl. I was going every 3 weeks too cuz my side hair grew long compared to my top and it looked stupid. The financials of the whole hair thing was another big consideration with becoming sly. In this economy spending 500 a year on cuts compared to the creams and razors is a no brainer. So I am taking your advice...I picked up the headblade (couldn't find the spf head stuff) at lunch and I am picking up the Billy Jealousy shave cream after work. I am just going to do it when I get home tonight. I'm actually really excited about doing it!!! It feels liberating in a weird way. Like you said boston ditching the hat is going to take some getting used to due to the fact that its the first thing I grab going anywhere or even when people are coming over. I really can't wear it cuz I want to get a nice tan up there. If you have any suggestions on products (that I can get after work...not online) that would be great. Like I said I only got the razors so what other products should I get? From what I've researched; Shaving cream, some suggest like a "Pre-Oil", aftershave, spf moisturizer ( all with no alcohol)? I'm going to use a 1 clipper then get in hot shower then shave.  Thanks a lot guys!

[Razor X]

Yea 30 for a haircut. I kept going to this women because she did my hair the way I wanted because I was so picky about it. It was 25 then I gave her a couple bucks and a couple to the shampoo girl. I was going every 3 weeks too cuz my side hair grew long compared to my top and it looked stupid.

I can remember going through all that.  Then one day I woke up and realized that I didn't have enough hair to justify putting out that kind of money on it.  That's when I started getting buzz cuts, which kept getting shorter and shorter ...

The financials of the whole hair thing was another big consideration with becoming sly. In this economy spending 500 a year on cuts compared to the creams and razors is a no brainer. So I am taking your advice...I picked up the headblade (couldn't find the spf head stuff) at lunch and I am picking up the Billy Jealousy shave cream after work. I am just going to do it when I get home tonight. I'm actually really excited about doing it!!! It feels liberating in a weird way. 

It's very liberating.  Be careful with the Headblade and remember not to apply pressure like you would with a normal razor.  You can cut yourself pretty badly if you do.   Take it slow and carefully and you'll be fine. 

Enjoy the shave and post some pictures of the results when you can.

[ludeakris7]

Yea I will def do before and after pics. From what I've been seeing in the forums is that Headslick is a great product and its way cheaper than a Billy Jealousy product. Plus you can get it at Walgreens instead of Bloomingdales where prices are redicilous! Grabbing some headslick + headshade and choppin the locks. I did hear that you need to be careful with the headblade and there is a learning curve. I def don't want a bloody polk-a-dot head. Luckily they are letting us out of work early today so I can get right to it. Any other suggestions on product would be great or even shaving techniques.

[ludeakris7]

Its kinda funny...I'm looking at my profile pic and I look SLY neway...It shouldn't be this hard!