Sly Bald Guys Forum
Discussions About Being Bald => To be or not be...Bald => Topic started by: socctty on January 18, 2007, 01:16:39 AM
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First off - hi, guys.
I'll introduce myself with a story, I suppose. Most of you can probably relate. Hopefully someone who is thinking about taking the dive will relate to my story as well, as I have by reading some of the forum posts.
I'm 22, and when I was around 20 or so I looked like this: http://myspace-792.vo.llnwd.net/00646/29/70/646430792_l.jpg (http://myspace-792.vo.llnwd.net/00646/29/70/646430792_l.jpg). Good-looking guy, right? I've gained some muscle since then. The angle and the lighting and the style somewhat hides the receding hairline, which I sort of accepted, since I always had somewhat of a widows-peak, even in my baby photos. Maybe I was lying to myself, I don't know.
But soon after that photo, I noticed the crown of my head was getting thin, too. I've been gradually accepting my fate since then. It's really taken over a year and a half for me to get this far, mentally.
As a side note, in the picture above, I am wearing a shirt for one of my favorite bands: Les Savy Fav. Oddly enough, the lead-singer of that band is the first hip bald guy I'd ever encountered: http://www.afterbirthofthecool.com/lessavyfav_boudist.jpg (http://www.afterbirthofthecool.com/lessavyfav_boudist.jpg). Luckily for me, he wasn't dressed like that when I saw them live. Anyway, he hasn't exactly shaven his head, but it allowed me to consider that bald dudes could be pretty cool, instead of being a collection of cancer patients, fat guys, inmates, Patrick Stewart, and wanna-be bad-asses.
Since then, the lowest I've taken my hair was about two months ago, before winter set in here in the desert. I took it this low (http://myspace-330.vo.llnwd.net/01288/03/34/1288904330_l.jpg (http://myspace-330.vo.llnwd.net/01288/03/34/1288904330_l.jpg)) so as to dip my toe in the water. I loved how clean it looked, how orderly everything was, and how low-maintenance things were. Plus, it brought out my eyes - chicks dig the eyes. What I didn't like was that the crown of my head looked even worse: the hair was short enough to be low-maintenance and long enough to look like I was hiding from my thinning hair. It wasn't a big deal the first week, but as hair started growing back in faster in the front and sides than on top, it started to look terrible. I let it grow back to where I am now, which is much like the first picture.
But tomorrow, I am taking it down to a #1 or a #2 cut, whichever the barber feels is best. My barber is bald, by the way, so it'll be easier to ask him!
Anyway, that's where I'm at. I should post pictures tomorrow. I think my face suits things fairly well, although I'd like to get some more sun. I understand that my scalp will be a little paler than my face, as hard as that is to conceive. I'm not a big facial hair fan, and even if I was, I couldn't get anything more than a cop mustache since I'm in the military. I'd feel more confident going into things if I had a more "chiseled" looking chin, but I've gone from 175 lbs. and 17% body fat to 168 lbs. and 13% body fat in the past few months, and increased my bench press from 175 lbs to 235 lbs., so I've got a bit of a confidence boost still going from all that.
Hopefully I don't get cold feet; hopefully I hang in there long enough to let the shock wear off and get comfortable with my new look. I don't plan on bic-ing it, but I've learned to never say never. It seems like everyone on here is a big fan of it; for now, I'll go with the velcro/stubble thing with the #1 (or #2).
Thanks for the support!
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Welcome to the group, Socctty! Shave it, you'll won't regret it.
What branch?
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Welcome to Sly Bald Guys Socctty.
Just buzz it bro. I'd recommend a #1 as it will let you see what it will be like shorter and will grow it's way back to a #2 in a couple of days. It looks like your sides are already pretty close to a #2.
I wouldn't recommend wearing what the lead singer of the band is wearing on your first day with a buzzed head as you may not get an honest reaction to your new look ;) :D :o
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Hi and welcome Socctty! Great intro...
I'm with Tyler... take it down with a #1 blade and see what you think!
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:D :D Welcome, Socctty: You've done some awesome weight training things lately, you have a realistic-confident attitude, and you understand philosophically the inevitable course of Mother Nature--all of which should embolden you to shave it all off, without much heart-wrenching. There are real benefits of being totally bald, as you've already discerned. If you take this step now, while you're so young, you'll be well ahead of the curve when your mates turn 30 or 35 and find themselves facing the same problem but without the positive boost you have now. The only downside I've encountered [been shaving since November] is that it's drafty in winter. Best of luck, Professor Melon
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welcome to sbg. figure out what you feel comfortable with and go just a bit farther. get out of the comfort zone just a little. you might be pleasantly surprised. if not, it grows back to what you have now pretty quick.
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Welcome, Socctty
Yep...I concur....go ahead and buzz it. I think you'll really like how much easier it is to care for.
I just shaved my noggin slick this past Sunday (1/14).
I did sort of a progression using buzzes at decreasing guards. I have a brief synopsis of my "process" here
http://www.slybaldguys.com/smf/index.php?topic=651.msg8133#msg8133
But I basically started with a #3, long setting.....then #3, short setting....then #2, long.....#2, short..etc..
I chose to do this to ease my wife into the idea of eventual baldness
Hopefully someone who is thinking about taking the dive will relate to my story as well
Just took the dive....I can relate
Good-looking guy, right?
Oh yeah....can TOTALLY relate
I'd like to get some more sun. I understand that my scalp will be a little paler than my face
Chances are that the scalp will be A LOT paler than your face. That's the main hurdle I'm clearing right now. But it's not quite as pronounced if yer just buzzing it.
Hopefully I don't get cold feet
Just remember, it's not like yer getting a wicked, big ol', permanent tatoo on the side of yer face......it grows back.
Here's another thread with questions posed by my wife that might be helpful.
http://www.slybaldguys.com/smf/index.php?topic=645.0
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Socctty,
Welcome. This is a good group of guys and they were very valuable to me in helping with the decision to shave it off (New Year's Day). Now that I've been "sly" for almost 3 weeks, I just can't envision going back to having (little) hair on the dome. I was never trying to fight off the inevitable, just was accepting what was "in my future". Like others, I gradually went down from a #3 to #2 (wife hated that step, but either grew to like it or just shut up about it), to a #1 the week between Christmas and New Year before I did it.
Now my scalp feels healthy (big plus), I like my look, and the comments have been overwhelmingly positive. Personally, I think it's more work to maintain the look, but it's well worth it.
I agree with Rod, take it to a #1 and see how it feels. But, I would bet you'll want to go the next step.
Have a good Thursday,
Schro
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I agree with Rod
Who?
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Oops. I'm operating today on 2 hrs sleep. :o
Long drive from Bandon Dunes, Oregon after a 2 hr frost delay from my tee time then having to take an alternate route home due to driving conditions over the Sisykiou Summit.
My apologies to both Robs for my temporary bout with dyslexia.
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...... Sisykiou Summit.
:o your what hurts? :o
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The Sisykiou Summit is the high point on I-5 between Oregon & California.
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Oh ok, I was gonna tell ya to go see a doctor....like, Dr Noner!
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Good luck socctty - the 1 is not a bad transition cut.
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Congrats on the start. A friend of mine decided to buzz his hair down right after I shaved mine. While he likes it, it does show his balding a bit more than before. I'm trying to get him to finish the job- not sure if his wife will let him though,lol.
I had the same issue man, same age and everything. Go for it! I immediately regretted shaving my head, but a week into it realized I was worrying about nothing. I'm loving it more and more. Before it was a shave every three days, now I'm at it every day.
It def growns on ya(no pun intended)
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Results!
First off, thanks guys for your welcomes and support. I went to the barber during my lunch hour and got a #2 all over. I'm psyched about it, I think it looks great. I'm really more happy with it than I thought I'd be. The receding hairline isn't really bothering me as much as I thought it would. However, the crown of my head is a little, so I'm gonna go down to a #1 (as many of you suggested) right after I post this. Anyway, here's the pictures:
http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/scooterboogie/Buzz/ (http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/scooterboogie/Buzz/)
The lighting isn't great; in person, the crown looks much worse. Still, overall, I have no regrets.
Initial reactions were mixed. One person had a negative reaction: "Your head isn't shaped for hair that short." But this is the same guy that's been wearing the same mustache for 30 years, who thinks any change is a bad change, and often is arguing "We've been doing it this way for 25 years, why is it wrong now?" despite the fact that whatever it is he's been doing for 25 years has been causing him 3 times as much work.
Other reactions were grins and soft-jabs at the new do, and one was "You look like you're part of God's army, here to kill people and deliver more souls to Him." Which I guess means I look like a bad-ass. But as I said, my personal reaction consisted of lots of almost-girlish giggling followed by a sense of relief and contentment.
Oh, and whoever asked what branch I'm in, I'm in the Air Force. I work at a solar observatory here in southern New Mexico. Once again, thanks for the warm welcomes. Now time to fire up the buzzer and get out the #1 guard...
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Oh, and whoever asked what branch I'm in, I'm in the Air Force.
Oh... we thought you said you were in the military! ;D :P
Looked at the pics... looks good so far!
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Looks good
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Oh, and whoever asked what branch I'm in, I'm in the Air Force.
Oh... we thought you said you were in the military! ;D :P
Damn, now that deserves a burn,lol. Suits you well man. My mom started calling me meat head when I shaved, so forget the dude with the mustache....unless he uses wax or grease, in which case he might just pistol-whip you with his six shooter.
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hahaha... The guy looks like Scotty from Star Trek. He loves that mustache though.
Anyway I'm down to a #1. I'm gonna roll with it for a while, but I think I'd rather be a #2 or bic'd. Definitely gonna try the bic one of these days, soon too. The first phrase that comes to mind with the low-cut is "hyper-masculine"! Its great, I'm loving it. I think I should use some lotion or something on my head, though... it itches a bit. It is the desert in the winter, after all.
I forgot to mention. I bought some skull caps; I've always thought they were a cool look. Now I get to sport 'em.
If you're thinking about it, anonymous reader: go for it!
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hahaha... The guy looks like Scotty from Star Trek. He loves that mustache though.
Anyway I'm down to a #1. I'm gonna roll with it for a while, but I think I'd rather be a #2 or bic'd. Definitely gonna try the bic one of these days, soon too. The first phrase that comes to mind with the low-cut is "hyper-masculine"! Its great, I'm loving it. I think I should use some lotion or something on my head, though... it itches a bit. It is the desert in the winter, after all.
I forgot to mention. I bought some skull caps; I've always thought they were a cool look. Now I get to sport 'em.
If you're thinking about it, anonymous reader: go for it!
Congrats in loving your new look! Let us know when you bic it down and how you feel about it.
Feel free to hang out for a while.
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Congrats on the new look!
Thank God, you're not another squib. ;)
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Congrats on the new look!
Thank God, you're not another squib. ;)
Squib?? There's the Army Officer Corps spelling champ for ya!! :o ;D
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hey rob? how do all branches get to where they are going? the navy.
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Nope I either ride Army, Com or Air Force in that order. I never touch a naval boat. I flew out of a naval air station once.
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Results!
First off, thanks guys for your welcomes and support. I went to the barber during my lunch hour and got a #2 all over. I'm psyched about it, I think it looks great. I'm really more happy with it than I thought I'd be. The receding hairline isn't really bothering me as much as I thought it would. However, the crown of my head is a little, so I'm gonna go down to a #1 (as many of you suggested) right after I post this. Anyway, here's the pictures:
http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/scooterboogie/Buzz/ (http://s51.photobucket.com/albums/f385/scooterboogie/Buzz/)
The lighting isn't great; in person, the crown looks much worse. Still, overall, I have no regrets.
Initial reactions were mixed. One person had a negative reaction: "Your head isn't shaped for hair that short." But this is the same guy that's been wearing the same mustache for 30 years, who thinks any change is a bad change, and often is arguing "We've been doing it this way for 25 years, why is it wrong now?" despite the fact that whatever it is he's been doing for 25 years has been causing him 3 times as much work.
Other reactions were grins and soft-jabs at the new do, and one was "You look like you're part of God's army, here to kill people and deliver more souls to Him." Which I guess means I look like a bad-ass. But as I said, my personal reaction consisted of lots of almost-girlish giggling followed by a sense of relief and contentment.
Oh, and whoever asked what branch I'm in, I'm in the Air Force. I work at a solar observatory here in southern New Mexico. Once again, thanks for the warm welcomes. Now time to fire up the buzzer and get out the #1 guard...
That's why we're here, to send you over the edge!!! Judging from your location, I'd say you're somewhere around Holloman and Alamogordo right? I'm up in Albuquerque but been down that way more than once. Can't wait to see the buzz when you get it down that low
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isn't the air force a dept of the navy? maybe i am wrong :-\ guess there is a first time for everything. 8)
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isn't the air force a dept of the navy? maybe i am wrong :-\ guess there is a first time for everything. 8)
I believe it's the Marines.
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hey rob? how do all branches get to where they are going? the navy.
Nah... the Chair Force pilots can't land on a carrier. Army likes to walk everywhere or hop rides with the Chair Force...
Only the Sailors and Jarheads get the privilege of sailing on the fine Naval vessels!
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isn't the air force a dept of the navy? maybe i am wrong :-\ guess there is a first time for everything. 8)
I believe it's the Marines.
Marines are the boys department of the Navy! :P
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isn't the air force a dept of the navy? maybe i am wrong :-\ guess there is a first time for everything. 8)
I'm just not even going to go there. At least Air Force has a worthwhile SOCOM representation.
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owell, they all serve the same great country. they are all good in thier own way. let's get back to the topic at hand before somebody starts a barfight and breaks something.
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isn't the air force a dept of the navy? maybe i am wrong :-\ guess there is a first time for everything. 8)
I'm just not even going to go there. At least Air Force has a worthwhile SOCOM representation.
And you're saying the Navy doesn't?? ?? ?? ?? ??? ??? ???
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If you think the Seals are good, there is no point is having a realistic military conversion with you. You have been too corrupted by Hollywood to have ideas that guys just need to be big and kick in a door to be good. The Sea Bee are alright, but they only benefit the navy. At the air forces combat controls make airfields for all. As the army goes no need for water landings.
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If you think the Seals are good, there is no point is having a realistic military conversion with you. You have been too corrupted by Hollywood to have ideas that guys just need to be big and kick in a door to be good. The Sea Bee are alright, but they only benefit the navy. At the air forces combat controls make airfields for all. As the army goes no need for water landings.
I think someone else is a little biased towards their own... ;) I'll give you this... delta and seal team 6 are probably pretty close to being equals.
Seabees aren't SOCOM. They're construction... kind of like the Corps of Engineers, only better! ;)
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owell, they all serve the same great country. they are all good in thier own way. let's get back to the topic at hand before somebody starts a barfight and breaks something.
Wow...I was sleeping when all this was being batted around.
In '99 I was just weeks away from heading to R.I. for training as a Navy Chaplain. The wife got pregnant with our first and I would have to be gone for the WHOLE 9 MONTHS and the birth. Chose to back out of the enlistment.
I'm with Paul...you guys ALL do a bang up job preserving our freedoms!!!
I like this one from above"
You put on your anti war/don't support the troops shirt, and go meet up with your friends.
He still fights for your right to wear that shirt.
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I never served in the Armed Forces, so I can't comment on which branch of the military is better than the other. All I know is that me, my wife, and my kids appreciate (without reservation) the work and commitment that our enlisted servicemen have to protecting our way of life. We have the greatest VOLUNTEER military in the world and there is no other country that can make that statement.
You are all appreciated in the House of Schro ..... especially those servicemen that are SLY.
Have a great Friday!
Schro
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You are all appreciated in the House of Schro
And in the Robmeister camp!!
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I never served in the Armed Forces, so I can't comment on which branch of the military is better than the other. All I know is that me, my wife, and my kids appreciate (without reservation) the work and commitment that our enlisted servicemen have to protecting our way of life. We have the greatest VOLUNTEER military in the world and there is no other country that can make that statement.
You are all appreciated in the House of Schro ..... especially those servicemen that are SLY.
Have a great Friday!
Schro
Just a little interservice rivalry! All branches deserve the utmost respect...
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Reminds me of Kiefer Sutherland's line in "A Few Good Men" when he's on the witness stand.
"I appreciate you Navy Guys. Whenever we need to secure a beach head, you always give us a ride".
Probably not an exact quote, but you get the idea.
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Reminds me of Kiefer Sutherland's line in "A Few Good Men" when he's on the witness stand.
"I appreciate you Navy Guys. Whenever we need to secure a beach head, you always give us a ride".
Probably not an exact quote, but you get the idea.
Funny thing about that is yes, the Navy transports the Marines... and then shells the crap out of the beach so they can land safely!
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USMC and army are more along the same line of work, but the Jarheads are a different breed all together. Seriously after doing some joint service operations I respect all branches (even coast guard).
I actually even started to question how things would have been different if I went the Marine route, only if the would have taken me. Man, I'll tell you too, I really tried hard to get my head to fit in that jar but near could get past the ears. ;)
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I really tried hard to get my head to fit in that jar but near could get past the ears. ;)
:) :) :) :) :) :)
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Again thank you to those who serve our country. Not something I was/am interested in doing, but props to you who do because I appreciate it.
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USMC and army are more along the same line of work, but the Jarheads are a different breed all together. Seriously after doing some joint service operations I respect all branches (even coast guard).
I actually even started to question how things would have been different if I went the Marine route, only if the would have taken me. Man, I'll tell you too, I really tried hard to get my head to fit in that jar but near could get past the ears. ;)
Yeah... every branch is unique! I gained a lot of respect for the Marines last month watching them go through the paces during the equipment evaluation. Those guys are bad ass!
While I was in, we did a lot of underway time with LE Dets from the Coast Guard... those guys are hard core too!
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The coast guard is actually the one I look at now and kick myself for no going to. They don't get the best geographic travel, (but on some cases still pretty good) but their budget is wicked sick. Great toys. ;D Great training. They are on it!
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The coast guard is actually the one I look at now and kick myself for no going to. They don't get the best geographic travel, (but on some cases still pretty good) but their budget is wicked sick. Great toys. ;D Great training. They are on it!
Dude, you're still young enough... go for it! Gotta love the DOT budget vs the DOD budget!
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See that is the great thing they pull from both DOT and DOD. And I think they also get state, too. I have given their counter drug team some seroius though but that requires moving to another state, and I need to finish my schooling in Oklahoma. :( After I finish my school... ???
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The coast guard is actually the one I look at now and kick myself for no going to. They don't get the best geographic travel, (but on some cases still pretty good) but their budget is wicked sick. Great toys. ;D Great training. They are on it!
I really wanted to go into the Coast Guard as my first option. This was before March 2003 and Iraq, and the only Coast Guard recruiter in all of Houston (where I'm from) was a 40 minute drive away and required an appointment! I really wanted to make sure I was around the water all the time, and the Coast Guard seemed like something different. They were the guys that were always hassling me and my best friend when we were jet-skiing and jumping the wakes of the oil tankers in the Houston Ship Channel. Those boats were so cool... dual 225 hp outboard motors and all. But it was all too easy for me to just drive around the corner and talk to the Navy and Air Force guys. The Air Force thing has worked out... I get to go to southern Italy and northwestern Australia (in the tropics, baby!) every six months, and might even get stationed in Australia here soon. I've gotten to swim in the Ionian Sea and the Indian Ocean; even swam with some manatees in Australia.
I've since heard mixed things about the Coast Guard. When I was in Mississippi, there were some Coast Guard guys there in training. They looked pretty silly, and apparently with them going into the Dept. of Homeland Security, the culture has changed somewhat. And I guess it's pretty stressful. I've also heard that it gets pretty dangerous quite often as well, when they're boarding drug ships and the boat owners have nothing to lose but a bunch of machine gun casings. I'd still consider it again, but I know the least amount about those guys amongst any branch.
Oddly enough, I was just on leave, and me and my sister were cruising around Houston. My parents recently moved, and guess who is right down the street from them? The Coast Guard recruiter, of course.
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southern italy? is that aviano?