Sly Bald Guys Forum
Discussions About Being Bald => Advantages and Disadvantages to being Bald => Topic started by: Razor X on November 24, 2007, 10:03:25 AM
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Many of us here have had to deal with MPB and know what a difficult transition it can be, especially if it happens while you are still relatively young. It just seems like something that shouldn't happen until you are much older. Lately, though, I've begun looking at this in another way.
A couple of guys I know who are in their early 40s are starting to show signs of serious thinning that will most likely progress to complete MPB eventually. It just made me realize that I'd much rather deal with going bald at 30 than at 40 or 50. It doesn't get any easier to deal with as you get older. If anything, it gets harder as you have to deal with other unpleasant changes that come with impending middle age, such as weight gain, greying hair and just aging in general. And you've have even more time to be used to seeing yourself with hair, so to have MPB going at the same time must be really difficult. Those who went through MPB at 30 and shaved their heads are long past this ordeal. And if they've taken care of themselves, they shouldn't look that much different at 40 than they did at 30.
So all you young guys out there struggling with MPB -- count your blessings and shave your heads and all will be well.
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Very true. Although there is the perspective that the onset of MPB in someone's 20's can be more upsetting as young men are much more concerned with outward appearance--at least I was much more vain back then, what with pre-marriage dating and social importance.
Vanity, not in an excessive conceit or narcissism. But natural young social angst.
I discovered my hair slightly thinning in the back (arear of the crown) in my mid- to late-30's. By then I was happily married and losing alot of pre-marital vanity. So it wasn't all that upsetting.
I can see being in yer 30's, 40's, 50's and "out there" in the dating scene for whatever reason how that MPB could be more "problematic." Nevertheless, by that age we seem to have a better more centered sense of SELF that far outways outward appearance.
Just my 2 cents.
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It's funny how you made a comparison between those who have MPB at 30 and those who have it at 40. Hear this:
I just turned 25 and have already thinned drastically. MPB starting at 30 is NOT early MPB. MPB starting at 20 IS EARLY MPB. Believe me, it isn't easy to deal with this sh*t at this age... I can't even grow a proper beard yet I am balding severely. Life is great innit? I would give almost anything to keep my hair until I'm 30. I'm almost 100% certain that losing hair couldn't hurt this much if I would be 10-15 years older. It's not about looking older, it's not about getting used to having hair. It's all about what other ppl perceive as normal. Losing hair when you're 30-40 is not a big deal, it's normal. However, only under 5% of males lose their hair in their 20's, it's like being some kinda freak.
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Losing hair when you're 30-40 is not a big deal, it's normal. However, only under 5% of males lose their hair in their 20's, it's like being some kinda freak.
Actually, I was referring to the MPB process being completed by age 30, not starting then.
I would give almost anything to keep my hair until I'm 30. I'm almost 100% certain that losing hair couldn't hurt this much if I would be 10-15 years older. It's not about looking older, it's not about getting used to having hair. It's all about what other ppl perceive as normal.
You may say that now, but believe me, you still won't be ready for it to happen 10, 15, or 20 years from now. There's never a good time. Let me state my point in another way: most men are going to lose at least some of their hair at some point in their lives. It's hard to be bald at a young age when your friends all still have their hair. But eventually many of them will lose theirs. And when they do, you'll be glad that you've already had a smooth slick dome for years, rather than just starting the process like they are. I realize that this is small consolation to you now.
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Losing hair when you're 30-40 is not a big deal, it's normal. However, only under 5% of males lose their hair in their 20's, it's like being some kinda freak.
Actually, I was referring to the MPB process being completed by age 30, not starting then.
I would give almost anything to keep my hair until I'm 30. I'm almost 100% certain that losing hair couldn't hurt this much if I would be 10-15 years older. It's not about looking older, it's not about getting used to having hair. It's all about what other ppl perceive as normal.
You may say that now, but believe me, you still won't be ready for it to happen 10, 15, or 20 years from now. There's never a good time. Let me state my point in another way: most men are going to lose at least some of their hair at some point in their lives. It's hard to be bald at a young age when your friends all still have their hair. But eventually many of them will lose theirs. And when they do, you'll be glad that you've already had a smooth slick dome for years, rather than just starting the process like they are. I realize that this is small consolation to you now.
Yeah and when the hair multiplication is clearly on its way, my friends probably won't have to lose their hair if it happens, say around 5-10 years from now. But then again, if my hairloss still bugs me at that point I can have my hair back too if I only have the cash.
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hey yeppers, you're a good lookin "kid" with a low hairline, get your self a cute girl (if you haven't already) that doesn't care about how much hair is on your head or how much $$ is in your wallet and you'll be alright. (Sorry to hijack thread)
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hey yeppers, you're a good lookin "kid" with a low hairline, get your self a cute girl (if you haven't already) that doesn't care about how much hair is on your head or how much $$ is in your wallet and you'll be alright. (Sorry to hijack thread)
Yeah, well... low hairline? My forehead has always been huge man. Anyway, I haven't receeded if that's what you mean, my hair is just thinning all over the top of my head.
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It's funny how you made a comparison between those who have MPB at 30 and those who have it at 40. Hear this:
I just turned 25 and have already thinned drastically. MPB starting at 30 is NOT early MPB. MPB starting at 20 IS EARLY MPB. Believe me, it isn't easy to deal with this sh*t at this age... I can't even grow a proper beard yet I am balding severely. Life is great innit? I would give almost anything to keep my hair until I'm 30. I'm almost 100% certain that losing hair couldn't hurt this much if I would be 10-15 years older. It's not about looking older, it's not about getting used to having hair. It's all about what other ppl perceive as normal. Losing hair when you're 30-40 is not a big deal, it's normal. However, only under 5% of males lose their hair in their 20's, it's like being some kinda freak.
I rest my case.
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I think that Early vs. Late is really a case of how the "victim" handles it. If he (or she) has issues with it, it doesn't matter if the person is 20 or 40. If you don't like it and are struggling with it, your age really doesn't matter.
Personally, I would tend to think that earlier MPB is a tougher pill to swallow. Think about it....at that age you think you're invincible, can accomplish anything, and are pissed off when J-Lo doesn't return your phone calls. You think you can down 7 Schrotinis and wake up the next morning and shoot 2 under par on 3 hours sleep.
Hey, getting old sucks monkey balls. Just my two cents.
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Hey, getting old sucks monkey balls. Just my two cents.
Schro, has quite the way with words, but I think I have to agree. I didn't have any issues until I was in my mid-late thirties. It was hard enough to deal with then, but at least by that time there were others my age dealing with worse. It was a small consolation, but it was some.
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Hey, getting old sucks monkey balls. Just my two cents.
Schro, has quite the way with words, but I think I have to agree. .
You have to qualify that Rick? :Xo! Hey I'm full of useful information that should NEVER be questioned. :*))
Yeah, and the Earth is shaped like a burrito, global warming is real, and the Democratic congress has a higher approval rating than "W".
NOT!!!!! O0 O0 O0
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I think that Early vs. Late is really a case of how the "victim" handles it. If he (or she) has issues with it, it doesn't matter if the person is 20 or 40. If you don't like it and are struggling with it, your age really doesn't matter.
Most people don't like going bald. There may be some that aren't bothered by it when it starts to happen, but I can't imagine anyone thinking, "Hey, this is great" upon discovering that their hair is starting to go -- with the exception of those BBC guys who want less shadow and less shaving to deal with.
You're right, though that your age doesn't matter. When you're 20 you think that if you can hang onto your hair until 40, you won't care if it then starts to go. But guess what -- 40 rolls around and you find it isn't any easier to deal with now than it would have been 20 years earlier. The consolation prize for the guy who was bald in his 20s is that he's no longer bothered by it and in fact moved on long ago by the time he's 40 and some of his friends are just starting to deal with the issue themselves.
I'm not any less vain than I was when I was younger but being bald is not a problem at all, like I once thought it would be.
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Maybe I allow myself to play the victim too much with my baldness but I have to think that the older you get the easier it would be to deal with going bald. I was in my late teens when I started to lose mine. I was probably 22 before it became obvious to others. I was always very self conscious about it and I would always "assess" the company I was in. What I mean is that I would always figure out how many other guys were also losing their hair and what their ages roughly appeared to be. I'm sure many guys in here know theaggrevation of realizing that they are the youngest guy in the room and at the same time you have the least amount oh hair. That's not always easy to swallow.
My point is this, I'm now 30 and even though it's always a good bet that I'll have the least amount of hair in any given room at least now I'm no longer the youngest. Call me crazy but that's easier to handle than standing in a lobby as a 26 year old bald guy looking at a 70 year old man with hair and wondering why me? It just seems easier to accept now that I'm 30 and I suspect it will be even easier at 40.
Just my thoughts,
Adam
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Maybe I allow myself to play the victim too much with my baldness but I have to think that the older you get the easier it would be to deal with going bald. I was in my late teens when I started to lose mine. I was probably 22 before it became obvious to others. I was always very self conscious about it and I would always "assess" the company I was in. What I mean is that I would always figure out how many other guys were also losing their hair and what their ages roughly appeared to be. I'm sure many guys in here know theaggrevation of realizing that they are the youngest guy in the room and at the same time you have the least amount oh hair. That's not always easy to swallow.
My point is this, I'm now 30 and even though it's always a good bet that I'll have the least amount of hair in any given room at least now I'm no longer the youngest. Call me crazy but that's easier to handle than standing in a lobby as a 26 year old bald guy looking at a 70 year old man with hair and wondering why me? It just seems easier to accept now that I'm 30 and I suspect it will be even easier at 40.
Just my thoughts,
Adam
I can definitely relate to everything you've said here, Adam. But do you think it's easier to accept now because you're a little older or is it just that you've had enough time to get used to it and come to terms with it? If you hang on to all of your hair until you're 40 and then it all starts to go, I think it would still be traumatic. But it probably is easier to deal with if some of yoru friends are already balding. Becoming the first bald guy in your circle of friends is no fun; I know that from personal experience. But when some of the others inevitably start on their way to joining you, it's nice to know that it's all behind you instead of just beginning to happen. One less thing to worry about.
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You do make some goods points there RazorX. A buddy of mine is losing his hair now and in a way I guess I am glad to have that behind me. You did hit the nail on the head though when you talked about it not being fun being the first guy in your circle to go bald. I can definitely vouch for that. I've always been a very competetive person but of all things to be good at why did losing my hair have to be one of them?
Anyway, It would definitely have been easier had I not had to go through that alone.
Regardless, if I could have gone through it with my buddy at the same time I'd definitely have picked 30 rather than 20.
Adam
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Adam,you make so much sense.I started losing my hair in my early 20s and it was very traumatic.Guys my own age and older would tease me about it and it would hurt. Others would just stare at my head and I felt very self concious.I was wearing hairpieces all those years up until a couple of years ago.I'm 50 now and I for the most part have gone natural and keep my hair close cropped like yours.It's easier to accept now because I'm older and it's more common.When your young people react differently either by poking fun or by saying,"Oh my God,he's losing his hair so young" People don't make as big a fuss when you're older. Now that I have the age I actually look hot this way with my short hair and facial hair but when I was 22 I looked like a balding baby. My vote is that it's easier to accept when you're older. Adam,you look good the way you wear your hair. Older is better.
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Hello!
Thinning is one, whitening is the other. You can translate all posts from thinning into whitening and it's a similar story.
When I was 45 my hair was as white as my grandma's who was 100 years old.
I made a biking tour with our then 7 years old daughter. On a narrow path some people waiting fo our passage said: how nice, grandpa on tour with his granddaughter!
The waiter in the restaurant said to my daughter: I give grandpa first his drink....
This problem has got its solution - and I feel very good!
J
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You can translate all posts from thinning into whitening and it's a similar story.
You make an excellent point, Joerg. You can further substitute any term you like for "thinning" or "whitening" and it's still the same story. We all have things that we don't like about our own appearances. Those of us with MPB tend to get fixated with hair loss and think those who don't have MPB have it made. But I guarantee you those people are struggling with some other issue -- which to them is a huge deal, but the rest of the world is probably oblivious to it.
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You can translate all posts from thinning into whitening and it's a similar story.
You make an excellent point, Joerg. You can further substitute any term you like for "thinning" or "whitening" and it's still the same story. We all have things that we don't like about our own appearances. Those of us with MPB tend to get fixated with hair loss and think those who don't have MPB have it made. But I guarantee you those people are struggling with some other issue -- which to them is a huge deal, but the rest of the world is probably oblivious to it.
BINGO..... I am 5'-5" and 99% of the time the shortest guy in the room. And people don't shrink as they get older to be closer to my height. (my wife makes me look taller because she is 4'-11")
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Adam,you make so much sense.I started losing my hair in my early 20s and it was very traumatic.Guys my own age and older would tease me about it and it would hurt. Others would just stare at my head and I felt very self concious.I was wearing hairpieces all those years up until a couple of years ago.I'm 50 now and I for the most part have gone natural and keep my hair close cropped like yours.It's easier to accept now because I'm older and it's more common.When your young people react differently either by poking fun or by saying,"Oh my God,he's losing his hair so young" People don't make as big a fuss when you're older. Now that I have the age I actually look hot this way with my short hair and facial hair but when I was 22 I looked like a balding baby. My vote is that it's easier to accept when you're older. Adam,you look good the way you wear your hair. Older is better.
Yeah, this really reflects my sentiments. I mean, I'm 25 but hardly look even that old... balding baby is exactly what I look like.
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hey yeppers, you're a good lookin "kid" with a low hairline, get your self a cute girl (if you haven't already) that doesn't care about how much hair is on your head or how much $$ is in your wallet and you'll be alright. (Sorry to hijack thread)
Finding a woman like that, that you yourself are physically attracted to can a times be a challenge. In all honesty, a lot of us will sit and say, hair and money don't matter, why are women so superficial - but how many of us would date a woman that is say 50-100 lbs overweight? If a woman is not physically attracted to me because of my hairloss, I don't fault her on it, because there are some women that I am not physically attracted to either. I just move on to the next.
In regards to baldness, I can agree that it is worse losing your hair young. I started at 22 and I can relate to the others as being the "only one" in the room with visible hairloss. It's disheartening and plays a number with your emotions. Now at 30, I am a lot more comfortable with it, it still bothers me, but now that there are men my age with the same issue and in the same position, it is reassuring as you are becoming once again the, "average" as opposed to a minority.
When you are 22 years old and are walking through a shopping mall with visible thinning you will get quite a few glances up at your hair. People see a young face with thinning hair and take notice as it is abnormal. Where as a man in his 30's or 40's with the same amount of thinning will blend into a crowd and no one will really look or take any notice.
It will always bother me, but I would have loved to have an extra 10 years with a full head of hair. If I just began losing now, it would be great (not really but you know what I mean)...as I would be 40 by the time I'm close to being bald. I will agree though that it is not an experience I would ever enjoy or like to repeat regardless of age, but I do think it would be a lot easier to accept as you get a little older and have many others around you the same age dealing with the same problem.
I don't know, it's sort of like the old saying, "better to have love and lost then not loved at all", only, it would be better to have a full head of hair in your 20's and lose it then to not have hair at all.
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Finding a woman like that, that you yourself are physically attracted to can a times be a challenge. In all honesty, a lot of us will sit and say, hair and money don't matter, why are women so superficial - but how many of us would date a woman that is say 50-100 lbs overweight? If a woman is not physically attracted to me because of my hairloss, I don't fault her on it, because there are some women that I am not physically attracted to either. I just move on to the next.
It's hard to compare what men would do versus women. I think on average men tend to be a lot more looks oriented than women when it comes down to them actually getting together. I'm not saying that it doesn't help in the initial attraction stage, but it can be overcome.
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i think for most guys it depends on how late in the night it gets. >:D or even how many drinks we've had. >:D >:D
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i think for most guys it depends on how late in the night it gets. >:D or even how many drinks we've had. >:D >:D
:*)) :*)) :*)) :*)) :*))
sometimes brother.
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I started loosing my hair in my early 20s and it went fast. I had to deal with many many social situations where I felt humiliated inside, had people say pretty terrible things to me or even worse... hear them talking behind my back. Loosing your hair pre-30 is really tough. I know it seems petty as you get older but dont even try to play it down... it is f-ing HARSH... especially with women. Going bald paired with all the other things you are trying to accomplish in those years I am sure has broken many people.
In the defense of loosing it when your young, I did become tough as nails and really turned my already thick skin to an armadillo like shell. It made me learn a lot about myself and about those around me. I had a time where my frustration fuled aggressive behavior, I figured I would not allow myself to be viewed as "weak" or timid" and it led me to some bad decisions, etc... Nothing worth its weight is easy and this whole thing made me a better man at a younger age and I am grateful for that.
Nowadays I see a lot of people my age going through MPB... I feel pity for them and I have no sympathy for someone that isn't going to man up and face it... Plugs, drugs and rugs are for sissy's if you ask me. If I did it at 23, you should be able to do it at 33.
God never gives you more than you can handle... although his timing could be better.
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It's hard to compare what men would do versus women. I think on average men tend to be a lot more looks oriented than women when it comes down to them actually getting together. I'm not saying that it doesn't help in the initial attraction stage, but it can be overcome.
I agree. Think about how many times you've been out in public and saw a drop-dead gorgeous woman who was with a guy who was just butt-ugly. You hardly ever see the opposite scenario.
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Finding a woman like that, that you yourself are physically attracted to can a times be a challenge. In all honesty, a lot of us will sit and say, hair and money don't matter, why are women so superficial - but how many of us would date a woman that is say 50-100 lbs overweight? If a woman is not physically attracted to me because of my hairloss, I don't fault her on it, because there are some women that I am not physically attracted to either. I just move on to the next.
It's hard to compare what men would do versus women. I think on average men tend to be a lot more looks oriented than women when it comes down to them actually getting together. I'm not saying that it doesn't help in the initial attraction stage, but it can be overcome.
true - good point Tyler.
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Well said Marz.
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God never gives you more than you can handle... although his timing could be better.
Marz so true bro
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"Hey, getting old sucks monkey balls. Just my two cents.
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But as Mark Twain wisely observed on being asked what it was like to be, I think it was, 93, "Not bad, considering the alternative!"
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Guys I'm 21 and have receding hairline. But one thing I've noticed from being at college is that there are a lot of guys between the ages of 20-25 who are experiencing MPB.
Out of me and 4 of my closest friends from school, 3 out of 5 of us have receding hairlines. One guy worst than me and he's growing his hair back out. Don't have the heart to tell him he shouldn't.
But here's a counter argument to what a lot of guys are saying that they wish they were older before MPB kicked in. If your in a marriage or been in a long term relationship and originally met for g/f, spouse, etc. with a head full of hair. How do you know whether she'll take to you being bald kindly or not when MPB finlly does kick in? What if she liked your hair a lot?
Now that I'm young and slick women can see what they get. They're not in for and nasty surprises.
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Guys I'm 21 and have receding hairline. But one thing I've noticed from being at college is that there are a lot of guys between the ages of 20-25 who are experiencing MPB.
Out of me and 4 of my closest friends from school, 3 out of 5 of us have receding hairlines. One guy worst than me and he's growing his hair back out. Don't have the heart to tell him he shouldn't.
But here's a counter argument to what a lot of guys are saying that they wish they were older before MPB kicked in. If your in a marriage or been in a long term relationship and originally met for g/f, spouse, etc. with a head full of hair. How do you know whether she'll take to you being bald kindly or not when MPB finlly does kick in? What if she liked your hair a lot?
Now that I'm young and slick women can see what they get. They're not in for and nasty surprises.
Good point... you'll know that women who are attracted to you do so because of you, and not your hair. Either that, or they are just really turned on by slick dudes. ;)
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Guys I'm 21 and have receding hairline. But one thing I've noticed from being at college is that there are a lot of guys between the ages of 20-25 who are experiencing MPB.
Out of me and 4 of my closest friends from school, 3 out of 5 of us have receding hairlines. One guy worst than me and he's growing his hair back out. Don't have the heart to tell him he shouldn't.
But here's a counter argument to what a lot of guys are saying that they wish they were older before MPB kicked in. If your in a marriage or been in a long term relationship and originally met for g/f, spouse, etc. with a head full of hair. How do you know whether she'll take to you being bald kindly or not when MPB finlly does kick in? What if she liked your hair a lot?
Now that I'm young and slick women can see what they get. They're not in for and nasty surprises.
That's interesting about the younger guys losing their hair more. At least you are not alone. O0
When it comes to marriage, I hope you would know your potential wife pretty well and well enough to know if she is that superficial. I doubt that any women who had a couple kids with a good, decent man who was a good father would give up her family because her husband developed a receding hairline or thinning hair. As you get older women look for a lot of other things aside from hair. Hairloss for a guy in a 10 plus year marriage is the same as a women getting some lines and wrinkles. It's just one those things that you accept and look past as they are very minor and natural aging flaws.
Nevermind a few hairs, god forbid if you were ever in an accident and lost a limb or a were badly scarred etc. the same would apply - love in a marriage is unconditional, or at least should be. 8)
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When it comes to marriage, I hope you would know your potential wife pretty well and well enough to know if she is that superficial. I doubt that any women who had a couple kids with a good, decent man who was a good father would give up her family because her husband developed a receding hairline or thinning hair. As you get older women look for a lot of other things aside from hair. Hairloss for a guy in a 10 plus year marriage is the same as a women getting some lines and wrinkles. It's just one those things that you accept and look past as they are very minor and natural aging flaws.
You're absolutely correct, Vin, but along the lines of the original point -- your future wife can't complain about your shaved head if it was already shaved when she met you. So I guess that's one advantage to going bald at an earlier age.
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But here's a counter argument to what a lot of guys are saying that they wish they were older before MPB kicked in. If your in a marriage or been in a long term relationship and originally met for g/f, spouse, etc. with a head full of hair. How do you know whether she'll take to you being bald kindly or not when MPB finlly does kick in? What if she liked your hair a lot?
I'm going to go out on a limb and say that this is probably not a common problem. When it comes to aging issues, I think women have it rougher than we do. We have to deal with hair loss, but they tend to be more prone to wrinkles and weight gain, and as such are probably going to be more forgiving toward a balding husband. And let's face it, a lot of men dump their wives for younger women, but you don't very often hear about women dumping their husbands for younger men. Not saying that it never happens, but on an anectodal level at least, it appears to be less common.
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Marz,
Your last sentence was perfect.
Adam
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Here's how I see it, there is good and bad to both. If you go through it early like I have it's pretty difficult because even though more and more people are losing their hair earlier, it's still not the 'norm', and it can be pretty difficult when you see people older than you with much more hair. It also is difficult because girls our age aren't used to having 'the bald guy' hit on them. However, a plus to losing it early is that I still feel like I can reinvent myself, therefore shaving my head may be a change, but in the grand scheme it's not all that big. I think it would be tough to go through MPB at an older age because I would feel more and more like I was becoming older. Finally, I think it would be ok to deal with when you are older because you are already a more established person/identity, and looks don't matter as much to the opposite sex, and also experiencing it as an older man, you most likely have friends who will sympathize more and probly friends who are farther along than you, basically there are more people in your situation, so there isn't as much of an alone feeling. Just my thoughts on it -
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Hey great discussion guys & you make some interesting points Razor. I'd never really thought about it like that. However, speaking as someone who lost their hair at a pretty early age I still think if I had the choice, if I am being honest, I would have preferred to have had a few more years before having to deal with the whole mpb issue. Part of what made it difficult was the feeling of being very alone in what was happening. I knew of no other people my age who were experiencing anything similar & that made it a difficult & traumatic experience. Having said that, now... at 45 I tend to think how incredibly lucky I am that the worst thing that's happened to me thus far is that I started losing my hair at age 20.
In the wider scheme of things I'd say that's pretty good going & I suspect that if I was only now just beginning to lose my hair in my 40's although I'd undoubtedly not be pleased about it, hopefully I would have a better sense of perspective about it than I did at 20.
One last thing... Diesel Power mentioned that more guys seem to be losing their hair earlier these days. I am not sure that that's true or even how you could quantify that statement. but assuming for a moment that it is ... I was wondering why that might be? Any suggestions anyone?
Cheers J. O0
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Hey shyslyguy, good question and as I recall reading from an evolutionary standpoint, mates in general are selected for genetic worth. The fact that one can be genetically predisposed to baldness suggests that losing one's hair has (or in this case, had) some form of evolutionary advantage. A physical trait that boasts of some genetic edge is more likely to spread throughout a species. Thus, the spread of MPB increases as we evolve but at a rate that we are probably unlikely to notice in our lifetime. It is only modern civilization that has casted MPB as a negative. It was most likely a favoured trait many, many years ago.
Some theorists say that a bald head may have indicated a man's advanced stage of physical and social maturity. This could have encouraged increased status in a social group as well as less aggressive behavior from other males, as the bald man is visibly past the threatening stage of high sexual activity, and perhaps more likely to be a nurturer to younger groups as well.
It's an interesting subject.
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Humans have become less and less hairy over time... we dont need hair to keep us warm anymore so I imagine that our body adapts.
(https://www.slybaldguys.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fnotgartner.files.wordpress.com%2F2006%2F12%2Fwindowslivewriterexplainingevolutiontoafouryearold-11e95evolution9.jpg&hash=6be5d3fd05f6b4d8756fbff00779439311403713)
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That is a good point, but the odd thing is that a lot of guys with advanced hairloss are actually hairier then those without hairloss (body hair etc.).
It is also interesting to note that a number of other primate species also experience hair loss following puberty, and some primate species clearly use an enlarged forehead, created both anatomically and through strategies such as frontal balding, to convey increased status and maturity.
(https://www.slybaldguys.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.imagetor.com%2Fout.php%2Fi16865_gorilla.jpg&hash=cec6562e5f7223eafe03a30843e21dc31c14d933)
Someone should tell him to go sly 8)
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You're absolutely correct, Vin, but along the lines of the original point -- your future wife can't complain about your shaved head if it was already shaved when she met you. So I guess that's one advantage to going bald at an earlier age.
I don't know about that... ...remember the episode of Seinfeld where Elaine fell for a sly guy after she saw a picture of him with hair. She convinced him to grow his hair out and dumped him when they both discovered that while he had been shaving his head for several years, he had gone bald???
I've known some women (and men too) who were that shallow.
There is more to being a couple than that. Love develops a deep appreciation for a mate's intelect, personality and passion. If you don't have that it's all just superficial.
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One last thing... Diesel Power mentioned that more guys seem to be losing their hair earlier these days. I am not sure that that's true or even how you could quantify that statement. but assuming for a moment that it is ... I was wondering why that might be? Any suggestions anyone?
Cheers J. O0
It does seem like there more guys going bald at a younger age, but I don't know if it's quantifiable. I remember when I was a kid it seemed like only really old men were bald. But maybe it's my definition what a really old man is that's changed. ;D
I have read that girls are hitting puberty at younger ages nowadays. I don't know why. But if men are losing their hair younger, perhaps it's for the same reason. Perhaps it's environmental, or perhaps people mature more quickly due to improved nutrition, medical care, etc.
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God never gives you more than you can handle... although his timing could be better.
Too bad I don't believe in God, never have never will. ;)
]One last thing... Diesel Power mentioned that more guys seem to be losing their hair earlier these days. I am not sure that that's true or even how you could quantify that statement. but assuming for a moment that it is ... I was wondering why that might be? Any suggestions anyone?
Yeah I've noticed the same and I think that the bad western diet could have something to do with it. Everything comes fat-ripped but is chock-full of carbohydrates, sugar and saturated fat. The body needs natural fat (from fish, meat etc.) more than it needs those 3.
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But here's a counter argument to what a lot of guys are saying that they wish they were older before MPB kicked in. If your in a marriage or been in a long term relationship and originally met for g/f, spouse, etc. with a head full of hair. How do you know whether she'll take to you being bald kindly or not when MPB finlly does kick in? What if she liked your hair a lot?
I'm going to go out on a limb and say that this is probably not a common problem. When it comes to aging issues, I think women have it rougher than we do. We have to deal with hair loss, but they tend to be more prone to wrinkles and weight gain, and as such are probably going to be more forgiving toward a balding husband. And let's face it, a lot of men dump their wives for younger women, but you don't very often hear about women dumping their husbands for younger men. Not saying that it never happens, but on an anectodal level at least, it appears to be less common.
I'm not so sure about that. There are a lot of "maturing" boomer ladies experiencing hair loss--look carefully at the 50-60 set. You'll see a lot of the ladies with a Friar (or it should be Prioress) Tuck(lette) spot. I remember a woman in NO, since dead, that had a full shiny runway, and the tresses on the side and rear carefully arranged as though she had the top! She didn't have any medical causes, just genetics. I think they have the problem, not men because except for an extremely rare instance they don't have the Sly option at this time--Brittany showed that it is't always accepted even in the fast lane as a general matter. It seems for the ladies it's always late onset, but even that is too early. I have wondered if my wife's continuing dislike, after 7 weeks, could be partially based on a small hole that she carefully covers. I know that is why she rarely rides in my convertible. I don't want to start WWIII by even bringing it up, she's a red head and she has a FIREY temper that seems to run with the breed.
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But here's a counter argument to what a lot of guys are saying that they wish they were older before MPB kicked in. If your in a marriage or been in a long term relationship and originally met for g/f, spouse, etc. with a head full of hair. How do you know whether she'll take to you being bald kindly or not when MPB finlly does kick in? What if she liked your hair a lot?
I'm going to go out on a limb and say that this is probably not a common problem. When it comes to aging issues, I think women have it rougher than we do. We have to deal with hair loss, but they tend to be more prone to wrinkles and weight gain, and as such are probably going to be more forgiving toward a balding husband. And let's face it, a lot of men dump their wives for younger women, but you don't very often hear about women dumping their husbands for younger men. Not saying that it never happens, but on an anectodal level at least, it appears to be less common.
I'm not so sure about that. There are a lot of "maturing" boomer ladies experiencing hair loss--look carefully at the 50-60 set. You'll see a lot of the ladies with a Friar (or it should be Prioress) Tuck(lette) spot. I remember a woman in NO, since dead, that had a full shiny runway, and the tresses on the side and rear carefully arranged as though she had the top! She didn't have any medical causes, just genetics. I think they have the problem, not men because except for an extremely rare instance they don't have the Sly option at this time--Brittany showed that it is't always accepted even in the fast lane as a general matter. It seems for the ladies it's always late onset, but even that is too early. I have wondered if my wife's continuing dislike, after 7 weeks, could be partially based on a small hole that she carefully covers. I know that is why she rarely rides in my convertible. I don't want to start WWIII by even bringing it up, she's a red head and she has a FIREY temper that seems to run with the breed.
Yeah I know that women can lose their hair, because my mother is going through this. She's thinning everywhere on top just like me. And still she cannot quite understand that I'm losing my hair too. "It won't happen until you're 50", "you got good hair". Talking about f**king denial... btw, I got the exact same hair quality as my mom so it's not too hard to figure out whom I gotten the gene from.
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But here's a counter argument to what a lot of guys are saying that they wish they were older before MPB kicked in. If your in a marriage or been in a long term relationship and originally met for g/f, spouse, etc. with a head full of hair. How do you know whether she'll take to you being bald kindly or not when MPB finlly does kick in? What if she liked your hair a lot?
I'm going to go out on a limb and say that this is probably not a common problem. When it comes to aging issues, I think women have it rougher than we do. We have to deal with hair loss, but they tend to be more prone to wrinkles and weight gain, and as such are probably going to be more forgiving toward a balding husband. And let's face it, a lot of men dump their wives for younger women, but you don't very often hear about women dumping their husbands for younger men. Not saying that it never happens, but on an anectodal level at least, it appears to be less common.
I'm not so sure about that. There are a lot of "maturing" boomer ladies experiencing hair loss--look carefully at the 50-60 set. You'll see a lot of the ladies with a Friar (or it should be Prioress) Tuck(lette) spot. I remember a woman in NO, since dead, that had a full shiny runway, and the tresses on the side and rear carefully arranged as though she had the top! She didn't have any medical causes, just genetics. I think they have the problem, not men because except for an extremely rare instance they don't have the Sly option at this time--Brittany showed that it is't always accepted even in the fast lane as a general matter. It seems for the ladies it's always late onset, but even that is too early. I have wondered if my wife's continuing dislike, after 7 weeks, could be partially based on a small hole that she carefully covers. I know that is why she rarely rides in my convertible. I don't want to start WWIII by even bringing it up, she's a red head and she has a FIREY temper that seems to run with the breed.
Is Brittany actually losing her hair? I thought she just shaved it for media attention etc.
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Razor, you make some good points here. I would hate to have to deal with MPB alongside the many other traumatic effects of aging. So in that sense, I am glad to have gone through losing my hair earler. You definitely sound like a cup-is-half-full kind of guy.
I concur with most everyone here, though, that it's hard no matter how old you are. But when you're older at least you have a greater chance of knowing others your age who are dealing with it, so you kind of have a support group. (Too bad SBG and the Internet weren't around for me back then.) Also, others around you aren't quite so surprised at the loss the older you are. I don't know how accurate this is, but several years ago a magazine article - I can't remember which one - reported that an average of about 20% of men in their 20's are coping with MPB, 30% in their 30's, 40% in their 40's and so on.
I started losing my hair at about 25. I tried Rogaine and Avacair (spelling?) for a while. Then I bought a lot of baseball caps, and I just stressed over making sure I always kept the baseball cap on - especially around people that hadn't seen me without it.
Around that time I complained about it to the girl cutting my hair, and she said something to the effect of, "Well, it could be worse. You could have cancer." I remember thinking, "Yeah, but at least with cancer my suffering would be over fairly quickly." It's sad but true. I think a lot of guys can relate. Unfortunately, an inordinate amount of importance is placed on looking a certain way in today's society.
Since then I've come to accept my situation, though. I figure, Do what you can with what you have and work within your "limitations" - if you consider MPB to be a limitation. Dress and groom yourself in a way that is flattering for you yourself. This applies to everyone who isn't happy with his/her physical attributes.
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I'm 54 and being bald doesn't bother me!
But understand being young and going bald!
For some it could be tramatic it probably would have been with me!
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Im also 54 and couldnt care less anymore. At 24 I flipped out and got transplants. Wasn't acceptable to be bald back then.
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I started thinning and receeding at 27, so i decided to shave my head when it happened, iam actually glad that i started back then, i have totally embraced my shaved head because it is easy maintenance
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she's a red head and she has a FIREY temper that seems to run with the breed
Watch it Saint!
Just kiddin :D
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she's a red head and she has a FIREY temper that seems to run with the breed
Watch it Saint!
Just kiddin :D
My mistake, but I got a wife AND daughter w/ red hair, and I swear it does affect the personality. Perhaps it's the link to the Vikings that causes the gene brings out the unique personality. Anyway, I must have and do like it, I'm married to one. And, BTW, my mother was too---and please no Freudian response posts, it's too easy a shot.
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I actually heard the red hair gene is directly linked to Scotland and the Scottish people. From what I was told, if you have red hair, you have Scott blood, period.
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I actually heard the red hair gene is directly linked to Scotland and the Scottish people. From what I was told, if you have red hair, you have Scott blood, period.
The redheads of Ireland and Scotland, according to my understanding through my Norwegian relatives, the decedents of the seed scattered by the Vikings during their raids of the area! And yet another admission, my beard is red, or was it's gotten a lot of grey now like my hair. It looked strange years ago, a red beard, and brown hair. I guess that's what comes of mixing Italian and Scandanavian roots. Offtah!
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HAHA, I had the same thing, red / kinda calico beard and brown hair. My dad is the same.
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HAHA, I had the same thing, red / kinda calico beard and brown hair. My dad is the same.
Well it looks like we took care of that problem, NEXT! :*)) :*))
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I actually heard the red hair gene is directly linked to Scotland and the Scottish people. From what I was told, if you have red hair, you have Scott blood, period.
Nah, I doubt my mother and one of my uncles has any scottish blood whatsoever, yet they have red hair. And I have brown hair and whitish beard (the little that grows).
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you got that right, i started shaving my head at 27, i have the late onset mpb, i shaved my head when it started at first,
You may say that now, but believe me, you still won't be ready for it to happen 10, 15, or 20 years from now. There's never a good time. Let me state my point in another way: most men are going to lose at least some of their hair at some point in their lives. It's hard to be bald at a young age when your friends all still have their hair. But eventually many of them will lose theirs. And when they do, you'll be glad that you've already had a smooth slick dome for years, rather than just starting the process like they are. I realize that this is small consolation to you now.
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A red head that I dated for a bit used to say that "Red heads do what blondes dream about" in her most seductive voice. >:D
she's a red head and she has a FIREY temper that seems to run with the breed
Watch it Saint!
Just kiddin :D
My mistake, but I got a wife AND daughter w/ red hair, and I swear it does affect the personality. Perhaps it's the link to the Vikings that causes the gene brings out the unique personality. Anyway, I must have and do like it, I'm married to one. And, BTW, my mother was too---and please no Freudian response posts, it's too easy a shot.
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A red head that I dated for a bit used to say that "Red heads do what blondes dream about" in her most seductive voice. >:D
The become puppies?
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My hair started receding at 20. It paused a bit in, but at 25 I can see the steady progression backwards. I have been comfortable going bald (my dad is bald, except for that screwy ring around hte back of the head, why does he DO that?) for a long time now though, because of the early onset. I think that the people that have the most issue with me going bald now are all my sisters.
I have buzzed my head a few times, seeing the recession a bit more each time, but come january is the first time I'll razor it. The wife isn't so keen on any change to the hair, however, and I think that's why I'm suddenly self conscious about shaving it all off. I am interested to hear if anyone else has this experience with their wives or long standing girlfriends?
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Joe, That seems to be a typical response from most wives. Don't know why that is. But usually they either learn to like it or just accept it because it's something that you like. The self-confidence and attitude should be what's most important.
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I agree with SLYinKC. I wanted to go SLY but worrried what my wife would think of the ultimate look. And yes, I did care what she thought, because if she liked it, the confidence and self-esteem boost would be that much better.
While I was on the fence for 6 months, going shorter and shorter, trying to decide to shave it or not, I kept reading the great advice here and got some one-on-one advice PM'd to me as well. They all suggested that once you do it, stick with it for at least 30 days. These guys are never wrong. They've got great advice and know that relief from the anxiety is a blade away
Well, I did it just before Thanksgiving and haven't looked back as I approach my 1-month anniversary. It's amazing how it just becomes part of who you are (if you like it and carry your bald head high, that is). My wife has actually gotten used to it, too. The head rubs are an added bonus.
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My wife has now had nearly 10 weeks to get "used to it" and she hasn't! Maybe it's the redhead thing >:D >:D, who knows. My thinking now is to let it start to grow out around next August because the MPB won't have improved and by then, maybe, the deterioration in my "glorious mane" will be so obvious that she'll have the chance to approve. If she doesn't, it will come off again because I have to be comfortable walking around w/ the dying remains of the mop--she doesn't. I can't do that and I'm comfortable Sly, I know I look good in business suits at work as well as in casual clothes other times. I've gotten so many compliments in the past ten weeks, many of them in front of her, w/ the Sly look, and, as many may recall, you get no compliments about the MPB. Can you imagine someone telling you, "Gee, you look good w/ the greying fringe and thinning top--it's a hot look!" NEVER. So, if she doesn't come around by August, she'll get a short term revisit w/ the dying mop, then it's gone for good. She changes, not my appearance. She'll just have to learn to live with it. :x! :x! Yes, I've got an attitude.
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congrats Rob on your 1 month anniversary... to little joe and saintc: my wife did not like the shaved look when I first did it. Now I have grown it back for winter, and job reasons and now she prefers the shaved look better (due to obvious thinning) and wants me to shave again. We have both agreed it will be better to wait till Spring though and she prefers a little stubble over completely slick. I am still an active member on here even though I am not sly at the moment (sshhh) and even though I prefer a little stubble because this is such a great group of guys and they except people regardless.
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I just had my wife and one of my best friends (I have known since I was 15) both tell me how I am 100% better looking without hair. They were actually laughing at me having hair saying "Hair just was not your thing".
and there I was back when I started loosing my hair thinking that I was loosing my looks, etc.
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I just had my wife and one of my best friends (I have known since I was 15) both tell me how I am 100% better looking without hair. They were actually laughing at me having hair saying "Hair just was not your thing".
and there I was back when I started loosing my hair thinking that I was loosing my looks, etc.
Yea, that's the thing I get a lot...I actually look better overall without any hair on my head...dudes on the fence need to understand that..
some dudes look better bald (even if they aren't losing it) without a single hair on their heads!
You got a smart wifey there Mars! O0
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Yeah it sure is a blow to the old self-esteem losing hair at age 18-20, but I'm hoping it'll just take some time to get over it. I hate hearing crap for it at parties though, they think it's all in good fun but I'm not laughing. I don't understand how people can be that stupid. If you see an old friend you haven't seen in a long time who has gained some weight, you don't point it out and make them feel bad, why would you? A guy at my new years party pointed out my thinning hair up front and the guy had acne. I could have hit him back with that, but did I? Nope. Guess I just don't have it in me to make others feel bad for no reason. :)
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Yeah it sure is a blow to the old self-esteem losing hair at age 18-20, but I'm hoping it'll just take some time to get over it. I hate hearing crap for it at parties though, they think it's all in good fun but I'm not laughing.
Believe it or not, once you shave it, the wisecracks pretty much stop.
I don't understand how people can be that stupid. If you see an old friend you haven't seen in a long time who has gained some weight, you don't point it out and make them feel bad, why would you?
You'd be surprised, some people do. Trust me, I've been on the receiving end of that one. Some people are just rude.
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so i opened this thread and began reading the various early v. late arguments... but somehow it became a discussion about redheads? oy you guys are ridiculous (but i love it, of course)
anyways, my two cents: i came in here all gung-ho ready to post about why Early mbp is waaaaay worse than Later. you know cuz when you're old, you're old and who cares, old ppl get bald - fact of life. haha no offense, that was just my initial observation... but i thought about it more and realized that wasn't so much the issue. really, at any age it's going to suck because you're forced to part with something you've likely had your whole life! a person who starts balding at 30 or 40 has known their hair for a good decade or two longer than a person of just 20! and to adapt to a new appearance/style change when you're older and more set in your ways must be incredibly difficult! that, plus the whole "you dont know what you got til it's gone" aspect of it.
that said, there are still a plenty of set-backs to early mbp. for one, we're still "out-on-the-prowl" for young hotties to trick into dating us. by trick i mean woo, of course. it just makes it harder to compete for the cuties when you're the only one in your circle of young single guy friends who has to worry about a condition that is traditionally associated with being old. when you're young, you wanna be young forever! or at least until you find a potential mate. thoughts like "i'll never get any girls if i'm BALDING!!" begin to plague your mind. haha oh man. however, with this site, all that is irrelevent because now we have a venue to express our thoughts and concerns, and share stories and support with one another.
so i began to to think of ways in which balding at a younger age can IMPROVE your quality of life:
1. Humility - dealing w/ MBP has caused me to become a more humble person. not just concerning balding, but any other type of event that people may go through. sometimes you just take things for granted because you haven't seen the other side.
2. Confidence - this one gets tossed around a bunch but it's true. you begin to grow thicker skin as you embrace this new change. things people say/said/or do don't affect you as much, and you can become more comfortable with yourself. this is a trait that will help the young bald guy in his career, social- and love-lives.
3. Social life - chances are if you've embraced Sly-dom at a young age, you can establish the link between sly and you. people will begin to forget the you with hair and will probably mention they could never imagine you WITH hair as Sly-ness becomes a part of your persona.
4. Dating/Marriage - no worrying what the wife you think when you shave your head, because you will probably meet her as a bald man! eliminates the dread of the "my wife hates it" factor because your future spouse met you when you were bald and probably fell for you because of it!
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Dinosaur!!!!!
Dude what you said rocks...older dudes should listen to this great message...
You know I hate to say this , but maybe going bald early was the best thing to happen to you dude..
With your attitude you're gonna go far my friend..
You've only been shaved smooth for ONE DAY...come on fess up..wisdom like that usually takes at least a good amount of years sly!
O0 O0 O0
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Dudes, it has to be better meeting your future wife when you are already bald then dealing with it years later, when you've been together.
It is impossible to totally predict what a wife/spouse/significant other will think or say about your look. My wife met me when I had a full head of hair. Now decades later, she misses the hair. We had some major "discussions" when I finally came to grips with my MPB and shaved. She did just about everything to include threaten the "or else...!", which was worse than anything physical.
Now, I shave the "front" portion and buzz everything else real close. It's still a compromise. But ironically, people at work who I see occasionally, don't notice the difference. They think of me as bald, and if I have some fuzz on the back portion, they dismiss it as me being lazy. Only follically challenged guys seem to notice whether I shaved that day, or got lazy and buzzed, or used an electric razor.
Younger guys have more mental baggage about going bald early in life. Later on, not too many people care. Personally, I'm more concerned about being able to see my face in the mirror the next morning, vs. how I look. Funny how perspectives change as we age.
Oh, and yes, I'm new here (first posting).
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DAT Boy, welcome to Sly Bald Guys!
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I went to a military college and had my head shaven at 17. I thence kept it cropped short and that mitigated the appearance of my early MPB.
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I'd have had a much easier time with MPB at 30/40 than I did at 19/20 - trust me. I don't need to experience later life MPB to know in my case. I look at movie stars, politicians, and everyday blokes with baldness in their 40's, and they look fine to me. I would have no problem being bald as a wiser, older man. I just feel that MPB looks a lot worse on a younger guy like myself. Guys at Jason Statham's age or older can look cool with it, just as he does.
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i'd like to second that last post. i'm 23, and going through mpb starting at age 18 was horrible. i spent alot of money on vitamins, shampoos, rogaine, etc. while all of my buddies had full heads of hair. it KILLED my self esteem. especially around the ladies.
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In my 40's I didn't have to worry about gray hairs or weight gain. My metab is still kicking it pretty good and for some reason I never got gray. Low stress in life maybe. But there was that sneaky MBP thing creeping around.
I think the way it ended up was all good though. The self esteem is definitely there without the droopy receding hair...
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good thread razorX! and a lot of good points!as well as from schro, rick, and all the other guys.
to handle early or late mpb developing is a kind of self-refelction i guess. we are all individuals.
it's all about how you developt yourself over the years. i feel with everyone having issues with
"growing out" an mpb. no difference in which age.
i the guess the most important is thing to find peace with it (asap)
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and don't forget this is german-english ;)
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like has been said before, it all kind of depends on the person. It's never easy, no matter what age you are. I started losing my hair at 15, yes, thats right FIFTEEN. And it still hurts, but something I've found is that if you just be yourself, people dont care. I think a lot of why people don't want to go bald comes from outside, we as a society have kind of demonized going bald, even though it's not THAT big of a deal, there are far more horrible things than going bald.
I remember being gutted when I saw had bad it was going, I would stand over the sink running my hands over my hair and watch as it literally down poured hair. It was probably the hardest thing I've ever had to go through (which is good, because like I said before, there are TONS of things that are much worse) but I think it's taught me a lot. shortly after i kind of discovered my MPB I cut my hair, as short as I could, and then even shorter, and I just continued my life, no one cares, none of my friends ever stare, in fact I get tons of compliments.
Like I said before it wasn't easy, and it still isn't and if there was some magic cure that didn't require some ugly scar and fake looking plugs, I'd consider it, but at the end of the day I'd question as to whether or not its worth it. Again it wasn't easy and its still isn't (im 18 now) but when it comes down to it you just gotta play with the cards you've been dealt, because dwelling on it will only make it worse.
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... it wasn't easy and its still isn't (im 18 now) but when it comes down to it you just gotta play with the cards you've been dealt, because dwelling on it will only make it worse.
Amen! Glad to see that somebody gets it! O0
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... it wasn't easy and its still isn't (im 18 now) but when it comes down to it you just gotta play with the cards you've been dealt, because dwelling on it will only make it worse.
Amen! Glad to see that somebody gets it! O0
O0
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...but when it comes down to it you just gotta play with the cards you've been dealt, because dwelling on it will only make it worse.
Here, Here !! Truer words were never spoken.
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I'm thinking back to high school.... waaaaay back, about 1988..... and I remember someone coming to school with a shaved head. It was soooo different, but it was accepted so well... everyone (graduated with 600) gave him positive attention. But now I'm thinking that maybe he was one of the people you hear about that had early mpb. And if that is the case, WOW... what an awesome kid! To confront something like that at his age head on (pun intended).
Whatever the reason people shave their heads shouldn't matter (in my novice eyes), we have all reached the same plateau; Slyness
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It's funny how you made a comparison between those who have MPB at 30 and those who have it at 40. Hear this:
I just turned 25 and have already thinned drastically. MPB starting at 30 is NOT early MPB. MPB starting at 20 IS EARLY MPB. Believe me, it isn't easy to deal with this sh*t at this age... I can't even grow a proper beard yet I am balding severely. Life is great innit? I would give almost anything to keep my hair until I'm 30. I'm almost 100% certain that losing hair couldn't hurt this much if I would be 10-15 years older. It's not about looking older, it's not about getting used to having hair. It's all about what other ppl perceive as normal. Losing hair when you're 30-40 is not a big deal, it's normal. However, only under 5% of males lose their hair in their 20's, it's like being some kinda freak.
That was very eloquently put. It is hardER to go bald before you find the right person to share your life with. It is hardER to go from late bloomer straight into balding. The younger you are, the hardER it is to accept. I typed hardER the way I did because it's never easy, it's always hard, but the qualifier is definitely on a sliding scale. By the time anyone reaches their 30s or 40s, they'll have something obviously aging them, so everyone at that age is pretty much on common ground. At teen-20s, you either have to have MPB or be a severe drug user to have aged noticeably. That does indeed make you a kind of freak/outcast in the eyes of your peers. It does suck having to wait for your age group to catch up to your misery-maturity level. (In my eyes, misery increases maturity through humility. That's why "perfect" people are usually jerks until they start to fade and understand.)
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Started balding at 17, now 2 years later and shaved I think I'm glad it happened this early so I could get it out of the way and not have to deal with it at 40 when life is probably more stressful.
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Started balding at 17, now 2 years later and shaved I think I'm glad it happened this early so I could get it out of the way and not have to deal with it at 40 when life is probably more stressful.
Now that's what I'm talkin' about! O0
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I actually kinda feel sorry for my friends that will have to deal with it in the future. I mean, they're gonna be hitting up SBG in 10-20 years while I'll have been rocking the look for ages. I hope it's like the 40 year old virgin and I'll be able to teach them the ways of the sly.
You gotta stop puttin' the hair on a pedestal!
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I actually kinda feel sorry for my friends that will have to deal with it in the future. I mean, they're gonna be hitting up SBG in 10-20 years while I'll have been rocking the look for ages. I hope it's like the 40 year old virgin and I'll be able to teach them the ways of the sly.
You gotta stop puttin' the hair on a pedestal!
love your attitude brother
look after your friends, they'll need it
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It's funny how you made a comparison between those who have MPB at 30 and those who have it at 40. Hear this:
I just turned 25 and have already thinned drastically. MPB starting at 30 is NOT early MPB. MPB starting at 20 IS EARLY MPB. Believe me, it isn't easy to deal with this sh*t at this age... I can't even grow a proper beard yet I am balding severely. Life is great innit? I would give almost anything to keep my hair until I'm 30. I'm almost 100% certain that losing hair couldn't hurt this much if I would be 10-15 years older. It's not about looking older, it's not about getting used to having hair. It's all about what other ppl perceive as normal. Losing hair when you're 30-40 is not a big deal, it's normal. However, only under 5% of males lose their hair in their 20's, it's like being some kinda freak.
That was very eloquently put. It is hardER to go bald before you find the right person to share your life with. It is hardER to go from late bloomer straight into balding. The younger you are, the hardER it is to accept. I typed hardER the way I did because it's never easy, it's always hard, but the qualifier is definitely on a sliding scale. By the time anyone reaches their 30s or 40s, they'll have something obviously aging them, so everyone at that age is pretty much on common ground. At teen-20s, you either have to have MPB or be a severe drug user to have aged noticeably. That does indeed make you a kind of freak/outcast in the eyes of your peers. It does suck having to wait for your age group to catch up to your misery-maturity level. (In my eyes, misery increases maturity through humility. That's why "perfect" people are usually jerks until they start to fade and understand.)
I think that it is a shame that you view it like this. I am 30 now and couldnt grow much hair on the top of my head even if I wanted to. I dont always like it, but it is the hand i have been dealt. I met my current partner and mother of my child when I was severely thinning. It wasnt and isnt my hair she loves me for but the fact that I am eloquent, occasionally funny, but moreover am her equal, soulmate and best friend. She doesnt find me any less attractive for the fact that i have no hair, in fact she laughs at the fact that sometimes i dont like it and says she hates looking at photos of me with hair, becuase it doesnt look like me.
Dont get me wrong I havent taken to baldness easily i have taken a fair share of ribbing, but whilst i am in my 20's and bald, others are fat, thin, short, big nose, big ears etc. One man's baldness is anothers alternative insecurity.
I genuinely do not believe that it is hairloss that hinders you in anyway, I believe it is the resulting attitude. For me i have always sought to challenge my attitude rather than the cause of it, if a miracle cure appeared I think i would almost see it as defeat to go for it. Not suggesting that should be everyone's attitude.
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I'm young and bald, it sucks feeling like an outcast... I don't know many young bald guys but its also cool knowing that hair loss isn't a concern of mine now.
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I'm young and bald, it sucks feeling like an outcast... I don't know many young bald guys but its also cool knowing that hair loss isn't a concern of mine now.
These days you don't have to feel like an outcast. 15 or 20 years ago it was a different story. But today, I think it would be kind of cool to be college age and be one of the few completely bald guys on campus.
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hey yeppers, you're a good lookin "kid" with a low hairline, get your self a cute girl (if you haven't already) that doesn't care about how much hair is on your head or how much $$ is in your wallet and you'll be alright. (Sorry to hijack thread)
O0 O0 O0
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I'm young and bald, it sucks feeling like an outcast... I don't know many young bald guys but its also cool knowing that hair loss isn't a concern of mine now.
I like being an outcast, even if I'm really not...the bald look is popular today.
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To Blondeguy: Its great to be an outcast at your age. 30 years ago it was long hair.
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people who say they'd rather have late onset MPB have the spirit of the forum completely backwards
saying it that way with the sentiment being that you wish you had it longer because it gave you a better life or more enjoyment or something is totally wrong.
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people who say they'd rather have late onset MPB have the spirit of the forum completely backwards
saying it that way with the sentiment being that you wish you had it longer because it gave you a better life or more enjoyment or something is totally wrong.
amen.
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I think it all boils down to a persons vanity and what he thinks. When I was in my late teens, early 20's, I was going bald very fast, but I did not care. I was more concerned with other things going on in my life. My hair was not then, and is not now important to me.
People need to know now, that unless you are a movie star, or a super model, looks only go so far.
As the comedian Ron White would say "You can't fix stupid"
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I now think its for the best that it happened to me during my twenties. Its best to get it out of the way sooner rather than later.
I do sympathize with those that deal with it during their teens. There are a lot of things during that time that you're anxious about and having mpb in addition to those could not have been easy. It always helps to talk openly about it with someone though even though that person is not going through the same thing. Its just nice to get it off your chest.
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About it being "in style": I think that might be true in Europe. I visited Sweden last summer and it seems like a ton of guys were sporting either the buzzed or the sly look in various cities.
About old vs young, I would say it's definitely worse to go through with it when you're young. I thought I was superman, then I saw signs of MPB and my eyes started going bad in the same few months. I realized I was no longer a perfect invincible human being.
You older guys seeing it from a mature older man's perspective might make you forget what it's like to be in the vain social world of the 25 and below world; when you need all the confidence you can get to get the courage to do well with the ladies and excel in your career.
Nevertheless, going sly helps you deal with it and move on to conquer the rest of life. It lets you take the situation into your own hands instead of buying some rip-off snake oil.
Steele
IU
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extremely difficult to deal with in my 20's; however, I prefer zero to any hair at all nowadays.
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I'd much rather be losing it later than sooner. I started losing my hair about a year ago when I was 20, and I'm usually the only guy my age in the room with hair that's visibly thinning. Sometimes that's very hard for me to deal with, especially since when I was in my teens I kept my hair a little on the long side and it was so thick I could hardly deal with it sometimes. I liked my hair a lot, and I think that's why MPB hitting me so early hurt me as much as it did.
On the positive side, I'm blessed with good friends who have the decency not to make fun of me for it or even mention it, but there was a period of time when I hated going out in public except at night because I felt humiliated that I was losing my hair so young, and nobody my age that I knew was going through the same thing. Since then I've gotten better about dealing with it by adopting the attitude that anyone who doesn't like it or wants to make a remark about it can piss off. It feels good to have gotten back some of my confidence, and I hope to keep building it up until I'm comfortable with going sly.
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When I started law school at gthe age of 21, we had two guys who were already "profoundly" bald, I mean not a shred, wisp or shadow just skin from forehead to the back of the head. They had been losing it all through college. There were several others with wispy combovers, and I had the fine start to a "hole" in my head. When my daughter was in college she had a real crush on a guy who wouldn't take off his hat, he was almost entirely bald by his second year of college. There are lots of guys who go profoundly bald at an early age, but fortunately now it's entirely acceptable and even an "in" look to sport a shaved head. So you're fortunate to live now, to have a socially acceptable, even fashionable option to deal with nature's gift.
We all are. And I, for one, wish I had had the conviction to do it, at least buzz it, 10 years earlier before it became so patchy I had to move straight on, shocking my friends and family. But, they've accepted it. I'm happy looking good--it does wonders for hiding grey hair :*)) :*)) :*)). and I save lots of money on barber fees, shampoo, brushes, hair dryers, hair spray. Good deal, I think, but I do wish I'd done this a lot earlier.
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I'd much rather be losing it later than sooner. I started losing my hair about a year ago when I was 20, and I'm usually the only guy my age in the room with hair that's visibly thinning. Sometimes that's very hard for me to deal with, especially since when I was in my teens I kept my hair a little on the long side and it was so thick I could hardly deal with it sometimes. I liked my hair a lot, and I think that's why MPB hitting me so early hurt me as much as it did.
I hate to break it to you, but 20 years from now you're still going to be outnumbered by the hairy guys. There will be some more of them by then, to be sure, but I still quite often find that I'm the only bald/shaved guy in a room. That was really my original point; that it's kind of a blessing to have the opportunity to get over that early in life.
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people who say they'd rather have late onset MPB have the spirit of the forum completely backwards
saying it that way with the sentiment being that you wish you had it longer because it gave you a better life or more enjoyment or something is totally wrong.
amen.
The Point is... atleast what I am experiencing is... I'm learning to love myself for who I am now. I am letting go of superficial ideals at a young age, and finding real purpose and happiness now. I am finding out now who my real friends are and who is a real prospective mate now... rather than finding out later that I am shallow person who cares about all the wrong things, and being married to someone would have "loved" me for the wrong reasons.
that is the "consolation"... in my opinion that kind of closure is more of a divine gift than a consolation
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rather than finding out later that I am shallow person who cares about all the wrong things, and being married to someone would have "loved" me for the wrong reasons.
that is the "consolation"... in my opinion that kind of closure is more of a divine gift than a consolation
Perspective...that's one of the most powerful traits a person can have..
it's one of the biggest keys to having a happy, healthy life!
You're a great asset here bro! O0
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Ok losing hair "might" only affect one's looks. I know looks are important but
the way I look at it is hair is not such a big deal damn it.
Imagine what people who are blind go through. Imagine what people who are
wihout an arm or leg go through. Imagine what people who can't hear are going
through. Losing sight, a leg, or an arm actually affects your ability to do work the way
you want it. Losing hair doesn't cause you to lose your ablity to do work.
Oh and finally I hate to put it this way, but hey as long as I am not impotent then praise be
to God for what I have. I mean seriously, there are so many things we have we don't appreciate
enough. Of course, the reason why I'm now appreciating other things I have is because of my hair loss.
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Now hold on, I'm acting all that lol.
This web-site is the reason why I have been able to get
through my baldness and think of not as not a big deal.
When you see that many people who are living a normal
life without hair (on slybaldguys.com) it makes you wonder what am I waiting for?
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my 2 cents,
young women find nice hair on a young virile man (like myself ,24) attractive. just like i find long curly hair attractive on a woman. that doesn't always mean that they are really that superficial, although some are, of course. i think it just means that certain things are attractive physically to people. if you saw a bald woman, or a scar-faced woman, alot of US would not find her attractive even if she had a banging body. some would, some wouldn't. i can certainly sympathize with the fellow who said "i can't even grow a proper beard yet i'm going bald!" i too have a baby face, no beard growing capabilities, and a balding dome. and i'm in college. of course balding at ANY age would be hard. but come on fellas, when you're in the dating scene and young, balding has NO advantages. the ONLY advantage i can see is that you're not so vein anymore, and you learn to accept others for who they are because you realize you, yourself, are not perfect or invincible. i think for the fellas who are bbc, or who started balding in their even late 20's to 30's can't begin to understand the plight of a very, very young man going bald and being around everyone else who is also just as hung up on physical beauty as you are. i was 17 when i started noticeable thinning and receeding with the "count chocula" crow's peak. the only thing that has gotten me through it is my confidence in myself. "getting it out of the way early" seems like not so good an option to me. i'd rather be old/er and be balding than young and balding. balding baby sums it up. and i also believe yes, it's not the balding that affects your self esteem, it's the attitude. but, its the cause and effect factor. yes it's the attitude that causes low self esteem. but the hairloss causes the thoughts, and the thoughts cause the low self esteem.
just a rant by this balding youngster
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Guys, this is all about confidence. If you love yourself, people will love you. I've been losing my hair (albeit more gradually than I thought when it first started) since I was 20. I buzzed it straight away, in some ways I was actually happy because it was one less thing to worry about. Before it starts you are constantly worried about it if and when it happens.
The teasing happens if you let it. If you walk around like you are a bad ass who rules the world no one is going to mess with you. I can count on one hand the number of comments I've had about my hair loss in the LAST 10 YEARS!. THAT IS WHATS ATTRACTIVE !! Someone who is confident, outgoing, stands head high, and lives their life to the full. I will almost never wear a hat, unless its cold, because I want people to know that I am 110% happy about the way I look.
I've never had problems getting a girlfriend. My current girlfriend is 22; a gorgeous, intelligent, college student. I'm 30!! The barrier to getting a girlfriend is not your hair, your looks, your belly, or your wallet - ITS YOUR CONFIDENCE.
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Well said Yossarian, bravo! It's really simple when you think about it.
Confidence is key, as is being comfortable with yourself, and it translates to all you do.
Great post. O0
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yep couldn't agree more, keep your head up keep smiling( or keep your chin out like Bill Cowher) but don't let something as insignificant to your character as hair loss effect your outlook on life.
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Guys, this is all about confidence....ITS YOUR CONFIDENCE.
Well said
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I got pretty fucked in terms of hair genes. Every male member of my family is at LEAST half bald, while most are horseshoe. I started at 16 and have at most 3 more years (20 now) before i'm at the end. I'd rather it started in my 40's obviously, but im taking it better than i thought i would; really matured me in general. But on the other hand, you cant downplay the psychological ramifications of losing your hair at say 40, because you've had it for so long and then you just begin to lose it....it cant be easy to swallow. Your life doesn't magically end at 40, right?
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Your life doesn't magically end at 40, right?
Let's hope not. :o
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Your life doesn't magically end at 40, right?
Let's hope not. :o
Noooooooo, I'm still around and I can hardly remember being 40..... :-\
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I'm fairly sure i've commented in this thread before, but I will again just because i'm sure my answer is far back!
I am completely happy with my hair, and having it fall out when I am this young.
I have a really good prospective on life, and i'm sure this is why I feel the way I do. When I look at situations, I look at the absolute worst possibility, and the best and see where I sit between these two extremes. As most people will find, you are rarely the worst case situation, which makes me consider myself lucky no matter what my personal situation is.
This kind of outlook on life, i'm hoping will benefit me as I go. So far, i've had to go through quite a bit for a 20 year old, and i'll say for myself i'm very happy with me and my life.
Who needs hair?
I've got my whole life to look forward to and losing my hair at this age sure as hell isn't going to slow me down.
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I'm fairly sure i've commented in this thread before, but I will again just because i'm sure my answer is far back!
I am completely happy with my hair, and having it fall out when I am this young.
I have a really good prospective on life, and i'm sure this is why I feel the way I do. When I look at situations, I look at the absolute worst possibility, and the best and see where I sit between these two extremes. As most people will find, you are rarely the worst case situation, which makes me consider myself lucky no matter what my personal situation is.
This kind of outlook on life, i'm hoping will benefit me as I go. So far, i've had to go through quite a bit for a 20 year old, and i'll say for myself i'm very happy with me and my life.
Who needs hair?
I've got my whole life to look forward to and losing my hair at this age sure as hell isn't going to slow me down.
you said it, brother.
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I got pretty f**ked in terms of hair genes. Every male member of my family is at LEAST half bald, while most are horseshoe. I started at 16 and have at most 3 more years (20 now) before i'm at the end. I'd rather it started in my 40's obviously, but im taking it better than i thought i would; really matured me in general. But on the other hand, you cant downplay the psychological ramifications of losing your hair at say 40, because you've had it for so long and then you just begin to lose it....it cant be easy to swallow. Your life doesn't magically end at 40, right?
Hope not! Only got 2 years to go :Xo!
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Your life doesn't magically end at 40, right?
Let's hope not. :o
It was more of a rhteorical question, haha.
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Hello, I'm new here, and I am relieved to see that I am not the only one who has started balding early. I'm 19 and started balding at 17, the beginning of my senior year in high school. Instead of looking like my dad with a monk kind of hair style, or horseshoe, i decided to shave my head last week. I actually like having a total bald head. As some of you stated before, it's all about your personal confidence, as my girlfriend of 3 years finds my baldness more attractive than when I had hair. So far I have found this forum very informative, as I first came here looking for shaving techniques and products.
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Hello, I'm new here, and I am relieved to see that I am not the only one who has started balding early. I'm 19 and started balding at 17, the beginning of my senior year in high school. Instead of looking like my dad with a monk kind of hair style, or horseshoe, i decided to shave my head last week. I actually like having a total bald head. As some of you stated before, it's all about your personal confidence, as my girlfriend of 3 years finds my baldness more attractive than when I had hair. So far I have found this forum very informative, as I first came here looking for shaving techniques and products.
good,
glad to see that you are handling it well, if you ever have any questions the guys here will be more than willing to help,
btw,welcome to the forum. and yes balding its some of us younger than others. but its all about how you deal