Sly Bald Guys Forum

Discussions About Being Bald => To be or not be...Bald => Topic started by: reddog on December 21, 2015, 10:02:18 AM

Title: Bald by choice- why?
Post by: reddog on December 21, 2015, 10:02:18 AM
What is your motivation for shaving your head when you still have most of your hair? I've been asked that question several times.

I have tried to grow my hair back numerous times, but get a week, or a month or more into growing, and I get the irresistible urge and shave my head again. It's addictive.

I've thought about this obsession alot. Here are some of my observations:

When I see a guy with a shaved head, I always think it looks great.
I love the look and feel of a smooth head.
I really enjoy the ritual of daily shaving.
My dermatitis condition clears up immediately when I shave.
I like not seeing a head of white hair!
I like being different than most.

So, what are your motivations?

Title: Re: Bald by choice- why?
Post by: Cy on December 21, 2015, 10:57:30 AM
I'm with you on the dermatitis. I kept a short flattop over the past few months, but with this seasonal dryness, my scalp was itchy and scaly despite using medicated shampoos. I buzzed it off a few weeks ago, shaved it the following day, and symptoms were gone by the 5th day.

I can't shave everyday because my hair is too thick, but I do enjoy that fresh couple hours when my head is slick.
Title: Re: Bald by choice- why?
Post by: slybeard on December 21, 2015, 12:08:53 PM
When I started shaving, I still had a lot of hair and considered myself BBC, but nature has now caught up.  So some of my reasons:

I always had "bad" hair that was difficult to style.  I tried many of the trendy styles over the years and my hair never fit the bill - to much curl and waves for most styles, growth patterns that made flat tops impossible (I tried several times).

Styling difficulties led to too much time in the mornings to make it look neat.

Always had dandruff issues

Went gray very early (started turning in my early 20's).

I have always liked the Sly look (even before it became trendy).

I like the smooth feel (although I did not know that until after shaving).
Title: Re: Bald by choice- why?
Post by: mrzed on December 21, 2015, 04:35:22 PM
At the suggestion of a co-worker, we both buzzed our heads to #2 or so.  We work in the IT department so very short hair is mostly the norm.

I liked it so much I kept going shorter and shorter with my buzz, and liked it better and better.  Then a few other friends who are BBN, encouraged me to shave my head since it was so short already.  I've never looked back. I like the bold look of a bald head. It stands out.  It expresses confidence. I still have a full head of hair. When I'm sick and don't shave for a week, but about 7 days I'm ready to shave it off again. If I only shave once a week, it's too much work to mow it all down. It's easier to do it daily or every other day. Besides it feels better with a fresh daily shave.  No, I"m not shaving the beard. That's here to stay.
Title: Re: Bald by choice- why?
Post by: bennett11 on December 22, 2015, 05:55:50 AM
I shaved my head smooth 25 years ago - obviously I enjoyed being different.  Had hair then too before shaving.  Increased my self confidence.
Title: Re: Bald by choice- why?
Post by: nicolaus on December 22, 2015, 06:00:57 AM
Because I love the baldness. That's all  ;)
Title: Re: Bald by choice- why?
Post by: bennett11 on December 22, 2015, 10:39:32 AM
Actually I shaved my head 35 years ago and kept it shaved for two years - shaving daily.  At the time the only person I had ever seen with clean scalp was a friend who lost all hair due to auto immune disease in late teen years.   I was dared in 1953 to shave my head by my room mate in college.  Seriously considered doing it but chickened out.  As adult always had short hair when not shaven.

Title: Re: Bald by choice- why?
Post by: bbc2012 on December 23, 2015, 03:23:57 PM
Because I love my shaved head  :)
Title: Re: Bald by choice- why?
Post by: baldsurfer on December 24, 2015, 06:37:38 AM
I was always fascinated with the idea of having a shaved head. And as it became more socially acceptable and I saw more and more sly guys, I found myself feeling jealous of their smooth shiny domes. So, around 20 years ago, I just went for it one day and it was even better than I expected. I loved the way it looked and felt. At first, I enjoyed the daily ritual, but with a full head of somewhat coarse hair, it eventually got tiresome.

So I grew it back, but in the 20 years since, I always find myself envying smooth domes or missing the look and feel, so at some point every year - usually spring or summer - I shave it all off again and maintain it for at least a few months, sometimes more.

Hair is still full, though way more salt than pepper these days, so it really frustrates my naturally balding friends when I show up sly again.
Title: Re: Bald by choice- why?
Post by: Hingatao on December 24, 2015, 10:04:22 PM
I did it partially to do something different an partially to get rid of a chronic dandruff problem.
Title: Re: Bald by choice- why?
Post by: mrzed on December 25, 2015, 08:09:22 AM
1. To support several friends who are bald or who should shave their heads.

2. I really like the look of bald headed guys.  It's distinctly manly.

3. I like the smooth feel on my head after each shave.

4. I love the feel of the sun shining on my head. Of raindrops on my head.
Title: Re: Bald by choice- why?
Post by: Semi-Sly on December 25, 2015, 01:14:16 PM
I still have a full head of hair - although all of it has turned a mousy grey and the hair on the back and sides of my head is very thin and wispy, (old man hair).

I think that a smooth clean shaved head is the most masculine and attractive look for a grown man.  When I see another guy with a smooth clean head I am truly envious.

I can't stand seeing the "old man hair" and I can't stand the feeling of "furriness" on the back and sides of my head.

I love the feeling of a smooth clean head and I find the act of going bald and bold to be really empowering.

But, I have to admit, (and people always tell me), that the shaved head is not the best look for me.  When I completely shave my head it instantly adds years to me.  I look my age when I shave my head whereas people don't think I look my age when I have a little hair on top.

so, most of the time I compromise.  I always keep the back and sides of my head clean and  smooth - albeit I use a foil shaver because I hate to shave with a blade.  I usually leave just a bit of hair on the top.  At least half of the year I have a high and tight horseshoe flattop and the other half a Princeton Crewcut with a shaved "part".

But I really do want to sport a fully shaven head again.  I am thinking about doing it again in February.  My doctor wants to laser a bunch of brown spots off of my face and scalp and he says that he needs me to keep it shaved throughout the process.  If I agree to this, I will have a shaved head - but it will be polka dotted with angry red burn marks for about three months!

Don't know if I am going to go through with this or not.
Title: Re: Bald by choice- why?
Post by: Hieu Tran on December 26, 2015, 04:54:24 AM
I love to touch my scalp, I don't know why exactly but I really like the feeling.
Title: Re: Bald by choice- why?
Post by: Lord Jorah on December 29, 2015, 01:11:52 AM
I went BBC about three years ago.  My hair line had receded and both my hair and beard was going gray.  I was tired of the look and felt like I was doing more comb over than I wanted.  After a lot of thought I paid a visit to my barber for my last haircut. 

I enjoy the clean look and I don't mind the extra time each morning to keep it that way.  The best of all my wife really loves the look and the smoothness of my dome. 
Title: Re: Bald by choice- why?
Post by: DC on January 05, 2016, 03:13:49 PM
I did it originally as a change to my look. Although I've grown my hair back a few times, there's something about that shaved look.

Plus there's the look of confidence a bald head exudes.
Title: Re: Bald by choice- why?
Post by: njbill on January 07, 2016, 12:56:51 PM
Like using a wheelchair for fun
Title: Re: Bald by choice- why?
Post by: MVSicari on January 07, 2016, 09:33:22 PM
Become an addiction almost. Grew my hair out for a few months but got the itch to shave it again. Biggest factor is saving money and the simplicity however
Title: Re: Bald by choice- why?
Post by: usmcpelon on January 08, 2016, 08:16:51 AM
I grew up with a clipper shaved head as did my brother because my father as a Marine demanded it and we complied every Saturday morning at our local barber shop.  In those day 1960 the short the haircut for boy the better.  You couldn't see a young man with long hair because simply put you were a man and a there was no talk about long hair for boys.  Growing up a clipper shaved head was the only cut we knew and never questioned it.  In high school our father gave us the choice of letting our hair grow out.  Some of us did but couldn't stand it so we decided to go back to the clipper shaved head however it turned out that the razor shaved head was better.  I was bald as a boy and bald as a grownup man.  My seven sons have embraced the shaved head just like my brothers sons and we couldn't be more happy.
Title: Re: Bald by choice- why?
Post by: reddog on January 08, 2016, 09:34:38 AM
Uamcpelon, your story made me remember a funny one from my childhood. It was May of 1965 and I was 12. The Beatles were the big influence and everyone wanted long hair. Mine was the longest it had ever been, covering my forehead and touching the top of my ears. Mom was taking my brother and I for a haircut, when my brother got in the chair, Mom said my dad ordered a crewcut for us. We were upset, and when I saw my brother sheared to a buzzcut, I refused a haircut and bolted out of there. Well, you can imagine, dad was furious, and the next day he came home from work, and took me to the barbershop for a nice extra short crewcut. He's been gone a long time, but I'm sure he's looking down on me with a big smile.
Title: Re: Bald by choice- why?
Post by: socknoggle on January 13, 2016, 01:38:38 PM
Ever since I was in the Army I had been keeping my hair short.  I was used to it and liked it that way. I had been curious about how shaving my head would feel for years before it was popular. Then, one day, I was bored and thought, "what the hell".  An hour later I was completely bald.  I really liked it and thought it looked pretty good.  My wife hated it, so I grew it back out. 

Fast forward to August 2, 2014.  I had been divorced for several months when I realized that the only person I had to please was myself.  I decided I didn't care what anyone else thought.  So, I shaved my head.  I felt so free.  After walking around for a few days I realized my confidence was really boosted. 

There have been a few times when I've grown it to a short buzz; .5 on the top, 0 on the sides.  The barber I went to did a nice job and it looked good.  However, after a little while of that I just got annoyed with having hair, so I shaved it all off.  There is just nothing like the feel of a freshly shaved head.  My current wife thinks it's sexy.

I love being bald.  I cannot see a day when I will ever have hair again.  I love the ritual, the feel of the razor gliding over my head and the feel of my bare scalp. 
Title: Re: Bald by choice- why?
Post by: Reg on January 13, 2016, 05:55:42 PM
I naturally have a thick head of hair. I feel most comfortable when my hair is very short or when I'm clean shaven. Its a look that never goes out of date, looks clean and really professional with a suit on. Besides that, its quick and easy to maintain and cheaper than spending endless amounts of products to put in my hair, trips to the barber and shampoo.
Title: Re: Bald by choice- why?
Post by: amatlock2778 on February 15, 2016, 01:19:23 AM
Only been bald by choice since new years, did it partially out of curiosity how i would look, partially as a step towards another hair goal that probably wouldnt have worked, and partially because i just needed a change after a pretty rough year last year both emotionally and healthwise. The rough year began with losing my job (i did end up with a job i like better, but it was still a blow to my ego), then moved on to a health issue which required emergency surgery, delaying my new job search till i recovered. Things got better for a few months, a new car thats nicer than any ive yet owned, etc. But then came the worst of the worst, my father, who i relyed on for great advice on many subjects, and who i was very close with, despite living across the country from him, has passed away from a massive stroke at a time when i could not afford airfare to attend his funeral. So needless to say 2015 was a bad blow to my self confidence, and i had read somewhere shaving your head can help to increase confidence. Anyway at first i planned to keep it shaved only a couple weeks, but once i began letting it grow back, after just a week and a half, i realized i kissed the new look and shaved my hair back off. I am now about 3 weeks into keeping it shaved for good, and cant imagine ever going back
Title: Re: Bald by choice- why?
Post by: reddog on February 15, 2016, 06:20:01 AM
Sorry for your loss, it's rough to lose a parent. It can put alot of things into perspective.

Beware, that baby butt smooth feel is addictive for some of us.

Title: Re: Bald by choice- why?
Post by: amatlock2778 on February 15, 2016, 07:47:16 AM
Sorry for your loss, it's rough to lose a parent. It can put alot of things into perspective.

Beware, that baby butt smooth feel is addictive for some of us.

Im finding that out pretty well here. Once i made the decision to stay bald, i had planned to razor shave it for just a few weeks while it was still kind of a novelty, then switch to clippering it with no guard about once a week or so, but im already becoming addicted to the ritual of razor shaving.
Title: Re: Bald by choice- why?
Post by: brannon67 on November 14, 2017, 07:02:41 AM
Im not totally what you guys on here call SLY yet, but I do buzz what hair I have left on my head with no guard now. I started out with a 2, went to a 1, then a 1/2, then no guard. Yes, eventually I will take a razor to it and be done with it, but as for now, I still have a little bit of stubble on top. I am gradually getting to a razor shave, but im taking my time. I know some of you guys are BBC, and many have MPB as I do. I know that bald is in these days, and is considered more social accepted nowadays, but what about us who are BBC or those of us who really don't have a choice, other then if we want to look like Bozo the clown? Really? Do we really care if bald is trendy or not. I don't. I see it as not accepting the Bozo the clown, fringe, or rug, look. I don't care if bald is in, trendy, fashionable or not. Its the only choice I have, as I see it.
Title: Re: Bald by choice- why?
Post by: reddog on November 14, 2017, 08:14:33 AM
Those of us that are BBC all have our reasons for shaving our heads. Personally, I like the look on myself and other guys. With snow white hair, I enjoy having a nicely tanned shiny head. Daily shaving also keeps a dermatitis issue at bay.

Fact is, if you sport a shaved head, chances are you really like it, and nobody else's opinion matters. What bothers me a little is that when I have the urge to let my hair grow back for a while, I can only go so long before the urge to shave my head returns. Once that urge is there, I know I can't resist.
Title: Re: Bald by choice- why?
Post by: Ben1815 on November 14, 2017, 02:54:44 PM
I've had short hair (either a 3,2 or 1 crop) for at least the last 25 years and as the hair on the top of my head is very thin anyway, shaving off that last bit is just an extension of the headshave. That being said when I am completely bald I feel more confident (even if it doesn't always come through), I think it looks better and it helps me realise that I'm my own man and I don't need affirmation or approval for my hairstyle (or lack of). It's also that little part of me that likes to be a rebel and do something slightly out of the ordinary without going too mad.
Title: Re: Bald by choice- why?
Post by: brannon67 on November 16, 2017, 07:03:37 AM
Its great that some of you guys are BBC, and have options. We who have MPB do not have the luxury or very many options. Hey, I don't blame anyone who has a full head of hair. No, that's not what Im doing. More power to them. Consider yourself very lucky and blessed that you have great options for what you want to do with your hair/head. For those with MPB(such as myself) have no options, but God awful rugs, take pills(which is very dangerous to your body), transplants that cost $10,000 or more, which may come out good, may not, wear a hat, shave your head, and not have the dreaded Bozo the clown, horseshoe thing, which I myself personally cant stand. Options are great, MPB people are very limited. That's where the clippers, and/or the razor comes into play.
Title: Re: Bald by choice- why?
Post by: underorbit on December 11, 2017, 03:48:54 PM
My hairline is most definitely receding, but quite slowly, and I could probably get away with having a (relatively) full head of hair for some time yet.

However.

I always hated my hair. It was useless in terms of styling. I could have put Elmer's glue in it and I bet it still wouldn't have cooperated. That's why I always looked like a mad scientist. But despite it refusing to cooperate with any deliberate manipulation, if I laid back on a pillow or something, it couldn't yield fast enough. The resultant bed head was always god awful and I could never take a nap without fixing it in a hot shower afterwards, or else I'd look like I just rolled out of bed. And I couldn't wear a hat because taking it off would reveal the worst, most matted rat's nest of hat head I've ever seen on anyone.

I've been talking about getting rid of all of it for at least the last 15 years, and couldn't talk myself into such a huge change. But I began dating someone early this year who encouraged me to go for it, so eventually I figured, what the hell? I shaved it all off only three weeks ago, but I've already decided that I love it and I'm not going back. We'll call it the 30 minute rule in my case.  8)
Title: Re: Bald by choice- why?
Post by: Oto on December 19, 2017, 12:02:52 AM
I have a full head but simply like to feel it smooth
Title: Re: Bald by choice- why?
Post by: Sq4 on January 01, 2019, 01:14:08 PM
Since my late twenties I wanted to shave but always chickened out and ended up with a 3mm cut till my 50th birthday. Then I found the courage to shave. It took a while to get used to the new look and feel and even after letting it grow a couple of times in the last two years, I shaved again last week and loving it. I will definitely stay BBC this year!
Title: Re: Bald by choice- why?
Post by: DoberDaddy on January 02, 2019, 10:38:27 PM
I started to thin at 16, after hiding it, at 30 I finally shaved it all off... kept it that way for twenty years, then grew back my hair to find I was an N6.

Alternated between sly and mpb for a few years, the last year I decided I needed a change of style, so got a hair system. I am still sly underneath.

:)