Sly Bald Guys Forum
Discussions About Being Bald => Advantages and Disadvantages to being Bald => Topic started by: Argyle on April 28, 2010, 06:05:22 AM
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Well over the years I have posted many times the things that I hate or have hated about being bald. Well I thought it was about time to look for some positivity and I thought I would post what I believe are some of the great things about being SLY.
1) I love shaving! I used to hate it and recently decided to get myself a 'routine'. Warm water in shower, apply shaving cream, shave head and face, enjoy warm water on dome for a bit, feel for any rough bits and sort, apply exfoliating wash, massage head and face, spash cold water on head and face, moisturise.
2) Bald not balding. When I was obviously losing my hair people used to comment. I once remember being over with some mates when I was about 27. One of the guys sitting behind me said, hey I can see your horseshoe! At that moment, I knew that SLY was the way to go. Since then people have asked why I shave my head, but other than that the comments have stopped completely. The main critic now is me!
3) The element of surprise. There is no doubt that bald gives you an intimidating edge. Well I am 6ft 4 tall, and a fairly muscular build. Yet I am a massive softy. I had an incident in a wine bar recently where someone came in really drunk, as he was leaving he thought I commented and decided to come over and try it on. My heart was racing, but as I stood up calmly and slowly and realised his head barely reached my chest the words, we'll leave it there shall we, seemed to diffuse the situation somewhat!! O:O
4) The sport factor. I love playing sport. I feel so much cleaner with a shaved head.
5) The sun burn factor. I can protect my head, protecting my balding head was just messy
6) Being in control. Occasionally my Dad will ask me why I dont grow my hair out a little. It is so nice to say well I dont, because I dont want to!
7) This website. Almost a reason in itself to be SLY
I am sure there are many more. So what do you love about being SLY?
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Good points Argyle. A few of the things that I like about being sly
1) I stopped spending $700/month on hair systems and no longer worry whether people can tell that I'm wearing a rug. No more tapes, glues, having to clean and reapply tape to my "system".
2) The edgy, stand out in a crowd look. Although there are more and more sly guys out there each and every day - it does give me an edge.
3) I'm no longer balding. People have stopped looking at my head and now focus on my eyes when they talk to me.
4) Ease of maintaining the look. No more spending what seemed like hours a week strategically combing what hair I had to achieve maximum coverage.
5) No more searching the web endlessly looking for a magic cure to baldness.
6) The feeling. I love the feel of my head and so do women! I love head rubs from anonymous women.
7) The feeling of being in total control over my hair loss and not bending over backwards trying to meet some standard that society has placed on something as stupid as hair.
8) The end of my gray hair.
9) Being part of this group.
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Really nice post--they all resonated w/ this bald boy--maybe not the tall part so much, but even guys of average height get some "bad ass" effect when it's called for.
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PDXTodd, I think the SLY look is great on you. I think you mentioned in an earlier post that you were 53!! I couldnt believe it!
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Hi Argyle I am 53. I'm having a professional headshot taken for my book publisher. I hope to have a better picture to post in the next few days.
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That is one additional advantage for more "mature" sly guys, it really does make a guy look younger than w/ a thinning & dying gray mop hanging sadly on the top and sides of the head!
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Yeah I have to say I agree, the older sly guys on here show the most amazing transformations. It is really hard to guess some people's ages and normally I am amazed at how old they are.
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Conversely, we've seen many guys, late 20's-30's regain their 'youth' getting rid of a thinning crop--it just ages those guys, even makes them look tired and depressed.
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There are a lot of things I love about being SLY... many of them mentioned above. But the one that I'd like to mention right now is so simple yet so very important.
I love the fact that a guy, like you Argyle, who has struggled openly with both losing his hair and his SLYNESS can finally reach a point where being SLY is a GOOD thing and not something to be uncomfortable with.
Cheers to you my Friend! `Dr!n#
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Not quite there yet Mike, but am on the road!
It took a long time to realise that some of my problems are a little more deep seated and historic than losing my hair.
Even though my head tells me otherwise, I am trying to live by the mantra of being more than my hairline and the fact that I can do nothing to change it. Let me rephrase that, I have always been totally determined that I would do nothing to change it. Rugs, plugs and drugs aint for me so ultimately I have to get used to what i have!!
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It is way to identify with others, including celebs
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It is way to identify with others, including celebs
Hey, cool, celebs, like you1 O0
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Tyler doesn't have enough bandwidth 8)
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I'm right behind Todd. I'll be 53 in October. Most people don't think I look my age -- even with the salt-n-pepper face fur.
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Age, Hell, I'm so old my ears are still ringing from the sound of the Big Bang! Sixty-five doesn't bother me, as long as I keep having birthdays. It's when the birthdays stop that worry a guy. God willing, that's some time off.
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Well, I suppose I'd have to agree with a comment or two from the above as to how sly makes you look younger. Yesterday, one of my students said he thought I was in my forties (perhaps he needed his vision tested?), and today, when I asked for the senior discount at the liquor store (10% MTuW), the (young) clerk said, "Are you old enough?" Well, I certainly feel old enough, and while I don't actually (yet) know how one's seventies feel, I sort of think I already know...
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I'll be 50 in July... nobody believes it........... I very often hear "I thought you were about 40".
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As the great philosopher, Peter Frampton once said, "If you're not getting older, you're dead!"
I hit 60 next birthday.
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Well, I suppose I'd have to agree with a comment or two from the above as to how sly makes you look younger. Yesterday, one of my students said he thought I was in my forties (perhaps he needed his vision tested?)
40 is ancient to the typical student. I'm not casting any aspersions on your appearance; I'm just saying. I can remember when I assumed that anyone who was older than me but under the age of 60 was in their 30s.
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i still get carded at bars, ill be 34, people say tht i look a decade younger
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All you young things - - -You all look 20 I am 68 and I only look 30 (I wish)
I was 68 May 17th and, yes, I think we all look younger BALD
Most people think I am in my early 50's - -it's the Bombay Saphire martini's every night that do it
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I'l Be 52 next January, can anybody tell if I look 51 right now?
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Bad weather. I almost love it! A week ago I went to a bar to see someone and I had to walk a few blocks in really heavy rain. NO problem. I don't want to remember how bad it would have been as a balding guy.
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Yeah! No hair to "adjust" or fix! The other day a co-worker came to work and had this giant cow lick on top of his head (bed head?). :o
I just smiled, told him about his hair and watched as he went through the pains of "fixing" his hair. :Xo!
Ahhh, yes, the good life! Hair free! O0
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39 here and I dont look a day over 21. Isn't that right guys? Guys? You there? Guys? Aw come on!!
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39 here and I dont look a day over 21. Isn't that right guys? Guys? You there? Guys? Aw come on!!
Yes, that's right. You and me both. (**!
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39 here and I dont look a day over 21. Isn't that right guys? Guys? You there? Guys? Aw come on!!
Yes, that's right. You and me both. (**!
another one here!!! :D
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65, and into my 5th month of Medicare.
Don't really care if I look it or not. I don't get paid for being pretty.
My boss loves it, I'm not on his insurance anymore, Raised the pay up a bit to compensate for it. Thanks for paying those taxes, guys.
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I don't get paid for being pretty.
Neither do we. We just do it for the fun of it. :D
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39 here and I dont look a day over 21. Isn't that right guys? Guys? You there? Guys? Aw come on!!
Yes, that's right. You and me both. (**!
another one here!!! :D
Maybe we should rename the forum to Sly Bald Guys Club 21 >:D
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I'm 20 and being bald...makes me look a little more "mature" I think
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I'm 20 and being bald...makes me look a little more "mature" I think
SORRY DUDE! baby face ain't really helpin ya! you still look like you're only 16 to me! but then, what do i know, everyone else says the same thing about me lol ha! im 22 i get and i get carded everytime i try to buy beer! and the tattoos don't help either, people always ask me how i convinced my parents to let me get tattoos ha!
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Thirtysomething and looking the part. Generally people can guess my age. Blaah.
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At 65, I refuse to talk about age. I'm lucky that I currently don't have any health issued. Thank goodness. Back to the original dialogue-When I had hair, I had these bumps/pimples that would come on my head. Don't know what they were other than very throbbing painful. I recently realized that I no longer have this problem. The other good thing about being sly is that you become soooo Damn good looking lol.
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Maybe we should rename the forum to Sly Bald Guys Club 21 >:D
But then what would we do with some of the old geezers who hang around here? >:D
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But then what would we do with some of the old geezers who hang around here? >:D
Get the hell off my lawn!
>:D
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My wife likes not having to hear "could you roll up your window honey, it's messing up my hair" when we're driving! ::)
Just for the record, I'm old enough to know and still too young to resist. O:O
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Aloha Slys:
Am I the oldest, old Sly fart in the "Club" - I'll be 69 on July 20th?
In May, 2008, when I was sporting a gray, Crusty the clown horseshoe and had never heard of the Sly Bald Guys, my wife at the time said I'd look younger if I began shaving. I think she was right and whether or not anybody else does really doesn't matter-I love the look and wish I'd done 10 years prior.
I agree with all of the reasons why I like being sly PLUS two more: some of you "older" members know I create T-shirts for the bald community-I became passionate about my business: www.baldisbold.net within a few months of going Sly and the second reason is being able to become friends with Tyler, our "cool" leader. Tyler and me have had beers together and plan aon having more soon as I'm back from Maui and living in No. CA. I still plan on giving all Sly Bald Guys discounts on shirts. My new site is under construction and should be done in 7-10 days, at which time Tyler said I could make an announcement to all about the discounts. Mahalo for your patience with me in getting organized.
Allen, the bold, bald Kahuna
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I'm 20 and being bald...makes me look a little more "mature" I think
SORRY DUDE! baby face ain't really helpin ya! you still look like you're only 16 to me! but then, what do i know, everyone else says the same thing about me lol ha! im 22 i get and i get carded everytime i try to buy beer! and the tattoos don't help either, people always ask me how i convinced my parents to let me get tattoos ha!
curse my adorable baby face!
I am 6'1 290 pounds though, so I think that helps the "16" year old look as well
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A special Aloha to you Mike,
You said it so well when commenting about Argyle ane how comfortable is being Sly.
Some of you may have read the post Tyler did about my recent experience in which I was in the hospital and rehab for 6 weeks with a very rare condition known as Guillain-Barre Syndrome- in fact it si so rare that only one in 150,000 men and women are struck with it. Now that I am walking again-having put the walker and cane in storage, I plan to be more active on the forum. If your interested in this syndrome here is the link;
http://www.webmd.com/brain/tc/guillain-barre-syndrome-topic-overview
If you have further interest is the symptoms please let me know and I'll send you a short summary. My thanks to all who read what Tyler so kindly wrote and for your prayers and energy that were sent my way. I'm blessed to be vertical and somewhat active again-the fatality rate is 4%.
Mahalo again, Allen
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Allen, congrats on beating that dissease!!! O0 I had a near-horizontal :XX experience about a year and a half ago, and I now count my blessings everyday that I wake up! O0 It's great to be alive and still kicking O:O
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Morthen, enjoy your young look! I got carded at a Burger King recently because I asked for the senior drink and was told I didn't look old enough (minimum age 50), so looking young is a wonderful thing when you get old and being sly does hide the gray!! :) Your chin fuzz does put you in the adult catagory, so don't lose it anytime soon! 8)
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Aloha Nonick,
Yes, I wake up every morning and thank the lord for his blessings.
Great story about the senior drink at Burger King. I've been with Tyler on the forum about two yuears and during that time I've seen a big increase in the number of guys in their 20's and 30's visit the forum either asking for advice whether or not to become Sly or have already done the deed. This fact helps the youthful cause of us Sly guys over 50-60 because of the general public's perception of age and association with the youth as it relates to hair(or lack thereof).
Where do you live? I'm asking because maybe I'm close to that same Burger King... I'd even drive a long distance just to ask for the senior drink special!
Have a good one...God Bless.
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But then what would we do with some of the old geezers who hang around here? >:D
Get the hell off my lawn!
>:D
OK, OK ... you don't have to go all Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino on us. :*)) #u#T3r
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That wascally wabbit! :/O
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Morthen, enjoy your young look! I got carded at a Burger King recently because I asked for the senior drink and was told I didn't look old enough (minimum age 50), so looking young is a wonderful thing when you get old and being sly does hide the gray!! :) Your chin fuzz does put you in the adult catagory, so don't lose it anytime soon! 8)
haha thanks, im not shaving my chin mitten anytime soon, all the ladies seem to like it so far
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1.The daily headshave against the grain and the return to a completely slick bald head each and every morning(including the "four pack" on the back of my bald head and neck! lol)
2. Polishing my head after a good shave with some Afta and a good sunblock to get that blinding glare.
3. That great feeling of being a permanently, completely bald man! lol :popo
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Recently discovered a new benefit of being sly....
I met the wife at home for lunch..... :D
When it was time to head back to work ... she commented "At least you don't have to worry about going back to work with your hair messed up !!"
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... (including the "four pack" on the back of my bald head and neck! lol) ...
I'd like to see that. :px
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I think this is a perfect thread to ask this question!
What has made you choose to go sly? Is it the obvious or one of the not so obvious reasons? Please share your comments!
Take my poll here - I am working on a paper for school, and think this feedback will help me out!
http://tinyurl.com/27rwpql
Sly til I die!
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I'm not sure I really enjoy shaving, but, I'm glad to be sly because:
A) As stated earlier, I'd rather be bald than balding. No more, "Hey man, you're going bald!" comments.
B) It looks cool. I happen to like the shape of my melon, and all the funky little ridges and things I didn't really know I had. They tie in well to my face because I have very strong cheekbones.
C) No more cringing because of rain, snow, or water of any kind. No more cursing the wind for blowing the "wrong" way.
D) No more dropping $80 every two months for a Giant size bottle of Toppik. And no more worrying if people can see how thin my hair really is on top, or whether I'll leave a mark or stain on a pillow, couch, or car seat if I lean my head back.
E) Finally just reaching the ultimate conclusion of what was inevitable anyway. I feel much "cleaner", not only literally, but aesthetically too.
F) Having a sense of control over my head once again.
G) Giving the big "middle finger" to the hairy toilet seat /horseshoe look.
H) Being told I look good like this! I've heard numerous compliments since going sly. No one said anything when I kept changing my hair around to try and keep it full looking, it probably just got more ridiculous looking. This look is more natural and suits me.
I) I actually like the feel of it! It's neat to feel smooth skin on your noggin!
J) Saves time in the shower, no more shampooing and dreading seeing hair in the drain.
K) I'll think of something else to add soon, I'm sure.. ;-)
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Nice post Phigg, you've summarized a lot of feelings we've all had. Glad you found SBG's O0
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I enjoy shaving it. There's something very relaxing about the process. If I do it after I do my Chi Gung/Tai Chi in the morning it's almost a continuation of the meditation.
It's less expensive to maintain than getting a 20 dollar haircut every two-four weeks.
It's cooler in the summer.
I have a good excuse to buy hats. I like hats.
It feels awesome.
Once I did it I realized that the skin on top of my head was just as tan as the skin on my face. What does THAT tell you?
I look good this way.
Never a bad hair day.
Did I mention I look good this way?
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Recently discovered a new benefit of being sly....
I met the wife at home for lunch..... :D
When it was time to head back to work ... she commented "At least you don't have to worry about going back to work with your hair messed up !!"
ROFL Very funny and a great point. :*))
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I havn't gone compleatly sly yet, but I shave with the shortest setting on the clippers. One thing I live about extreemly shor hair is that I helps regulate my comfort level. I am always warm, and hair just holds in too much heat! It feels great to have the air flow over your head!
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I havn't gone compleatly sly yet, but I shave with the shortest setting on the clippers. One thing I live about extreemly shor hair is that I helps regulate my comfort level. I am always warm, and hair just holds in too much heat! It feels great to have the air flow over your head!
Are you sure you only shave with clippers? You really look completely bald! Is your hair very blonde?
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No more trips to the barbershop every 2-3 weeks just to get home and find out my flattop looked like hell and spend another half hour trying to make it look decent!! Not to mention saving $15.00 that goes into the barbers pocket.
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I havn't gone compleatly sly yet, but I shave with the shortest setting on the clippers. One thing I live about extreemly shor hair is that I helps regulate my comfort level. I am always warm, and hair just holds in too much heat! It feels great to have the air flow over your head!
Are you sure you only shave with clippers? You really look completely bald! Is your hair very blonde?
100% sure. O0 You are also right about me having really blonde hair! If I have a fresh cut in a picture you can't see any hair, and can only see it up close.
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Best part of being SLY is the nice smooth finish you get after shaving, and giving it a good rub to make sure there are no bits that have been missed! Great just not worrying about hair as well! :XX
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I agree with the guys, I love shaving my head everyday and sometimes in the evening too. Love the smooth shiny dome. I will never go back to having hair. ;D
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The best part for me is not having to attempt to obscure the thin patches and then having the weather destroy my efforts.I too love the smooth feeling and it does save money on shampoo,conditioner and syling products.Hell, it was liberating to give all that stuff away or discard it and get additional storage space back in my bathroom!
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I. love being sly instead of balding. The head is easier to shave than the face, hence the beard. Looks great with my full, gray, bushy beard. Gives this softy a bad-ass biker look! Feels great while swimming. Feels great to have warm summer rain fall on it! The shine!
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In a word: CONFIDENCE!
In several: No more worries about hair. Ten minutes care in the morning, then forget about it for the rest of the day.
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You will never have a bad hair day
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it's all about ease of use for me. Never cared if people noticed i was thinning up top a bit...just a sign of the times :) I absolutely love not finding out halfway through the day that i had a piece of hair sticking up in the back or some weird bed-head thing going on...
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No more trips to the barbershop every 2-3 weeks just to get home and find out my flattop looked like hell and spend another half hour trying to make it look decent!! Not to mention saving $15.00 that goes into the barbers pocket.
The last time I went to a barber it cost me $3 for a haircut. You can judge how long ago that was.
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1) Getting dressed for a date/event/work and being all put together then able to drive with the windows WIDE OPEN on a beautiful spring day and not need to spend time getting things sorted out again at the other end.
2) No bed hair
3) No hat hair
4) It's entirely wash and wear on a hot day - climb out of the pool, towel down and put on dry duds and ready to roll..
5)The ritual of traditional shaving - it's all about the mug, brush, cake soap etc
6) The feeling of the sun on my head - in moderation
7) Not even knowing where my ball cap is most of the time anymore..
8) The occasional unsolicited head rub
9) The fact that, for some reason, I can now skip an occasional day of shaving my face and look fine in any setting. Whiskers still seem to grow at the same rate, it's just that the shaved head stubble seems to balance out the face stubble when I skip a day now.
10) SBG
11) AND MOST IMPORTANTLY - the overwhelming sense of freedom from concern about appearance.
If I leave the house propery groomed I get where I'm going that way. Appearance is now a done deal - it is what it is. Like it or leave it. This is who I am - deal with it
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Well said, Sailor 61!