Sly Bald Guys Forum
Discussions About Being Bald => To be or not be...Bald => Topic started by: meganuera on February 23, 2014, 03:24:48 AM
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Hi guys,
So I signed up for the site and am writing this because I really want to shave my head, but am afraid of how people will react. Most of what I've seen on here is people who are afraid of how they will look. I'm not really worried about that because I think I will look pretty good bald. I'm not losing my hair, although my hairline is receding a bit. So I don't want to shave because of that, but instead it's just something I've wanted to do for a long time. I just want to see what it's like. Also, my hair does whatever it wants so I don't think it's doing much for me anyway.
A few years ago I got up the nerve to buzz my hair but I really didn't like it. Not only did I get bad reactions, but I didn't like how I looked. I was also really self conscious about it. So I haven't had the nerve, or even the desire for awhile now, but lately I've wanted to shave it again. I got my hair cut yesterday and she cut it really short. About an inch long, and a bit longer on top. I got the idea to cover my head in shaving cream since it was so short, and I could kind of get a good idea how I would look bald, and to be honest I think I will look good. I really wanted to just get my razor and start running it across my head. In fact I had the razor in my hand, but I could not do it knowing I had to go into work on Monday. What the heck would everything think when I walked in there bald? What about friends and family too? I hate the idea of everyone looking at me. Would they think I had cancer, or was mentally unstable? I also don't feel like putting up with all the bald jokes.
I'm sure everyone who wants to shave his head has these fears, but I'm not sure if I can overcome them. Does anyone have any ideas about how I can make this happen?
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I had the same feelings when I was young many years ago. I kept it cut short with buzz and then simply shaved. of course one gets comments - in fact people feel obliged to say something. In no time shaved head is simply you. then you know you have the confidence to be yourself. just do it.
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Mega, I'm bald by choice. BBC. I did not have to shave my head, but chose to. Initially very few comments. Now we joke about it.
If you read the discussion threads, there are many comments, " I wish I had done it sooner", and "what was I worrying about". It went so well.
If you want to shave your head, just do it. You'll like it. No need to worry about what others will think. Even mom.
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Welcome, sir.
I think it is fairly common to have some anxiety over both how you will look and how people will react. It took me about two months to build up the nerve. Sure, you can expect some bald jokes from friends, but those usually are made in a good natured spirit. Most reactions guys report are either positive or indifferent.
If you really want to shave your head, then the only way to know what it will be like is simply to take a deep breath and do it. Once you start, all that anxiety goes away.
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Oh man, can I relate to you. I'm also BBC. Last June I was thinking about getting a buzzcut, then I started see a lot of shaved heads, and really thought it looked cool. So I decided at 4 am to shave it all off. My s/o at the time liked it. So, to avoid shocking everyone, I posted photos on Facebook saying it was my
'summer haircut". Well, to my surprise, almost everyone liked it! Sure, a few couldn't understand why I would shave a full head of silver hair. When I hinted about growing hair back for the winter, many people said I should stay bald. I actually liked it so much, I couldn't wait to go places to show off my cool looking baldness.
It is your decision, but remember, if you hate it, in 2 weeks you will be back to a buzzcut.
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If you buzzed it before and really didn't like it, I'm wondering if you didn't keep it short long enough to get used to it.
If you do decide to shave it, you will want to buzz it down as far as possible first. Taking a razor to an inch of hair or longer can be painful and disastrous.
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Yep...think we all had those thoughts....but it quickly passes, welcome
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Look at it this way: do you really want to live your life constrained by what others think? Or do you want to live it on your terms?
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I was in exactly the same position myself before going bbc. Fortunately, my fears were unfounded as most people turned out to be completely indifferent to the change. Of all the people who felt compelled to comment, an overwhelming majority were positive. I'm approaching two years of slyness and I've received only two or three negative comments. I say go for and enjoy!
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As long as you don't scratch it, the itch will be there.....No harm in trying it, because it has been said before....If you don't like it, it will eventually grow back! Good luck!
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Thanks for all the input guys. I plan on keeping it short for a bit and letting people get used to it, and then if I can work it into the conversation, slipping it in that I was thinking about shaving it just to get some input and so it's not quite as awkward. That's my main issue, I know how awkward it is not just for me, but for the people that interact with me. I'm not ready yet, but I will be lurking for a bit I think.
The buzz lasted long enough for me to get used to; it took forever to grow out and I hated it. I felt like everyone was looking at me and I just felt weak with no hair. I never really liked buzz cuts but the idea was for it to be a stepping stone to a fully shaved head. I lost interest pretty soon after buzzing it though. After getting my hair cut I noticed that the hairline is receding. I could stay this way, or it could keep going, there's no way of knowing. I really don't want to lose my hair. If I'm to shave my head I want it to be my choice, and I'd like the choice of growing it back if I don't like it. But these things we can't help, and I don't plan on being a slave to drugs or rugs, as they say.
Is there a way to post a pic for a short time so I can get your reactions and input?
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Welcome, "meganuera"--I know where you're coming from. Just keep getting buzzcuts when the urge strikes. I predict that the buzzcuts will become more frequent and your image will be one of progressively shorter hair. Before too long, people will be used to your new look. I predict that, at that point, you'll bring out the razor blade and shaving cream. Keep us posted!
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Ok this should work.
Here's a couple pics of my shaving cream bald cap, lol. I'm surprised how well this works.
https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/383x510q90/38/flcd.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img819/4634/ya14.jpg
I really don't like how I look in glasses, bald or with hair. But sadly my eyes are too sensitive for contacts. I think I look great bald with no glasses, but the glasses seem to make me look older/nerdier, etc. I think I look awesome bald though.
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You will look great when you shave your head. There's nothing wrong with the glasses. Go for it, when you're ready.
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Based on your photos, I think you'd look very good shaved. I say go for it!
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I think the glasses will look good with the shaved head (after all, I have some experience in that regard lol)
My advice is, if you're not yet totally sure, go with the short buzzed look, which I did for many years because I really enjoyed it. When I went to the razor this summer most people that I knew didn't notice a huge change because my hair was already really short. I just took the plunge and everything was fine.
When you do opt to lather up and shave, which I am sure you will, make sure to give it at least 30 days to get used to it and have others get used to the 'renwed' you. :)
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I think the glasses would be a nice touch, myself...You could perhaps grow some facial hair to offset the shaved head and the attention it may get. Good luck!
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It is understandable to worry about shaving if someone out there hasnt worried specially if they are going bald then good on them wish i was like that...my worries wasnt the fact i was going bald even though i admit i disliked the horsehoe look (i dont mind the look now though) but like you it was about other peoples reactions...i was 16 when i first noticed my hairloss i was still in school thankfully it was near the end of school i only had gsces left...but i suppose i didnt want to be bullied for it cause i was already bullied for other reasons so i hid my loss and was in the typical denial stage like it wont get worse etc...when it got to the stage where it was obvious i was losing hair i was about 18 i still tried to hide it but saw my reflection one day and thought on the lines of "what am i doing i look silly this is not working for me people can tell now so why hide"...next day got it cut very short then time went on as the hairloss got worse i buzzed and buzzed etc until i look how i do in my profile pic.
People will probably say something or give you looks cause think about it they used to you having hair they dont do it to be horrible its just a natural reaction...but you wil get negative comments but hey thats life...what i would do is buzz it like a 4 or what ever and keep going down from there that way you will get used to the look...unless you want a hair transplant or something.
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I plan on keeping it short for a bit and letting people get used to it, and then if I can work it into the conversation, slipping it in that I was thinking about shaving it just to get some input and so it's not quite as awkward.
I suggest you reconsider this approach. If you solicit opinions I believe you will get overwhelming negativity ... "Oh, you look great! Don't shave it." and so on. This is because people don't like change AND you are asking them to imagine what you might look like.
My strongest recommendation is just to shave it and afterwards let folks know you did it for yourself and you like it. Case closed.
But if you want to forewarn them you could "slip into conversation" that you WILL be shaving it off. Make it a declaration versus opening it up for voting.
Just my two cents.
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That's a good point, maybe I should be careful about asking others' opinions...
BTW, Here's a before picture of me with hair, and a photshopped picture of me bald.
What do you think?
http://imageshack.com/a/img547/64/qg0g.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img593/9378/u60z.jpg
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You should never shave on someone elses opinion only yours its not their head.
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You should never shave on someone elses opinion only yours its not their head.
I agree, I want to shave my head; I just need some moral support. If the people in my life were encouraging me to do it, it would be so much easier.
Also, I don't think I'm balding, so no hair transplant needed. My hairline does seem to be getting higher, so who knows what the future holds. I hope not because I want to be bald by choice.
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The photoshopped photo looks really good. You'll get a lot of encouragement and support here. It sounds like you really want to do this, so do it and don't worry about what people will say. Give it a chance and in the end, if you decide you don't like it, it'll grow back.
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You should never shave on someone elses opinion only yours its not their head.
I agree, I want to shave my head; I just need some moral support. If the people in my life were encouraging me to do it, it would be so much easier.
Also, I don't think I'm balding, so no hair transplant needed. My hairline does seem to be getting higher, so who knows what the future holds. I hope not because I want to be bald by choice.
I know how you feel dude you should of seen me when i finally went to the lowest number on my electric razor i came on here also...it was like a "war" in my head should i or should i not the funny thing is though i was like on a number 2 already i looked bald from a distance...i was pretty much there already so it wasnt like your hair...but i still struggled i finally shaved it it was like 3.00am something like that...didnt look to much different lol just cleaner looking no idea why i struggled when i was walking around with a stubble maybe a bit longer horse shoe with no care in the world lol...but i also asked should i or should i not but end of the day its up to you cause some may say do it cause maybe they think thats what you want to hear or may say no which puts you off more...its how YOU feel if you want to do it then do it.
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If you are looking for encouragement, I think that you look more distinguished with a shaved head. Just keep getting your hair cut shorter and shorter. In six months, you'll be ready for the razor blade and shaving cream. You KNOW you want it!
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Thanks Earl,
I'm not patient enough to take that method, but I appreciate the advice. I really want to shave it, but now I'm worried that I'll just look chemo. I am very pale and skinny. I'm thinking that the sooner I just do it and see what it's like the better. I'm sick of putting it off and worrying how I will look. Even so, this is not going to be easy. I've been looking online and most what I see about being bald is negative. Girls won't like it, you'll look chemo, etc. If I was unemployed right now, I would go out tomorrow and have it done. So, my main issue is work and people's reactions there. If I'm uncomfortable and feel stupid and ugly for having shaved my head I have no choice but to sit there and feel that way. And hair grows very slowly if I hate it. Regardless of how I look, I know I'll be uncomfortable, and I know that I'll be making everyone else uncomfortable. Sigh, this is probably the hardest decision of my life.
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I have an idea: Why don't you tell everyone (not that it matters) that you did it in support for St. Baldrick's? St. Baldricks is a charity that people shave their heads for to support children's cancer.....In fact, some people get their heads shaved by the charity itself. Check out and see if there is a St. Baldrick's chapter near you. Good luck, the photoshopped looks pretty good!
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Great minds think alike Sir Harry, I looked them up this morning actually. There's nothing nearby right now sadly, but I remember there was one last summer. They do offer something where you could do it by yourself and still raise money though, but I think I'd like it better if it was part of the event.
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Spot on frontier guy...I was gonna post similar....and a great idea from sir h, get the look you want and raise money for a good cause....go for it
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I posted a link to another "buzz-off" in the Miscellaneous board for a similar event to benefit kids with cancer. They have two slated right now, in Dallas and in Foxborough, MA (about 20 miles south of Boston) if you're near those areas, that's another option.
Kind of makes me wish I had signed up and supported a great cause while getting my head shiny... :)
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Thanks, I think I'm going to shave for St. Baldricks. You can do it wherever, whenever you like. The hard part is going to get up the nerve to tell people, then there will be no going back.
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Thanks, I think I'm going to shave for St. Baldricks. You can do it wherever, whenever you like. The hard part is going to get up the nerve to tell people, then there will be no going back.
I think if you tell them you are doing it for St. Baldricks it may take the nerve out of the equation for you. If others decide to say anything negative about the cause, then they have some "nerve".
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Stop being so insecure, man up and do it. You look fine bald going by the pictures. If you don't like it, then tell everybody you did it for St. Baldricks and grow it back out. If you do like it then just keep it. At the end of the day it's just a hair cut.
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Agreed. Now man up and donate to my St. Baldricks fund!
http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/beej67