Sly Bald Guys Forum

Discussions About Being Bald => To be or not be...Bald => Topic started by: SteveH on June 25, 2009, 06:47:21 PM

Title: Bald just isn't for everyone, unfortunately
Post by: SteveH on June 25, 2009, 06:47:21 PM
For me, this story sucks.  I'm 23, always thought of myself as a pretty decent looking person.  About a year ago I got on propecia/rogaine and can say there are no results.  Well maybe it slowed down the process but it definitely didn't stop it.  Like the average balding guy, I went through the "why me?" phase.  The meds didn't work out and I just had to accept that I was going to be bald.  But, for what it's worth, I was looking forward to being bald, I liked the thought of the look, and I was all for giving it a go now.  I decided to remove the guard and give myself a buzz cut, and I quickly realized there is no way I could ever pull off the bald look. 

Some people exaggerate when it comes to their physical appearance, they think it's far worse than what it really is.  Well, sad to say that doesn't apply to me for this situation.  The top of my head has a pretty big dip in it that just looks odd.  That was what I first noticed, sucks but I could deal with it.  The back of the head is where the real problem is.  I think "odd shaped" or "misshaped" just isn't the accurate way to describe it.  The back of my head is flat (pretty big angle) and it's not even on both sides.  Simply put, it looks deformed.  From the front or a front angle view it doesn't look bad, from a side or back view it looks downright deformed.   I don't really have a choice but to go the route I swore I never would:  the George Castanza hair style.  Bald just isn't for everyone.  The part that sucks is you really need to be older to make the balding look work, it just looks ridiculous at this age.  Baseball caps and beanies, time to stock up. 
Title: Re: Bald just isn't for everyone, unfortunately
Post by: warhawk on June 25, 2009, 06:56:13 PM
hey steve:  1st of all, welcome 2 the sly fraternity.  glad that ya joined us.  why don't U post a pic & let us see your smooooooth noggin'?  sometimes, we R our worst critic.  i just can't believe that U will B covering that slick noggin' with a baseball cap or beanie. :/O

we have many sly young brothers on this forum who "rock" the bald look such as lophura, ghost1988, sbgmathguy, sean25, time2shine, periperalxmvt, and many many more.  i just don't believe how "harsh" u R with your self-criticism.  bald is better than balding...imo. O0

WARHAWK O0
Title: Re: Bald just isn't for everyone, unfortunately
Post by: SBG Math Guy on June 25, 2009, 07:12:27 PM
welcome Steve!
From my experience,  I would say that a buzz cut is not a good representation of how you will look
like with a shaved head.  If I had to judge mine based on the buzz cut I would be out of here.
Maybe you are right, maybe a bald head will not suit you.......but you still have to try it before you can judge it.

I know that you probably don't want to hear this right now, but why not shave it for 30 days?
That's the recommendation the guys here give and as you can see there have been great success stories
after a month.
I hope you stick around.
Title: Re: Bald just isn't for everyone, unfortunately
Post by: SteveH on June 25, 2009, 07:18:34 PM
hey steve:  1st of all, welcome 2 the sly fraternity.  glad that ya joined us.  why don't U post a pic & let us see your smooooooth noggin'?  sometimes, we R our worst critic.  i just can't believe that U will B covering that slick noggin' with a baseball cap or beanie. :/O

we have many sly young brothers on this forum who "rock" the bald look such as lophura, ghost1988, sbgmathguy, sean25, time2shine, periperalxmvt, and many many more.  i just don't believe how "harsh" u R with your self-criticism.  bald is better than balding...imo. O0

WARHAWK O0

Thank you for the welcome!  I think this is one situation where the criticism is accurate, harsh or not.  I see a lot of people now-a-days that shave their head, over the past week or so I look at their head shape, just to see if "misshapen" heads is a common thing, the majority that I see have a decent if not good shape.  Deformed is all I can think to say, doesn't look bad at all from the front, at first glance I liked it, the back is just...too off.  It looks horrible.  I know most people are more critical and harsh in reference to themselves.  Nice forum though, good to see a community for this!  I envy many of the bald heads I'm seeing in avatars, haha. 
Title: Re: Bald just isn't for everyone, unfortunately
Post by: SteveH on June 25, 2009, 07:25:06 PM
welcome Steve!
From my experience,  I would say that a buzz cut is not a good representation of how you will look
like with a shaved head.  If I had to judge mine based on the buzz cut I would be out of here.
Maybe you are right, maybe a bald head will not suit you.......but you still have to try it before you can judge it.

I know that you probably don't want to hear this right now, but why not shave it for 30 days?
That's the recommendation the guys here give and as you can see there have been great success stories
after a month.
I hope you stick around.

I'll be sticking around for a while, I won't quite fit the "sly" part of the site, but I'll have the other part down pretty well.  The part I'm worried about is if buzzing my head on the lowest setting looks as bad as it does, I imagine shaving completely can only look worse?  You really do get to see every dip, dent, lump, etc... the back is bad and un-even.  Perhaps I'll give it a shot, I can always cover it up and let what I have regrow.  I can only see it ending badly though....
Title: Re: Bald just isn't for everyone, unfortunately
Post by: stoic1975 on June 25, 2009, 08:17:00 PM
hey steve,

How about posting a pic?  Don't hold back.  Give us the worst shot you can get with a camera.

I've only been around a while, but these guys will be straight up with you.

Good luck man.  Remember, pleasing yourself is the only thing that really matters.

Best!
Brett
Title: Re: Bald just isn't for everyone, unfortunately
Post by: Razor X on June 25, 2009, 09:07:08 PM


 The part I'm worried about is if buzzing my head on the lowest setting looks as bad as it does, I imagine shaving completely can only look worse?  You really do get to see every dip, dent, lump, etc... the back is bad and un-even.  Perhaps I'll give it a shot, I can always cover it up and let what I have regrow.  I can only see it ending badly though....

Why not give it a shot?  You owe it to yourself to try.  It will only take a couple of days to grow back to the buzzcut length.  The worst that can happen is you won't like how you look for a few days.  That's a small price to pay for not having to wonder for the rest of your life if you did the right thing or not.  You may be pleasantly surprised.   Sometimes dents, dips, etc., are less noticeable without the shadow cast by stubble.  And like the others have said, post a phoot and we'll try to give you some honest advice.
Title: Re: Bald just isn't for everyone, unfortunately
Post by: R o b 6 on June 25, 2009, 09:33:32 PM
Welcome. That's a legitimate concern a lot of us had. But honestly, the shape is the shape whether it's shaved or buzzed close. The other stuff just adds character.

<--------------
Home to dents, dips, moles and scars. But the baldness outshines the minor imperfections.

Give the shave a shot and then you can make the educated decision if it's an issue or not.
Title: Re: Bald just isn't for everyone, unfortunately
Post by: stasiu on June 25, 2009, 11:40:47 PM
Hey man .... talk about deformed and balding?  Mine went earlier than  yours during the mid 1970's big hair years and I have anvil flat in back!  Post frontal and rear pics ... let your baldie bros here decide! 
Title: Re: Bald just isn't for everyone, unfortunately
Post by: D.A.L.U.I. on June 26, 2009, 07:12:55 AM
I'd say give it a shot.  I know where all the dips and holes are in my head, every guy here does.  This concern about shape and dips and dents is one of the most common, if not the most common comments by new guys who are on the fence.  Once you've actually removed the remainder of your hair, it's going to look different, smoother--and frankly, liking it shiny as I do--I find the dips and irregularities [actually smaller, much smaller in fact than in my mind] are like the facets of a diamond--they make beautiful points of shine--REALLY.  Flat head, that's the reverse of others like myself, who worried that our heads were too long, pointed at the back, and I have a hat size, 7 7/8's to justify my fear.  

But when all is said and done and SHAVED--the concerns weren't really there except in my head.  I did, like everyone else, have a "Who's that dude in the mirror?" period.  I still like to catch a view in a mirror, window or whatever--but now I always say to myself, "Damn that looks good!"  You will too, trust us.  Shave it down, post a picture.  As the guys have said if you really don't like it after 30 days, it will be a buzz in a couple of weeks anyway.  Nothing to lose, everything to gain, it seems an easy choice to me.

See you on the Sly Side soon 8).
Title: Re: Bald just isn't for everyone, unfortunately
Post by: PeripheralxMvmnt on June 26, 2009, 07:37:31 AM
Welcome Steve!

As another 23yr old named Steve who went bald and tried Rogaine (are you me? maybe my sleepwalking has gotten a little out of control... haha) you owe it to yourself to at least try going all the way and giving it a chance. I didnt like the shaved look on me that much when I first started shaving since my forehead is is a "fivehead", my hat size is also 7 7/8 and I have a huge flat mole in the back of my head on the crown. But it grew on me, and if my hair ever started magically growing back, I would shave it all off.

And like you will read all through this forum, and as all the guys will say, its your confidence that will outshine any imperfections.


"I'll be sticking around for a while, I won't quite fit the "sly" part of the site"

Sly isnt the haircut, its the person. Im sure youll fit right in.  O0
Title: Re: Bald just isn't for everyone, unfortunately
Post by: BuzzKC on June 26, 2009, 08:05:11 AM
Steve, give it a shot.  I was in the same boat way back.  Also have a huge melon 7 7/8. Nice to know I'm not the only one! It took a while to adjust but the first comment I got was actually a positive comment about the shape of my head.  I was at my dads office and one of the guys said I had the perfect head shape to carry it off.  Self perception is usually way off.
Title: Re: Bald just isn't for everyone, unfortunately
Post by: marty22 on June 26, 2009, 08:17:00 AM
welcome. post a pic and then, we will add our 2 cents.
Title: Re: Bald just isn't for everyone, unfortunately
Post by: Wil87 on June 26, 2009, 09:00:38 AM
Warhawk, dude......i am crushed you missed me off your "rock the bald look" list!!

 :'(

............... :*))
Title: Re: Bald just isn't for everyone, unfortunately
Post by: PeripheralxMvmnt on June 26, 2009, 10:14:37 AM
wow, i didnt even notice the accolades warhawk. you trying to make me blush? haha. Thanks!

And Wil, you rock the look homie!   O0
Title: Re: Bald just isn't for everyone, unfortunately
Post by: PBurke on June 26, 2009, 10:26:32 AM


And Wil, you rock the look homie!   O0

espacially with the guaged ears. i am jealous. work won't let me wear any kind of ear rings. those bastards!!!
Title: Re: Bald just isn't for everyone, unfortunately
Post by: Wil87 on June 26, 2009, 10:28:40 AM
Aww guys!! I feel so accepted once more!!  O0

PBurke, my work are not keen on my ears, but luckily I had them before I started, so they knew all along :)
Title: Re: Bald just isn't for everyone, unfortunately
Post by: GaryT on June 28, 2009, 04:19:42 PM
Welcome Steve!! I hope you enjoy your time with us and ask all the questions you want. Have fun! This whole "Sly" thing is a frame of mind, an attitude. You  can do it. As for head shapes, it's been said many times that there is no such thing as a misformed head! You've lived with it for 23 years, you think its shocking what's underneath? It's been there all along and many times the shaving helps rather than hindering!!

Get us some photos and I know we wont find things are as bad as you think!!
Title: Re: Bald just isn't for everyone, unfortunately
Post by: MindTaker on June 29, 2009, 08:10:07 AM
Hey man I'm 21 and balding, my head shape is far from perfect, it got all types of bumps and weird angles. But I'm kind of a realistic person, rather than an optimistic/pessimistic one, and I say to myself, it could always BE worse, much worse. I prefer being sly than with a horse shoe and thin fluff on top. No matter how my head shape is.
Title: Re: Bald just isn't for everyone, unfortunately
Post by: slyatlast on June 29, 2009, 08:33:05 AM
Welcome Steve

Because you're here, you won't be satisfied until you try it.  As everyone has said, we're all our own worst critics. 
Title: Re: Bald just isn't for everyone, unfortunately
Post by: Sooner Steve on June 30, 2009, 08:57:36 AM
Is it somthing in the genes of sly bald guys?  I also have a huge head and wear and 7 7/8ths size of hat. 
Title: Re: Bald just isn't for everyone, unfortunately
Post by: adam_r_todd on June 30, 2009, 09:37:27 AM
You should give sly a try and see how it goes.  What could it hurt?  If you hate it, you could always grow it back to George Castanza style.
Title: Re: Bald just isn't for everyone, unfortunately
Post by: usmcpelon on September 25, 2009, 10:22:16 AM
Well Steve, September is almost gone. What did you decide on you head shave and the way the back of your head looks. 

For me, I was force into the head shave thing by my employer about three weeks ago.  I did not like it at first becuase I have a somewhat flat head on the back.  Now that it's been three week all I can say is, "to  hell with everybody else, I am already getting used to it and could care less what people thing about the back of my head.  I am more confident going out and I do get alot of compliment from both men and women.  I have been told I look good with the head shave.  Although sometime I think about getting another job and getting my hair back.  Who know, by the time christmas comes along I will probably still be bald.  I must say, I am liking it more and more and feel very confortable bald.  It's a great feeling and my wife love it.

Go ahead shave it and enjoy it, I seem to be doing that so far.  I'll let you know come next month.
Title: Re: Bald just isn't for everyone, unfortunately
Post by: benmcd on September 26, 2009, 08:07:27 AM
To have the perfect head is to be very lucky. There are a few things about my own dome that I would like to change if I could. Firstly I have on either side of my skull a crease, or if you like long line that runs from about my temple right to along either side of my head to the crown area, also the crown of my head looks like I was belted over the head with a frying pan at some early stage. So those are my woes and I still prefer to be bald. I was pleased today when my sister in law commented that she was glad I had shaved my head again, she said it is better on me.. I have been a bit lazy and there was a bit of "growth" there.. I kinda have been letting it grow out from time to time to see how much it is thinning.. anyways I find we are most critical of ourselves so perhaps it is not such a bad option for you. Good Luck