Sly Bald Guys Forum
Discussions About Being Bald => General Discussion => Topic started by: ShavedForNow on June 30, 2009, 03:55:54 PM
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As far as fashion goes, we're now at the first point in our lifetimes where it's considered "normal" for a man to shave his head, even if he isn't balding. And indeed, many guys with full heads of hair (myself included) have done so, partly because they enjoy the look, and partly because they like the advantages - as are discussed in another forum.
What puzzles me, however, is that the number of men willing to take this plunge still remains a minority. Why should this be, now that society has accepted this new hairstyle? Is it advertising pressure from the hair care/hair restoration industry, or are there other factors involved? Why is it that we don't see a majority of the adult male population crossing over to the sly side?
I'd be interested in your theories...
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Hmmm - good question.
I think a lot of guys with MPB are still in denial. I always thought I had more hair than I really did. It's still not quite mainstream and to be honest, I hope that doesn't happen. I like being unique - which is quite a change for a guy who's always been conservative and liked to blend in with the crowd. Just goes to show how becoming part of the sly brotherhood affects more than the outside of the head...it affects the inside too.
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Just watch your TV for more than a few minutes. Advertising bombards you with: great hair == get laid.
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I think you have it Bootedbear!!
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I`d give you my theory--but you ripped on my sausage joke....... :x!
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I`d give you my theory--but you ripped on my sausage joke....... :x!
:o At least it was constructive criticism!
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Just watch your TV for more than a few minutes. Advertising bombards you with: great hair == get laid.
That might very well be the main factor, but if it is, it begs another question:
Why doesn't Headblade - or even Gillette - run commercials where the head-shavin' dude gets the bimbo?
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O:O just messin wit ya
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I might get flamed for this, but I honestly believe that most men who don't have hairloss look better with hair. Shaving is more work than keeping hair. I think those things are why it won't be a mainstream style. I do think that every man with MPB should shave.
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I'm not sure if it is this way all over the World, but around here, we are overrun with Bubba's. Opinionated to the max! If your lifestyle is not the same as theirs, there must be something wrong with you. Unfortunately they are very vocal in their beliefs. I've noticed that the young men around here, who have hair, are not as intimidated as say the ones that are 30+. I am in agreement that I'm glad that more men don't shave, as I like being unique.
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I might get flamed for this, but I honestly believe that most men who don't have hairloss look better with hair. Shaving is more work than keeping hair. I think those things are why it won't be a mainstream style. I do think that every man with MPB should shave.
Nailed it. I think for the bbc, it is a matter of personal preference. For mpb--frankly it's hard not to tell the poor sap, "It's dead, get rid of it!" >:D Some look like they've been gassed or something worse--it really contributes to an appearance that really says, "I don't give a sh_t about what I look like, I'm a slob and I'm keeping it!" Go figure, but it's not my head, that is and will be sly and smooth.
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It took some time for me to shave it. I had and continue to have no support at home. If it wasn't for this site I don't know if I would of had the nerve.
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I think we need to set up a poll at a shopping mall or center. Just ask a simple question.. What are your thoughts on head shaving. Why or why not would you do this? I think most of answers would be, as they are pointing to their wives or significant other...They dont like it. We are all too wrapped up in what everyone else thinks. Does the statement I just made sound contradicting? I have never really thought about it, but I looked at it and I think it might be. We keep telling guys they need to shave their noggins and not to worry about what others think. It is your head do what you want to it. So why doesnt that apply to those who have hair that is wrapped 50 times around their skull? It is their hair...let them wear it the way they want to. I myself do not like it when guys do wear it and try to conceal their hairloss. I want to just go up to them and hand them a set of clippers, razor and some lube, but I dont. We are each our own person and we all do things differently.
I say lets just bring all of those MPB guys here and maybe they will see for themselves that its the way to go. Shave on my slybro's!
By the way Ben, nice pic. You are always coming up with creative ways. Timmay
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It takes a certain amount of chutzpah to take that first step. Sort of like skydiving, that first step is a bitch but once you take it you wonder what the big deal was all about and why you didn't do it sooner.
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I think it's probably much more mainstream over here than in the US. USA seems to have more emphasis on 'balding is bad' than over here. Here, we don't seem to be so hair orientated! 8)
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Gillette should make a commercial showing several cases where Bald is the WTG. For example, a well built man with MPB being depressed while looking in the mirror and then due to frustration takes a Fusion 5 to his head. After he's shaved clean he realizes that it looks A LOT better and sports it with confidence. Make several commercials like this with different cases/people and maybe it MIGHT catch-on.
I think the media or newspaper needs to get it on this. It can be a break-thru! With all the useless articles they put in the newspaper, they should put one about MPB and going sly. It'll be a lot more beneficial to readers than a story about a dog flying 5 miles down the road and survive. Anyone (or Tyler) ever considered / tried contacting some sort of mass media? Kinda like get an interview, post the link to SBG etc... Get on a talk show ;D
Not everyone searches for alternatives for MPB on the internet so only a small population is educated in the way of the SLY.
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It took some time for me to shave it. I had and continue to have no support at home. If it wasn't for this site I don't know if I would of had the nerve.
Just wanted to absolutely assure you that you are not alone. The verbal hassling has gone away at home, no compliments though. I think it's one of the most important functions of this site to provide a place for support for leaving the balding combover look behind. It's just an extra that some fun happens too. I hope you gradually turn your family. I feel confident though that you have received compliments by people other than family, and that is almost certainly the case for all mpb guys.
The only "support" I've gotten is a reminder to put sunscreen on, or a hat. That's it!
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I might get flamed for this, but I honestly believe that most men who don't have hairloss look better with hair. Shaving is more work than keeping hair. I think those things are why it won't be a mainstream style. I do think that every man with MPB should shave.
Shaving is not necessarily more work than keeping hair, depending on what kind of hairstyle we're talking about. Taking 10 minutes to shave the dome every morning is less time consuming than washing, gelling, combing, and blow-drying a thick mop.
As for non-MPB men looking better with hair, it all depends on the individual, but most guys -- and I'll put myself firmly in that category -- don't have a clue about how to choose the most flattering type of hairstyle or how to care for their hair so it always looks its best. Most just go to those chain shops and get a "hit or miss" haircut and aren't willing to put a lot of time and money into their hair. I think we're programmed to think that hair is better. I'm always amazed at how good many guys here and elsewhere look with their heads shaved. More often than not, it's an improvement over the way they looked with hair.
We all know that head shaving is addictive. I've often thought it would be an interesting experiment to find a guy who would never normally dream of shaving his head, and entice him with enough cash to keep it shaved for a year and then see if he wanted to grow it back when the experiment was done. I'm guessing that there'd be quite a few that would opt to remain bald.
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Now that I sport a full dome I seem to see more men doing the same.
It is like buying a new truck/car all of a sudden you notice the same vheicle on the roa more than before.
Eric
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Now that I sport a full dome I seem to see more men doing the same.
It is like buying a new truck/car all of a sudden you notice the same vheicle on the roa more than before.
Eric
This is a very good point. Although I have not one bit of proof, one reason I think my wife has calmed down or more accurately, quieted down, about the shaved head is the number of guys who have adopted Sly over the Bozo ring. I mean, there is never a day that goes by that I don't see 5 to 10 other guys. And if you're traveling, airports are incredible for drawing out the sly crowd. I can't remember being on a plane in the past two years where I am the only sly head, there's always at least one more, and many times several. I've been on the evelvators in the building many times where there are more than one other guys w/ a sly head. It's truly mainstream. Having a reluctant spouse, or significant other who is not sold will become easier as they too notice the number of guys in everyday life that have decided the same thing for the same reason.
Good post Eric. O0
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My opinion is simple, balls.
Some have the balls to address MPB with a middle finger and a razor, others just want to blend in as much as possible and not be noticed. Face it, shaving your head not only makes you stand out but it also puts a lot of focus on your head.
Most men (especially those with MPB) don't want to show any vulnerability let alone deal with having the focus shifted to their head (since that is prob something they have accustomed themselves to hiding for so long) so they convince themselves that the comb over or gel infused mess is "not really noticeable".
Poor saps, I wish they would just try it.
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Now that I sport a full dome I seem to see more men doing the same.
It is like buying a new truck/car all of a sudden you notice the same vheicle on the roa more than before.
Eric
I'm glad someone else noticed this, I thought it was just me. I have seen a lot more bald guys since I shaved my head. I guess I just pay more attention now.
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I have seen a lot more bald guys since I shaved my head. I guess I just pay more attention now.
I started noticing a lot more balding men when I realized I was losing my hair... It's just what we do to create some sense of normalcy/ security regarding our appearance. And the media is most definitely the overwhelming moderator of 'normal'.
I think it works something like this: We stack ourselves against others, and the more-closely we are able to mimic the attributes of someone famous or who we at least envy, the more confident we feel. Why? Because people will remember those commercials or magazine covers with GQ men and know that this is supposed to be good. The brain works fastest using pictures, so if they can immediately associate a picture of GQ man with you, BAM! Insert compliment, up goes confidence, and so you are typically sold on that attribute and will do whatever it takes to keep it around.
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Gillette sorta does have commercials, but they are only on the web. They cover everything from shaving your head, to your back, chest, arm pits and groin area. Funny tag lines for each video too. "Trees look taller when there's no underbrush." "If your grass is patchy, mow the lawn."
http://www.gillette.com/en-US/#/grooming/bodyshaving/en-US/index.shtml/
Convinced me. Fortunately, I am genetically incapable of chest or back hair - so far. O0
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I think many guys would ,but it is getting up the courage to actually do it, then getting wife approval, and then some occupations frown on shaved heads, mainly due to the old ideas that a shaved head mean`t a guy was a skinhead , ex con or biker. And in movies a lot of villians shown with bald heads ,So i think many don`t want to be labelled as mean or tough.
I wished i had shaved my head years ago, i alway thought about it, even cut hair very short, but it took me to 46yrs old before i decided to do it, and glad i did it. My wife actually shaved it for me the first time as she wanted to see what i would look like.
But advice to anyone any age thinking of it , Do it and if you dont like it ,it will grow hair back within a week or so. Or when on a holiday shave itand see if you like the look.
I dont find keeping my head shaved much of a problem ,takes me about maybe 10 minutes as i do every day, and it used to take 15 to 20 minutes to shampoo and condition hair, then another 5 min to comb and then keep neat and tidy all day.
Bald is best as get up and go no worrys about do i look tidy , the answer is bald always looks tidy.