Sly Bald Guys Forum
Discussions About Being Bald => General Discussion => Topic started by: Natedawg on April 30, 2012, 12:54:06 PM
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So I've been buzzing my head (clippers - no attachments) since '04 (when I was about 24), and shaving it clean with a razor since '07. I originally started cutting my hair so short because said hair never agreed with me (ultra-thin; oily; high-hairline). I figured I'd give baldness a try. Been keeping it that way and loving it since the first buzz. I knew it was the look for me, and I still do.
Recently while razor shaving, I started noticing that it felt like there was less stubble/resistance on the top of my head. I started thinking that there was no way I could be going bald at the tender age of 31. Hell no! So, I let the stubble grow for a few days (I normally shave with a razor every other day) to see if this was the case.
It is. My hair is growing much more sporadically on the top of my head than it used to, even compared to 6 months ago. It was very noticeable with the aforementioned stubble.
I'm balding.
Honestly, I'm not sure quite how to feel about it... On one hand, I'm obviously already equipped to handle it. It's not going to make any difference in my look. I knew even before this started happening that I was going to be bald for life.
You'd think this alone would be enough to push any negative feelings about it out of my head. However, on the other hand, I'm going bald at 31. Seems too young.. or maybe I'm just not quite ready to face becoming older haha!
I'm not actually upset or anything, it just feels... surreal. The only person who has gone bald (not by choice) on both sides of my extended family was my uncle (dad's brother), who also did so at a younger age. Guess I drew the lucky card on that one, huh? Didn't think it would actually happen to me.
Sure is a good thing I beat mother nature to the punch, huh? :D
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It's normal to have mixed feelings about it. There's a big difference between being bald because you choose to and being bald because you have to. There was a whole Seinfeld episode about it. ;)
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Nice post.
I'd also love to be naturally bald, so I'll have less to shave.
Guess I'm not that lucky.
Yet
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hey nate: glad that ya beat mother nature 2 the punch. U look like a natural. 4 me the sly life gets better each & every day. O0
WARHAWK O0
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The really great thing about sly is that it hides balding in plain sight. Balding sucks, being bald is fine, and until you've experienced that seemingly contradictory situation it sounds funny ;D.
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Thanks for the replies and kind words, amigos!
The irony of the situation is indeed delicious, here. I just thought I'd share that little wake up call. That on top of welcoming our first born to the world a month and half ago, it's been quite a year of lifelong changes already!
There was a whole Seinfeld episode about it. ;)
Oh yeah! The one where Elaine dated the guy who shaved his head. Nice reference. O0
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Natedawg,
You beat me to it. In the few last weeks, I've noticed by the time of the 5 o'clock shadow, that mother nature is doing a random job of balding the top of my head. The widows peak is disintegration and there's now a mix of low sand dunes and grey stubble.
Very pleased to have picked the right time to shave sly. Now I'm half way between BBC and BBN, it really feels like a one way advancing years ticket. Also getting the first hint of what I'm going to look like with the horse-shoe stubble.
So you have my fullest sympathies. Great to be sly. And the MPB genes are pushing you along, too.
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That on top of welcoming our first born to the world a month and half ago,
Oh boy, congrats, that's great--and if you thought mpb was just starting, that fact alone will push it into high gear. >:D
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Very pleased to have picked the right time to shave sly. Now I'm half way between BBC and BBN, it really feels like a one way advancing years ticket. Also getting the first hint of what I'm going to look like with the horse-shoe stubble.
So you have my fullest sympathies. Great to be sly. And the MPB genes are pushing you along, too.
Hey thanks, Mr Jules.
At least we were able to show nature up for once. It always wins, so it's nice to get a preemptive strike in there. ;D Always been proud to be BBC, but like you said, now our decisions are definitely being reinforced.
Oh boy, congrats, that's great--and if you thought mpb was just starting, that fact alone will push it into high gear. >:D
Many thanks, saintc! Our baby boy has already managed to make me FEEL older. I'm sure my looks will follow suit. :P
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Well it less traumatic than losing your hair much younger ,
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First of all, congratulations on the new addition to the family, you must be proud! O0
Secondly, in response to both you and Jules, I started shaving because of MPB (so the hair situation wan't great to start with), but I have begun to notice the same missing patches around my hairline and crown, just random bits missing, and although I now love being bald, and wouldn't go back, I still have that same pang of realisation that you felt.
I'm also the only baldie for 3 generations in my family (except my great uncle by marriage), so I know how you feel man, it's almost like finding out you've been short changed when you didn't even know you paid in the first place. Also, don't feel bad, 31 one isn't that early, I turn 23 on Friday, and I know there's a few others here who are going through the same at 18 or younger, my good vibes go out to all you guys that are losing it at an early stage, and to all you more experienced guys that helped us through it.
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Thanks for the reply, Slyfive! I am very proud of my baby boy, when he lets me sleep enough to feel pride (lol).
I hear you in that men much younger than me have started losing hair... Just never thought it would be the case for me, but of course, who really ever does...? We all just have to roll with the hands life deals us.
Happy early birthday, btw! b$@Y
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Thank you very much, buy the way, that beard is AMAZING, makes you look extra slick.
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I had a similar problem. I started shaving because my ex girlfriend pointed out that my hair was thinning at the peaks. I was 19 and always digged the look so shaved it off. I let my hair go for a week before shaving and didn't notice any difference really. Well, I grew it out for 50 days recently and noticed that it was thinning more than before. No one else really noticed it but it stood out to me. I am only 22-soon to be 23 and it took me back a step or two. I started shaving by choice, now I will continue to shave because of what started as a choice is now almost mandatory. Plus, people are all used to me being Sly these days anyway.
Congrats on the new baby!
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that beard is AMAZING, makes you look extra slick.
Haha thanks, dude! I take pride in it. I get more attention and conversation because of it than I do my slyness. 8)
Congrats on the new baby!
Many thanks! Glad to hear you enjoy being sly. Keep up the great work, baldy!
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Mother Nature has signed in to make it easier for you to maintain the sly look which I agree with all our bald brothers that you wear really well. Congratulations on the new bundle of joy.
O a side note, I wish I could grow even just a third of your amazing beard. :)
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Thanks for the reply and kind words, kalbo! How old are you? For some men, fuller beards don't happen until a little later in life. I'd have a whole facial beard now if I could, but the hair growth on my cheeks is still too sporadic...
There's a similar "rule" for growing a beard as it is to try to go sly. Don't shave your face at all for 30 days, no matter what it looks like. Try and shape a beard at that point. See if you want to keep going. There will be times even after that point where it just won't look right. It won't look full enough. I had to go through some silly looking stages of growth to get here. ;D
Happy Friday! fR!d@y
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There's a similar "rule" for growing a beard as it is to try to go sly. Don't shave your face at all for 30 days, no matter what it looks like. Try and shape a beard at that point. See if you want to keep going. There will be times even after that point where it just won't look right. It won't look full enough. I had to go through some silly looking stages of growth to get here. ;D
Great advice on the 30 days,and you've got great beard. I would only add, as I've posted in the past, it's 20 minutes or so to sly, but three months or more to get to a mature beard. One odd genetic combination that seems to be relatively common, the guys with mpb often have great beard genetics too. I've often wondered if the Book of Job, chapter 1, verse 21 wasn't a implied reference to beards and baldness, "The Lord gave [i.e. a great beard] and the Lord hath taken away [the mpb]!" And the legendary patience of Job is required to get through the itching, the rough looking early days, etc. But, once matured, a beard can be a very satisfying experience.
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It is a great beard and suits you
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One odd genetic combination that seems to be relatively common, the guys with mpb often have great beard genetics too. I've often wondered if the Book of Job, chapter 1, verse 21 wasn't a implied reference to beards and baldness, "The Lord gave [i.e. a great beard] and the Lord hath taken away [the mpb]!"
'Tis true. Does seem odd that it ends up that way quite often. I like to tell people the hair fell off my head and landed on my face. ;)
It is a great beard and suits you
Many thanks, Baldchav!
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I like to tell people the hair fell off my head and landed on my face. ;)
Yup, you're young--wait until it shows up on your back, ears and every other place you never intended! ;D
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Natedawg, I am 41already. Genetics have hindered me to grow a decent beard, I could grow some on the upper lip and the chin, but only a few strands on my face. What's ironic is that my brother is as hairy as a monkey.
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Natedawg, I am 41already. Genetics have hindered me to grow a decent beard, I could grow some on the upper lip and the chin, but only a few strands on my face. What's ironic is that my brother is as hairy as a monkey.
I see. Well, you don't look 41. I hear you on genetics. Same reason I started this thread. ;D
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Kalbo you look 30 at the most! you'll be putting us all to shame when we're wrinkly and grey.... oh wait, don't need to worry about the second one any more!
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Lesson learned from this thread: Your hair (or absence of it) shouldn't stop you from living life....congrats on the new addition to the family, and you can be an inspiration for a lot of young guys going through with hair loss.
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Kalbo you look 30 at the most! you'll be putting us all to shame when we're wrinkly and grey.... oh wait, don't need to worry about the second one any more!
Thanks Slyfive and greying will never be an issue for us baldies.
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You're most welcome! I always have a good chuckle when friends lament the fact that they can't look the same as they used to, and that they have to style their hair... I'll have the same hair style till I'm dead... And BEYOND!
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I like to tell people the hair fell off my head and landed on my face. ;)
Yup, you're young--wait until it shows up on your back, ears and every other place you never intended! ;D
Hey!!! I was 20 when I realized that I had a hairy back! :D :*))
But getting back to the realization that the hair was going. Even as a older guy at 51, I can relate to that! I first shaved my head when I was in my mid 30's since I noticed that the front was going away. Since then I have occasionally grown it back and had people note the thinning on top. I had that happen also when a friend noticed that I had a fringe shadow. But when I had surgery last year and got lazy in shaving my head, it was real noticeable that I had a smooth patch on the back and that the front was already gone. I had noticed while shaving, but while I love being sly, it is weird to see that my MPB has progressed to the point that even with hair, I will be seen as a bald or balding guy. Makes me feel a little old! But I am sly for life and happy about it!
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I had noticed while shaving, but while I love being sly, it is weird to see that my MPB has progressed to the point that even with hair, I will be seen as a bald or balding guy. Makes me feel a little old! But I am sly for life and happy about it!
It's just nature trying to catch up with you. She started the ball rolling, and you took it and ran with it. ;)
Your last sentence is what matters the most, of course!
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I can't imagine not having a beard ... about as much as I can't imagine growing my hair back.