Sly Bald Guys Forum
New Member Section => Introductions => Topic started by: BaldingChris on May 02, 2012, 09:25:35 AM
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Hello and thank you for this site!
I'm 26 years old and started noticeably balding about 4-5 years ago. Being so young, I found
myself really devastated initially. Searched the internet for solutions and others' experiences.
Came across this site and have browsed it on occasion. Really helped make me accept things,
embrace the baldness, and stop being so distracted with worries. Can't say it doesn't bother me
at all anymore, but I think about it much less.
I've been having my hair buzz cut fairly short the past few years. 2 on the sides, 6 on top, faded between.
Its looked alright and seems people shorter then me can't usually tell just how bald and thin I am.
There are certain scenarios where I feel my hair looks terrible and embarrassing though, so I'm considering
buzzing it all down to a 1 or no guard. The main example is when my hair gets wet, either by rain or swimming.
Since my hair is so thin and a lot is missing on top, it gets blotchy and strands bunch together when wet,
which makes my balding really stand out and draw attention. With summer coming, I really want to change my
hair cut in a way that makes me feel more comfortable. If I was older, I wouldn't be so concerned. But at my age
and being single, it really hurts my confidence. I feel baldness stands out more to younger ladies.
I'd like to try buzzing my whole head and beard to about the same length. Currently looking at clippers and
trying to decide whats best for me. Would you guys have any suggestions or advice based on my story?
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Welcome, Chris! I'm glad this site has managed to help you feel better about your situation. Even more glad to hear you are considering going sly.
I'd say skip the 1 setting, and just take the guard off your clippers and see if you like it that short. Then you're kind of a middle point, you know? If you want to go even further, take a razor to it. If you don't like it clipped with no guard, you can grow it back to where you keep it now. I'm almost certain you won't hate it, though. Especially since you are already becoming accustomed to the idea being bald. Don't worry about others opinions of you, either way. This is something you are considering for YOU. Women like a man who has confidence, whether he is bald or not. Just go for it!
Unfortunately, I personally can't give you advice on which set of clippers to buy, as I've been using a razor for years. There are many other great fellas here that will have good suggestions, though. Good luck in your quest, my friend!
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Philips Headgroom is the clipper designed to reach the perfect slyness.
It works, I use it!
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take it all off. simple.
girls love bald guys
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Headgroom. Is good Chris , I do assert theviewthat it does no beat a wet shave , also it takes longer
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Welcome to SBGs!!! 8)
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Hi and welcome!
I was in a similar positions you so I bought some wahl clippers, it was a little set for hair and beard heaps of attachments and a little stand, it worked great, I started of a bit longer like you but ended up on no guard foes ages.
Then I started shaving it, best decision I ever made.
Goodluck and keep us posted
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BTW I'm only 23 and still get an occasional glance from the ladies, other than my wife 8)
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Welcome and Good Luck....On a side note, I recommend Andis clippers for shaving with no guard, they've been a lifesaver for the times I couldn't use or get my hands on a razor
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Welcome to SBG.
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About five years ago, a buddy at work said, "Let's do our hair short". I went to the barber and said I'd like my hair as short as yours. It was about 1/2 inch.
Yes, I liked it. But it needed a trim every 3 weeks or so to keep it looking good. That's too expensive, so I bought clippers. Did my own hair for several years. Then this past year went shorter and shorter with the guard. Just out of curiosity, I took off the guard last summer and buzzed it as short as I could while we were on vacation. Man I liked it.
Some other buddies saw it and said, it's so short, you might as well shave bald. About that time I found this site. Was challenged and in January just shaved bald. BBC. I did not have to shave my head. It's full of hair, but I found I like it bald. Been bald for 3.5 months now. Get good feedback.
I think I would have gone faster through the process if my hair was thinning. Just my story. I'd clipper down real short right away, if not totally bald. Then plan to shave bald in the near future. The smooth feel of bald is incredible.
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I just purchased the Andis BRGC. It came with a #1 and a #000. I also purchased a #0A and a #00000. Prior to that I had a Conair beard trimmer with a variety of attachments. I have MPB with some sparse hair on top front; large bald spot on crown. The BRGC is a great clipper. I found the #0A blade a little tough to use on myself. If I didn't get the angle right, it scratched my head, but not a big problem...practice will improve the technique. The length looked good. In a week it was back to a crewcut look. The #000 was lot easier to use. It just sort of glides across my scalp. The length looked good on me also. In 2 days, the length was back to the #0A length. Moral: if it looks too short, your hair will grow back. I will give myself a #00000 clipepr shave next. I am quite older than you, but I will say that I feel more confident with a clipper shave than with a white MPB ring of hair and thin top. Lots of younger guys with MPB clipepr shave. Try the no guard, give it a chance. It may just increase your self confidence.
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Welcome to SBG and be happy
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Welcome Chris
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Thank you guys for the welcoming. Sorry for the delay in responding.
Really appreciate the suggestions. I've been browsing clippers and was on the verge
of ordering the Philips QC5550 Headgroom. Reconsidering it now that I have a better
idea of what I'd like to do. I'm not quite ready to go completely bald and think that
once I do, I'll end up using a razor. So I'm not sure I need the balding attachment.
Maybe I should get the QC5530 instead? For the next year or two at the least, I'll
probably be buzzing to #1 and possibly down to no guard.
I'd really like an Oster 76 from what I'm seeing, but thats a little out of my budget
right now. Is there a specific Wahl or Andis clipper you might recommend? Trying
to find something for $70 or less including the guards I need.
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hey chris: welcome 2 the sly fraternity. glad that ya joined us. if I were U... i would just "take the plunge" and get a good quality razor & "just do it". I promise that U will b thanking us 4 the encouragement. anyways... welcome 2 the club & keep us posted 2 your road 2 slyness.
WARHAWK O0
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When I was buzzing my head, I had a wahl clipper from Walmart. It was about $35 or so. Included a beard trimmer which really is a piece of junk. It's cute, battery powered, dull, and not powerful enough to trim much of anything.
The standard electric clipperes worked well, and I still use them on my beard. It's bright yellow. Here's the link. Guess it's more like $30 right now.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/WAHL-Groom-Pro-22-Pc-Haircutting-Kit-Model-79520-3101/14324470?findingMethod=rr
The larger clipper in this set is the one I like. It does not get HOT as you use it. When you are ready, you can buzz down to just a few mm and look almost bald. Then it's an easy transition to shaving bald. Looks better that way. And feels better that way.
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if I were U... i would just "take the plunge" and get a good quality razor & "just do it".
I've been tempted to take the plunge and just shave it, but am holding
back mostly because I have a little problem with acne. I seem to constantly
have a few decent size pimples on my scalp. Figured I'd buzz it short, ditch
the shampoo (possibly contributing to the problem), and see If I can do more
by talking with a Dermatologist. I've been prescribed and tried many different
creams and washes in my life. Pretty sure I can't control it anymore then
I already am. Any of you have experience with this?
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Thank you guys for the welcoming. Sorry for the delay in responding.
Really appreciate the suggestions. I've been browsing clippers and was on the verge
of ordering the Philips QC5550 Headgroom. Reconsidering it now that I have a better
idea of what I'd like to do. I'm not quite ready to go completely bald and think that
once I do, I'll end up using a razor. So I'm not sure I need the balding attachment.
Maybe I should get the QC5530 instead? For the next year or two at the least, I'll
probably be buzzing to #1 and possibly down to no guard.
I'd really like an Oster 76 from what I'm seeing, but thats a little out of my budget
right now. Is there a specific Wahl or Andis clipper you might recommend? Trying
to find something for $70 or less including the guards I need.
The headgroom have various guards in order to preserve some hair.
If you want go to for the sly look the headgroom enables you to do so.
Otherwise, if you're not convinced to go for a complete smoothness, the headgroom itself allows you to also achieve less extreme solutions.
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Just like Lynchy, I'm 23 and it hasn't affected the response from the ladies, they all seem to find it attractive... But then there's only one girl's opinion that matters to me.
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Welcome aboard.
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Do see the doctor, at your age it might not be "acne" but another easily handled issue--and the oils and stuff from your scalp combined with anything you use to control what little is left may be making it worse.
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Along with Saintc and what I have garnered from Schro and my personal experience, less hair means less scalp irritation, means less acne/dermatitis, my skin on both my face and scalp has improved remarkably since shaving.
P.S in general you should just listen to Saint, I'm pretty sure he's always right... ALWAYS
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Along with Saintc and what I have garnered from Schro and my personal experience, less hair means less scalp irritation, means less acne/dermatitis, my skin on both my face and scalp has improved remarkably since shaving.
I had a similar experience. I used to have a scalp condition in the lower back of my head. I'd get nasty bumps on/in the hair follicles that were like pimples, but were harder and took forever to go away.
Once I took off all of my hair about 8 years ago, it cleared up within a week and never came back. Not once. I took it as a sign that I'm allergic to my hair, and should never grow it back. ;)
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I took it as a sign that I'm allergic to my hair, and should never grow it back. ;)
I think all of us are now! except on chins.
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Took my first step this morning. Buzzed it all to #1.
Was really nervous to hear family member's opinions.
So far, its all been positive.
I feared my mothers response most of all, because she is
very judgmental and has acted disgusted by the idea of me
buzzing or shaving it. Surprisingly she had nothing negative
to say and actually seemed to like it.
Don't know if or when I'll be ready to go completely bald.
Found that my head has some weird dents and bumps that cast
shadows and are pretty obvious. Not sure yet whats best for
me at my current stage of balding.
Going to get some color on my scalp and keep it this way for
at least a week, then take it from there.
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looks great! Those bumps and shadows will only be noticeable to you, we are all too critical of ourselves! you'll wear sly well, you have a good head shape
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Looks good, man.
With this short of a buzz you'll get some color quickly. Then you can take it down with a razor to eliminate the shadows. We'll look forward to your next photo in a week or two when you start your 30 day journey.
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Looks great, no guard is second best after completely shaved IMO!
Glad to hear you like it!
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Looks great, no guard is second best after completely shaved IMO!
Glad to hear you like it!
Totally agree with Lynchy
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Welcome to SBG man! I started balding when I was 17, I was still so young that I was totally ignorant about it over the following years. I went through the same thing with styling and "holding on" to what I had. I really obsessed and fixated over it and it was mentally and physically exhausting. Everyday in route to class through the large windy KU I'd try avoiding how wind hit and exposed my baldness and then when I got into the building immediately rush to the bathroom to make sure the do was still intact.
HOW TIRING.
So I shaved it. It's a drastic change but it's CLEAN and people respect it. The thing is... when trying to hold on to the hair, we style it the best we can and think that it looks much better than it actually does while it does not fool anyone else. Shave it, see how freeing it is. You wont have to take showers every morning so that your hair is re-stylable, worry about waking up late and not having time to groom and if you are like many dudes, you won't have to hide behind a hat on bad days. I used to wear a beanie all of the time when I was a kid... but I started wearing it much more when I was having a bad hair day :*))
If you're nervous about your first time just have a barber do it. Sorry for the short novel, and again welcome!