Sly Bald Guys Forum

New Member Section => Introductions => Topic started by: King88 on May 17, 2012, 10:07:56 AM

Title: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: King88 on May 17, 2012, 10:07:56 AM
Ok so here it goes.

I'm 31, married and have a beautiful 18 month old girl.  I am on the fence about going sly.  Here's a little background.  I've had alopecia for as long as I can remember and the severity fluctuates but I've always been able to cover the spots up.  It recently has gotten pretty bad and has showed no signs of letting up anytime soon.  I have gone sly before in my early 20's but grew it back while I was in between jobs becuase I felt it was effecting my ability to get another job. 

Now I'm just tired of dealing with the alopecia.  Getting ready in the morning is a huge pain.  I spend 20-25 minutes on my hair/head alone.  I use eyeliner pencils to color in the spots on my head so of course that's very messy.  The biggest difference with shaving my head this time around is that now I can't grow facial hair and I have no eyelashes or eyebrows due to the alopecia.  I'm thinking that if I stay tan it won't be too much of a problem.

I'm planning on going sly over memorial day weekend so I can have some time to adjust and get some sun on my dome before I go back to work.
Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: D.A.L.U.I. on May 17, 2012, 11:30:47 AM
Welcome to SBG--where guys with mpb, and guys who just don't like their hair, have found support in dealing with it sensibly without drugs, plugs or rugs.  I think your planned sly venture will surprise you.  Since you last tried it more and more guys, particularly of your age, have taken it up.  Regarding employment--sly guys are in every line of work at every level.  Look around, you'll see lots of us.  So, you've just got an advantage that your cost of shaving supplies will be minimal ;)!  REad up here and you'll find guys who are getting laser treatments to be like you! :o
In the nearly five years since I gave up on the combover, sly has become very much a mainstream haircut.  You've been dealing with it longer than that.  It has gotten to the point that it isn't even noticed sometimes.  Example, within the last two weeks, I was at the gym, dressing up.  I had a locker next to the counter where they keep hair spray, etc. and hair dryers.  A guy who was finishing up came up and asked me if I was going to use the hair dryer.  Reaching up and rubbing my smooth dome I said, "I don't think so!" ;D  He did a double take, laughed and started drying his hair--he didn't even notice my shining dome :(.  We're pretty mainstream now if they don't even realize we're clean shaven above the ears!  
Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: Natedawg on May 17, 2012, 01:32:20 PM
Welcome, King.  B*)


Glad to hear you're planning on going sly! After all, you shouldn't invest so much time and energy into your hair. You're supposed to use that energy to keep up with your daughter! I'm sure it'll be a great look for you. Best of luck! I'm positive baldness only plays a very teenie, tiny role in who gets hired at some places of employment. Besides, you wouldn't want to work for/with anyone that superficial anyway, would you?
Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: Mr Jules on May 17, 2012, 02:13:08 PM
... memorial day weekend ...

when is "memorial day weekend" ? Means nothing to me.

Some SGB guys are outside the US !  ;)
Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: Laser Man on May 17, 2012, 02:18:43 PM
Memorial Day is the last Monday of May.  It's the equivalent of Remembrance Day in Britain. 

On a lighter note, "summer" in the U.S. is often defined as Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend (Labor Day is the first Monday in September).
Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: Mr Jules on May 17, 2012, 02:22:40 PM
Memorial Day is the last Monday of May.  It's the equivalent of Remembrance Day in Britain. 

On a lighter note, "summer" in the U.S. is often defined as Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend (Labor Day is the first Monday in September).

Thank you for that. You learn something ever day.

The Queens Diamond Jubilee is just around the corner. This is a big deal here in the UK. Only one other monarch in our 1000+ year history has reigned longer.
Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: Laser Man on May 17, 2012, 02:27:26 PM
Re: the Queen's Jubilee:  I was in London shortly after the Jubilee Line opened on the Tube - that was celebrating 25 years as queen.  Hard to believe another 25 years have passed so quickly.  Do you think Elizabeth will surpass Victoria?
Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: Mr Jules on May 17, 2012, 02:44:50 PM
Re: the Queen's Jubilee:  I was in London shortly after the Jubilee Line opened on the Tube - that was celebrating 25 years as queen.  Hard to believe another 25 years have passed so quickly.  Do you think Elizabeth will surpass Victoria?

Yes, we need named a Tube line after the Queen's Silver Jubilee. When not cycling to work, I actually use the Jubilee line to get to the office. You'll know it's coloured silver on the London Tube map.

Yes, I do think Queen Elizabeth will surpass Victoria. In September 2015, she'll be longest reigning British monarch ever.
Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: Lynchy on May 17, 2012, 03:13:30 PM
Welcome.......

I have nothing new to add to what's above! It is all excellent advice O0

The key in my opinion is to do what is right for you! If you truly want to go sly, balls to what anyone else thinks. Do it and be happy!

If you are trying to convince yourself on the other hand that might be harder!

Either way, Good Luck..... Hope to see you sly soon!

Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: Goodfishfrancis on May 17, 2012, 03:36:41 PM
As a new slyman, I can only offer words of encouragement. Before I went sly, I was constantly trying to find ways to conceal the bald. Now that I'm sly, keeping it freshly sly all the time is my biggest concern! Whatever you choose to do, I hope you find peace with yourself. That was the most important part for me :)
Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: King88 on May 17, 2012, 03:58:30 PM
Thanks for all the replies guys.  At this point I'm 98% percent sure I'm going sly.  The biggest question in my mind is how I'll look now since my eyebrows are gone.

 I was just getting ready to type that I know all that really matters is what I and my family think, and in that moment I've moved to being 100% sure I'm going sly.   h3ry3

Thanks again guys.
Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: Sir Harry on May 17, 2012, 06:01:31 PM
Welcome and good luck....I have a friend who has alopecia, except he is sly naturally can't even grow hair. So I see firsthand what alopecia can do. As far as a job goes, if you go in with confidence, a hairstyle shouldn't matter...As far as people's reactions, well to put it nicely some people need to go get lives....
Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: TheSlyBear on May 17, 2012, 06:05:14 PM
Don't worry about the eyebrows. You'll still look fine.
Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: baldjoeg on May 17, 2012, 07:04:25 PM
Congradulaltions and ellcome to SBG.
Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: D.A.L.U.I. on May 17, 2012, 07:12:33 PM
my eyebrows are gone.
That really isn't a factor--except that with the scraps left on top that might cause people to notice the lack of eyebrows.  And, as you'll see looking around here, there are guys who shave those too--I only trim mine, just to prevent another temptation for a really weird combover ;D  Do you have any ideas how to "catch" alopecia, I could use some on my back and shoulders? :D
Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: kalbo on May 17, 2012, 09:00:52 PM
Welcome to the bald brotherhood King. There are some brothers here who choose to shave their brows, maybe they could give you more inputs and advice.
Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: Mikekoz13 on May 18, 2012, 04:56:18 AM
Welcome to the Forum, King!

My 15 year old son has a friend that has always had alopecia. His parents hid it pretty well when he was younger. As he hit puberty, the alopecia accelerated to the point that it was badly noticeable. So one day this great kid and his Dad decided to shave it off..... at 14 years old.
The kid looks great and doesn't have to worry about fighting that damn alopecia anymore. Life goes on!!!!!
Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: King88 on May 18, 2012, 07:38:08 AM
Welcome to the Forum, King!

My 15 year old son has a friend that has always had alopecia. His parents hid it pretty well when he was younger. As he hit puberty, the alopecia accelerated to the point that it was badly noticeable. So one day this great kid and his Dad decided to shave it off..... at 14 years old.
The kid looks great and doesn't have to worry about fighting that damn alopecia anymore. Life goes on!!!!!

He's obviously a pretty awesome kid!  I think there is a saying that goes something like, " The man who had no shoes felt bad for himself until he met a man with no feet".  No matter how bad things are there is almost always someone who has things worse, and if those people can move passed it so can I.  That being said I'm going to get some headslick this weekend from CVS and order some headshed and rejoin the sly brotherhood next weekend.  Thanks again to everyone.

Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: Slyfive on May 18, 2012, 03:10:39 PM
Welcome king, you are making the right choice, one of my school friends had alopecia very badly and when he shaved it was a massive improvement.
Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: IllinoisBaldy on May 18, 2012, 08:10:08 PM
Welcome to SBG.
Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: xnewyawka on May 20, 2012, 09:22:15 AM
Welcome to the forum. I echo what's been said above. You're on the right track now, go ahead and shave it down. Free yourself, and live your life without trying to disguise and hide your mpb. Believe me, once you've shaved you'll be saying "I wish I had done this sooner". Almost all of us have.
Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: King88 on May 20, 2012, 06:07:10 PM
Well here is what I looked like last time I shaved the dome, it was about 7 years ago.  The differences know are no eyebrows no chin fuzz and add about 30 pounds.  The pic is kind of crappy but you get the point.

(https://www.slybaldguys.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi707.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fww80%2Fking2488%2Fcf493258.jpg&hash=df952c64d5ab4a736a34a44d8fc998b70c3ac2e6)
Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: kalbo on May 20, 2012, 08:29:47 PM
You have a good shaped head and great facial features to carry the bald look really well. Thanks for sharing your pic.
Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: Razorhead on May 20, 2012, 08:40:00 PM
agreed. you got a great shaped head.
Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: SalWalker on May 20, 2012, 11:29:05 PM
No worries mate.  You're gonna look great.  It's a pretty easy decision really, when you consider you can either be the balding guy or the bad@ss guy with the shaved head. 

Best wishes.
Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: King88 on May 26, 2012, 12:26:09 PM
I did the deed this morning.  It feels pretty damn good!  I'll post a pic when I get the chance.  Thanks again to everyone for the support.
Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: mrzed on May 26, 2012, 01:48:55 PM
I bet it feels good.

Welcome, another bald guy in the world.   

Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: tomgallagher on May 26, 2012, 02:40:56 PM
Good for you dude. Enjoy.
Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: Lynchy on May 26, 2012, 04:21:33 PM
I did the deed this morning.  It feels pretty damn good!  I'll post a pic when I get the chance.  Thanks again to everyone for the support.

Congratulations!

Hope you are loving it.
Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: PigPen on May 26, 2012, 09:32:07 PM
Yeah! Welcome to the wonderful world of SLY!
Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: RoWilJr on May 26, 2012, 09:32:24 PM
Congrats! O0
Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: King88 on May 28, 2012, 08:19:14 PM
Finally got a profile pic up.  I'm not trying to look angry/mean, that is just the look of concentration while trying to take my own picture with an iPad.
Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: kalbo on May 28, 2012, 08:38:51 PM
You look good bald King, thanks for posting your pic.
Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: SalWalker on May 29, 2012, 01:07:56 AM
Hey!  There you go!  You look great!  Congrats.
Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: Natedawg on May 29, 2012, 07:53:31 AM
It's a really good look for you, King. Keep up the great work!  O0
Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: stasiu on May 29, 2012, 07:59:39 AM
lookin r-r-really-y-y great bald King !
Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: RoWilJr on May 29, 2012, 08:59:26 AM
You look great w/the Sly!!!
Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: King88 on May 29, 2012, 10:02:50 AM
Thanks guys, the kind words are greatly appreciated.  Now I hope I can help people that are battling alopecia or MPB.  Going sly is probably the best thing I've done since my daughter was conceived  ;) 
Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: bsev08 on May 29, 2012, 05:17:45 PM
Looks great man, congrats!
Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: Sir Harry on May 30, 2012, 12:33:07 AM
Congrats! Looks Good!
Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: Baldstu on May 30, 2012, 01:51:15 AM
Memorial Day is the last Monday of May.  It's the equivalent of Remembrance Day in Britain. 

On a lighter note, "summer" in the U.S. is often defined as Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend (Labor Day is the first Monday in September).

Thank you for that. You learn something ever day.

The Queens Diamond Jubilee is just around the corner. This is a big deal here in the UK. Only one other monarch in our 1000+ year history has reigned longer.


Yes I wondered what that was all about Jules , memorial day , presumably commemmorating the dead in a past historic event .
No interest in Betty and Pips boat ride , I favour the dutch model of the Royal Family . Would like to see the Hohenzollerns and Wittenburgs restored to Royal status , but simplicity , I am sure you can get a boat ride from Greenwich pier to the strand pier for under ten quid .
I respect the Royal family very much , but feel they are living in the 1930s  at ourexpense .

Please US cousins when is Memorial day ?
Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: NESTYdPOGI on May 30, 2012, 01:55:13 AM
Congratulations and welcome to SBG man!!!
Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: Frontier Guy on May 30, 2012, 05:11:34 AM
Please US cousins when is Memorial day ?

Memorial Day is an American federal holiday observed annually on the last Monday of May. Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the Union soldiers who died in the Civil War. By the 20th century Memorial Day had been extended to honor all Americans who have died in all wars. It typically marks the start of the summer vacation season, while Labor Day marks its end. [Wikipedia]
Title: Re: Hey Gentlemen
Post by: Mozingo on May 30, 2012, 01:17:23 PM
Welcome King88. It's a good look for you. Enjoy the freedom.