Sly Bald Guys Forum
New Member Section => Introductions => Topic started by: nathan06 on July 20, 2012, 05:54:15 PM
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Hi guys, I've only been lurking the forums for a week or so but saw straight away that this is a great community of supportive guys, and just reading a few posts helped me decide to take the first step in becoming sly.
So I'm 20 years old and just finished my 2nd year of university. For the last 6 or 7 years I've had medium/long hair. I first noticed I was receding from the front when I was 15. It gradually got worse but I kept my hair roughly the same length and always styled it to cover my embarrassing hairline. My hair didn't start thinning until I was about 18. It starting slowly thinning and by the time I hit 20 it seemed to be going at an alarming rate. For the last 2 years I have barely went outside without wearing a hat or styling my hair and holding it in place with loads of hairspray. It's got to the point where as I don't have very many friends on my course, I've heard other people in my class refer to me as "the guy with the hats". I play a lot of sports and am captain of my university field hockey team, so when I play I use a hairband to keep my hair from blowing back and revealing my hairline. I guess I've always just been scared of how people will react if they notice.
It took me ages to come to terms with my MPB, I think the thing that finally made me come to terms with it was when I was 18, myself and a group of friends all bleached our hair, and while they got theirs cut and the rest grew out in a few months, It took me over a year for my blonde fringe to grow out. I'm not sure how many people knew how badly I was losing my hair (after a certain picture I'll post below, I always made a conscious effort to keep it hidden) but very few of my friends have mentioned it to me, despite openly making fun of other friends who were only slightly receding.
So I got a haircut a few days ago, got a bit brave and got it cut too short and ended up with a haircut that exposed my hairline and showed how much I was thinning. I really hated it so tonight I decided to buzz it all off.
to give you an idea of how bad my hairline actually is, this was me just turned 16 at a foam party:
(https://www.slybaldguys.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1144.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fo482%2Fpha10nm%2Fbeach.jpg&hash=2d62618819692c76c90c6915e2c7ebdefc0c40d1)
hair then varied in length for a couple of years (i'm 18 here) but normally looked like this when caught on camera:
(https://www.slybaldguys.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1144.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fo482%2Fpha10nm%2Fbar.jpg&hash=773ec73a0b37ce872e642b803aeb87d0feb5d021)
then in may 2011 it looked like this (note the combover):
(https://www.slybaldguys.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1144.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fo482%2Fpha10nm%2Fblonde.jpg&hash=63866e5a4e00864c05fc3a4bbcf6ef2fecca8fa9)
nearly a year later (march 2012) the blonde was still visible:
(https://www.slybaldguys.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1144.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fo482%2Fpha10nm%2Fnew1.jpg&hash=af907dafa69101b7d3c41e96db4a43f4d90ba5e6)
then a few days ago I got it cut and it looked like this
(https://www.slybaldguys.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1144.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fo482%2Fpha10nm%2FSnapshot_20120718.jpg&hash=c66d9d24ea3e189fe3d71319736f9371afd93396)
(https://www.slybaldguys.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1144.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fo482%2Fpha10nm%2FSnapshot_20120718_2.jpg&hash=5e9f0c4ce5e264e3ca3c72645347dd93410a818f)
which I really hated and after reading some stories on here, finally gathered up the courage to buzz it off.
(https://www.slybaldguys.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1144.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fo482%2Fpha10nm%2FIMG-20120720-00007.jpg&hash=e74af03ec6f4cf6f0ff47e9cc61132afe8741a66)
My hair on top is quite a light colour and very thin compared to the sides, so although you can't tell really from my avatar, it's actually a very short buzz cut. I'm going to keep it for a while to adjust to it and see how things develop but I genuinely think it will look better completely sly. Maybe I'll do it in a few weeks, but you guys will be the first to know.
I am in the (very) early stages of growing a beard, which is why my facial hair looks a bit weird.
Already I feel free and liberated, and a bit cold. I'm excited about my life now, hoping for the positive changes that will come with more confidence. I know my friends back at uni will make fun of me for a while, but that's only to be expected.
I want to thank you guys for pretty much giving the inspiration to accept who I am and embrace my (nearly) bald head. Also, I'm sorry for this post being so long, I've never spoken about my hair loss before and it just feels like I've got a whole load off my chest.
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Welcome to SBG Nathan!
Thanks for sharing your story with us. I think opening up and sharing like that can be very powerful.
I think the sooner you shave it, the better. Your friends and family will very quickly get used to it and they'll soon forget you ever looked any different, and I speak from experience! New people you meet in the future won't even consider the "old" version of you because they never knew you looking that way.
When you shave it you can look forward to a stronger, more confident future where you're in control of your life rather than your hair loss being in control!
Good luck and let us know once you shave it off!
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Hey Nathan, welcome to SBG!!!
Your hair and hairstyles remind me much of myself in the past 4 years. I have exactly the same hairloss pattern as you do. When your hair starts taking over your life, you know the time for a change has come. You look great with a buzzed head, but I can only advise you to give the completely sly look a try. If you don't like it, your hair will be back in 1 week.
And judging from you profile pic, your beard is already starting to fill in quite nicely.
Enjoy the freedom of not having to think about hair or hats anymore ;)
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Nathan, yet another welcome to you.
And another recommendation to go ahead and shave it all off. It's such a dramatic difference now from what it was last week I don't see the point in waiting. And there really are very few things as incredible as the feeling of a slick dome each day.
In addition to the confidence boost, aren't you also feeling a huge loss of stress. No more worry about the work of ensuring everything is in place. No having to create stories to justify hats or headbands. Life just becomes so much simpler for a sly guy.
As you've no doubt read elsewhere around here .. commit to the 30 days of Sly. That'll give you and others around you time to adjust to the new look before your make any hasty decisions. But if you've been reading the new posts this week there have been several guys who knew well before the 30 days had passed that they would be staying sly. It really is that simple.
Stick around and continue to tell your story. It's always enjoyable to life the "new Sly experience" through the eyes of others.
If I were near you I'd meet you at the pub for a pint (or two) in honor of sly guys everywhere!
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Excellent new look on you. As the others have suggested, now is a good time to just take it down all the way. Good luck on your journey.
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Welcome, Nathan! Good story and introduction....Once you decide to go all the way, give it a try for 30 days...if you don't like it you can always grow it back....Good Luck!
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Welcome Nathan,
You look so much better with it short. Shave it off and you'll love the look and feel. 8)
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Welcome to the bald brotherhood Nathan.Its good that you have shared your story and you are now taking control. The buzz looks good on you and your avatar shows you looking shaved smooth and it looks great.
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Hey Nathan ! Mate ... what a great photo essay showing your hairloss ! Not many guys your age have the confidence to show what's leaving the scalp like you did ! EXCELLENT POST ! Lead on ... and take your time for the full sly look as you already own it in a special sly way !
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welcome
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Welcome! I know how you feel as our hairloss stories and baldness pattern are pretty much identical, I'm 23 now, and I wish I'd had the courage to do it at 20. Thanks for sharing, it's good to have you here.
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Welcome and best compliments about your choice!!
You're going to look great when you shave smooth! O0
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Welcome Nathan!
Nobody asks for MPB, but it happens.
I'm glad that you were able to move on and you're trying to get the most out of it.
Looking great in your avatar photo.
If you like the short buzz then you will love the shaved dome. Give shaving a try and enjoy the experience.
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Thanks for all the positive responses guys, especially Slyfive and KDusk, it was reading stories like yours about MPB at a very young age that I could identify with. Over the next few days I'm going to read up on all the tips on here for shaving smooth so I do it right, then keep it for 30 days like you recommend. I'll post some pictures when I do it. Once again thanks for all the support!
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welcome
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Welcome, Nathan! Like your name ;D.
Thanks for sharing your story with us. I'm glad to hear you feel good about taking off your hair. I hope this serves as a good source of inspiration for other guys in similar situations. I have to tell you, you look much better with shorter hair.
Please do keep us updated on your progress. Looking forward to seeing you with a smooth dome. O0
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Nice! Once you went so far, now try a complete smooth headshave!You'll enjoy it! You havel almost nothing to lose!
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Welcome and kudos for taking control of your life. The fact that you realized your MPB was getting in the way of living the life that a young guy should live is a big step. Whether you decide to keep the buzz or shave completely is your choice, you should feel good that you are back in control. Most people will quickly adjust To your new appearance and it will become the norm to them. You may get a negative comment or two, but just ignore them.
Good luck and again, welcome.
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Welcome to the forum Nathan. Nice to see you take control of the situation. You're going to love the new freedom you have, and once you decide to shave your head smooth, you'll love it even more.
Let us know how it goes. O0
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Welcome Nathan, a bold move and thanks for sharing your story and pics.
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Welcome, Nathan. Congrats on taking control.
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Welcome mate, I am 25 and wish I had done it at 20 myself, I had never even considered it until a sly friend of mine made the suggestion late last year.
It is good to see you are going to read up and make the jump to full sly, there is an abundance of information here, but if you need help with anything you can't find then ask and someone will be able to answer it!
I look forward to seeing the final sly result O0
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Hey Nathan.... i Just joined this group too..im 19 years old and i started noticing my MPB at age of 15 as well...my mom noticed it,,then my relatives and then i became the joke of my school....names like ''virtually bald still haunt me'' ive tried many things like homeopathy and saw palmetto treatment....they just delayed the inevitable..i hardly take photos of myself at gathering or party's because my thinning hair ruin the photo cause it looks look so ugly.....i come from a family of members with amazing silky straight hair and was once envied as a toddler for having such amazing hair so this androgenic alopecia attack was unbelievable...and this is my first time opening up too.. i came across this site when searching for bald men hairstyles and im glad i did...seeing all of the members here so open and carefree about their problems might just inspire me to go buzz or sly bald...oh and i thought i was the only teenager here with the problems so ur story is a moral boost...thanks and cheers mate :)
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I know that it's hard for a 19 or 20-year-old to believe, but hair is not nearly as important to your appearance as you think it is. The things to remember are: (1) nobody looks good with thinning hair, (2) once your hairline has receded past a certain point, there's no way to make your hair look good and (3) bald is better than balding every time.
It's summertime. It's the perfect time to shave your head without getting a lot of awkward questions about it. At your age, even though you're experiencing some thinning, I imagine that you still have fairly decent coverage on top. That being the case, I would buzz it all off with a zero-guard. The end result will be very short stubble all over. The short length has the effect of concealing the thinning somewhat and it makes it look like it's just a haircut choice. Then all you have to do is keep it that way beyond the summer. At some point when the thinning and receding gets worse, you can try shaving with a blade. At that point the difference will be very subtle and most people won't even notice the difference.
Nowadays it is not a problem for a guy to be without hair, no matter what his age. Just take that leap of faith; you'll be glad that you did and we'll all be here to talk you through it.
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The other thing which doesn't get mentioned often enough is this:
The only people who may comment on your decision to either buzz or shave are those who know you previously, because it's a surprise (some would say shock, but I'm sticking with surprise).
All the rest of the world, who haven't met you yet, will see you as Sly and not even consider what you may have looked like with (thinning) hair. And they will be assessing you for being you, not based on your hair loss/style.
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Hi, Nathan. I'm new to the bald community too! I'm 25, and at your age I was going through a lot of the same stuff. I was real tender about the subject, and I remember holding grudges against people for being insensitive to my situation. Over the years, I have stopped caring as much, but it's always been something I've had trouble talking about.
Thanks for sharing your story. I just took the leap yesterday. So far, I feel great about going sly, and I wish I would have done it five years ago when I was your age.
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Nathan, great story. I also was sick of hiding under a hat. Nice to be liberated, right? Enjoy the sly life.
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This is going to sound odd, but you should be glad you're deciding to shave at 20 rather than 25. I WISH I would have shaved my head while in college now that I know what type of response I got after shaving. With the increased confidence you'll get, I'm sure you'll have a great time finishing out your college life.