Sly Bald Guys Forum
New Member Section => Introductions => Topic started by: James84 on August 17, 2012, 11:16:44 AM
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Hi,
I wanted to introduce myself, I'm James, I'm 28 from near Birmingham in the UK. I've been reading some of the topics & advice on this site for the past few days & got to say it's great to see a site like this with so many members offering advice & tips - good on you all it's a great site. One of the main reasons for joining is the support on here & seeing other peoples thoughts & experiences.
Started losing my hair noticeably around 21-22 years old while I was at University. I thought my mate was joking when he pointed it out!! From that day 7 years ago I think I have thought about it every hour at least! Not the best time to start losing it as it was quite a big time for a young guy, & as I was saying bye to friends they would remember me with hair!
It's been a fairly long drawn out process but I've lost a fair bit on top & front now, usual MBP stuff. Started with just a shorter version of my usual cut, then gradually from grade 4 all over, to 3 etc. Now I'm grade 1 all over, nice & short & to be honest I think it looks much better than any longer. I'll get a photo up soon...
Like many of us I've probably got a similar story of being self-conscious about it all & to be honest I still am not 100% comfortable today in certain situations. I think the thing that makes me the most uncomfortable is seeing people that haven't seen me for a while - mates & women from Uni, older people that still have hair etc. You can read their thoughts when they see you for the first time! I think it has also strained relationships with my old mates that haven't seen my 'less-haircut' as I can't make the times when we meet up due to being uncomfortable. Sounds rubbish I know but hard to explain. I think the other awkward thing is going out on the weekend, I don't do this as much as my confidence just went! Does anyone relate to all this??
The new people I meet however I have no problems with at all, I don't usually think twice about my hair, plus even if they give me stick for it, it doesn't bother me as much as seeing the people that I knew when I had hair.
On a positive note, having a clean cut short 1-2mm crop looks much smarter I think. Plus my girlfriend looks back at photos of me when I had much more hair & says she didn't like it & it's much nicer now! (Maybe she's being nice or I had a crap hairstyle :D ) I have also used the fact that I am not 100% comfortable with the hair loss to spur me on to use the gym more, get in shape & try new sports which has got to be a good thing!
Anyway, I have been checking out the equipment forum sections & will maybe ask some advice soon about getting a new pair of clippers or razor that can take me to that 'stubble' look which I think looks smarter than 1-2mm in my opinion. Just a quick question while I think about it, as I haven't wet shaved my head I don't know but if you do use a razor, does this still leave this stubble look that I'm after? If so I am guessing the headblade or similar is what I need?
Right, enough with the long post....good to be a new member!
Cheers
James
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Welcome James :)
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Welcometo the site James. Ive been here a short while myself, but it's a great place for support and advice whatever your situation.
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Welcome, James! Enjoy and post often; any questions don't be afraid to ask
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Welcome aboard James. You found a wonderful resource for any questions you may have.
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Welcome to SBG, James! Thank you for your intro!
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welcome. looooooooooooooooooong post, not gonna read it all.
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Welcome to SBG
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Welcome James.
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Welcome, James! What matters is if YOU are happy with this look. Anyone who can't ultimately accept you this way (or any other way you choose to be) isn't someone you need to waste your time on, anyway. Besides, your lady says she likes it. Her opinion is the most important besides yours in this case, no? ;)
You want a stubble look? I would say some clippers with 0 guard would probably be your best bet.
That all being said, glad to have you here!
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Welcome to the club, James.
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Cheers all, good to be on board. Cheers for advice natedawg, will try 0 guard this weekend - got some decent clippers so should be fine.
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Welcome....I haven't been on here long as well and I did the 0. guard for the last 5 yrs and just took
it completely off about a week ago.my wife loves it......dont worry about what other people think do what you feel is right I did
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Welcome James, take it from the new guy above, and just go for it. Guarantee you'll love it. O0
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Welcome to the group.
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Welcome to the Forum, James!!!
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The other guys beat me to it, but "Welcome" from me as well.
The HeadBlade won't leave you stubble - it's down to the skin (and awesome).
But sounds like you've got the clippers at the ready for the next adventure and that's great.
Honestly, I think you (and your girl) just need to get out in public more so you'll be totally comfortable regardless whom you encounter (new or old friends).
Having gone sly doesn't mean it was because of balding (even if it was). I won't call it "trendy" or "fashionable" ('cause I've never been either) but the buzz/bald look is certainly mainstream.
Welcome. Post often. Share experiences. Ask questions. Because whatever you write will be something that someone else was thinking but was too reluctant to make public.
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welcome James, nice introduction. O:O
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Welcome James. It definitely sucks to have thinning hair degrade your quality of life and confidence. I know how you felt. I was also always in my head thinking of what others thought, until I went sly. Enjoy it and wear it with confidence.
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Welcome James...
Its about you liking you
Have fun with you new look
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Welcome mate, as Nate said, the clippers with a no guard will give you that stubble look. The razor will give you a close shave, just the same as shaving your face.
I hope you enjoy your new experience, and stop worrying what everyone else thinks, as long as you are happy! Your old friends will accept you no matter how long or short your hair is. Sure they might give you a bit of grief, I know my mates did, but it is usually all in good spirits, just prepare some witty one liners to throw back at them!
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Welcome to the bald brotherhood James.
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Cheers for the advice & the welcome guys, much appreciated. Will try without guard this weekend. Good to hear others outlooks too, has given me a different outlook myself already.
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Welcome James!
Try the cut without guard. I expect you will like and in a relatively short time you will try the razor too just out of curiosity if nothing more.
From my own personal experience, the clippers are great but the razor is just better.
In the end you will have to find out what works better for you.
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Last summer, on a whim, I took the guard off my clippers and took my hair down to almost nothing.went on vacation through New England. Buzzed my head every day of the trip.
And it was just a few months later that I got the razor out and I've been bald since. Love shaving my head every day.
Once you get that short, you might as well shave your head. Its fantastic.
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Will give it a go without the guard, then I bet I'll end up with the razor!not used clippers without the guard, doesn't it leave it uneven?
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Clippers without the guard will give you a very even stubble, assuming you go over your scalp enough. That will give you an idea of what you will look like completely sly, but not how it feels to be sly.
Once you get that close, if you shave and don't like it, you'll be back to the length of a no-guard buzz in a few days. But I guarantee that once you've shaved smooth, you'll be converted!
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Will give it a go without the guard, then I bet I'll end up with the razor!not used clippers without the guard, doesn't it leave it uneven?
Without the guard it's a litle bit trickier because if you miss a spot it will be more visible vs a guard haircut, but an even cut can be achived, even if you cut your hair by yourself.
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Cheers lads, I'll go over it a few times. look forward to giving it a go!