Sly Bald Guys Forum
New Member Section => Introductions => Topic started by: kaliber411 on September 17, 2012, 06:58:32 AM
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Hey guys! I love this forum. I appreciate the confidence you are giving people to be comfortable with their bald heads. I'm not quite bald yet, but I am well on my way. Despite using avodart and minoxidil, I am a NW3 on my way to becoming a perfect NW10 (that's a joke). Anyways, I wanted to share my story with you which I actually blogged about here
http://kimchibytes.wordpress.com/2012/05/31/dude-wheres-my-hair/
I wrote a sequel here as well
http://kimchibytes.wordpress.com/2012/06/20/dude-wheres-my-hair-part-2/
Anyways, I'd love to hear the communities thoughts on both articles. I'd also encourage members to read the responses of the females, they were very interesting and encouraging.
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Welcome, Kal. Interesting articles, but I haven't figured out who the, "Biggest Badass Rocking a Bald head" is. And some of the others, but... Good luck!
O0
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Thanks, google Jason Statham He's a cool dude!
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Interesting articles, Kal. And welcome to the club.
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welcome. interesting posts.
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Despite using avodart and minoxidil
Clarify please: Are you still using these drugs? Why?
Red
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It's my understanding that they help maintain hair or slow the progress of hair loss. I am still using both medications. I only swtiched to avodart from propecia because I appeared to be a non-responder to propecia. I talked to my doctor about it and we made the switch. My hair is still fading but the medication has drastically slowed the rate of my hair loss. It's cheap in Korea, too.
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Thanks for the blog compliments!
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Read them both and they were interesting. Life is (relatively) short and we should do whatever makes us comfortable and happy (without it breaking the law!)
I actually think you look fine in the photo on your blog.
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FDA approval notwithstanding, all these drugs have side effects no man ought to be willing to accept for forestalling the enevitable.
You can Google both drugs and read about the side effects for yourself.
Not attacking your opinions, but you can look at the Sly guys on this forum and see some confident excellent looking guys. Your blog is not very bald positive.
Red
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Have you listened to the drug advertisements on TV? At the end they'll roll off dozens of side effects of the drugs, as fast as they can speak and so you can't understand...and if English isn't your native language, "fugitabowdit"!
@c3
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Simplyred- I hear you loud and clear. I've been on these drugs for over a year and a half with no side effects. Actually, the side effects occur in a very small percentage of men who take them according to the research.
Nevertheless, I certainly respect you for not wasting your money and being strong enough just to let it go. I'm working on that and I hope this community can help me find that strength because although these drugs have stalled my hair loss it is still happening.
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Sounds like "I've been smoking for years and never got cancer!" Just because you've dodged the bullet so far is no guarantee of the future.
So you're risking permanent impotence to take drugs that aren't even really working for you?
Keep working on the strength to "just let it go". You'll be happier, and healthier, for it!
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I don't really think that blog is beneficial for anyone. You give a lot of conflicting advice like take drugs to keep what you have and try not to worry. Just refocus your thoughts on other parts of your life. For a minute, I thought about taking drugs, but even in my 40's, I don't want to start pumping myself with chemicals for fear of the "cost" of keeping my hair.
Recomending hair transplants is a bad idea to me. Ugggh.... where do I begin? With the scars? With the fact that hairloss continues? The way it will look if you can't afford more treatments or if you run out of donor hair? The way it will look if you decide you do want to shave your head?
I agree facing this in your teens or 20's is probably terrible, but it still matters even in your 30's although you suggest otherwise. And I will attest that shaving your head does not necessarily make you look older. I was 44 when I took a trip to the Biltmore estate and went to the wine tasting. At the time, my head was shaved and I also shaved the beard. The woman pouring the wine kept looking at me and finally was dead serious when she said, "I think I'm going to need to see your ID". Also, look at Jesse, who just joined. http://www.slybaldguys.com/smf/index.php?topic=18175.0 The Guy looks fantastic (better than before) now that he shaved his head... and looks younger too!
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There's not conflicting advice, just lots of options. The idea of the blog is to be informative. Had I started propecia when I was younger I would have a lot more hair today. With all due respect, Propecia and Minoxidil are safe. Propecia has a very low half life. If someone is interested in hair loss prevention, these drugs are a great and proven way to slow hair loss with little or no side effects. This is not my opinion, these are well researched facts. However, I also give advice to be confident and provide links for how to look good bald because not everyone will want to take pills for the rest of their life. I see no harm in representing all of the safe options.
As far as hair transplants, I mention the risks and also provide information for a very select group of hair transplant surgeons with excellent records. That does not mean there is no risk, but the doctors on the list I provided have quality reputations and consistent success with their patients. Not all hair loss surgeons are created equal, there are more bad ones than good ones but there are some who provide consistent and great results. To say otherwise is not being honest.
I'm not trying to argue with anyone, but we do live in an age of options for hair loss. Shaving the head might be the best way to go and I love how this site embraces it, but I am a big believer in hair loss prevention and there are effective options available for young men.
-Everything in my blog is well researched.
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Also, I never said hair loss wasn't tough for 30 year olds, I just stated that it is more culturally acceptable since most men have some degree of hair loss by their 30's and 40's. I also stand by the fact that it is more detrimental to experience hair loss while you are younger.
I never said a bald head makes you look older. Although, most of the time it does. I did state a receding hairline or bald spots make a person feel older and less confident.
As far as not being positive, I wrote the first piece with the mindset of a young man who is feeling ashamed of his hair loss and I'm letting him know that there are people out there who understand. I've had several e-mails to me from people who were thankful to know someone else understood how they felt.
I'm probably foolish to think people will reach each post completely but if you do you'll see I represent all facts and points thoroughly and encourage readers to do more research and provide them quality links on where they should go.
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Yes, I read the whole thing. I just think you tried to tackle too much on a relatively complex topic in a short blog. So, my opinion is that it's not really a beneficial read for many people. I'm just relating my reaction to what you wrote. I don't think all the points were presented thoroughly. I realize a lot (most) people find it hard to shave their head, but if they can deal with it emotionally, it's a great option. Looking at your picture, I think you'd pull it off pretty well too! You look pretty good but the receding hairline probably makes you look older than if you let it all go. I hope you're happy with what ever route you decide to choose.
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I appreciate the insight. Much love.
I've shaved my head before and I'd love to post pictures of me now and with the shaved head and see what you guys think but I can't get pictures to upload on this blog.
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Welcome! We can pass opinions, but ultimately it's what you want for yourself...Good luck with whatever you decide.
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Here's my opinion. You guys are awesome. I'm going to write a third piece based on some of the messages I've received. THank you for all of the support. Btw, this site gets a crazy amount of traffic. My blog blew up today and it's not from my photography or articles on Korea.
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I appreciate the insight. Much love.
I've shaved my head before and I'd love to post pictures of me now and with the shaved head and see what you guys think but I can't get pictures to upload on this blog.
Put your pictures up in your own host space then link to them from your SBG Profile page. You need to link to an individual picture file, not a page.
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The forum likes to see pictures, Kal. O0
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Can't seem to upload pictures. I could link to pics from my Blog but...I'm not bald in any of those.
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Frankly, after reading your blog I thought it was quite depressing. Don't you think that there are young guys out there that embrace their baldness? I am bald by choice, but have noticed lately that the hairline is receding. I had a full head of hair in my early days, so I don't know how I would feel about going bald at a young age. I love being bald and will never go back to having hair. I just hope there are some young guys who are balding that will come to terms with it sooner than later and not do anything too dramatic.
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Yeah, the first post is pretty sad but that's how I felt with my hair loss. I wrote it to connect with young guys who are suffering to let them know they are not alone and to help people who do not have hair loss understand what these men go through, especially those who suffer from hair loss at an early age. I'm sure there are those who embrace it, but I've never met a 21 year old who was happy he was losing his hair.
I don't know anyone who was happy they were losing their hair and I think it's dishonest to pretend to do so. What we learn how to do is accept what has happened to us, shave the head because it is the best and safest option, and rock life to the fullest extent of our ability. However, this is something we learn how to do. It is not usually our first choice, most people want to have hair. You are an exception and quite a few of us look funny with shaved heads.
The second post dissects FDA approved meds, qualified hair transplants, or embracing the baldness. It talks about the advantages and drawbacks of each decision. I'm not opposed to propecia to keep hair or even against someone going to a hair transplant surgeon as long as they are members(great track records, minimal scarring, consistent results) of the organization I discussed. However, I think embracing the baldness like the sly guy approach or the Fashion eggs approach is a great way to deal with baldness.
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Daniel- I will write a third piece though based solely on the approach of this community. You guys have introduced me to a lot of new information and really a different perspective on things. I appreciate it tremendously.
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I look forward to it :@`