Sly Bald Guys Forum
Discussions About Being Bald => General Discussion => Topic started by: frank_m on June 24, 2007, 03:54:59 PM
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Since I went sly on 6/4/07 and then finding this site, I opened my eyes up to hair loss.
I was somewhat familiar with the self-esteem issue that some guys go through when losing their hair.
But looking at what the costs are for the "System" (hair club) and what people go through on the surgical side, I was amazed. It's a multi-billion dollar industry and it simply plays to their insecurities.. All these process' use images of built guys with perfect features that are 'clients' and the 'ladies' are all over them with their new head of 'natural looking hair' when advertising / selling.
I know this is free enterprise, but I think potential customers should have to meet with somebody from 'our side' and get another perspective on the subject ( i know that will never happen, it's just a pipe dream )
I know this is probably old news to many on this forum that have either already done the research or have been down the road.
I'll bet there's plenty of former 'customers' out there that probably look back and wish they had back just a percentage of all the cash they've blown on covering it up.
D#tG3t
you know the grass is always greener on the other side... when I was young, I wanted 'straight hair', now that I'm older I wish all my hair would just disappear... and I'm sure there's plenty of guys with MPB that would love to trade places with me as I have my full head of hair.
As the Rolling Stones say, "you can't always get what you want"
enough of my rant.
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The thing Ive been wondering is. If you get a hairpiece then you go on a few dates with a special lady/gentleman and you get closer and then you eventually end up sleeping together, then what happens if she pulls it off?
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The thing Ive been wondering is. If you get a hairpiece then you go on a few dates with a special lady/gentleman and you get closer and then you eventually end up sleeping together, then what happens if she pulls it off?
If it is a relationship that has the potential of really going somewhere, I think he or she would say, "Why didn't you just tell me?" If I wore a hairpiece or had transplanted hair, it's something I would want the other person to know right up front.
The hair replacement industry wants people to be insecure about loosing their hair. In fact, if you are not insecure about it, they want to make you feel insecure - you'll look better, feel more confident, attract women, get that promotion. Nonsense! I think just the opposite is true. If you're loosing it and shave the rest off, or if your BBC, it says, "I've got more important things to do than mess around with how my hair looks."
Darrell
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Since I went sly on 6/4/07 and then finding this site, I opened my eyes up to hair loss.
I was somewhat familiar with the self-esteem issue that some guys go through when losing their hair.
But looking at what the costs are for the "System" (hair club) and what people go through on the surgical side, I was amazed. It's a multi-billion dollar industry and it simply plays to their insecurities.. All these process' use images of built guys with perfect features that are 'clients' and the 'ladies' are all over them with their new head of 'natural looking hair' when advertising / selling.
I know this is free enterprise, but I think potential customers should have to meet with somebody from 'our side' and get another perspective on the subject ( i know that will never happen, it's just a pipe dream )
I know this is probably old news to many on this forum that have either already done the research or have been down the road.
I'll bet there's plenty of former 'customers' out there that probably look back and wish they had back just a percentage of all the cash they've blown on covering it up.
D#tG3t
you know the grass is always greener on the other side... when I was young, I wanted 'straight hair', now that I'm older I wish all my hair would just disappear... and I'm sure there's plenty of guys with MPB that would love to trade places with me as I have my full head of hair.
As the Rolling Stones say, "you can't always get what you want"
enough of my rant.
I was a member of HCM for 7yrs, and to be a honest with you, my hair looked fine. Nobody prayed on my insecurity, I did it to myself. I did spend a lot of $$$ and it wasn't an issue to me because I had the $$$ to spend. Could I have used it on something else?Absolutely, but I am glad I did have the experience and everything that went along with it. Do I love my look now, 100%. I have grown up and matured and confidence has been built, and I love being "SLY", WOULD NEVER GO BACK. It was only about 3 months now, until I realized that "hair doesn't make the man". I did get plenty of women and I am built, but this didn't just happen after I put a "system" on. I am not defending the industry, but I hate ignorance....
you sound confused and jealous...why bring up the point if it is not an issue for you?
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Since I went sly on 6/4/07 and then finding this site, I opened my eyes up to hair loss.
I was somewhat familiar with the self-esteem issue that some guys go through when losing their hair.
But looking at what the costs are for the "System" (hair club) and what people go through on the surgical side, I was amazed. It's a multi-billion dollar industry and it simply plays to their insecurities.. All these process' use images of built guys with perfect features that are 'clients' and the 'ladies' are all over them with their new head of 'natural looking hair' when advertising / selling.
I know this is free enterprise, but I think potential customers should have to meet with somebody from 'our side' and get another perspective on the subject ( i know that will never happen, it's just a pipe dream )
I know this is probably old news to many on this forum that have either already done the research or have been down the road.
I'll bet there's plenty of former 'customers' out there that probably look back and wish they had back just a percentage of all the cash they've blown on covering it up.
D#tG3t
you know the grass is always greener on the other side... when I was young, I wanted 'straight hair', now that I'm older I wish all my hair would just disappear... and I'm sure there's plenty of guys with MPB that would love to trade places with me as I have my full head of hair.
As the Rolling Stones say, "you can't always get what you want"
enough of my rant.
I was a member of HCM for 7yrs, and to be a honest with you, my hair looked fine. Nobody prayed on my insecurity, I did it to myself. I did spend a lot of $$$ and it wasn't an issue to me because I had the $$$ to spend. Could I have used it on something else?Absolutely, but I am glad I did have the experience and everything that went along with it. Do I love my look now, 100%. I have grown up and matured and confidence has been built, and I love being "SLY", WOULD NEVER GO BACK. It was only about 3 months now, until I realized that "hair doesn't make the man". I did get plenty of women and I am built, but this didn't just happen after I put a "system" on. I am not defending the industry, but I hate ignorance....
you sound confused and jealous...why bring up the point if it is not an issue for you?
I'm neither confused, jealous and I certainly don't think I'm ignorant either:
I got some junk mail, and I usually delete it, but I was curious so I was looking around.
I was amazed at the prices, and all the advertisements talk about how you will boost your confidence and so on, the photos are all built models, earlier today I read a post on this site, and there was a link for www.hairclubsucks.com so I took a look at that too, on that site I read about the 'closing technique' that is used to get customers to sign up on the spot or pay twice as much the next visit, and all the fine print on how to get out of the contract.
then I followed a link and it was a forum and former employees of the 'club' talked about how it's all about numbers and tactics to keep customers coming back
I know all industries use models, and that will not change.
I'm happy you had a great experience with the club, that's great, and I'm sure they became a large corporation by putting out a good product and making the customer happy, I remember Sy Sperling
I also found photos today that were disturbing regarding transplant procedures, 3 or more transplant surgeries, and going back for more.. people asking each other on the forum about down payments, traveling to other countries for the transplant, prepaying in full before your appointment, huge scars around their heads for 'donations'
Those are my issues.
This photo is an example of what I'm talking about
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The thing Ive been wondering is. If you get a hairpiece then you go on a few dates with a special lady/gentleman and you get closer and then you eventually end up sleeping together, then what happens if she pulls it off?
If it is a relationship that has the potential of really going somewhere, I think he or she would say, "Why didn't you just tell me?" If I wore a hairpiece or had transplanted hair, it's something I would want the other person to know right up front.
The hair replacement industry wants people to be insecure about loosing their hair. In fact, if you are not insecure about it, they want to make you feel insecure - you'll look better, feel more confident, attract women, get that promotion. Nonsense! I think just the opposite is true. If you're loosing it and shave the rest off, or if your BBC, it says, "I've got more important things to do than mess around with how my hair looks."
Darrell
I've wondered about that too & in fact it was issues like that which made me quickly realise that it wasn't an option as far as I was concerned.
I would think that if you are feeling insecure about hair loss the last thing you want to do is have to discuss it with any potential partners. If you have to tell all these people "by the way, I think you should know that I wear a hairpiece" that surely defeats the whole point of having the "hair" in the first place but if you don't tell them & as time goes on you become close then the whole issue must become like some huge skeleton in your closet & you know that your partner will feel hurt that you didn't trust them enough to tell them earlier ... as I see it it was always a no win situation!
Having said that ... each to their own of course & if it suits you then fine ...
I do have a little bit of experience in this myself as when I first started losing my hair I had a period of using one of those "concealers" that makes your hair look thicker. At first it worked really well but of course, as time went on & as I lost more hair it became less effective & for a short while (before ditching it) I had a period when I was really unhappy as I was always paranoid about whether people could notice or not ... I can tell you ... that experience was enough to teach me that as far as hair loss goes ... honesty is usually the best policy however hard that may seem at the time!
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This is really a good discussion. It raises the pros and the cons of hair systems. I think the decision to use a "system" of any sort is as individual as the decision to go SLY. To each his own.
I wore a "system" for 23 years. For the first 10 years, (in my 20's), I loved it. It blended well with my natural hair but I still had enough base hair to pull off the deception. The hairpiece was pretty difficult to spot. Then my natural MPB begin to take even greater effect and it became increasingly difficult to look natural - worry about the wind, who was sitting behind you, no swimming, etc.
Hair systems work for a lot of people. Going sly works for a lot of people. I can't say which way is the correct answer. All I can say is that, for those of us that have gone sly, we always say it's just hair and if it makes you feel good to be sly don't worry about anyone else's opinion. I think the same thing can be said for hair system users.
I do find it humorous when they show those infomercials, those guys talking about losing hair sure seem to have a nice head of hair in the "before" pictures. ;D
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I hear you there..
I guess what I found shocking about all of this was the 'sugical' options and what these guys put them selves through, and the results are not guaranteed, and some of these guys are going back for the third or more time.
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I do have a little bit of experience in this myself as when I first started losing my hair I had a period of using one of those "concealers" that makes your hair look thicker. At first it worked really well but of course, as time went on & as I lost more hair it became less effective & for a short while (before ditching it) I had a period when I was really unhappy as I was always paranoid about whether people could notice or not ... I can tell you ... that experience was enough to teach me that as far as hair loss goes ... honesty is usually the best policy however hard that may seem at the time!
Are the concealers like spray paint or are they those things that you sprinkle on your hair? Im just abit curious-as usual. Did it actually look real? or did it make your head look black and your actual hair just the same?
By the time I need to use concealers I will have it all shaved of. I suppose it because its now acceptable/fashionable to do it whereas 10 years ago and more it was seen as something you only did if you were a convict/skinhead nazi/drug dealer.
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I do have a little bit of experience in this myself as when I first started losing my hair I had a period of using one of those "concealers" that makes your hair look thicker. At first it worked really well but of course, as time went on & as I lost more hair it became less effective & for a short while (before ditching it) I had a period when I was really unhappy as I was always paranoid about whether people could notice or not ... I can tell you ... that experience was enough to teach me that as far as hair loss goes ... honesty is usually the best policy however hard that may seem at the time!
Are the concealers like spray paint or are they those things that you sprinkle on your hair? Im just abit curious-as usual. Did it actually look real? or did it make your head look black and your actual hair just the same?
By the time I need to use concealers I will have it all shaved of. I suppose it because its now acceptable/fashionable to do it whereas 10 years ago and more it was seen as something you only did if you were a convict/skinhead nazi/drug dealer.
Is it like the Ronco hair that you saw him spray on?
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Seeing things like that makes me feel real sad...actually puts a sick feel in my stomach...man, the torture dudes think they have to go through...and now he's got a scared head and probably lost his ability to eventually go sly...sad for so many reasons!
Man! :(
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Are the concealers like spray paint or are they those things that you sprinkle on your hair? Im just abit curious-as usual. Did it actually look real? or did it make your head look black and your actual hair just the same?
By the time I need to use concealers I will have it all shaved of. I suppose it because its now acceptable/fashionable to do it whereas 10 years ago and more it was seen as something you only did if you were a convict/skinhead nazi/drug dealer.
http://www.maneuk.com/getHomePage.do?redirected=y
There you go .... I just googled it to see if it was still in existence - seems it is. It was years ago that I used it (obviously) & I had a lot more hair then (obviously) but it actually worked ok as long as you didn't mind washing your hair every other day & re-applying the foul stuff then "fixing" it with a generous dashing of hair spray (makes me feel queezy just thinking about it actually!)_ but the more hair you have the more effective it is (obviously). I used it for a while but came to hate it with a passion so I'd advice you to stear well clear of it .... you really don't want to go there!
In my defence it was the mid 1980's & BIG hair was in then! >:D
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Ok I understand how it works now. Basically coats the hair.
In my defence it was the mid 1980's & BIG hair was in then!
Thankfully its the 00s now!!! and sly seems to be in
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Thankfully its the 00s now!!! and sly seems to be in
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I think we are all glad about that statement.
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LMAO :*)) :*)) :*))
damn... that was toooo funny.... hey bigjimw... how much did u pay 4 that crap!!! :*))
WARHAWK O0
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LMAO :*)) :*)) :*))
damn... that was toooo funny.... hey bigjimw... how much did u pay 4 that crap!!! :*))
WARHAWK O0
I got it from here:
http://www.toppik.com/
The size I bought is $19.95. I was cleaning out the medicine chest tonight and found the unused portion of that crap. I grabbed my digital camera and decided to have a little fun making a parody of HCM. :D
Whats funny is they have a picture of a woman running her hands through some dudes hair. Imagine her surprise when this Toppik crap starts flying off like dust. :*))
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bigjimw..... i went on that site: www.toppik.com and read the testomonials. man.... how much did they pay those guys 2 say those lies??? that was some funny stuff right there!!! ;D
WARHAWK O0
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Reminds me of the Ronco spray on hair.
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Reminds me of the Ronco spray on hair.
which reminds me of krylon. ha ha
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All kidding aside, has anyone here looked on that Hair Club Whorepage? In a FAQ, it states that:
Having, or not having hair, can have a greater impact than you think. In the United States, there has not been a bald President elected since the television age began.
Well, no bald man has ever tried to be elected during that time period either (which negates that claim all together and plays up the bald=loser angle). Several million Americans with a full head of hair never were elected either. Guess they forgot that part.
I find this statement funny because one of the top executive site directors where I work at Bank of America, is TOTALLY SLY! Yup, bald as a bowling ball. Yet he has gone very far in his career. He doesn't need hair to advance in his life.
So yes, HCM does prey on the insecurities of hair loss. But they seem to do it in a way as you don't see it. Watch any of their videos and you will see what I mean.
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All kidding aside, has anyone here looked on that Hair Club Whorepage? In a FAQ, it states that:
Having, or not having hair, can have a greater impact than you think. In the United States, there has not been a bald President elected since the television age began.
Well, no bald man has ever tried to be elected during that time period either (which negates that claim all together and plays up the bald=loser angle). Several million Americans with a full head of hair never were elected either. Guess they forgot that part.
I find this statement funny because one of the top executive site directors where I work at Bank of America, is TOTALLY SLY! Yup, bald as a bowling ball. Yet he has gone very far in his career. He doesn't need hair to advance in his life.
So yes, HCM does prey on the insecurities of hair loss. But they seem to do it in a way as you don't see it. Watch any of their videos and you will see what I mean.
Eisenhower was bald
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All kidding aside, has anyone here looked on that Hair Club Whorepage? In a FAQ, it states that:
Having, or not having hair, can have a greater impact than you think. In the United States, there has not been a bald President elected since the television age began.
Well, no bald man has ever tried to be elected during that time period either (which negates that claim all together and plays up the bald=loser angle). Several million Americans with a full head of hair never were elected either. Guess they forgot that part.
I find this statement funny because one of the top executive site directors where I work at Bank of America, is TOTALLY SLY! Yup, bald as a bowling ball. Yet he has gone very far in his career. He doesn't need hair to advance in his life.
So yes, HCM does prey on the insecurities of hair loss. But they seem to do it in a way as you don't see it. Watch any of their videos and you will see what I mean.
Eisenhower was bald
Tell HCM that. @c3 Another factoid they conviently leave out.
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This is such an interesting thread as I only wear my hairpiece once in a blue moon. Most of the time I have my own thinning hair buzzed very short . I have a mustache and a patch of hair on my chin that's salt and pepper and looks very natural. I'm a nice looking guy so I look good with or without the hairpiece.For some strange reason I don't want to give certain people the satisfaction that I'm losing hair.Maybe it's an ego thing.Also some people are so damm lacking in social skills that they will comment on it in front of others and embarrass you.But the main thing is that I'm more comfortable now than I was a couple of years ago.Don't forget,I started losing hair in my 20s and wore a hairpiece for 25 years.I'm 50 now so this is a transition for me.
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This is such an interesting thread as I only wear my hairpiece once in a blue moon. Most of the time I have my own thinning hair buzzed very short . I have a mustache and a patch of hair on my chin that's salt and pepper and looks very natural. I'm a nice looking guy so I look good with or without the hairpiece.For some strange reason I don't want to give certain people the satisfaction that I'm losing hair.Maybe it's an ego thing.Also some people are so damm lacking in social skills that they will comment on it in front of others and embarrass you.But the main thing is that I'm more comfortable now than I was a couple of years ago.Don't forget,I started losing hair in my 20s and wore a hairpiece for 25 years.I'm 50 now so this is a transition for me.
Hi Don. I was a hairpiece wearer for 23 years before going sly on June 8. I am amazed at your statement that you wear the unit sometimes and not others. I know as a hairpiece wearer I was so paranoid that someone would figure out that I wore one - even worse was if someone said something directly to me. How do you deal with people that see you with and then without the unit? Trust me, I'm not being critical - I am just amazed that you do it.
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All kidding aside, has anyone here looked on that Hair Club Whorepage? In a FAQ, it states that:
So yes, HCM does prey on the insecurities of hair loss. But they seem to do it in a way as you don't see it. Watch any of their videos and you will see what I mean.
How can you say that HCM preys on the insecurities of Hair loss? I am not pro-HCM in any stretch of the matter, but all they are is an option, a business...does Bally's prey on the insecurities of overweight people? or how about Trump, does he prey on the insecruties of the gambling addict?
It's a business, either you pay for it or you don't, its that simple.
I am BALD AND PROUD, I wore a "system" for 7 yrs and wish I never did, but HCM is not the reason why I wore a wig or why I shave my head now. I made my OWN decision.
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I am BALD AND PROUD, I wore a "system" for 7 yrs and wish I never did, but HCM is not the reason why I wore a wig or why I shave my head now. I made my OWN decision.
I can definately see why you say that but from my persepective I feel that they overprice the product as they are so well known so people expect quality and discreetness. Basically I think they fleece the market for a product which isnt worth as much as they sell it for. But then again I dont know the prices/fees and I dont know at what prices their competitors sell their products as Ive never looked or been interested.
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I am BALD AND PROUD, I wore a "system" for 7 yrs and wish I never did, but HCM is not the reason why I wore a wig or why I shave my head now. I made my OWN decision.
I can definately see why you say that but from my persepective I feel that they overprice the product as they are so well known so people expect quality and discreetness. Basically I think they fleece the market for a product which isnt worth as much as they sell it for. But then again I dont know the prices/fees and I dont know at what prices their competitors sell their products as Ive never looked or been interested.
you can say that about a lot of things...i.e. cars, if you don't do your homework or are not a good negotiator, you could very well get ripped off...
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Hi Steve,in answer to your question,the people I wear the piece in front of already know I wear one. Sometimes I just like going for a different look and I'm respected both ways. The people that don't know never stared at my head because my piece is very realistic looking.Also I'm not totally sly like the rest of you so even though I'm buzzed really short you could still tell I was balding. I just don't have the nerve to go totally sly yet. Maybe someday.
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Hi don,
Of course, everyone has to find what feels comfortable for them & if it works for you that's great but it all sounds a bit complicated bro' !
What happens if you meet some who are expecting to see you with hair & some who know you without it at the same time?
You mentioned in an earlier post that you wouldn't like to give some people the satisfaction of knowing that you are losing your hair but, perhaps if you went completely sly then suddenly the upper hand will be yours as you could simply say that you decided it was time for a completely new look? A completely shaved head usually looks really good with a moustache & goatie & I am sure you'd carry it off well!
Anyway, whatever works for you don, but I was just intrigued! O0
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How can you say that HCM preys on the insecurities of Hair loss? I am not pro-HCM in any stretch of the matter, but all they are is an option, a business...does Bally's prey on the insecurities of overweight people? or how about Trump, does he prey on the insecruties of the gambling addict?
It's a business, either you pay for it or you don't, its that simple.
I am BALD AND PROUD, I wore a "system" for 7 yrs and wish I never did, but HCM is not the reason why I wore a wig or why I shave my head now. I made my OWN decision.
I agree that people do have options and that HCM is a business just like any other business. And I'm not disputing the fact that some may go the HCM route based on their own convictions and beliefs. I was referring to the subtle way that they use in making one feel like their life isn't worth squat if you don't have a full head of hair. The simple statement that no bald headed men have ever been elected as President during the television age reads like this to me:
Bald men = will never achieve
Bald men = Are not attractive
Bald men = Regardless of how well you may be as President, people will only look at the dome and make their visual judgement and vote for G.W.
(as proof, when President Kennedy and Richard Nixon had their debate for the Presidency in 1960, Kennedy won the debate on a poll taken by TV viewers. In a poll taken by radio listeners, Nixon won the debate. But it wasn't because of a hair problem. Nixon sported a bit of 5 o'clock shadow and was sweating under the lights. This is the same angle HCM uses. In a nutshell, no matter what type of person you really are, If you don't "look" right, then you cannot "be" right)
What HCM says may very well have been true back in the 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's and to a certain point, the 90's. They neglect to mention that the sly look is now in fashion in the 00's.
Also take a look at their "side by side" compairasons. The "before" look looks like they all have broomsticks shoved up their a**es, with lighting designed to make them look bad. Not a single smiling guy. The "After" picture, they smile up a storm, with much better lighting. Almost like a Hollywood glamor shot. And thats what all those after pics are, glamor shots. Lets see how well the look does in an office environment with fluorescent lighting. :/O
And nobody looks good with a frown on their faces. Even if they do have a full head of hair.
And I'm BALD and PROUD too, my friend. O0
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YOSP, your little baby is so adorable with the curly hair and very cute face.What's her name? What a doll!
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Hi Steve,in answer to your question,the people I wear the piece in front of already know I wear one. Sometimes I just like going for a different look and I'm respected both ways. The people that don't know never stared at my head because my piece is very realistic looking.Also I'm not totally sly like the rest of you so even though I'm buzzed really short you could still tell I was balding. I just don't have the nerve to go totally sly yet. Maybe someday.
Don: Power to you my man. If you can pull it off, that is great. I just was not in your shoes and was curious how you did it. As I have said on here before, to each his own. It just sounds like you have 2 options. O0
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I may be the only one here living under a rock for the past 30 years but believe it or not I actually found out about HCM from their Wikipedia page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hair_Club (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hair_Club). Personally, I didn't have the terrible experience at my appointment that Tom described on his HCS site but I think it's good that he provides a forum for users to provide feedback, both good and bad.
FYI - I did NOT sign a cost-of-a-luxury-car contract for a head muff - :*))