Sly Bald Guys Forum

Discussions About Being Bald => To be or not be...Bald => Topic started by: justaguy on January 05, 2014, 05:26:40 PM

Title: 24 and NW3. Should I shave it all off? pics and my story included
Post by: justaguy on January 05, 2014, 05:26:40 PM
Like some other people on this forum, I began to bald at an early age (18). Unfortunately I really didn't do anything about it until I was much older when I had already lost a lot of hair. About a year and a half ago, I started taking propecia. I was on it for 6 months. While it did stop my hair from falling out, I was experiencing horrible side effects. I stopped taking propecia, and thankfully the side effects went away. But my hair continued to fall out.

This is me in February:
http://i.imgur.com/hI8N68x.jpg

Around this time, I started using rogaine. I've been using rogaine twice a day since then.

This is me now:
http://i.imgur.com/9cFc52R.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/x096D74.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/86HvaUg.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/gdd1dTP.jpg

Other than growing out my hair, not much has changed. I'm not sure if it's gotten any thicker or thinner.

I'm not sure what to do. Please tell me what you honestly think: should I try to rock this look for a few more years or should I go bald?
Title: Re: 24 and NW3. Should I shave it all off? pics and my story included
Post by: slymyke on January 05, 2014, 05:39:32 PM
Welcome, Justaguy! 

I think you still have quite a bit to work with and could go for a while longer.  You will look good with a buzzed or shaved head when you are ready, but why rush it?    (my opinion)..   
Title: Re: 24 and NW3. Should I shave it all off? pics and my story included
Post by: Cave Dweller on January 05, 2014, 05:46:14 PM
Welcome to the forum, JustaGuy.

Like Slymyke, I don't see your balding as too far advanced just yet. If you are not ready to shave, then my opinion is you should stay as you are and enjoy your hair while you still have it.

There is plenty of time to shave when and if you decide to do it.
Title: Re: 24 and NW3. Should I shave it all off? pics and my story included
Post by: Mike E. P. on January 05, 2014, 06:20:33 PM
Guy,

I don't see much of a difference from February till now. In my opinion, you look good. How do you feel? If you can be happy with your hair the way it is now, I'd keep it. But if you want to experiment, buzz it. If you don't like it, grow it back.

I finally buzzed mine when when I felt my hair was just looking bad. I think yours still looks good.
Title: Re: 24 and NW3. Should I shave it all off? pics and my story included
Post by: Mikekoz13 on January 05, 2014, 07:32:54 PM
I agree with the other guys. I think you're good to go for a while but i would get off those damn drugs if I were you. Is a little extra hair (maybe) worth the possible long term effects? Wouldn't you rather have that money in your pocket?

If you are obsessing about this at all, maybe it's time to try a change.
Title: Re: 24 and NW3. Should I shave it all off? pics and my story included
Post by: swimmerbro on January 05, 2014, 08:31:39 PM
I think you look good now but I say shave it... why not? you're obviously thinking about it, so I say take the plunge
Title: Re: 24 and NW3. Should I shave it all off? pics and my story included
Post by: DOC_OSMC on January 05, 2014, 09:29:11 PM
I agree with the others, go for a buzz, maybe a little shorter than the pic from February.  Looks like there's still quite a bit of coverage so  buzz would work.  I buzzed my hair for about a good year before I shaved it and I had far less to work with than you do.
Title: Re: 24 and NW3. Should I shave it all off? pics and my story included
Post by: justaguy on January 05, 2014, 10:05:24 PM
Thank you all for the positive feedback. To be honest, I had planned on shaving it down to a number 1 tomorrow, and posted here for moral support. I've always felt very conscious of my hair, but maybe it was all in my head?

Do I really look that great? I'm not trying to fish for compliments; I'm still on the fence with this.

Here's another picture without my hair combed to the side or any type of substance in it:

http://i.imgur.com/EAQ2Zac.jpg
Title: Re: 24 and NW3. Should I shave it all off? pics and my story included
Post by: Cave Dweller on January 05, 2014, 10:23:18 PM
Hey, if it is what you want to do, then DO IT.

It is your head and your hair. You will look fine, sir.
Title: Re: 24 and NW3. Should I shave it all off? pics and my story included
Post by: Sir Harry on January 06, 2014, 05:27:10 AM
Welcome! Like the others said, you still have enough to put off going sly for now...but in my honest opinion, I think the shorter buzz will make the temple recession a little less obvious....Good luck!
Title: Re: 24 and NW3. Should I shave it all off? pics and my story included
Post by: Bald Guy on January 06, 2014, 09:53:32 AM
You look like a candidate for a high and tight flat top.
Title: Re: 24 and NW3. Should I shave it all off? pics and my story included
Post by: Frontier Guy on January 06, 2014, 10:02:47 AM
Along the lines of what the others have said ... you can coast along "as is" or buzz or shave it all the way down.

What do YOU want to do, in your most honest opinion? Because that's what is most important.

Though ... if it is bothering you and you are spending significant time and energy on the topic, then I think it's time for a change.
Title: Re: 24 and NW3. Should I shave it all off? pics and my story included
Post by: wpruitt on January 07, 2014, 04:49:42 PM
Try a shorter buzz - a 1 or 2.  It's a good step on the road to slydom
Title: Re: 24 and NW3. Should I shave it all off? pics and my story included
Post by: fcb2001 on January 08, 2014, 02:36:46 AM
Try a two first
Title: Re: 24 and NW3. Should I shave it all off? pics and my story included
Post by: matt548 on January 08, 2014, 03:28:17 PM
I tried Rogaine for a while when I still had hair.  I think the problem is that while using it I let it grow longer and as a result, couldnt really tell if it worked.  Then I started shaving and last year decided to try the new rogaine foam.  I figured since I was already shaving I wouldnt care if it didnt work, and i'd be able to tell better if it did.  After a few months I did notice some thickening of the "stuble" that would grow in, but not enough in the back to actually grow a head of hair if that makes sense.

I agree with the others, try it buzzed short, use the rogaine, but keep it short, that way will be easier to tell if it actually is working or not
Title: Re: 24 and NW3. Should I shave it all off? pics and my story included
Post by: kalbo on January 10, 2014, 09:25:27 AM
First off, welcome. You have a handsome face. You look good with what you have now and if you ask me, enjoy what you have while you still can but if the urge to go short becomes unbearable, go for it.
Title: Re: 24 and NW3. Should I shave it all off? pics and my story included
Post by: TSE on January 10, 2014, 08:47:25 PM
Like the other members had mentioned, it's not that bad.  There is some recession, but (IMO) you still have some decent coverage. 

I decided to crop mine when a light breeze would undo all my handy styling work. That made me the most uncomfortable and I knew i needed a change.  In my opinion, you don't look like you're at that place so you could probably hold onto it for longer.

But i'll have to agree with the others as well: it's your hair so the decision is yours, if you can feel comfortable with your current hair then maybe hold off, if you do decide to cut close then maybe go with a short crop (like a 1 or a 2) and then shave it off all together ... i sincerely think you could pull off a cropped or shaved look.
Title: Re: 24 and NW3. Should I shave it all off? pics and my story included
Post by: justaguy on January 11, 2014, 09:20:47 PM
Thanks for the feedback. I cut my sides and back down to a 2 and left the top the same as it was. I guess I'll delay being sly for a little longer. Because of the comments here, I'll feel more comfortable becoming sly when that time comes.
Title: Re: 24 and NW3. Should I shave it all off? pics and my story included
Post by: Emann on January 26, 2014, 12:14:53 PM
DONT USE ROGAINe theres a chance you might get ED. it aint worth it