Sly Bald Guys Forum
Discussions About Being Bald => To be or not be...Bald => Topic started by: BrianFromCalifornia on March 22, 2014, 11:52:43 PM
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Hi everyone,
I'm on the fence about shaving my head after years of wearing a "system" and am intrigued by this procedure where they tattoo "hair" dots onto the scalp to make it look like you have a full head of hair. "HIS Clinic" has clinics around the world that do this. Seems very interesting ... just wondering what others think. Perhaps it will make the transition easier for me as I'm not quite sure I'm ready to have a completely shaven head.
Thanks,
Brian
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It may be a good thing to do if your system leaves some scars. However, it is permanent, so you probably have to keep an extremely short haircut for good, as I don't think it's reversible.
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When I first shaved my head about 15 years ago it became a simplification of life for me. One less thing to worry about. So I guess my observation of the tattooing process would be that it would just complicate things. Which leads to the inevitable question: Why?
Because it seems that you simplified your life by ditching the system. So why add a complication? You're going to have to spend who knows how much for the dots to be tattooed on your scalp, maintain the tats for about 6 weeks just like with a regular tat, and if you had a tattoo guy who maybe was not particularly skilled the dots might spread out and merge into each other. Tats also increase the skin sensitivity to UV rays so now you have to wear sunscreen to protect your skin or wear a hat which covers all those hundreds of dollars worth of ink and on and on.
But hey, it's your money and your head and also your life so in the long run it's a decision that only you can make. I guess I'm just saying to balance the pros and cons before you open your wallet. Make an informed decision.
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Would you shave you head to have this done to your whole head, or do just the existing bald areas and have more done as your balding increases?
My questions on this have always been:
-Will the ink change color like so often happens over time? ....leaving a series of greenish dots on your head when you are older?
-Do people REALLY think the hairline looks natural? I don't think I've seen one yet that has me convinced.
-What if you want to have a clean-shaved head one day? You are stuck with smooth stubble on your head...
-How much are you willing to spend on this over time?
Then again, I was not willing to go through transplants or hairpieces, so I guess I'm a little skeptical of this too.
Part of me likes this idea better than any other choice other than shaving.... but I think it could be something I would regret down the road if I were to pursue that route.
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I'd be afraid the tattoo guy would mess it up and I'd be stuck with a botched job which would be much worse than just being bald. Then what do you do? Wear a hat for the rest of your life?
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I'm just starting to research this but I have the same questions you all have. The photos online and videos on YouTube look pretty impressive. I so appreciate all your opinions and feedback. Here is the YouTube link if you want to check them out. Very interested in what you all think.
http://m.youtube.com/user/HisHairClinic
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Iy looks and feels like another hard sell just like the hair transplant crowd. Give it a miss.
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I've looked into the scalp tattoo option and I have concerns about it. It is somewhat permanent and doesn't look as good on pale skin folks like me. And not sure it will look natural close up. I'm moving back to the idea of just shaving it. But considering a transplant to at least give me the appearance of having some hair. Have others done a transplant before starting to shave? Is that crazy?
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To be honest, I personally think it's insane.
The sooner you come to grips with the fact that you are losing your hair and that, in the grand scheme of life, it just doesn't matter, the happier you'll be.
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Many former transplant guys have scars to deal with when they shave, so be careful before you make that decision. Shave now an its done, no more worries, and razor blades are much less expensive.
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In addition to fading (perhaps you can touch it up?) - another thing is skin sensitivity. I went out with a girl who had a tattoo and she claimed it was often sensitive (not to the point of hurting, just more sensitive) and if you did decide later on to shave I think that would look pretty awkward.
Your decision is yours alone, but I think you should consider this long and hard and I think you'll find it's far less costly to just go to the barber's for a super-short buzz then go home, pull out the razor, and shave it all away! :)
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Decided against the head tattoo for all the obvious reasons. Really thinking about just shaving it all off but can't pull the trigger. Went to have my "system" done today and thought seriously about just shaving it off. My hair girl was even agreeable. She didn't want to push me in either direction. I really thought about it ... but I couldn't do it. We did do a temporary tape on the system so I can take it on and off easier. She thought that might help me ease into it. I looked in the mirror at the salon and saw myself with no hair and I just couldn't do it. I looked so different. I know that's how I really am but it was just too difficult to pull the trigger. Sorry guys.
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No apologies necessary. You really have to want to do it and be comfortable with the decision. Shaving your head has got to be a difficult thing to do after wearing a system for so long. I imagine it might seem a scary thing to do.
Keep hanging around SBGs. Eventually you may feel differently and change your mind about going sly. And this is the perfect place to get the support you need when and if you decide to do it. Lots of us were nervous about shaving it all off but are so glad we did.
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Hi Brian,
Stopped by the forum today and saw your post, and thought I'd chime in. Like Mike said, you don't need to apologize to anybody!
As I've said in earlier posts awhile back, I'm a fellow hair system guy, so I truly understand the conflict you are feeling. But I think it's important that you don't fall into a lot of self-rejection over everything, cause that really spirals you out of control (I've been there!) Fact is, there is no right or wrong answer here - the big thing is to find a way to accept yourself, fake hair, tattooed hair, or no hair!
I think the reason shaving your head ends up working best for most guys is that it breaks you out of the cycle of self-rejection - you realize that the "nuclear option" of taking it all off isn't all that bad, and can look quite good! You're then able to start to move on with your life. Meanwhile, the trap a lot of guys who go the system (or other treatment) route fall into is that they're continually comparing themselves to something that they can't be anymore, which is a recipe for a lot of pain, regardless of how you look (I've said before, I really like how I look, actually). But try to not blame yourself for your situation too much (I know it's easier said than done). I'm guessing you've been with the system long before there were sites like this to help you deal with the initial loss, so just give yourself some time and a little forgiveness!
If you're feeling stressed at all, feel free to shoot me a message. I don't have all the answers, but I'm amazed at the changes I've been able to make after looking for help on this the last few years, which started when I stumbled upon this site. Good luck!
Tim
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Thanks everyone. I really appreciate all the support. Just wasn't ready to "pull the plug". I kept thinking "what happens if I don't like the way I look?". When I look in the mirror, I just don't see a bald guy so the dissonance between reality and my impression of myself is tough to reconcile. If I'm every going to do it, this is the time. My wife is recovering from chemo from breast cancer and lost all of her hair. If I go for it, I will simply tell everyone that I shaved my head to support her. After a few weeks, I would tell everyone that I liked it so much that I decided to keep shaving. If there were ever a "right" time to do it, it's now but I'm just not quite ready. My wife just said to me "you don't see yourself bald" and I think she's right. I see myself as a 20 year-old with a full head of hair even though I know intellectually that I'm already bald. I know the right thing to do is to just shave it off, put on some new glasses, perhaps grow a beard and move on. But easier said than done.
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Im curious why you have made so many posts here but not yet let us see you with adding a picture ?
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Hi Brian, The guys have given You some pretty good advice here. It may take you some time to make the decision to shave the dome. Take your time. You can do it when You are ready. If You don't do it that is okay too. I wish you the best of luck with your decision.
I hope that things go well for your wife and that she fully recovers soon. You both will be in my prayers. Take care.
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Im curious why you have made so many posts here but not yet let us see you with adding a picture ?
A bit hesitant to take a public step to upload a photo. I guess when I'm ready to do that I'll be ready to shave it off.
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Brian, you're among friends here.....We still want you to participate in the discussions, shave or no shave, picture or no picture. Just as Joe said, the big thing here are prayers and a speedy recovery for your wife.
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Brian, you're among friends here.....We still want you to participate in the discussions, shave or no shave, picture or no picture. Just as Joe said, the big thing here are prayers and a speedy recovery for your wife.
Agreed. Well said, Sir Harry.
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I am going through a very similar type of issue. I dont wear a hair piece, but have been using toppik and other concealers to cover up my thinning hair. I guess the biggest issues are that folks are use to seeing you with hair and then one day you show up with your whole head buzzed down and people who know you might say something about your head being smooth with no hair shadow. Even if you razor it. The areas that still have hair will show a shadow. The area that doesnt will be smooth and hairless. Being that your wife is going through her ordeal, it would be a great time to support her as she gets better and a good excuse for you to make the move and realize whats important in life. I bet you see guys with their heads shaved and kind of envy that they already made the move and got it over with. I know I do. I too dont see myself as bald guy. Its tough! But we will eventually have to just do it. Wearing a hair piece and cover ups is just not living. Something that helps is to look at movies with guys who have their heads shaved. Like Jason Stathem and Vin Diesel. These guys rock and have a shaved head with balding issues, not by choice. Also how many men shave by choice these days. Pitt Bull the rapper, The Rock,and so many more and here we are in a day and age where having a buzz cut or shaved head is considered totally cool. I am almost there and about to make the move. I stopped using concealers and have my hair super short, like a buzz cut at the 3rd lowest level. That way when I do it, it wont be such a shock to me and folks I know. Stay strong and go for it! Live Free!
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I have only has time to skim this post as I am at work, but we do have people here on this forum with tattooed hair, they will be able to help you (if they haven't already :)
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When you think about it shaving your head is not a big deal. What if you went to a barber for a haircut and you didn't like the way it looked? You would just give it a few weeks, the hair would grow back and you would go on with your life.
IT'S JUST A HAIRCUT!
You already have the explanation that you are showing support for your wife if you shave your head. So take the leap and just do it already. Anybody who doesn't like it, well, that's like their opinion man. And we all know what part of the human anatomy an opinion is like. And if they have the audacity to make a comment about your motives, well, they may not be the friends that you believed them to be.
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Guys, you all have been so nice to the Original Poster here and his story is compelling about the wife with breast cancer BUT it has all the signs of being fabricated by a troll for his own amusement.
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Guys, you all have been so nice to the Original Poster here and his story is compelling about the wife with breast cancer BUT it has all the signs of being fabricated by a troll for his own amusement.
The OP did post back a few times since and said that he had been walking around without his system and he did say that he wasn't going to get the scalp tattooing.....Let's give him a fair chance, everyone in their own time.
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My thing with this micro hair tattoo - ok, one thing among many - what happens when someone aka your girlfriend goes to to touch your hair?? It certainly won't feel like stubble..
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A friend of mine is a plastic surgeon here in Chicago. (BTW he liked my new bald and bearded look!). He mentioned to me that one of his patients just had this done. He just shook his head! He thinks it looks ridiculous! And he pointed out that as the guy gets older the hair on the sides of his head will change color to gray/white while the tattooed part will not. That will be very conspicuous!
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Exactly, it would complicate things without doubt.
I believe you are in fact ready. None of us are fully ready. You're probably as close as anyone gets. You're at the point of
shaving but instead this alternative has distracted you. Don't do it. Another money making exercise with no real feeling for you
as person.
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Stay away from it. Just shave your head and be happy with what you have got.
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Stay away from it. Just shave your head and be happy with what you have got.
I couldn't have said it better myself. That's the way I'm living. I can't imagine spending my hard earned money on scalp tattooing that will end up looking worse as time goes on.
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Guys, you all have been so nice to the Original Poster here and his story is compelling about the wife with breast cancer BUT it has all the signs of being fabricated by a troll for his own amusement.
I get the same feeling,no picture just talk.