Post by: Nyoxios on July 15, 2015, 02:40:41 PM
I figured my first post should be an introduction:
My real name is Melvin, I'm 22 years old and I live in The Netherlands.
Ever since I was 18, people commented on that I had thin spots on the top/back of my head (crown) and as long as I can remember a high hairline. I never thought much about it, as I always buzzed my hair short (shortest with the comb) So it never really stood out.
A lot changed when I saw a picture of myself during an outing with work, my hair was a tad longer and I saw the "thin"spot really good. I asked my co-workers why they never mentioned it. Their response was: "We see you everyday, it doesn't stand out for us". Shortly after that, I went on a trip to London. The day before I wanted to buzz my hair again. All done, but when I entered the shower I saw some missed spots. So I grabbed the clipper and tried to do it myself ---> Comb fell off, and it hit my head. And thus I did my whole head without the comb. Felt really bad about it, but the next time it was time for a buzz, I decided to just do it again. A lot of people reacted positive on the even more short style.
I kept that up for a few months, clipping it every 2 weeks. And I noticed the sides and back grew faster than on top. People around me started telling me: "from a distance, it looks like your bald on top". And there the doubting began: Should I shave it, or just keep clipping it?" First decided I would start shaving when I turned 23 (14th of September) But on a fridaynight when I had to shave my face anyway I just thought: "What the hell, if it looks bald it better can be bald". It wasn't much different as the shortest clipping, but it felt really different. I felt way more confident.
At work people would comment on it, of course. But in the days of clipping I would get very annoyed and insecure when they mentioned the thin area or saying that I look bald. Now that I am shaven bald I just go: "That I am!" I feel good about it, I've accepted that's just the way it is. It runs in my family. My uncle started shaving at 18 and so did a cousin (not the son of said uncle). In fact the only male older than me with all his hair is my dad. I think I made the decision on that too, my cousin felt bad for being bald so young and I always told him that he looked good. So I had the examples in my family.
I think I'm shaving it for like a month or so. The only dislike I have is that the stubble is already there in the morning when I shaved the evening before. And the "shadow" on the places where my hair grows as normal. I've done some research, and the only option is to laser it. On one side the shadow is annoying, on the other side it's visible I choose to shave off whatever is growing still. As annoyed as I get sometimes, it'll always beat the dreaded comb-over haircuts, IMO.
(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/d6/1f/38/d61f382b19fbd4e9598ade3ff7c70c9c.jpg)
I kinda view the whole situation as followed: before shaving, time would make my haircut look worse and worse due to bald/thin spots. And now time is my friend: It'll only get more bald and the hairs that do stay will turn lighter in time. Less shaving and less "shadow". win-win in my book :)
Post by: tobler1 on July 15, 2015, 06:56:01 PM
Post by: Sir Harry on July 15, 2015, 09:08:54 PM
Post by: Nyoxios on July 15, 2015, 10:29:41 PM
Post by: AJ Q-Ball on July 15, 2015, 11:11:31 PM
Post by: Nyoxios on July 16, 2015, 02:24:04 PM
I've been keeping it unshaven for like 2 weeks, but at that point it becomes a mess. How can I keep it neat. I have a clipper with a special guard for beards, about what length would be a neat stubble beard? 2mm? I also wonder how long it'll take before I have to tidy it up again.
Also, how do you determine the border from sideburns to headhair? I now hold on to the top of my jaw/ top point of the tragus. my jaw sticks out a bit. I saw some examples where they keep the border at the bottom of the earlobe.
Post by: wpruitt on July 16, 2015, 04:36:23 PM
Post by: clipped on July 16, 2015, 04:41:28 PM
Post by: Semi-Sly on July 16, 2015, 10:05:51 PM
Post by: -Doug- on July 17, 2015, 06:42:54 AM
Post by: K5mow on July 17, 2015, 06:43:26 AM
Roger
Post by: warhawk on July 17, 2015, 08:31:07 AM
WARHAWK O0
Post by: Nyoxios on July 18, 2015, 04:19:36 PM
Welcome aboard. On your original question about stubble & shadow, I am probably one of the minority who actually likes having a little stubble. My hair is mostly white, so shadow is not an issue for me, except that if my hair were still dark brown, I'd be happy with shadow. Shadow on a shaved head sort of says, "yes, I shave my head and I like it that way". I am mostly a clipper shaver but am razor shaving (every 2 or 3 days) for the summer. 2 days after a razor shave I have about the same stubble as immediately after a #000000 clipper shave. Most people consider that I have a shaved head either way. The smooth feel is great, but I like the stubble feel that I have by evening as a morning shaver. Maybe it would be better for you to shave in the morning so you are awake to enjoy the smooth feel?
The shadow is mostly an annoyance because it isn't everywhere. It's only on the sides and the back. Kinda like horseshoe thing. if it would be everywhere, I wouldn't give a damn really. Then again, that would mean my hair would also grow fully everywhere.
The stubble is well, I spend a lot of time to shave it totally smooth, it feels like a waste of time when I can feel hairs being back after sleeping or like 7-8 hours. I shave once every 2 days. So, I shave in the evening. The morning after I get rid of all the stubble from overnight (because it only has grown on some spots) the next day, the stubble is everywhere, so I don't min shave it all off again late in the evening.
I've been thinking about shaving before going to work, but then I have to wake earlier: It takes about an hour/1.5 hour to get it totally smooth.
I've wondered to start shaving every morning, but that would mean I
Post by: SlyMike on July 19, 2015, 08:09:41 AM
Post by: baldjoeg on July 21, 2015, 07:04:46 AM
Post by: Paul_Jannusch_III on July 24, 2015, 08:54:25 AM
Glad to have you with us Melvin.
Post by: clipped on July 24, 2015, 08:48:25 PM
Welcome aboard. On your original question about stubble & shadow, I am probably one of the minority who actually likes having a little stubble. My hair is mostly white, so shadow is not an issue for me, except that if my hair were still dark brown, I'd be happy with shadow. Shadow on a shaved head sort of says, "yes, I shave my head and I like it that way". I am mostly a clipper shaver but am razor shaving (every 2 or 3 days) for the summer. 2 days after a razor shave I have about the same stubble as immediately after a #000000 clipper shave. Most people consider that I have a shaved head either way. The smooth feel is great, but I like the stubble feel that I have by evening as a morning shaver. Maybe it would be better for you to shave in the morning so you are awake to enjoy the smooth feel?
The shadow is mostly an annoyance because it isn't everywhere. It's only on the sides and the back. Kinda like horseshoe thing. if it would be everywhere, I wouldn't give a damn really. Then again, that would mean my hair would also grow fully everywhere.
The stubble is well, I spend a lot of time to shave it totally smooth, it feels like a waste of time when I can feel hairs being back after sleeping or like 7-8 hours. I shave once every 2 days. So, I shave in the evening. The morning after I get rid of all the stubble from overnight (because it only has grown on some spots) the next day, the stubble is everywhere, so I don't min shave it all off again late in the evening.
I've been thinking about shaving before going to work, but then I have to wake earlier: It takes about an hour/1.5 hour to get it totally smooth.
I've wondered to start shaving every morning, but that would mean I
Melvin,
You've only been shaving for a month. Your time required to shave will decrease with experience. I shaved this morning - head & face with a DE so it took about 20 minutes (3 passes with the DE - 12 hours later - hardly any stubble); but a few days ago I used the Mach 3 Cartridge and did face and head in under 10 minutes. I have the horseshoe & am sparse on the top. People like us who shave may be more aware/conscious and preoccupied about things like the "edge of a shadow" on a fully shaved head (I am not). Really, very few people notice or pay that much attention to details like that. I look at it this way: when I am razor shaving my head, I have a shaved head. I don't care if someone can tell where the hair grows and where it doesn't grow when I don't shave my head and let the stubble grow out (which I do more often than not).