Sly Bald Guys Forum

New Member Section => Introductions => Topic started by: Professor Rorschack on January 27, 2016, 05:10:37 PM

Title: Introduction and a HUGE "Thank You!"
Post by: Professor Rorschack on January 27, 2016, 05:10:37 PM
Greetings gentlemen (and the sly ladies out there),

For the past several weeks, I've been a lurker here on the site. Then last week, I stepped up my game and graduated to a lurking member (Hooray!). Now, I figure it's about time I speak up, share my story, and show some gratitude to all of you sly guys here!

I've been battling some on-going Alopecia since I was 17 years old (I'm 28 now). Early on, a patch would fall out, grow back in, and then a new patch would fall out. Always having really thick, dark hair (as well as some creative haircuts) seemed to keep it a secret for the most part. However, over the years it got worse. I started to need prednisone injections in my scalp once a month to help accelerate the hair growth before a new patch would fall out. Then, this past year it started to get very aggressive to the point where the injections no longer worked and people were starting to notice and ask questions. I should mention that I teach 8th Grade Literature (those hyenas can be ruthless sometimes, but I love it), and I also am a Praise Band Leader at my church where I stand up in front of hundreds of people every Sunday to lead music. So, when I say that people were starting to ask questions, I mean LOTS of people!

Anyways, it had finally gotten to the point where I figured shaving my head would look a whole lot less weird than my beginner-chemo-patient-looking haircut (in fact, some of the people asking questions thought I had started to undergo chemo...yikes). Thus, I found this site! After a lot of deliberation, and much lurking, I decided to go for the gusto and shave it. I was pleasantly surprised to find I actually had a good head shape! Needless to say, my wife was relieved as well  :@`). I'm still learning the ropes of it all and trying to figure out how to deal with the super dark, thick patches of hair I still have left that make my head look like a Rorschach Ink Blot (hence the user name  :D), but I finally feel like I'm starting to get the hang of this.

This brings me to the THANK YOU! You guys on this site have helped me in ways that you could never know. The affirmation, community, and guidance towards technique and products have made this transition so much smoother (*wink*wink*) than I could have imagined. I've been going sly for about 2 weeks now, and I find myself coming back to this site on a daily basis looking up tips and product reviews (I'm pretty sure I could open a pharmacy with all of the razors and product I have accumulated the past two weeks).

So again, thank you so much for aiding in the transition of another sly guy! I look forward to building up the experience to start commenting on threads, too!

P.S. - Sorry for the novel of an intro, but hey, I'm an English teacher. It's what we do... O0
Title: Re: Introduction and a HUGE "Thank You!"
Post by: Tyler on January 27, 2016, 05:34:03 PM
Congratulations on your decision to shave your head! I'm glad we were able to provide you with the support and knowledge you needed to make the transition.
Title: Re: Introduction and a HUGE "Thank You!"
Post by: Magoo on January 27, 2016, 06:58:09 PM
Welcome Professor , good bunch of people on this board . I' m thinking those patches in time will decrease . I do believe there are laser treatments that will kill the hair at the root but will take a number of treatments. Some members have gone this rout.
Title: Re: Introduction and a HUGE "Thank You!"
Post by: slybaldguy on January 27, 2016, 09:47:42 PM
Congratulations on the leap. I felt much the same way with a receding hairline. Instead of patches falling out, mine just rolled back like the tide year after year. I made jokes that "I'm not balding, I just have a long face!" -- But here's the hit -- I never have to feel like a joke again! It is so empowering to take control of my own body instead of feeling like a victim trapped inside it! As for the dots, I know how you feel. I am very white Italian with very dark hair, so not only do I look like a pin cushion, but the receding hair line and Fryer Tuck bald spot still stand out! I have been reading that it helps to tan, but I've never tanned well. Still not sure how I feel about it, but, hey, you're not alone!
Title: Re: Introduction and a HUGE "Thank You!"
Post by: wpruitt on January 28, 2016, 04:38:12 PM
Welcome!  hang in there!
Title: Re: Introduction and a HUGE "Thank You!"
Post by: slybeard on January 28, 2016, 05:31:24 PM
Welcome to the board.  My son plays in a praise band and fills in as as lead as well.
Title: Re: Introduction and a HUGE "Thank You!"
Post by: Cave Dweller on January 28, 2016, 07:42:20 PM
Welcome to the board, Professor.

Excellent introduction. I always am intrigued and surprised by the many different reasons we each chose to go smooth. I am glad you are happy with your decision.
Title: Re: Introduction and a HUGE "Thank You!"
Post by: Sir Harry on January 28, 2016, 07:43:14 PM
Welcome, Professor! Great attitude; thanks for joining!
Title: Re: Introduction and a HUGE "Thank You!"
Post by: slybaldguy on January 28, 2016, 08:18:30 PM
Ran into this article while searching for how to bleach my roots and thought I'd pass it on to a brother in need:

http://www.nftips.com/2013/09/natural-tips-for-alopecia-areata_5.html (http://www.nftips.com/2013/09/natural-tips-for-alopecia-areata_5.html)
Title: Re: Introduction and a HUGE "Thank You!"
Post by: tobler1 on January 28, 2016, 09:29:28 PM
Welcome.  Glad you've joined us.
Title: Re: Introduction and a HUGE "Thank You!"
Post by: Professor Rorschack on January 29, 2016, 07:26:31 AM
Ran into this article while searching for how to bleach my roots and thought I'd pass it on to a brother in need:

http://www.nftips.com/2013/09/natural-tips-for-alopecia-areata_5.html (http://www.nftips.com/2013/09/natural-tips-for-alopecia-areata_5.html)

Thanks slybaldguy! There's a lot of great information I haven't seen before!
Title: Re: Introduction and a HUGE "Thank You!"
Post by: Adamski1972 on January 31, 2016, 08:48:32 AM
What a great introduction! Welcome to the group! 😀😀😀