Can't Believe I Really Did It

• Can't Believe I Really Did It by gebodragon on 02 Sep, 2010 10:01
• Hey, everyone,
  
  Have been reading here for a few days, very much enjoying all the inspiration, information, advice and upbeat attitude from you guys.  Last Saturday I buzzed my hair down with a #2--having thought about doing it for a long, long time but never quite having the courage 'cause I thought I would look ridiculous with that little hair.  Well, I loved it.  And my twenty-something daughter told me it looked good.  The cat didn't seem care one way or the other.
  
  On Monday morning, I took a #1 to my head, and that was even better.  Then, last night, I went for it.  Got out every shaving implement I own--clippers, two electric shavers, a beard trimmer and finally a Gillette Fusion razor and three different kinds of shaving cream--and spent an hour defuzzing my head down to the bare skin.  If there'd been a camera on this process I'm sure the resulting video would have been comical to watch.  (Saw a HeadBlade at the drugstore yesterday, will probably pick one up and give it a try.)  I'm sure future shaves will be far less complicated and time consuming.
  
  Lord, what a feeling!  Who knew having a naked head would feel so different?  But I love it!  I had quite a bit of hair--thinning out a bit on top, but not enough to be a problem.  However,  I started going gray in my twenties, and since my early forties my hair has been completely white.  I haven't seen  much discussion on here of this as a reason for choosing baldness, but it made sense to me. 
  
  I just turned fifty-five, and I have a number of younger friends who are always ragging on me--affectionately, of course, but still--about being "the old man."  Now, I'm not a bit ashamed of my age, and I've never been too worried about my gray hair, but one of my friends said to me the other day when we were working out at the gym that I'd "look ten years younger" if my hair wasn't white.  Who doesn't want to look a few years younger? 
  
  Coloring my hair has never appealed to me--PITA--and honestly, my hair has been a trial to me my whole life anyway--as fine and straight as baby hair, hard to get a decent haircut that looks good for more than a couple of weeks.  I thought I might be thrilled to be just done with it for good.  My beard is still dark, almost no gray in it at all.
  
  So, the obvious solution . . . .
  
  I think there's been a bald guy in me all these years just clamoring to get out!
  
  Have to get a bit of sun to get rid of my two-tone scalp (yes, I've got some good sunscreen and will be careful).  Only other issue--I have a big mole just in front of one ear, and it's very tricky getting all the hair off around that.  Suggestions? 
  
  Also have a few scars on my skull from some severe dermatitis I had back in my thirties--I had an anxiety disorder and used to pick at my scalp until it bled.  Hasn't been a problem for many years, but a few little round scars remain, as I suspected they might.  Have decided not to worry about it.
  
  So, here I go for my first thirty days,--I feel so immensely liberated, don't think it's gonna be a problem.  Thanks again for all the inspiration. 
  
  Luke
• #1 by joergHH on 02 Sep, 2010 10:17
• Quote from: gebodragon on 02 Sep, 2010 10:01

    However,  I started going gray in my twenties, and since my early forties my hair has been completely white.  I haven't seen  much discussion on here of this as a reason for choosing baldness, but it made sense to me. 
  

  
  Hello and welcome here, Luke!
  
  Congrats on your decision.
  
  Whitening has been the main reason for me for shaving my head. In the late fourties I've been white as my 100 year old Grandma. Shaving is the given solution.
  
  Enjoy your new look! May be you post a pic?
  
  Keep it smooth 
  
  J
• #2 by Tyler on 02 Sep, 2010 10:21
• Luke, great post!  I think you might be the first to tell us they shaved their head due to gray hair instead of balding, but either way, if it gives you more confidence, that's the point!  Welcome to SBG!
• #3 by kenny57028 on 02 Sep, 2010 10:33
• Welcome to the site man! An I'm sure gettin rid of those old white hairs makes you look quite a bit younger again like you said! 
• #4 by Mikekoz13 on 02 Sep, 2010 10:49
• Welcome to the Forum Dragon! Nice intro!
  
  Scars?? As a long gone member once said, "Scars are just Dome Decor"!
  
  Post up a photo when you get a chance and please join right on in on any topic.
• #5 by marty22 on 02 Sep, 2010 11:43
• welcome!
• #6 by mangosink12572 on 02 Sep, 2010 11:52
• Welcome Luke
  Enjoy the freedom of a smooth DOME     
• #7 by Timmer on 02 Sep, 2010 11:53
• Welcome from another noob.  This is a great group of guys and you're in the right place.
• #8 by reb123161 on 02 Sep, 2010 11:57
• Welcome, man....yes, the shaving does get easier!!!  Go try all the great smelling products now and don't forget a shaving brush!!
• #9 by ozzie on 02 Sep, 2010 12:12
• Congratulations Luke. Regarding the mole .... make an appointment with a dermatologist right away and have it looked at. Apart from doing a biopsy to make sure it's not a sign of anything serious, the doctor can probably slice it off for you right there and then too. Nothing worse than having to navigate around one of those things when you're shaving your dome.
  
  I had a couple removed that way. It's painless and it heals up really quick. Otherwise you're sure to nick it from time to time and bleed all over the place. Deal with the inconvenience of a bandaid on your head for a few days and then you're totally free.
• #10 by schro on 02 Sep, 2010 13:40
• Hey Luke,
  Don't be surprised if your scalp condition improves as a result of shaving.
  
  Great introductory post.
  Welcome!
• #11 by BaldWriterBob on 02 Sep, 2010 13:52
• Welcome. Glad you are happy with your results.
• #12 by gebodragon on 02 Sep, 2010 13:56
• Thanks for the welcome guys.  Am just getting ready to head to work with the new look, which is amazingly different than even the 1/8 of an inch of hair I had yesterday; that should be fun.
  
  
  Getting that mole removed is on my to-do list for sure, but the dermatologist has pronounced it healthy already, so means I'll probably have to pay for the removal myself unless that changes.  Which means, I'll be shaving very carefully around it for a while yet.
  
  Hmm.  I wonder if a chemical hair remover would be safe to use there maybe once a week?  A dab of that depilatory stuff?  Any thoughts?  Probably an excellent question for the dermatologist, too. 
  
  Okay, off to run the guantlet.   
• #13 by Rob-Raz on 02 Sep, 2010 22:40
• Welcome to the site!!!!  I'm sure most of us have a scar or two roaming the dome...I know of at least one I have from an adventure as a kid losing a battle with the corner of an open window (can you say STITCHES!!).     No need to worry about the scars.....gives you character.