Looking for input..

• Looking for input.. by ecofriendly on 23 Sep, 2010 19:09
• Hello all,
  
  I am currently on the fence as to whether or not I want to shave my head and move on with my life. I have many fears about the repercussions that come along with shaving and was wondering if I could get some input. I currently wear my hair in a tight military fade type cut. I also use toppik to conceal some of the loss but recently my loss has accelerated and it is not working as well anymore.  I feel I am running out of options that can keep my confidence up and make me feel alright about myself in general.
  
  I will be changing locations and starting a new job as an RN on October 25th and I was hired with my current look. So my first question becomes, should I go to work in the beginning the way I was hired and then a few months down the road shave it, or do you think it I should just do it and not worry about changing my appearance. The hiring manager is completely sly so I really do not know what his response would be. Would he feel like his turf was being infringed upon? Or, would he be more accepting than most? Probably thinking about it too much.
  
  Next, I am currently 5'10'' 150 pounds soaking wet. I also am irish (pale) and have ginger type color. I currently wear a short goatee so I will have some hair on my face, but I was just wondering if you think I should just be bald and have hair to cover some of my head, or if you think I would feel better just chopping it off and moving on. Any responses from people in my situation would be well received.
  
  Also, any tips on how to hold your head high after cutting off your hair, projecting professionalism, and things I can do to ease the transition would be appreciated. Thank you for you time and look forward to getting any responses.
• #1 by thebbqguy on 23 Sep, 2010 20:05
• Quote from: ecofriendly on 23 Sep, 2010 19:09

  should I go to work in the beginning the way I was hired and then a few months down the road shave it, or do you think it I should just do it and not worry about changing my appearance. Would he feel like his turf was being infringed upon? Or, would he be more accepting than most? Probably thinking about it too much.
  
  I was just wondering if you think I should just be bald and have hair to cover some of my head, or if you think I would feel better just chopping it off and moving on. Any responses from people in my situation would be well received.
  
  Also, any tips on how to hold your head high after cutting off your hair, projecting professionalism, and things I can do to ease the transition would be appreciated. Thank you for you time and look forward to getting any responses.
  

  
  I kept a high and tight for years. Bald and not quite bald is not that different. I'd just go ahead and do it. I like bald much better. No one really cares if you shave your head. I shaved my head 5 weeks ago and no one has commented about it at all. Feel free to go ahead and shave it.
• #2 by ozzie on 23 Sep, 2010 21:06
• Firstly, welcome to the forum, ecofriendly! Glad you could join us.
  
  Go ahead and shave your dome before you start. Since you've already sporting "high and tight" the hiring manager, like most folks, probably won't even notice anything different. And if you do it now, you should even out the coloring on your dome a bit before you start your new job. (Congrats on that!)
  
  Without seeing a photo, I really shouldn't comment, but I say definitely leave the goatee. Sly plus goat is simply a great combination for pretty much everyone.
  
  Once you shave your head, you'll find, like it was for most of us, that it is a totally liberating, confidence-boosting experience in and of itself. You'll find yourself projecting much more self-confidence when you're out and about. Add some new threads to go with your new job and you'll look the epitome of professionalism! Good luck and keep us posted! 
• #3 by lordmage on 23 Sep, 2010 22:03
• short and sweet go sly and be your self the rest will follow
• #4 by BaldWriterBob on 24 Sep, 2010 02:01
• Welcome to SBG. Good to have you with us.
• #5 by Razor X on 24 Sep, 2010 07:23
• Quote from: ecofriendly on 23 Sep, 2010 19:09

  
  The hiring manager is completely sly so I really do not know what his response would be. Would he feel like his turf was being infringed upon?
  

  
  You don't seem to realize just how ideal your situation is. We've seen many, many posts from guys who are looking for or just landed a new job and are in a dilemma over whether or not there will be repercussions if they shave their heads.   If the guy who hired you has a shaved head, I don't know what bigger "green light" you could possibly hope for.  He won't feel like his "turf is being infringed upon."  Most sly guys are happy to welcome newcomers into the fold. 
  
  Shave it today and quit worrying about it.
• #6 by Noodles on 24 Sep, 2010 10:09
• Quote from: ecofriendly on 23 Sep, 2010 19:09

  Hello all,
  Also...any tips on how to hold your head high after cutting off your hair, projecting professionalism, and things I can do to ease the transition would be appreciated. Thank you for you time and look forward to getting any responses.
  

  
  
  Welcome to SBG, Eco...
  
      A man's self-worth is NOT defined by the amount (or lack thereof) of hair he has on his scalp.
  
  Seems you have the mindset that you are going to be judged by your new employer soley on the amount of hair you have on your head, disregarding your work experience in this particular field, or work ethics, job history etc. DON'T pre-judge your acceptance by others. Give BOTH yourself and your new employer a chance to let your true self-worth shine through, otherwise you're selling yourself short.
  
  As some of the other guys have stated, you have the ideal opportunity before you to go SLY and enjoy ALL the freedom and newfound confidence that comes along with the territory.
  
  Once you make the decision to go SLY, and follow through with that decision (by that I mean actually shaving your head, and not making excuses to keep putting it off) you will feel as if a HUGE burden has been lifted off your shoulders because the "insecurities" of losing your hair will go "down the drain", following that last remaining strand of your hair.  
  
  As far as easing through the transition process, (both for you and family/friends - if that is of great concern to you) you need to listen to Tyler (owner and moderator of SBG in the YouTube segments below.
  
  Both are great video segments. The first, entitled "I Am Losing My Hair - What Do I Do?" explores the self confidence and self esteem that you can gain by shaving your head, and the second video explains, what we call "The 30-Day Rule" - a transition period that will allow both you and others around you to get accustomed to your newfound look.
  
  Easing through a transition period as far as the new employer is concern, should be of no real concern, since this is a new work environment, new co-workers, new boss, etc, that you are about to embark on.
  
  Viewing these video segments below will help you tremendously (just as it has helped countless of others) put into proper perspective BOTH the transition process, and helping you realize the newfound confidence and self-esteem that you will GAIN once you make that bold decision to go SLY.
  
  Watch these videos, Eco, and then "BALDLY" go where so many of us have before you have already gone"!!  
  
  
  Watch this video first  <a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/RT-QVbsL64c?" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/RT-QVbsL64c?</a>  then watch this one <a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/OhrSyl2s2Vs?" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">http://www.youtube.com/v/OhrSyl2s2Vs?</a>
  
  Again, Welcome to the SBG forum. I guarantee you're gonna' like it here.
  lots of great videos and all type subject matters that covers all facets of head shaving and beyond.
  
  Take the time to read through the segments within the SBG forum. It will BOTH enlighten you and also help ease your mind and concerns greatly. And, as always, if you ever have any questions about anything, we are ALL here to help you in any way we can.  
  
  - Cap'n Noodles -
  
• #7 by mangosink12572 on 24 Sep, 2010 11:14
• If anyone is looking for a job in my store and they are SLY BALD  - - -I hire them  - -There are three of us now who are SLY BALD
  
  The other two are smart guys also   and they were in the wine buisness before  - - so I didn't hire them just because they were BALD
  
  being SLY BALD sure helped  - - -and they like it also
  
  Quite a few of our customers are BALD also  and they enjoy seeing us   - -especially when two of us BALD guys are working  together
  
  Someone always makes a comment about  the SLICK MELON
  
• #8 by D.A.L.U.I. on 24 Sep, 2010 13:13
• Quote from: ecofriendly on 23 Sep, 2010 19:09

  Hello all,
   I also use toppik to conceal some of the loss but recently my loss has accelerated and it is not working as well anymore.  . . .The hiring manager is completely sly so I really do not know what his response would be.
  

  
  Well, my bet--for what's it worth--would be that if he said anything, and that's a big if, it would be that you made the right move.  I doubt that he'll say anything about the toppik right now, maybe later as he gets to know you better.  Clean it up, start fresh, no need to carry this baggage any longer, is there?
• #9 by Sgt. Pate on 24 Sep, 2010 20:18
• Welcome aboard! 
  
  One thing is for sure... you'll never know until you try! 
• #10 by Redgrave101 on 25 Sep, 2010 15:04
• Hmm, Think i'll just have to second the Sgt. on this one