First of all, hello everyone!

Since a hair stylist who was cutting my hair about a year ago dropped the news... "Yeah... you're thinning. Looks like the very early stages of Male Pattern Baldness," I've been spending some time preparing myself for the inevitable - a shaved head. I've read plenty of posts on the site and discovered that there are indeed many men out there with the same questions that I have.

So, here's my situation. I don't have any full-on bald spots yet, and my thinning is generally only noticeable when my hair gets longer, so I've been cropping it pretty short (usually a #3 fade on the sides with scissors on top).

As the thinning progresses, I'm noticing my hairline becoming less and less defined, and I'm starting to see through to my scalp.

Soon, very soon, I'm going to start buzzing it. What's a good length for a good, fuzzy buzz? I think I'll just keep buzzing it until eventually (probably a couple years) I start fully shaving it.

Here's something I've worried about: I'm a small, 26-year old, white guy. When I say small, I really mean small. I'm 5'6", 121 lbs. (That's really small). How can I make the bald look NOT look awkward on my small frame? I also have a tendency to dress like a hipster and hang out at "hipster bars," and places like that. In that scene, peoples' hair is a huge part of the fashion. Men sport big pompadours, if they don't have beautiful, long hair. Buzz cuts and shaved heads are very, VERY rare. So, I know I'm going to feel out of place, but it's gotta happen. I suppose, how would any of you suggest staying fashionable with a bald head? Collared shirts? Stay fit? Anything like that?

On the other hand, I'm very excited to eventually go sly. It's going to be an entirely new look for me. I'm sure it'll take people off guard, but I think it'll be good. I see it as a new beginning.

Cheers!

First off, welcome to the club. And good for you for accepting the inevitable. Most people won't even comment on it when you get there.

SirHarry was right on the money with the "one size fits all" comment about a bald head. I'm not much bigger than you - 5'6", 160 lbs. As far as wardrobe goes when you go out, wear what your comfortable with. There is no right or wrong when combining fashion with slyness.

Good luck and enjoy!

Welcome mate,

As others said its pretty typical to worry about how you will look/feel.

Truth is that most people won't notice/care.

I hope it works out for you.

My awakening to losing hair came a couple of decades ago. I never really worried about it but I never really cared much about hair. It was always kind of a pain in the a$$ for me. The result was I kept it short for a long time with the exception of about 3 years after I retired from my old job. I had hair down to my shoulder blades and made a decision to go sly. The very next day I saw a woman friend of mine and she said I looked different and asked if I had lost weight. The funny part of that story is that she's a hair dresser and she didn't notice the change. So my belief is that you worry needlessly. Take it easy, dude. One thing to remember is that a head shave is nothing more than a haircut; it grows back.

Hey, sporting a nicely shaved head today is better than any comb over, toupe, or hair transplants.  I fought the thinning hair look until I got tired of screwing with it and shaved it 2 weeks ago, no looking back! 

You are getting some great advice here from Sir Harry and everyone else. No one will probably even notice it. You will be free of your worries about hair loss.

Way to go DonM. You look great sly.