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to baldly go.... (advice wanted pleeeeease)! by hjb_1990 on 02 Jan, 2014 14:35
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Hi Guys,
Hoping some of you may be able to offer me some advice.
I am 23 years young and live in the UK. When I was younger, I had cradle cap quite bad and I think that has lead me to have very thin hair now.
Or this is what I think may have caused it or maybe it is just very thin anyway but has certainly not got any better since my school days.
It has plagued me for year’s now right back to when I was at school. My hair does grow pretty well and I get it regularly cut and there is no real thinning on the back or sides.
However, my hair is very thin on top. I have taken some pictures below which show the top of my hair (after washing, drying and combing).
Also there is a picture which shows what hair I do have on top clipped back which clearly shows how thin it is and how much of my scalp doesn’t really have any growth.
I have never gone out with my hair like this and currently use a range of crappy ‘cover up’ sprays and thickening fibres which does help to a degree.
However I can’t continue like this and am now fed up of having to put this on after every bath or shower.
It makes me feel like crap having to use spray on hair and feeling self-conscious that it will run in the rain or that people will notice (not that anyone has yet, or they just haven’t said!).
I am contemplating shaving all my hair off to like a 0 before a holiday to Spain in March this year (to tan up my newly balded head!)
I have spoken to my girlfriend and she is supportive and we both think it might suit me because I have dark facial hair so I may get the kinda Jason Statham/Bruce Willis look!?!?!?
My only other option is to try the many hair regrowth products discussed on this forum however I am fearful of the success I would have due to my scalp not really having any growth in placing because of the cradle cap scaring I have from my youth. Is it likely that in these areas where I had this that I will not get any re-growth or is it worth trying before I lose the lot?
Any advice/information will be greatfully received as will opinions on whether the ‘no hair’ option will suit me?
Thanks in advance,
Harry.
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#1 by hjb_1990 on 02 Jan, 2014 14:47
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.
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#2 by DOC_OSMC on 02 Jan, 2014 15:11
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Hey brother, welcome to the forum!
I understand your pain.
I've struggled with thinning hair as I got into my mid/late 30's and early 40's. I've had it long, I've had it short (pompadour and also spikey) and I've had it buzzed. Over the past year I've kept it buzzed and that helped balance out the thinness of it. However this past November, when the thinning seemed that much more noticeable, I finally made the decision to shave it all off. It's a big step! When I buzzed my hair, that was a big step! I absolutely loved my hair and so taking most of it off took some getting used to. But I got compliments from it and that helped with the transition. Now that's I've made the full transition to being bald, I wonder why I didn't do it sooner. It suits me and I've gotten nothing but positive feedback from it, especially the ladies. One of my biggest fears was wondering if I had the right shaped head to go bald and as it turns out I do.
As you can see from my pic, I do keep a beard. I like the bald and bearded look because I feel that it balances out the look. Also, I never liked the way I looked clean shaven when I had hair, so no way am I gonna be clean and bald.
If you have the dark stubbles or beard, I think you'll be fine. Perhaps, like I did, buzz it down first so that the length on the sides and back match what's on top. It'll balance out and make the thinning not at noticeable. Kinda like Jason Statham, as you said. Once you get accustomed to that, and when you're ready to fully commit then go for the full shave. Once advantage too, which helped me, was that by keeping it buzzed for a year I was able to get my head tanned to the point where it matched my skin tone. That way it's less obvious as opposed to when a head has never seen the sun and then is shaved and you can see the obvious color mismatch. Just a thought.
I'm 42 and loving every minute of being bald and bearded! Sounds like you're support system is in place so that always helps. Let us know what you decide and show us some pics. You'll find a great support system here full of knowledgeable and good people.
I attached a pic below to give you some perspective on my progression to bald and bearded.
We only have one life. Live life, don't let life live you!
Peace!
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#3 by Cave Dweller on 02 Jan, 2014 16:15
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Welcome to the board, HJB.
If you came looking for someone to recommend the "regrowth" surgeries or drugs, you probably are going to be disappointed here. I think it is safe to say that very few members condone that stuff. There actually are a lot of stories on this board regarding their failures - some describe rather horrible results.
A lot of us started balding in our teens and twenties. You are not alone.
If you want to know what it is like to be smooth, there is only one way to find out, and that simply is to shave. It is something I never have regretted.
And consider yourself very fortunate to have such a supportive girlfriend, sir. -
#4 by Frontier Guy on 02 Jan, 2014 16:21
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Welcome.
Why trade one complex issue for another one? Versus simplifying your life and getting on with things?
There are literally hundreds of guys who have told a similar story elsewhere on SBG and then resolved to fix it by either buzzing or shaving. And very few ever said that was a poor decision.
You've got the ideal circumstances to try it out ... supportive girlfriend, being away to give yourself time to adjust.
Go for it!
My only caution to you is this: Once you've decided to do this, don't be surprised if you feel a strong inclination to shave much sooner than waiting for holiday. And that's OK too!
Post back with your decision(s) and results. -
#5 by boston501 on 02 Jan, 2014 16:23
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go for it, man. embrace the balding and shave your head. it's already very thin in frontal areas. you'll look great
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#6 by Sir Harry on 03 Jan, 2014 02:38
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Welcome! There is a little thinning, but you don't have to jump the gun and go sly right away.....You can always try a shorter buzz and grow a little more facial hair to see how it looks....Also, just remember...If you go sly and don't like it, you can always grow it back. Good luck!
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#7 by hjb_1990 on 03 Jan, 2014 10:13
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Thanks for all the replie's guys. Really appreciated and inspiring.
Do you actually think i would suit going bald though.
I dont know if a buzz, even without a guard would work as its not like i have great coverage to pull that off.
I always thought a buzz on like '0' or '1' looks good if you have a good coverage and hairline, not like me with receeding hairline and bald patches on the top with minimal or no growth.
I've added another picture i just took, so if people could advise on whether they think it would suit me.
Also is there any free decent virtual balding tools to kinda 'try before i buy'!?!?!
Thanks again,
H
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#8 by DOC_OSMC on 03 Jan, 2014 10:25
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Bro, I think you can pull it off. Look at Jason Statham, not a lot of coverage on the top but good coverage on the sides and back. With the beard or stubbles, it'll blend in. Go down progressively, maybe shave with a 3 first to see how it looks. Then if you feel it doesn't look balanced, take it down to a 2, then a 1, and maybe then a 0.
That fear of having the right shaped head or whether we will look good bald or not, we've all experienced. I did. But you'll find that once you do it, there was no reason for that fear. -
#9 by Frontier Guy on 03 Jan, 2014 10:26
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Harry, I think you can go either way.
The transition from your already-receded area to a very short buzz will be so slight that it's probably not very obvious.
Though, personally, I like the feel of being totally shaved so that would be my recommendation.
Of course, you can buzz it down and if that doesn't suit you then shave it the rest of the way.
I think you will feel really good about yourself once you actually make the change. A little bit unsure, likely. But all in all much better. -
#10 by tofur99 on 03 Jan, 2014 16:57
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dude, your going to look like a badass with a tight buzz.
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#11 by isleepinthebuff on 03 Jan, 2014 20:44
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In the new pic I don't think your hair looks bad at all but in the previous pics you can see some hairloss. I'd suggest shaving it down but I'd also say that anything longer than a 0 does make you more aware of your hairline, as to be honest you can see it more, especially with darker hair.
You're lucky enough to have good features so a shaved head will suit you It's also stop you worrying.
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#12 by bennett11 on 04 Jan, 2014 06:19
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i would say buzz it close at first
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#13 by TSE on 04 Jan, 2014 08:39
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I buzzed for a while, but found it easier to shave it.
HeadBlade has an iPhone app that might provide a better idea what you may look like with a shaved head. I’ve heard of this app, but never used it.
I agree with the sentiments of the other posters. Looks like there is some thinning, but it doesn’t look that bad, especially in the second pic that was posted. I too think you could pull off the close buzz cut or the totally shaved head. -
#14 by hjb_1990 on 04 Jan, 2014 11:15
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This is the best i could do lol