Can I pull it off?

[shavedhead88]

Hi everyone! I'm 24 and my hair has been receding for quite some time now. I recently found this amazing forum and yesterday i finally found the courage to shave all my hair off. My hair isn't thinning yet, so I guess I didn't really have to do it. I was just obsessing about my receding hairline all the time, and it really started to affect my health, both physically and mentally. So I think I made the right decision.

It was a big shock when I saw myself for the first time without my hair. But I feel very relieved. And very naked.   I really like running my hand over my head, though. I think it looks ok, but I'm not really sure. I'm very skinny and pale, so I'm not sure if I can pull it off. I think my headshape is fine, but one of my ears sticks out more than the other. I tend to obsess about small things and blow things out of proportion, so I would really appreciate some honest feedback. Right now I'm going back and forth between liking it and feeling extremely insecure.

I haven't had that many reactions yet. Some people have said that my headshape is nice, other people have said that my hair is just way too short now.   I still have maybe 1 mm of hair, so once I've gotten used to it I might even shave it smooth. But maybe that would be too extreme, I don't know.

What do you guys think?

[Bluebriz]

I think it looks great on you!  I would say that once you get used to it and embrace it, take ownership of it rather than letting the receding hairline own you, then you will feel infinitely more confident and other people will sense that and be drawn to you.

Welcome to SBG and welcome to a new life for the new you!

[bennett11]

you look great with short buzz.  keep it that way and one day just shave.   It will just be you.

[Frontier Guy]

Welcome. I agree, you look great. If you were spending a lot of time thinking about hair issues then it was a problem and good that you had the courage to deal with it.

I think you are an ideal candidate for the 30-day Challenge referenced elsewhere on this site, which I’ve accumulated over time and modified just a bit. Pick and choose which ones apply to you, but basically my “expanded” 30-day challenge is:

• If you actually shave (versus clippering) take your time shaving initially – your scalp is new terrain and everyone has some odd spots to figure out. Go easy on the pressure and the speed. There is no prize for fastest and bloodiest shave!
• Figure out what your answer is when someone asks “Why?” – you don’t have to go into detail about hair loss, but it’s good to have a comeback at the ready. Can be as simple as “I needed a change.”
• Maintain the Sly look for 30 consecutive days - whether you shave daily (my recommendation) or every other day.
• Allows you to get used to the New & Improved you.
• Allows others to get used to the New, Improved and more Confident you.
• Allows your scalp to adjust from being hidden from the world to toughening up to face the world.
• Allows you to develop the skills for head shaving/clippering (they're a bit different from face shaving).
• Gives you time to integrate shaving/clippering into your daily routine so it becomes “natural” and not something you have to think about or try to remember.
• Post here at SlyGuys with your questions, concerns, and (most assuredly) your SUCCESSES!

Things I think you will find:

• Huge relief (part 1) from hair worries – whether it’s thinning or graying or moving hairlines.
• Huge relief (part 2) from hat worries (this may not apply) – where is it?
• Huge relief (part 3) from weather worries (this also may not apply yet) – wind which may blow a combover the wrong way, rain which causes thin hair to become stringy.
• Ease of maintaining - you'll always have the same great look.
• Surge of self-confidence (part 1) – which I thought was most surprising.
• Surge of self-confidence (part 2) – freedom to do things which “hair terror” prevented – like swimming or standing in a room underneath a bright light with your scalp glowing through the remaining hairs.
• Reallocation of time previously spent obsessing over hair to more fun endeavors (you can figure out this list on your own).

Welcome to the brotherhood.

[Todo Duro]

+1 Frontier Guy

Also, on the insecurity thing: first off, give yourself time - shaving one's hair off for the first time is always a bit of a shock and it needs some adjusting to.
Second, don't worry too much: on a guess I'd say 9 out 10 people's faces are slightly asymmetrical in some way, but no one ever notices that apart from the face's owner! Unfortunately we are all biased towards magnifying our own minor flaws, if only cause we - unlike other people - know where to look for them... but trust me, it's not worth worrying about!
Third: you don't have to be stacked like Vin Diesel to rock the look. I'm a scrawny guy myself and found that if anything a shave/0 buzz makes my head look slightly smaller and my whole upper body better proportioned as a consequence. You aren't going to have a problem so long as you keep trim and fit and confident!

Welcome to the forum!

[shavedslick123]

I think you look awesome! You could probably pull off sly if you wanted though...

[OzSly]

G'Day Shavedhead,

No worries mate, the Sly look would suit you. 

[Papa Don]

First off, let me welcome you to the site, SH88.  I agree with the other guys, you do look good with the clippered head.  What ears?  Had you not mentioned it, I would not have noticed.  I have one ear that sticks out--looks like a taxi with a door open.  So do you have a problem, I think not.  Remember, we are our own worst critics.  I am BBC now for four years and will never go back to hair.  As it has been stated, hair is superficial.  And think of the money and time saved on hair products and application.  Good luck with what ever you decide to do.

[mrzed]

Your photo looks good.  Give it 30 days before you make any decision.  Yes, rubbing a bald head. I still do it and I've been shaving my head for a year +.  The smooth feel after a shave it really nice. 

BBC is making a statement. Looks good on you.

[Gary~]

Your photo looks great although I can't see much receding there. The buzz really suits you and has many of the benefits of total baldness.

When your hair recedes more in the future years [and it could be years -- it may not be strictly linear and I still had reasonably looking albeit thin hair until about 55 years old] it will be a small, easy step to shave it all off if you wish to.

I personally like the look of buzz cuts for those like you with enough hair to carry  them off. If you ever feel like shaving it all off though try it. Do it at the beginning of a long weekend or something like that so it can grow out before you go back to work or uni or whatever.

The ear is no problem at all. 100% of humans have asymmetrical faces -- we usually don't notice them even in other people because we are wired that way. If you concentrate on asymmetry though you can always see it -- try this by looking at people on TV -- even those especially beautiful people are asymmetrical. Look how asymmetrical my face is -- the right side is much "longer" than the left in the avatar pic.

[Sir Harry]

Welcome! Yes you can pull it off! Good luck!

[Mr.Perfect]

Congratulation for the move my friend! You suit it perfectly I think! You look really good!
I started loosing hair and thinning as early as 18 years old, and only shaved last month! Congratulation!

[balddaniel]

I also think you look great.  You are a very handsome guy.  So SLY you will love it.

[leighmundo40]

I think that the look really suits you, you have sweet face! Kind of reminds me of a young Eminem!

[slymyke]

It looks great!  You can wear it like that or shave it... or go back and forth between the two as you feel like it.  Either would be good on you.