Shaved to 1/4" - LOVE IT

[GettingThere13]

Hey, y'all!

So, I've posted on here a few times, and let me first say that I'm really thankful for this online forum - it feels like a support group for balding men. At first I was terribly upset, even depressed about it. Now, I'm much more confident.

Anyway, last year I finally buzzed my thinning hair down to a #3 (3/8") and honestly didn't really like it, but saw it as an inevitability - something I would have to get used to. I kept buzzing it. I would go for awhile and let it grow to a #4 (1/2") but found that the longer it got, the thinning crown was more noticeable, so I kept going back and forth. At one point I shaved it to a #2 (1/4") but wasn't ready to look quitethat bald just yet. Then eventually I grew it out a little longer, about 3/4" on top, and shorter on the sides... kept it that way for two days, because I realized the thinning spots were pretty damn noticeable.

So, I went back down to a #3... and this time I loved it. I realized I looked way better than with the slightly longer look. The fuzzy head was great. But then I saw some recent pictures and realized the thinning is getting pretty undeniable. I'm a musician, and I saw some shots from when I was performing on stage, and you could see the stage lights shining onto my head through the thin top, and even the "power donut" starting to take shape on the sides.

So.... I thought about it, and then a couple days ago buzzed my head down to a #2 (1/4") - and it pretty much now looks like a shaved head with some stubble growing in. Pair this with a little bit of facial scruff (finally starting to fill in... slowly but surely), and I look much more masculine than before. I feel confident, tough, and rugged. I wonder why only a few months ago, this short length was bothering me so much... because now, I love it. In fact, I almost can't wait to go down to 1/8"...

Cheers to the bald brotherhood! Let us rejoice!

[Hingatao]

Very true.

[Razor X]

Congratulations.  The look suits you.  It's a big relief when you finally address the problem, isn't it? 

At some point, when you notice the thinning getting worse again, take it down to a #1 -- and remember that it only takes a week to grow out to the length you have now. 

[GettingThere13]

That's a good call. Basically, what I've been doing is just keeping after it with the clippers. The thinner it gets, the shorter I go. This way, when I finally take a razor to it, it won't be a very drastic change. By that point, I doubt anyone will even notice.

[stasiu]

congrats Tyler !

I checked out your website - you have a great voice and as you know, your hair or thinning hair is in the "lime light" on stage and your approach is perfect !  Keep us posted and good luck with your career !

[mrzed]

I went through a similar process of buzzing shorter and shorter.  But without the thinning hair. BBC. Still went shorter until the transition to bald was simple.  No big deal.

The earring looks nice, too goes with the bald look.  I'm from Pittsburgh.

[Sir Harry]

Congratulations! Looks great.

[GettingThere13]

congrats Tyler !

I checked out your website - you have a great voice and as you know, your hair or thinning hair is in the "lime light" on stage and your approach is perfect !  Keep us posted and good luck with your career !

Hey, thank you!!! I'm glad you checked out my site. I'm working on a full-on country album now - I think my voice works well in that genre, and of course, as I'm originally from the middle-of-nowhere, thematic material in country music rings very true to me. Not to mention, they've got some GREAT musicians in Nashville.

But yeah, I'm letting it happen and not fighting it any more. So many folks in the music industry or entertainment industry in general hide the course of nature when their hair starts to go, but I'm taking the route of Bruce Willis and just owning it. And when it comes to country music, Kenny Chesney is shamelessly bald, and it has never prevented him from massive success, and in his own words no woman has ever not wanted to have sex with him because he was bald. Haha! Bald is beautiful.

I went through a similar process of buzzing shorter and shorter.  But without the thinning hair. BBC. Still went shorter until the transition to bald was simple.  No big deal.

The earring looks nice, too goes with the bald look.  I'm from Pittsburgh.

Where are you from in Pittsburgh? I'm originally from about 30 minutes south of Erie, PA (I live in Los Angeles now) and basically all of my relatives are from the Pittsburgh area. It's a beautiful city! It's growing rapidly, too. I'm glad to know that it progressed and grew after the collapse of the rust belt cities. Pittsburgh is doing well, Cleveland is starting to catch up, but Buffalo and Detroit... well, they have some work to do. Haha!

[mrzed]

I'll respond about Pittsburgh privately.

I spend the evening playing with Band In A Box.  I play piano or keyboards while the computer plays all the rest.  when I want to learn a part, I can turn off all the other instruments, read the computer generated notes/rhythms, and play with the computer. Then mute that keyboard part from the computer and play my own version with the rest of the accompaniment. 

Lots of fun.

[warhawk]

Congrats and welcome to the sly fraternity.  Glad that you are with us.

WARHAWK

[g_bald]

I did exactly what you did for many, many years (except I went straight to a #2). As my hair thinned more and more I ended up with a #1. I even once went to a #00000 one hot summer's day and people raved about it.

I cut my own hair all the time and I would find little area's I missed which irritated me. So, over 8 months ago I went to a barber in town and asked for a buzzcut. He used a #000 and I got out of the chair and when I arrived home I realized how close I was to being bald and out came the razor...

Take it at the pace you need to and enjoy the ride. I sort of miss buzzing my hair down, but shaving makes less of a mess than buzzing does. Still it's great to watch great clumps of hair drop off your head and land on the floor. Good luck with your album and your career and hopefully you'll keep us up-to-date on how you're doing and how the music is going! You look great in that look.