Hi! Long time lurker, first time poster.... I made the decision to that my follicle issues into my own hands today.
I must say, be careful what you wish for as you just might get it.
I have had Alopecia for about two years now. I do not grow hair (except the immature clear/white ones) on my face anymore, save for my "soul patch" which is about 1/8 of an inch long after almost two months of growth. I loved having a goatee, but those days are sadly gone. I have never enjoyed shaving my face and always wished that I would stop growing facial hair so I could stop shaving.... well.... I got it.... now I don't want it.
I have always had short hair by choice. My hair had not grown past two inches or so on top since 1989 when I entered the Army. After I got out, I still maintained a very short, neat haircut (0 or 1 on the sides and 1.5 to 2 inches on top).
Well... the Alopecia went north and gave me fist sized bald spots on top of my head. The one that bugged me most was right at the front, between my eyes. When the wind blew across me, the hair that I had grown out would fly up in the air and it was like a small spotlight on my head. About a quarter of the back and sides of my head were also affected.
I grew my hair out so that it would cover these annoying patches, but I was still very self conscious about them. I told my wife I wanted to shave my head about a year ago and that was met with... resistance... to put it mildly.
The other week I mentioned it again and she said that I should not go bald for one spot on the front of my head and a small one on the back. I lifted the back of may hair to show her the extent and she said, "oh, crap." I finally had her... "permission"... sort of. (read both resistance and permission with dripping sarcasm)
So, I decided to plan a grand farewell party for my hair at a local barbershop. I figured I would get it done professionally the first time, then I will take over after that.
At 5:35pm EST, I got Sly.
It feels weird, shocks me in the mirror when I look, and I think I am not somewhat shorter... but I am free of the burden of embarrassment over what happens when someone sees my condition. It is still visible because there is minor stubble on my head... but it looks good overall.
I have taken the advice of the people that commented on Alopecia here, bought the Headblade ATX system with the Slick, will get set up with the standing order delivery when I figure out how fast I go through products for shaving, and would like to order a 2XL SBG tshirt in grey when they are in stock (or even a window decal if there are any).
Thank you for this site and its members as I feel more calm and confident in my decision to be Sly about my brain pan.