I seek advice about shaving my head and being bald!

In My Humble Opinion
1

Hello all,

My hair has been thinning since I was 21. I have a bald spot on the top/back of my head, and I’m definitely thinning on top even though if you look at me head-on, it isn’t instantly obvious. I don’t have a receding hairline or anything like that, but I lose hair like crazy in the shower. My father and uncle both lost their hair too. I tried Rogaine for a few expensive years (to no avail), and I’m not interested in trying Propecia, where you pay $50 a month for the rest of your life and may experience sexual side effects, thus invalidating one of the main reasons to have nice-looking hair anyway. I don’t consider myself a shallow person, but considering I’m not even 30 yet, I don’t want to be one of those “combover guys,” and I’d rather look cool than not-so-cool.

So I am considering shaving my head, for the first time ever. Bald is popular nowadays thanks to the likes of Michael Chiklis on The Shield, Vin Diesel, Moby, Lex Luthor, Grant Morrison, and so on. I have a short, neat beard now, but if I shave my head, I’ll probably turn it into a short, neat goatee. Now I ask you, baldy Dopers:

  1. Who shaves their heads?

  2. How do you do it (razor, clippers, etc.) and how often?

  3. Hi, Opal!

  4. Do you like being bald? (Is it easy to maintain, etc.?)

  5. What do the people around you think, if they care at all?

  6. Were you apprehensive at first? Worried about the shape of your head, what you look like under all that hair, etc.? I gotta tell ya, this is what’s holding me back. I’d hate to end up looking like Zippy the Pinhead.

Just to give you an image to work with, I’m about 5’10, slightly over 200 pounds (not pure muscle), brown hair/red beard, and I wear suits to work.

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P.S. For the people who shaved their heads, did you do it because you were balding already, or because you just wanted to for other reasons?

And do you have problems with sunburning? I’d get a cool hat if I shave my head, just because I burn like crazy.

3

  1. Totally shaved, even though I have a full head of thick hair normally.

  2. Mach3 every morning. I can’t stand stubble. Baby-smooth every day.

  3. finger wave

  4. I love being bald. It is so much easier to maintain. My hair doesn’t blow in my face, I look much more intimidating, etc.

  5. Most people showed up to my public head-shaving for a laugh, and went away muttering “Damn! He looks better that way!”

  6. I was a little nervous, but the reactions I got made me relax quickly.

Wear a hat! Always! Skin cancer isn’t fun. I keep caps everywhere I might be during the day: classroom, truck, etc.

Use Nivea face cream as an all-over-your-head cream each morning for sun protection and general smoothness.

Go for it! :smiley:

4

Hey, welcome to the club. While not as selective or prestigious as other genetic organizations, we do offer a nice set of salad bowls and you only have to spend 15 minutes with the goat as opposed to the 2 hours those idiots over at Liver Spots require.

I’m 33 and have been shaving my head for about 10 years. Like you, I started losing my hair in my early 20’s. At first (I had really long curly hair) I was in complete denial but after about a month I chopped of the hair and about a month later I started shaving it. So that was more than ten years ago and, since then, the most I have let it grow out is about 5 days worth of stubble and that is only when I’m backpacking.

I also wear a full beard which I think is a pretty cool look. I’m a pretty burly guy and can look pretty intimidating at times. I often have to deal with various kinds of construction crews, backhoe operators, foremen, and supers so it helps to have some kind of physical presence (of course, if you can’t stifle your laughter while these guys bitch and moan then it doesn’t mean crap).

As far as methods go…I use a regular safety razor every morning in the shower. When I first started I used shaving cream and the mirror but I have been doing it so long now that I don’t need to look and it only takes about a minute.

My wife and kids have never seen me with hair so that isn’t an issue. Many other people have complimented me on the shape of my head which, I guess, is pretty nice. You do, however, have a point about the shape. I had a friend who shaved when he got back from boot camp and it looked terrible. Definite “Zippy” problem. But, hair grows back (and fairly quickly when measured by how many razors I use to keep it off!).

I burned my freshly shaved head exactly once. Never, never, never, get a sunburn on a fresh shaved head. It is not only the burn but the hair growing in through the burned scalp that will drive you crazy. I have a nice selection of hats for all occassions and never go outside without one.

Incidentally, I have really enjoyed the increase in popularity in bald heads. Back in the day, it was typically only associated with the neo-nazi skinhead bullsh*t and I can’t tell you how many times some a**hole gave me sieg heil salute.

5

Here’s a stupid question: when you shower, do you just use a regular bar of soap and/or a washcloth on your head? I guess shampoo is no longer a necessity, eh?

6

As someone who is losing his hair and will, likely, one day choose the shaved look over the balding look, here are some considerations I’ve had:

I don’t think a shaved head looks good on everyone. Big, burly guys can pull it off, and guys who are naturally darker can do so too. Skinny pale guys have a problem. It’s just not a good look, generally.

I have a friend who is balding and shaves his head. Since he’s a darker skinned guy, he does fine. I have another friend (skinnier pale guy) who lost his hair after chemotherapy. Not the best look.

So don’t think that because it works for some it will work for you.

7

I will pipe up here. I only shave the sides so I can maintain my 'hawk.

I started it with scissors (wielded by nocturne), then followed up with a standard beard trimmer to get it nice and short. From there a Mach 3. That I try to do daily. It is somewhat tricky getting it correct when you have a big strip about 10 inches long still in the middle, but as you are going totally bald I suspect you will find it a lot easier.

Sunscreen is an absolute must, and washing is as easy as soap. I would also suggest a moisturiser on your scalp to help maintain it. Soap can dry it out pretty badly. Or you could just use something like Dove soap. That ought to work fairly well.

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Nivea Face Wash and Nivea Face Scrub. Use all over your head.

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Washcloth and bar soap for me.

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You will look like THIS MAN.

It could be a good thing for you.

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I’m not bald but a pertinent question is, is your bald spot really bald, or does it only look bald? If the latter, try getting a trimmer and trimming your hair to a No 2.

BTW Bald is sexy, but only over 50.

12

Do it! Shave it all off.

The come visit me. We’ll have lots of fun. Bald is sexy. Very sexy indeed. Mmm hhmmm…

13

I buy cheap two-blade razors and use a new one every day. Sometimes I can get away with using an old one, but never more than two or three times. I shave my head the same way I do my face: In the shower, no soap or cream or anything, just hot water. No mirror, just using my fingers to check for stubble.

This is the result.

Also, if I could find or make some Spider Jerusalem shades, I’d totally wear 'em.

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Ahem.

http://www.transmetropolitan.com/buy.html

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I knew those came out a few years ago. But they cost 50 bucks, and you can’t even wear them like normal glasses? Lame!

(Now if I could just find the Starman promotional metal badge from DC’s “Starman Month” for a cheap price, I’d be a happy collector.)

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1. Who shaves their heads?

I do.

2. How do you do it (razor, clippers, etc.) and how often?

I use a Gillette Mach III. Damn, I love that thing. Nicks and cuts rarely happen- silky smooth, baby!
I shave in the shower, so every 1-2 days. I can’t stand peachfuzz.

3. Hi, Opal!

Opal thinks I’m sexy. That’s my story, and I’m stickin’ to it.

4. Do you like being bald? (Is it easy to maintain, etc.?)

I love it. I’ll never have hair again. Maintenance is pretty easy- I mean, I have to shave my face, anyway. Sunscreen is a must- I recommend “Scalp Spray” or a variant thereof: it’s a pumpable misting alcohol-based sunscreen, waterproof. Very useful stuff.

5. What do the people around you think, if they care at all?

I’ve never had a single complaint. Back when I first did it (1995 or so), a shaved head was a bit of a rarity- it was really nice to have strange women come up to me and ask to rub my head. :slight_smile:

I’ve also had the back of it painted or hennaed at fairs, etc., and that always gets a good reaction. A tattoo is always tempting…

6. Were you apprehensive at first? Worried about the shape of your head, what you look like under all that hair, etc.? I gotta tell ya, this is what’s holding me back. I’d hate to end up looking like Zippy the Pinhead.

I was a little worried, but hair grows back. I’ve always had a high forehead and thin hair, though, so pretty much anything would’ve been an improvement. I have to keep the beard, though- otherwise my head looks like a pink bowling ball on top of my shoulders.

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Moby is a pale skinny guy and he looks just fine with no hair.

Have fun being bald!

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Hello, my name is Madd Maxx and I too started going bald in my early 20’s. I have been keeping my head shaved for a couple of years now. I’m also built similiar to you;5’-10" 250 lbs, and wear a goatee. Ditto what everyone said about hats/suntan lotion. I use SPF 50 on my head if I think I might be without a hat for any period of time outdoors. Some people have uneven heads that look bad bald but those are few & far between so I doubt you have anything to worry about. I just use regular hair clippers and I trim my head every week with no guide. I only use a Mach 3 if I’m getting dressed up for a special occasion otherwise I go with the short fuzz. My wife & cow-orkers were sure I would look ridiclious with my head shaved, but after I did it they all thought it was an improvement over balding. I had shaved my head before in high school so i knew it would work out, but they were skeptical until I proved it.

19

I’m getting a little freaked out now, because this describes me almost exactly, except that my hair and beard are both brown with a slight hint of red. We are the same size, and we watch the same tv shows and listen to the same music. We are about the same age. You live in Florida, and I live in Ohio, should I go on?

I started a similar thread awhile back BBVL, and many of the responses said to trim it down little by little to get some idea of what it would look like. I have been in that process now for about 2 months, and I currently cut my hair with a size 2 guard all over.

I have the pale skin thing going, so that doesn’t help. I think my next cut will be my shortest to date though, as I seriously considering dropping below the “2” mark.

Let me know what you decide my Floridian Doppleganger.

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  1. Who shaves their heads? I shave my head

  2. How do you do it (razor, clippers, etc.) and how often? Razor and shaving soap (not cream/foam) every day. Shaving every day is actually easier than going a few days between. I recommend taking it down as far as you can with clippers before shaving. Expect the first razor or razor blade to be a lost cause. It will clog up with your still-longish hairs.

  3. Hi, Opal! Does Opal shave her head?

  4. Do you like being bald? (Is it easy to maintain, etc.?) It’s a pain in the ass once a day, but you get used to it. Don’t think you’re gonna stop shampooing. You still need to shampoo, and it’s a great opportunity to check for spots that you missed. Take the razor into the shower with you for touchups. Hat hair? Thing of the past. Bedhead? Maybe the pillow leaves a few dents in your scalp, but that’s it. It will feel really smooth for about 2 hours tops. After that, you’ll notice that the hairs are growing back in, and it’s a little rough. Nobody will know without touching your head.

  5. What do the people around you think, if they care at all? Opinions vary, I suppose. It’s not as uncommon as it used to be.

  6. Were you apprehensive at first? I was worried what people would think. I had already been buzzing my hair down to nothing with a set of dog clippers. You could try doing that to get used to the idea. I gotta tell ya, this is what’s holding me back. I’d hate to end up looking like Zippy the Pinhead. Get yourself a ruffled collar and a polka-dotted muu-muu and you’ll be fine. Are we having fun? Yow!

Just to give you an image to work with, I’m about 5’10, slightly over 200 pounds (not pure muscle), brown hair/red beard, and I wear suits to work. Don’t sweat the skin/suit combo. Plus in your play clothes, you may look pretty intimidating. And you may find women rubbing your head unexpectedly.

Enjoy!