It comes down to this - I have always had dorky hair that I can’t do anything with. Now it’s rapidly disappearing, the general expectation is to cut it very short, but when I do, because it’s wiry, it spikes, which I utterly hate, and makes me look even dorkier. Plus I’d need to keep it trimmed so often, it’s too much like hard work.
So I keep it trimmed at regular haircut length, where I continue to look as dorky, but I am happy and comfortable with it. I have nobody to impress or please, with unavoidable dorkiness, so I figure I may as well do it my way and be happy.
Mrs. ITW and I had a pretty open discussion a few years back. I am 36 and my hair is thinning in a few patches, mostly due to scalp psoariasis and treatments.
We discussed it openly, and she said as many of you have said, that it will look better on me to just clip it very short and rock it out. We call it the “Picard” cut. Of course, it helps that he has a fantastic bald head and is a good looking dude, even at 60 something or 70, but anyway.
I am not to that point yet, but I am okay with it and I know that she is as well. Seems like most things in a marriage, open communication solves so many problems.
We discussed treatment options and it’s just silly. Pricey, bad side effects and results are not very impressive in many and disappear without the expensive drugs. Bah.
Didn’t even consider hair replacement / restoration, though we discussed it.
Anyway, just my $.02. I agree that any option is better than the dreaded comb over.
Shaved my dome recently. Always had long hair pulled back in a pony tail. It was an extreme difference. My hair was thinning, but I still had plenty. I was doing it to support my gf who is dealing with breast cancer. Turns out she doesn’t need chemo and will not be bald with me. Personally, I’m enjoying it and am shaving once or twice a day.
I just wanted to make one point about guys shaving their heads. When a guy does it because he is balding, it is OBVIOUS that he is losing his hair. Even when it is freshly shaved, there is that dark line where the hair still grows and then clean bald skin everywhere else (a dark line perfectly outlining the area of baldness). Conversely, when a guy shaves his head just because he LIKES it (as I do) it looks completely different.
I would have selected “Other” had it been an option.
I think it depends on the guy. Some guys can rock the “Lex Luthor” look, some can’t. Some guys look good in the fringe/beard combo, some don’t. Toupées are an option, but only if they’re high-quality. (I don’t like cheap wigs on men or women.) I don’t know enough about implants/transplants or Rogaine to be able to say if they’re worth the investment. I think a guy should experiment with different looks, if he’s at all concerned about his baldness.
The one thing I don’t recommend is a comb-over. Please, guys, just don’t. Chrome domes always look better than comb-overs.
Oh, and another thing, if you’re experiencing early-onset of male pattern baldness, don’t panic. Most women aren’t going to refuse to have anything to do with you because of it. And the ones who shun you aren’t worth your time.
There are ways to cover that. There are specialty companies like Bald Guyz that make products for bald men. Their various “moisturizers” contain various added extras. One has a matte finish, one a shiny finish. They both hide your “hair” a bit.
Head specific sunblocks seem designed for this as well.
Aside: I was shaving my head with a shaving cream designed specifically for the head. As I was casually reading the directions (as I was shaving) I saw:** KEEP OUT OF EYES! **
This on a product designed to go on your bald head , mixed with water. I chuckled, then wound up squinting.
