Over the past year or so, I’ve noticed an increasing number of younger men (20s-30s) sporting this look, with their heads completely shaven, and full beards. Some of the beards are somewhat trimmed, but many are quite long and bushy.
Personally, I’m not a fan. Which is fine, as I’m pretty confident these young men are not trying to appeal to me. But I was wondering how the rest of you felt about this, whether is has been going on for some time and I simply didn’t notice it, whether this look is favored by any certain groups…
Personally, I like the look. I never got the nerve to take a razor to my head, but for quite a while I had my hair short enough that people assumed I shaved it and my beard probably 6 inches long (long enough to get caught in my t-shirt when I put it on).
ETA: I should mention that I like it, in general. Naturally, not everyone pulls it off for one reason or another.
I worked nights at a library during college. There was a guy like that in Reference. When someone asked where that department was, we would say, “See that guy who looks like his head is on bottom side up?”
I tend to suspect the are making up for some male pattern baldness. Plus, it impresses me as a somewhat high-maintenance style, which I generally disfavor.
But to each his own.
My recollection is that it used to be more common among Black actors/musicians. Like Isaac Hayes, or more recently, Common. But at a few recent weddings, I’ve noticed it on a percentage of white men - both gay and straight - that surprised me.
Hell, I couldn’t grow a beard if you paid me, so maybe I’m just jealous.
I’m married to one. He’s had a beard for so long that I’m not sure I’d recognize him without it (and we’ve been together for 40 yrs). He gave up the fight against hair loss over 15 years ago and now just shaves his dome as needed. Doesn’t bother me one way or the other.
I’m not a huge fan of totally shaved heads but I have to admit it looks better than anything else you can do with male pattern baldness. I personally have gone down an alternate route: Receding hairline and long hair, a’la Benjamin Franklin. The only difference is I do have a full and luscious beard.
The “chop it off in a harsh line” is distracting ; I want to call it “Upside Down Sideburns”. And the bald fading into beard looks more natural, but only some people come by it naturally.
I hate beards that look like you should be in a Matthew Brady photo. I hate them even more when they are longer than that, or god help us, braided.
Shaved heads, though, as long as you don’t look like a skinhead, it’s fine. With or without a beard. There’s one of the UK realtors in House Hunters International that looks like the picture in those old “use iron filings to give the man hair” toys. HUGE black beard and totally shaved head. It’s…interesting.
When I have seen it, the head has been meticulously shaved and the beard meticulously and neatly styled and groomed (e.g. not super super long, but quite thick and full of body . Looks good, but definitely not a low-maintenance style or for people who do not care about their appearance.
I’ve known quite a few guys who, as their hairline receded, started buzzing it themself. Always impressed me as a fine look. A LOT easier to run an electric w/ a #0, #1 or #2 over it every few days than to put in the effort to keep it glistening daily.
First time I heard the term “skullet” was my kids describing the creepy old dude at Hogwarts in the Harry Potter movies. Filch or something?
Men who have their heads shaved really need to have large, symmetrically rounded skulls without odd protrusions (think Mr. Clean). Otherwise they look like nutritionally deprived skinheads.*
*like an unfortunate colleague of mine who shaved his head in connection with a trip to Mecca.
Oh, I think it has to be maintained well to look at all good. I’m just not a fan of beards. Don’t get me started on guys who wear their hair long and don’t do any kind of maintenance beyond an occasional shampoo. Yuck.
That’s pretty much where I am. My guess is that these are guys who would like to grow a full, bushy head of hair, but are unable to get it to come out of the top of their head.
If it works for you, go for it. However, a guy needs the right shaped head to make the shaved look work. I’ve seen guys with lumpy or asymmetrical heads, and they just look bad. (I would look like a dork.) I’ve had a beard of various lengths for 50 years, but big bushy ones are not my style and only work for some guys. The combination of the two could be just too much. Try it if you must but seek second opinions.
In general I prefer men with a full head of hair. On the other hand, there’s something to be said for a balding/bald man full of confidence and well-groomed. I general do like nicely trimmed/styled facial hair.
There are some men who can really pull off the look. There are others who can’t, just as there are some men who just can not grow a beard.
In the end, though, it’s his head, not mine, and he can wear his hair (or not) however he wants. I do ask that it be kept clean, but that’s about it.
I’m nearly 70 and my hair is quite thin but not bald. However, my 46 year old son is bald, so he shaves the side fringe and has a neatly cropped beard. Looks good, IMHO.
. Looks good, but definitely not a low-maintenance style or for people who do not care about their appearance.