Reactions to shaved head. Advice?

[yabyel]

hello everyone.

I'm 26. I've been thinning at the crown/temples for the last 3 or 4 years. I hate the way my hair looks when it is longer, so for the last month or so I've been shaving my whole head down to a number 1. Whilst in an ideal world I would not go for this look, it seems a perfectly acceptable way of disguising thinning hair, and I think, with this haircut, I just look like a guy with a shaved head, rather than a balding guy. I don't mind the look.

My problem is with my family. They keep telling me I look ridiculous, like an escaped convict/psychopath/criminal. Wherever I go I see guys with a similar haircut to mine, so why do they think this of me? I'm not a bad looking guy, I have a normal-shaped head and reasonable facial features. Is it just because they are not used to it? Has anyone else experienced similar negative reactions?

[Morbo]

I completely understand you, I also trim it down to the shortest grade because I rather look like a guy with really short hair than a guy who's heavily balding. It feels liberating.
You know what? It's about the way you feel and what makes you feel the most confident.

My sister gives me regular comments as well about about "how I looked better with long hair" (it's like I can help it) while my mother gave me some weird feedback as well, the first time I came back from getting it cut. I never received negative comments about it in my daily life or when I'm with friends or colleagues though.

At those moments some family member appear like morons. They just don't understand. Don't worry about it. Just think about the way it would look if you grew it out and the way it looks now.
Seriously ignore them, they'll get used to it.

[Shan]

I did that too when i shed, but has all grown back now.

[Exodus]

Hey

Id totally recommend reading my post 'Shaved Down'. I did the same as you, fed up with hair falling out and waking up seeing all them hairs on the pillow.

I was initially so nervous I did consider bailing, but I forced myself. I gradually cut it down to a 3 all over, 2 all over and then a 1 all over.

I cut it every week. I have no issues with family, friends or anyone. My ex-gf didn't give a hoot (we broke up over stages in our life, not hair).

I'd say go for it as it is liberating, it's fashionable, it'll make you look hard too!

[Mcgunther]

Family particularly older members are going to associate negative connotations to a shaved/buzzed head. Neo-natzi and convicts etc. shaved is on style now but doesn't mean older ppl understand that. My sis does the same thing ur is annoying, she acts like I'm weird for thinking I'm balding when I clearly am and have other ppl remind of it all the time. In the end you have to what you feel is right for you, you are the one living with it and now how it makes you feel. I shaved my head to a 0 for a month and I got mixed reactions , generally more positive but some negatives thrown in there..my family is not here though.

[Heisenberg]

Yeah, this annoyed me too.

It's being caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.

Those that know you who aren't used to the sight of you without hair and are ultimately unable to empathise with your position of a compromised appearance.

They don't seem to understand that a shaved head is more uniform looking than a balding head. Even if you can pull off a shaved head, if the alternative is something marred and compromised in appearance - why should it be any better?

My view - ignore what they say for now. Given you've got two choices that aren't ideal for you, you're the only person who should make the decision.

For me - the second I decide to grow my hair out, I get the odd subtle comment about how I 'used to shave my head', and/or 'are you going to buzz it off again soon'?

Just as good as being told that I'm balding to the point now where this is the only viable styling option.

In the past, back in my mid-twenties, when I did this - I was asked when I would grow my hair back etc. The fact is - is that people aren't around to live the subtle transition with you, they only notice when it's totally apparent.

My guess... You're probably at the point where in their minds you can pull off the hair-look. However dense it is for you. Then again - you'll be well aware that it isn't great or ideal looking for you.

Crappy situation which I fully empathise with.

[DAVE52]

.

My problem is with my family. They keep telling me I look ridiculous, like an escaped convict/psychopath/criminal. Wherever I go I see guys with a similar haircut to mine, so why do they think this of me? I'm not a bad looking guy, I have a normal-shaped head and reasonable facial features. Is it just because they are not used to it? Has anyone else experienced similar negative reactions?

Yes
Once they get used to it , then it will be a non issue

[35YrsAfter]

Yes
Once they get used to it , then it will be a non issue

A friend of mine is a Norwood 6. He shaves his head and is a lady's man. He meets women at Starbucks, at the supermarket, you name it. Women look at things very differently than men do. It took about 20 years of marriage to get that reality through my thick skull. Related to my ladies-man friend. He, as a shaved Norwood 6 could have five or six interested women texting him wanting to have dinner, see a movie etc., after a busy day of meeting women. I don't ever remember any woman being afraid of him thinking he looked odd with a shaved head. He doesn't have the perfect shaped head either.

35YrsAfter also posts as CITNews and works at Dr. Cole's office
Cole Hair Transplant
1045 Powers Place
Alpharetta, Georgia 30009
Phone 678-566-1011
I am not a doctor and the content of my posts are my opinions, not medical advice.

[Artista]

DAVE52 is CORRECT..."Once they get used to it , then it will be a non issue"

I couldn't agree more.

[brianb619]

I am in the same boat. I am losing my hair on the top of my head and now just have hair growing around my head. I am getting told by family and friends that I should just shave it all off and just go cold turkey on it. I am so hesitant and scared to let my hair go completely, im scared that it just wont grow back again.

#baldproblems lol

B