Am I Worried Too Much About Cultural And Social Implications?

[DT23]

Hi everyone, I've been reading forums for a number of years to better prepare myself. Never posted, but felt I had to because everyone seems to miss out a few important factors... cultural and social implications of shaving one's head, which you can skip to in the last 3 paragraphs; the rest is context.

I'm male, 23 in England and am at the moment in life pretty much sorted... a nice place to live, great job, drive an MR2 roadster which I love, close friends and family and single - which I'm fine with.

My hair used to be really thick, I'd go to get it thinned down but ever since A-levels (aged 17) I started to thin. Always had a high hairline, so I'm not really bothered by that and I think it looks kinda cool.

I'm at stage 2 or 3 of the Norwood scale, but my scalp shines through wisps of hair on the top. My usual attempted style is the rockabilly with stubble sides in the summer or bed head (think Christopher Lloyd when he was in Taxi) in the winter.

I'm the butt of jokes at work at least once a day which I don't mind as such, I do find them quite funny and don't take myself too seriously, but it's a bit boring now and my hair always comes up in conversation with friends/family.

Everyday I'm tempted to buzzcut to a grade 2 and keep the same length facial hair, but I'm worried about cultural implications... I'm half Greek and Jewish, not particularly observant or strict but not wanting to turn my back either: more cultural and spiritual. I feel that by shaving my head, I'll look thuggish/EDL-ish or (excuse the term) goy/yok. Shaving your head is not something I've seen or heard of Jews doing really.

Plus, without even mentioning the acne on my forehead which would stand out more, the other main factor is that my 4 uncles (not Jewish, long story) I visit regularly shave their heads bald and quite a few people at work do too... I just really don't want the conversation or glances of "...oh you too..." with men double my age.

In conclusion, I haven't been to the Doctor's about it because I don't want to waste money on trying to prolong something that's going to happen naturally anyway. So I'm asking, would it look OK on me baring everything I've said in mind.

 

[tomcat]

dude maybe first get ready for shaved look im gonna be honet with u it seems u r little bit skinny to me shaved head not gonna work with skinny guys maybe hit the gym get tan then shave or buzz cut but its up to u buddy good luck

 

[spring15]

I think you'd look OK shaved head, considered a hair piece? Some good ones in the UK

 

[Roberto_72]

Keep the hair is my opinion.

 

[DT23]

dude maybe first get ready for shaved look im gonna be honet with u it seems u r little bit skinny to me shaved head not gonna work with skinny guys maybe hit the gym get tan then shave or buzz cut but its up to u buddy good luck

I only look skinny now because I've just come off an extreme fat loss diet - I do go to the gym 3 to 7 times a week. As for the tan, funny you should mention it... in this part of England, everyone is pale white and my actual nickname (apart from baldy) at work is actually "Tan" believe it or not.

 

[DT23]

Any more opinions? I have the clippers right next to my hand.

 

[kj6723]

Hi everyone, I've been reading forums for a number of years to better prepare myself. Never posted, but felt I had to because everyone seems to miss out a few important factors... cultural and social implications of shaving one's head, which you can skip to in the last 3 paragraphs; the rest is context.

I'm male, 23 in England and am at the moment in life pretty much sorted... a nice place to live, great job, drive an MR2 roadster which I love, close friends and family and single - which I'm fine with.

My hair used to be really thick, I'd go to get it thinned down but ever since A-levels (aged 17) I started to thin. Always had a high hairline, so I'm not really bothered by that and I think it looks kinda cool.

I'm at stage 2 or 3 of the Norwood scale, but my scalp shines through wisps of hair on the top. My usual attempted style is the rockabilly with stubble sides in the summer or bed head (think Christopher Lloyd when he was in Taxi) in the winter.

I'm the butt of jokes at work at least once a day which I don't mind as such, I do find them quite funny and don't take myself too seriously, but it's a bit boring now and my hair always comes up in conversation with friends/family.

Everyday I'm tempted to buzzcut to a grade 2 and keep the same length facial hair, but I'm worried about cultural implications... I'm half Greek and Jewish, not particularly observant or strict but not wanting to turn my back either: more cultural and spiritual. I feel that by shaving my head, I'll look thuggish/EDL-ish or (excuse the term) goy/yok. Shaving your head is not something I've seen or heard of Jews doing really.

Plus, without even mentioning the acne on my forehead which would stand out more, the other main factor is that my 4 uncles (not Jewish, long story) I visit regularly shave their heads bald and quite a few people at work do too... I just really don't want the conversation or glances of "...oh you too..." with men double my age.

In conclusion, I haven't been to the Doctor's about it because I don't want to waste money on trying to prolong something that's going to happen naturally anyway. So I'm asking, would it look OK on me baring everything I've said in mind.

Man that grown out wispy looking sh*t looks really bad to me. I don't think you can go wrong by trying something different. From your post you seem to be a rare specimen who genuinely is not that phased by his balding status and able to live with peace of mind over it. I commend you for this, most of us here are not that strong.

Maybe 0 guard it and keep some facial stubble. This is probably your best shot at the "I don't give a f*** that I'm balding" vibe and to not look terrible. But yeah, I would get rid of that long wispy look for sure

 

[TanbarkBellss]

I think bald looks better than the "hanging onto my thin hair too long" look. And i'd imagine women feel the same way. I think having confidence/strength to embrace your warts is more attractive than trying to hang on.

I would either shave it or at least get a haircut. The long whispiness doesn't work. Just my opinion

I wouldn't worry too much about societal stuff. At the end of the day how you feel about it deep down will dictate the energy you emanate out that people will respond to.
If find that you legitimately like the way you look bald then ppl will sense that on some level and you may even get compliments about it.
If you don't like it, feel ashamed, or that ppl will think less of you in some way, then ppl will sense that too and probably make fun of you. Insecure ppl have a way of nitpicking on things that other ppl are insecure about.

 

[amilosingit1986]

hey, thanks for the response in my post.

You do have at least decent facial features. Maybe before you go for the buzz cut try to shorten the length to maybe an inch? and if you don't like it then go for the buzz. glad to hear that you are in the gym. I spend alot of time there too. stay away from creatine supplements i ve heard this speeds up balding.

 

[shookwun]

either get a hair transplant or cut that sh*t off.


Looks like a see through cobweb on top


0-1 ontop, and fade the sides

 

[DT23]

Ok, so I bit the bullet and decided to take action. I was nervous but went for it. First thing I'm noticing is how hot it is!

 

[DT23]

Worth it or wait for re-growth?

 

[shookwun]

You have good donor.

Could always save up for a couple hair transplants.

Granted you're willing to rake finasteride to maintain

 

[rclark]

You have good donor.

Could always save up for a couple hair transplants.

Granted you're willing to rake finasteride to maintain

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't you still have to take medications?

It seems like you probably have to fight harder to keep it, especially if there's
stress on the follicles growing back (and the remaining DHT resistant follicles)?

 

[NamelessGhoul]

hey man, i think you look fine with the shaved head. That took balls so fair play to you. especially posting the before/after process online without obscuring your face in any way. You would obviously look better with a thick head of hair, but then again, who wouldn't. you do however still look pretty good.in my opinion. If i was in your position, after seeing the aftermath of shaving, i'd forget hair loss entirely.. male pattern baldness sucks for us because it takes alot of our time/energy/thought. I will probably shave my head completely by next year if i don't curb the loss as i'm fed up with how much energy i'm devoting fighting it

 

[amilosingit1986]

hey brah tbh it doesnt look that bad shaved. now just play with which length of "peach fuzz" you like best and let it be. as another poster mentioned if you did want hair transplants, etc, you can look into that now or stick with the new hair cut, up to you. Just get jacked in the gym now!

 

[TanbarkBellss]

Looks much better

 

[tomcat]

congrats it suits u ... now time for getting rid of acne and gym good luck

 

[DT23]

Thanks guys. I'll probably re-grow it and keep it styled if I haven't got rid of my acne by then, or if I plan on travelling out of the country to work on the tan (to match with my passport photo, can't be bothered with any hiccups on holiday).

Can't be bothered/can't afford transplants and I really don't like the idea of habitual medication in order to fight something non-life threatening and non-painful.

Been going to the gym solo for the past 4 years, but I think I should put the money from getting haircuts into getting a personal trainer. Acne's a pain, but I'm sure the docs can sort me out with something - if not, it's just the way I am.

My biggest hang up in my teens was my gynocomastia/man boobs, but after growing to accept that they're natural and not caused by fat (as stated by a specialist Doctor I went to see) or drugs, I'm pretty much getting over any other insecurities like my love handles and acne.

My heart was beating fast as I was going into work today and I was thinking why oh why did I do this, just call in sick, buy a hat in town or something (I left my hat at home to avoid temptation to retreat back into my comfort shell) but I reminded myself that fear is all manifested up in the head and is either based on nothing solid or a bad past experience. In this particular case, it relates to when I was bullied a few times for bad haircuts throughout my school years - but the difference is I'm with mature adults and am an adult myself who can look after himself and deal with the odd joke or comment.

So I got out the car... took a few deep breaths, held my egg/peanut/cue ball up high and walked right in as though it's just another Monday morning - which it is! I got a few 2nd looks and a few genuinely funny comments, but the fact that I laughed with just made everyone get used to me faster.

It soon boiled down to questions on why/how/where/when, but now everything's back to normal.

Psychologically speaking, it's one of the best things I've ever done. As for style, I wouldn't have done it if I did have a full head of hair, but luckily I'm making it work somehow. It's just a different style I know I can pull off now - I see it as equal as just going to a barber and getting a different hairstyle. It's not better, not worse, just different, but I'm still me.

I hope this has given you confidence about taking charge, owning yourself and not letting society dictate what you should look like.