Young and Balding

sirchrissypoo

I need some serious help.

I started balding at around age 16. Not sure why, but it just started happening really early, and hasn't stopped since. The majority of the hair on the top of my head is very thin now, and any kind of light source directed at the top of my head makes me look very bald up top. Thing is, I like to keep my hair a bit long (around shoulder length), and the hair around the edges of my head is still relatively thick. So imagine Riff Raff from Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Now, I've tried just keeping my hair short. It helps a little, but it still doesn't keep my head from shining in the light. I've considered just shaving it all off, but I have a rather large head and I am also quite the large man, so I fear that I may end up looking like Lex Luthor in Kingdom Come crossed with Curly Howard.

Should I just take a chance and shave my head? Or is there another option available?

VanityPants

Take a chance, shave your head. What's the worst that can happen? Hair grows back.

This started happening to me when I was pretty young, too. I'm 22 now and it hasn't gotten any better -- for a while I did want to keep it at a moderate length (I never had very long hair, but decent enough length). One day I just decided to hell with it, got a clipper cut down to a 1 or a 2 and haven't gone back since.

The only way you'll know how it'll look is to try it out, and trust me, no matter how big your head may be or anything, a shaved head will most likely look better than long, thinning hair.

I'm still loving just waking up in the morning and not having to worry about cowlicks or anything, I think it looks much better this way, and it's a lot nicer in the summer. You don't have to shave your head, just get it buzzed really short and that should be more than enough.

Edit: This is going to sound really unwarranted/odd, but if your hair has been thinning since you were very young and there's no pattern of that in your family, it may be worth talking to a doctor about it. This happened to me (along with having trouble cutting weight and being pretty tired often), and when I went to the doctor he ended up confirming that I have a thyroid condition. I'm not saying that's what it is, but losing your hair early and with no pattern in the family can be a symptom of something else.

sirchrissypoo

It's cool to hear that I'm not the only one who started balding at a young age. Thanks for the encouraging words. I've been really close to at least buzzing my hair before. I've got an electric razor and everything ready. Just gotta convince myself to do it I suppose.

Your kind words really help. I think tonight may be the night.

Feral

Just wanted to second everything VanityPants said.

1) Shave your head. Bald men are sexy.
2) Get checked by a doctor.

Nappuccino

You might want to post a picture of yourself- apparently the shape of your head pretty much dertermines how you want to handle the bald look.

You could also try rogain if you're interested in regrowing it.

cooljammer00

You could do worse than Lex Luthor.

VanityPants

Nappuccino wrote: »

You might want to post a picture of yourself- apparently the shape of your head pretty much dertermines how you want to handle the bald look.

You could also try rogain if you're interested in regrowing it.

It should be noted that Rogain is rather expensive and you have to keep using it -- if you ever stop, your hair will just return to the way it was before.

Anyway, just think of how nice it'll be! You'll be so much cooler when it's hot out. You'll have a completely new look, and if you like it, you'll have a lot more confidence. I know for me, before I just went and buzzed it, I spent a lot of time pointlessly worrying about it. Now I don't think about it aside from when I need to cut it again.

It's nice to not have that weighing you down in the back of your mind all the time, so if you do it I do hope you feel better!

Fats

sirchrissypoo wrote: »

I started balding at around age 16. Not sure why, but it just started happening really early, and hasn't stopped since.

It happens. My uncle went completely bald before his 21st birthday (like Agent 47 bald, I don't think there's a single hair on his scalp). Doesn't seem to have held him back.

Buzz or shave that shit and embrace the comfort and ease that comes with having no hair.

Saddler

Shave your head. I started going bald in my early 20s, and waited way to long to do it. When I look back at my before pictures, I looked like such a wiener. I looked and felt years younger when I finally started shaving. Just get a bit of a tan afterwards, maybe a couple of tattoos, lift weights a little, and you'll look like a badass.

Also, don't get caught up in a bunch of BS discussion about having the right head or body type, that is just anxiety telling you to be a pussy. Start with some clippers, and then finish the job with either an electric razor, or a standard shaver.

sirchrissypoo

Well, I did it. I shaved it all the way down. Started with clippers, grabbed an electric shaver with an attachment and got it down to about 3 inches, said what the hell, and shaved it down all the way.

And? I don't think I look that bad. I kinda like it. Plus, I just feel so freakin free! Thanks for the encouragement guys. I know it didn't seem like it took much, but I've been right on the edge of doing it for so long, you all provided the inspiration to just go and do it. I'll get some pics in here tonight if I can, if not then tomorrow.

VanityPants

Congrats! Glad you feel better, it's really liberating to just not have to worry about it anymore. Now just wait until a couple of months pass and you look back on the long hair you had. You'll be wondering why you kept it that way for so long.

Reverb

Same thing happened to me around the time I was 19. Shaved my head and I've been shaving it ever since, absolutely no regrets.

sirchrissypoo

Not the best quality picture, but good enough for you to see. I really like it, and I feel amazingly free now!

ricko

Get some Horn Rimmed Glasses and a suit and your awesome readings will be off the scale!

Dalboz

I guess I'm a little late, but I was going to suggest one word to you:

Combover.

Even better, get some hair gel make three thick strands going over the top of your head. Sexy!

Tucanwarrior13

I think it's somewhat normal for guys in their early 20's to start losing their hair. I've had a high hairline from birth, and started noticing my hair was thinning in certain places on my head when I was around 19 or 20. My girlfriend shaved my head (and I mean shaved it down with a shaving razor), and after a few months I'd say I'd be willing to do it again. I like having really short hair now. You'll really start liking it after a while too. Don't feel bad about your hair it doesn't mean you're a freak or anything. Lots of guys are in the same damned boat with you.

Improvolone

The big bald guy look is absolutely a look that works. Wearing glasses even gives you more options for looks because of how pronounced they are now.
I'd stick with it.

Canada_jezus

I started going bald at 17, i went to a specialist got proscribed some pills derived from a prostate cancer drug and some minoxidil for spraying on my head. I'm 23 and i've got more hair now then at 17. Then again its a financial burden to be sure.

Also shaving your head is the next best thing and what i'm planning to do in a few years.

edit: Whoops i just read the thread, well your problem is solved really. Get some more pronounced glasses like people said and maybe grow a stache, then you're cooking with gas.

Daemonion

I shaved my head not too long ago and I gotta say, that looks ace. I'd be very happy.

Casually Hardcore

If you dont want to deal with the shaving part, just get yourself a pair of clippers and buzz cut it down with no guard and at a low setting. I find it that not only it's a lot quicker, it also make people not spend 2/3 of the day telling you that you missed a strand of hair behind your ear.

Sir Carcass

Yeah dude, that totally looks fine.

Underdog

Oh man that looks perfectly fine. From the way you were talking about it in the OP, I was expecting to see some monstrous bald thing.

Namrok

Well, I'm just going to throw this out there even though things seem mostly resolved.

I started losing hair around college. But it took me a few years to notice. Then one day, after cutting my hair short, my mom points out that I might not want to keep cutting it so short since I seem to be going bald in the back. I'd never noticed. It was the back of my head after all. Then a few more people pointed it out.

So fuck.

But college was stressful. Life after college was stressfull. There was some dying. Some broken hearts. All stressful. The shiny spot kept getting bigger and shinier. Then I started really working hard and turning my life around. As I got happier and less stress, first I noticed less hair falling out in the shower, then none, then hair coming back!

Then I got into a shitty relationship which put the trend back in the negatives.

But now I'm out of that and life is awesome again. I think my hair may just be coming back again. I certainly notice nothing coming out in the shower anymore.

Saddler

Cool man! Also, you can just wake up in the morning now and be ready to walk right out the door.

Sterica

You should grow a rocking beard. I think it can compliment a chrome dome rather nicely.

I am a fan of facial hair, so I may be biased.

Pandion

Just go with it my man and face the fact that you're going bald. There are great women out there who love us baldies!

Phisti

With the chrome dome just make sure you take proper care of that scalp. You may notice more pimples etc on top of your head because:

A) you don't have hair now
the oil your skin produces won't be going anywhere (like onto hair)

So wash your melon with a decent soap or body wash at least as often as you would wash your hair.

Looks good mate!

Also note, the shaved head look is a little harder on pillows / pillow cases, and it's way the hell harder to pull on T-shirts - but I'm sure you already know that.

*Edit, not going bald myself, but one day up and decided to shave off my long curly locks. Rocking the chrome dome and full beard and I love it*

Saddler

ricko wrote: »

Get some Horn Rimmed Glasses and a suit and your awesome readings will be off the scale!

If you do try out some different glasses, you definitely want them to have a more angular shape. Round head plus round glasses is bad. The ones you have seem decently rectangular, though.

sirchrissypoo

Yeah I wish I could grow a rockin beard or mustache to go with it, but I got a really bad Abe Lincoln/George Lucas neck beard that keeps growing back.

Thanks again for all the encouraging words guys.

VanityPants

Solution: Let your beard grow out, just shave your neck line and around your cheeks to keep it clean looking!

mully

just wanted to agree with everyone else -- bald looks good on you! get some horn rimmed glasses, use the glasses as the personality on your face -- big and bold. it's a good look, intelligent yet edgy. thumbs up.

Kalkino

Also agree - you look fine/sane. That being said, you will have to be careful with facial hair, as you face shape will restrict your options. Try a mo or a full beard only, imo

Sheep

sirchrissypoo wrote: »

It's cool to hear that I'm not the only one who started balding at a young age.

Went to high school with a kid who, by the age of 15, had a terrible receding hairline of the Hunter S Thompson variety.

http://www.drunkenblog.com/drunkenblog-archives/i/s_thompson_c.jpg

Kingthlayer

You did the right thing. I've been there. I miss my long hair, but in retrospect it made me look like a tool and took too much effort to maintain.

SkronkingDonkey

Congrats on shaving it off!

Embrace it brutha!!

I remember walking into band class in high school and being called 'baldy'.

Screw Rogain, hair plugs and other ways around losing your hair. Embrace it as a part of who you are!

Once i started using the Gilette razer and gel on my head, there was no turning back! (ok i let it grow back once but it was pretty disappointing, kind of like the Seinfeld episode...)

Oh, if you stick with using a razer, I suggest finding a good quality shaving cream and moisturizer. If you have one nearby, I recommend going to a L'Occitane store . It's not cheap ($25) for the shaving cream but I go through a tube ever 5 months, with shaving my face and head ever two days.

Keeping the skin from drying out is super important, as well as making sure you keep it protected in the summer.

You may also find that middle ground is rare for girls when it comes to shaved heads. They either LOVE hair, or they LOVE a shaved head.
The ones that love it, will insist on touching/rubbing your head which is part of the reason why you want to have a good moisterizer and not one that leaves your head greasy. Greasy or dry is bad. Smooth and soft = teh good.

LewieP's Mummy

Pandion wrote: »

Just go with it my man and face the fact that you're going bald. There are great women out there who love us baldies!

Oh, yes! (Lewie's daddy started going bald at 19, he has his hair clippered very short, mmmmm)

Sir Carcass

You'll also want to get a couple of good toques or similar hats because I hear shit gets cold when you have no hair in winter.

Saddler

Sir Carcass wrote: »

You'll also want to get a couple of good toques or similar hats because I hear shit gets cold when you have no hair in winter.

This man speaks the truth. My head was sooooo cold for the first few weeks after I first shaved, until I got used to it. And it's still cold in cool weather. In very hot weather, it's as comfortable as having bare feet, though.

Explore interesting hat options, whatever you feel.

Shorn Scrotum Man

As another guy who started going bald at an early age, wears glasses, and started shaving his head, grow a goatee.

It's an excellent look.