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During lockdown I clippered my hair to a grade 3 and really liked it but the long haired general decreed that I had to have proper haircuts again as soon as the barbers re-opened. I assume that were I to starting thinning on top she'd allow it then.
For just about every male in my family it's started in late teens or early 20's.
All sorts of methods to hide it, comb overs, comb forwards, slicked back, doughnut of power (my dad was balding from the crown at 25 AND had a big bushy perm at the time), clippers all over, a few toupees over the years as well... Dad still goes to the barbers to have what's left tidied up. The actual cut is probably the shortest part of the entire operation, including blipping his card at the till.
Brother started going at 19/20, still in denial in his mid 40s (though it hasn't actually got much worse in the last 20 years). Family photos have always been interesting to see, find out how to disguise MPB.
Me and my great uncle though. He went grey in his 30's, white in his 70's and died with a full head of white hair (but stained yellow by smoking) in his mid 90s. Still styled with pomade into an immaculate DT and quiff that he'd started doing after the war. I've not even gone grey yet at nearly 50, hairline has moved up about half an inch since my teens (a scar that was in my hair, is now on my hairline). Everything else is where it should be.
I spent the best part of quarter of a century shaving it all off though. Sunburnt scalp, the whole lot.
Started letting it grow again at 45.
I waited a bit too long to be honest but when I took the plunge I was more than happy I did. Only watch out, if you decide to go down the DIY route when shaving, is to make sure you run your trim past someone you trust (not your teenage son) as it is easy to miss a nice long streak or a bit behind the ear.
Google image search Prince William and scroll back in time. Pick the year that best matches your current vibe. You can then see your future and decide.
As above the Prince William scale...
I have hair but still clipper it off on a zero..
Only watch out, if you decide to go down the DIY route when shaving, is to make sure you run your trim past someone you trust (not your teenage son) as it is easy to miss a nice long streak or a bit behind the ear.
Yeah, i got stopped at the door to a night club in my late 20's by the bouncer.
Took me to one side.
Got out a knife.
And shaved the little patch on the back of my head that i'd missed.
Only downsides are sunburn and sometimes it can be a bit chilly
Hail is deeply unpleasant with a shaved head.
I think I noticed I was growing too tall for my hair on a security monitor in a petrol station.
Just gradually went shorter with the clippers, now it's clippers with no guard once a week.
Only watch out, if you decide to go down the DIY route when shaving, is to make sure you run your trim past someone you trust (not your teenage son)
My teenage daughter does a surprisingly good job of tidying up the bits I miss.
Never fully trust her though.
My teenage daughter does a surprisingly good job of tidying up the bits I miss.
Teenage daughter = fine: teenage son = not fine, and thinks it is hilarious if i go out with a stripe
Yeah, i got stopped at the door to a night club in my late 20’s by the bouncer.
Took me to one side.
Got out a knife.
And shaved the little patch on the back of my head that i’d missed.
That's fantastic! 😀
My hairdresser was the one to suggest it. Did herself out of a job there as I've never been back and do it myself!
Her comment was something like "Have you thought about shaving your head? It's taking less and less time to cut your hair now, you're not getting your money's worth"
My brother-in-law's combover was a thing of beauty. He was clinging on to the concept of hair for far too long
Do it
that is all
My hair is definitely thin at the back. Missus is not convinced it's time to clip it off just yet. 42 by the way.
Won't be long until it's full on chimps arse though, then the clippers will be in action.
43 and been receding from the front/temples for years already. Very gradual but when I see myself in photos taken in the past few years, very noticable. Always been a #2 back n sides and short scissor cut across the top anyway due to crappy, dry, lank hair anyway - luxurious locks it ain't.
My big worry about a buzz cut or shaving all over is I think I have a lumpy skull! Hair at least hides a bit of that. Is that a concern of those that shave?
how to you drop a hint or two to a mate that its time he stops holding on for dear life....
Still got a full thick head of hair at 50 but I choose to shave it off or at the very least a grade 0, have done since my early 20's as hair is just a ****ing nuisance to deal with
I'm surprised my wife hasn't mentioned I should do.
She and my son have both said I'm losing hair at the back (not that it's particularly bad or thin yet) and we can all see I'm losing it at the front so I'd have thought she'd have insisted I shave it off but she hasn't yet so I'm holding on a bit longer. I'm now wondering if there is a point at which it becomes inevitable.
Is that a concern of those that shave?
I think head shape is a factor in how well you can carry it off. Some people just look a bit too 'uncle Fester' for example. I think mine is OK 😎But Mrs BUTR might have a more objective take on that! Being cursed with male pattern baldness is bad enough, without having to look like Shrek in to the bargain!
You'll never know till you give it a go. Do you feel lucky punk? 😉
When did others decide it was time to give it the 1-all-over treatment?
About a month into lockdown. I’d been putting off the inevitable for years, I started using a new barber not far from where I live, and it was about £10 once a month. After lockdown, as I wore a hat all day ‘cos I worked outdoors ten hours a day, it was sweaty and lank by the time I got home, so standing in the bathroom with my beard clippers, I just thought, oh, what the hell and went for it. My partner just looked and said, well, that’s better! As did all my friends.
I managed to find one of those Remington clipper things, and I use the 2.5mm combe once a week.
Having a wee bit of stubble acts like Velcro and helps stop my hats from sliding off!
I decided to do it in my mid 30’s. A few people commented that I looked like a thug for a week or so, but soon got used to it.
The biggest bonus for me is not having to go the hairdresser/barber and having to make small talk. 😆
About 2005.
nah, just chop it off. More to worry about in life. Started in my 30's and I just started cutting my hair shorter. Then ten years ago I just shaved it all off and now twice a week, guard off. Most of my friends are either the same or in denial.
About 4 weeks ago, age 42.
In truth, it's not too bad and I could have held on longer, but it's now a 2 all over and looks pretty good. Also saves money on hair products and trips to the barbers.
I was about 14, after looking at my dad and both grandads and noticing mine was starting to look a bit thin in places I decided it was coming off, grade 0 all over. I'll never forget the look on my mother's face when I walked through the door afterwards. 44 now and can do it in under 10 mins with a Gillette fusion razor
#0 all over the top since being 32.
It is what it is and embrace it.
My Dad lost his hair in his 20s and I remember him sporting a full Bobby Charlton-style combover into his 40s. I think we all breathed a sigh of relief when he cut it off (though never shaved his head fully). Thankfully I've still got a decent covering but I have the worry of not even being able to grow a full beard to compensate if I do go full slaphead.
I think head shape is a factor in how well you can carry it off. Some people just look a bit too ‘uncle Fester’ for example. I think mine is OK 😎
TBH I'm surprised there's no head paint so you can do a 1 and er paint the patchy bits.
When it's time just go for it don't bother messing around going 4,3,2,1 just go no blade you look odd in the mirror for a couple of days, but no one else really GAS.
Embrace the look, get a hat for the sun and a choice of beanies bobble hats for when it's cold.
Started when I was 18 (along with so many other things). Haircuts since have cost a grand total of £250 (three pairs of clippers). Not bad for 27 years.
Bare clippers once a week, job done.
My big worry about a buzz cut or shaving all over is I think I have a lumpy skull! Hair at least hides a bit of that. Is that a concern of those that shave?
think I’m lucky in this regard as I have a pretty smooth and uniform head. A good hat head as Mrs F says! I can imagine having an odd shaped head might make the decision more difficult. That said I think anything looks better than denial
TBH I’m surprised there’s no head paint so you can do a 1 and er paint the patchy bits.
I got talking to a fella at a wedding in the summer who’d had stubble tattooed onto his head. So that the bald bit matched the shaved bit. In fairness, it looked really good, just an appearance of consistent cut.
Full head of hair here but I give it a number two (!) most days as I like the springy feel of freshly clippered hair. However, I think a closely cropped balding head looks much better than combovers etc which never really work. If in doubt, think Trump.
Around 1980 , went from ponytail to short back and sides. Clippers with no guard is the nor now .
Mine started thinning in my early twenties, finally shaved it all off mid thirties I think. To be honest it's so long ago I can't remember. Once I'd done it I felt great and it had the added bonus of women in the pub telling me it looked sexy and wanting to stroke my head (men with shaved heads were a bit of a novelty around here at that time). OH found a photo of me from the pre shaved days before she knew me and asked what the hell was I thinking? I thought I had destroyed all those photos but as I looked at the picture of a guy who looked a bit like me but bald on top with a stupid pony tail, I couldn't think of a good answer!
My dad still has a full head of hair, all be it grey. I'm going that way at 53, but my younger brother, early 40's is more mums side so losing it. Mum's dad was bald.
I've always said it will be short if it goes. The Mrs won't let me go too short - it's 18mm top, 12mm sides (don't know the cut size now as I whizz it over myself these days).
You're not really bald, you just have one hell of a parting.
I never mean to be contrary, it just seems to come naturally to me.
I had a skinhead from about the age of 17 onwards. Completely bald.
About 10 years ago I noticed I was getting a significantly hairless crown. I now have a short back and sides with a growing bald spot.
Had long hair in my mid/late 20's and it started thinning and I wanted a new look, so went short but styled. A couple of years later in my early 30's it was obvious it was going, so went for a #4 when round at sister in law's one night. Fortunately everyone said it really suited me. As it got thinner, the blade got shorter - 3, 2, 1, 0.
Grew the face stubble in equal measures as the hair went. In my early 50's now and went for the completely shaved skull a few years ago with a skullshaver. Mrs STR was apprehensive, but again it worked (thankfully). Now, I can't go more than a few days without going over it.
Unfortunately, if it grows a few mm, it just sticks straight out in a fuzz and I look ridiculous - shiny on top and fuzzy sides. Some blokes can pull off hair round the sides - Jason Statham, Bruce Willis a few years back, but not me.
Glad I can grow a beard - not a massively impressive one, but enough to compensate. Feel sorry for blokes that go bald and can't grow a beard, it generally looks a bit shit 🤣
I had a skinhead from about the age of 17 onwards. Completely bald.
About 10 years ago I noticed I was getting a significantly hairless crown. I now have a short back and sides with a growing bald spot.
How did you know you had a hairless crown if you were completely bald? More to the point why the hell would you go to a three on the Nutkins scale from being totally bald? You’re like the Benjamin Button of bald. Get your shit together man 😀
I took the plunge during lockdown as well, probably well overdue by that point.
Serious note for baldies - protect yourself from the sun. My dad (aged 80) has been suffering from various skin conditions on his scalp for about 20 years, most recently sarcoma (cancer) which had to be cut out last month.
Great advice. Sunscreen regardless of weather, SPF moisturiser and hats.
If its any consolation I have gone grey in patches. I grew abeard hoping to get that silver fox look. My female pal said " mangey badger" not silver fox😮🤣
How did you know you had a hairless crown if you were completely bald?
Nothing growing through. The stubble after a couple of days is noticeable, so is a patch with no stubble.
If its any consolation I have gone grey in patches. I grew abeard hoping to get that silver fox look. My female pal said ” mangey badger” not silver fox😮🤣
Yeah, have colleagues who've tried silver fox.
All very well after a hair cut and a really thorough tidy up.
90% of the time mangey badger is much closer to the mark.
Feel sorry for blokes that go bald and can’t grow a beard, it generally looks a bit shit
Never been interested in growing one, but I do like to balance the head stubble with face stubble.