ardour said:
Short story : I've been balding since I was 15 and for the last few years living under a cap, which I'm allowed at work since it's very casual here.
So a couple of days ago I took it off thinking all would be fine, everyone I knew would embrace the new look..
I've noticed quite a few smug looks and generally less respect from people out and about. Sure my closer friends have given the vote of confidence, but there's also been a lot of turned up noses from strangers and acquaintances. I guess this is just life for us baldies; basically eating humble pie every day.
Hair gives the face and head proportion, without it you look like a giant baby. I hate it, but there's no dignified solution, other than donning a rug and getting some awful transplant surgery the results of which look pretty disastrous.
Looks matter, even well into adulthood, there's no magic number after which they don't, otherwise I wouldn't have noticed a different vibe.
You guys with hair don't know how lucky you are.
I won't lie ... having a full head of nice hair is one of the few things I consider my blessings in this life. So yes, I do know how lucky I am in that regard.
However, my very best friend from my college days is bald. He did mention the subject quite often, which led me to believe he was insecure about it. Despite that, he didn't seem to have much trouble with the ladies or making friends, in general.
Now, coming to looks in general, bald or not, it really doesn't seem to matter that much, provided you offer something else to others that they find interesting or attractive about you ... a nice smile, muscularity, personality, "confidence" (I use quotes here because most people don't seem to know what that really means), intelligence, humor, whatever. If you need proof that hot girls go out with not-the-best-looking guys, just switch on the box or head to a metropolis.
I honestly think that most people would overlook baldness if they knew you as a person. Yes, that first step of breaking the ice may be more challenging, because the interaction is superficial at that point, but even then, you could make up for the hair in other ways. Alternatively, there is a LOT of really cool head gear available ... beanies, bandanas, what have you. Try out different stuff ... style it up !
This doesn't have to be a constraint for you, my friend.
