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Hey guys! I was an active member nearly 10 years ago and occasionally I stop through to see what's going on in the world of long hair and I'm happy to see the board is still up and running and everyone is doing well!
This board was a great source of insight and inspiration for me during my long-hair days. MPB has since kicked in and I'm happy with a shaved head (thank god for guys like Bruce Willis), but often I miss the days of a thick(ish) head of long hair. Oh well, at least bald looks cool these days.
Anyway, just wanted to say hey! Keep up all the good work and if you ever start losing your hair, remember what my friend said to me that made me decide to start shaving mine:
"When mine started falling out, I started shaving it, which meant I was in control"
Later!
Hey Weston,
Good to see you again and it sounds like things are going well for you. I remember your nice blond locks.
I'm happy that you're at peace with the MPB. Some guys here rock the "skullet" look pretty well I think but I understand your choice.
Take care,
Jason
Hey Weston, I'm glad you're still happy despite MPB.
Personally, the more I see of it, the more I get scared of it. I know I'm being paranoid and even ridiculous right here, but it's just worrying me, ever since I saw the cousin of my mother starting to go bald on top and even her uncle had MPB.
I just don't know how to deal with that. I'm not particularly interested in rocking a Skullet, but shaving my head would be a nightmare.
Sincerely, a scared Longhair.
Tell me about it, Michail...
Been talking exactly about this issue with Jason the other day.. I have this HUGE paranoia regarding my hairline, and am extremely worried that it's receding, though I am really not 100% sure.
I do know it's extremely superficial, but it (as well as the entire MPB issue) scared the bajesus outta' me.
Perhaps we should start a post about that some day, and all show off our hairlines and crowns, hehehe :P
Honestly, at first, it sucked. I was in denial. Then, once I started seeing pictures of myself from behind - how bad it looked where it was falling out - I quickly cut it off. Before I knew it I was looking more and more like Prince William, so I started buzzing it shorter and shorter.
It was definitely gradual, but eventually I was buzzing it with no guard. Once I realized if I started shaving it with a razor there would be NO clean-up, I just went for it and started to shave it.
I sine haven't gone back and now, other than always having to have a hat or suncreen in my car, I love it! There is almost zero maintenance. I shave it every or every other morning and it takes me about five minutes. You kinda learn the ins and outs of shaving what you can't see (and stop relying on the mirror so much - it just confuses you) and before you know it, you're completely used to it.
A lot of my friends who are scared of losing their hair either want to get plugs (my dad did it and said it's one of the worst mistakes of his life and to NEVER do it) or they try and style it so "you can't notice" (yeah right). They tell me, "Oh I couldn't rock it the way you do," but to be honest, I didn't know if it would look good until I tried. Because it was such a slow, gradual process to go to full-shave, by the time I was using a razor (Gillette Fusion, nothing less), my friends were already used to it. What's nice is that everyone you meet from then on won't know you any different, and when I show friends that I used to have long hair, it BLOWS THEIR MINDS and makes for good stories and laughs.
To sum it up, don't think of it as the worst thing ever. It is what it is, and if you're destined to lose your hair the way I did, own it and control it. Don't be one of those guys who thinks by being creative with your hair style people won't be able to tell - they will and pretty soon you'll be as bad as Donald Trump.
Just enjoy the time you have it now and roll with the punches. I'm glad I grew mine out when I did because I had a feeling I wouldn't have the hair forever. I'd had a pretty high hairline for a while and as I mentioned my dad is bald (the mother's side thing is BS as far as I can tell).
Anyway, if you guys have any questions or concerns about your hair genetics or anything, drop me a line - this board was there for me when I was growing my hair long, I'll be there for this board when genetics get the best of its members!
-Weston-
Hey Weston!
Thanks a lot for sharing your story with us. I am sure it's not neccessary an easy one to tell, but it seems you have had acceptance to the situation and are at ease with the way life has turned out, on your hair journey at least ;)
I have no bald spots whatsoever, thank god, my my father still has a full head of hair (as does my mother), but the one thing that has really freaked me out is the way my hairline is (perhaps alway was, too). It's definitely not a straight line, with the sides going a bit inward towards the hair. At he same time, the left side is a bit higher than the right, though I canno't say with 100% assurance that it has really moved since 5 years ago when I had long hair. Went with a very high asymmetric undercut, so that left side of my head has been very short for many years now.
Anyways, here's the way my forhead and hairline looks... should I be worried?
Hi Raul,
We've discussed taking close-up photos of the hairline but I also used another method. I would take a flexible tape measure and measure from the tip of my eyebrow to the point where the hairline really starts at its farthest back.
I did this in my late teens and my measurements stayed the same. Mind you, I wasn't pleased with them - 2.5 inches for the left side and 2.25 inches for the right - confirming my high hairline I was cursed with from birth. At least they stayed put.
This is a tangible method to determine if your hairline is going anywhere it shouldn't. Seriously, though, you are very blessed with your hairline. Enjoy!
Just to illustrate, I modified the picture and put my measurements on there.
Thanks Jason!
Just measured from the eyebrow to the furthest part of the hairline from the sides, and it's 3'' on the left, and 2.5'' on the right. So yeah, I guess I am a member of the same blessed club as yours, hehe...
As you say, as long as they won't budge much, I can live with it just fine. Guess I will check again in 6 months are report here.
Wow, it doesn't look like that far to me on you. It may not be a good tool to compare between people because our eyebrows are different. Also, after thinking about it more, I believe I counted the very first hair I could find as beginning the hairline rather that when it gets thick.
Your hairline by all appearances is considerably lower than mine.
That's true, Jase... people have not only different lengths of foreheads, but shape of eyebrows as well as height of hairlines.
I am considering shooting a little video today, and if I actually go through with it (absolutely HATE my voice on tape, hehe), I will make sure to show my hairline as well, so you get a better impression.
I did, however, take the limist as where the hair grows thick, as I have small hairs pretty much in different heights on my forehead.
Hey Weston;
Thanks for stopping by with an update. It is always good to hear from past members.
I have MPB but go with the attitude of; if the back and sides are full and thick, why cut off the good stuff ?? Hats do wonders with the "shiny parts" Ha!
Glad you are happy with your decision, but for me the less I have to shave the better....love living in the age of the scruffy look...
Take Care
Walter,
Heya Wes!
Even though I don't know you, it's always nice to have past members coming back to say hi!
Would be really ineteresting to see the way you looked back then with your long hair :)
I found this one in the archives.
Awesome hair indeed, on mr. Sparrow! :D
Awesome hair indeed, on mr. Sparrow! :D
Haha, good find!
Random piece of life trivia - that night was the last night I ate McDonalds (2006)
Hi Weston,
Nice of you to check in! I always am curious where our members are nowadays. I must say you are sporting the shaved head very well! Although you did look great as well in the pic Jason posted! And I would have to agree with your friend about being in control! I will keep that in mind if I ever lose my hair! Take care and great week to you my friend!
Ted