My Bald Experiment

Readers familiar with this blog may note a difference – not a big one, but a subtle one, with the picture on the right. This is the author’s picture, and whereas before it had a hat on, now it is bare-headed and completely bald. This is not by accident.

You see, I decided to keep my head completely shaved throughout the month of June, of which today is the mid-point. Why did I do it, you may ask? Basically because I wanted to. I’m not balding, although I have had a sizable round bald spot on the right rear side of my head since birth, and a smaller one on top near the front for years. I just wanted to see what being bald was like and if the look was for me. I’ve shaved my head before and grown my hair back, and also kept my hair extremely short, so this was not as drastic a move as it might otherwise have been. I’ve enjoyed having less hair when I’ve had those styles, and now I finally gathered the courage to go continuously bald for a while. That way, there’s enough time for me (as well as others) to get used to it and see if I (and they) like it on a more permanent basis.

Of course, the Texas heat made the decision easier. This June has happened to be one of the hottest on record, with temperatures over 100 degrees on more than one occasion. Having a shaved head does keep you cooler, I’ve found – but not enough to force you to go grab a blanket while everyone around you is sweating.

The bald life is certainly a different one. Having no hair on your head takes some getting used to, but it’s also a very nice, light, free feel at times. It takes some time for the comparatively pale scalp to acquire a tan to match the rest of your face, as well as for the skin of your head to get used to regular shaving with a razor. A funny side effect of shaving your head is that when there’s some stubble, it makes it dramatically more difficult than one may think to put on or take off a shirt, since the cloth tends to stick on the way over your head.

There’s obviously less upkeep, even for a guy. There’s no shampoo needed, no comb or brush, no gel or other products. But there’s still some upkeep in the form of having to shave every other day or so – but I already shave my face, so that fits in the normal routine.* Other than using a moisturizer to keep your scalp from drying out and making sure to use sunscreen if you go out in direct sunlight for extended periods (a bald head can burn easily), there isn’t much more to it. And there certainly are no “bad hair days” – it is what it is.

Reactions vary, as could be expected. Some family members don’t like it, but they get used to it. I’ve been surprised that I’ve gotten some positive reaction from some friends and family. In public, the reaction is mostly muted, though some people stare, look twice, or even smile and say hello (it’s always interesting to see what strangers’ reactions are). However, no strangers have yet come up to me requesting to rub my smooth, shiny dome.

Fifteen days in, I’ve gotten pretty used to the whole bald experience. At times I even forget that I’m bald. I’ll keep shaving for another fifteen days to fulfill the month’s experiment. Then after that – who knows? I may keep it shaved, or I may decide to grow hair to some extent.** I know one thing: I will probably not worry much about my hair or a bad haircut in the future. After all, I’ve experienced every hair length from none to “normal”, and still survived.***

In the end, no matter what final decision I make, perhaps that’s the lesson to be learned from an experiment like this. Doing something as different as shaving your head takes a bit of courage and out-of-the-box thinking. It’s risky too, since it may backfire and fail or maybe become a brilliant new look. But it’s fun either way, and stepping out and doing something unorthodox can help boost confidence. At the very least I’ll be able to say I tried it and boldly (or baldly) went where I had never gone before.

*Author’s Note: Many believe that some bald guys look better with facial hair (perhaps to offset the lack of hair in higher regions). However, I have tried growing a beard, and it was not one of my more successful endeavors.

**Author’s Note: As always, readers are welcomed and encouraged to leave any comments and opinions they may have. In this particular case, a gauge of public opinion would be a helpful tool in making my final decision. For instance, it would be most important to know that, no matter what I may think, the public believes that I look positively hideous bald – or perhaps the opposite. And I assure you that I wouldn’t be offended by any negative opinions. I welcome all viewpoints, and besides – anyone who shaves his head and goes in public with it (or blogs about it) had better be prepared for whatever he gets.

***Author’s Note: That said, I have not experienced every hairstyle known to man. For instance, I have never sported either a mohawk or a mullet.