Ask A Woman: Buzzing your head when you still have hair
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Beth,
I believe you’ve written about the different strategies for balding men before, and you’ve endorsed the buzzed head look. But here’s my issue. I’m not losing my hair. At least not yet. I’ve just never been happy with it. Haircuts can be a pain. Sometimes I really like them, more often than not I can’t stand the way it looks and I spend a few weeks waiting for it to grow out.
What are your thoughts on guys who have hair, but chose to do away with it anyway? I’m not talking about taking a razor to my head, just a really really short clippers. When a guy has thinning hair it’s almost expected. But what if he still has a full head of hair? Does that just look unprofessional? I work in an office and I’m not sure how it’d go over.
– Ben
Hi Ben,
We’re back to hair again, are we? Fine, fine. Or should I say…coarse, coarse? Thick, thick? Thin, thin? Eh? Eh? No? Fine. Or should I say…bah, never mind.
I like a closely buzzed ‘do, (or even a Bic-ed ‘do), regardless of whether the guy’s follicle situation “recommends” it. Let’s take a look at some men who have a lot of hair, but have chosen, at various points, to wear it short anyway: Justin Timberlake, Jake Gyllenhaal, David Beckham, Brad Pitt, and Colin Farrell. They look good, right?
Timberlake, Gyllenhaal, Farrell, Pitt, and Beckham.
Take note of several important facts here. First, all of these guys have really nicely shaped noggins. Very round, very symmetrical; no lumps, no dents. Let your own head shape inform whether or not you choose to keep a shaved head. Second, and this is more relevant for those going really short, like Colin Farrell pictured in a shorter ‘do here, the skin on the head is not irritated. No red bumps, pimples, razor burn, etc. If you have sensitive skin and you’re likely to break out from a close shave, stay away from a shorn scalp. It’s just kind of gross for other people to look at, and you won’t be comfortable, either, with such inflamed skin.
I don’t think there’s anything inherently unprofessional about a buzzed haircut. After all, someone who is bald from natural hair loss doesn’t look unprofessional simply from lack of hair. Double plus bonus–if you shave your head and your boss gives you grief about it, you can always grow it back.
Good lock on this very important decision. Lock…you know like lock of hair? Right? Meh, tough room.
-Beth
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If the reason for shaving is he doesn’t like how his hair looks, he should go to a better barber.
Ben, from the way you’re talking about your hair it sounds like part of the problem is just the way you get it cut. I used to shave my head in the summer out of convenience, but after switching from the $13 chain hair salon to the $16 local barber, I actually enjoy getting my hair cut now. Totally worth the small price difference, both for cut and atmosphere. Rock the shaved head if you enjoy it, but don’t be afraid to try other options if you’re just unhappy with your usual haircut.
I concur with Jeff Hafner. I like that I sit in my barber’s chair and the only question I get is, “The usual?” Plus I get hot lather and straight razor neck shave for no extra cost. Heaven…
Find a good barber and treat him/her well. Yes I get my cut from a Korean lady here in Los Angeles. A good barber is a mans best friend. Nothing like getting a good cut, a clean shave.
Alot of guys wish they had hair to cut. Dont take it for granted. Appreciate your locks and give them the service they need. Its your head. Its one of the first things people see about you.
My lady barber charges $13 but I never give her less then a $20 and then at Christmas she gets a $50. If she lets me cut the line I tip her another $5.
My hair grows fast so I see her at least twice per month. Outside of your clothing your head and its hair is a deal breaker for alot of people both employers and lady wise. Dont skimp unless you prefer to be unemployed and spanking off.
The great thing about this hairstyle is that all you need for a shower is a bar of soap and a towel to dry yourself off.
I was in the same boat as poor Ben here about a year and a half ago. In the summer, I went camping and shaved my head out of convenience and ease with a #2. Haven’t gone back since. It’s no fuss and fairly easy to maintain.
One thing to note though is that you will look like a big fuzz ball if you don’t shave it regularly. That and if you do it yourself make sure you trim around your ears!
I wish I could pull it off, but instead I go for a good haircut, which it sounds like Ben can’t get regularly. Perhaps Ben needs to find someone he can get it from regularly. A good barber or stylist can get to know you if you try and you won’t regret it after a few cuts gone well.
The pictures included in this post illustrate something I hadn’t realized before: men with less in the eyebrow department (see Pitt and Beckham) look better with shaved heads than men with thicker, darker eyebrows (Farrell and Timberlake). This may also be the effect of lighter v. darker hair. When I look at the pictures, the fact that Farrell’s head is shaved jumps out at me. The shaved-head-factor is less obvious with Pitt and Beckham.
I would have to agree the darker hair and bushy eyebrows really stands out in an odd way. Almost not that impressive.
I thought I was the only one to notice. They need to trim their brows, big time.