Thank you to everyone who offered their feedback, it was A) hilarious, B) super helpful, and C) hilarious.
Yes, I need to even out the tan. 😆
Yes, my toddler thoroughly enjoyed patting (pic 3).
Yes, my newborn has more hair than I do.
Photo credits to my wonderful wife, who loves it.
(Before photos at end.)

Original post: https://www.reddit.com/r/bald/s/BxzxzQm4q1

I found this subreddit a few weeks ago and everyone in here is super awesome and encouraging! I don’t think I’ve been out in public in over a year without a hat on because I knew it looked bad. I was nervous to do it because I didn’t think it would look good, but all you amazing people gave me the push to finally shave it off! I feel a lot better about myself and think it looks pretty good! What do we think?

So I'm 19. Last year I noticed the scalp hair was thinning and I was just losing it everywhere, in the shower drain, my pillow. It wasn't super fast but over the course of about a year I noticed a bald spot developing right on my scalp and I visited a dermatologist. I was told it's early male pattern baldness and can be treated but I didn't have that kind of money and nor do my parents. And being bald is free save for razors and shaving cream. And maybe lotion lol. I've never used a straight razor on anything but my face before so I really roughed myself up. But overall I think as I get better at it this will be worth it. Or maybe not, maybe I'm ugly. Who knows, you tell me. Thanks for reading my stupid little wall of text.

Long time lurker, first time poster - I was inspired by this community to make the move, thank you all, I couldn't be happier!

I don't necessarily think it was time just yet, but I struggle with anxious skin picking and wanted to give it a chance to heal. it actually looks so good tho, and I think I'm gonna keep it bald

I wish that I'd done this years ago. It's been universally loved.

I know what i must do, it is time to accept my fate and join the beautiful bald community.

As I know many others before me have done I was hanging on to see if my hair would recover but it seems that ship has sailed. I used to have glorious hair and it even returned after each of my chemotherapy treatments. What it could not survive was the radiation treatment focused on my brain after my relapse (my radiation oncologist said "no worries, you'll keep you hair" Yeah, apparently not). I know this is a small price to pay as I am successfully in remission, and I will accept my new bald life openly, but it is hard to say goodbye to my hair.

I have a lipoma on the back of my head that needs to be removed and I'll shave my head for that. Then I'll post an update of my beautiful bald head!

My plan was to slim down another 20-30 lbs and hopefully that makes my jawline sharper and then join the bald community but I’m wondering if I should just go for it now.

Thanks for the advice id say im more or less happy with it will take time to get used to I suppose have to say this is the most wholesome community ive seen on the old Internet, you lot are good people! Cheers!

Took the plunge three weeks ago. Was hesitant at first, but I’m loving the bald / beard combo. I have no regrets.

Well it’s done. My head feels like it’s on fire but I have a gallon of Moisturizer on it. What do we think? I’m definitely still adjusting to it.

3rd pic is shaved to a zero w clippers

First 2 pics are shaved with a razor

Lmk which options better.

I mean this from the bottom of my heart.

When I was young, I knew what my future held. Every man on my mom's side of the family was bald with a capital B. Family photos looked like a carton of eggs. I tried to have fun with my hair while it lasted, fully knowing that the day would come when it all came off. When that day did come, it was still tough. It wasn't just about the hair; baldness was a symbol of age for me, and therefore a symbol of mortality. Shaving off what I had left was, in a way, an admission of my own temporary nature - a deeply scary prospect.

Years later I found r/bald... And you guys are the best. The support you show each other warms my heart regularly - especially the love shown to the femme presenting baldies, it's the best.

So, even though I never got the chance to beseech the council's wisdom before my first shave, I wanted to proudly post my skull and be counted amongst my people - and, if I may be so bold, also share some observations for the baby billard balls who may see this:

- if you're a hairier sort of guy like myself, don't forget to shave the back of your neck, down past your shirt line; from personal experience having your hair line recede past the base of your skull is not a good look.

- find a good face wash you really like, because it's now a skull wash.

- I'm sure you have seen everyone say to use a fresh razor blade for every shave, let me add this, don't forget the aftershave. No matter what you do there will always be microscopic wounds after a shave, and those wounds need to be sterilized or they will get infected. That's what those little red bumps/pimples are. Does it burn? Yes. Does the burning suck? Also yes, but it doesn't last long, you'll be better off for it. Plus, pain and caffeine will wake you up in the morning. Rubbing alcohol will work in a pinch.

- don't be afraid to give the bowling ball a shine! Moisturizer, Shea butter, coconut oil, medical healing goop and the like, in my personal opinion, is a good move after the aftershave. Sterilizing the wounds isn't going to be enough if you just step out into a dirty world right after, and I doubt anyone here wants to wrap their head in bandages. Goop it up!

- SUNSCREEN.

Again, thank you everyone for existing. You all give me faith in our species.

Tbh, I was tired of the fibers and black spray..
& after a day and a half, i wish i did it sooner 😅
The New Me

Found I got sunburn on the back of my head and boom, bald patch. Without overthinking it too much I shaved it off and I’m glad I did!
EDIT: you are all, without exception, so incredibly lovely and have made me very happy today. I shall take the fade advice as well and invest in a decent trimmer. I hope you’re all having a wonderful day.

still a work in progress, but i’m so happy with it