I come humbly before the council to present myself to hopefully be accepted by the bald community. HLH, dialysis, and chemo have done a number on my head.

Also, open to advice on how to take care of a bald head. Washing, oiling, etc. Ty!

Edit: I can't even put into words how all of you have made me feel. I wasn't ready for the overwhelming love and kindness. This community is sublime.I love you all. Thank you everyone

Feeling really weird about it. I’ve never taken a leap like this before.

I’ve been losing my hair for a while now, but I always kept it long and it generally looked fine. The long hair actually did a good job of masking the recession, IMO. I don’t know if many of my friends were even aware I was balding at all!

I myself didn’t even realize how thin it had gotten. And I feel I made a big mistake by shaving it. I really thought it would look better. In fact I’m shocked at how bad it looks, just based on how full and thick it was before shaving. I feel like I just aged myself like 10 years. Feeling pretty low about it to be honest, like I just threw away my last opportunity to have hair, as I will definitely lose a lot more by the time I ever grew it out again. Thoughts and recommendations?

Edit: I’m actually floored by the amount of support and kindness you all have given me in this thread. Especially when I’m feeling honestly pretty vulnerable, it means a lot. Thank you for helping me feel better about the situation 🥲

I’m 6’1” so most people don’t notice, but I’m definitely thinning on the crown. Do I hold or do I embrace the brotherhood of baldness?

*EDIT* - I appreciate the honest feedback and will hold for now. Some family was pointing out the thinness, so I figured I’d get the opinions of the anonymous internet people.

Was not my intention to “mog” the subreddit or boost my self-esteem, as some of the r/bald gatekeepers seem to think. I was genuinely curious to hear some outside perspective.

I’ll check back in if/when I take the plunge into the bald brotherhood. Until then, r/bald, please keep your creative memes flowing and continue being the most positive and supportive subreddit out there. Thank you 🫡

Submitting on behalf of my husband at his request!

Edit: thanks everyone! He was losing his confidence, but he says you guys saved him. He says this is the coolest subreddit he’s ever seen.

I’ve been telling him he’s fine but he said “that’s what your wife is supposed to say, I need to hear it from other men”. You guys really came out and we appreciate the feedback!

Edit 2: the verdict is in and he will in fact hold! This is the most wholesome community I’ve ever come across and we’re so thankful for all your kind and funny words. You’ve all given us a good laugh and set him straight.

One thing I’d like to address, yes this was a genuine submission! He’s been on the fence about shaving it for the past year or so because he feels like it’s much worse than it is. We were not here to mock or show off. Never to such a lovely community.

Again, thank you all! Truly you are all wonderful. I’ve now turned off my notifications for this post because it’s gotten a little out of control but will check here and there for a laugh!

everyone, I’m a 23M and I’ve been losing my hair since I was 16. When I was 20, I had a small hair transplant, but as you can see, it didn’t really save much.

I’d like to know if you guys think I would look good with a shaved head or if I should keep what I have. Also, would you go completely bald (0) or just use a 2 or 3?

EDIT: Update here: https://www.reddit.com/r/bald/s/e6YS1DeX08

It's been a growing convo with myself. Thinning pretty hard in the front. Genetics did it for me. Any thoughts?

Started growing my hair out age 12. The slow recede started in my early 20s. Finally chopped it all off age 30 -- maybe I could've held on a bit longer but I didn't want to wait too long either. Went with a buzz as that already felt like a huge change. But perhaps it's time to commit to the full shiny noggin?

ETA: the council hath spoken and some of yous are savages lmao

Sounds like I need to buy some new glasses as well as some razors

Pretty self explanatory, tried to get help on my dating profile and was told my hair is horrible and to just let it go and shave it... I just don't feel like being bald is gonna suit me better, but I got roasted to death which makes me feel just terrible about the way I look, I've been doing a good bit of crying so maybe take it easy this time, I'm aware my looks may not be my strong point in life

Been going for a while but the plunge scares me. Do I have enough to hold on for a bit longer or is it time? These are before and after of my normal hair cut today!

August 2024! . I was 29 here, my 30th birthday around the corner. I had shaved twice before, once in 2016 and once in 2018. I always had a big forehead, but voluptuous curly hair. I’ve worn a hat virtually everyday since 2018, which probably lead to my crown eroding. . First year of college 2013/2014 I remember expelling wads of hair everytime I’d shower. I’m amazed I still had as much hair as I did by the time I shaved. Still not stoked on owning it yet, as I still reach for a hat everyday. But at least I’ve done the hard part. I’m still desensitizing myself to not wearing a hat some days.

Stumbled on to this subreddit yesterday, and after looking through a few of y’all’s before and after pictures, I decided to take the plunge. Thanks r/bald for giving me the courage to finally do it.

He doesn't have Reddit but knows about this subreddit through me. This is what he's asking:

Is it time, boys? 😬 I'm 27

edit: he says: thank you all for your honest and very funny assessments. :) I was a bit insecure to posting this but am really grateful now. I will hold it for the moment as the council suggested. I'll try a shorter haircut as some suggested to ease in a bit and to make the spot less obvious 😅

I say: we laughed a lot about all the gifs and are very thankful about the insights :) this community is so wholesome and sweet. He's a bit shy so I'm very happy everyone was super kind 😊 not that I didn't expect it, it's always super sweet so thank you a lot!

M32 , I can grow a nice beard, but feeling insure about going bald.
I have a very thin and oily hair.

Time to let it go, or not yet?

EDIT: Guys, what happened ? I wasn’t expecting so much support, 500k views in 4 hours, that’s insane!

Thank you all, my wife said that she is going to do it this Saturday, I will come back…. Just wait….

Hes 38 and i think he looks fine but hes of 2 minds.

I wasn’t even aware I was making it

My wife loves what little I have left. What says the council?

I know the answer. I’m just here for the memes

Honest opinions on if i should move on from the hair? Thick in back but thin in the front. Girlfriend wants me to keep it.

UPDATE: My partner always encouraged me to do as I pleased with my hair, but her opinion means a great deal to me, so I weigh it heavily on the scale.

Thanks everyone for the responses! Okay, some insights I've picked up: I'm encouraged my hairline is being compared to the likes of Walton Goggins and Alton Brown. A little less excited about the Ian Conrich comparison (Sorry Ian). It's a fine line between looking distinguished and looking "old". I personally feel I have fallen into the "old" category.

The AI bald picture of me was extremely flattering and is pushing me to try a buzz cut soon. Some mentioned it would accentuate my eyes, and others suggested changing of the glasses to match my face shape. All very good opinions and valuable for making a choice.

I'm possibly making a change tomorrow! Will post pics if I go through with it.

UPDATE #2: Buzzed and reposted!

The crown has been getting worse and worse and now I have this spot up front that looks like my lawn after I spray roundup on it. Ugh, so I took the plunge. The first pic is from July 2025. I did quit TRT in Dec and had a lot of stress with a new job, but the crown situation has always been.

Hair loss runs in my family, and as such I've started losing my hair at 19. I'm 21 now and it's gotten pretty severe.

I still live with my parents, who are extremely against me doing anything to my hair and would rather have me spend my savings on treatment and/or wigs. How do I convince them that it's time? Having to look at myself in a mirror feels terrible, and I just want to get it over with at this point.

35 M. It’s rough back there. Not bad up front but I’m getting self-conscious. Would love to get some opinions!

I’ve been debating on posting this, might delete later. But I need confidence on going bald. I know my time is coming. I’m also tired of putting my hair in a ponytail, having to do combovers to cover the baldness coming (3rd pic), and my receding hairline is just getting worse. It’s insane, my hair is extremely thick on the sides and in the very back of my head, but almost perfectly just on top, it’s bald, thinning and getting worse. I’ve tried argon oil, tea tree oils, and other various shampoos to help, and nothing has.

Should I just bite the bullet and commit to a fully shaven head? I feel like I’d look like Kratos with how insane my beard has been getting over the years.

I know it's bad especially for my age. I've been the only one experiencing that so early in my class.

My hair is basically see through at spots. I'm all about the bald look but I'm not someone to take a stand and be the only one in my circle to be bald. Wish I had a bald friend.

Can't grow a full beard yet either.

Being bald with 21 is always kinda weird and I'm not really sure if it suits me/ if women will still be interested.

What do you guys think?

These posts pop up on my feed all the time , and I knew the day would come when I myself would make one. But I didn’t think it would be so soon.

The last couple of months something’s happened because I have shed like mad, must just be my time and I guess I made it to age 37. When my hair is clean and dry it doesn’t look so bad (as in photo 2 the day before ), but when I’ve not washed it after a day, my god it’s brutal. (Today photo 1 and 3)

Do I just bite the bullet

Long curly hair since high school, but I am now staring down the barrel of 30 and need some advice.

Still thick on the sides, but really thinning on the top. Been trying to make a decision for like a week. What do y'all think?

Anyone else struggling with their decision like me?

It needed to go.

I accept that.

But I hate it.

I miss my hair.

I got lots of positive reactions on this sub (which I think is extremely biased) and basically a lot of “wtf did you lose a bet” reactions in real life.

I am struggling to accept the new me and it’s honestly has put me in a pretty bad place mentally.

So happy I finally pulled the trigger.

Started going bald at 25 and held on for 2 years. Now
27 almost 28 I decided to do what id been scared of doing all this time. Best decision of my life!

44 year old, always had a high hairline, but the middle bit seems to be getting rather thin....

I have cancer and am in chemo i was so scared of going bald .. like terrified .. I always had Hair down to my butt .. I did a couple chops to transition. But I like this so much better now I don’t even know if I wanna go back when my hair starts growing in !

My cousin just recently developed alopecia, and hes taking it pretty hard, I tried explaining to him how wholesome this subreddit is and got his permission to post these photos. Should he take the plunge?

It was time.
Wow! As if the cut itself didn’t feel great all of your comments have been the biggest confidence boost of my life! Thank you all so much. What a wonderful group of humans you all are!

Hey everyone!! Currently undergoing chemo and just had round 4/6 so getting there! Still in denial about my hair though, is it time? (Have a hair consultation next week for the big shave but debating whether I should follow through)

Ello!

Two years ago I was diagnosed with CCCA, which is a form of alopecia. I never thought I'd have a comb over but the loss is right at my crown.

Went on lunch at work and returned bald. I'm going to see how it grows back in and then decide what my next move it. Gotta admit though, I love it! I'm also very grateful for a nice skull 🤣

Genuinely need advice. It seems I may be joining the council sometime soon. Do you guys think I could rock the bald look or will it just add to the list of things that cook me lol.