10 Signs it’s Time to Shave Your Head and Embrace Baldness!

Last Updated on July 19, 2023 by Robert Price

Every balding man reaches a crossroads, or a point of no return. The moment can be somber, liberating, or both. I’m talking about the time when you realize that having hair is no longer worth the hassle.

Maybe that time is now for you! Embrace it as an opportunity to grow and I guarantee you’ll thrive, both personally and professionally.

Let’s get right down to business.

Here are the 10 unmistakable signs that you should cut your losses and shave your head.

1. You’ve Become the “Hat Guy”

In other words, you’ve opted to take the country singer approach to hair loss. You just throw a cap over your thinning and receding hair!

But you’re bound to face awkward moments if you wear a hat 90+% of the time. You can’t wear one to any respectable office.

You can’t wear it during intimate moments.

And when you meet someone in a public place, you’re bound to live in fear: Will they still like you when they realize you’re bald?

Maybe your ever-present lid has become a joke in your social group.

Bottom line: If your cap is like your American Express card and you can’t leave home without it, that’s a sign that you’re better off shaving your head.

2. You’re in Combover Country (Or Dangerously Close to It)

This isn’t 1975. The combover was never in style, but balding dudes still use a variety of similar techniques today to cover their hair loss.

I mean, I don’t want to be overly judgmental. If you’re just a mildly balding dude with a Norwood 2 or receding, Norwood 3 hairline, by all means, “downplay” it a little bit if you feel inclined to do so. That’s fine.

In fact, I have an article just for you, where I discuss 9 Brilliant Tricks to Downplay Your Receding Hairline.

But if it takes you more than a few minutes to “fix” your thinning hair, then it may be time to cut your losses.

3. A Little Wind or Rain Can Ruin Your Look (and Day)

Trump’s combover, blowin’ in the wind.

Rain makes balding hair look thin — even thinner than it already is. Wind will ruin your combover, mentioned above!

Maybe the only time you feel good about your hair is when it’s sunny and 75 degrees outside.

If the weather determines your styling options, then you’ll likely be better off without hair.

4. The Beach Is Not Even an Option

Because the babes in bikinis will know you’re balding after a swim. The sun acts like a spotlight, illuminating your baldness for the whole world to see.

Don’t “cancel” the beach. Shave your head, strap on your speedo and enjoy yourself. Just don’t forget to put a little sunblock on your bare dome.

Larry David, one of my personal heroes and a member of my bald hall of fame, after falling asleep at the beach.

5. You’re Checking Your Look in the Mirror Constantly

Before class or work, you need to stop in the bathroom to make sure your bald spot is still concealed properly.

Or, maybe you’re using your phone to make “adjustments” throughout the day. These are both signs that it’s time to buzz your head.

Speaking of your phone, let’s move on to sign #6 that you should let nature take its course…

6.You Regularly “Examine” Your Hair Loss Via Pictures and Video

Safe to say if you’re regularly taking pictures or videos of your hairline or balding crown or both, it’s becoming an obsession. Perhaps you should consider seeing a therapist, or just consider shaving your head — that’d be much easier and cheaper.

For those of you who are struggling with hair loss, I have something that may help you. Check out this article on how to overcome your hair loss insecurities in two weeks or less.

7. You’ve Explored the Treatments, And Nothing Sounds Appealing

Finasteride, the gold standard in hair loss prevention.

I know there’s a “Shave it, bro” movement going on at the moment. However, effective treatments for hair loss do still exist, as I discuss thoroughly in my post covering the 7 most powerful ways to ATTACK hair loss in 2020.

All of these treatments come with pros and cons. More cons than pros — the one pro with all of them, of course, is that they may help you hang onto your hair. Let’s discuss a few of the treatments, shall we?

Minoxidil

It’s effectively a liquidized heart medication you rub into your head every day. For the rest of your life. Not super appealing. And it’s not a cure and it won’t stop your hair loss completely. Eventually mother nature will win.

Nevertheless, minoxidil does help treat hair loss to some extent in about 80% of guys, though it’s less likely to work in cases of severe hair loss.

Finasteride/Propecia

The president takes Propecia. Maybe that gives you some pause, maybe it doesn’t.

Finasteride is also known to cause the side effect no one wants: impotence.

Look, the side effects pretty much always stop if you discontinue the medication. I’m not a doctor, but I think it’s safe to assume that the majority of patients who experience long-term side effects from finasteride are also dealing with other psychological issues simultaneously.

The drug alters your hormones, reducing your DHT levels by about 70%. DHT is a fundamentally developmental hormone — useful during puberty, supposedly with few if any benefits in adulthood.

But is it a great idea to alter your hormones over the course of decades? I don’t know; it doesn’t sound like a great idea at face value to me. I’m not anti-finasteride at all. I think the treatment has its place in 2020, mainly because it works so damn well. Literally, it stops hair loss in its tracks — and can even provide some regrowth — in roughly 9 out of 10 guys.

But it’s not super appealing, and that’s probably why many men are hesitant to use it.

Doctors are even less inclined to prescribe it compared to previous years. Whether or not finasteride is worth the risk is entirely your call.

Laser therapy

As I say in laser therapy review, it’s the embarrassing hair loss treatment. There’s no getting around that fact. I do believe it helps slow the progression of pattern hair loss degree.

But having to wear a ridiculous hat or helmet on your head every other day just isn’t a fabulous option either.

Hair transplants

They can be life-changing for sure, but they can also be disastrous. Since hair loss is progressive, you’ll probably need to consider using a treatment such as finasteride in order to maintain the hairs surrounding your transplant — otherwise things could get dicey (and thin) very fast.

None of those treatments sound good to you? Then going bald is probably the best option for you.

8. Your Genes Suck

Perhaps you come from a long line of slap heads. Nothing wrong with that!

But if baldness runs in your family, keeping your hair will most likely be an uphill battle for you. Once it starts annoying you or becoming an issue at all, assuming you’re not prepared to wage a long and potentially arduous war against it, then you should probably concede and, once again, literally cut your losses.

9. You’re Relying on Hair Fibers More and More

There’s nothing wrong with using hair fibers. It’s makeup for the follicly challenged, nothing more. It has its place.

But if you’re starting to look like the dude at the beginning of one of those hair-fiber ads on youtube, with the practically bald dude sitting down to demonstrate the product, then you should probably consider letting your locks go.

10. You’re Sick of Worrying About it!

Like I said in the intro, most balding guys reach a crossroads with their hair eventually. Many of them come to realize having hair is causing them more frustration than anything. If all your hair is doing is bringing you down, be done with it!

Be free and start a new, exciting adventure with a sleek, low-maintenance, action-hero look today!

Bonus Points – Signs It’s Definitely Time to Buzz Your Head!

If you meet all of most of these criteria below, then you should strongly consider shaving your head:

1. You Have a Good Head Shape

In other words, you’re not a conehead like me. I’m partially kidding.

Whether or not a head shape is pleasing or not is a matter of opinion. And honestly, most men have a good enough head shape to make the bald look work. But if you have a particularly well-proportioned dome, a la Bruce Willis or another popular bald action hero, then you have nothing to worry about as you begin your life as a bald man.

2. You’re Not Super, Super White

While there are exceptions, men with ghost-like complexions usually don’t look fantastic with shaved heads. The good news: Tanning oils and sprays are available for those who are lacking in the pigmentation department.

3. Your Ears Aren’t Monstrous or Odd Looking

You never received “Dumbo” or Elf comparisons as a kid.

I did…Moving on.

4. You’re in shape

While some fat guys can pull off the shaved style, it definitely works better for men who are physically fit.

As I’ve said many times, you don’t need to get ripped when you go bald. You just don’t want to be bald and obese simultaneously if you can help it.

5. Your Beard Game is Solid

Sure, some men rock the baby-face, bald-head look beautifully. But it’s nice to have options.

And if you can grow a decent beard or goatee, like the majority of balding dudes, then your transition into your new identity should be a smooth one.

6. You’re handsome

This is so obvious it almost goes without saying. But no doubt, men who are attractive with hair typically look fine without it

And even if you’re not super good-looking, it’s okay. Men don’t have to be pretty to succeed in life or with women!

7. Your Head is (All or Mostly) Scar and Dent-Free

The moon face is one of my five worst looks for bald men. I have some acne scarring and know the look wouldn’t suit me! All in all, unless your head looks like it needs to be pounded out at a body shop, you should look fine with your clean and shiny shaved head.

8. You’re Not a Mental Case

I’m a bit of headcase myself, so I’m not judging you if you’re a little loony. As a rule, guys who are well-adjusted and comfortable in their own skin have an easier time adapting to the bald lifestyle.

More on Looking Good Bald

You can check out my article discussing how to look good bald for more info. But if you’re short on time, here’s a quick primer that will help you look your best as a bald dude:

Signs It’s Time To Shave Your Head – Conclusion

Death, taxes, and baldness are three inevitable facts of life! Most men don’t hit the genetic lottery and go bald to some extent.

Luckily, it’s 2020 and the shaved look has never been more fashionable! If you’ve become the hat guy, you’re rocking a modified combover, or some bad weather can ruin your look, just stop! Buzz your head and move on. Feel free to chime in with your thoughts in the comment section below. I’d love to hear from you.

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Robert Price

Robert Price is a writer, consumer advocate, and hair loss researcher with thousands of hours of experience in the field. His goal is to keep you out of the hair loss rabbit hole, underworld, or whatever you want to call it. He founded Hair Loss Daily, the unbiased hair loss blog, in 2016. You can learn more about Robert in the my story section of this website.

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