Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with bald

my bald head is discolored

ebesan — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:25:04 -0800

The skin on my bald head is discolored and mottled. I DO NOT want new hair. (Male) Is there some way I can renew the skin condition and color (sheen?) to get a better, healthier look on my head? This is mostly vanity, I suppose; but it looks terrible! Any ideas?

Don't employers love the neat & tidy look?

gursky — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:38:12 -0800

Should I explain why I (a 22-year-old female) am bald at an upcoming job interview? (I am still shaving my head regularly. My aunt's hair has not yet begun to grow back, so I keep shaving mine too.)

I have a job interview on Monday morning. The position involves working with the public, and sort of promoting/representing the company I would be working for (though it isn't direct marketing or promo work). For what it's worth, this is an awesome company and I am comfortable with the staff that I have met there. Also, I had a phone interview this week and the woman said that she was impressed with my resume and my conversational skills (which would be a great skill to have for the job...)

Anyway, I love being bald and I am sure the interview will go smoothly/well, but I do worry about whether or not my bald head will affect my chances of being hired. I have had a few people stare, a few people ask if I'm ill (it probably doesn't help that I'm really pale), and plenty of children point or gape or make funny comments. None of that bothers me, but I'm nervous about the interviewer thinking, Do we really want a bald girl representing the company? I know I can do the job, and I think I could be good at it, but I don't know if they'll think my being bald will affect the company's image.

Should I bring it up when I go for the interview? If so, how? Or is that a terrible idea? I can see it being okay to bring it up if it's small talk as we introduce ourselves and get settled and such... But I can also see it being a weird thing to do.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions. I realize this is probably a plate of beans question, but I'm hoping you'll humour me and tell me what you would do (or think I should do).

How can being bald do for you?

abdulf — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:30:14 -0800

I'm bald and people assume I'm older than I really am. Other than saving money on haircuts and shorter shower times, how do I make this situation work for me? I'm 26 and bald. It started in my 20s and I'm ok with it. One issue, though, is that it makes me appear older than I am. People guess that I'm about 10 years older than my age.

This usually works well in professional situations. I appear to be mature, experienced and knowledgeable. This I am thankful for.

However, appearing to be older than you really are seems to put you at a disadvantage when meeting women. If it's not the fact I have missing hair, then the fact I appear older than I am due to the lack of hair. I've been participating willingly in a "semi-arranged marriage" process for cultural and religious reasons. I have found that being bald is a deal breaker. Even if the girl is interested, her parents won't allow it because they think I'm lying about my age or I just look too old.

I've been otherwise told that I'm attractive, interestingly enough by women in their 30s. However, I'm too young for them as well.

Anyone else been in this kind of situation? How do you work around a lack of hair when it comes to meeting women?

Identify this clip of nude bald people making out in the 80's.

Uncle — Fri, 29 May 2009 21:12:45 -0800

Help me identify a clip I saw randomly at a bar. So I'm at the Holiday Club in Chicago which is having New Wave night and showing random '80's video on the TV. I just saw a clip of a bald man and a bald woman making out in a all white space before silver android looking things came and took the man away. The guy looked maybe like Dennis Hopper. There was nipple so it must have been from a movie or HBO or something. Anybody have any guesses? Thanks

Taking it all off.

gursky — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 18:32:53 -0800

What should I know before and after I shave my head? I am a 22-year-old female who has always wanted to shave her head. I have incredibly thick, wavy, dry hair that takes a lot of time to maintain. My original plan was to shave my head after graduation, before embarking on a long backpacking trip. Recently, my aunt was diagnosed with cancer, and has lost her hair during chemotherapy. Instead of waiting until May to shave my head, I am going to do it next week. Friends and family are donating money to the cause (which is awesome!) so my only concern at the moment is what I should know before I do it, and what I'll need to know after it's done.

The plan right now is to have a friend cut off the bulk of my hair, shave my head with an electric razor, and then use a razor and shaving cream to get the rest. Is there anything she needs to know?

How do you maintain a bald scalp? Where can I get some good headscarves or simple hats? If I want to keep my head shaved for a while, how long before I can shave down the growth a bit?

Any tips and advice are appreciated.

Why would a woman have a bald spot?

Anonymous — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 07:42:41 -0800

SigourneyFilter: Why would a woman have a bald spot? I am a young woman with a bald spot which I've had for as long as I can remember. What gives?

It's about 2 inches in diameter and begins at my hairline between my left ear and temple. Within the bald spot is an indentation in the skin of about 0.5in and next to that a tiny tuft of hairs which seem stunted at about 0.2in in length.

It's evident in childhood photographs from about age 3 onwards. No one in my family seems to know why I have this.

What would cause something like this? Head injury? Is it a type of birthmark? I'm curious, not worried - it has not ever increased in size and the rest of my scalp has very healthy hair attached.

Hey there, baldy! Here's five bucks!

not that girl — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 08:53:52 -0800

I'd like to shave my head for charity. What's the best way to go about it? I want to shave my head; I've wanted to for a long time and hope to do it soon. I'm getting ready to do it. I'd like to have an excuse, or make it work in some way. I know that some people have shaved their heads for charity, and I'm wondering how they go about it? I'm sure I could just do it myself, ask for money and pass it along to the cancer charity of my choice, but are there charities that organize such things?

Alternatives to vet's recommended (expensive) treatment for puppy?

Ruby Doomsday — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 12:40:17 -0800

Puppy has developed bald patches on head and face. Antibiotics prescribed by vet a month ago haven't helped. Should the puppy's owner have a very expensive biopsy done, or just leave it alone and hope it goes away? This is my friend's 5-month-old, mixed-breed puppy. I told her I would ask this for her because she's really unsure whether to go ahead with the procedure, considering that it costs several hundred dollars and she doesn't have a lot of money. However, she does want to be a good pet owner and make sure her puppy gets the treatment he needs.

The spots haven't worsened in the last month, but they haven't gotten any better as a result of the antibiotics. They don't seem to hurt, and he isn't displaying any other unusual symptoms. His disposition (hyper and typically puppy-like) is the same as always.

If anybody has any suggestions as to what else she can try or what might be causing the bald patches, please share. Her veterinarian's advice is, of course, to go forward with the biopsy - and she will if that's the only/best option. Feedback will be greatly appreciated.

Why is my son's teammate bald?

Sweetie Darling — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 17:48:20 -0800

[Nosyfilter] What illness/condition would cause a little boy to lose his hair? My son is playing a sport this fall with a child who is bald, I assume from an illness or chronic condition. I don't know the parents well enough yet to ask, but I'm curious what it might be, especially since he is well enough to play a recreational sport with some risk of physical contact or falling. Apologies if this question is in bad taste, but I find myself spending more time wondering about it rather than watching them play.

Looking For Bald Geeks Fictional/Nonfictional

bleucube — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 12:13:48 -0800

Can you list any bald famous (semi-famous is OK) geeks? Could be fictional or nonfictional. Must be bald for other reasons then making a statement, character role or health reasons..... Geek defined as "A person with a devotion to something in a way that places him or her outside the mainstream. This could be due to the intensity, depth, or subject of their interest". Could be with computers, math, music, science, art...etc

This is a good list, but looking for others.

Thanks!

Hey, Baldy!

DandyRandy — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 16:02:18 -0800

I need some euphemisms for a bald head. After 'chrome dome' and 'cue ball' I'm coming empty. Know any good ones?

Should I get a hair transplant?

Anonymous — Thu, 20 Apr 2006 21:44:42 -0800

I'm 25 and going bald. Should I get a hair transplant? I have been losing my hair ever since I was 17 years old. Now I'm in my mid-twenties and my hair is at what they call a NW5. Which means that I'm, well, bald.

I've been using a Rogaine/Propecia combination for the past two years which has worked wonders for stabilizing my hairline.

But still, I want more hair. Not for the usual reasons - I already have a healthy sex life and, physically, already look damn good otherwise.

I just want to feel what it's like to be in my twenties and have hair again.

Should I spring for it?

Peanut Butter on Head

amicamentis — Tue, 21 Mar 2006 13:40:32 -0800

Any idea on the title/details of a movie released in the early '90's about a kid who puts peanut butter on his head and his hair won't stop growing? I remember my mother renting this movie that was extremely frightening at the time - apparently so scary that I forgot most of the details about it. God, I think it involved this boy going to a house and putting peanut butter on his bald head since an older guy told him it would grow his hair out. He did, and the hair wouldn't stop growing.

Perhaps I'm completely wrong on the details, but part of me would like to watch it again to see if it is, in fact, as terrifying as I remember.

How much is a man's hair worth?

j-urb — Wed, 14 Dec 2005 09:11:09 -0800

I'm 22 and I've been shaving my head due to the fact that I experienced some hair thinning. Honestly, does the fact that I have no hair really matter that much to women? And if so how much? And if having no hair really is a big issue, then how can I counter it besides growing my hair out? There also seems to be a cultural difference in that black woman don't care so much about my hair, whereas white women flip out. FYI I'm white.

Hair-less-oween

DannyUKNYC — Wed, 26 Oct 2005 14:22:24 -0800

HairFilter: After a year or more of growing my hair out for the nth time in my life, I have decided to shave/buzz cut it off, but I want to have some fun doing it! Specifically, I would like to integrate some crazy and/or interesting hair adventure into my Halloween costume. Suggestions, please, all you lovely Mefites! Advice about the ins and outs of a clean-shaving the head (starting with a full compliment of hair) would be appreciated, as I haven't done it before - although I have had a full beard in the past, and shaved that off. Also anything about making hair stick up (products, techniques etc) as my current idea is to dress up as a punk, with a spiky mohawk.

Finally, what is the deal with donating hair for good causes? I looked into www.locksoflove.org - Has anyone had experience with that?

Male Pattern Baldness

4easypayments — Fri, 02 Jul 2004 17:18:35 -0800

Male pattern balding. I've arrived at the point where I will need to either do something to counteract it, learn to accept it, or perhaps, a little of both. Any suggestions for products/states of mind/haircuts with dignity that have worked for you?

Alternative treatments for a self-chewing cat

DenOfSizer — Thu, 29 Jan 2004 10:04:36 -0800

My cat has had a little bald patch on his belly all his life. Gradually, over the last two years, he has started chewing at it with increasing vigor; now the bald patch extends over most of his belly, and occasionally he breaks his own skin. The vet has ruled out mites, fleas, and disease, and concluded that my cat is anxious or depressed and needs medication to control his behavior. Googling confirms that this is not as weird it seemed to me, but it seems pretty drastic. Any thoughts, or ideas for alternative treatments? He's 12 years old; he's the dominant male in a two-cat household (no other pets); he's a 100% indoor cat; eats only dry food.