When I walk out of the office each day, I see a sea of men with shiny heads of all complexions. Proud, young men all just hours or days away from a razor or clippers having shorn away what has been viewed as the ultimate sign of masculine virility: hair. No, they don’t wear hats to hide thinning hair or rugs to try and convince you they still have hair. They let the gleam speak for itself. All those beautiful bald heads say that a new day has come.

• First, accept that it's happening. Comfort yourself with this: baldness, in test studies, is frequently associated with higher, not lower, levels of testosterone. So you have that going for you.
• Second, if you haven't totally lost your hair, a product like Rogaine or Propecia can help you hold on to what you have. It won't grow hair where it's already gone, but it can enlarge the follicles on your head, helping you delay hair's send-off.
• Third, once you recognize it’s going, going, gone, we recommend you cut your hair shorter so that the thinning becomes less noticeable. How you get it styled will, in part, depend on how you are balding. Talk to a barber/stylist about your concerns and let the professionals help you figure out what works for your face and thinning hair.
  

For some, being bald is just another hair style, and I’m not mad at guys who choose to shave it off and later let it grow back. For me, it’s a way of life. I wished I could have rocked the small afro with a temple taper, like Kobe Bryant used to wear (after his bald stage) but no such afro luck for me. Fortunately, I have a “good head” – well-formed, with no dents or peaks that would make it look like I'd been accosted with a forceps.

Know When to Say When

I was 27 when I realized that I was losing my hair. That is, if I ignored the early signs dating back to when I was 23 — the spot on the crown of my head that kept growing thinner each year. I knew then that I had a few more years before making the final cut, so my barber Ron started a preemptive strike, taking my fade down a bit lower every few months. Eventually, I got rid of the fade and cut it all one length with the No. 1 blade on the clippers. At that point, I bought my own clippers and began cutting myself. What’s the worst that could happen? I’d have to go bald?

By that time, so many men were wearing the clean pate proudly, I didn’t understand guys who were clearly going bald but who didn't just shave it all off. What was holding them up from being done with it? Bald doesn’t mean "old" or that you’re a member of a biker gang; it’s a grooming option to consider when you don't have many options as your thickly-haired brethren. There are several examples of bald men in popular culture that the stigma had pretty much died off. And I’m not just talking about brothers like Isaac Hayes and Michael Jordan. Guys like Jason Statham, Patrick Stewart, Andre Agassi, and other notable athletes and actors of varying ages are nearly or completely bald. Of course, there are the Godfathers of white male baldness, Yul Brenner and Telly Savales. Many others minimize the impact of it with good hair styles. Bruce Willis succeeded for years with what I call the wings formation, a hairline receding from the sides until it reached the back of his head and he had to shave it off.

How To Handle It

Since most bald guys still grow some hair, dealing with the what is left can be an issue. So choose your weapon. Like I said, I use clippers weekly. My brother uses a single-blade disposable razor, which I tried, but it gave me keloids (razor bumps on your scalp). Some people use special razors for bald heads, like the Head Shave.  Some general tips for the smooth skulls of the world:

• Whether you use clippers or a blade, make sure they are sharp to avoid nicks and burns. Lubricate the clippers each time you use them to ensure the best job.
  
• If you use a razor on your head, use a shaving cream and/or a pre-shave oil for a nick-free job. Something with a high-level of lubrication, like Sharp’s Kid Glove Shave Gel, works well. Another bald guy recommends Billy Jealousy Hydroplane Shave Cream. A razor means shaving every few days. If it becomes more than stubble, trim it down with clippers first because a razor won’t work on the longer hair and you'll get a patchy head.
• Post-shave, I either use a face lotion with SPF or an oil like Kemi Oil or Kiwi Oil. Some guys like other products specifically for bald heads, which gives the dome a bit of shine and keeps the scalp moist and conditioned.
• Speaking of conditioner, I use one on my scalp once a week. It keeps the stubble  soft and easier to cut. I like Bumble and Bumble Creme de Coco, but experiment with what works for you.