Losing all my body hair... how to adapt?

[Lisa]

Quiet Noise, i understand your fear of looking "old", or even unattractive for the opposite sex. But i think you're wrong.
1) Most older men look good, surely with a sense for clothes.
2) Due to the fact, you're still 19, you have a LOT of time to find your personal, perfect "gorgeous older man" style, so you are way ahead the other, lame, still-driving-bosses-lamborghini-and-trying-to-look-yound-douches, when you are (a welldressed hottie) 40 !
3) Meanwhile, you probably won't score the stereotypic 19-year old Girl... but.. why would you even want to do that, when you can get the desperatly goodlooking, sophisticated 26year old, from the art-gallery with the nice sculptures!?
;)

A friend of mine has bone-cancer. He is 22 years old, has no hair since his 20th Birthday. He is about 1,90 or even 1,95cm, and -due the chemo- skinny and pale.
when he walks into the room, i am always quiet shocked, what the chemo-treatment does to him... but when he says "hi" and smiles as always, his soul shines through his eyes, and I just see a beloved friend, and not a bold-headed "lord voldemort-double" as he calls himself.

I think "Heirloom" described it well. You are a plain canvas. Let your personality be your artist!

[rider]

i think when life throws you a curve ball you have a choice to let it get the best of you or dig deep and find the silver lining (sorry for the cliche). dismay at first is understandable but you're talking to the choir (as an american women whose culture does ridiculous things to remove hair)...i guess each culture has its idiosyncratic quirks that act as rails to bind people. i have a very good friend who had a cleft palette as a child and went through many surgeries to get her just to breathe correctly, was in and out of hospitals and tormented by other kids often, she learned early the challenge of being beautiful is not always physical but resonates from her soul. 50 years going, i would put her on the top of my list as a stunner, conventional beauty is over-rated anyway.

i'm sure you will find a way to make this an integral part of your self image, seems like you already are on your way...you're 19, hate to say it but this most likely isnt the biggest hurdle that you will have.

[curiouscharles]

noise - how did you determine it was the minoxidil doing this? my hairline's started receding and i'm constantly thinking about using it to prevent the progression of what might possibly be mpb :/

regardless, i feel for you - i can't cope with the idea of losing my hair right now, i just really can't

[andrewislasorad]

[quiet noise]

I do have a pretty sharp and symmetrical headshape and i think i look pretty good in really short hair (never tried bald).

what seriously makes me suicidal is the fact that this has totaly screwed up my skin. i already have more wrinkles than my mother and i can count 4 deep lines in my forehead thats very visible even in dim light.

I didnt want this to turn into my personal tear box, but i dont know what to say really. i know that i will have to learn to live with the fact that i will never be gorgeous again and that the opposite sex probably is gonna look away when they see me. im only 19 and my life is in many ways already over.

Whatever you do, just stay away from Rogaine. Please

[Vanna]

My heart breaks for you. I couldn't imagine losing my glorious hair. I don't think I'd ever recover.

But I echo the sentiment that bald can look very attractive, but usually, you have to have the right head shape. Symmetrical, free of noticeable bumps, etc.

[Oh weh mir]

I can understand your concern, my father was made to address a similar question after undergoing chemotherapy. The situations are different, but there is a similar essence.

Your question is actually a very compelling one. We all craft an aesthetic around a somewhat definite idea of who we are, but it is unavoidable that our bodies will change. When you invest in an article of clothing, you're also making an investment in the current state and condition of your body. I rarely think about it when making what I like to believe is a calculated purchase, but when I see once beloved pieces appear in the classifieds because the seller can no longer wear them (for whatever reason) it's a little sobering. I guess that vanity can be painful, and service of self, whatever the capacity requires a high level of self awareness.

I don't know what you desire for yourself aesthetically. A friend of mine is native american and I think it would affect him greatly. If he were in your position I'm not sure how he would handle it, but I know if I were to ask him now he would have no idea how to answer. If I were you, I would wait until that time to address the issue, and enjoy what you have while you can. Much of style derives personality and evolves naturally, so perhaps change is unnecessary. I do like heirloom's 'tabula rasa' position on the matter, and if you are looking for a change, you may find a surprisingly new freedom.

[swami]

I think the power of bald—I’ve never analyzed this before, so I’m gonna borrow what my darling wife would say. I think she would say it’s the man saying, “You take me as you find me. ”I think that it may be, because it’s the opposite of disguise, isn’t it?

Ben Kingsley

[Castor]

Be proud and fearless. Bald is a strong and sexy look. It is the opposite extreme of long, dark, flowing straight locks and can be just as beautiful. I don't think there are any rules. Wear what you like and welcome to your new world.

use your hairless body as a clean canvas. Decorate it anyway you want. Don't let it be something to close you in. You have so much more space to go nuts with clothes, colours, anything.

[kuugaia]

A bald friend of mine said that he avoided large scarves or high collar pieces because it eccentuates his head. But I've seen bald men with outfits eccentuating their head and still looking good. Maybe it's a confidence thing.

The tattoo eyebrow thing...you should thoroughly research. A female friend of mine had a very lacking amount of hair on her eyebrows and shape...she got tattoos done while on holiday. I can say that it was very awkward when she came back...

[Sombre]

If you're only worrying about the aesthetics of the matter, I don't see much of a problem. Lots of men shave their heads, and at first glance you will just fit in with them. The only potential issue I really see is lack of eyebrows. The owner of Koenigsegg got himself two tattoos to replace his. Idk if you want to go that route. Like kbi said, (large-framed) glasses could help to hide that (if you want to).

The only practical advice I can give is: buy lots of hats for winter, because your head WILL get cold.

EDIT: or take baizilla's suggestion. Buy lots of Julius or similar Mad Max clothing and make "scary bald man" part of your persona.

[Pinoy]

^ you read my mind bai

[baizilla]

[kbi]

well one thing I alway notice when seeing bold men with good style is a pair of well-chosen glasses. I think it's even the only way to pull off some really drastic frames.