h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Since I am suffering from male-pattern baldness (no hair on the crown of my head and a receding hairline no my forehead), I have been wondering at what point I should cut my losses (literally).

Is there any advice about how far the hair should be gone before someone makes it all gone? How do I know I won't look evil like Lex Luther or Shel Silverstein?

Any hints about scalp-skin-care?

When it is noticed. My sister in law noticed it two years ago and since then grade 2 all the time.

I have been told by people who do keep the head shaved that baby oil on the skin and lots of suncream/hat wearing is what is needed to keep the scalp skin in top form.

I also have 'male pattern balness', and would say to anyone with this dillemma that the answer is

DO ITNOW!

Right now...
...or, if you do not have an electric hair trimmer to hand, as soon as you can go out and buy one.

£20 will buy you a good quality electric hair trimmer from a certain, well known high street catalogue store which will be open at nine in the morning. This should last for longer than most people do, so you can pass it down to your children when you go.

At the moment, where I am, it's summer, so it's warm, and you can get your scalp a healthy looking tan quickly (unless you already have a naturally dark skin, in which case, you can just enjoy feeling warm sun on your skin) but don't spend too much time out there in one go, because now there's nothing protecting you head from sunburn), and with the electric trimmer, you can go for it in stages anyway, first four, three... then down to one. Or leave just leave the comb off...

That way you don't shock yourself in the mirror, and so, if you choose to bottle it, and not to go all the way, you can stop at a number one...

BUT A WORD OF CAUTION FOLKS...

My advice is, do not actually get the razor out just yet, and this is why. Your hair grows out of follicles, which have glands in them which create stuff called sebum, which is basically greasy sweat. This is to lubricate your hair and make it all slinky and healthy etc... But If you take the hair down, there isn't anything to absorb this sebum, which then can cause very unsightly spots, even when in your thirties and the skin on your face has long ago forgotten acne! Don't forget, the skin on your scalp is nothing like the skin of your face. Spots really do hurt there... Be careful.

Think back to when you first started shaving your face fellers! Same things apply...

I'd like to underline Phil's comment. Now there's nothing between you and the sun, you can get burnt. (And that hurts more than spots) Get some high factor suncream and go brown slowly. Two friends of mine have had skin cancer - both on the bald patches.