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

I am a 25 year old girl who, in about 4 weeks, will be shaving my hair off in the name of charity

I've been growing my hair for the last 3 and a half years, and was determined to never cut it again, and now I find myself shaving it all off ..

I've never had a shorn head before, and am a little terrified, to be perfectly honest.

So what I would *really appreciate* is if people could give me a few examples of why it's better to be bald. That way I can print them out every night, chant them, and by the time I have to go to the hairdresers I'll be excited rather than petrified .

Well, that's the plan anyway

Please help, all assistance will be gratefully accepted

Well, firstly and most obviously, think of all the money you'll save by *not* buying hair cleaning and grooming products.

RF

Unfortunately the $10 or so I spend a month on shampoo and conditioner hardly seems worth it

But I *will* end up cutting about 5-10 minutes off my shower time...when you're not dealing with waist-length hair it's gotta be a quicker job, right !

Well for a start, think of the money you will save. Think of it as a bulk purchase at the hairdressers. Then when it grows you can style it any way you like. Start again from scratch.

Then there is always the fact that you will wake up in the morning looking as good as when you went to bed. The fact that you might not look as good going to bed as when you had hair is irrelevant, at least you will look a lot better waking up without it. Swings and roundabouts.

Although I must say, you have chosen the wrong time of the year to do it. Its going to be bloody cold. Get yourself a good woolly hat.


Donald

I thought it was a bad idea for them to do it heading into autumn/winter....but then I guess I'd rather have no hair and be able to wear beanies than in summer where I'd have no option but to let my stubble fly in the wind

People will be able to see the shape of your head.

RF

That can *not* be a good thing...I think my heads a bit too fat to be seen in it's naked glory

But I won't be *entirely* bald...it's a number 1 or 2 cut on the clippers...still, it's as good as bald...there'll definitely be scalp showing...

Ah US Marine style!

One thing you will have to endure is people wanting to rub their hands over your head. There is something erotic about rubbing your hands on close cropped hair.

Donald

I used to do it all the time to my bf before he started growing his hair...he's told me that it's nicer to be rubbed than to rub...so that will definitely be *one* advantage

What a fine thing to do! Will they use the hair towards making a wig for someone who's lost theirs to chemotherapy? Very cool, because you know yours will grow back with time.

Meanwhile, think how light your head is going to feel. Every little breeze will be like angel kisses. And you won't have to worry about bad hair days for a while, which is awesome. If you've ever had the urge to have pink (or any other color) hair, now you can, just by buying a wig. Best thing about that is that it'll just be for when you're in the mood, not permanent. If you want to explore other aspects of your personality it's a great time to do so, too. I used to pop on a big, blonde wig sometimes when I was in Uni (borrowed it from a drag queen friend of mine) and I had a ball haming it up as a blonde bombshell occasionally. It let me get totally out of my 'normal' character and play. Have fun with it!

Check this out

A375428

Thanks for that

I have contacted a few wigmakers. I hate the thought of my hair going to waste (3 and a half years on a hairdressers floor ), but apparently the main problem will be that I have foils in my hair, and they don't like that. One of them said I should bring it in after it's off my head anyway and he'll see what he can do. The fundraiser is for Leukaemia anyway, so it makes sense to give the hair another purpose .

Blonde doesn't suit me, unfortunately...too dark featured to get away with it

I can't remember the source of the quote, but some famous baldy guy once said one of the delightful things about being bald is that you can hear snowflakes.

Also, you might threaten people, especially children, that if they take the p**s you'll ask God to send some bears to rip out their guts. God does that kind of thing... 2 Kings Ch2 v23-25. And the moral of this parable is, never be rude to a baldy guy.

H.

Tanzen - contact the cancer council in your state - they may be able to put you in contact with wig makers who will use your tresses for cancer patients.

I applaud you and encourage you to go all the way - imagine walking in the rain with a totally nude head BLISS!! You could then think about henna tattoos (temporary) on your dome - I am sure that you would look stunning!! Or get someone to paint designs for special occasions.

Once again

One thing you will notice when you are talking to some people is their eyes drifting upwards to look at the top of your head. That's somewhat annoying, especially as the other person assumes you can't see them doing it. (A man with big ears once said after a while you get used to people starting at your ears when they are talking to you.)

As a man who has experience a somewhat severe recession since the 80s I can say the best thing is that you have only one decision to make regarding style - 'do I cut it or not?'

"One thing you will notice when you are talking to some people is their eyes drifting upwards to look at the top of your head. "

Well at least they won't be talking to your breasts Tanzen

You should send a couple of before, during and after photographs to Az for her h2g2 gallery.

If you go for a number 1 or 2 you can use your head as a canvas for sticking fuzzy felt to and have different scene on your head everyday.

Having done a severe chop (bum length to shoulder length about 8 years ago) I think I can give you a few good things.
You don't have to clear out the drain every time you wash your head. It won't get caught under your partner in the middle of the night. You won't have to sit and comb out the horrendous snarls that occur if you wear your hair down for more than an hour.
It won't get wound round your necklaces.
You won't have to do the frantic search for a bobble when you are late for work.
Hats look so much better.
You won't have to worry about styling for a night out.
Showering takes much less time.
You won't have to keep pulling stray hairs out of your mouth / food / drink.
You don't have to empty the hoover or clean out the roller brush of the hoover quite so often.

That's it for the moment.

Oh, and the whole 'I'm never cutting my hair' statement should last about 6 months once you realise how much easier it is withoiut all that hair. I said it after the first major chop but my hair has never managed to get any longer than bra-strap lenght before I go and get it chopped again!

Zantic

Being bald means you can hear snowflakes? How does that work?

Hair acts as a shock absorber, therefore impact of snowflakes on hair is silent.

A bald head has no shock absorbing cushion, plus it's attached to the ear directly. So even the very, very lightest touch on the top of the bald head is audible.

H.