18. BaldBrothers

Is it true that you are all three brothers of the same family who have your heads permanently shaved bald?
B&M&D: Yes
How old are you?
BOBBY: 24
MATT: 17
DAVO: 12
How long have you been bald?
BOBBY: This August it will be two years.
MATT: One year.
DAVO: Almost one year.
Do you like being hairless?
BOBBY: Yes, of course, very much.
MATT: Yes, I love it.
DAVO: Yes, I like it a lot.
How long do you intend staying bald?
BOBBY: Well, actually I think that shaved head is a kind of very good for my look; apart from this I love the feeling of my shaved smooth scalp and I can't resist it. I don't know if people with a full head of hair can understand me, but this feeling is a kind of drug: I'm hooked on it and I don't want to give it up. Now I think I'll stay bald for a long, long time. Never say "forever" but I'm sure that this is the best hairstyle for me - bald and proud of it.
MATT: I want to be hairless-bald for the rest of my life. This is really more than just a haircut for me. It's part of my personality. I'm still a teenager but I'm sure that I'll always keep my head shaved.
DAVO: I don't know how long but there is no other haircut that I like on me as much as a shaved head so I think I'll continue to be bald, I really like being without any hair.

Do you mind if your friends and family make fun of your bald heads?
BOBBY: My family never made fun of it. My parents agree that this is a personal choice and my brothers are bald too. There's no problem with my friends because most of them like it and make fun of my bald head only to send me up.
MATT: It was my father's idea to press me into having a baldie. My friends now expect me to be bald, so there're no problems there.
DAVO: I don't care if some people make fun of my baldie. I like it and the rest is not a problem. Most of my friends, anyway, envy my look.

Do you get many compliments about your hairless look?
BOBBY: Yes, 95% of people like my shaved head.
MATT: Yes, me too.
DAVO: Lots of compliments, especially from my classmates.
Bobby, you were the first to shave your head. What did your brothers think of it that first time?
BOBBY: Matt thought I was crazy but we didn't discuss my first shaved head much then. David liked it as soon as he saw it.
Matt, you had no choice in shaving your head, but do you think you would have continued to stay shaved if Bobby had not still been a baldie?
MATT: My big brother was a real friend when I had to have my head shaved the first time. I didn't want to do it but he helped me getting used to being a baldie. In any case I'm now sure that I'll continue to keep shaved because this was and is a major choice for me.
David, would you have shaved your head if your brothers had hair?
DAVO: Well, I started to think I'd like to try my own head shaved when I kept seeing my bald brothers but I was afraid about my friend's reactions. But to have two big brothers bald was a better help that I could imagine. Bobby was very patient when I pestered him to shave my head the first time.
Do you like the look of your bald heads?
on yourselves
BOBBY: Yes, I love to see my head shiny bald.
MATT: I'm not able to imagine anything better about my hairstyle (no-hair style).
DAVO: Yes, my baldie is so smooth and cool, fantastic!
…on each other
BOBBY:I think my brothers look extremely good with their bald heads. Matt has a really masculine manner with his chrome dome. He is more meaningful and mature without beard and hair. David is really young but looks very good too. With his head carefully shaved he assumes a distinctive and a bit exotic look.
MATT: For Bobby his shaved head is a must. I really like his bald and smooth dome. He has chosen the best hairstyle for him. I was shocked a bit when I saw David shaved for the first time but now I must admit he looks very good.

DAVO: My two big brothers look fantastic; the shapes of their heads are perfect to sport the shaved look.
Do you like the feel of your smooth shiny scalps?
BOBBY: Of course! It's the best feature of being bald!
MATT: I love this feeling. The scalp is more sensitive when it's shaved. It's fantastic to feel every breath of wind on my hairless head.
DAVO: Yes, I really like to rub my freshly shaved head.
Do you like to see other guys with shaved heads?
BOBBY: Just before I shaved my head I loved to see other bald people; now I can see my own baldie!
MATT: I'm very happy when I see another shaved guy like me.
DAVO: There are no other kids with shaved head to see but I'm happy when I see another chrome dome.
Have any of your friends followed your example to be a chrome dome?
BOBBY: No, for the moment.
MATT: No.
DAVO: No, but some would really like to if their parents would let them.
Have you convinced anyone else to shave his head?
BOBBY: No, but I'm sure that some my friends should look very good with a shaved head.
MATT: No, I don't like to try to talk other guys into shaving their heads, but I'm in complete agreement with Bobby. Some would look very good bald, and they would like to do it if they got any encouragement from their families.
DAVO: No
Do you ever shave each other?
BOBBY: I'm the "shave master" at home. I shaved Matt for the first time, and did David's first balding too. Now they're actually as able as me with the razor. Yes, we shave each other every time we are all three at home together. I love to be shaved by my brothers. It's very relaxing.
MATT: Of course. Bobby shaved my head first time. Now we like it a lot to shave each other. It's a moment of unity in my family. I allow only my bald brothers to shave my head if I don't do it myself. It's a great thing to be shaved, and better to shave, each other. Particularly I like to shave Davo's head: it's very cool to work on his scalp with lather and razor, softly but carefully, until he is completely shaved smooth again. He loves to be shaved.
DAVO: Yes, a lot of the time I get my shave by Bobby or Matt and they allow me to shave their heads too. I really enjoy doing it.
Do you have problems with bathroom time to shave your heads?
BOBBY: Luckily no: we have two bathrooms. One is small with only a shower and sink that we call the "shave room" because we use mostly it to shave our heads.
Do you shave in the morning before university or school, or in the evening?
MATT: Usually in the evening, after the shower.
Did your schools complain about you being baldies?
ALL: No.
Do you talk with each other about being bald, and the techniques of head shaving?
BOBBY: Yes, of course, but especially with haired people. Friends and others are always asking me about the feeling of having a bald head and about technical aspects: how often I shave my head; what razor I use, how I use it, etc.
MATT: Me too, it seem that most of my friends are really interested about all aspect of my baldie.
DAVO: Yes, especially people that don't know me.
Do you like to talk to others - not your brothers - about being bald, and head shaving?
BOBBY: Yes, why not? I have had a lot of conversations about it.
MATT: Well, I like to speak about it but it's all depends the kind of people that speak with me. In some cases I don't like the fact that I'm bald to become the topic of discussion.
Do you mind if people what to feel you smooth shaved scalp?
BOBBY: No, usually not.
MATT: It depends who wants to rub my head. Sometimes I don't like it because those people make feel me like an alien just arrived on earth.
DAVO: No, I'm used to it. I have felt hundreds of hands to rub my head.
Do you invite them to do so?
BOBBY: It's all depends. Occasionally I invite someone to do it if I see that he or she would to do it but is too embarrassed about ask; especially girls.
MATT: Me too, I'm a bit embarrassed sometimes. But if a friend wants to feel it and I think they don't like to ask, then I'll ask them. Why not?
DAVO: I don't need to invite people to do it. They just have to see my bald head when they want to rub it.
Do you tell your brother if you see that he has had a bad head shave?
BOBBY: The first few times Matt shaved his head I advised him if it wasn't perfectly smooth. Now, he is practically always perfectly smooth.
MATT: Yes, if I feel one of the other's scalp is stubbly after the shave.
DAVO: Yes but doesn't happen much.
What is your favourite razor?
ALL: Actually our favourite razor is Mach3
What is the main reason you want to be shaved bald?
BOBBY: I shaved my head because I like this look on me; the smooth feeling and the shaving process. Apart from this, to be shaved is cool and practical and actually is part of my look.
MATT: To be shaved bald is a commitment for me. Like I said, it's a part of my personality. I must shave my head every day to feel like myself.
DAVO: I shave my head because I like the look and the feeling.
Do your parents approve of you all being hairless?
BOBBY: Yes, they were a bit surprised first time but approved of my choice.
MATT: Yes.
DAVO: Yes.
Are you considered a strange family because you are all completely bald?
BOBBY: Well, not particularly strange but a bit rare.
MATT: Yes, infrequent but totally normal.
DAVO: Strange ? Only for three bald boys?....
Do you check out shavehead web sites?
BOBBY: Sometimes, when I have some free time to spend on the web.
MATT: No, I'm not practical with computers, but Bobby sometimes finds something he thinks will interest us.
DAVO: No, not yet.
Do you ever wear a hat to cover your baldness, or do you want people to see your shaved scalp?
BOBBY: I don't have a problem to showing my bald head but I wear an hat in winter if it's too cold, or summertime if I'm going to spent a long time in the sun.
MATT: Now I'm perfectly used to people seeing my baldie so I wear a hat only when weather is extreme (in summer or winter). A shaved scalp can be sensitive and must be protected in these cases.
DAVO: Only in winter.
Do you think you are a bit different being bald (especially three of you) or do you feel that it quite natural and acceptable?
BOBBY: The only strange feeling is that my brothers too are bald like me.
MATT: Short haircuts are very popular today but there is no a strict trend about actual hairstyles. I think that a shaved head is only a bit unusual for the moment and soon there will be a lot of others where I live. But right now I'm happy to be different.
DAVO: I don't feel different from other people. It's just my haircut anyway.
Do you have any bald nicknames?
BOBBY: Yes, of course: my brothers call me "big bald"; David's nickname is "little bald" and Matt's one is the same that his friend use: "bonzo".
MATT: Yes, my friends called me "bonzo". They say that this is a very appropriate nickname for me because they say I look like a bonzo with sandals and shaved head. I always wear sandals in summer so, perhaps, they're right that I look like a real bonzo.
DAVO: No, I haven't any particular nickname with my friends: only "baldy" or something like that.
Matt - How long before the end of your fixed head shaving period did you make up your mind that you would like to stay bald? Or did you only really decide that after you had started to grow your hair again?
MATT: In the last month of my punishment period I realized that I liked being bald.
One day I noticed my shaved head reflected in the glass of a shop window. I was surprised, but after that I started to admire my bald dome; the shape of my crown; the shine; my ears well visible.
I found it very strange but I began to think I might keep my head bald after the end of my sentence.
When I had permission to let my hair grew again, I discovered I didn't like my stubble. I just wasn't able to see myself with hair and wanted my baldie again.
I admitted this to Bobby and he suggested to keep myself bald if that's what I wanted. After a a bit more thought I just knew what I wanted to do.
"This time it's my choice. At the moment with this stubble I'm not a baldie. But I feel that I want to be baldie Yes, I want to be really different, so I'll keep my head shaved bald - Bald by Choice! Never more will I have hair on my scalp! I will be 'Matt the Bald!'". Since that day I have never broken the deal I made with myself.
How long did it take you to gracefully accept your new chrome dome look after you first were barbered bald?
MATT. It was a gradual process. After the first three-four weeks I started to be totally resigned about shaving my head daily, but I still disliked being bald but I got quite used to it. After three months my daily shave became routine and I started to feel untidy if I wasn't well shaved.
How did you feel when you did your first shave yourself?
MATT: I didn't like what I had to do at all. It was a strange feeling doing something totally abnormal to me. I was afraid I would cut myself but Bobby encouraged and helped me a lot.
Bobby - Were you nervous about shaving Matt when you know that he really did not want to lose his hair, and did he submit with acceptance?
BOBBY: Yes, I was very nervous. When he first asked me to shave his head, I was going to refuse. I agreed because he was in a trouble and the situation was quite hard for him. Also it would save him the stress of going to the barber shop to be headshaved.
It was a very tough experience for Matt, and for me too. It upset me watching him suffer while I sheared off his long hair and then I razored against the grain on his latherd scalp to make it totally smooth.
Did you resist shaving Davo because he was too young?
BOBBY: Yes, first time I realized that David really had permission to shave his head and he asked me to do it I really didn't want to. I was very surprised by his determination and I put off shaving him as long as I could becaused I thought he was too young to sport a bald head and that his scalp would be too tender for a razor shave.
How long did he paster you to do it?
BOBBY: Well, not too much because after awhile I gave in. He is my little brother and I want make him happy.
How long did it take your parents to give him permission?
BOBBY: My parents were very clear about it. They said that David was quite old to decide about his haircut and about what is confortable for him. So, after the first surprised, they gave him the permission to be shaved bald.
Davo - How long did it take you to learn to shave your own head?
DAVO: My brothers, and expecially Bobby, taught me to use a razor to shave my head. After a few weeks of practice on Bobby's and Matt's scalp I was able to shave myself alone.
How long does it take you to shave yourself each time?
DAVO: Actually I spent a quarter of hour or less.
Would you like to see yourself with hair again, just for curiosity?
BOBBY: Well I can always look at some old photo but I'd feel too strange with a full head of hair.
MATT: No, I really rather my bald look. I only want to see myself with a smooth shiny scalp now.
DAVO: I have a lot of old photos if I want to see my hair. And, anyway, I'll can let my hair grow if I want.
Would you suddenly like to have a full head of again so that you could have the pleasure of shaving it off again.
BOBBY: Yes, sometime I'll like the idea to go from the appearance of a full head of hair be completely bald.
MATT: Me too! I would really like to experience again the feeling of a freshly shaved head from full hair, but I knew that I'll never willingly let my hair grew a bit to try it!!
DAVO: Yes, It was excellent first time!
What would you do if your school or employer (future) wanted you to grow your hair?
BOBBY: I hope not to have this problem; but really if it comes to the crunch, I think that there are more important considerations than a haircut to think about for the right job.
MATT: No problem. I'll just say that I have genetic alopecia.
DAVO: I think that by the time I go to work people will be more used to bald heads.
Has being bald changed your life?
Separately
BOBBY: Well, not any extreme change in my life. On the other hand, with my head shaved hairless I feel myself more meaningful.
MATT: Yes, a lot. The fact of being shaved bald has changed me from a boy to a man. I don't know if you're able to understand me but I now feel that I'm a real, mature man; not a stupid stereotype boy.
DAVO: No, My life is always the same; I'm only shaved.
Together
ALL: We are more close since we all went bald.
Finally All: If there were a process that could remove your hair permanently - so that your head stayed hairless and smooth without having to shave - would you consider doing it?
BOBBY: We are glad to shave our heads daily and not to be natural bald, and we think that a permanent hair removal is not a good idea. We like to be "bald by choice" - by "commitment", and we enjoy the feeling of razor so the "permanent" choice is out.
MATT: I'm intrigued about the idea of some hair treatment that would remove my hair for a limited period of up to about eight weeks. But I wouldn't want it to be absolutely permanent, where the vitality of the follicles was damaged or destroyed. It would be excellent to have it both ways so that I could be semi-permanent bald until for some reason I can't imagine I wanted to let my hair grow again. If I could get rid of my hair I would also get rid of the five o'clock shadow on my head.
I want to try being really de-haired for some time without any hair to shave on my head. This will be my total submission to bald philosophy. If I could do it, I feel that I'm ready to make this choice. Then, when my hair started to grow after a couple of months I could make the decision to do it again or continue to shave my scalp. But I would still remain bald anyway.
BOBBY: I wish I had the guts to have my hair removed as Matt would like to.
MATT: But I really would like to be bald and not to have the option to be able to let my hair grow. In any case I plan to stay bald for life.