Saturday, August 27, 2005

This scalp for rent

So can a young female student raise a big wad of cash to finance school and a big vacation? Perhaps by shaving her head and using it as advertising space?
After the shave, came the tattoo.

"I’m not going to lie," DeMers said. "That hurt so bad."

Maybe $18,000 will ease the pain.

That’s how much DeMers, a 20-year-old Sparks student who wants money for a European trip and a college education, was paid to have the name of an Internet casino imprinted, not just once, but twice, on the top and back of her newly bald head.
She will have to keep her head shaved and the tattoos visible for a year to keep the money.

Saturday, August 20, 2005

Gilford shaves

ShavedIn a follow-up to this post, the Citizen Online updates us on the wonderful shavers in Gilford, New Hampshire.
Those traveling in the Gilford area over the next few days may notice a larger number of people with shaved heads than is usual for a small New Hampshire town.

This is because many in town turned out Saturday at the Belknap County Sportsmen's Club and at Patrick's Pub and Eatery to benefit a national childhood cancer research foundation and a local boy who is currently battling brain cancer

[...]

Beland said that before Saturday's events, $10,000 had been raised for the St. Baldrick's fund and at least several thousand had been raised for the Palisi family. He said Saturday he did not know how much more was raised.
It's great to see so many people turn out and shave their heads for a good cause.

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

Bald for a video card

It turns out, shaving your head might be worth a video card, at least if you're at the right promotional event.
The afternoon started with a call for women in the audience who were willing to have their head shaved for an older video card, which carries a retail price of $170. Two women leapt at the opportunity.

"It's hair; it grows back," said newly shorn, 21-year old contestant Teresa Holt.

Saturday, August 13, 2005

St. Baldrick's in August

St. Baldrick's Day events are often held near St. Patrick's Day, but can be held any time of the year. As I'm checking the news, I've noticed several St. Baldrick's stories appearing in August.

For instance, police officers and firefighters in Gilford, New Hampshire held a St. Baldrick's event on August 10th.

Today, also in Gilford, the folks at Patrick's Pub are holding another St. Baldrick's event. They're doing it to support 6-year-old Nicholas Palisi, who has completed conventional cancer treatments without success, and needs funds to try more experimental treatments.

And in Arbutus, Maryland, Kimberly DeBoy of the Cutting Edge salon is making plans for a big shaving event in 2006. The article has a brief history of the St. Baldrick's event, and then talks about DeBoy's experiences and plans for next year.
Nationally, the St. Baldrick’s Foundation reported raising over $5 million in 2005, with events in six countries. Sadly, Maryland boasts only one - the aforementioned Baltimore Baldies - which is why Kim has issued a challenge - she’d like to see other salons in the area organize their own events, and compete to see who can raise the most money and shave the most heads. "I’m grateful to have the opportunity to do this," she said. "It was amazing how many people wanted to help."

[...]

Although people can donate any time, and donations are coming in, Kim knows the real money comes from the event itself, and she and Candy are planning the 2006 shave-a-thon, which will come "as close to St. Patrick’s Day as we can." With a 900 sq. ft. shop, Kim is thinking about finding another, larger venue for next year, with more chairs, more barbers, and more heads ready to be shorn.

In other words: bigger, better and balder.
It's a great charity, and it's good to see St. Baldrick's busy throughout the year.

Thursday, August 11, 2005

The League of Bald-Headed Men

league of bald headed gentlemenThe Herald Sun of Australia has a story about the continuing growth of the League of Bald-Headed Men.
The League of Bald-Headed Men has been around for a little while, quietly finding its feet in a world awash with hair-product its members are never going to need.

Now it's breaking out.

This month, the league will be launching the Bald Bar on top of the James Squire Brewhouse and Portland Hotel in Russell St.
Naturally, the League has a website of it's own that you can check out. It's all about accepting who you are.

Monday, August 08, 2005

Mailbag: About time

I received a great email this weekend from Ernie. It's the type of story I've heard before, but he really tells it well.
Hey, I just wanted to write in hopes to let a few others know they aren't the only ones out there. A bit about myself: I'm currently 45. Since I was 22 I've been so embarrassed about losing my hair that I either wore a hat or just plain avoided situations (pools, swimming, sports) that might bump off my hat. I felt like I had some sort of sickness.

Then I finally had enough and sought a doctor for hair transplant. All looked great in the photos. So I went ahead, I was told I'd need 2 to 3 scalp reductions. After my first one I went back to the doctor and saw many more guys then first hand. To be honest I was in shock at how easy it was for me to tell they'd all had work done and actually how bad it looked. So I stopped at that time, now with a big scar on my head and still no hair. I eventually went to hair pieces. They were all high quality human hair and no matter what anyone said I could always tell, even though in photos it was difficult, I continued to wear them, but always with a hat, almost like a back up system in case my hat had to be removed, or fell off, in either intimate settings or court, weddings funeral and such. I was always stressing and worried. Then I would never let anyone touch my head for fear of detection, not even my wife. Then at around 2 weeks it would begin to smell a bit, or at least I could smell it, then the itching and if it was hot, damn it was just terrible.

Last year I began thinking about shaving my head, it's in style and all. However I met with some resistance from my wife. Her concern was that I would not be happy and then have no hair; she knew how sensitive I was about my head. But her biggest concern is that I would look even more intimidating than I already did. I am 6'4, 270 with fully sleeved arms and a muscular build. To this date in time, even my kids had know idea I even wore a piece, they only knew me as "dad with a hat". Or if any one did know, no one ever said a word.

It took me almost a year to convince myself just to remove it and shave it off.

So now listen anyone in a similar situation. Yes it was scary shaving it off, but it has been absolutely the best thing I've ever done to date.

Upon first shaving it all off I was white as could be on top: my face was usually either very tan or red from hours in the sun on my bike, so it stood out. But as I walked out of the bathroom, my wife smiled and said damn you look the sexiest I've ever seen you. White but sexy.

She took some of her self-tanner and applied it to my head in hopes of toning down the white until at least the sun caught up with me.

I then went down stairs, without anything covering my head, the first time in about 20 years... think about that. Twenty years. Before I'd even reached the landing my oldest daughter yelled at me to come back. She was still in bed, however saw me pass. She just smiled and said damn dad you look 10 years younger and sexy as hell. What made ya do it. I just said it's been hot out and I need a change. (she is 22). As I continued down the stairs to my chair to put on my boots, word traveled quick. Now my second oldest daughter and her boyfriend came down. Again both very positive on how much they liked it, he even commented that now he was shaving his head (the next day he did). They both said I looked like Stone Cold Steve Austin. I didn't even know who he was, had to look him up on the internet... yea there is a resemblance.

Then the next daughter came in with her boyfriend, she rubbed my head, smiled and said it looks hot, but be careful with the sun.

My last but youngest daughter was the only one who said she didn't know if she liked it or not. So I asked her why, her response was far from what I expected. It wasn't that she didn't think it looked good, however her comment was that I already scare the crap out of her friends, now they'll sure to be scared of me (she's 15).

It's been almost 3 weeks now, I haven't worn a hat in that time. If I'm in the sun I sometimes wear a bandana, but it looks cool; after all I'm a biker and it fits.

I've had nothing but positive comments, far more than I'd ever dreamed possible. I've now had many younger females at the gym comment and begin to talk to me, at first about my head, but then to other things... most of them wanting to rub my head.

All of my daughters' friends have also commented on it and how much they like it.

So guys, don't wait 20 years and go through what I did... just do it.

My wife, interestingly enough.. I have a friend who has shaved his head as long as I've known him, when my wife sees him she always says hi and rubs his head. A week or so had gone by and she'd not really even touched mine so I got kinda weird about it and finally asked her. Her response was kinda sad, that she haddn't been allowed to touch my head in over 20 years, just hard to break bad habits. She's always loved shaved heads but was afraid to tell me because of how sensitive I'd always been about mine. Kinda sad, huh?

Oh, and that scar on my head from so long ago, yea it's there, but only one person has noticed. I just told them I had surgery when younger, they said it adds to my look.

So guys I know it may be scary, but trust me: I know that's hard, but take it from me a guy that's been there... take the plunge. I shave my head every day in order to avoid the partial shadow. That'd be my only tip.
Thanks for the email, Ernie. A lot of guys live much of their lives embarrassed by hair loss, and it's always great to hear about people breaking free from that worry. It's amazing, the psychological freedom that comes from shaving it all off.

Thursday, August 04, 2005

Shaving for the role

Nancy Duckles of Tennessee is an actress, and she has shaved her head.
Instead, she wants to feel authentic when she gets on stage this weekend to play a woman with ovarian cancer. She both produces and plays the lead role of Vivian Bearing in "Wit," Margaret Edson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play being performed this weekend by DuckEars Theater Company as a benefit for the American Cancer Society.

"I never considered not shaving my head. I was afraid if it didn't look completely natural, I'd lose the audience; they'd be paying attention to the fact I was wearing a skullcap. I wanted them to take the journey with me," she said.
Women shaving their head for a role is not very common, but it does have precedent. Glenda Jackson famously shaved her head to play the role of Queen Elizabeth I in the BBC series Elizabeth R.

Still, a woman shaving her head is still very rare, and it's considered a much greater sacrifice than if a man would shave his head for a role (for instance, Michael Rosenbaum).