Other Ladies Living Baldly

I've been enjoying so much hearing the stories of other women who have made this leap. I know these last two were already in the comments, but I felt like they were worth reposting:

From K8, a friend with who, although we've not been around each other much, I often find myself scarily in tune:

"I never went bald-bald, but i did shave down to fuzz (number 3 on the clippers) for a while. Since we're the same person, you already know i was 0 for 4 too. I still totally rocked the buzz, yo, and i'm pretty sure you will too.

There's a certain fierceness that comes with forcibly and purposefully taking away something that people use to define you--it makes them have to deal with you more than they did before. The nice thing is, not only have you taken that away from others, but you've taken away a way to hide from yourself. It forces you to engage and to be engaged, but it's a good thing. It's definitely a moment of growth, and it changes you for the better, even once your hair's all grown out.

I'm very excited about this, by the way. I don't know about the vibrations, but i loved having that short, soft fuzz--it was very soothing to rub my head, and it meant i didn't need shampoo (i would wash with soap when i'd wash). I have the world's weirdest cowlick at the back/right corner of my head, and no matter how hard i tried i would always have a little nub of hair that was just a little bit taller than the rest that i would call my thinking nub, because when i was thinking i would rub it. (Weird, i know.)

Anyway, i've been rambling. Point is, i think this is awesome--both the shaving and the blog about it--and i'm looking forward to seeing how it goes."

This comes from my new friend, Ms. Sunday Afternoon Housewife. She's an awesome lady and I'm not at all surprised that she'd be brave enough to take the risk:

"Hey! So I have to say that from 17 to 19 I kept my hair in a very short buzz- like as short as it would go with out being shaved by a straight razor. I really loved it. My parents hated it because before then I had hair that was down past my butt! I just went and had it cut up really short, and then like a week later my friend said, "you should shave it like Ani Difranco" and so I did. I figured what the heck, right? Even my high school senior pictures have me with a shaved head! After 12 years of long, down to my butt hair, and I just cut it all off. I would do it again, but I think like you said there are those "prefessional expectations" that kinda hold a person back. So are you really going to go like straight razor to the scalp bald? Your head is going to freeze, like you have never imagined! You need me to knit you a hat?"

And the answer is, yes, a hat would be AWESOME! I love it that you and your husband were the two to voice that particular concern. :)