Minutes after I posted on FB my picture with a shaven head, my Sister Babbeth who’s on the other side of the globe-(Philippines) immediately called me via messenger. I could tell from her voice that she was distraught. “Why did you lose your hair? How did you become bald? Are you hiding something from us? She asked in a panic.
I knew what was in her mind.
She was thinking that my baldness maybe an effect of chemo or radiation, and that I was keeping things from them. She and my other siblings had been monitoring my health since my cancer scare eight years ago.
Instead of answering her questions, I quipped: “Oh you saw my picture! Do you like it? I look good with a bald head, don’t I? I said jokingly followed by a hearty laugh.
“It’s not even funny, Gil please answer me!!! My big sister demanded, her voice stern but almost crying.
Well, I continued laughing for a moment, then I gave her my explanation for being bald
First, I had to assure her that I’m okay and there’s really nothing to worry about.
I am not sick.
I don’t have cancer.
I’m cancer free!
I’m very healthy.
So why are you bald?
Well, it’s a choice that I made.
Hair greying early runs in my family. I’ve been dyeing (coloring) my locks since I was in my 30s. I thought that silver hair made me look much older, so I had to conceal it, especially when I turned 50 when I turned 90% grey. Even knowing that hair dyeing is not healthy, the practice had been a regular part of my grooming routine.
I’ve read some reports that hair dyes contain chemicals that are link to cancer but that did not deter me. That’s me being stubborn and skeptical at times.
I must admit hair dyeing is a hard work. It is tedious, messy, time consuming, and costly.
It takes a good two hours to dye my hair. The mixing and application is the messy part. I had to wear gloves, cover my ears so they won’t get stained then carefully apply the mixture making sure that I don’t miss a spot. Then comes the drying and waiting phase. This can’t be rushed, I have wait patiently for half an hour or so, otherwise the color won’t stay. Finally, the washing and shampooing stage where I mess the bath tub. I have to thoroughly clean the tub or I’ll be in trouble with my wife.
Hair dyeing is not only time consuming and labor intensive. It is expensive. There are cheaper brands but they don’t last. So I buy the branded ones. To cut the cost, I had to do it myself rather than having it done by a hair professional.
But even after I colored my hair, there is a spot on top of my head (crown) where hair thinning was very prominent. I had to hide this spot to complete my hair styling. I use a special dark powder and a hair spray to create a hair build up. And this stuff is even more expensive.
I finally got tired of this tiresome and expensive routine.
Enough of this hiding and coverup.
No more denial!
It’s time to get real and be natural!
That’s when I decided to go bald.
It so liberating to have been freed from the chronic, mundane task of minding my hair.
Bottom line: Life is more simple and convenient with a shaven head. I call my new look “wash n’ go”.
A discovery
All these years I thought that a bald head would not look good on me because I had a funny head shape-that my head is flat and lacking of roundness. But now I discovered after shaving that my skull has the right shape to proudly sport a bald head. My wife looks at me and now calls me “Mr. Clean” I like that. I’m happy with my decision to go bald. I think Mr. Clean look is the new handsome!
myJOURNEY 