Sirensong wrote:
Firstly if you can get someone to photoshop an image of you to see what you would look like bald, if you like it then you can go from there..

Invest in a nice soft beanie hat for bedtime, you might not feel you need it but it can get surprisingly cold up there at night time

If you are going to buzz it off bald, the Mach 3 razor is pretty good, havent ever been sliced by one yet, they tend to last a little longer(I have found so anyway) and be prepared if you want to try totally bald that you will need to shave down every day, sometimes twice to stop five o'clock shadow..a damned good moisturiser is essential..you will be surprised how quickly hair will grow in, if you dont shave it for a week you will have a full (if very short) head of hair.

Having no hair at all will change how people are with you, good and bad, however mentally ready for this you think you are it will have an effect and at times no matter how empowering it can be.. you can be left feeling a bit more vunerable.

If you can, buy yourself short but good quality real hair wig, itll be handy if you do feel the need to 'cover up' for any reason, people judge, its crappy but they do and now and then its nice to be able to blend in a bit..

Wow! Thank you so incredibly much. That is some of the most useful information. I definitely have a soft panda hat. I had to use it when I chopped my hair, because I couldn't stop playing with it and the roots got overly sensitive. I do have one medium quality wig, and a few cheap, fun, halloween ones. I would definitely like to invest in a nice one, just on general principle. Wigs are fun for modeling.

The edge between empowering and vulnerable is something that I enjoy playing with; it's part of what I love about nude modeling. But it's a very good thing to consider before I make the final chop.

I might also try to schedule a shoot with a good mua/hair stylist, and experiment with a bald cap. Thank you again, Siren. I'm going to copy and save this information for later.

Nemi wrote:
I shaved the back of my head a few months before I started modeling. I had extremely long hair. I'll jump on the it's liberating and you will get nasty comments especially from men banwagon. The most common thing I heard was " Is this your way of saying you're a dyke?"
Charming.

Oh, I've heard that one so many times... Charming indeed.

Some people are idiots. Unfortunately.

P I X I E wrote:

Oh, I've heard that one so many times... Charming indeed.

Some people are idiots. Unfortunately.

Oh, even at work when I did an undercut, I got a lot of donkeyhole comments from my male colleagues too!

KathTea Katastrophy wrote:

Oh, even at work when I did an undercut, I got a lot of donkeyhole comments from my male colleagues too!

The worst is when the comments come from your very own family. Yeah.

Pixie Brandi wrote:
I say do whatever you want, especially since it seems you are into the alternative genre of modeling

Tehe. Only kind of, not really, at all. I don't have the wardrobe. It's too expensive, and I'm too hot naked. It's all about fine art nudes for me. Well, and a little fetish.

George Ruge wrote:
The first impression is of one being unhealthy.

THIS!

George Ruge wrote:
A healthy head of hair is a genetically recognized marker for health and is seen by both male and female as a positive aspect regarding procreation. The lack of hair is an unhealthy marker and is seen as undesirable. You can all talk about it being OK fashion-wise, but instinctlvely The first impression is of one being unhealthy.

However it is only one of the markers..so had a woman many of the others bets are she would get by just fine..

NYMPH wrote:
Oh, hello, thread fresh out of a shallow grave!

A bald head is a sign of unhealthiness? Did you know, that it was believed that people looked maniacal when they smiled in pictures? It's been believed that being overweight means you're healthy and rich. Pale skin has gone in and out over the centuries. 'Traditional' meanings are constantly morphing and adapting to our evolving culture, and I think a bald head might be a great way to celebrate my part in it.

Incidentally, I made my decision a few posts back, if you feel like checking it out.

And major major props KathTea! I hope you love your new look!

Thanks Nymph! I have been told by countless hair stylists that I have a great head for baldness. Currently with a boycut at the moment

Plus, this post and models like V Nixie, Indefinite Anomaly, Helene Atsuko, have all been quite an inspiration!

photo212grapher wrote:
Here's one thing to consider before a radical hair length change - will you be leaving all your longer hair pics in your portfolio? Doesn't make sense to me. Any photographer looking at those will be misled.

Perhaps a high quality wig of long hair enables you to fit the role for any photographer. In fact, multiple wigs gives you plenty of instant look changes, and you do not have to sit through the hair stylist work. Just your wig does.

If you do decide to shave your head donate your long locks to those that want what you are ready to discard:
http://www.locksoflove.org/

I know the OP has already made her decision.

Here's MY thoughts.

1. So far the "long hair" photos in my portfolio are all wigs, I never did have that great a length of hair to begin with. Even if a model DID have a drastic hair change, her portfolio shows her SKILLS not her hair. Models like Anita De Bauch has a portfolio with a range of hair lengths and even sells prints of when she had long black hair (which is far from what she has now). Besides, on Model Mayhem we can make albums to perhaps separate the past works and new works. Additionally, our profile has to state what kind of hair length/colour we have. It's no different from changing the hair from red to blonde to black to pink.

2. I love wigs. I hope to have more of them.

3. I think they require a minimum length to begin with. Not all of us are Rapunzel.

photo212grapher wrote:
Count me amongst the men who vote for not shaving a beautiful head of hair. But it is your head, so do what you want. No need to take a popularity contest on what to do. If you wish to determine whether long hair or no hair will get more paying jobs, then ask those that are paying to see if there is enough of a niche market for shaved female heads.

Here's one thing to consider before a radical hair length change - will you be leaving all your longer hair pics in your portfolio? Doesn't make sense to me. Any photographer looking at those will be misled.

Perhaps a high quality wig of long hair enables you to fit the role for any photographer. In fact, multiple wigs gives you plenty of instant look changes, and you do not have to sit through the hair stylist work. Just your wig does.

If you do decide to shave your head donate your long locks to those that want what you are ready to discard:
http://www.locksoflove.org/

There is a market for bald models. Mostly in the art and alternative genres.

I created a completely different account and website.
Old me: https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/1173791/0#/A0
Current me: https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/2400215/viewall

I don't view either portfolio as better or worse, but different.

indefinite anomaly wrote:

There is a market for bald models. Mostly in the art and alternative genres.

I created a completely different account and website.
Old me: https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/1173791/0#/A0
Current me: https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/2400215/viewall

I don't view either portfolio as better or worse, but different.

I think even alt/art is becoming more mainstream these days.