Men with shaved heads are perceived to be more masculine

Thanks to that blog post by Paul Graham about PR firms, I couldn't read this without thinking it's just a long, pathetic ad for shaving products.<p>My goal is to get to become so cynical that I only believe what I read in Dr. Seuss books.

Actually, since male-pattern baldness is driven by testosterone (more accurately, a testosterone derivative called DHT), it makes sense that people have evolved to perceive baldness as masculine and dominant. In this case, baldness is a signifier -- a sort of subconscious code -- for a host of other traits that are seen as powerful.

Walter White in the pilot - full head of hair and a mustache - he's hapless, blown hither and thither on a wayward course by cancerous winds.<p>Walter White by the end of season 4 - shaved head and a goatee - large and in charge.

I think there's something to it about the active choice of a shaved head - I started going bald fairly early (around 18), and shaving my head really seemed to change people's perceptions of me for the better.<p>Of course, it could just be that I became more comfortable and confident after it.

Yes!! Grade 0.5 all over, and toying with grade 0 or using a razor.<p>What I want to know though is when will the US have a bald president? I always thought good hair was a pre-requisite.

There's a great interview with Patrick Stewart where he talks about his experience acclimating to baldness, I highly recommend it: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXOK-ZVJMaU" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXOK-ZVJMaU</a>

I think same goes for being even remotely fit. Not necessarily muscular, but at least not overweight at all.<p>Or perhaps I'm just envious to those who can tolerate themselves as bald, and don't look like eggs. :)

Men with shaved heads are perceived to be more masculine, dominant and, in some cases, to have greater leadership potential than those with longer locks or with thinning hair... Wow - my bald head makes me look more masculine. That's definitely a shocker.

Things change over time. I was talking to my father about the birth of the original (non racist) skin head movement in the UK. He said that the two enduring images of shaven heads in popular psyche, were of those in mental asylums, and people from concentration camps.<p>So initially it was about subverting something that was wildly seen as a mark of weakness and abuse. He said there were article and letters questioning why young men would allow themselves to appear like this, and it was at the time in no way seen as masculine.

If I shave my head, I would look like a round potato. Forget about anything related to masculinity, machoness etc. ppl just laugh at me.

Seems reasonable that bald people seems to be percieved more masculine, men as well man as women. Although I'm not sure if baldness makes those people more atractive. I think it's that they did something unusual. They gained more self confidence and people love self confidence.<p>In fact, I have dreadlocks and people like it, because I look healthy and self confident. I think it's even better than bald head. In XXI century agression is no longer advantage - charisma and inteligence are much more efficient these days.<p>However, a bit of masculine look may help women, they seem to look very atractive with no hair. Maybe not every woman, but I know women that looks good with no hair.

Not to mention what one saves by not having to get a professional haircut.

Well a small consolation is better than none.

Does it mean they are more attractive to women? not sure about it. Rich men are for sure ,wether you have hair or not.

And it puts in you great company with (for example) Mussolini, who started shaving his head when his hair began to thin.