I figured that out at the age of 20, the first time I shaved my head completely.
The first reactions were: "Do you have cancer?"
Even my girlfriend said to me last week, as we were discussing my recent cryolipolysis (look it up if you want, I froze my lower-belly fat):
"Nature wants you to be a certain way, it means you're supposed to have fat there!"
"Honey, careful, if we go there, you know what it means for my hair loss, it means nature wants me to be bald, now imagine me at university, 22 years old and already slick bald..."
"I would have thought you had a disease."
That's my girl, the honesty just pours out of her mouth. Yes, I looked like I had a disease, especially when I shaved it all off, sides included. I was treated better with my NW5 horseshoe.
I'm almost 3 months after my hair transplant and I'm already over the moon with the very minor regrowth I'm getting, I already let my hair grow longer and even with the nearly bald crown, I look better, healthier, more vibrant, etc.
I also get more smiles from women I don't know at work, every single time I let my hair grow. I always buzzed it again because I thought it was enough, but that should change once my second hair transplant grows in.
Anyway, people telling you to shave it all of is a scam. Do not become one of those generic bald clones, I know you think it makes you look older, but it's better to look older than to look like someone with leukemia. Great post OP.