History Main / BaldHeadOfToughness

-->-- ''Series/{{Atlanta}}'', Season 3 Episode 3

->'''Guy at Party:''' I'm losing my hair, but I'm afraid of what it'll look like if I shave it all off. I don't know...Maybe I got the juice to pull it off. What do you think?\\
'''Darius:''' I dunno, I feel like that's more easily pulled off by white men that are assumed to be dangerous, like Jason Statham, Bruce Willis, The Rock. Same reason why black dudes can do it as well.

*** Wen Hai Lee, the owner of Hogushi Kaikan, who acts as an acupuncturist and masseur. He was formerly a Pro Assassin, which helps his masseur and acupuncturist job considering that he knows pressure points (In the first fight with Majima, he threatens to break the cyclop's left arm with a thumb. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkXy8JvfxQA&t=50s Miss the QTE in time and you're treated to this...]]). He's also huge enough to be humorously titled by the game as '''[[GiantMook MASSIVE MAN]]'''. With the Parka, he also looks like ''VideoGame/Yakuza4'' & ''VideoGame/Yakuza5'' protag, [[TheBigGuy Taiga Saejima]], shaved head and al

-->-- ''Series/{{Atlanta}}'', Season 3 Episode 2

-> '''Krillin:''' Don't you know that everyone who's serious about martial arts shaves their head? Look at Master Roshi, he shaves!\\
'''Roshi:''' Nope, I'm naturally bald.
-->-- ''Manga/DragonBall'', Episode 14

There is also a gendered component to this trope due to the real world fact that high levels of testosterone are a leading cause of [[PrematurelyBald premature baldness]]. This has lead to the idea that LongHairIsFeminine and that, along with an association of [[WomenAreDelicate femininity with physical weakness]], has made many treat baldness like a more extreme version of RealMenHaveShortHair, using this trope to reinforce depictions of MenAreTough. If a bald guy is part of a team and they aren't the leader, they are very likely to be TheBigGuy.

--->'''Darius:''' I dunno, I feel like that's more easily pulled off by white men that are assumed to be dangerous, right. Like Creator/JasonStatham, Creator/BruceWillis, [[Creator/DwayneJohnson The Rock]]...Same reason why black dudes can do it as well..."

* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'': Captain Sisko is a BaldBlackLeaderGuy who is shown to be more willing than Picard had usually been to get down and dirty in the trenches. In "[[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS04E01E02TheWayOfTheWarrior The Way of the Warrior]]", he begins to transition into a wartime commander as the Klingons turn hostile, starting with him fighting to defend Ops against a BoardingParty along with his crew.
* ''Series/Watchmen2019'': [[spoiler:Cal, who is actually Doctor Manhattan from the [[ComicBook/{{Watchmen}} original comic book]].]] When he regains his memories and supernatural abilities [[spoiler: and shifts back into the NighIvulnerable PhysicalGod Doctor Manhattan]], he loses all of the hair he had [[spoiler: as Cal]]. Similar to his comic book counterpart, this overlaps with BaldMystic since those abilities are supernatural in nature.

** The second bald character in Soul Society? That'd be Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, the [[spoiler:late]] Captain of the First Squad and Captain-Commander of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, the uncontested most powerful person in Soul Society, and arguably the series, with few others even coming close. Outside of his PlayingWithFire Bankai [[note]]which is so destructive that he can only use it for a fraction of a second, without risking ''incinerating the entire world and everyone on it''[[/note]], his robes belie an incredibly muscular physique that indicates his superior strength and durability: he easily fought Espada-level Arrancar Wonderweiss barehanded, [[spoiler:shattering him completely with a single double-fisted punch.]]

*** Wen Hai Lee, the owner of Hogushi Kaikan, who acts as an acupuncturist and masseur. He was formerly a Pro Assassin, which helps his masseur and acupuncturist job considering that he knows pressure points (In the first fight with Majima, he threatens to break the cyclop's left arm with a thumb. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkXy8JvfxQA&t=50s Miss the QTE in time and you're treated to this...]]). He's also huge enough to be humorously titled by the game as '''[[GiantMook MASSIVE MAN]]'''. With the Parka, he also looks like ''VideoGame/Yakuza4'' & ''VideoGame/Yakuza5'' protag, [[TheBigGuy Taiga Saejima]], shaved head and all.

That said, there is also a distinct trend for tough female characters to be bald, especially within the action and science fiction genres. LongHairIsFeminine and WomenAreDelicate? No problem, just remove the hair and now you have a visual short-hand for tough as nails, emotionally hardened, and likely battle-weary female characters. Such characters are almost always {{Action Girl}}s and/or {{Tomboy}}s with the bald/shaved head functioning similarly to BoyishShortHair, BraidsOfAction, and TomboyishPonytail.

** An example in ''VideoGame/Yakuza3'' has [[FatBastard Tsuyoshi]] [[IHaveYouNowMyPretty Kanda]], who's completely bald, and UnskilledButStrong, the strong part being that he's capable of ripping out decorations installed into the walls and lifting up heavy objects easily, and the unskilled part being that [[spoiler:before his death, he lunged at Mine but gets overpowered fairly quickly]]. Like his predecessor [[VideoGame/Yakuza2 Koji Shindo]], he's a lustful man who only took to the Nishikiyama throne only for the purpose of getting laid. [[spoiler:[[BigBad Mine]] takes him out, though.]]

%%** A humorous ''inverted'' example in ''VideoGame/Yakuza3'' having [[FatBastard Tsuyoshi]] [[IHaveYouNowMyPretty Kanda]], who may sport a bald head but he's practically one of the weakest bosses in the game and even in the narrative. Like his predecessor [[VideoGame/Yakuza2 Koji Shindo]], he's a lustful man who only took to the Nishikiyama throne only for some pussy. [[spoiler:[[BigBad Mine]] takes him out, though.]]

** A humorous ''inverted'' example in ''VideoGame/Yakuza3'' having [[FatBastard Tsuyoshi]] [[IHaveYouNowMyPretty Kanda]], who may sport a bald head but he's practically one of the weakest bosses in the game and even in the narrative. Like his predecessor [[VideoGame/Yakuza2 Koji Shindo]], he's a lustful man who only took to the Nishikiyama throne only for some pussy. [[spoiler:[[BigBad Mine]] takes him out, though.]]

A [[TropesInAggregate Trope In Aggregate]]. Related to DelinquentHair, as many of those in counterculture movements have adopted head-shaving and general baldness as part of their aesthetics as a form of intimidation and rejection of mainstream standards of beauty and conduct. Compare ManlyFacialHair. Contrast BaldnessAngst and BaldnessMeansSickness. See also PrematurelyBald, which may lead into this trope, but is often accompanied with BaldnessAngst due to social stigmas. Can overlap with BaldMystic if the character is both mystical and durable/notably resilient. Not to be confused with HardHead, which may be used to help portray this trope.

A BaldMystic may also be this if they embody the mystical abilities/intelligence in addition to being capable of stand on their own.

A [[TropesInAggregate Trope In Aggregate]]. Related to DelinquentHair, as many of those in counterculture movements have adopted head-shaving and general baldness as part of their aesthetics as a form of intimidation and rejection of mainstream standards of beauty and conduct. Compare ManlyFacialHair. Contrast BaldnessAngst and BaldnessMeansSickness. See also PrematurelyBald, which may lead into this trope, but is often accompanied with BaldnessAngst due to social stigmas. Not to be confused with HardHead, which may be used to help portray this trope.

There is also a gendered component to this trope due to the real world fact that high levels of testosterone are a leading cause of [(PrematurelyBald premsture baldness]]. This has lead to the idea that LongHairIsFeminine and that, along with an association of [[WomenAreDelicate femininity with physical weakness]], has made many treat baldness like a more extreme version of RealMenHaveShortHair, using this trope to reinforce depictions of MenAreTough. If a bald guy is part of a team and they aren't the leader, they are very likely to be TheBigGuy.

One reason behind this trope is that hair of medium and long length can get in the way when one is physically training, so going completely bald or shaving one's head avoids the issue entirely. This is (in part) why many armed forces require new recruits to shave their heads before undergoing basic training. High levels of testosterone is a cause of baldness. Symbolically, on the other hand, since hair acts as a natural defense against the elements, baldness can imply toughness as one is naturally more [[ExposedToTheElements exposed to harsh weather]] than those with hair.

There is also a gendered component to this trope due to LongHairIsFeminine. Since long hair is often associated with [[WomenAreDelicate femininity and physical weakness]], baldness can be seen as the logical antithesis of that trope or a more extreme version of RealMenHaveShortHair. Therefore, this trope tends to coincide with and reinforce MenAreTough. If a bald guy is part of a team and they aren't the leader, they are very likely to be TheBigGuy.

One reason behind this trope is that hair of medium and long length can get in the way when one is physically training, so going completely bald or shaving one's head avoids the issue entirely. This is (in part) why many armed forces require new recruits to shave their heads before undergoing basic training. Symbolically, on the other hand, since hair acts as a natural defense against the elements, baldness can imply toughness as one is naturally more [[ExposedToTheElements exposed to harsh weather]] than those with hair.

* While most of Creator/BruceWillis' roles since ''Film/{{Unbreakable}}'' count, his signature role of John McClane in ''Film/LiveFreeOrDieHard'' is a good example of the trope as he was more MadeOfIron than ever--the people half his age he is fighting land much more hits on him, he is twice forced to jump off two moving vehicles being attacked by aircraft, and even ''[[AttackingThroughYourself kills a man by shooting himself on the shoulder]]''. Once his daughter shouts at a hacker helping John to "dig deep for a bigger set of balls, 'cause you're gonna need 'em", his response is "Wow, I know that tone. It's just weird hearing it come from someone... [[LampshadeHanging with hair]]."

* While most of Creator/BruceWillis' roles since ''Film/{{Unbreakable}}'' count, ''Film/LiveFreeAndDieHard'' has his signature role going through this, and John [=McClane=] didn't miss a beat while bald, and in fact was more MadeOfIron than ever - the people half his age he is fighting land much more hits on him, he is twice forced to jump off two moving vehicles being attacked by aircraft, and even ''[[AttackingThroughYourself kills a man by shooting himself on the shoulder]]''. Once his daughter shouts at a hacker helping John to "dig deep for a bigger set of balls, 'cause you're gonna need 'em", his response is "Wow, I know that tone. It's just weird hearing it come from someone... with hair."

%%* While most of Creator/BruceWillis' roles since ''Film/{{Unbreakable}}'' count, ''Film/LiveFreeAndDieHard'' %%has his signature role going through this, and John [=McClane=] didn't miss a beat while bald, and in fact %%was more MadeOfIron than ever! Once his daughter shouts at a hacker helping John to "dig deep for a bigger %%set of balls, 'cause you're gonna need 'em", his response is "Wow, I know that tone. It's just weird hearing %%it come from someone... with hair."

* While most of Creator/BruceWillis' roles since ''Film/{{Unbreakable}}'' count, ''Film/LiveFreeAndDieHard'' has his signature role going through this, and John [=McClane=] didn't miss a beat while bald, and in fact was more MadeOfIron than ever! Once his daughter shouts at a hacker helping John to "dig deep for a bigger set of balls, 'cause you're gonna need 'em", his response is "Wow, I know that tone. It's just weird hearing it come from someone... with hair."

* ''Film/Alien3'': Downplayed. Ellen Ripley was already an ActionGirl and FinalGirl after being the sole survivor of her crew in ''Film/{{Alien}}'' and going against and killing Xenomorphs in both preceding films. In this movie, her going bald is incidental: a lice break out on the ship forces ''everyone'' to shave their heads completely bald to stop the spread. That said, it's in this film [[spoiler:she becomes a survivor of attempted rape and musters up the willpower to [[HeroicSacrifice kill herself in order to kill the Xenomorph Queen embryo gestating inside of her]].]]