History Main / BaldHeadOfToughness

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.

* ''VideoGame/FallOutNewVegas'': From the "Dead Money" DLC, there's Christine, an ActionGirl member of the Circle of Steel, trained in energy [[JackOfAllTrades weapons, explosives, melee weapons, firearms, and hand-to-hand combat]]. Even after being [[HandicappedBadass lobotomized and mute]], she is [[{{Determinator}} dead-set]] on going after Elijah to the point that [[spoiler:she can turn against you to pursue her revenge]]. If asked about her baldness, she'll tell you that she did it by choice to mark [[ImportantHaircut her joining the Circle and solidifying her resolve to kill Elijah]].

* Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse: The MCU version of Nebula is a [[BaldOfEvil bald]], {{Cyborg}}, DarkActionGirl who has SuperStrength and SuperToughness. The years of torture she suffered under Thanos as he [[SerialProstheses forced more cybernetic upgrades]] on her to make her stronger has [[TheStoic hardened]] her [[AloofAlly emotionally]]. She is also characterized as a {{Determinator}}, shown by her ability to establish herself as the [[AuthorityEqualsAsskicking new leader]] of the Ravagers even when she's [[HandicappedBadass down a hand]] in ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol2''.

* ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights2'': Khelgar Ironfist is a bald, [[AnAxeToGrind battle-axe wielding]], dwarven fighter who is built like a MightyGlacier with high Strength and Constitution base stats. Unless you've built your character for durability too, he'll be the only character of your initial party capable of taking hard hits.

* ''Wii Sports'' series: Matt, the only bald NPC Mii, is the champion of the combat sports, in stark contrast to Ryan, a long-haired NPC Mii, who is the first opponent in these sports.
** ''VideoGame/WiiSports'': Matt is at the bottom of the CPU ladder in every sport, except boxing.
** ''VideoGame/WiiSportsResort'': Matt is the champion of Swordplay and the final boss in Swordplay Showdown.

* ''VideoGame/{{Wulverblade}}'': The game is full of bald-headed warriors on both sides of the conflict. Of course there's also Caradoc and Brinnus, two of the [[PlayerCharacter Player Characters]] of the game.

* ''VideoGame/{{Wulverblade}}'': The game is full of bald-headed warriors on both sides of the conflict. Of course there's also Caradoc and Grinnith, two of the [[PlayerCharacter Player Characters]] of the game.

* ''VideoGame/{{Wulverblade}}'': The game is full of bald-headed warriors on both sides of the conflict. Of course there's also Caradoc and Grinnith, two of the [[PlayerCharacter Player Characters]] of the game.

* ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnline'': Agil is tall, bald, black and has a goatee. He's one of Kirito's trusted friends and serves as his team's TheBigGuy, with a preference for [[AnAxeToGrind two-handed axes in combat]]. In terms of strength and durability, he's a MightyGlacier, though it's somewhat downplayed because his speed only ''seems'' slow relative to several of his teammates who are {{Lightning Bruiser}}s.

** In the [[Recap/SpongeBobSquarePantsS3E8NoWeeniesAllowedSquilliamReturns same episode]], the two stereotypical {{Nerd}} fish at the designated restaurant for wimps [=SpongeBob=] returns to throughout the episode, Weenie Hut Jr.'s, discuss this trope as they advise [=SpongeBob=] on how to get into the Salty Spitoon.

** ''VideoGame/Yakuza3'' has {{The Brut|e}}ish [[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 lunges 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, though he did use quite a lot of brute force, contrasting with the other two cold and calculating Lieutenants [[BadassBookworm Yoshitaka Mine]] and [[GeniusBruiser Goh Hamazaki]]. [[spoiler:[[BigBad Mine]] takes him out, though.]]

*** Taiga Saejima has a buzz cut in ''VideoGame/Yakuza5'' and up until ''VideoGame/YakuzaLikeADragon'', after returning from prison. Out of all of the protagonists in the series, he is the strongest in terms of raw physical strength, having developed his CharlesAtlasSuperpower of immense strength and durability in jail. Notably, he is the only other protagonist besides [[TheHero Kiryu]], able to pick up motorcycles and in one cut scene, stops a moving car ''with his bare hands'' before moving out of the way. In ''VideoGame/Yakuza4'', he also once fought Kiryu outside of Morning Glory Orphanage, and he actually managed to give him a run for his money. The two clashed once more in ''VideoGame/Yakuza5'' on a helipad but it's up to the player on who falls. Like with Futoshi Shimano, Taiga also has a Tiger Irezumi.

* ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'': Joel Osterman a.k.a. Mr. Manhattan. When he gains his powers and abilities that make him a NighInvulnerable PhysicalGod, Joel loses all of his hair. Overlaps with BaldMystic since those abilities are supernatural in nature.

** ''VideoGame/Yakuza6'' has [[TheBrute Ed]] of the Saio Triad, who's completely bald save for his goatee. He's an absolute {{Determinator}}, uses his StoutStrength, his {{Acrofatic]] abilities, and his karambit skill to fight Kiryu and Co.

* The ''Wii Sports'' series has Matt, the only bald NPC Mii, as the champion of the combat sports, in stark contrast to Ryan, a long-haired NPC Mii, who is the first opponent.

* ''VideoGame/HotlineMiami2WrongNumber'' has [[TheLeader Tony]], a bald tough guy who can [[OneHitKill snuff out lives with a single punch]], [[spoiler:and has survived a [[DwindlingParty brutal onslaught]] from the Son ([[ShortLivedLeadeship who promptly chucked himself off a building]]), right before [[RabidCop Manny Pardo]] shows up.]]

* ''VideoGame/LisaThePainfulRPG'' has Brad Armstrong, the bald protagonist of the game. He's been through a lot of adversities, but the biggest one of them all has to be at the end of the game: [[spoiler:When he gets to Rando Island to save Buddy, he's stopped by an entire ''army'' and his ''own friends''. What follows after is a MookHorrorShow as [[OneManArmy Brad tears through them all without help]] ([[HandicappedBadass or even his arms]]), and manages to defeat [[TheDreaded Rando]] alone.]]

* ''VideoGame/MotherRussiaBleeds'' has two examples in the main character.

** Second is Boris, the savage of the 4 man band. He's got madness in his eyes, is a [[FragileSpeedster swift fighter, even if he can't take much damage]], and is drugged on Nekro.

* ''Film/BlackAdam2022'' has Black Adam played by no other than Creator/DwayneJohnson. Baldness was a costum imposed on slaves in Ancient Kahndaq. Being a former slave himself, Black Adam retains his chrome-dome even after becoming a Champion and the ruler of his country. According to the actor, he is possibly on equal footing with ''Superman''.

* ''Film/BlackAdam2022'' has Black Adam played by no other than Creator/DwayneJohnson. Baldness was a costum imposed on slaves in Ancient Kahndaq. Being a former slave himself, Black Attack retains his chrome-dome even after becoming a Champion and the ruler of his country. According to the actor, he is possibly on equal footing with ''Superman''.