GLI Applauds CeeLo Saying F*** You! to Hair Loss (But May We Suggest…)

If you were watching the fifth season premiere of The Voice, you may have been surprised to see Cee Lo Green’s new, full-head tattoo! (Or maybe not, considering his two biggest hits were “Crazy” and “F*** You”.)

Granted, the flamboyant “head tattoo” is probably only temporary. The boldness of the color suggests that it is not in fact ink, but henna (a popular, organic dye). Still, it inspired me to learn more about the “Crazy” singer, and find what compelled him to go from very bald to a very bold head tattoo overnight, in front of an audience of MILLIONS. My research proved almost as “Crazy” as his Voice-premiere-baldness cure; by all measurable, logical standards, Cee Lo Green should NOT be a pop star. Nevertheless, his long journey eventually led him to stardom. Now, donning a head tattoo, he is an iconic example of non-conformity making it really big.

In his memoir, Everybody’s Brother, Cee Lo wrote, “My body was too short, my head was too big, I was strange and dressed different, so I would get picked on. For a long time I didn’t know if I had any purpose for being here.” Cee Lo also candidly mentioned his former life of crime, long before he ever made headlines boasting a head tattoo on The Voice. The 39-year-old’s life is literally written all over him: a series of forbidding tattoos that hark back to a time before he became one of the most exciting and distinctive singers in pop music, a time he spent submersed in gang culture. (As he put it, Cee Lo “took what he wanted” during that phase.)

While there isn’t a doubt that Cee Lo takes what he wants, it’s well earned. He seems to have rechanneled his energy, and now only looks inward for approval. In the short video documentary, Cee Lo Distilled, his opening words are as follows: “I truly believe that it’s a crime to the canvas to paint the same picture over and over again.” I couldn’t ignore the literal interpretation: his bald head serving as his canvas, and the head tattoo as his picture. His medium is unapologetic and creative.

He goes on to say, “When you’re pioneering something, you have to be willing to win, lose, or draw.” I don’t know if Cee Lo refers to his head tattoo, or his many contributions to his industry. However, it made me reflect on history’s view of famous firsts, the innovators who were supposed “radicals” before becoming commonly accepted.

Some innovative examples that come to mind are Lasik eye surgery, Botox and collagen injections. All of these procedures were once deemed radical, (and possibly even “Crazy”,) but are now as common as getting your teeth whitened. While Good Look Ink does not perform head tattoo procedures, we do simulate the appearance of thousands of living hair follicles through Scalp Micropigmentation (SMP), the implementation of pigment. GLI would like to thank Cee Lo Green for his kindred spirit, as fellow pioneers of a movement, saying “F*** You” to society’s condemnation of bald men. The only truly “Crazy” thing is to buy into anything short of your best self!

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