What's my norwood level approx.? 23 year old

[canuhandleit]

I took 10 pictures, as I'm not really sure what will really help.

One is January 2008 to serve as a baseline, it's a terrible pic but it's all I have that displays it.

Can anyone take a guess for my norwood level?

Aside from this, I have no loss anywhere aside from the recession as far as I can tell. In fact, I have never received more compliments on my hair (which makes it suck that much more).

Thanks in advance! Let me know if you need more pics...


January 2008 (the same hairline I had at 15 so this is before any receding took place):

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/8837/oldndm.png

April 2013:

http://imageshack.us/a/img29/1733/photoon41813at1114pm.png

http://imageshack.us/a/img855/2814/photoon41813at1115pm.png

http://imageshack.us/a/img202/9418/photoon41813at1115pm2.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img259/264/photoon41813at1115pm3.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img195/6043/photoon41813at1115pm4.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img442/7058/photoon41813at1115pm5.png

http://imageshack.us/a/img404/4586/photoon41813at1115pm6.png

http://imageshack.us/a/img132/5267/photoon41813at1116pm.png

http://imageshack.us/a/img203/5973/photoon41813at1119pm.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img22/23/photoon41813at1119pm2.jpg

[ravegrover]

dude, ur hair is perfect. ditch this website and enjoy ur life!

[canuhandleit]

dude, ur hair is perfect. ditch this website and enjoy ur life!

Hey ravegrover,

I figured I would get a response like that. I think today, my hair looks great. But I also know that it's receded in the past 2 years and as you can see, it's no longer the straight hairline I've sported up til April 2011 when I first noticed it being a bit sparse. So while it may be good today... how long is that the case? And what norwood would this be? 1.5? 2? I imagine it's not yet a 2 fully.

My mothers side is full of baldies. My fathers side is full of norwood 3/4/5, my dad is like a NW4A and had what looked like a receding hairline at his wedding at 27. So his has been incredibly slow.

I'm curious as if I'll be as lucky as my father.

[canuhandleit]

Any estimates on a Norwood level? I figure if I have an idea... I can get off these forums for a few months and wait to see if anything new comes out... doubt it, but ya.

[Shan]

take fin bro

[canuhandleit]

take fin bro

Not looking to take fin, bro. I have taken it for 3 months in the past, did not like. And my doctor and gf (who is a med student) have advised against it.

Just looking for a norwood estimate.

[hairboy]

I would say that's a norwood 2. But you have great density from what I can see. Not trying to be a dick but there are guys who would kill to have that hair. It looks like a healthy mature hairline, but maybe it's just me.

If you don't have any thinning I wouldn't take any meds at all. (If it ain't broken don't fix it mentality) If it's only your hairline that's receding you should save some money and get a HT in the future. In the long term I think that's a more cheaper and better solution.

Also keep in mind that the hairline recedes after the 20's for some (actually most I think) men. But it is hard to predict whether it is going to recede very bad or not.

[canuhandleit]

I would say that's a norwood 2. But you have great density from what I can see. Not trying to be a dick but there are guys who would kill to have that hair. It looks like a healthy mature hairline, but maybe it's just me.

If you don't have any thinning I wouldn't take any meds at all. (If it ain't broken don't fix it mentality) If it's only your hairline that's receding you should save some money and get a HT in the future. In the long term I think that's a more cheaper and better solution.

Also keep in mind that the hairline recedes after the 20's for some (actually most I think) men. But it is hard to predict whether it is going to recede very bad or not.

Thanks Hairboy. I think it's close to a NW2 as well, but not exactly just yet as it hasn't locked in place yet completely. I also have been a NW1 since puberty I think so who knows what will happen next. Pictures I see of myself at 15 show the NW1.

I do think my hair is great right now, I am just worried that if I keep progressing beyond a NW2, that won't actually be the case for long. If I could stay this way forever (doubt it), I would be incredibly ecstatic. I actually like the slight recession as it suits me well, but the fear of further recession is what's scary.

I am thinking about exploring HASCI and have them replace grafts as needed to maintain my NW2. I am just questioning how much donor regeneration actually takes place. Fortunately, I am in a position where money is not really a concern and I am more than happy to invest in my hair as needed. And also, if it's a limited supply - the possibility of Aderans/Histogen/similar treatment coming into play in the next few years will also change my plans. I probably need to meet with a doctor that specializes in MPB to put together a reasonable master plan.

I am avoiding fin entirely. Would rather go bald than take fin. I have taken it before, bad sides that took me a while to recover from. And my derma and gf advised against it.

[hairboy]

You have a realistic opinion about the situation. That's a good thing.
And I think you are doing the right thing to take action and worry right now about this. I know several men (including me :P) who took action way too late and now the battle is a very tough one.

Looking at old pics sucks most of the time when you are looking at your hair
I know that feeling.

I read several threads about HASCI on this forum, but also on the dutch forum (I'm from Holland) and I'm too still not sure about this donor regeneration thing. I hope within 2/3 years we will get more info on this, but if you ask me now I'm not entirely sold on the idea of HASCI's donor regeneration. They seem like a top class HT option though for a FUE.

It's good for you that money is not an issue, but don't rush it with a HT I would say. I think with your current situation you should at least wait for 2 years (if you keep receding, that is) before taking a HT.

Like you said hopefully in the meantime we can get some other options like Aderans. But to be honest I am not counting on it for the forthcoming 4/5 years. Don't know it's just a gut feeling (would be delighted to be proven wrong though)

From what I read about fina/duta you did make the right decision to stay off it. I did the same thing as you. It just seems like a very dangerous drug, even if you don't get any sides at all. Messing up with your hormones.. I don't know, it puts me off. I have never used it and don't intend to, but you never know, maybe in the future.

However I do use minoxidil and I did get some good results with it. But I am a diffuse loser so it won't have the same impact for you I guess. Minox can get some regrowth at your temples but most of the time these hairs remain thin. Overall minoxidil can also make your hair thicker and healthier, but I don't think your hair suffers from being too thin when I look at your pictures. The thing is, if you use minoxidil you probably won't see much result, but maybe in the meantime it can slow down your regress and it won't be visible for you.

If you do decide to take a topical I would use minoxidil because the sides are at a minimum (for me and for lots of other users I read about). You do get more facial hair, but that's something you can handle pretty easily

On second thought when I look at your pics I agree you are not a full NW2. More like a NW1+ towards NW2.

[Woodyy]

Did you post this on another forum as well? I remember seeing this before but I thought I replied to it lol, maybe I'm tripping balls.

But anyway, like I said before (I think lol), that is a completely normal hairline for someone 20+, 99% of men don't keep a perfectly straight hairline after their teens, I genuinely think when you see someone 30+ with a perfectly straight hairline it looks ridiculous, I would definitely rather be NW2 than NW0, it adds maturity but doesn't make you look "old" imo.

[Shan]

I would say it is a Norwood 2 which can also be a mature hairline. Your hair is fine bro

[canuhandleit]

You have a realistic opinion about the situation. That's a good thing.
And I think you are doing the right thing to take action and worry right now about this. I know several men (including me :P) who took action way too late and now the battle is a very tough one.

Looking at old pics sucks most of the time when you are looking at your hair
I know that feeling.

I read several threads about HASCI on this forum, but also on the dutch forum (I'm from Holland) and I'm too still not sure about this donor regeneration thing. I hope within 2/3 years we will get more info on this, but if you ask me now I'm not entirely sold on the idea of HASCI's donor regeneration. They seem like a top class HT option though for a FUE.

It's good for you that money is not an issue, but don't rush it with a HT I would say. I think with your current situation you should at least wait for 2 years (if you keep receding, that is) before taking a HT.

Like you said hopefully in the meantime we can get some other options like Aderans. But to be honest I am not counting on it for the forthcoming 4/5 years. Don't know it's just a gut feeling (would be delighted to be proven wrong though)

From what I read about fina/duta you did make the right decision to stay off it. I did the same thing as you. It just seems like a very dangerous drug, even if you don't get any sides at all. Messing up with your hormones.. I don't know, it puts me off. I have never used it and don't intend to, but you never know, maybe in the future.

However I do use minoxidil and I did get some good results with it. But I am a diffuse loser so it won't have the same impact for you I guess. Minox can get some regrowth at your temples but most of the time these hairs remain thin. Overall minoxidil can also make your hair thicker and healthier, but I don't think your hair suffers from being too thin when I look at your pictures. The thing is, if you use minoxidil you probably won't see much result, but maybe in the meantime it can slow down your regress and it won't be visible for you.

If you do decide to take a topical I would use minoxidil because the sides are at a minimum (for me and for lots of other users I read about). You do get more facial hair, but that's something you can handle pretty easily

On second thought when I look at your pics I agree you are not a full NW2. More like a NW1+ towards NW2.

It seems like rogaine might be a good thing to try in a few months if it continues to recede. I don't want to start it prematurely either since if I time it right, I can extend my timeline a bit I imagine.

[canuhandleit]

Did you post this on another forum as well? I remember seeing this before but I thought I replied to it lol, maybe I'm tripping balls.

But anyway, like I said before (I think lol), that is a completely normal hairline for someone 20+, 99% of men don't keep a perfectly straight hairline after their teens, I genuinely think when you see someone 30+ with a perfectly straight hairline it looks ridiculous, I would definitely rather be NW2 than NW0, it adds maturity but doesn't make you look "old" imo.

I did! Lol I figured there are different enough users at each to get different opinions.

Sorry for tripping you up hahah

I do like the NW2, I just don't want to go farther... of course. Can only hope it's a mature hairline, or will at least stay this way for a while.

[Shan]

If you really don't want to recede past a Norwood 2 then you're best act would be to take fin.