When do you decide that you are going bald?

[Tracy C]

Friends/family/doctor all say that my hair looks fine and to just 'keep an eye on it'. At what point do I need to decide to get treatment? Any suggestions on the point where you just know that you're going bald?

It's hard to say because it tends to just creep up on you. The best thing to do is to take good quality photos of your scalp every six months with your hair parted down the middle - both wet and dry. This is the easiest way to tell of you actually are balding. The part will get progressively wider over time and it will be easier to see when you hair is wet.

Some things you can do right now are:

Switch your shampoo and conditioner out for sulfate free shampoo and conditioner - if you haven't already done so.

Start using a Ketoconazole based shampoo such as Nizoral, Nizoral A/D or Regenepure once a week in place of your regular shampoo. Nizoral 2% requires a prescription in the US, Nizoral A/D 1% is very hard to find and Regenepure is only available online.

Make an appointment at a salon to have a stylist teach you how to take proper care of your hair.

Start taking a good quality "Hair, Skin & Nails" multi-vitamin. This could be found in the vitamin isle of your local pharmacy.

Most people in the US are vitamin D3 deficient. So it would not hurt to take a vitamin D3 supplement.

If you know you have a family history of male or female pattern baldness and you are not ready to take Finasteride, consider taking a good quality Saw Palmetto complex. This could also be found in the vitamin isle of your local pharmacy.

To help you know what vitamins/supplements I am talking about, I am including the following links:

http://www.naturesbounty.com/product/035710

http://www.naturesbounty.com/product/015605

http://www.naturesbounty.com/product/006052

[Shan]

what is a good shampoo to use everyday, i use nizoral once a week

[Aames]

If you notice recession in an mpb pattern or thinning, YOU HAVE MPB!!!! Do not let idiots convince you otherwise; you need to start treating it asap. Mature hairlines develop in a slightly different pattern from what I have seen. Don't make the mistake of noticing a bit of recession in an mpb pattern and saying "Oh, I just have a mature hairline! I'll be fine!" Next thing you know, you'll wake up and a cold, hard NW3+ will be staring you in the face. Act now before it is too late and salvation shall be your's.

[Shan]

I would not wait and take photos for 6 months like tracy says.
If you feel you're losing hair, its better to act straight away