Getting really stressed about my hair

[Zenith123]

Hello,

Well I am 36 and I have only in the last 5 months noticed anything amiss with my hair. I have always had a strong widows peak but it never receded or got any different. I always have medium length hair and so I guess this is one reason I just never noticed anything. Also I hardly look at myself much in the mirror.

Well I got my first comment about 5 months ago when a lady I know said god you are losing your hair. Then another guy said I was receding at work. Well I asked my hairdresser and she said she couldn't see any difference. I have noticed that the sides of my hair have become thinner. It is harder to manage my fringe. Well I am new at this so ask me if I have left anything out. Oh my father starting going bald at 39, but his followed a different pattern it seems. He lost from his crown first. I seem to not be.

Well I will show you some photos. I am stressed and upset just typing this out. I've always been known for my hair, and I feel it's a part of my character. My hair is thick everywhere else it seems!

Funny enough i'm not worried if anybody finds how who I am, but it helps to try and be private. No i'm not famous lol.




Sounds corny I know and I am modest but I am told I am rather handsome by women. This really dents my pride and self esteem. This is another photo of me this month. As you can see it's so hard to tell with my normal hairstyle (messy).



Also really worried about using drugs?

What is your advice?

[Zenith123]

Oh and thank you for your help.

Please help!

[Zenith123]

Anyone?

[Mribby1]

it does look like you are losing your hair. The minoxidil and finasteride is the only fda approved stuff that works. If you don't want to use meds. you're just going to progress even further and if you can deal with that and shave you're head then thats great. you've probably inherited your hair loss from your mother's side.

[Zenith123]

Oh Thanks very much for your reply. I guess I'll have to look at Meds. Will Meds be effective for me? Is a transplant viable?

[Haircure]

Oh Thanks very much for your reply. I guess I'll have to look at Meds. Will Meds be effective for me? Is a transplant viable?

Unfortunately you seem to have clear signs of hairloss, judging from your hairline. But it's not that bad considering your age, since you are likely to lose hair slowly. Yes hair transplant is a viable option but normally what hair specialist tell you is to get on finasteride to prevent further hairloss and possibly have some hair growth. The results of finasteride are usually seen after 12 months but keep in mind there may be some shedding involved. Adding minoxidil may help with promoting hair growth, and Nizoral shampoo is also a good addition. I wouldn't worry so much if I were you, since you still have great hair. So see a few specialist if you can, get some opinions, and in my opinion get on finasteride ASAP to prevent further loss.

If you are looking into hair transplants there are some very good docs out there that give you amazing results. For hairlines, in my opinion the results I've seen with Dr. Rahal are simply amazing and one of the best.

[Zenith123]

Thank you for your great reply. Well yes I can see hair loss, and I know I shouldn't worry. I am also worried about the cost of medication and transplanting since I am on a low paid wage in the UK. Annoying that I never noticed the hair loss before, otherwise Finisteride may have halted it largely! You seem to suggest I have age in my favour, thats something.

[Mribby1]

Thank you for your great reply. Well yes I can see hair loss, and I know I shouldn't worry. I am also worried about the cost of medication and transplanting since I am on a low paid wage in the UK. Annoying that I never noticed the hair loss before, otherwise Finisteride may have halted it largely! You seem to suggest I have age in my favour, thats something.

Start meds if you can. You can get Kirkland minoxidil for dirt cheap in the uk a years supply for 30 quid or so. However fin is the drug which will help most. There is a tiny chance you may get sides. Fin is a tad more expensive. Prices do vary I get mine from Dr Edgar a licensed gp who'll prescribe it for you if you contact him and he'll email you a medical form to fill out. His prices vary I get generic proscar 5mgs (finasteride) cut it into quarters 1.25mg and take daily. It works out a lot cheaper than individual 1mg pills. I paid £189 for a 14month supply. A bit steep but it's worth it. Keep us posted on how you do and feel once you start meds.

[BigThinker]

Get on finasteride and minoxidil ASAP.

I think given your age and your current hair condition, if you have good donor, you could probably fill in a solid NW1.5 and have it be unnoticeable to the untrained eye.

Feel free to rock whatever hair style makes you comfortable, but I'd strongly advise removing any amount of confidence you have invested in your hair; invest your confidence in other aspects of your being (job, clothes, personality, humor, etc.). Be okay with the possibility that you may lose your hair no matter what, and treat keeping your hair as a bonus. Don't be the dude who rocks see through long hair either (not saying it's like that now), but that dude is far less respectable than a guy who owns it with shorter hair cuts.

[Zenith123]

Thank you very much for your reply and advice. It's nice to know there are people out there that understand and can give some information and help. That goes for all of you.

I know deep down you are right. It is only hair. It isn't your life, and it shouldn't be. I still feel devastated to have to go down this path. I have enough stress without this. Hey I know there are worse things at see, but it's all relative right? You feel how you feel. I have always hated the thought of balding, and always loved my hair.

I won't be the guy who looks like a fool with thinning long hair. I hope I am not that guy now, let alone in 1 to 2 years.

Drugs, drugs. Expense and worrisome. I already take prozac so I will have to talk to my doctor. They tend to not know a lot about hair issues however. I do have two free consultations booked. I also have ADD. Any brain fuzzyness side-effects won't go down well with me.

I am loathed to go for very expensive FUE and FUT seems horrible. I wish I was rich and could go for U-FUE, I wish I didn't even have to or want to crucially. I don't earn much and I can't use all my savings on it.


Out of interest, what Norwood indicator am I do you think? 1.5 in the future sounds nice. I presume you mean 1.5 after transplant? I just wish i'd caught this earlier.

To Mribby:

Start meds if you can. You can get Kirkland minoxidil for dirt cheap in the uk a years supply for 30 quid or so. However fin is the drug which will help most. There is a tiny chance you may get sides. Fin is a tad more expensive. Prices do vary I get mine from Dr Edgar a licensed gp who'll prescribe it for you if you contact him and he'll email you a medical form to fill out. His prices vary I get generic proscar 5mgs (finasteride) cut it into quarters 1.25mg and take daily. It works out a lot cheaper than individual 1mg pills. I paid £189 for a 14month supply. A bit steep but it's worth it. Keep us posted on how you do and feel once you start meds.

Thank you. I will have to consult my GP as I take another pill at the moment. I suppose you can take these pills abroad? Anyway thank you, I will go for this consultation in 2 weeks then make the decision. I hope you agree it is wise.

[Age30 NW3]

I'd say you're a norwood 3. Most bald men make the same mistake: they cling desperately to the hair they have left and refuse to learn how to live without it. Don't make that mistake! Yes, being bald sucks. But us baldies are given the opportunity to be exceptional: most men are out of shape and complacent. If you get in great shape and learn to be confident without hair, you will have a major leg up on most men.

[Notcoolanymore]

Age30, have you shaved it and got in shape?

[Zenith123]

I'd say you're a norwood 3. Most bald men make the same mistake: they cling desperately to the hair they have left and refuse to learn how to live without it. Don't make that mistake! Yes, being bald sucks. But us baldies are given the opportunity to be exceptional: most men are out of shape and complacent. If you get in great shape and learn to be confident without hair, you will have a major leg up on most men.

Thank you. Well if I'm only a Norwood 3 and I get on fin I won't need to worry about all that anyway but I get your point. My friend insists I'm a Norwood 2 but I agree with Norwood 3.

[Age30 NW3]

Don't put all your stock in finestride. It is not a magic cure...it will be a lifetime of monthly expense with risk of many side effects, and it doesn't work for everyone. Is your whole existence really wrapped up in your hair?

[Mribby1]

Alot of varying advice which does demonstrate the unfortunate reality that there is no nailed on fix for men in our situation. Fin works wonders on some people, most maintain what they already have and a small percentage are non responders something like 15 percent of men. Whatever you do sir i hope it works out well for you