I've been browsing the forum for a while and soaking in the advice offered. As a little background, I'm currently 40, and although I was receding as early as my mid-twenties, it wasn't until January 2001 that I took any preventative steps. Back at that time, I started Propecia/minoxidil, kept up with it for a few months, saw results and even got compliments from friends of mine who were noticing some growth. I realize now that I was a decent "responder" to both medications back then, but being a complete idiot, I stopped treatment around May 2001. Don't ask me why, as I have no reason, save a few small but tolerable sides from Propecia. I just wasn't committed.
Flash forward to last month. A friend I had not seen in seven years comes to visit. We're hanging around watching some TV and knocking back a few brews. I'm sitting on the couch yelling at some sporting event and he comes out of the kitchen and stands behind me. He says "hey man, what happened to your hair?" I'd been feeling a little thinner up top over the past year or two, but never even bothered or was too scared to look. And standing 6'4", there are few people who even see the top of my head. I say "whatever - I'm just getting older." He asked if I was still on meds, and I said no. He actually remembers my progress from my brief stint on meds back in 2001 and really pushed me to get positive and proactive again.
Long story short, I really have to thank my friend for being honest with me and forcing me to address the issue and this forum for providing a source for information and experiences. I feel like an idiot for not addressing my hair years ago, as well as stopping treatment back in '01. And although I was a little concerned that I'd either not respond at my current age, have sides I couldn't deal with and all the rest of those phobias, I'm really glad I took the plunge and decided to make a life/long-term commitment this time if things improve. And thankfully, no real sides as of now.
To chart my progress (if any) I set a fixed camera height, fixed bright lighting (as harsh a setup as I could design), fixed angle, fixed time of day (just out of bed without touching hair), etc. to try and maintain apples-to-apples comparisons as I go along. For me, I don't need wet versus dry, styled versus not styled, multiple angles and all the rest to convince myself my regimen is or is not working for me. Just a simple, harsh, top-down picture, which I will take once a month and post here to update the thread.
Here is a before/after from my first month back on treatment. I realize it's only one month, and as I said, I'll keep this updated on a monthly basis so you guys can tell me if I'm heading in the right direction. I plan on a solid year commitment to my current regimen before making any alternations. Regardless, I'd appreciate any opinions/thoughts as I start the process.
Cheers -
7/13/08 - Two month update. The first picture below was taken with flash (just like all the ones above). The second I just opened the window to show my dome in natural light.
Wet and brushed straight back - the worst situation for us balding buys. Lots of little lighter hairs and some frontal growth/thickening. Peach fuzz city gents and a few shorties on the mid-front doing well. I had an explosion of fuzz over the past few weeks. I hope those b****s give birth and grow to be wise old souls...
3 Month Update (not quite three months, but I will be out of town for a few weeks coming up). Got a haircut two days ago as well:
And just to compare - my total three month progress:
Flash forward to last month. A friend I had not seen in seven years comes to visit. We're hanging around watching some TV and knocking back a few brews. I'm sitting on the couch yelling at some sporting event and he comes out of the kitchen and stands behind me. He says "hey man, what happened to your hair?" I'd been feeling a little thinner up top over the past year or two, but never even bothered or was too scared to look. And standing 6'4", there are few people who even see the top of my head. I say "whatever - I'm just getting older." He asked if I was still on meds, and I said no. He actually remembers my progress from my brief stint on meds back in 2001 and really pushed me to get positive and proactive again.
Long story short, I really have to thank my friend for being honest with me and forcing me to address the issue and this forum for providing a source for information and experiences. I feel like an idiot for not addressing my hair years ago, as well as stopping treatment back in '01. And although I was a little concerned that I'd either not respond at my current age, have sides I couldn't deal with and all the rest of those phobias, I'm really glad I took the plunge and decided to make a life/long-term commitment this time if things improve. And thankfully, no real sides as of now.
To chart my progress (if any) I set a fixed camera height, fixed bright lighting (as harsh a setup as I could design), fixed angle, fixed time of day (just out of bed without touching hair), etc. to try and maintain apples-to-apples comparisons as I go along. For me, I don't need wet versus dry, styled versus not styled, multiple angles and all the rest to convince myself my regimen is or is not working for me. Just a simple, harsh, top-down picture, which I will take once a month and post here to update the thread.
Here is a before/after from my first month back on treatment. I realize it's only one month, and as I said, I'll keep this updated on a monthly basis so you guys can tell me if I'm heading in the right direction. I plan on a solid year commitment to my current regimen before making any alternations. Regardless, I'd appreciate any opinions/thoughts as I start the process.
Cheers -
7/13/08 - Two month update. The first picture below was taken with flash (just like all the ones above). The second I just opened the window to show my dome in natural light.
Wet and brushed straight back - the worst situation for us balding buys. Lots of little lighter hairs and some frontal growth/thickening. Peach fuzz city gents and a few shorties on the mid-front doing well. I had an explosion of fuzz over the past few weeks. I hope those b****s give birth and grow to be wise old souls...
3 Month Update (not quite three months, but I will be out of town for a few weeks coming up). Got a haircut two days ago as well:
And just to compare - my total three month progress:
