HopeBringer
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Hi,
First post here, doing it so that I can bring back some of what this site has given me. Been a "lurker" for quite some time. As it was, it was through this site that I learned of the alternatives when I discovered my hair loss. I am now 26, and I have been "fighting" actively for 6 years.
It all began probably 7-8 years ago, when I was still a teenager. Before that, I was actually known for my thick curly hair, which could easily grow into an afro if it wasn't kept in check. I guess since I had so much to start with, and since my hair always grew long and had a curly texture, I was quite slow to notice the changes. Lost my temples without really thinking about it, since I wore my hair long, and the curls easily covered them.
As time went by, I had trouble grooming my hair into a cool look, couldn't really point the finger on the problem either. (Although I felt my hair sometimes looked thin...) A girlfriend of mine who cut my hair noticed it looked quite thin all of a sudden, especially at a select spot at the back, and asked if maybe my shampoo was damaging my hair. My mother had also noticed the changes when I asked.
I regret that I did not act straight away. Yet, I was living with the misconseption that nothing really could be done. Same thing happened to my father, starting to lose as a teenager, Norwood 5 by 26. And, I was still in denial...
The situation worsened, looked like a clown with thinning top and bristling sides. When friends and aquiantences started teasing me that I was going bald, I finally started searching the net for a cure, after a tip from a hairdresser. (Tried my doctor, who was clueless) By then I was probably a Norwood 2.5, and I had a thin spot at my vertex. This was 6 years ago.
Found the secret of finasteride here, and got a prescription. It halted further loss, and I added minoxidil in a gambit to reclaim my temples. Although I had plenty of vellus hairs growing, very few matured into regular texture. Nevertheless, I improved into a Norwood 2 withing the first year. Vertex improved so that nothing remained but a marked whorl. (Always been there) Still a little bit thinner overall than I'd used to be, but it was no longer noticeable.
I added Avodart to see if I could make further ground, and kept going for 1.5 years. Didn't see an improvement, kinda felt that my temples and front were worse off, so changed back to finasteride. Norwood 2.5
Kept going until 1 year ago, when I again saw something was changing, pics were somewhat worse, my "landmarks" saw some hairs retreating, and I shedded quite a lot. Probably a Norwood 2.5-3. Tried Avodart again, and started using the minoxidil foam for better compliance.
Today, my hair still looks good, same Norwood, but I believe Avodart made it thicken up a bit. Not like when I was 17 anymore, but who can expect that? Still, my girlfriend thinks my hair is soo thick, and a roommate actually found the minoxidil foam, but refused to believe it was mine. ("Nobody has more hair than you") I'm glad I have a curly texture, and that despite large temples, the rest of my hair is relatively thick. It hides most of the loss, and just makes me look distinguished.
Over the years, I've learned a few thing: You ARE not your hair. There are plenty of things that matter more, and when confronted by those, thoughts about hair really seem silly. Girls have said to me that I'll look handsome with or without hair, and I guess that is probably true. It all boils down to self-confidence, your personality, and what you accomplish in life, in the end. Not your scalp hairs. Still, I feel my hair is a part of me and actually my life history...so I will try to keep it. Probably jinxing everything by posting that is doesn't really matter that much now, "fate" will have me scrambling if I suddenly start losing more
Just writing this to you out there who want to keep your hair going: It is possible. Perhaps not forever, but I have at least attained 6 years. That can bring some hope. Besides that, I have accomplished far greater things the last 6 years, than keeping a full head of hair. Life is good, enjoy it while you can, and do not let obsessive thoughts about losing hair spoil it.
PS! Oh, by the way, been using Ketoconazole shampoo for the entire time.
First post here, doing it so that I can bring back some of what this site has given me. Been a "lurker" for quite some time. As it was, it was through this site that I learned of the alternatives when I discovered my hair loss. I am now 26, and I have been "fighting" actively for 6 years.
It all began probably 7-8 years ago, when I was still a teenager. Before that, I was actually known for my thick curly hair, which could easily grow into an afro if it wasn't kept in check. I guess since I had so much to start with, and since my hair always grew long and had a curly texture, I was quite slow to notice the changes. Lost my temples without really thinking about it, since I wore my hair long, and the curls easily covered them.
As time went by, I had trouble grooming my hair into a cool look, couldn't really point the finger on the problem either. (Although I felt my hair sometimes looked thin...) A girlfriend of mine who cut my hair noticed it looked quite thin all of a sudden, especially at a select spot at the back, and asked if maybe my shampoo was damaging my hair. My mother had also noticed the changes when I asked.
I regret that I did not act straight away. Yet, I was living with the misconseption that nothing really could be done. Same thing happened to my father, starting to lose as a teenager, Norwood 5 by 26. And, I was still in denial...
The situation worsened, looked like a clown with thinning top and bristling sides. When friends and aquiantences started teasing me that I was going bald, I finally started searching the net for a cure, after a tip from a hairdresser. (Tried my doctor, who was clueless) By then I was probably a Norwood 2.5, and I had a thin spot at my vertex. This was 6 years ago.
Found the secret of finasteride here, and got a prescription. It halted further loss, and I added minoxidil in a gambit to reclaim my temples. Although I had plenty of vellus hairs growing, very few matured into regular texture. Nevertheless, I improved into a Norwood 2 withing the first year. Vertex improved so that nothing remained but a marked whorl. (Always been there) Still a little bit thinner overall than I'd used to be, but it was no longer noticeable.
I added Avodart to see if I could make further ground, and kept going for 1.5 years. Didn't see an improvement, kinda felt that my temples and front were worse off, so changed back to finasteride. Norwood 2.5
Kept going until 1 year ago, when I again saw something was changing, pics were somewhat worse, my "landmarks" saw some hairs retreating, and I shedded quite a lot. Probably a Norwood 2.5-3. Tried Avodart again, and started using the minoxidil foam for better compliance.
Today, my hair still looks good, same Norwood, but I believe Avodart made it thicken up a bit. Not like when I was 17 anymore, but who can expect that? Still, my girlfriend thinks my hair is soo thick, and a roommate actually found the minoxidil foam, but refused to believe it was mine. ("Nobody has more hair than you") I'm glad I have a curly texture, and that despite large temples, the rest of my hair is relatively thick. It hides most of the loss, and just makes me look distinguished.
Over the years, I've learned a few thing: You ARE not your hair. There are plenty of things that matter more, and when confronted by those, thoughts about hair really seem silly. Girls have said to me that I'll look handsome with or without hair, and I guess that is probably true. It all boils down to self-confidence, your personality, and what you accomplish in life, in the end. Not your scalp hairs. Still, I feel my hair is a part of me and actually my life history...so I will try to keep it. Probably jinxing everything by posting that is doesn't really matter that much now, "fate" will have me scrambling if I suddenly start losing more
Just writing this to you out there who want to keep your hair going: It is possible. Perhaps not forever, but I have at least attained 6 years. That can bring some hope. Besides that, I have accomplished far greater things the last 6 years, than keeping a full head of hair. Life is good, enjoy it while you can, and do not let obsessive thoughts about losing hair spoil it.
PS! Oh, by the way, been using Ketoconazole shampoo for the entire time.
