My first time experience with a concealer

[azuri]

I recently had been experiencing a major shed and don’t know why as I have been consistent with my regimen ¼ finasteride daily, foam morning/ liquid 15% evenings and afew extra daily supplements. As a result of the shed, my hair became thinner at the front making it a traumatic experience each morning trying to get the style I want, resulting in a frustrating, sweaty experience and using a hell of a lot of product. I then needed a break so buzzed my hair for the first time in ayear or so and was not pleased with the result, seeing how thin my front area actually was.

At this point I looked into concealers and gathered that derm was the one for me.I wanted to buy it at a store in my city to try a sample first rather than buying it online, receiving the product and being the wrong colour match for me. I found a transplant clinic that sells it, went there only to realise that they were discontinuing derm and switching to Nano Aquamatch instead.. I really wanted derm after physicking myself up but was convinced by the person that it was a very similar product.

Anywayz,as soon as I added it to my hair, life has really changed .. I only use a little and it colours my thinning areas and giving me an instant appearance of a fuller frontal area.. My hair has become a lot easier to style now and use alot less product overall. I don’t stress about my hair as much as I did previously (10 + years!), making my life a lot more relaxing as before, I would always ALWAYS stare at my hair at every opportunity. My appearance and overall confidence has lifted dramatically and this is purely based on a daily application of a few dots along my hair, then rubbing it in and good to go. I work out at the gym , sweat and it stays on.

My whole outlook has now changed from hoping for that miracle cure to grow all my hair back to now just maintaining what I have and with the help of a little pencil, im satisfied.

Thought to share my experience and how well concealers actually work and how life changing they can be. Apart from the new look I feel I have now, the biggest advantage I would say is the less stressful life it has given me in the last 2 weeks, such a relief. The only negative is the when the inevitable of reality that smacks me in the face each morning when I shower and realise that its all just a cosmetic illusion but hey, its better than having to stare at reality 24/7.

Sorry for the long post.

 

[RP3X]

Tried my hair online toppik clone on my hair line and well it does not work on my hair line, then again It helps if there is actual hair there in the 1st place.

I assume one has to use alot of hair spray to hold it since if I run my finger thru the hair fibers it comes off easily also.

Overall ill hold off on it since I have no hair on the front which is my main issue !

 

[Silverfox1]

If you have some hair Dermatch and similar products are excellent. They don't work so well with bald patches. If you can keep thin hair Dermatch will see you through the rest of your life. Having what looks like thick hair is almost as good as having it.

Seriously, if I had know about Dermatch when I was in my twenties, I would have used it even with a full head of hair just to thicken it up.

Dermatch and Fibres also work well together.

I don't think fibres work well on the hair line as you can see a thick unnatural line. Best to use behind the hairline and rub forward gently. The spray applicator is better than sprinkling as well.

 

[azuri]

silverfox1- Im still going to try dermmatch as the aquamatch is ok but adds no thickness to the hair shaft while derm is supposed to do just that. right? The advantage of aquamatch in my opinion is that it sems a lot less messier to apply.

Do you use derm on your hairline with success?

 

[Silverfox1]

I don't use it right on the hair line. I apply it on my crown and dry it with a hairdryer, all the time wiping the dryed dermatch towards the front of my head.

On the hairline you have to be careful not to get patches as it can look like ink on your forehead.

 

[azuri]

If you dont mind me asking what type of hairloss on a norwood scale would you class?

Does the derm actually thicken up you hair as claimed?

Cheers.

 

[Silverfox1]

Not really sure about the Norwood on me. Ive got quite a large bald crown with thick hair at the back and medium at the front although slightly receeded. If it werent for the friggin crown id be happy with my hair.

The derm definitely makes your hair feel thicker/fatter. The more hair you have the better it works. It will work on areas that appear bald but have fine hairs, just not as well. It won't work well without any hair.

I put it on thick on the balding area only and comb it through to my thicker hair. Blow dry it. Style my hair then use fibres.

 

[30_going_on_60]

I too felt like a million bucks he first few times. I thought it was a miracle. It took literally seconds to make my hair look lik ei didnt have any loss at all, and it looked natural. Women were smiling at me for the first time in my life. To this date, no one has noticed, and that included my parents and my girlfriend. HOWEVER, i always get the "is someone staring at my hair and inspecting" feeling. I always worry when I sweat or when it rains and i get neurotic when its late at night and the GF is over and i cant wash it out. Im also worried about long trips, sharing hotel bathrooms etc.. I hooked up with a girl and was so damn worried about leaving a mark on her pillow case, I had to leave, making me look like I wasn't interested, even though she was a 9. She probably wouldnt have even looked my way if it werent for the derm . I'm also always worried that this stuff might accelerate my hair loss. I justified it as "I deserve a chance at a normal life, like all the other lucky bastards with hair." Now I dont know if it was a blessing or a curse. Azzuri. or anyone else, di dyou guys go through any similar problems? Did they subside for you? Still using?

 

[agent00]

I use all three - dermmatch, fullmore and toppik (although I could easily get buy with 2) to tremendous results. My big suggestions are to apply after putting on a shirt (especially white) because this stuff will ruin your collars and if you get a shirt stained it's a big pain in the *** to get out. I usually wear for 3 days with a single application (and I workout almost every night and sweat a lot) and it usually holds up. Dry shampoo is great in between washes.

I would also suggest buying a black pillow sheet and use it every time you sleep somewhere other than your home. This stuff makes a MESS on pillow sheets and you will wake up the next morning with a brown stain all over it. I'd rather explain having to carry a pillow case then a stained pillow case anyday!

 

[azuri]

. I'm also always worried that this stuff might accelerate my hair loss. I justified it as "I deserve a chance at a normal life, like all the other lucky bastards with hair." Now I dont know if it was a blessing or a curse. Azzuri. or anyone else, di dyou guys go through any similar problems? Did they subside for you? Still using?

I don't think its going to accelerate your hairloss but it will certainly give you the impression that it has. Once you start with a concealer, there really isn't any turning back. I too was worried that it would make my hairloss worse and until now, after all this time, my hair hasn't gotten any worse. BUT whilst I was using the aquamatch stick, I swear my hair was thinning where applied. This was due to the harsh application method (all the rubbing) and a few other factors. I then switched to derm around early jan and what a difference to the stick. Its great! It may stain your pillow though.

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Yesterday I decided to experiment and add in some Toppik. Iwent to their store and the consultant offered me a demonstration, sat me down,looked at my hair and asked where was the thinning? He didn’t even realise Iwas wearing derm. It shows how effective it is even to the “professional” eye.I like the combo, the derm covers well but the topic adds a real naturalthickness. They also gave me a free bottle of their thickening serum, only tired itonce and has thickened my hair.

 

[30_going_on_60]

Thanks for the advice. I guess it's true that I'd have the impression that my hairloss has accelerated given the contrasts. I find it amazing that a professional couldn;t tell that you were wearing dermatch and thats very encouraging. I'll try Topik this summer.

As far as stains go, I have a close shaved head and use very little of the stuff, so marks havent been a problem yet, only place I notice bad marks is on those white towels at the gym. My ready made excuse is that I use some stuff to cover up a few greys (i dont) as grey cover is someonehow more acceptable than bald cover. Bald cover seems to be the ONLY non acceptable cover up. I suppose I could pretend I'm some germaphobe that needs his own pillowcase. Thanks for the idea.

I always seem to seat a bit out at the gym, again, maybe because mine is so close to the scalp. Either way, its not a massive issue, or one thats been noticed. I use rogaine 6 nights a week and leaving that sh!t in my hair for 3 days isnt an option.

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I would also suggest buying a black pillow sheet and use it every time you sleep somewhere other than your home. This stuff makes a MESS on pillow sheets and you will wake up the next morning with a brown stain all over it. I'd rather explain having to carry a pillow case then a stained pillow case anyday!

ahahaha @ the thought of all the people that have had to explain a brown stained pillow to a stunned and bewildered woman.

 

[Deadman1]

I too felt like a million bucks he first few times. I thought it was a miracle. It took literally seconds to make my hair look lik ei didnt have any loss at all, and it looked natural. Women were smiling at me for the first time in my life. To this date, no one has noticed, and that included my parents and my girlfriend. I hooked up with a girl and was so damn worried about leaving a mark on her pillow case, I had to leave, making me look like I wasn't interested, even though she was a 9. She probably wouldnt have even looked my way if it werent for the derm . I'm also always worried that this stuff might accelerate my hair loss. I justified it as "I deserve a chance at a normal life, like all the other lucky bastards with hair." Now I dont know if it was a blessing or a curse. Azzuri. or anyone else, di dyou guys go through any similar problems? Did they subside for you? Still using?

I have had the same experience. At first I thought it was a miracle. Due to bad hair transplants, there is no way I would leave the house without a cap. Once I stated using concealers my confidence shot through the roof. Girls were noticing me and interested. I had even become close to a couple women and could have moved forward with them.

However, after a couple months I realized that it was just an illusion. I would withdraw from girls who liked me, knowing I could not get close because I could never deal with the sheer embarrassment and rejection when they discovered in reality I look like a freak. This made them mad and stop talking to me, but what else could I do? I felt it was cruel to lead them on and make them believe I was something that I wasn't.

So I discovered that I can go out into public and not look like a freak, but it does absolutely nothing for my love life. I am at the same point in my love life with or without the concealers.

It amazes me that some guys have girlfriends who have no clue they use concealers. Great for them, but I would feel deceitful and always worried when the other shoe would drop.

I have been using concealers over a year and still feel the same way. Every once in a great while I get manic and feel like my hair loss wouldn't matter to a girl who really likes me. Then reality sets in and I realize I an only kidding myself.

 

[benjifrank]

Its really a good news for me..I'll prefer to share your thoughts with each and everyone as much as possible.

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I've used all your tools and definitely these tools are much appreciative..