The Story I (wish) I Will Never Have

[Sabaz1990]

First of all, I’m lurking around this forum for quite some time and I want to thank everyone for the contribution. Finally I decided to post my own story. Please read everything until the end.

I love my hair. It is a part of my identity. Not only personally, but also as a professional who makes his living on stage in front a lot of people. No, I’m not a stripper (maybe in my next life). I’m almost 26 and still not 100% sure if I’m balding, hope you guys will help with the objectivity.

My dad is a NW5, but other than that, both grandparents, uncles, cousins are NW1 or NW1,5. My mom has the most ridiculous hair density (me and her look very alike) and every time I go to my barber he is complaining how thick and dense my hair is, a lot of people complimenting my hair. BUT I feel like I’m balding.

Here are some factors: -I used to be able to easily do crazy hairdo’s like this (picture taken 4 years ago):http://imgur.com/a/phPd6 and now it’s a little bit harder (hairs are being fuzzy). -I’m shedding more hair or I just became more conscious about it. -I feel like my hair is weaker.

To be honest I feel that way for the past 4 years.

Here is me nowadays: http://imgur.com/a/G6V9Z

I also took these 2 pictures yesterday and you would say that 100% I’m on that male pattern baldness boat: 1.http://imgur.com/a/oUnGx
2. http://imgur.com/a/xvqvI
3. http://imgur.com/a/UP1ni (I screwed up the quality of the hair by bleaching it 3 times in a row)

Here is me 2 years ago: http://imgur.com/a/L6MXJ

But going through the archive I saw two pictures that I took 4 years ago!!!!!!: http://imgur.com/a/8k4Bhhttp://imgur.com/a/BzR6H

This one - 5 years ago: http://imgur.com/a/Ekb6f

It seems like I was like that forever!

I asked my mom about this and she showed me a few pictures when I was around 12 years old and not only you can clearly see my huge forehead, but also see that my right side has “receded”. It seems like I was born 1,5NW. And as I’m looking into my past pictures I can definitely see where the newer pictures show better hair than the older ones and vice versa. Looks like the hair is going through some cycles.

I started minoxidil 3 months ago and am willing to hop on finasteride or whatever, but before that, I would love to hear your opinions. If you’ll need more pictures or any details - AMA.

THANKS GUYS!

 

[Hangin'on Hair]

Do you colour your hair???
If so, this can damage it. It won't help any if you are losing it.
It doesn't look that bad to me.

 

[farkhairloss]

Its hard to tell, you may have some slight temple recession. You have already educated yourself on what current treatment works, which is a good thing (I am referring to finasteride).

If I was you I would take identical pictures in same room, same camera, and same lighting, same hair length, some wet hair photos too. Do this now and in six months. See if you can see any difference, if not do again in another six months. Takd note of your shedding, if you are shedding more and more it may be an idea to get on finasteride as soon as you feel you are shedding more and more.

I did not have any shedding when combing or washing my hair until I started thinning. The shedding got more and more, I went to a useless gp who flicked through my hair and said nothing wrong and prescribed me some herbal crap from the chemist. I naturally have very thick hair so it took alot of shedding to notice thinning start to occur. So I waited another year of the shedding before I end up seeing a dermatologist who prescribed 1/4 proscar for me. It took about 18 months before proscar halted the shedding. I may have recoved density ever so slightly, but nowhere near my original density. I wish I had of started 1 1/2 to 2 years earlier.

 

[Señor AIDidaS]

Wew lad. I'd say you have nothing to worry about at the moment. You've had a high hairline for a while, and I don't think it's changed much, if at all.

 

[Sabaz1990]

Thanks for the replies, guys! Two more questions:
1. I'm shedding some thick *** hairs (about 50 a day I guess), is it normal?
2. If I start finasteride, can it kickstart my hair loss?

 

[That Guy]

Definitely balding - I'm not sure why the others have doubts.

 

[Señor AIDidaS]

Definitely balding - I'm not sure why the others have doubts.

Is it the vellus hairs on his hairline that are tipping you off? The picture from the top gave me pause though, and now I can't decide if he's a NW2 or an extremely thick NW3.

 

[farkhairloss]

Thanks for the replies, guys! Two more questions:
1. I'm shedding some thick *** hairs (about 50 a day I guess), is it normal?
2. If I start finasteride, can it kickstart my hair loss?

1- like I said if you dont remember shedding this many hairs before its most likely that you are starting to thin, if you want to be 100% sure go see a dermatologist or someone who can test to see for miniaturization. Dont waste your time with a GP, unless you need a referral. No one knows your hair better then you. But looking again at your recect pictures there does seem to be some recession. Try find a dermatologist who prescribes finasteride so you dont waste your time. Not sure where your from but the dermatologist can then send his diagnosis back to your gp so they can prescribe you finasteride in the futre as needed.

2. From my experience I dontt believe so, but others may have a different opinion. Personally form my experience if you are shedding more and more dont wait tol long

 

[Sabaz1990]

Thanks
Man, I'm not afraid of the sexual sides, if I get them, I get them. Discontinue the finasteride and carry on. But what I'm really afraid of is massive shedding which fucks up the hair or even never grows back. Ugh!
By the way, how massive shedding can be? Losing how much percentage of hair?

 

[Runninghair]

Got your pm. Yes your hairloss is a bit like mine. Slow and around the front. finasteride will work well for you. Im 30 now and still have decent head of it albiet recently mines going down hill again.

I would recommend finasteride. Pop 1.25mg a day and try forget about it. Use nizoral aswell. You may not see a drastic change in your hair bit what you do have a great chance of is keeping it the same. Forget minix for now. Your 26 and hairs in decent shape.

You will feel great taking it knowing you are doing something about it. Sides wise yes some get them but many do not. Only thing i experienced for week or two after taking it was watery jizz. It went away though.

Start finasteride and get on with your life. No need to worry much as your loss looks like like the slow kind. Good luck

 

[GoldenMane]

Textbook Norwood 2 with good density.

 

[GoldenMane]

Hair is still aesthetically really nice.

 

[hwezdarik]

Dude, your hairloss is incredibly slooooooow comparing the current pic with the one 5 years ago.
Hop on 1mg finasteride a minoxidil, perhaps RU... See how treatments work for you (give them 8-12 months) and then get a small hair transplant to your hairline. I pretty sure you can keep you hair for another 7-10 years and by that time much better treatments will be available.

 

[Runninghair]

Hes likely keep his hair 30plus yrs at that rate if he includes meds. Doesnt look like he has that type of hair that will go high Norwood.

 

[Sabaz1990]

Thanks guys!
You encouraged me to start finasteride. And yes, today I did it! 0,25g every second day for 2 weeks and then I'll do 0,5g everyday.
By the way, I consumed about 4 bottles of minoxidil, but would love to quit it. Too much of a hassle. Can I quit cold turkey or I have to take it slow?
Can I even quit?