If that was the case than the entire head would appear diffuse as gel is placed everywhere. Yet only the androgen sensitive areas appear diffuse. I do take your point though, some rare unfortunate full heads look diffuse and balding even without that being the case, particularly when it's wet as the hair is very thin.
Yeah you're 100% right, it's just that I gave up on perfection a while ago. I had my 2nd transplant this week and I'll be completely satisfied with the same density Tom Hardy had in the pic I posted. If I could ever go from NW2 to NW1 I would be pumped too but I already gave up on that as well.
After the 2-3 transplants I had, I'll be fine for the next couple decades and rock that "salt n pepper" / "silver fox" look when I'm older. It was a long battle but I won, it was kinda like defeating a life threatening disease in a way. Gonna have a far better career, love life and general happiness than I would with the outcome of living and getting older as a "just shave it bro" cue ball.
Healthy attitude and I can sense your adaptation to the circumstances is real. We all have to adapt to the situation we find ourselves in and move on, sounds like you did just that and gained good enough hair. Some forum members have been stuck in a rut mentally and life is passing by unfortunately for them. It's not even about listing "I did A,B,C while I had hair loss" rather what is the mood like, is that person overall happy or preoccupied by other stuff? This is just my perspective and others will differ, but happiness is the point of life and there are many paths to it with/without looks and/or hair. In self studies a lot of different people described themselves as happy and they were all very different so our genetic personality has a lot to do with it too. It's good you alluded to overall happiness which is very important.
Just past my mid 20s I developed a receding hairline as a Norwood 2.5 with otherwise normal hair and found myself on here. I knew I was losing my looks and it felt too early. It was a moment of depression because I feared ending up with much worse hair too if I didn't respond to the typical treatments. Thankfully within a short period everything was clear, it would be okay for sure and that's why I hold the bar higher for myself for good hair as it's my reality again. My only insecurity had been baldness and with that issue resolved, I can revert back to my life to how it was before, with my back up plan (if required) more than enough. I don't waste time anymore on this and can enjoy myself.
I'm not going to lie, being full head the novelty hasn't worn off, it galvanises me to help others and further improve areas of my life, it all tastes sweeter there's no two ways about it. I wish I could say, it's not a big deal but it is to me and some around me. I noticed that brief transition of balding, achievements didn't feel the same as I was unhappy deep down. Being looks centric is not healthy if causes stress and obsessive intrusive thoughts, however just wanting to keep your hair and get on with your life is totally normal and describes me. Ah the ageing well and salt/pepper hair later in life, indeed, natural progression of life is normal and something we all go through!
I do feel baldness is one of the worst things to happen to a guy, especially for good looking young men where you can really lose your looks in a flash, the blow objectively is much softer for someone average. I was lucky as it hit me later age wise and mildly, but there was still a temporary impact and we can only see from our perspective even if someone has it way worse. I'd say people actually need to make peace with baldness in order to not be consumed by this illness and torture themselves for something they had no control over genetically. Find a way to overcome it with all options on the table and then use the forum healthily. Of course this is only my opinion and may be for others it's better to vent daily, but I feel that just leads to bitterness, stress and its complications, a generally miserable life where you're not focused on goals or truly enjoying good moments.
@disfiguredyoungman has shown that he won't lose his life to this condition and will find a way around it just as
@justinbieberscombover with his own approach. You guys are motivational and I would do the same in your shoes.
