Where are you in life and how was hair loss changed its direction ?

[jnestor481]

So like the title indicates, I'm curious to see where others in this forum are in life: age, marital status, occupation, city, etc., and share how hair loss affected the trajectory of your life.

As for me, I'm 25, single, going to school full time for engineering. Kind of puttered around after high school and wasn't very serious about life until I realized I was getting older and better get my *** in gear. So I put in two years at community college and now am transferring to the university that was my first choice all along, so feel pretty good about that. Don't feel like a punk who's not doing anything with his life like I used to.

I discovered my hair loss about the same time other positive things were happening to me in my personal life, I was getting good marks and got accepted to the school I wanted to go to, and was making new friends. So hair loss is one of the few things right now that is eating at me. I'm worried I'll be at school surrounded by hot young girls and I'll be some bald loser they won't give a second thought. I consider myself a decent looking guy right now, but if I'm bald I can forget about attracting girls, that part of my life will be over as so many here know all too well. " Just have confidence and be yourself !" ha, GTFOH.

Yea so that's where I am right now. Would love to hear from others about their experiences

 

[Saurabhaj]

I am 28 year old NW6,pretty much bad,Right?.I wasn't even thinking about hairloss untill my hair line fallen off.Once i started caring about this, i started really failing in my life.
This is takins me down.The moment i fall in love with a girl who was 6 year younger,the though about hairloss started destroying me but now as she is gone,i have forgotten about my hairloss from 2 weeks.
My post graduation exam for medical is scheduled at December,i am sure i will get admission this time because my worry has been destroyed.

I always find it too difficult to be in a group of young people when all will look at me like i am someone lost in them,but still i dare to be in them and be confident.

I though lost hope to get girl of my choice now because of this,but i have accepted that
if i get option to get Dermatology as a career,i will surely not take it,i will happily be a MD Medicine rather being a dermatologist and then becoming trichologist.
Hair loss eroded my 3 years.The girl whom i liked so dearly rejected me after first accepting me but then changing her mind,i was so depressed but that phase is forever gone.

 

[Dench57]

Nice thread. Would be interested to hear some regular poster's stories. Mine's a cheery story.

I'm 25, I think I'm around a NW2.5 but rapidly losing. Didn't even realise I had male pattern baldness until a year ago, I look back at those pre-male pattern baldness days with real nostalgia now. Kinda drifted through school/college/university, generally underachieving, getting an average degree, playing video games and smoking too much weed. Wasn't particularly confident, didn't do too well with the ladies but had a good group of friends. After finishing Uni I kinda came out of my shell and grew up a bit, stopped smoking weed and playing games. Started taking care of myself and my appearance, going to the gym, dressing nicer, got a more stylish haircut (this made a huge difference). Managed to get a great girlfriend, like 9/10, punching well above my weight, who I spent the best 3 years of my life with. Partying, going to festivals, doing a bit of travelling, had a huge group of friends who I socialized with every weekend. I was full of confidence and contentment with life, looking forward to the years ahead of me.

And then it all went horribly wrong. Around May last year I noticed I had male pattern baldness and as most of you will understand, it really freaked me out, that first realization. I knew my life would be different but I didn't realise then just how much of an impact it would have. I'd always had incredibly thick black hair, it was the best aspect of my appearance and was a huge part of my identity. Going bald just never crossed my mind, at least not until I was in my 40s or something. I spent a few months on these forums weighing up my options, looking at the studies, and decided I would cut straight to the chase and go with the approved treatment, which everybody recommended. So I took Propecia for 3 months between Nov-Feb, thinking I was being sensible by catching my hairloss early and feeling fairly confident that if I was in that unlucky 2% to get sides, I could just stop and they would subside. Well it's been a living nightmare since I made that decision. Within 3 weeks of taking it I had 24/7 severe scalp pain/itching and accelerated loss, which now 10 months later shows no signs of abating. My girlfriend left me in March, I think a big part of it was how distracted and miserable I had become with this experience. I never told her what I was going through, I guess I was embarrassed and ashamed.

I struggle to remember what life was like before this now. I feel unable to live a normal life anymore, I don't socialise much with my friends, I rarely go to the gym, I haven't even considered dating again. I'm a shell of the person I used to be. I know I need to get a grip, that other people have it worse. Every day is just consumed with this scalp pain and regret over what a life-changing mistake I've made though. I spend most of my time on these forums, looking for some glimpse of hope, researching alternative treatments, or just ranting to fellow sufferers about my situation like in posts like this. I constantly daydream about how differently my life would've turned out if I decided not to treat my hairloss. I could've had a few more good years in my 20s, blissfully pain free. I try and stay positive that I can treat this but everything I've read on these forums leads me to believe it's a permanent fixture of aggressive male pattern baldness, something I didn't even know existed until recently.

 

[Isaac Newton]

I'm just another 22 year old. Meaningless. Will be forgotten when I die after maybe a year at most.

Am a norwood 6

 

[shookwun]

Full head of hair. Former NW3.

Had a transplant at 22-23ish... almost two years since. Getting a second procedure to adress angle closure on temples while beefing up he hairline a little bit. Going to also fully construct temple points.

First procedure around 2275 grafts fut
Second procedure in either Jan or Feb looking at around 1000 grafts FUE with Dr rahal

Current tell 24.5 years old. Make around 120-130,000 as a heavy equipment technician 6 on 6 off schedule. ... travel, work out and party the rest. Play video games n such

Meeting women is no problem now.

A transplant t truly did change my life. Going from a balding NW2-3 teenager to a full head makes a world of a difference.

 

[BiqqieSmalls]

Nice thread. Would be interested to hear some regular poster's stories. Mine's a cheery story.

I'm 25, I think I'm around a NW2.5 but rapidly losing. Didn't even realise I had male pattern baldness until a year ago, I look back at those pre-male pattern baldness days with real nostalgia now. Kinda drifted through school/college/university, generally underachieving, getting an average degree, playing video games and smoking too much weed. Wasn't particularly confident, didn't do too well with the ladies but had a good group of friends. After finishing Uni I kinda came out of my shell and grew up a bit, stopped smoking weed and playing games. Started taking care of myself and my appearance, going to the gym, dressing nicer, got a more stylish haircut (this made a huge difference). Managed to get a great girlfriend, like 9/10, punching well above my weight, who I spent the best 3 years of my life with. Partying, going to festivals, doing a bit of travelling, had a huge group of friends who I socialized with every weekend. I was full of confidence and contentment with life, looking forward to the years ahead of me.

And then it all went horribly wrong. Around May last year I noticed I had male pattern baldness and as most of you will understand, it really freaked me out, that first realization. I knew my life would be different but I didn't realise then just how much of an impact it would have. I'd always had incredibly thick black hair, it was the best aspect of my appearance and was a huge part of my identity. Going bald just never crossed my mind, at least not until I was in my 40s or something. I spent a few months on these forums weighing up my options, looking at the studies, and decided I would cut straight to the chase and go with the approved treatment, which everybody recommended. So I took Propecia for 3 months between Nov-Feb, thinking I was being sensible by catching my hairloss early and feeling fairly confident that if I was in that unlucky 2% to get sides, I could just stop and they would subside. Well it's been a living nightmare since I made that decision. Within 3 weeks of taking it I had 24/7 severe scalp pain/itching and accelerated loss, which now 10 months later shows no signs of abating. My girlfriend left me in March, I think a big part of it was how distracted and miserable I had become with this experience. I never told her what I was going through, I guess I was embarrassed and ashamed.

I struggle to remember what life was like before this now. I feel unable to live a normal life anymore, I don't socialise much with my friends, I rarely go to the gym, I haven't even considered dating again. I'm a shell of the person I used to be. I know I need to get a grip, that other people have it worse. Every day is just consumed with this scalp pain and regret over what a life-changing mistake I've made though. I spend most of my time on these forums, looking for some glimpse of hope, researching alternative treatments, or just ranting to fellow sufferers about my situation like in posts like this. I constantly daydream about how differently my life would've turned out if I decided not to treat my hairloss. I could've had a few more good years in my 20s, blissfully pain free. I try and stay positive that I can treat this but everything I've read on these forums leads me to believe it's a permanent fixture of aggressive male pattern baldness, something I didn't even know existed until recently.

Dude, get on dutasteride and Seti and Minoxidil. You have options man

 

[GoldenMane]

29.

Had super long and thick hair in college (18-22). Picked a bad degree and entered the job market in 2008, the height of the recession and jobs were non existent. Did some crappy jobs, was unemployed most of the time. Not many friends and no ladies.
Returned to college in 2010, had a great time, but still no job when I finished.

Not sure when I started losing my hair, probably happened slowly over 4-5 years. At age 27 I noticed and took action. Went from an NW2.5 ish to a... thicker NW2.5 with a slightly better, but still **** hairline. Life is better now, have a job, live in Japan, a country I always wanted to visit, lots of friends, a girlfriend.. But my hairline is my obsession, I'm always trying to hide it. I need a transplant, not a big one, 500 grafts would probably be enough, but I just can't find the time or money for it right now...Mostly the time though, to travel to Europe and factor in recovery time, my hob is teaching too so hiding my hair transplant grafts would be difficult, it's a very public facing job. Could be a lot worse I know. Wish I had a more positive attitude like Saurabhaj but I don't. I can live with what I have now, not happy with it, but I can live with it. To be truly confident and end my obsession and stop hiding my hairline I need a hair transplant

 

[Isaac Newton]

Damn wish i was one of you minor receders. such an easy thing to fix. comb the hair over, get a tiny transplant. not to mention no one really cares or notices anyways

 

[winnyblues]

Just turned 24
Currently studying postgrad in finance
Before i noticed my hairloss at the beginning of last year, i was already battling depression so it compounded my depression when i realized i was balding
Plus having a big forehead with recession never helps
Now I've started to worry less about it but i am a hat prisoner until i get a hair transplant or smp.
Before realizing my hairloss, i was just waddling alomg in life, smoking weed, being an unproductive human being. Its only in the last few months when i moved out of home again insteading of dealing with the bull**** my mum put me through ive decided to get my **** together.

Now im working 4 days a week on top of study to pay for rent and have a bit of money on the side, something i didnt do for the previous 2 years. Also running 30km a week (6 x 5) and going to get it up to 50km a week. Buying lots of nice clothes, not that i dont dress well already but its nice to buy some nice things for yourself once in a while. I have 8 pairs of new balances now haha.
Plan to graduate mid year mext year and move interstate and get into an investment banking firm with the idea of making 150k plus by the time im 30, and investing in a property to start my investment portfolio.

But i think hairloss has made me realize i cant be slack and drift through life, im going to work hard now on to make up for the previous years and i realize the sky is the limit and i wont stop chasing my dreams

 

[Saurabhaj]

Isaac...unless you had hair in front like minor Norwood,hairloss will not be problem to anyone but as a nw6 of it is damned..

- - - Updated - - -

Nice...property investment is the best one can ever do... and do chase dreams and make dreams..Best Luck..

 

[jnestor481]

I am 28 year old NW6,pretty much bad,Right?.I wasn't even thinking about hairloss untill my hair line fallen off.Once i started caring about this, i started really failing in my life.
This is takins me down.The moment i fall in love with a girl who was 6 year younger,the though about hairloss started destroying me but now as she is gone,i have forgotten about my hairloss from 2 weeks.
My post graduation exam for medical is scheduled at December,i am sure i will get admission this time because my worry has been destroyed.

I always find it too difficult to be in a group of young people when all will look at me like i am someone lost in them,but still i dare to be in them and be confident.

I though lost hope to get girl of my choice now because of this,but i have accepted that
if i get option to get Dermatology as a career,i will surely not take it,i will happily be a MD Medicine rather being a dermatologist and then becoming trichologist.
Hair loss eroded my 3 years.The girl whom i liked so dearly rejected me after first accepting me but then changing her mind,i was so depressed but that phase is forever gone.

Sorry to hear about your woman, that's tough to swallow. That is exactly why we're all here fighting this together. Let's keep fighting the good fight.

And good luck on your exams Saurabhaj, hope they're not too difficult.

 

[uncomfortable man]

Hairloss made me drop out of school so I never got a degree. Hairloss made me not care about my health so i started smoking. Myself in the alternate universe is healthy, happy and has a great career that he loves. He is loved because he looks good. He doesnt understand real pain and what it means to be truly vulnerable and has an overblown ego and a false sense of invincibility. a**h**.

 

[Notcoolanymore]

To be honest I don't think my life would be much different without hair loss. I will not sit hear and say I would be some CEO of a fortune 500 company if it wasn't for hair loss. I completed school(while losing hair) and now make a very comfortable living. I was hit the hardest when it came to how I felt about my appearance. I started losing my hair at 22/23, by my late 20's I felt the only styling option that I had was to buzz it. Ever since then I was never satisfied with my look. I didn't think I looked like total crap, but was just rarely happy with what I saw in the mirror. My main issue has always been how I felt about hair loss, not what others felt about it.

**I understand that my hair loss wasn't/isn't as bad as many on here, so I am not saying that hair loss isn't a big deal. I know that it is**

 

[Saurabhaj]

Thanks...

 

[EvilLocks]

My life has changed direction from being a girl who had it all going for her, looks, future, friends, boyfriend etc. Was happy and always smiling, laughing. Now dropped out of school, unemployed, living at home at 23, no friends, boyfriend broke up with me because of my hair, lost all confidence and will to live. All because of hair loss. I fvcking hate what I've become, I'm disgusted with myself and the way I look. Never smile and laugh. I guess this is how it's gonna be. I'm honestly a breath away from suicide at this point.

 

[DannyBoyy]

My life has changed direction from being a girl who had it all going for her, looks, future, friends, boyfriend etc. Was happy and always smiling, laughing. Now dropped out of school, unemployed, living at home at 23, no friends, boyfriend broke up with me because of my hair, lost all confidence and will to live. All because of hair loss. I fvcking hate what I've become, I'm disgusted with myself and the way I look. Never smile and laugh. I guess this is how it's gonna be. I'm honestly a breath away from suicide at this point.

Your ex a dick anyone can see that, dont let dicks like that stop you from finding someone else, if your friends left you for the same reason let them go, cause they are not worth it, you will find friends who wont give a damn if you are bald or not. And jobwise, i hope things turn around and you get working, cause you deserve to, dont let tossers pull you down, they are not worth it.

 

[aj218]

Currently 22 and a nw2 i think. Diffuse thinner though in a nw6 pattern. My I noticed my hairloss when I was 18 turning 19, it was towards the end of my first year of uni. I was so socialble before I realised i was losing my hair, second year was kinda bad, especially because my temples were receding. Third year was much better got onto finasteride, hairline stopped receding, felt more confident but my hair is still diffuse thinning. Still for a while I was just drifting I was trying to get into medical school but all the rejections and worry about hairloss was making me super depressed and not caring what happens to me. But something in me made me carry on decide to apply for dental school instead.

I'm now starting dental school in september. This is essentially the only thing that's really keeping me going in terms of optimism because I know that in 5 years time I could have decent spending power and hopefully be wealthy enough where hair transplants and new treatments can seem affordable. Who knows though, in 5 years time i could end up not caring like i'm not so embarrassed about my hairline as I was 2 years ago. Alot of the guys I know have started to lose their hair as well so I don't stand out as much.

 

[Agustin Araujo]

To be honest I don't think my life would be much different without hair loss. My main issue has always been how I felt about hair loss, not what others felt about it.

Same here Notcoolanymore, I really don't think my life would be much different without hair loss. Yes, it's a really tough thing to deal with, though I can live with it. One of my main problems is how I felt about it, I never cared what others thought about it.

 

[I.D WALKER]

I'll spare you my boasting about my resume or litany of accomplishments before/during the onset of hair loss. I'll just begin by telling you that I felt dramatically less inhibited when I had no signs of hair loss. I was considered a handsome guy with a nice built and adroit mind. A bit on the shy side with people but this trait seldom interfered with my romantic ventures or my career interests. So overall I was imbued with a pleasing disposition and healthy sense of humor. I was also so much more adventurous. I miss that probably the most. Today I am like so many of you who are afflicted by it, and who can honestly admit that hair loss has thrown a dense and palling shadow over their once usual old self. It would be so much less intolerable if there was more effective treatment. I suppose I took to much of my good fortune for granted.

Fortunately my job affords me the luxury of traveling to places where I can maneuver more smoothly under the guise of anonymity. Life has always been a little complicated, but always interesting in retrospect. Today the thrill that once raced through my veins has gone missing.

 

[rocklegends]

I'll spare you my boasting about my resume or litany of accomplishments before/during the onset of hair loss. I'll just begin by telling you that I felt dramatically less inhibited when I had no signs of hair loss. I was considered a handsome guy with a nice built and adroit mind. A bit on the shy side with people but this trait seldom interfered with my romantic ventures or my career interests. So overall I was imbued with a pleasing disposition and healthy sense of humor. I was also so much more adventurous. I miss that probably the most. Today I am like so many of you who are afflicted by it, and who can honestly admit that hair loss has thrown a dense and palling shadow over their once usual old self. It would be so much less intolerable if there was more effective treatment. I suppose I took to much of my good fortune for granted.

Fortunately my job affords me the luxury of traveling to places where I can maneuver more smoothly under the guise of anonymity. Life has always been a little complicated, but always interesting in retrospect. Today the thrill that once raced through my veins has gone missing.

TLDR: you used to have hair, you were creative, had a good love life. You started to lose hair, made your life suck, and now you are a management consultant who drowns his sorrows in work because you feel dead inside. Gotcha