Going bald

LegacyUser

Hey

Not sure whether I'm posting in the right section but here it goes.

I’m a 26 year old male and since about the age of 22 my hair has started to thin out on top.

I know the usual prognosis is shave you head, eat well, hit the gym etc.

I already eat well and hit the gym so I'm not in bad shape and my hair hasn't gone so thin as to shave it. I still have a manageable amount of hair left so that I can style it without looking like I'm in denial haha

The thing is, it has never really bothered me as much as I thought it should. Probably because I've always had a good head of hair and I thought it would just thin out a bit and I’ll still be left with a good bit. - maybe a bit delusional on my part!

But realistically if it keeps going at this rate, I’ll be bald by the time I’m ~30, and that realisation scares me a bit to be honest, as I'm not the type of bloke that could pull-off the shaved head look.

I'd be doing well if I could keep whatever hair I have left now, especially when I’ll be in my 30's.

Are there any genuine products out there to stop thinning/balding or are they all just money making scams?

Thanks for any comments, advice, suggestions

neuro-praxis

Try eating Udos oil. You can stir it into porridge, muesli or yoghurt, put it on salads and stir into pasta dishes. It's expensive - €25 approx for 500ml, but it genuinely thickens your hair. It's a natural food oil made from all plant sources. I don't know how helpful it is for men but it certainly works for women. It also improves the quality of your skin, even clearing up dry patches and psoriasis, and also helps digestive issues.

I'm not generally one for homeopathy or complementary medicine but this was recommended to me by a nutritionist and I've been very surprised and pleased with the results.

The best time to buy it is when chemists are doing 3 for 2 deals on vitamins. Udos oil is usually kept in the fridge behind the counter.

gosuckonalemon

There is nothing that can be done about balding. There is no end to products on the market, but at most all they'll do is thicken the existing hair unfortunately.
Most people who have always had a good mop of hair fear what they would Look like when they shave it. Believe me, they never look near as bad as balding people who comb over to try and disguise bald patches etc.

Being a male you should count yourself lucky that you can shave your head without being likely to receive too many stares. Not so lucky for girls!

Instead of stressing out about this (which no doubt will contribute more to baldness) and wasting money on all types of products you should bite the bullet and shave it.

If you are concerned about shaving it then why not wait til there is some kind of charity shaving event like shave or dye and do it then.

It might take q few days to get used tO a shaved head but just think of how much less stress it will cause you in the long run!

muinteoir09

gosuckonalemon wrote: »

There is nothing that can be done about balding. There is no end to products on the market, but at most all they'll do is thicken the existing hair unfortunately.

Instead of stressing out about this (which no doubt will contribute more to baldness) and wasting money on all types of products you should bite the bullet and shave it.

If you are concerned about shaving it then why not wait til there is some kind of charity shaving event like shave or dye and do it then.

+1

As a 29 year old male who has been balding (around the crown, not the hairline) for a good few years, the only advice I can give is to embrace it. I have never tried any products and while I occasionally see my mates and think 'I wish I had their hair', it really doesn't bother me all that much. Yes, I do have my head shaved (anywhere between 2 and 4 all over, depending).

Also, any female I have met doesn't care about it, my wife included (who I met after the bald arrived). Most females are more disappointed with a hairy back than a bald head.

tenchi-fan

I was ok-ish around 25-26 but it kept getting worse. 29 now and gave up on the notion of a hairline

Now I just keep it shaved pretty tight. I'm not saying I embraced it, I'd look much younger with hair , but there's nothing that can be done. It's called male pattern baldness & there isn't a cure!

My advice for you is if you're noticeable thinning to ask a barbers advice on a good style for you. Don't cave to pressure from sly comments and shave the whole lot off if you have enough hair to put it in a respectable style.

professor frink

Hairgoing ive some good advice for you.

Im 29 and about 3 yrs ago i went to the black rock hair restoration clinic thats does be advertised on tv and radio.I wasnt bald but my temples were going back rapidly. There is only 4 proven methods to stop hair loss and in some cases start hair growth.

They are Minoxidil, Propecia, Nizoral Shampoo and a hair transplant.

After meeting the consultants I am on Minoxidil and Nizoral Shampoo. I decided against Propecia as its a tablet and although the best of the above it has complications if you are trying for a baby which i will next year.

I am glad to say in the 3yrs my hair has not recided any further and looks healthy but im just maintaining it. If you want besr results then i was told that Minoxidil, Propecia, Nizoral Shampoo together are the best.

Do not and i repeat buy minoxidil in pharmacies. Regaine is too expensive. They told me to buy everything except propecia on www.minoxidil-direct.co.uk a whole years supply is only 60 euro

good luck mate i was there before but there is help no matter what people say whether its live with it or just shave it. Sometimes it just aint that simple

wylo

just wondering what are peoples opinions on surgerys/new technology/hair transplant you hear of? Does anyone know anything about them. A guy I know who had been hung up about going bald for years (even though its not that bad) made a passing comment to someone the other day when they asking about him about it. He said 'Oh I have that sorted, ive no need to worry now'.

I dont know this guy well enough to go contacting him and asking him what he was talking about. But I know he was talking about surgerys/hair transplant etc a year or two ago.

Its the only hang up I have about my appearance, not claiming im great looking or anything, just saying that its the ONE thing that I know will genuinely get me down, it hasnt badly struck yet, but im 28 and I can see it coming on, I like my hair slighty long/scruffy and would love to keep it that way.But I can already see how my fringe is starting to naturally look a bit like a comb over. Its not intended I just like dont having a tight haircut(mainly because it reveals the extent of my hairline).

As I said , its the one thing Id go and do something about. Itd be on a par with a woman who has no issues with confidence or self esteem but still gets themselves down over too large/too small breasts and goes and does something about it.

How Many Users

I am not balding, but I do know all the treatments.

There are many hocus pocus products on the marker, but the only true treatment is a mixture of Rogaine(hair tonic) and Propecia(tablet) however the tablets do have side effect such as loss of libido and your sperm gets a bit funny which is a common complaint, but coming off the tablet reverses everything unfortunately including the hair growth. My dad had prostate cancer and he was put on a full dose of propecia everyday, and at age 66 his hair grew back, so it is quite effective.

there are also hair transplant options however, I would wait a few years before they can clone hair follicles so you can get complete coverage back again, which is coming btw.

You could also experiment with a hair piece, they have come a long was since the slapstick variety you see on tv. My hairdresser has one, and you literally could never tell in a million years. Even upon close inspection.

LegacyUser

I was in the same position as yourself, I'm a 25 year old male, been thinning out since i was about 22, I'm not being vain or anything but i'm one of the lucky ones in that I've got a pretty steady jawline and hold it well, I shaved mine at about 24, complete blade zero, I love it, I prefer it than when i had hair it was iffy at the start but I've grown to love it, get up don't have to do anything with it, shave it once a week to a zero, it looks grand.

And as for the major worry and lets be honest it is, the women, I've not seen any distinction in when I had it or when I didn't there is PLENTY of women out there who find men with a shaved head very attractive, and there is plenty of male celebs with shaved / balding hair lines that women drool over on a daily basis, chin up shave it, embrace it, be confident at the end of the day it's what women like the most, a confident guy who's confident in himself!

peace.

Angeles

God you have it easy, i started to lose my hair at 17 and lost all my hair at the age of 19, and for a couple of years i went through all of the nastyness that came with it, tried everything from rogaine to lazer therapy, dht reducers, hundreds of shampoo's...etc and none of them actually worked.
The effects of rogaine are very specific to person, I've only 'Heard' people say it works but tbh have not seen any real evidence, the cost of it not worth it at all, aswell as the stress that comes with it - hoping and relying on something to work or your life is over idea doesn't end well,

I see another poster mentioned hair cloning, this was out years ago, but it comes at a huge cost, and not to mention the fact that even with cloned hair your wearing it like a wig.

Now from my perspective your 26 and likely now have your head on your shoulders, abit more life experienced, so do yourself a favor and ask yourself what really bothers you about going bald at this point?

Quote: I'm not the type of bloke that could pull-off the shaved head look.

Why do you think this first off?
Are you in fear of women not being attracted to you, do you think you will be insulted by people? are you afraid you will not like what you think of yourself? and if so, would you even consider yourself a confident person now? or with a full head of hair?

When you can confidently nip these underlying issues which tend to come with such changes and be confident with and without hair, only then should you consider what you actually want more and risk the thousands of Eur on hair replacement products.

ongarboy

I believe hair transplants are the only real solutions that are endorsed by many and will last permanently if you seriously want to have a full head of hair. They are apparently less invasive, less painful and more affordable these days. I think all the ointments/shampoos etc in the world will only have limited longterm effect.

However as a bald guy, I decided to eventually stop fighting the battle of the receding and now give myself a No1 cut each week and compliment it with a heavy stubble to light beard. I have to say I prefer my appearance now more than anytime in the last 10 years as having the thicker hair that was thinning in places just looked unflattering ( I cringe at some windswept bordering on comb-over photos of me from 5 years ago!). I also get more flattering comments now about my looks!

I read an article in the Irish Independent Weekender a few weeks back which said that people who are bald and happy with it are lying. This was from someone who had spent 1000s on hair transplants. I respect that he is a lot happier now with new hair but he was wrong to say that all those who are bald are miserable about it. Sure, I wouldn't mind a thick head of hair that I could apply trendy styles to but I wish for that the same way I wish I had male supermodel looks. Both would be great but I don't lose sleep over it and my other half loves my shaved head/beard combo.

If you decide to go for hair balding correction, I hope it gives you personal satisfaction and happiness but I just wanted to give you an opinion of someone you has refrained from doing so and is still happy with his appearance

LegacyUser

Thanks for all the good responses. I guess there are a few people out there in the same boat at my age - which in some sort of warped way is comforting to know.

'profesor frink' appreciate your suggestions, I'll definitely look into those options, they sound fairly promising.

'Angeles' to answer your question about why I don't think I can pull off the shaved head look, which is the main reason why going bald is starting to bother me. It's because I associate the shaved head/bald look with shorter and stockier lads with stronger features and on some of them it looks well - fair play to them. But physically I'd be the exact opposite and don't think I could pull it off that well (if at all)

I'd like to say it’s not a confidence thing, but as it is at the moment I'm relatively happy with my appearance and have no problem attracting women.

If I was to go bald or shave my head, I think my ability to attract women will greatly suffer and my confidence will take a big hit. (Don’t know which will come first)

Again, cheers for all the replies.

LegacyUser

I have been using the Propecia/Minox/Nizoral combination. They work, particularly Propecia/Minox and will stop/greatly slow your hair loss. You may also notice a general thickening of what you already have.

One word of advice is to be careful with Propecia, it is an incredibly powerful drug. Doctors recommend taking one pill per day. I took 1/2 a pill for the first few days and my libido was zero. Organisms were boring and no random erections etc. I now take 1/10 of a pill every day or other day which keeps my sex drive at a normal level. I know its working because I tend to have inflammation associated with my hairloss. With propecia my scalp feels good and hair feels healthy.

Good luck!

Trooperboyo

Hey op, I feel your pain somewhat.

My hair started thining when I was 20. I had extremely think hair and it just seemed to generally thin, it's just me that notices it and no one else does. It wasn't a recceeding hair line, just thin hair all over the scalp. I'm now 22 and just think that it was generalized thinning and I'm not sure if it will thin out further, I'm not really all that bothered about it now, I have my health. Freaked out and panicked I bought some of the products already mentioned. Then I began to feel really silly:o. Taking a tablet that reduced my libedo, rubbing my scalp with something twice a day and constantly worrying if anyone would notice my thining hair. What if you meet a nice girl and she moves in with you, what do you think she will think of your routine? How long will you keep this up? What will you do when you get wrinkles or you hair goes grey?

A word of warning with the pills, you have to extremly careful with contraception (birth defects) and some people have lost the total use of their bits from using this, is it worth it?

poozers

<snip>

ynul31f47k6b59

HairGoing wrote: »

If I was to go bald or shave my head, I think my ability to attract women will greatly suffer and my confidence will take a big hit. (Don’t know which will come first)

Can I tell you, from a womans point of view - no matter what age you are, it is much more attractive if you are embracing whatever changes are coming. For example - my OH is going grey, and I find him MUCH MORE attractive. There is nothing worse than seeing a man with obviously dyed hair. Also, there is nothing worse than seeing a man with thinning hair who is combing it over in an attempt to prolong the experience of having hair. I have a very close friend who started to go bald at around 32 - I was on to him for years about shaving the whole lot off, but he wouldn't hear a word of it. Eventually, he settled down with a girl who convinced him to shave it all off, and he looks years younger. As a 27-year-old woman who's going grey, please take my advice - baldness doesn't immediately make us all think of a club bouncer. Embrace it! Get a tight haircut, you'll feel miles better. x

LegacyUser

Hi OP,

Just my 2 cents:

(1) Don't waste time/money/effort on lotions and potions that you will have to keep using (at no small cost) to enjoy the possible effect. Most do nothing.

(2) Shave you head, buzz it close and enjoy the freedom from worrying about your balding head....you shave it, you're in charge!

(3) The biggest challenge you will face is the initial "looking at the stranger in the mirror".
Within 2 weeks you'll be comfortable, and you will be familiar to yourself.

(4) Your friends and family may comment, but let them, it's just banter

(5) All the above borne from experience, decent head of hair -> no hair in 6 months.

Angeles

HairGoing wrote: »

'Angeles' to answer your question about why I don't think I can pull off the shaved head look, which is the main reason why going bald is starting to bother me. It's because I associate the shaved head/bald look with shorter and stockier lads with stronger features and on some of them it looks well - fair play to them. But physically I'd be the exact opposite and don't think I could pull it off that well (if at all)

Well you might want to re-consider
I was you at a much much younger age for this to happen, and it terrified me and i believed everything you do now, as far to the point of a severe depression, my life was over as a teen, or at least it was in my head.

But the fact is even as some of the women in this thread have mentioned, the only persons perception it will effect is your own, and maybe some young teenagers who need their mens heads to look like Justin Beiber. *shutters*

Its going to be down to how you allow it to effect you and by the sounds of it you already have confidence issues with the idea and perception of being bald, I honestly think you should put your focus on dealing with that first, more so then looking for products to *fix* a problem which is actually in your mind

fungun

I started losing hair early, now early 30s and completely bald on top.

Dont like it but cut hair short (1, 1.5) cos its the look that makes me look youngest.

Personally, I wouldnt go near any drugs for this. The worst this is is aesthetic and unless I was dying I wouldnt try any drugs that havent been tested long term. I know its passed all tests yada yada yada but think like HRT - its only after enough people have used it for enough time that you see certain issues with subgroups of people. If you try it before then, you are part of that guinea pig group.

Me, Ill just live with it and be happy. If transplants are ever cheap and permanent Ill consider that path.

LegacyUser

Hi OP,

I don't mean any offence to those who advocate it, but I've generally found that most people telling others to get a buzz cut or shave their heads completely are
A: Bald themselves, never tried to prevent it and are now interested in seeing as many other bald people around as possible
or
B: Women with a fetish for bald men.

There are treatments that work, as professorfrink outlined. Personally I noticed a little bit of thinning around the crown of my head and decided to be pro-active about it, rather than reactive. I simply don't want it to thin/lose any more of it...and I won't! I bought Rogaine 5% foam through a reputable ebay seller, it was quite cheap ($50 for a 4 month supply) and has a very good reputation. Rogaine is good for the crown, most don't report success at the corners but some do.

Most people who use Rogaine and stick to the 2x day application report that in 2-4 months, they've either stopped losing hair or have regrown some of the hair that has been lost. Particularly with the new foam. The obvious downside is that once you start using it, you have to keep using it going forward. This isn't bad though, so long as you just work it into your daily routine.

Propecia has amazing results. There are side effects, as the above poster mentioned, such as a reported decrease in libido or erectile dysfunction. However, this was reported by only a small number of those surveyed, 1.8% to be exact. To put this into perspective, the group that were given a placebo for the test, 1.2% also reported a decrease in libido and erectile dysfunction. Once you consider the test target groups, i.e those losing their hair, it's actually natural that a lot are going to have these issues naturally, and will be attributing it to the drug whereby they just didn't know what was going on before.

I'm personally hoping to get on propecia sometime in the near future. My GP hasn't given me a script for it yet, said to try Nizoral and Rogaine and if it doesn't improve he'll sort it out then. Propecia is reportedly expensive though, but I know generic forms can be bought significantly cheaper, although I don't know which are available in Ireland. It'd be great if someone could add to this!

Long term, I hope to keep what I have (which is the absolute majority of my hair) and restore any areas that can't be brought back through pills/foam. I do see it as a long term thing though as I simply do not want to lose my hair.

People with a full head of hair generally do better in life, which is an unfortunate truth given that 50% of men will lose hair at some point in life, but at the moment there's no need to lose it unnecessarily. Originally it was thought that bald men lost the stem cells necessary to grow hair when they lost their hair, however recently they found that all stem cells are intact and it's just a matter of getting them to regrow the hair they've stopped producing. So, with science rapidly moving forward, I would suggest getting active now.

Also, to the person who said they'd consider a transplant if it were more accessible, most transplant patients go on to use Propecia and Rogaine/minoxidil afterwards anyway to keep the rest of the hair they have. Unless you plan on getting a transplant, letting other parts of your hair fall out, transplanting hair to that section etc etc.

Best of luck!

jpm4

People with a full head of hair generally do better in life

Come on seriously? Wonder how there seems to be so many bald/balding upper management types where I work so.

Fair play for your pro active approach but the fact is why all start losing our looks at some point and unless you're Madonna you have to suck it up and just deal with it. Your approach involves a lifetime of maintenance, expensive treatments and general worry and hassle. It's not for everyone.

blaze1

I started receeding when i was about 18-19.

I had short hair for a couple of years and started to get thin on top.

I've had a shaved head for the last 10 years now I love it mate, no more paying for the barbers no more faffing about trying to style it if thats what the youth is doing today.

As for not being able to carry it off. A wise man once said you'll never see a bald man it doesn't suit!:D

blaze1

CoolHairStyleBro wrote: »

Hi OP,

I don't mean any offence to those who advocate it, but I've generally found that most people telling others to get a buzz cut or shave their heads completely are
A: Bald themselves, never tried to prevent it and are now interested in seeing as many other bald people around as possible

yeh it really makes my day when i see another bald guy on the street, we nod, make sure no one is looking and do the secret bald guy hand shake.

Seriously Op, do what makes you happy. I just know i wouldnt be arsed getting transplants etc. A couple of mates brought potions of some sort from the net, whilst they did work, they had to stop using them as they started to grow moobs!

LegacyUser

blaze1 wrote: »

yeh it really makes my day when i see another bald guy on the street, we nod, make sure no one is looking and do the secret bald guy hand shake.

Seriously Op, do what makes you happy. I just know i wouldnt be arsed getting transplants etc. A couple of mates brought potions of some sort from the net, whilst they did work, they had to stop using them as they started to grow moobs!

Ah yes, more scaremongering in order to dissuade someone from trying to prevent themselves losing their hair and becoming another bald person for you to nod at on the street.

What you're referring to is a side-effect that has been linked to Propecia. The reason this has come about is because Propecia/finesteride aims to block testosterone converting to DHT - the thing which causes Male Pattern Baldness. In doing so, it can effect the level of estrogen in the body which can lead to "man boobs". Again though, as I said, 1.8% of those who took part in the testing of the drug claimed they experienced these side effects. 1.2% of those involved in the placebo group (the group that is given a fake drug - mandatory in all drug testing) claimed the same thing.

So, for your mates to have all suddenly experienced these effects, it is beyond a statistical anomaly and is indeed closer to being impossible or a work of fiction than anything else. I also don't believe they "got them from the net" since Propescia and all generic forms require a prescription, even when bought from online pharmacies.

You were doing fine until the emboldened part, but I suppose the bald envy was going to roll out at some point. You're right though, the OP should do what makes him happy and he should research every avenue, as opposed to merely listening to a bunch of bald men who never took the time and are now bitter of those with hair, and again, want to see as many other people suffer the same fate.

OP, I believe http://www.hairloss.com is meant to be a great resource for those who don't know what to do, so you should have a look over there.

compsys

professor frink wrote: »

Hairgoing ive some good advice for you.

Im 29 and about 3 yrs ago i went to the black rock hair restoration clinic thats does be advertised on tv and radio.I wasnt bald but my temples were going back rapidly. There is only 4 proven methods to stop hair loss and in some cases start hair growth.

They are Minoxidil, Propecia, Nizoral Shampoo and a hair transplant.

After meeting the consultants I am on Minoxidil and Nizoral Shampoo. I decided against Propecia as its a tablet and although the best of the above it has complications if you are trying for a baby which i will next year.

I am glad to say in the 3yrs my hair has not recided any further and looks healthy but im just maintaining it. If you want besr results then i was told that Minoxidil, Propecia, Nizoral Shampoo together are the best.

Do not and i repeat buy minoxidil in pharmacies. Regaine is too expensive. They told me to buy everything except propecia on www.minoxidil-direct.co.uk a whole years supply is only 60 euro

good luck mate i was there before but there is help no matter what people say whether its live with it or just shave it. Sometimes it just aint that simple

Women who are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant shouldn't handle crushed Propecia (finasteride) tablets as the drug can cause complications in male foetuses. However, the drug needs to interact directly with the woman. Even if you are taking Propecia yourself you can still safely try for a baby with your partner. As such, I don't really understand your comment that: I decided against Propecia as its a tablet and although the best of the above it has complications if you are trying for a baby which i will next year.

I've been on Propecia for 5 years and have had good results. Little hair has grown back but all the hair I had 5 years ago is still with me. Like you say, out of all the treatments available, Propecia is probably the best. It's also one of the more convenient. I'd hate to think you think you can't take it due to false understanding of its side effects.

compsys

CoolHairstyleBro wrote: »

Ah yes, more scaremongering in order to dissuade someone from trying to prevent themselves losing their hair and becoming another bald person for you to nod at on the street.

What you're referring to is a side-effect that has been linked to Propecia. The reason this has come about is because Propecia/finesteride aims to block testosterone converting to DHT - the thing which causes Male Pattern Baldness. In doing so, it can effect the level of estrogen in the body which can lead to "man boobs". Again though, as I said, 1.8% of those who took part in the testing of the drug claimed they experienced these side effects. 1.2% of those involved in the placebo group (the group that is given a fake drug - mandatory in all drug testing) claimed the same thing.

So, for your mates to have all suddenly experienced these effects, it is beyond a statistical anomaly and is indeed closer to being impossible or a work of fiction than anything else. I also don't believe they "got them from the net" since Propescia and all generic forms require a prescription, even when bought from online pharmacies.

You were doing fine until the emboldened part, but I suppose the bald envy was going to roll out at some point. You're right though, the OP should do what makes him happy and he should research every avenue, as opposed to merely listening to a bunch of bald men who never took the time and are now bitter of those with hair, and again, want to see as many other people suffer the same fate.

OP, I believe http://www.hairloss.com is meant to be a great resource for those who don't know what to do, so you should have a look over there.

Very well said.