Going bald at 18

Relentleslee

I'm 18 and I noticed my hair has gotten very thin lately, my hair used to be twice as thick around a year ago and it's becoming much more thinner on top, I presume it's down to genetics but my dad didnt start thinning until his mid twenties. It's really knocking my self confidence, the last time I went the barbers they passed comment on how thin it was and laughed, which scares me to go near anywhere that will touch my hair. Other people have passed comment and it's just really affecting me at this stage, I know people recommend shaving but it just really wouldn't suit me and I have large scar on the back of my head and it would look very unsightly because I cover it with hair. I'm in a relationship atm and I dread to think what would happen if I shaved it all off, I'm not sure if my partner would accept it or find me attractive anymore. It's all I think about lately and I know the stress isent helping.

I'm just wondering what my best option would be? I really don't know where to turn. I wouldn't be able to buy stuff online like most people do because I simply cannot afford it, would a GP be able to prescribe me some sort of tablet on the medical card? I'm not sure how I would go about finding any information or help in regards to my dilemma so I would be grateful if someone could help, thanks.

Freiheit

Finasteride might be your best bet,however I don't think it's available on the medical card or licenced in the Republic of Ireland,best bet might be to get your doctor to write a prescription and try to get to the North once every few months,it's a lot cheaper there anyway. That's the main treatment in the UK,it will help.

edellc

Your not allowed ask for medical advice on this forum, and as far as I know you cant cure thinning hair/baldness with a pill but go to your doctor and ask and feel free to correct me.

As for the immediate now, can you shave your head down to a 1 or a 2 blade you dont know what it will look like until you try it and if your gf is so shallow that she would freak out then is she really the one :rolleyes:

I know at 18 its a big thing but I know plenty of people who had the same problem and just shaved it down scar or no scar and it was no big deal

Also people touching it wont make it thin any more quickly

I do think you should go to the doctor and ask oh and if your from Dublin, do not go to Why go Bald it doesnt work my friend worked there

Torakx

I have friends going bald who shaved their heads down to a 1 or 2 and i have had other friends who only had some hair on the sides.

Getting girls was never a problem for either, infact i have no bald patch and they seemed more popular with the ladies.
What gives?!??

Women respect guys who are comfortable with themselves.
If you can joke about it like you would an old pair of shoes that someone pointed out then it becomes less of an issue than you could imagine.
Like a non issue.
I realise at first its hard to accept something about your body that has grown to be a fear.I ahve my own i still cant get past!

If you can get to the stage where you can make comment on it and laugh with people they think nothing more about it.this is something i have been trying to do more with myself around friends.
Just being open and saying what annoys me about my looks and being chilled about it.
If you get embarrassed,angry or react in a way that makes people more aware theres and issue...well then you will feel more so there is an issue and so will they..therefore recognizing it more as not a part of you but apart from you.

What we both need to do is recognise our fears and embrace them as part of us..so they blend into our personality and do not become something that is attached to us seperately if you know what i mean.

Mine is a crooked front teeth and has bothered me my whole life.
Its like i would be really handsome apart from that one feature and in the past had learned to try hide it.
As im getting older im starting to realise more and more, i should have accepted myself a long time ago.
Because everyone else did/has except me!
Im the only one who has a problem with it lol

Procrastastudy

Isn't Patrick Stewart frequently on the most sexy man lists?

teaholic

Dont worry about it in the slightest. It was unprofessional of the barbers to do that, find a new one if you can.

If people notice. let them, it doesn't change who you are. I can understand it affecting your self confidence but try not let it bother you at all. There is nothing in the world "wrong" with it.

It will only stop you getting on in life if you let it and as you are only 18 you have your whole life ahead of you.

Zipppy

I'm the wrong side of 40...

Started going bald at 17, my dad only started going bald in his late 30s so it can happen at any age...

as fo rbeing concerned .....dont be

I clung on for years to bits and bobs...shareved it completely about 10 years ago...FAB...I like it shaved as tight as possible now ..

Never an issue with girls...many girls love men with feck all hair...just go with the flow...it's all about confidence....

dafunk

As far as I know baldness is carried on the mothers side so you will follow the trend of your mothers father.

From a female perspective baldness would in no way turn me off a guy and in fact is quite attractive. Not sure if that makes you feel any better but I'm sure most women feel the same.

partyatmygaff

If you're very worried, you could try applying a gel of crushed garlic and coffee beans to any affected areas. Eugenol (found in garlic) stops DHT from binding to androgen receptors in your hair folliciles which stops them from shrinking. Caffeine is a weak suppressant of DHT and promotes hair growth.

ongarboy

It's a difficult one to advise on. The advocates of hair transplants/restoration say that everyone who is bald is unhappy with their appearance and that those who say they are fine with being bald are actually lying to themselves and that their lives only transform for the better once they've "regained" their hair. Personally, I don't agree with that notion as I feel that any cosmetic surgery like that belies an underlying esteem or confidence issue that nips/tucks/hair restorations will not actually address in the long term (perhaps give some short term satisfaction).

I'm practically bald and wear my hair as a No1 cut style. I also grow a neat beard and lots of people tell me that I've never looked better!. Being honest, I'm sure I'd like a full head of hair too that I could style or have options with but the fact I don't have it doesn't cause me stress. I suppose I view it the same way I might lament that I don't have supermodel looks (I still think I look alright and more importantly, so does my OH ) or wishing I had loads of money. (ie nice to have but not going to lose sleep over not having it)

I would try and focus on being happy with yourself and try not to use your looks to validate yourself or self worth. A confident and happy with himself guy but perhaps not conventionally good looking will attract more people then someone who is better looking but unhappy/ill at ease.

Procrastastudy

Get your Zinc levels checked - especially if you're a hit with the Ladies (or not if you get my meaning).

Also see a good barber. If he'd had done that to me I'd have told him it was his job to make it look good and if he couldn't he was a crap barber - AFTER the haircut of course. Treat yourself and go to a proper man barber - €20 - €30 for a haircut is well worth it.

crackity_jones

Also see a good barber. If he'd had done that to me I'd have told him it was his job to make it look good and if he couldn't he was a crap barber - AFTER the haircut of course. Treat yourself and go to a proper man barber - €20 - €30 for a haircut is well worth it.

That's some good advice. Men, in general, balk at paying any more than a tenner on a hair cut, but the fact is a good cut will vastly improve a man's appearance, and not just for the day after he walks out of the barber. Your hair will grow out a lot better when the cut is of a decent quality.

My own hairline started to retreat in my early 20s and it hit my confidence quite hard. I bit the bullet early and got a good solid short-back-and-sides, and that's where it's been at ever since. It just hasn't been an issue for me since then and that was a long time ago.

Yes, it can be a blow to the ego to see the hair disappear but if I was you I would get the good cut, take a serious look at your wardrobe, and get yourself a gym membership. The hair will be the last thing people notice.

Fenian Army

I've been there, take my advice:

Get a number three, its short, handy and your hair doesn't look like its thinning. As time goes on (i.e in a few years) you might have to get a no 2 or 1. Do it yourself too, its dead easy, you can't go wrong.

You cannot get the tablets on the drug scheme or anything.

And if your girlfriend wont accept you with the new look than, bluntly, fcuk her.

I've done much better with the women since I shaved my head, I was like you, anxious and worried about people seeing it. Women pick stuff like that up, with my hair cut real short (it was hard to take that step!!) I feel more confident, and women dig the look too.

At the very least I recommend shaving the head, worst thing that can happen is you have to wait a while for it to grow back the way it is now. If you are not happy then try the medical road.

Procrastastudy

I would shave mine but I have massive ears and look even more like Wayne Rooney shaved - I have to stick to the €20 hair cuts for now

Pa Dee

Relentleslee wrote: »

I'm 18 and I noticed my hair has gotten very thin lately, my hair used to be twice as thick around a year ago and it's becoming much more thinner on top, I presume it's down to genetics but my dad didnt start thinning until his mid twenties. It's really knocking my self confidence, the last time I went the barbers they passed comment on how thin it was and laughed, which scares me to go near anywhere that will touch my hair. Other people have passed comment and it's just really affecting me at this stage, I know people recommend shaving but it just really wouldn't suit me and I have large scar on the back of my head and it would look very unsightly because I cover it with hair. I'm in a relationship atm and I dread to think what would happen if I shaved it all off, I'm not sure if my partner would accept it or find me attractive anymore. It's all I think about lately and I know the stress isent helping.

I'm just wondering what my best option would be? I really don't know where to turn. I wouldn't be able to buy stuff online like most people do because I simply cannot afford it, would a GP be able to prescribe me some sort of tablet on the medical card? I'm not sure how I would go about finding any information or help in regards to my dilemma so I would be grateful if someone could help, thanks.

Would you have the funds available for hair transplant ? Rooney's look very well but cost a pretty penny