Going bald at 23

punisher5112

I honestly didn't give a sh1t and couldn't honestly give a sh1t what others think......

Just whatever you do and this is to anyone don't please don't do the comb over, it just looks pure ridiculous.

Look some go patchy, lose all on the top, sides stay growing etc etc.....

Some lads pass off the growth on back and sides but doesn't suit all.

To be honest shave it all off and after a few months you really won't notice or shouldn't as unfortunately it's not coming back ...

I get it, it can be upsetting and feel weird and be a self conscious thing but seriously hair doesn't define who you are or lack of.

tara73

ifeelabreeze wrote: »

I think the gym advice is well placed.
I think working out/exercise can work wonders on your mental health.

I never questioned that exercise is good for mental health, don't know where you are getting that from. But you say you have no mental health issues ??

And there is still no connection between getting bald and going to the gym/putting on muscle mass.

See, I don't know what your question is here, or what advice you want (want to hear to be honest). In one sentence you say the baldness is no big issue for you, in your opening post you even say you post here because you feel bored, then you say going to the gym is well placed here because it's good for mental health. So now you seemingly admit having mental health problems or what is it?
Then you have all the answers for yourself anyway.

I think your post is better suited in the gentlemens' lounge or whatever is there for mens' problems as you only seem to want to discuss it or whatever it is you want, not much else posters can say than there's nothing you can do about it as you can read in almost every post.

dubstepper

hawley wrote: »

Have you considered getting a wig?
......
http://www.wigworld.ie/mens-wigs/

Don't buy a roof rack.

benny79

I started going bald at 30. It effected me greatly. Fought it for years with Rogaine which does work but you have to constantly use it. By the way its the only proven medicine that is actually proven to halt hair loss but at €40 a pop its adds up on a monthly basis. I always taught about a hair transplant looked at 100's of places in Turkey sent loads of emails, went onto hair loss forums etc but I was always to scared to take the plunge. Shaved my head a few years ago and hated it even though people said it suited me! I hated looking at photos of me in them. Or people taking photos of me.

After a lot of research I hit the big 40 2 years ago and went to Poland and got a hair transplant 2000 grafts. Best thing I ever done totally painless and most the stigma is bull! No medication after expect for a few painkillers for a few days.. wish I had done it sooner instead of wasting €100's on rogaine. Only thing is I need a top up and was told this from the start and as people say on most HT forums you do need at least 2 hits. one to cover area and second one for density it depends on your results from first HT which take about a year. So Covid has delayed it somewhat.. But I will go back 100%.

The most important thing is I done it for me and me only. Life is short and you would be surprised how many people have it done these days!

freshpopcorn

They are plenty of options there for you OP.
I'm in a different position to you. I've think curly hair and it looks awful. So, I just buzz it off.
I have had friends tough who started panicking over loosing there hair and it was very minimal and they got themselves all worked up about it and they weren't really balding.
I'd rule out the wig suggestion tough.
I'd be open to the transplant route but the fella's I know who've got it done were generally older and they looked sort of silly.

ifeelabreeze

benny79 wrote: »

I started going bald at 30. It effected me greatly. Fought it for years with Rogaine which does work but you have to constantly use it. By the way its the only proven medicine that is actually proven to halt hair loss but at €40 a pop its adds up on a monthly basis. I always taught about a hair transplant looked at 100's of places in Turkey sent loads of emails, went onto hair loss forums etc but I was always to scared to take the plunge. Shaved my head a few years ago and hated it even though people said it suited me! I hated looking at photos of me in them. Or people taking photos of me.

After a lot of research I hit the big 40 2 years ago and went to Poland and got a hair transplant 2000 grafts. Best thing I ever done totally painless and most the stigma is bull! No medication after expect for a few painkillers for a few days.. wish I had done it sooner instead of wasting €100's on rogaine. Only thing is I need a top up and was told this from the start and as people say on most HT forums you do need at least 2 hits. one to cover area and second one for density it depends on your results from first HT which take about a year. So Covid has delayed it somewhat.. But I will go back 100%.

The most important thing is I done it for me and me only. Life is short and you would be surprised how many people have it done these days!

Thank you that was very insightful.

I've been thinking of it a little more and that's lead me to ordering Minoxidil online.
I'm in two minds whether to just try and flesh out a proper beard or use it on my head.
So it comes down to - bald with a beard, or a somewhat reasonable head of hair, and I'm leaning towards hair.

I'm just hoping it's not too far gone.
It's definitely going back at the temples, but it's more rounded than widows peak so I don't mind it as much, it's just the density on top and the bald spot at the crown.

I think I'll get on the rogaine, keep it buzzed for awhile and if I see results in the next 6 months to a year I'll grow it out.

I definitely fell into the 'just shave your head bro' camp.
It's fine, and I'm pleasantly surprised by the compliments but I can't help feeling like it's still not as good as having hair.

So if the rogaine/minoxidil has any success in growing back my bald spot (which I can still feel hairs on), and thickening out the top of my head as a whole, I'll be happy.
I might consider a hair transplant down the line, depending on how this works out.

I'm also somewhat weary of finasteride and the side affects, I've heard some horror stories but I've also heard they're no more likely than the side affects from panadol.

JJayoo

Get a tan, everything looks better with a tan

ifeelabreeze

JJayoo wrote: »

Get a tan, everything looks better with a tan

I am pasty white.
Not going to lie I've always felt better coming home from holidays with a tan

TheadoreT

I think acceptance of this is far more important than trying to paper over the cracks so to speak. I'd imagine your biggest insecurity here is whether it may put off potential partners but confidence and personality is really the key attributes. If you're insecure about this on dates for example, that will come across and the insecurity will be the off putting thing, not the baldness.

I'd say you're perhaps better investing your time and energy in working on your confidence, maybe attend some improv classes, learn to truly not seek validation in yourself through physical appearance. Work on the things you can control and accept those things you cannot.

benny79

Don't take finasteride what ever you do! One of the reasons it took me so long in getting a HT cause I taught you had to take that. One thing I will say about rogaine is, it will take a couple of months for you to see results. Plus you have to keep taking it. I was on and off with it for a few years that the last time I didnt notice anything probably let it go to bad so bit the bullet and got a HT.

Pyr0

My recommendation is to own it. I starting balding at about 17/18.

You'll be constantly trying to keep it as nature takes its course, sinking more and more money and most importantly your confidence into.

Normal things become real "dangers" for your confidence. Is it windy? Better wear a hat so no one will see my balding spots. Taking a picture under a light? I'll move so my bald spots don't shine through. As you talk to someone you'll be thinking "Can they see? Are they looking right now? I think I just caught them looking"

Sounds pretty extreme but this is what went through my head nearly all of the time until I finally shaved it tight and now I couldn't care less and I've never been more confident.

People can see extreme insecurity very easily, it's nearly impossible to hide.

Also, like everything, some women love it and some don't, that's just life.

TheBoyConor

I am 34. I have had thinning hair on top for about 5 years now. I have been on a topical finasteride and minoxidil treatment for 4 years. Applied twice daily. It has worked very well and I haven't had any side effects. It seems to be a bit of a lottery whether you have side effects or not. Some do some don't.

I have stopped using it a few times over the years and for a few months at a time due to running out or just falling out of the routine. After a few weeks the top of my head tends to get a bit itchy and over the following few months there is a general thinning. I start using again and there is a noticable improvment again after 3 or 4 months.

The important thing here is that I am doing it for myself. Not for any woman, or anyone else. For me. Because I like having full head of hair and it is good and dark and looks well when it is looked after.

I have at times shaved my head even while taking the topical mediction. I shaved last year for the covid because i couldn't get a proper haircut. I also shaved it all off again a few weeks ago, again, for lack of barbers. I am still using the medication and it is growing back strong. I like the look of shaved too. I like a bit of both.

Just my experience.

TheBoyConor

JJayoo wrote: »

Get a tan, everything looks better with a tan

Would you like carcinoma or melanoma with that?

ifeelabreeze

TheadoreT wrote: »

I think acceptance of this is far more important than trying to paper over the cracks so to speak. I'd imagine your biggest insecurity here is whether it may put off potential partners but confidence and personality is really the key attributes. If you're insecure about this on dates for example, that will come across and the insecurity will be the off putting thing, not the baldness.

I'd say you're perhaps better investing your time and energy in working on your confidence, maybe attend some improv classes, learn to truly not seek validation in yourself through physical appearance. Work on the things you can control and accept those things you cannot.

Thanks,

I knew it would come across as though this is a serious issue thats been plaguing every aspect of my life in reality - it's not that bad.

When I was going bald it was a real issue.
I never/still don't wear hats, but I'd fix my hair constantly, I'd try to avoid standing under lights.
I religiously got my hair cut, and I got it cut short, if I let it grow out at all the crown became obviously thin, I could at least pass it off with short hair.
Then barbers shut down and I shaved my head, I'd rather look stupid bald than stupid balding - Thankfully I didn't look all that stupid.

I got some funny comments, but they were all lighthearted, my uncle said something to the affect of 'that's it shave it off before this (pointing at his bald head) creeps up on ya!'
I got told I looked like my cousin who shaves his head, he died a few years back so it took awhile for my Aunt to get used to, she still says it any time she sees me.
Everyones been very positive with it, beyond some Nazi comments.
Even fellas who I wouldn't consider friends all had good things to say.
Girls were the same, I've gotten a few 'why'd you shave it you'd such lovely hair', or I've shown them me with a full head of hair and they've genuinely started shouting at me for shaving it.

Overall it's been fine - Bald doesn't look terrible on me.
That being said, I still feel a little weird being the young bald guy.
I've yet to meet another fella who's my age with a shaved head.

If I could get a full head of hair again I'd jump at the opportunity.
I don't know how I feel about Finasteride, but if Minoxidil worked for a few years I'd consider it money well spent.
But there's no guarantee it'll have the affect I'm hoping for, I don't think I am but there's a chance it's already too far gone, I'd be happy with a thick head of hair, no balding at the crown and my receding hairline.

I'm also thinking of using the Minoxidil to help grow a beard, I've heard it works wonders, and you don't need to continuously take it after/if the hairs grow in.
So I'm seriously considering just doing that and keeping the head shaved.
I mean I've already bought the stuff I'm going to use it either for my head or beard.

I haven't voiced this to anyone, I simply mentioned to my father that I was buying it.
I don't think anyone sees me as being insecure over my lack of hair.
Most girls assume I shave it because I like how it looks, some have asked if I'm even going bald.
I portray myself as someone with some confidence, or more so someone who hasn't let hair loss dictate his level of self worth.

I'm fine with bald and no beard, I'd like a beard, I'd also like a head of hair.
I've owned what I've got but if there's a chance for more I'll take it.

Hannibal_Smith

Mod Note

Hi OP,

It seems you have decided on a path for dealing with your issue and the thread has run its course advice wise.

Before closing it I was going to ask if you wanted me to move the thread over to the Gentlemen's Club, but I see you've already started a thread there.

In the circumstances, I'll close the thread here. Best of luck with it and thanks to all who offered help and advice.

Thanks

HS