Early-Life Crisis

[mrsimperless]

Okay, I've been in denial for a few months now, but I think it's time to face the truth. I now appear to be in the very, very early stages of losing my hair. Nobody else can probably even notice it yet, but I can definitely see a difference. It just feels THINNER, and it doesn't quite lay the way it used to. I used to have really, really thick hair and I can just tell that it's not that way anymore, especially above my temples. I'm thinking about getting some Propecia. From everything I have read it is really effective at helping you keep the hair you already have, which is what I need to do at this point. I'm not quite noticeably losing my hair yet, but I want to keep it from getting that way for quite some time if I can help it. I know it's a silly thing to fret over and I could be worse off in so many other ways, but it has been really stressing me out lately. I've known many guys quite a bit younger than me who have started losing their hair (I'm only 26) but still, I don't want to look old!!

Has anybody tried Propecia or anything else? This sucks!

[Radii]

I'll be bald by 30 I bet. I've had a nasty, nasty receding hairline since about 22(I'm also 26). Dunno why. It was ok for awhile because one of my best friends went almost totally grey by 25 and we would poke fun at each other. Now it's just annoying.

Sorry for the totally useless post! I looked at Rogaine and understand it would not help me b/c of the type of balding I am facing, and decided I'll just let nature take its course

[CamEdwards]

if you want to spend 50 bucks a month for the rest of your life, cool.

I'd rather put that 50 bucks a month aside so when I'm fifty I'll be the bald guy with the Porsche.

Seriously, I was bald by the time I was 23. There was no use fighting it for me, so I just shaved it down. I wear a ballcap most days, and it doesn't bother me. If getting Propecia will make you feel better, though... do it. Whatever's going to give you some peace of mind is what you should do, in my opinion.

[Draft Dodger]

I'm with Cam.

I wouldn't want to spend that kind of money just for hair.

[sabotai]

I've had a receeding hairline since my teens. I never cared about it....

[JW]

Found out I had a receding hairline when they buzzed about a foot of hair from my head when I joined the Army at age 19. Halfway bald now. Never bothered me. Try cutting your hair really short. Get your barber to give you the closest cut he can w/o shaving your head. Try that once. That's in style now anyway. Lots of girls love that look. It is also very low maintenance. No combing or brushing. And no shaving it if you just keep it cut real close. But as others have said, if it really bothers you, there are options. Do what is best for you.

[tucker342]

rogaine, use it now before it's too late:D

[cuervo72]

I started losing my hair around 20 or so. I tried rogaine....my wife complained that it turned my pillow-cases yellow :) I'm with Cam though, I couldn't see paying for that for the rest of my life, just for the sake of vanity (hell, it's not like I've got movie star looks anyway, so who cares if I have hair?). In fact, now I'm SAVING money, as I just cut my hair myself with clippers.

And as a bonus, I get to use self-depricating bald humor ;)

[Samdari]

I'm 34 and have not had a bit of hair loss. However, around 25 I started going gray and am 60-75% gray now. I could color, but I figured I would take my beating like a man, rather than try to run away from it or hide it from others. You are who you are, the trick is to be comfortable with and confident about it.

[Hurst2112]

I too have experienced early baldness. What's strange is that my moms side of the family is native american (not prone to baldness i guess). My grandpa still has a full head of hair. I, along with my uncles, have thinner hair.

Hair is over rated. Unless you look like the elephant man, there is no reason to not shave your head, or at least get a haircut to compliment it.

I can't stand seeing those commericals for hair restoration. How come all the guys that are in the commercials look like porn stars?

My old boss got plugs once. The mistake he make was taking a week off of work to get them in. When he came back, BAM! he had a full head of hair. It was just too obvious.

My take on baldness is similar to guys with really loud, big trucks, or guys who spend their rent money on kick ass car stereos...they are compensating for something...usually under-sized weiners. I am kidding of course (I am the one who used some of his rent money to buy Tecmo Super Bowl: Final Edition back in 94).

Think of how many computer games you can get with the money you save by staying with your hair loss...mmm...games.

Also, working in a recording studio, I come across many bald heads. It seems to be cool. I also come across a lot of guys who used to wear long hair and are still trying to reclaim their youth...to no avail. That brings up the whole mullet/comb-over side of the discussion. You don't want to be like that now do you? ;)

[ice4277]

I am both going bald AND going gray at the age of 25, however neither of them are going very fast. It worried me at first, but then I figured, I've got enough other shit in my life to worry about that I CAN do something about, no need to worry about something I have no control over. And now, I never even think about it, unless somebody brings it up. Then I just have a laugh over it and its forgotten two minutes later.

[Easy Mac]

I probably won't go bald, as most people on my mom's side didn't. I will go gray though, as I'm finding gray hairs everyday now. Whatever. It sucks, but its not like I'm bothered, yet.

[Eaglesfan27]

My grandfather and father were both bald by their mid twenties, so I was prepared for the possibility from a young age. Sure enough, I started losing hair at 16 or 17. By 21, I had a noticable bald spot. I'm now 28 and almost completely bald (I have fringe around the edges.) It never bothered me. I tried shaving it in college, but now that I treat young kids I don't shave it because it seems to scare some children. I just cut it short.

As far as those products, they work for only approximately 50% of the population based on the professional medical literature magazines. There are different patterns of balding which are more likely to respond to the treatment. If it is really important to your self esteem and you can afford the aforementioned monetary investment, talk to your doctor. As I mentioned, personally I don't think hair is worth the money or that important.

[mrsimperless]

I can't stop thinking about the Seinfeld episode where Elaine says something about how highly women value a man's hair. Then she realizes that George has overheard her. She looks at him and says "I'm sorry George, it's true."

heh

I know it is a ridiculous thing to fret over, but I can't help it. I don't personally consider myself as having very many attractive physical qualities, and my hair was at the top of the list. I must now hurry and find a mate before none will touch me!

[Ksyrup]

Originally posted by Easy Mac
I probably won't go bald, as most people on my mom's side didn't. I will go gray though, as I'm finding gray hairs everyday now. Whatever. It sucks, but its not like I'm bothered, yet.

Same here. I actually like the salt and pepper look, although I don't have enough yet for it to be really noticeable. My uncle (mom's brother) was completely white by the age of 30, though. But all of the guys on my mom's side of the family still have (or had) a full head of hair.