Intro and question

[dimemag]

Hey all; so my father is in his mid 60's, and probably around a NW6. He started balding at an early age. His father was bald, and his oldest brother as well. Of his three other brothers, though, two still have their hair in old age (albeit their temples are gone), and the other is like a permanent NW4.

My mom doesnt have any brothers, but her dad apparently had hair until 50ish, and then lost most of it. My maternal male cousins for the most part have their hair.


Now, because my dad is so prominently bald, Ive always feared losing my hair. I've noticed subtle things in the last couple years (Im 20). My sides used to be so thick and wavy that when they got a little long, they would curl up. They dont really do that anymore. I noticed that my hairline receded a little bit-- not too bad, but a little.

Well, sh*t went down in June though, and now Im worried. For the longest time, it was just a little bit receded like I said. But at the beginning of June, I broke up with my girlfriend of two years, and then on top of that was taking two crucial summer classes (from 1-8pm every M-Th), that stressed me out beyond belief. By the third week of June, the stress got really tough to handle. I was constantly having to go to the bathroom, I would sweat alot in my sleep, alot of the times I would just find it really difficult to get to sleep in the first place so I took pills. Everytime I would rub my head, some hairs would fall out. Basically, I was a mess. The stress just got to me, and it was bad.

Now at the end of the class after I went home, I realized that my temples had become pretty thin. They hadnt receded necessarily, but they were much thinner than the rest of my hair, to the point that when I buzzed my head, it looked like I had a mohawk because the center of my hair was so much thicker than the temples. Eventually I shaved the whole thing, and now it seems to be growing in a little better, but its still thin.


Im worried-- is this MPB setting in and its just gonna stay like this and keep getting worse? Or, as I have read in some places, hair loss due to stress is part of Tellogen Effluvium, and will grow back over 5-6 months?

Ive started using Rogaine foam on my temples, I think it might be making a little difference but its hard to tell. Ive also been using biotin.

[Paul the Headblader]

hi. baldness should not be seen as a bad thing. just shave it off and become free

[Hingatao]

I agree with Paul. Like overage before, hair is vastly overrated. And I think treatments like rogaine and implants are just scams that play to our insecurities. All they do is separate us from our money and forestall the inevitable. Just go sly now and get on with life.

[BaldRunnerFL]

I'll second what Paul says - just take it off and see how it looks.

What's the saying?  When life hands you a lemon, make a lemonade.

Although not too many guys here (myself included) think of being bald as being handed a lemon.

[dimemag]

I agree with you guys that once I start to bald significantly, I would much rather take it all off then pretend like I have hair. I dont necessarily mind being bald, but while I have hair, I would like to let it out.

My thanks are to God, the fact that Im worried about my hair says enough about how blessed I've been in my life. Its certainly a first world problem. Regardless, I would still like to keep it as long as I can. Hence I was asking your guys' opinion about the causes for my thinning.

[Sir Harry]

Welcome! It could be genetics, could be stress, or a combination of both....Most guys who are thinning tend to go with a short buzz at first, but given your detailed family history of MPB, well.....We have plenty of young guys who just shave it and free themselves. Doesn't hurt to give it a try, good luck!

[Frontier Guy]

I can't address your questions regarding genetics ... as for my ancestry I never paid attention to details of baldness.

My observation from reading your post is that your hair has been an issue long before the massive stress confluence this summer ... and now that has passed, you are still stressed and seeking aid from Rogaine and biotin -  which must be stressful as well. Will it work? How long will it last? That seems worrisome to me.

In your subsequent post you wrote, "I don't necessarily mind being bald, but while I have hair, I would like to let it out."

What makes you uncomfortable about being bald now? Concerns about what people will think? Too much effort to maintain?

I'm not implying you are wrong to stick with hair ... but I'm having trouble identifying the benefit compared to the not insignificant costs (mental, financial, etc.).

[Laser Man]

I'm not an expert on genetics or the causes of hair loss.  Certainly stress can cause damage to our bodies, but I've never heard of it causing hair thinning at the temples.  If your stress level has gone back to a more normal level, wait and see what happens over the next several months before taking any action.  If I were you, I'd stop the chemicals now because you can't tell whether they're helping or not, so why waste the money?

Once you get a sense of what's going on with your hair, then you can make an intelligent decision. 

[Slynito]

Welcome to the forum...you could give yourself a close buzz and see how you like it. But the way to go is to shave it, imho.

[dimemag]

Thanks for being so welcoming

I was bald for a good portion of the summer, probably a month. The bald look unfortunately doesnt suit me as well as with hair. This was pretty much unanimous for my friends/family, and I too noticed it. The bald + beard was a little better, but not that great still. Unfortunately, my head shape doesnt suit baldness that well... Ive kind of got Kobe's headshape, except it juts out a little more in the back. (http://www.upscalehype.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/kobe-vogue-profile.jpg)

I respect the bald look, and I think in alot of peoples cases (many of you, Im sure) it truly does make a man look better. However, I dont think it works for me as well as hair :/

[Beardman]

Welcome to the forums mate!

Instead of posting a picture of someone else, how about you let us be the judge? I doubt you look anywhere near as bad as what you or any of your friends/family think. 

[Frontier Guy]

Instead of posting a picture of someone else, how about you let us be the judge? I doubt you look anywhere near as bad as what you or any of your friends/family think. 

Unless they have definite opinions, my experience is that friends/family will mirror your sentiment or show support for your position rather than being neutral. It's like saying or having a posture which implies, "This looks awful, doesn't it?" and they agree with you "to be nice."

Whether you have hair or no hair doesn't matter to me, of course. But I hope you will take into consideration the whole picture - appearance, maintenance, the continuing advance (or, perhaps, retreat) of nature, and your inner well-being.

Good luck in your journey. Regardless, I hope you will continue to post - everyone here learns from everyone else. No matter what path they choose.

[Skimdude]

Shave it off and feel the freedom!

[Itall]

Shave it off and feel the freedom!

Ditto!!!!!