Hiya,

Just joined up, I've been reading around the forums for a while now and thought I'd take the plunge and join in.

I'm 19 and from the UK. I started losing my hair, and my hairline began receding when i was about 16. It started going grey then too. Things have got harder and harder and harder really, I've read loads of positive stuff from you guys, and your stories, but I can't say I've got anything positive. Since it started to thin, I've watched all my self-confidence, which i had heaps of, melt away until now I'm scared of cameras, worry about doing sport because my hair looks thinner when i sweat, and shy away from talking about my age because no-one believes me without having to be convinced.

I've recently started a (apparently) pioneering laser therapy program, which goes on for as long as you need and runs in tandem with minoxidil treatment. It's a really long term process, but hopefully it'll help.

If i'm honest, I'm just posting to get things off my chest. I find life really hard at the moment, I can't look in the mirror without having a little breakdown. I'm going to University in september and I'm scared of the stares and comments. I really don't suit shaven headed, and I've got to a point where I find myself hiding away inside, all because I'm losing my hair.

I sort of just wanted to add my 2 pence (cents?) on the whole balding thing - i've not really heard of anyone my age losing their hair as severely as me, I wanted to highlight how hard it is - going bald mid twenties onwards is more expected i suppose - when you're 18/19 and going out with your friends, it's the worst feeling in the world knowing people are staring at you thinking you're too old to be here.

Anyway, sorry to go on! I just felt i could do with someway of getting all that off my chest, stop it eating away at me so much.

Thanks guys, looks like a great forum.

Pat

Hi, Pat, Glad you joined.  Don't feel alone.  There are others out there who have been in your shoes.  I'm sure being young makes it even harder.  But I'm sure everyone here will tell you the best way to face this problem is head on.  The greatest part about being SLY is the fact that none of use has anything to hide anymore.  The worst part of experiencing hair loss is trying to hide it any being afraid of others noticing or finding out about what you're doing to hide it.

If you're really nervous about going SLY all at once, many of us will tell you the easiest way is to try it in stages.  Try buzzing it down and I can guarantee you will immediately start to feel relief.  There are alot of us here who will give you alot of support and advice from a "been there" and "done that" perspective.

Hope you hang around and post some more.  Post a pic if you get a chance.  Be sure to check out all of the before and afters.  I think you'll be nothing but encouraged.

There is also a site "baldlygo.com" where you can post a pic and they will email you the pic back w/o hair.  By the way, the SLY style is pretty diverse.  I wouldn't limit yourself to any pre-conceived notions.

Pat, I can understand how you feel losing your hair at a young age.  With today's image conscience society, it's hard to accept something that the media portrays as ugly.  Though, you shouldn't let others define you and your self confidence.  I recommend shaving your head and keeping it that way for 30 days.  I know you have your treatment going on, but you really need to put that on hold and try shaving your head.  One, I think you're most likely spending a lot of money on things that will only suck up your money and not regrow your hair for the long term.  Two, shaving your head is very liberating and you should try it.

Hi Pat and welcome, a shaved head is a trendy look

Hi Pat,welcome to the forum.
I have been in the same situation as you,young & going very thin on top.I didnt know about all the different drugs out there to try & help things,but on the other hand i'm glad i did'nt.I had been buzzing my hair down since i was in my early 20's started at a No3,then 2 then down to a 1 & each time i thought 'why did'nt i do this sooner?'
This is a great place with loads of people from all walks of life,some are like me natural & others are BBC (Bald By Choice) stick around & have a laugh
Lifes too short to worry about things

Losing your hair at a young age is tough, but it does not get any easier the older you get.  It's one of those things that there's never a good time for.  When was the last time you heard anybody say, "Oh well, I'm XX years old so it's about time my hair started falling out"?

I can only reiterate what everyone else has told you.  I'd also like to add that there is a world of difference between going bald and being bald.  The balding process is not fun.  It makes you look older and it can make you look very awkward at certain stages.  But not having hair at all is completely different.  It's something that you not only can learn to live with, but can actually come to like, as most of us have.  I know that is hard for you to fathom right now, but you're just going to have to trust us on that.  It's a leap of faith, but things are far brighter than you can imagine here on the other side.  As Kajun pointed out, a full head of hair is no longer an option, regardless of what the people selling the restoration products are telling you, so accept it and move on.  The two choices available you are partially bald or completely sly.  I know which one I would (and in fact, did) choose.

I met a friend for a few drinks earlier tonight and there were plenty of bald guys in the bar.  Most of them were completely sly, a few were clipper-shaved or closely buzzed.  The only one who looked ridiculous was the one 50-something year old guy with MPB and a ponytail halfway down his back.

Sorry for the long post.  Cheer up, things are not nearly as dark as they seem right now.

Good luck.

Welcome Pat

Im also from the UK, Im from near Liverpool and currently deliberating "when" to go sly. Where are you from?

Im 23 and have been losing my hair since I was 15,when I took a drug called Roacutane for acne, this basically accelerated my hairloss but as I see it, it helped me because the acne was eating me up and it doesnt look good whereas abit of hairloss doesnt look that bad. Anyways Ive been receeding for almost 9 years now so Im very slow BUT I started thinning in the last year which caused me to start Propecia which Im still taking as it doesnt seem to cause any side affects to me.  I really dont think you should take Minox, it basically gets your hair hooked on the drug.

   I buzzed my hair 2 weeks ago down to a supposed 3 but was really a 2. All I can say is that it looks brilliant and everyone likes it apart from my Mum and 1 work colleague.

Basically what Im trying to say is that Im in the same boat as you, Im young, what I think is too young for this kind of hairloss, BUT sh*t happens, dont let your hairloss destroy you, buzz it down feel more comfortable, then maybe progress towards a nice clean sly look. 

Dont waste your 20s is all I can say.

p.s. I started to get little bits of grey when I was 14, though no one ever notices because Im blonde