Hi guys, been lurking around here for over month or so and found the site to be probably the most informative place on hair loss on the web. I will give you my story with a few questions and would appreciate any feedback. After this, I will keep specific questions in their respective sub-forums.
I'm 35 years old, sometime around 25ish my temples receded to a deepish Norwood 2 range. I used to grow my hair out for like a year and then buzz it off. So I remember noticing a lot of hairs in the shower but not really on my head because I had a big old mop. Next time I buzzed it I saw the fallout. It kind of sucked but my hair otherwise was very thick and healthy and after I grew it out I could pull off some styles I liked so I wasn't too concerned. For over 5 years that was pretty much it. My mother's father was pretty bald, he is in his 80's now and probably a NW6. My father is in his 60's and has a legit full head still, he has 4 brothers older then him that while thinning a bit, still have pretty solid hairlines. My mothers brother since I remember has always had receded temple similar to mine but deeper and a full head otherwise. Based off that I figured my uncle on my mothers side was kind of my destiny,
Not quite. Not sure exactly when but I would hazard a guess of 2-3 years ago my crown had started to thin. My hair dresser noticed it and always said she would let me know when it got worse. I still had rather thick hair and could still manage a kind fluffy look that didn't look to bad. Things took a quick turn this winter.
In March I started to notice more hair in the shower, then my crown being more visible. I had a haircut in a 4 weeks so I figured I would see what the stylist had to say. Over the next 2 weeks it got worse by the day. Eventually most of my hair became very unhealthy looking, just flat and dry. The crown seemed to be the worst given it was already thinning but with all the other hair being so shitty nearby it looked even worse. I took some pictures but deleted all of them. One thing of note about this time period is that it seemed to coincide with a somewhat dramatic weight loss (6'0" 160 to 150 pounds) and a complete loss of sex drive, I think I went two weeks without observing an erection. These started before I was aware of how bad a dive my hairline was taken because I had to question the sex drive thing as to whether or not it was induced by depression over my hair. I regained the weight but did so through diet and lack of exercise, I was doing heavy cardio based workouts roughly 5 times a week prior and always hovered around 160, I remain at 160 now but workout once a week. The sex drive has returned, at least close to the level it was at prior. Also during this time I was experiencing the on fire scalp itch people discuss on here sometimes.
So I make it to my haircut and my stylist says the front doesn't look much worse for the wear but the back has taken a hit. She definitely recognized the overall health of my hair being low. We talked, I said just buzz it off with no guard. She went with a #1 and I was ok with the result. I still have hair all over my head (minus the receded temples) there is a "thin" area on the crown of non pigmented hair but I was expecting it to look much worse, its not great but its not the slick bald spot I was expecting.
Now today. I started Rogaine last week. I have been using Regenpure DR for a almost two weeks. When all of this started I got some of that NuHair DHT blocker, its probably sh*t but whatever I ordered it and have just about finished off the first months supply. My hair feels way better short, there hasnt been any real itch. I can see the problem areas which is good and bad but at least I have somewhat of a plan. I am not against Finasteride but I have an appointment with a dermatologist on Monday and will see what they say.
That was pretty long winded and probably poorly written but I guess I do have a few questions.
1) Specific questions I should ask the Derm.
2) What levels should I have checked prior to potentially taking finasteride. (I've seen several posters here recommend blood work prior)
3) I know its a crap shoot and the pics arent the best but does my crown look like minoxidil could help.
4) Last one, are there any downsides to using a 1 guard or no guard for that matter to buzz cut your head while using treatment for regrowth? Can it damage new hairs or something?
both pics were taken about 4 days after buzzing head with a #1 guard. I know they are shitty but I had a f*** up when trying to neaten up my hair yesterday and had to take it right down with no guard so any pics now dont really show whats going on.
Thanks guys.
I'm 35 years old, sometime around 25ish my temples receded to a deepish Norwood 2 range. I used to grow my hair out for like a year and then buzz it off. So I remember noticing a lot of hairs in the shower but not really on my head because I had a big old mop. Next time I buzzed it I saw the fallout. It kind of sucked but my hair otherwise was very thick and healthy and after I grew it out I could pull off some styles I liked so I wasn't too concerned. For over 5 years that was pretty much it. My mother's father was pretty bald, he is in his 80's now and probably a NW6. My father is in his 60's and has a legit full head still, he has 4 brothers older then him that while thinning a bit, still have pretty solid hairlines. My mothers brother since I remember has always had receded temple similar to mine but deeper and a full head otherwise. Based off that I figured my uncle on my mothers side was kind of my destiny,
Not quite. Not sure exactly when but I would hazard a guess of 2-3 years ago my crown had started to thin. My hair dresser noticed it and always said she would let me know when it got worse. I still had rather thick hair and could still manage a kind fluffy look that didn't look to bad. Things took a quick turn this winter.
In March I started to notice more hair in the shower, then my crown being more visible. I had a haircut in a 4 weeks so I figured I would see what the stylist had to say. Over the next 2 weeks it got worse by the day. Eventually most of my hair became very unhealthy looking, just flat and dry. The crown seemed to be the worst given it was already thinning but with all the other hair being so shitty nearby it looked even worse. I took some pictures but deleted all of them. One thing of note about this time period is that it seemed to coincide with a somewhat dramatic weight loss (6'0" 160 to 150 pounds) and a complete loss of sex drive, I think I went two weeks without observing an erection. These started before I was aware of how bad a dive my hairline was taken because I had to question the sex drive thing as to whether or not it was induced by depression over my hair. I regained the weight but did so through diet and lack of exercise, I was doing heavy cardio based workouts roughly 5 times a week prior and always hovered around 160, I remain at 160 now but workout once a week. The sex drive has returned, at least close to the level it was at prior. Also during this time I was experiencing the on fire scalp itch people discuss on here sometimes.
So I make it to my haircut and my stylist says the front doesn't look much worse for the wear but the back has taken a hit. She definitely recognized the overall health of my hair being low. We talked, I said just buzz it off with no guard. She went with a #1 and I was ok with the result. I still have hair all over my head (minus the receded temples) there is a "thin" area on the crown of non pigmented hair but I was expecting it to look much worse, its not great but its not the slick bald spot I was expecting.
Now today. I started Rogaine last week. I have been using Regenpure DR for a almost two weeks. When all of this started I got some of that NuHair DHT blocker, its probably sh*t but whatever I ordered it and have just about finished off the first months supply. My hair feels way better short, there hasnt been any real itch. I can see the problem areas which is good and bad but at least I have somewhat of a plan. I am not against Finasteride but I have an appointment with a dermatologist on Monday and will see what they say.
That was pretty long winded and probably poorly written but I guess I do have a few questions.
1) Specific questions I should ask the Derm.
2) What levels should I have checked prior to potentially taking finasteride. (I've seen several posters here recommend blood work prior)
3) I know its a crap shoot and the pics arent the best but does my crown look like minoxidil could help.
4) Last one, are there any downsides to using a 1 guard or no guard for that matter to buzz cut your head while using treatment for regrowth? Can it damage new hairs or something?
both pics were taken about 4 days after buzzing head with a #1 guard. I know they are shitty but I had a f*** up when trying to neaten up my hair yesterday and had to take it right down with no guard so any pics now dont really show whats going on.
Thanks guys.
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