Have I receded in 2 months? (2 pics)

[Thickandthin]

I started Rogaine Foam about a month ago and have been applying it once a day (hairline only).

Well, it seems that after 1 month my forelock has thickened up but the temples have receded even more (unfortunately I have not seen any "baby hairs" or any regrowth whatsoever and so the thickened forelock might be my imagination). Take a look....

Here's my hairline in April


And here it is today


Can you guys tell a difference or am I suffering from Rogaine foam/hair loss message board induced hysteria?

BTW - what Norwood would you guys say I am? I like to think I'm a 2 but in that new pic I'd almost say a 3.........

 

[Jkkezh]

Difficult to see because the hairstyle is somewhat different in the pictures. I'd say there is some slight recession in the second picture compared to the first, but then again it is really hard to judge with these pictures. About the Norwood, I would say a NW2 going towards NW3.

 

[Norsk]

It sort of looks like it, but couldn't it just be the angle?

 

[metalheaddude]

I think its probably a good sign. Stick with the foam for a good year. My hairline got worse on Foam before it got better. I mean its not great now but its certainly stabilized it to a certain extent.

I think it does look a little worse but as I said above about a month in your would expect some shedding from the foam which may last a few months but the rewards will be worth it...

 

[Thickandthin]

Yeah, it's hard for me to tell as well....

There is the fact that the angles are slightly different and my head is tilted down a bit more in the second pic, exposing the temples more.

But honestly...do you guys think I should stick with the foam? I'm on the fence about it. I like applying it - I like feeling like I'm doing *something*, especially since I can't really tolerate finasteride. But I am a bit wary about it possibly making things worse.

I will say that I believe the foam has somewhat "sharpened" my hairline - in other words it looks more defined if not slightly more receded. Perhaps this just means it has caused all the weak DHT choked hairs to fall out and is working on regrowing them?

 

[Obsidian]

Could be (about the DHT hairs). Congrats on your hair, it looks a lot better within just a month of application.

 

[JayB]

Could be (about the DHT hairs). Congrats on your hair, it looks a lot better within just a month of application.

are some of you people fcking blind?
clearly his hair was overall thicker in april. i swear some of you people only see what you want to see and blow steam up asses.

 

[Norsk]

So you have dropped the finasteride? In that case I'd personally drop the foam, too.

 

[Rwt_Raj]

The second picture is off focus. Hard to tell. Put a clearer picture.

I started Rogaine Foam about a month ago and have been applying it once a day (hairline only).

Well, it seems that after 1 month my forelock has thickened up but the temples have receded even more (unfortunately I have not seen any "baby hairs" or any regrowth whatsoever and so the thickened forelock might be my imagination). Take a look....

Here's my hairline in April


And here it is today


Can you guys tell a difference or am I suffering from Rogaine foam/hair loss message board induced hysteria?

BTW - what Norwood would you guys say I am? I like to think I'm a 2 but in that new pic I'd almost say a 3.........

 

[Thickandthin]

Yeah, I'll take another pic soon.

I had to drop the finasteride because it messes with my dick. Makes the flaccid size smaller (like baby small) and makes it harder to get/maintain an erection. I'm about to go overseas for a month but when I get back I'm going to start a hardcore exercise regime and at that point I may start taking it again....because hopefully being in great shape will counteract some of the sides (and may even help my hair, who knows).

Norsk, why do you think I should drop the foam? I have high hopes for it because I've seen it help quite a few hairlines in the Success Stories forum, even when it was used by itself.

How long does it usually take to see signs of regrowth? I haven't seen a single new hair come in so far and its somewhat discouraging, although I know its still quite early.

 

[Norsk]

I didn't say you should drop it. I just personally feel it's too much of a hassle for something that doesn't seem to maintain. Success with Rogaine alone just seems too rare to bother. I'd rather go for one of the non-FDA approved treatments that are at least claimed by some to do something about the balding process. I'm using Proxiphen (it does admittedly contain a small amount of minoxidil), which probably many people on here would find too expensive, but if you read lots on the treatments section (perhaps particularly the experimental section) there are a lot of possible alternative treatments.

EDIT: OK, maybe you did more research than me on the foam's success. Never did anything for me though (6 months). If it does work for you, I guess it's a personal preference whether you would buy a few years of hair, and then go bald for sure, or try something unproven or semi-proven, which might actually do something with the male pattern baldness process.

 

[Thickandthin]

Well, my hairline is honestly the only place I have lost hair.

And so far, it hasn't terribly affected my appearance or the hairstyle I've had for years.

For example, this is what my hair looks like right now:

That's freshly blow dried and with hair wax, so it looks better than normal. Hard to tell I'm balding, right? I guess I'm pulling an Ashton Kutcher.

I'm using the foam because it's proven and because I've seen some decent results in the Success Stories forum. I pretty much use that forum as my barometer for what works and what doesn't, and virtually every success story involves the big 3 - proof IMO that just about anything else is bunk.