How long do you think I have left before I end up a NW6-7?

[georgesheardexpress9]

Some family history of male pattern baldness:
Dad - NW3v
Dad's dad - NW7
Dad's brother - NW6
Mom's dad - NW6
Mom's mom's dad- NW7
Mom's brother - NW3v diffuse


I am 19 years old. To cut to the chase, I want to hear how long you guys think I have left before I end up a NW6-7. Looking at my family history, you won't find it surprising as to why I'm so curious. All of them started balding young, by the way.


To add, I am not taking any treatments, as I am ready to fully embrace being completely bald, and would rather not manipulate my hormones artificially. Like I said, I'm just interested in how long you guys think I have left. My hair is wet in these pics.


Be as ruthless and forthright as you can. I know what the future has in store for me, hair-wise.

 

[Hairloss23]

Well looks like you have already started to recede a little and have a bit of diffuse thinning as well maybe. Probably noticeably bald (NW3) by 22ish.

 

[davesmith420]

"To add, I am not taking any treatments, as I am ready to fully embrace being completely bald, and would rather not manipulate my hormones artificially."

Okay just don't come crying back here when you're Norwood 3. And honestly there isn't really a way to say how long it will take, but I think by your mid/late 20s it will become noticeable.

 

[Illusions]

You could be completely bald within a year, or still have similar hair 30 years from now. Unfortunately no one here has a crystal ball.

 

[Saurabhaj]

U r family history similar to mine..
Except my dad being nw6..
I was bald at 25(hairline started eroding while my vertex was gone before my hairline ).

U will not bald before marriage...

Your best bet is marry at 27/28..
U will be bakd after 30.
(I don't consider someone bald if his hairline is good,facial frame +
no hairline=bald.)

Good luck...use minoxidil...
It's safe drug...
It only helps change local circulation...

U must use minoxidil atleast till marriage...

 

[shookwun]

Good hair quality. Should maintain, and respond well to finasteride if that's the path you choose.


To put it in blunt perspective, if you don't hop on medication then you will inevitably go bald. You're within the early stages, and have a great chance at maintaining what you got.

 

[rocklegends]

While I realize some initial trepidation regarding medical therapy, I would strongly advise you to consider all your options at disposal before relenting to letting it progress (bear in mind that I'm not a doctor, but these are my specific thoughts )

I would actually think that you weren't balding to the untrained eye, but you are indeed in the early stages of hair loss, and given the family history, you look to be on a progressive stage at an advanced norwood pattern. The best way to abate the progression is with finasteride to halt the progression and minoxidil to potentially regrow. (based on the photos, detached from lighting covariables, you seem to have a solid head of hair to the extent of not needing minoxidil until later in the process if applicable)

Given that side effects occur at excess of ~1% of placebo variables, you have minimal opportunity to develop temporary side effects that are usually immaterial, and a 99% of maintaining you hair after two years (86% after 10 years as per the rossi et al study). If you were at Norwood 3++, I would remit to suggesting that you just let it be. however, you are in a tremendous position as you have a chance to be proactive before visible loss.

If you do wish to know what you will look like with a nw6 pattern or something to that end, download an app on the android/ios market (it's free). capture a face shot and then let it do its work to give you an approximate photo of you without hair. After this, it would give you a holistic thought into where you want to go.

 

[georgesheardexpress9]

Well guys, first off, I want to thank each and every one of you for your responses. Also, to reiterate, yes - being forthright and blunt really is the best manner of conveying things; it isn't about what people WANT to hear - it's about what they NEED to hear.

Unfortunately, I hate to be "that guy", but something I neglected to mention in my initial post is that I DID try saw palmetto a few months back, but between the brain fog and the decreased libido, I ultimately decided it was best to let nature run its course, and to accept the inevitable - however minimal my hair loss is right now, and however high my chances would otherwise be at maintaining what I have. I won't lie - I have been stressing about hair loss and the prospect of going bald since I was 15 - as a matter of fact, it was my largest fear. Plus, my hair has always been a bit on the thin side and my temples have never been of a NW1, even before I started going bald. In that respect, I'm glad I'm suffering male pattern baldness at such an early age - it's definitely paved way for acceptance early on, so that I can embrace who I am and when I shave my head in days to come, I will look virtually the same 20 years down the line. Personally, I'd hate to be one of those people who go through their early life with a luxuriously thick Norwood 1 without so much as a single strand lost, only to rapidly advance to a Norwood 6-7 in their 60s. But then, that's just me.

So, yeah. I don't intend to dissuade or steer anyone here into a particular direction, nor do I endorse head shaving, hair systems, or any medication. That's just my take on things. Some of you will no doubt think it's a shame I choose not to hop on any medication, and save what I have. And I respect that. In short, I was simply curious as to how fast you guys thought I'd advance to the higher NWs. As you'll see on my profile, as anxious, depressed and frustrated I had been about hair loss in the past, I was able to make light of male pattern baldness and even joke around about it, posting various nonsensical (and time-wasting) stories on here for all to see. Going to a public mall and yelling "COME ON! GO TO TOWN!!! HEHEHEH. WHIP OUT THE CHART!! AND GAUGE PEOPLE'S NORWOODS!!! NORWOODS!! NORWOODS!! Heheheh." Yeah, you get the idea.

Thanks again for your responses, guys.