How long until I hit norwood 6?

[toocoolforhair]

My hairline started receding in 2003 at the age of 16/17. In 2005 it was a thick, but mature hairline. Here is what happened from 2006 onwards:

I'm now 24 and my hairline is just over a norwood 3 (there is still no bald spot at the crown). How long until I hit norwood 6? I'm guessing in the next 2 to 3 years.

 

[wesleyBelgium]

why dont you start with the meds ?
minoxidil 5% and some fina could turn it arround....

 

[toocoolforhair]

why dont you start with the meds ?
minoxidil 5% and some fina could turn it arround....

I am quite health conscious so I don't really want to risk any side effects. If I decide to have hair back it will be through a hair piece. I'd just wear it on nights out or whenever I feel like having hair (it would basically be treated as a hat)

 

[FSHGLD]

I'd say more like 6-7+ years. It doesn't look all that bad too me, though it's hard to see your hair in the 2010 photo.

 

[Petchsky]

You may never hit NW6, even with early hairloss. My uncle was NW5 by 40 and this was in 1990, he's still a NW5 today, my other uncle has been a NW3 for 25 years, so it just depends...

You have started male pattern baldness quite young, but not really aggressive balding, if you do hit NW6 it will likely be in your thirties I guess

 

[sadscalp]

I think you look great shaved. But if you want to wear a piece and you're (more) comfortable with that, then by all means go for it mate.

 

[s.a.f]

why dont you start with the meds ?
minoxidil 5% and some fina could turn it arround....

I am quite health conscious so I don't really want to risk any side effects. If I decide to have hair back it will be through a hair piece. I'd just wear it on nights out or whenever I feel like having hair (it would basically be treated as a hat)

WTF!!!! :shock:
Ps with that Norwood at your age I'd give it 3/4/5 yrs before you hit your maximum Norwood but that might NW5.

 

[bigentries]

WTF!!!! :shock:

What is wrong?
I think that is a very healthy way of thinking.
Instead of trying to fool people into believing it's your own hair, why not openly admit it is a wig?
Just say you don't feel good being bald. Women openly talk about wearing extensions.

Toocool. Did your hair lost densitiy? Until 2009 your hairline still looked the same, can't see the real state of your hair right now with the buzzed look

 

[toocoolforhair]

WTF!!!! :shock:

What is wrong?
I think that is a very healthy way of thinking.
Instead of trying to fool people into believing it's your own hair, why not openly admit it is a wig?
Just say you don't feel good being bald. Women openly talk about wearing extensions.

Toocool. Did your hair lost densitiy? Until 2009 your hairline still looked the same, can't see the real state of your hair right now with the buzzed look

My hair is thinner than it was and I think I've lost more hair at the temples. I took this picture for a visa a few months ago:

I think this is a grade 1, but you can see I have lost the temples I had in 2008.

 

[cuebald]

Looks like relatively slow recession. I'd say 5-7 years before you hit your maximum Norwood level.

I count aggressive loss as NW1/2 - NW6 in a year and a half. That's the quickest I've seen it happen (in a 19-20 year old guy).

 

[Boondock]

Petsch pretty much summed it up.

Without sounding gay, you have the benefit of having a really cool smile. I think it makes a difference when your Norwooded up, since things like teeth become more important.

On the wig point, if you can handle it that's a good way to do things. Someone posted a story elsewhere about how a guy used to do a yoga class with them, and one time when it was getting too hot just said "f*** it" and threw a piece to the front of the class. Nobody knew before, but he actually got major props after that because of his attitude.

 

[toocoolforhair]

Petsch pretty much summed it up.

Without sounding gay, you have the benefit of having a really cool smile. I think it makes a difference when your Norwooded up, since things like teeth become more important.

On the wig point, if you can handle it that's a good way to do things. Someone posted a story elsewhere about how a guy used to do a yoga class with them, and one time when it was getting too hot just said "f*ck it" and threw a piece to the front of the class. Nobody knew before, but he actually got major props after that because of his attitude.

Yeah, I think a smile can be important. Before I even suffered hair loss I was actually self-conscious about my teeth because my front two were stained at the top (presumably from soft drinks). Until I had them fixed at age 18 I only smiled with a closed smile. It was great being able to smile openly without thinking everyone's looking at my stained teeth.

If I am going to wear a piece then I will be very up front about it. I'd even use it as a source of humour. I'd hate to be sweating everyday over being found out. I think it's at least worth trying to see what it looks and feels like. If I don't like it then I'll just toss it in the bin. If I don't mind it then I'll wear it every now and again.

 

[s.a.f]

If I am going to wear a piece then I will be very up front about it. I'd even use it as a source of humour. I'd hate to be sweating everyday over being found out. I think it's at least worth trying to see what it looks and feels like. If I don't like it then I'll just toss it in the bin. If I don't mind it then I'll wear it every now and again.

But wont you have to always have a grown out horseshoe for it to match the wig?

 

[s.a.f]

WTF!!!! :shock:

What is wrong?
I think that is a very healthy way of thinking.
Instead of trying to fool people into believing it's your own hair, why not openly admit it is a wig?
Just say you don't feel good being bald. Women openly talk about wearing extensions.

Hmm in an ideal world maybe. If it was that simple everyone would do it. Your closest freinds and family might be cool with that but you'll have to deal with hassle from an awful lot of idiots and other people. The thing is when they KNOW its a wig they'll never see it as your real hair no matter how good it looks.
And women wearing extensions is a totally different thing.

Just as a side thought though, imagine if every bald man in the western world decided to start wearing hair tommorrow. The stigma would almost dissapear in less than a week. Sadly though since probably less than 1% actualy wear it'll never happen.

 

[bigentries]

Hmm in an ideal world maybe. If it was that simple everyone would do it. Your closest freinds and family might be cool with that but you'll have to deal with hassle from an awful lot of idiots and other people. The thing is when they KNOW its a wig they'll never see it as your real hair no matter how good it looks.
And women wearing extensions is a totally different thing.

Just as a side thought though, imagine if every bald man in the western world decided to start wearing hair tommorrow. The stigma would almost dissapear in less than a week. Sadly though since probably less than 1% actualy wear it'll never happen.

But there are good experiences of people taking that mentality in the wigs subforum.
Of course you need to have a very thick skin to be able to pull that.
And as long as your friends and family are ok with that, it shouldn't even be an issue. I know I couldn't handle the abuse from strangers, but there are people out there that don't give a damn.

It's amazing hair loss forums are full of negativity towards wigs.
I think the stigma only developed because being self-conscious about looks was not considered a masculine trait. A woman wearing a wig is not a big deal.
I still think there is hope out there. When some gossip column talks about Travolta's wigs you see a lot of support about his choice.
Too bad the most popular wig user are not open about it.
A society where a bald man just sports a wig is more healthy than popping pills for prostate enlargement or vasodilators on the scalp.

 

[s.a.f]

I still think there is hope out there. When some gossip column talks about Travolta's wigs you see a lot of support about his choice.
Too bad the most popular wig user are not open about it.
A society where a bald man just sports a wig is more healthy than popping pills for prostate enlargement or vasodilators on the scalp.

Most of that support is from his biggest fans though, and he's a Hollywood star, a certain degree of vanity, is accepted as part of the industry.
Everyday life is different. Here in the UK there are a few tv presenters who wear and in general the man on the streets opinion of them is one of ridicule.

 

[toocoolforhair]

If I am going to wear a piece then I will be very up front about it. I'd even use it as a source of humour. I'd hate to be sweating everyday over being found out. I think it's at least worth trying to see what it looks and feels like. If I don't like it then I'll just toss it in the bin. If I don't mind it then I'll wear it every now and again.

But wont you have to always have a grown out horseshoe for it to match the wig?

If I get one it will be a full-cap so I can keep my head shaved underneath. If I had to get a partial to make it look realistic then I'd ditch it all together. No way am I growing out a horseshoe.

 

[wesleyBelgium]

yep , i think that fully shaved would be best
and the wig or hairsystem will be much better attached to your scalp then just a upperpiece....

if all my effords would fail , i would chose Telogen Effluvium same way....