18 years old, am I losing my hair?

[Jnx]

I don't know my biological father, so it's a bit hard to tell if I'm going to lose it because of heredity. However, my grandpa on my mom's side is 61 years old and has slight hair loss on top, but you'd have to really look at it to see. He has quite a bit of hair for an old man. We have the same hairline as well.

Just based on my hairline, I could say maybe say that yes, I'm losing it but looking back at baby pictures it seems like I've always had this hairline. My problem is that the sides of my bangs are disgustingly thin compared to what it was around the age of 13. However, when I look at a picture from when I was 15, I have the same problem. And isn't that a little too young to be thinning tremendously?

I have two theories for this. Hair loss, or excessive shampoo use. For years, I've been using shampoo twice a day. I'm sure a lot of you have heard about the "no-poo" movement, so you could understand why this might be one of my theories.

I just bought $10 worth of minoxidil, but frankly I'm a bit apprehensive using it. I'm an optimistic person, so I'm afraid I might unnecessarily lose hair or lose the stuff I already have, because you're not suppose to use it if you're not balding on the crown.

One thing that might be important to mention is that I shaved it a lot and let it grow back. This is when I started to have this problem.

Age 13 (best hair I've had) shaved it because of a dare

Age 15 (problem apparent here) (grew back to this)

Current pictures, circled areas are the problem? (cut it real short 3 months ago, just buzzed w/ no guard yesterday)

Crown

Thanks guys. Sorry for the lengthy post.

 

[IrishFella]

TBH, that's quite aggressive male pattern baldness for an 18 year old, you're probably an Norwood 2.5 nearing 3, jump straight on Minoxidil and Nizoral, you could try Finasteride but as an 18 year I'd be a bit apprehensive.

It's definitely male pattern baldness, use treatments before it's too late, pal.

 

[gh05]

See a good dermatologist that specialises in hair loss - they will be able to tell you if your hair is miniaturising elsewhere.

 

[antman]

looks like my hair loss. from the moment i hit puberty i started receding but very slowly. if you are certain that you really don't wanna go bald then start hair loss treatment soon

 

[Kirby]

I concur with IrishFella's observation that your hair looks like approaching a Norwood 3 pattern.

 

[fodandahalf]

If you manage to just maintain your hair, then you're by no means at an 'ugly' or unpleasant stage. Your forelock is still good and even though my hairline corners aren't that bad, the forelock has started to dip inwards at the middle which is the least pleasant thing about my entire hair situation. But yeah, whatever you do, strictly finasteride and minoxidil; don't waste precious hair time on experimental treatments.

 

[fodandahalf]

IF you're destined to lose more hair that is. A receding hairline can stop whenever it pleases.