Brothers, step up to the plate

[coffee]

I need this. If I need this, chances are others need this too.

I'm a little perterbed at the subjectivity of peoples hair loss, growth, and maintenence accounts. Sure, it's hard be objective but we still need to try. What's the best way to be objective? Pictures damn it.

I don't mean to slag on anyone who's written their x-month progress reports as mini-essays. I've eaten them all up and I've found most of them to be pretty damn informative. I just think that a couple of snaps can go a long way in supplementing your progress report and helping others get an idea of what to expect with their personal struggle. Those Merik control study pics? Please. Full-tilt slackness. Give me something more than just a 100 pixel pic of some guys dark-as-sh*t hair taken in low light.

We've got a good start though. The handfull of pics in the photo gallery (http://www.hairlosstalk.com/photogallery/) are great. Can't we string together some more ad hoc profiles though? Grab a camera, take some pics, scan them if you need to, and post them up on yahoo. Only have a few shady pics of yourself from a few weeks ago? There's no reason to be bashful. Giv'er here. If you've got a tonne of pics, the same thing applies. I'm talking baseline pics, pics of your male relatives for comparisson, pics of you with a full melon of hair, pics of you now, pics of you 2 months from now, pics, pics, and more pics. The more the better. At least for me, I sh*t my pants evertime I log into the forum index and see a new topic starting with "here are my pics...". I can't wait to check em out - if only so that I can see someone that I relate to or be able to assure them that I'm there too (not that I have yet, just started posting).

After a quick search of the forums, here are the guys who have already stepped up to the plate. Some have progress reports, others don't. All have balls.

SadSad: http://f2.pg.briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/illmaticlv/lst?.dir=/blah
Gunner: http://uk.photos.yahoo.com/gooner_yddo
NeedHelp: http://photos.yahoo.com/rags2377
kono23: http://f1.pg.briefcase.yahoo.com/bc...rc=bc&.done=http://f1.pg.briefcase.yahoo.com/
JohnD: http://au.f1.pg.briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/jdelaney262003/lst?.dir=/My+Documents
bombscience:http://www.hairlosstalk.com/discussions/viewtopic.php?t=2953
Me: http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ilovedahl2000

I'm sure there's more that I didn't spot.

This 'aint no pedestrian shite. It may be a bit of work to get some pics up but it would be to the benefit of everyone on this forum if you did. If you don't have time then don't bother. If you can spare a few seconds, help out your brothers in arms. Grab a camera and start snapping those damn pics already.

 

[20something]

No doubt. Words just don't cut it as everyone has different expectations and observations. I took baseline photos and posted them and will update again at 6 and 12 months, and probably on an annual basis afterwards.

 

[Redbone]

I don't own a digital camera or scanner and cannot afford to buy one, also my natural hair is not bad you cant see thinning area's unless you pull the hair back, which I have no problem doing.

 

[Guest]

Good idea but this has not really panned out in the past. Folks post pics and then there is battle of posts on how good or not good the actual "results" are.

It seems that people "see" what they want to see and so the process doesn't really add much other than another thing to argue over.

Personally, I prefer my privacy and don't plan on taking any pictures of my hair (I do have a digital camera). I am so bored with myself that I won't focus a camera on myself until I get more interesting!

:lol:

 

[Axon]

Good idea but this has not really panned out in the past. Folks post pics and then there is battle of posts on how good or not good the actual "results" are.

It seems that people "see" what they want to see and so the process doesn't really add much other than another thing to argue over.

Personally, I prefer my privacy and don't plan on taking any pictures of my hair (I do have a digital camera). I am so bored with myself that I won't focus a camera on myself until I get more interesting!

:lol:

Same here. I don't want to put up photos that I may have to defend. So I put up nothing.

There's so much sorry-*** whining and negativity that all desire to help has been drained out of me.

 

[Redbone]

Thats true Bruce anonminity is a good thing to have, wouldnt want a friend or co-worker exposing me.

 

[Cassin]

Good idea but this has not really panned out in the past. Folks post pics and then there is battle of posts on how good or not good the actual "results" are.

It seems that people "see" what they want to see and so the process doesn't really add much other than another thing to argue over.

Personally, I prefer my privacy and don't plan on taking any pictures of my hair (I do have a digital camera). I am so bored with myself that I won't focus a camera on myself until I get more interesting!

:lol:

Same here. I don't want to put up photos that I may have to defend. So I put up nothing.

There's so much sorry-*** whining and negativity that all desire to help has been drained out of me.

I agree with all of the above, I don't have a digital camera, but my dad does and I could use it if I wanted to. Besides, I don't have baseline photos anyway.

 

[Hairybush1]

Agreed with the last 4 posts. I dont need to prove anything to anyone if my word isnt enough.

You think I got nothing else better to do than come to a hairloss site and lie about my hair IMPROVMENT and the fact that other folks have expressed surprise at how quickly the drugs have worked for me?

Some guys are so negative that even if I showed a 30% increase in hair growth, that still wouldnt be good enough for some jack *** and then I have to start defending myself. Sorry, wont happen.

 

[bombscience]

See, I really dont care what people say so much as I like to post pictures just for a reality check. It's kinda interesting to hear what other opinons about your situation are. It's always a mixed bag.

On that note I have dominated when posting picutres and I hope everyone can't wait for when I post my 0-3-6 "progress" report.

 

[coffee]

I disagree. Here's why.

I think we have to remember why this community exists. We're all looking for support, personal annecdotes, and info on the latest stuff. Importantly, we're also looking for a way to self-diagnose and compare ourselves with others. Joe thinks, "OK, I'm in my 20s and my sink is swimming with hair. Is this typical? What do others look like? To what extent have others been able to abate their loss or regrow some real hair?".

It's not about providing "proof" as HairyBush suggested. We're not antagonists! We're f*****g brothers in arms! Anyone who acts differently has a chip-to-big-to-chop on their shoulders and should be sqaurely ignored. Remeber, we're not competing for the worst rug. We're putting our sh*t on the line and saying "at month x, while taking treatment y, i looked like this." That's a solid, solid thing my friends. That said, there's always going to be fuckers who talk trash and try to begrudge anyone who shows the first sign of success. They're unhappy people. Why let them determine what we post...doesn't make a lick of sense to me.

I havent been around that long and indeed I havent come across any posts that argue over how much people have said (and then shown) that they lost. Brucelee, you said that this has been attempted in the past but failed. I wonder, Why havn't the cases in the photogallery been reduced to "another thing to argue over"? People are going to see what they want to see. That's not our responsibility. Again, we're not trying to convince others of the extent of our hairloss/regrouth. We're being frank and saying and showing what our progress (arguable, showing no progress is just as important as loss/regrowth!) has been like. That has value that I'm not prepared to dismiss.

I'm thinking back to a post by bombscience a few weeks ago. Something he said made a lot of sense and could serve as a moto in this respect. It was to this effect: "let's not argue over 'mine's worse than yours'...hair loss effects everyone no matter how much they've lost". If I've read too much into what he said or flipped my own interpretation than whatever - The point is still a good one. And kudos to bombscience for doing what he does, regardless of the reason.

Worried about your boss/gf/parents finding out? Come on. Get creative with the angles, Obscure that mug our yours, and get familiar with photoshop or MS paint. I wouldnt be able to tell any of you from a lamp post based on those yahoo pics. Don't have a digi-cam? Find someone who does. Take you're old hard-photo's to your local library/office and scan them.

But if you think you've got nothing to show then so be it. I'm tempted to insist that showing what you've got, even if it hasn't changed in 6 months, still has utility for other users. I admit that some people have other issues and don't want their mug on display. Ultimately, It's your choice.

Time and time again this board has recognized that when we lose our hair, we lose our sense of looks and self-confidence too. Devastating isn't it. It would be nice for me to get real with my expectations. Keep my chin up and fight it till the end because I've seen from other users that a treament can make a difference; or get strong and accept it because I'm not satisfied with what I've seen. I just think that some of us need to rethink about why we are here and what we can do to help.

 

[Axon]

We're not antagonists! We're f*****g brothers in arms! Anyone who acts differently has a chip-to-big-to-chop on their shoulders and should be sqaurely ignored.

It nice to think that, but it's not the case. I wish this forum was that positive, but unfortunately, there is quite a bit of negativity and far too many personal attacks. Put up photos showing improvement and you WILL get someone saying "wig" or "hair transplant" and then will proceed to argue with you about your head.

That's just the reality.

 

[coffee]

Axon, I don't disagree that there will be losers who b**ch. But that's not the point bro!!!

We should ignore those fuckers. Who are they anyway? Guys who b**ch and moan make up a tiny, tiny percent of people who actually look at this forum as a place to find help. At the end of the day, they don't make a sh*t of difference. Here comes the kindergarden reference: if someone pisses you off, ignore them and they'll go away. Encourage them, and forever waste your time.

And I'm sorry, a forum is what you make it. "It's reality"?. Fine, let's change it. There's gotta be some vet-posters who aren't yet jaded. Anyone?...

(i like your sig man, i'm going to borrow the style!)

 

[Guest]

I am not against this type of activity. I was just observing that is has not worked in the past.

Maybe this time will be different and that woud be nice. I am not going to participate but wish you luck.

 

[Axon]

I am not against this type of activity. I was just observing that is has not worked in the past.

Maybe this time will be different and that woud be nice. I am not going to participate but wish you luck.

Agreed. Sadly, I used to have the same philosophy as coffee, but that has gone the way of the dodo.

Anyway, here's a picture of Futzy's hair transplant. Sweet eh?

 

[Guest]

Nice job!

 

[coffee]

Ok, then let's focus on the present.

Bombscience, mind weighing in on what your experiences posting pics have been like? Mixed bag I know, but has it been mostly positive or have you been tempted to stop posting pics?

Anyone else want to comment on how looking at his pics has helped you?

Axon, that's a crazily good job. Push comes to shove, I'm gonna giv'er on the hair transplant if my mop can look like that. It's sort of a double whammy for me. I'm trying to fix my teeth at the same time. Never did get braces as a tot and it pissed me off to no end. I'm doing this invisalign thing and it's pretty good. Month 6 of 24 and I'm things are already starting to move.

 

[bombscience]

Ok, then let's focus on the present.

Bombscience, mind weighing in on what your experiences posting pics have been like? Mixed bag I know, but has it been mostly positive or have you been tempted to stop posting pics?

Um, lets see. When I post I usually get this:

3 dudes saying "Dude I wish I had that"
4 dudes saying "Ouch, now that's some definite loss"
4 dudes saying "Doesn't look like male pattern baldness to me"
2 or 3 dudes asking more about what i'm doing ot battle hairloss or how long I've been on treatment X.

None of these replies bother me because at this point I'm very unsatisfied with with "progress". I guess if I was satisfied when I posted and the general reply was, WOW! YOU'RE FRIGGIN BALD, I probably wouldn't like posting my pictures as much.

 

[garthbrooks]

i think showing pictures (if they work) can give others a little hope. i'm going to take pictures now (at 2 months into my regimen), but at this point there is pretty much no visible loss as it appears i'm mainly a diffuse thinner, and it is just starting to kick in (been noticably losing 50 - 100 hairs everyday when i used to notice none). thinning is a little bit more noticable at the vertex to me, cause i know what it used to look like. When i post the pics in a year that can maybe help people, myself included see an improvement, that i maintained, or continued to lose. at this point in time though, showing pictures would be totally pointless. as i continue though i will post picks (6, 9, 12 months, etc.).

 

[fuzbucket]

i am also taking a photo diary...... 4 pictures of all angles every month.... i will post the pics every month.... =)