hair thinning for a few years now, but with no shedding

[goemon]

i first noticed hairloss around my 19th birthday,,,i am now 21 and me hairline has noticably receded, especially on the right side, and the top of the head has generally thinned out. Recently, i feel the crown area is starting to get worse, so i have been looking at medications. I am using Nizeral 3 times a week, but havent yet took the plunge to finasteride or minoxidil. The side effect of finasteride scare me as i will be taking a powerful drug for the rest of my life, and long term effects avent happened yet. And the onyl thign stopping me from going to the drugstore and buying minoxidil is that i do not want to get a big shed and then not have it come back. Bu ti am getting off my topic. AS IT IS RIGHT NOW, I AM NOT EXPEIRENCEING ANY SIGNIFICANT SHEDDING. My hair is clearly thinning and receding but i am hearign stories of others loosing lots of hair in the shower or on the pillow or by running their hands threw their heaid but im not. I literally just roughed up my hair for about 7 seconds and only 2 came out,,,but i can feel how thin it is. whats up with this?