I just wanted to post and give info to people in my situation, which might be similar to yours.
Around 12 months ago, having just turned 23, I had the half full/half empty moment. I was a pretty boy/prep with a full head of thick gelled up hair. Spiked it up complete with the abercrombie and hollister attire. The girls (not women) thought it was hot and I had much success.
One day I look in the mirror and notice that my hair along the hairline of my left temple was actually slightly see through. I was sort of uneasy about this, but you have to understand, my first reaction was, "there was no way I was balding." It was just something that happened to other guys, not thick haired pretty boys like myself.
I started getting a little spastic and checking my hair all the time, etc. Immediately jumped on the big 3 as well (after finding this website). You know how it goes, sometimes, at the beginning, you think maybe its just all in your head. Perhaps I was forming a "mature hairline?" Who knows, but I wasn't taking any chances, I was catching it early and stopping it before it started.
Time went on and several things started to happen. First off, let me describe myself a bit to you. I have a widows peak and a naturally high hairline. So i've got that V look, even with all my hair. I'm 5'11 and naturally thin. I'm only about 165lbs right now. The 'look' that I carried was the aforementioned teenager abercrombie look, I have a nice complexion and youthful appearance, and straight teeth. Combining these things and some people would say I looked like a "boy band" member. I also tanned for about 10 minutes 2 or 3 times a week, as I have a naturally pale complexion.
6 months go by and things are sliding a bit. I'm loosing some ground. Temples are moving back slightly, areas to the right and left of the hairline are thinning to the point where in certain lights you can see through them. At this point though, its important to mention that the hairloss was not to the point that other people would notice. Noone would even think I was "balding" if I brought the subject up. Around the 8 month mark there was actually a point where I thought I had conquered, or at least halted, the hairloss. For a month or so, mentally, I won... stopped coming to the site, stopped looking at my hair in the mirror. Just had confidence again.
About 2 months ago something happened, genetically. My hairloss took off at a frantic pace. This is in the face of a big 3 all out assault. I know it sounds ridiculous, but almost DAILY you could notice hairloss. The hair along the edges of my hairline has fallen out, my temple bald spots are moving back incredibly fast. I just got a haircut yesterday and I aged 5 years in 5 months. I'm now developing this Sharp V look, with bald spots on either side of the V.
My face has also aged dramatically as well, I have permanent frown lines and my skin isn't as young looking as it used to be. I blame this on the tanning I did when I was younger.
My disposition is one of forced acceptance. I'm re-evaluating my "look" to the world. I'm desperately trying to not let depression set in because of all this recent change. Reminding myself others don't necessarily see me as the balding, skinny guy that I do. Everyday is a fight to hold on to my confidence.
I'm also considering buzzing my head, and if things keep progressing as they have, I will have to.
It's hard because I was the good looking, confident guy about a year ago, and feel like i've lost much. I still feel the same on the inside, but my outward appearance is someone else now.
I post this because I know other people must be facing the same thing I am, and will be able to relate. Balding is the great genetic equalizer.
Couple things I took away from the experience:
1. First off, going to mid 20 something happy hours, you realize your far from being alone. If people haven't lost hair, they've gained weight, or aged in other ways. People don't stay pretty. It's important to keep your appearance in other ways, workout, spend $$ on nice clothes.
2. Tanning, regularly, was a very poor decision. I'm paying for it now, I wish i'd never done it.
3. The big 3 work where they claim, but not necessarily where they don't. This is sort of obvious, but needs to be stated. I don't know why the temples are impervious to the benefits of these treatments, but they are. I'm not sure if taking any of the treatments has actually done anything to slow or halt my hairloss, no way to tell.
4. If you live in a college town still, DO NOT go to the college bars, you'll feel alot worse.
5. Try to mature your thought process of how your life will continue changing, as your balding matures. Watching yourself change, for the worse, everyday in the mirror is disheartening. But don't loose sight of the attractive features that you still have. Remember: every person guy/girl is going through the pains of aging right along with you. The beautiful people you see that are 30+ are the exception, you won't remain beautiful. Accept that and move on.
Around 12 months ago, having just turned 23, I had the half full/half empty moment. I was a pretty boy/prep with a full head of thick gelled up hair. Spiked it up complete with the abercrombie and hollister attire. The girls (not women) thought it was hot and I had much success.
One day I look in the mirror and notice that my hair along the hairline of my left temple was actually slightly see through. I was sort of uneasy about this, but you have to understand, my first reaction was, "there was no way I was balding." It was just something that happened to other guys, not thick haired pretty boys like myself.
I started getting a little spastic and checking my hair all the time, etc. Immediately jumped on the big 3 as well (after finding this website). You know how it goes, sometimes, at the beginning, you think maybe its just all in your head. Perhaps I was forming a "mature hairline?" Who knows, but I wasn't taking any chances, I was catching it early and stopping it before it started.
Time went on and several things started to happen. First off, let me describe myself a bit to you. I have a widows peak and a naturally high hairline. So i've got that V look, even with all my hair. I'm 5'11 and naturally thin. I'm only about 165lbs right now. The 'look' that I carried was the aforementioned teenager abercrombie look, I have a nice complexion and youthful appearance, and straight teeth. Combining these things and some people would say I looked like a "boy band" member. I also tanned for about 10 minutes 2 or 3 times a week, as I have a naturally pale complexion.
6 months go by and things are sliding a bit. I'm loosing some ground. Temples are moving back slightly, areas to the right and left of the hairline are thinning to the point where in certain lights you can see through them. At this point though, its important to mention that the hairloss was not to the point that other people would notice. Noone would even think I was "balding" if I brought the subject up. Around the 8 month mark there was actually a point where I thought I had conquered, or at least halted, the hairloss. For a month or so, mentally, I won... stopped coming to the site, stopped looking at my hair in the mirror. Just had confidence again.
About 2 months ago something happened, genetically. My hairloss took off at a frantic pace. This is in the face of a big 3 all out assault. I know it sounds ridiculous, but almost DAILY you could notice hairloss. The hair along the edges of my hairline has fallen out, my temple bald spots are moving back incredibly fast. I just got a haircut yesterday and I aged 5 years in 5 months. I'm now developing this Sharp V look, with bald spots on either side of the V.
My face has also aged dramatically as well, I have permanent frown lines and my skin isn't as young looking as it used to be. I blame this on the tanning I did when I was younger.
My disposition is one of forced acceptance. I'm re-evaluating my "look" to the world. I'm desperately trying to not let depression set in because of all this recent change. Reminding myself others don't necessarily see me as the balding, skinny guy that I do. Everyday is a fight to hold on to my confidence.
I'm also considering buzzing my head, and if things keep progressing as they have, I will have to.
It's hard because I was the good looking, confident guy about a year ago, and feel like i've lost much. I still feel the same on the inside, but my outward appearance is someone else now.
I post this because I know other people must be facing the same thing I am, and will be able to relate. Balding is the great genetic equalizer.
Couple things I took away from the experience:
1. First off, going to mid 20 something happy hours, you realize your far from being alone. If people haven't lost hair, they've gained weight, or aged in other ways. People don't stay pretty. It's important to keep your appearance in other ways, workout, spend $$ on nice clothes.
2. Tanning, regularly, was a very poor decision. I'm paying for it now, I wish i'd never done it.
3. The big 3 work where they claim, but not necessarily where they don't. This is sort of obvious, but needs to be stated. I don't know why the temples are impervious to the benefits of these treatments, but they are. I'm not sure if taking any of the treatments has actually done anything to slow or halt my hairloss, no way to tell.
4. If you live in a college town still, DO NOT go to the college bars, you'll feel alot worse.
5. Try to mature your thought process of how your life will continue changing, as your balding matures. Watching yourself change, for the worse, everyday in the mirror is disheartening. But don't loose sight of the attractive features that you still have. Remember: every person guy/girl is going through the pains of aging right along with you. The beautiful people you see that are 30+ are the exception, you won't remain beautiful. Accept that and move on.
