Time To Start Finasteride Before It's Too Late?

[UncertaintyisReal]

Good evening, everyone. I posted here a few months ago, and the general response was that I was probably a Norwood 1.5 to 2. That calmed me down for a while, but tonight I took a look at my profile and... well, I don't like what I see. I've never been good at applying the Norwood Scale, especially since there seem to be so many variations, and I've had a high hairline since childhood to confuse the issue, but, well, isn't that at least a 2.5? Is it time to hop on the big three and save it while it still looks reasonable?

My density is good, and when I'm not pulling it back, you can barely see any recession along the corners at all. It's a little farther receded on the left than the right, but not by too much. (It's probably about half an inch higher than the center of my hairline.) It mainly seems like in profile, the front of my hairline is closer to the sideburns than I think it should be. I apologize for wasting your time if I'm wrong on this; I'd just like some input from those more knowledgeable than I am.

Edit: Added close-ups to show what I'm pretty sure is miniaturization all along the edges of my hairline, only really noticeable when I pull my hair back fairly hard.

 

[ScaredOfBalding]

Not a nw2.5 yet. Not even close. More like a nw1.5 indeed.

 

[UncertaintyisReal]

Not a nw2.5 yet. Not even close. More like a nw1.5 indeed.

I added a new picture (third down) to show the degree of recession on my left side, and two at the bottom of the post to show what I'm pretty sure is miniaturization all across my hairline. Again, I realize this could just be me obsessing, but is that really just a 1.5-ish?

 

[BigOl'BaldingHead]

I added a new picture (third down) to show the degree of recession on my left side, and two at the bottom of the post to show what I'm pretty sure is miniaturization all across my hairline. Again, I realize this could just be me obsessing, but is that really just a 1.5-ish?

You have pretty severe hairline thinning but it's still only NW1.5.

 

[StevenGerrard]

How old are you? I wouldn't mess around with finasteride just yet (I'm assuming you are around 22-25)

 

[UncertaintyisReal]

You have pretty severe hairline thinning but it's still only NW1.5.

Does that hairline thinning indicate I should be starting finasteride, or should I only worry once I hit NW2?

 

[UncertaintyisReal]

How old are you? I wouldn't mess around with finasteride just yet (I'm assuming you are around 22-25)

I probably should have put that in my initial post, sorry. I'm 31.

 

[BigOl'BaldingHead]

Does that hairline thinning indicate I should be starting finasteride, or should I only worry once I hit NW2?

How's your family history? Because I do belief that you're receding. Which means it's better to start as soon as possible.

 

[UncertaintyisReal]

How's your family history? Because I do belief that you're receding. Which means it's better to start as soon as possible.

That I don't know, unfortunately. I'm adopted, and I'm not in contact with any blood relatives.

I got some finasteride from an online pharmacy (I didn't take them giving me a prescription as necessarily meaning I needed it, since the pictures I sent them were with wet hair, and, you know, they need to make money by selling meds), and I let myself be dissuaded from starting it by a combination of being told my hair was fine and concern about the people who experienced it making their hair loss worse. If it's time to start, the silver lining of that particular very dark cloud is that I can start today.

 

[BigOl'BaldingHead]

That I don't know, unfortunately. I'm adopted, and I'm not in contact with any blood relatives.

I got some finasteride from an online pharmacy (I didn't take them giving me a prescription as necessarily meaning I needed it, since the pictures I sent them were with wet hair, and, you know, they need to make money by selling meds), and I let myself be dissuaded from starting it by a combination of being told my hair was fine and concern about the people who experienced it making their hair loss worse. If it's time to start, the silver lining of that particular very dark cloud is that I can start today.

You should see a doctor as it's important to take these drugs under a doctors supervision. Has your hair always been thin or has the thickness reduced?

 

[UncertaintyisReal]

You should see a doctor as it's important to take these drugs under a doctors supervision. Has your hair always been thin or has the thickness reduced?

I was actually told quite recently that my hair is very thick - or, more accurately, "You have a lot of hair" is the comment I always get from stylists. I think the last time I was told that was a few months ago - five at most.

 

[Mise]

Looks pretty similar to my hair and I'm definitely balding based on what the doctor said to me.

Barbers try to be polite. "it's not even close, you're not balding, come back next week"

 

[UncertaintyisReal]

Looks pretty similar to my hair and I'm definitely balding based on what the doctor said to me.

Barbers try to be polite. "it's not even close, you're not balding, come back next week"

Oh, I get what you mean. The only reason I put any stock in it is that it was always unprompted - I'd never asked them how my hair was, it was just something I'd be told fairly frequently during haircuts, ever since I was a child.

 

[Mise]

I have to add that considering your age that hair looks good. I wouldn't be worried about it especially if you decide to go on finasteride.

Actually it looks better than mine, I don't want to crush your self confidence if it has anything to do with your hair.

 

[ScaredOfBalding]

I added a new picture (third down) to show the degree of recession on my left side, and two at the bottom of the post to show what I'm pretty sure is miniaturization all across my hairline. Again, I realize this could just be me obsessing, but is that really just a 1.5-ish?

If u want to treat ur hair loss, start finasteride now. As soon as possible, don't wait a year like i did or u will regret it i can promise u that.

 

[OldnBald]

Brother, get on finasteride asap. Don't wait like I did until it's possible too late. I just got on it, four days now, no sides, n I'm not worried any then anyway. Such a low percentage get them. Don't let any of these neurotics convince you differently. And in the event you fall into the 1.5% that does get side effects, stop n ask your doctor what to do.

Get on it now. You might be able to recover some of that hairline as you still probably have a lot of miniaturized hairs that aren't dead follicles yet. You wait another couple years, fuckin around, you'll just be shooting yourself in the foot.

 

[UncertaintyisReal]

Everyone, thank you for your responses. I started finasteride today, along with restarting minoxidil drops and ketoconazole. Regrowth would be nice, but if I can keep what I have now, I'll be plenty happy with that - it doesn't look nearly as bad when I'm not deliberately pulling it back to show the problem areas. Again, thanks for your help!

 

[StevenGerrard]

Brother, get on finasteride asap. Don't wait like I did until it's possible too late. I just got on it, four days now, no sides, n I'm not worried any then anyway. Such a low percentage get them. Don't let any of these neurotics convince you differently. And in the event you fall into the 1.5% that does get side effects, stop n ask your doctor what to do.

Get on it now. You might be able to recover some of that hairline as you still probably have a lot of miniaturized hairs that aren't dead follicles yet. You wait another couple years, fuckin around, you'll just be shooting yourself in the foot.

so much this! ugh! I bought into all that bullshit by those crazy nuts jobs. I should have started finasteride much sooner (back in 2012-2013) now I'm gonna need a goddamn hair transplant/FUE

 

[Curioushair97]

so much this! ugh! I bought into all that bullshit by those crazy nuts jobs. I should have started finasteride much sooner (back in 2012-2013) now I'm gonna need a goddamn hair transplant/FUE

How are your sides now? Noticed a few posts back you were complaining about libido

 

[StevenGerrard]

How are your sides now? Noticed a few posts back you were complaining about libido

not gonna lie, libido has taken a mild to moderate hit. that is about it.

I had a nasty shed the first month but I'm back to "normal" now.