To shave or not to shave............

[TheGreatRadish]

I'm 22 and have severe hair loss - probably been losing hair since I was 17 or so.

When I was 17 I had a full head of hair, it's probably now a NW5a - my only saving grace is probably that I use nanogen/topik so I appear as an NW3.

I tried propecia (for a year) - the side affects were not acceptable.

Nanogen worked brilliantly at first - the trouble is that now it's catching up with me. It's really noticeable - even my dad asked what that 'stuff on my head was' and he's lost almost all his hair! In a mirror, in good light, I can see the contrast between my hair and nanogen. I think that it makes me look silly, frankly.

So, in recent weeks, I have thought that getting a no.2, or possibly even 1 at the barbers would;

1. make me feel less self-conscious
2. reduce the expense of the product
3. give me extra time in the morning instead of spending so long applying and perfecting the look (which is taking increasingly longer as i lose more hair!

I'm quite happy to do this but unfortunately, a couple of factors put me off. I am very dark-haired, so the hair I do have will be extremely noticeable against the hair that I don't, if you know what I mean. Also, I have extremely thick eyebrows, a la Nigel Mansell for those that know him. For others, think Big Foot.

Would I look silly if I shaved the whole lot? That's my concern. I accept that I'm balding, there's nothing that I can do to stop it and that my current regimine looks silly. I'm also embarrassed at going for a haircut becaue I'm convinced the barber notices the nanogen fibres - the problem is that if I don;t have it cut the long thin hairs look ghastly when blown about in the wind :freaked2: ! The only factor preventing a 'shave' is my eyebrows.

Anyway, I'd appreciate your thoughts. Bear in mind that I may be moving house and jobs in a few weeks, so this would minimise the imediate embarrassment in the workplace. This hair loss business ain't fun

 

[Aplunk1]

Are you on any treatments are all right now?

There's Rogaine, and there are natural DHT-inhibitors that you could try.

As far as shaving your head goes... I would do it. You can move on with when you shave your head (even with a razor if you look good!).

My advice is to shave your head to a 1 or 2, get on some good treatments, then, when you know your treatments are working, let it grow out a bit.

That's my two cents.

Best of luck, my friend.

Oh yeah, it's good to post pictures... That way you can get some better support from your hairloss buddies.

Later

 

[TheGreatRadish]

Thanks, Aplunk1.

No, I gave up propecia because I didn't like what it did to me (man boobs, I mean I am just over 10 stone and I was lumbered with man boobs!).

I will, I think, try some kind of shampoo inhibitor, possibly minoxidil too.

I would have shown pics but I need a new USB cable for my camera. Rest assured that when I get round to buying one, I will post some pics .

 

[techprof]

I hear you. I am also a NW5. I started at NW6, and moved to NW5.
get on minoxidil twice a day, and nizoral shampoo.
have you tried dutasteride? if not try it. some members have reported no side effects with dutasteride (though they had side effects with finasteride).
Use #2 blade for the sides and #6 ..#4 for the top. try this look. (do this in a salon).
you might like it.

 

[jeffsss]

(man boobs, I mean I am just over 10 stone and I was lumbered with man boobs!).

.

sorry for my inablitiy to catch slang.. but does stone = months??

I've definatly noticed puffyness in my nipples.. but doesnt seem to be getting any worse at nearly 7 months..

 

[TheGreatRadish]

(man boobs, I mean I am just over 10 stone and I was lumbered with man boobs!).

.

sorry for my inablitiy to catch slang.. but does stone = months??

I've definatly noticed puffyness in my nipples.. but doesnt seem to be getting any worse at nearly 7 months..

Sorry, stones are a British weight measurement. 1 stone = 14 pounds, so I weigh about 145 pounds.

 

[Munky]

Ello fella.., i know where your comming from.. I used TOPPIK for about 3years and had the odd comment every so often.. no-one wants to be bald, especially not at a young age so i carried on using it.. The years past and i wasn't fooling anyone and i was sick of hiding away under hats so i shaved it all off 4weeks ago... Best move i've done so far.. Im 24 with a totally shaved head, people respect me more for shaving it all off than trying to cover it up..

If it's easy to spot your using something to cover up your hairloss then i think it's time to shave it all off.. Ohh.., and whatever you do don't shave the eyebrows lol.. They will grow back twice as big and very very fast.. Pluck them.. Just do a lil bit every week untill they are the size you want.., most people won't even notice your doing it if you do it in stages.. Ohh and eat all your food.., when you've finished eat again.., then eat the dogs food.., put on some weight and join the gym fella..

Where abouts in the uk are you?

 

[Guest]

Ello fella.., i know where your comming from.. I used TOPPIK for about 3years and had the odd comment every so often.. no-one wants to be bald, especially not at a young age so i carried on using it.. The years past and i wasn't fooling anyone and i was sick of hiding away under hats so i shaved it all off 4weeks ago... Best move i've done so far.. Im 24 with a totally shaved head, people respect me more for shaving it all off than trying to cover it up..

If it's easy to spot your using something to cover up your hairloss then i think it's time to shave it all off.. Ohh.., and whatever you do don't shave the eyebrows lol.. They will grow back twice as big and very very fast.. Pluck them.. Just do a lil bit every week untill they are the size you want.., most people won't even notice your doing it if you do it in stages.. Ohh and eat all your food.., when you've finished eat again.., then eat the dogs food.., put on some weight and join the gym fella..

Where abouts in the uk are you?

hello there, has your haisloss increased while on toppik?

i used for 1 week, and my hair started to fall like mad.

 

[Munky]

I believe it did yes.. Unless you wash it all out everyday it's gonna clog up the hair folicals.. I admit i didn't wash it all out everyday.., it would have been to expensive and taken to much time to put it on every morning.. I'd use it with caution mate..

 

[Deaner]

Sorry to interrupt, but "clogging the hair follicles" is a bit of a myth I believe.

 

[Munky]

Sorry to interrupt, but "clogging the hair follicles" is a bit of a myth I believe.

What would you call clogging the hair follicle? If a product covers the scalp or follicle then it's gotta be clogged? Is it letting out perspiration? Nope.., does it let the scalp breath as if you didn't have it on? Nope.. Is it covering the scalp so new fine hairs can't grow thru it.., yes..

All im saying is i believe it can clog the follicles if not washed out everyday.. I used it for 3years and after only 4weeks of shaving my head i have new fine hairs all over where the Toppik was used.. Im not using/taking any product for my hairloss other than a razor..

Could this just be magic? or was it just the fact the Toppik was clogging my follicles and stopping the new hairs from growing?..

 

[socks]

I'm sure TheGreatRadish has moved on but if not, my two cents:

I am very dark-haired, so the hair I do have will be extremely noticeable against the hair that I don't, if you know what I mean.

On the cheap you can either shave it with -no- guard or even bic it. If you're willing to spend a little more money you can always have your remaining hair dyed a lighter color (like a med or light brown).

Also, I have extremely thick eyebrows, a la Nigel Mansell for those that know him. For others, think Big Foot.

I know this might sounds "girly" but a lot of guys who care the way they look do have their eyebrows plucked or waxed and even trimmed (if they are really bushy). It isnt hard to learn how to do yourself and doesnt take much time to keep up with... The improvement can be significant, balding or not, for some of you sasquatches out there :wink:

Would I look silly if I shaved the whole lot? That's my concern. I accept that I'm balding, there's nothing that I can do to stop it and that my current regimine looks silly.

If you accepted you're going bald and found peace with it then the shaved look is the way to go. Why waste time and money fighting something you've accepted?

Anyhow, the shaved look doesnt have to look silly but, just like having "regular" hair, may take maintenance for optimal results. For you that may mean coloring your hair and servicing your eyebrows... Not a huge price to pay if you ask me.

Finally, with the shaved look it usually helps to keep up with your body (IE stay in shape) and sometimes, job willing, growing some facial hair. I'm convinced the shave look can be pulled off by most if one exercises some good judgement

 

[TheGreatRadish]

Well, thanks for the replies, guys.

I still haven't made up my mind - I nearly bought a set of hair clippers the other day - I thought about cutting it down to a number two and leaving it at that but I shyed away at the last moment

For me, using toppik/nanogen has certainly had undesireable effects. I'm convinced that it accelerated hair loss in the areas to which it was applied. There's almost nothing left at all there now whereas the rest of my hair is actuallu quite thick!

Anyway, hopefully I can post some pics soon to illustrate my points.

@Munky: I'm from Scotland.

 

[Munky]

Make sure you post them pics up soon mate, im sure once you do people will be able to help you out more..

 

[biff]

Well, thanks for the replies, guys.

I still haven't made up my mind - I nearly bought a set of hair clippers the other day - I thought about cutting it down to a number two and leaving it at that but I shyed away at the last moment

For me, using toppik/nanogen has certainly had undesireable effects. I'm convinced that it accelerated hair loss in the areas to which it was applied. There's almost nothing left at all there now whereas the rest of my hair is actuallu quite thick!

Anyway, hopefully I can post some pics soon to illustrate my points.

@Munky: I'm from Scotland.

Nonogen and Topik won't make your hair fall out any quicker than it would have anyway. The reason it's falling out in the areas where you applied it is because those are the areas that are thinning anyway.

As for shaving your head, it might be best to go with a number two or three to start with to get used to it and to check out the shape of your head. I would love to be able to shave my head slick bald but my head shape sucks and it looks better with a bit of hair left on, even though I am now getting pretty thin on top. I am now praying for a miraculous cure to come along and save me before I am completely bald!