Male pattern balding
Discussion
So I have thinning around my crown, had it looked at and I have telogen effluvium and early stage balding, although the T.E is making it look worse than it actually is which can eventually be reversed unlike the balding.
I appreciate male pattern balding is incredibly common and 90% of men will experience it at some point, however My confidence has taken a significant hit.
My dad has a full head of hair at 70, my uncle who is in his 50’s has a bald crown only.
A lot of peoples answer to balding is to just shave the lot off, however this would very much be worse case scenario for me, the shaved look is just not me, it would be transplants before it came to this.
Looking at the Norwood scales 1-7 on Google has done me no favours, although I’ve been told that not all men progress from one stage to another, the late stages are most likely when you started in your teens/ twenties with aggressive balding, has anyone experience of this, have you stayed at the stage you were originally?
My dermatologist confirmed this by saying my hair pattern will likely follow the pattern of others in my family, which going off my uncle would mean my crown will eventually go completely bald
I appreciate male pattern balding is incredibly common and 90% of men will experience it at some point, however My confidence has taken a significant hit.
My dad has a full head of hair at 70, my uncle who is in his 50’s has a bald crown only.
A lot of peoples answer to balding is to just shave the lot off, however this would very much be worse case scenario for me, the shaved look is just not me, it would be transplants before it came to this.
Looking at the Norwood scales 1-7 on Google has done me no favours, although I’ve been told that not all men progress from one stage to another, the late stages are most likely when you started in your teens/ twenties with aggressive balding, has anyone experience of this, have you stayed at the stage you were originally?
My dermatologist confirmed this by saying my hair pattern will likely follow the pattern of others in my family, which going off my uncle would mean my crown will eventually go completely bald
The shaved look wasn't for me....I thought, I was receding and noticed when I just couldn't gel it correctly or as soon as the wind blew when I got out the car it was a mess, forever messing with it to hide it
Then I watched a great channel on YouTube called "The bald cafe" and just did it, my confidence has shot through the roof, and get so many compliments, just embrace it and get on with it
Then I watched a great channel on YouTube called "The bald cafe" and just did it, my confidence has shot through the roof, and get so many compliments, just embrace it and get on with it
I started losing it quickly in my 20s, then it distinctly slowed down.
My dad was bald as a coot in his early 30s. I have noticeably more than him in my 40s, but not enough to prevent shaving it off.
But it’s hair…..in the grand scheme of life, does anyone really care?
The only frustration I have is that it’s be nice to have a change of haircut. Baldness consigns you to one for the rest of your days.
Apart from that; couldn’t give a flying f….there’s far more pressing matters in life than some hair on your head.
My dad was bald as a coot in his early 30s. I have noticeably more than him in my 40s, but not enough to prevent shaving it off.
But it’s hair…..in the grand scheme of life, does anyone really care?
The only frustration I have is that it’s be nice to have a change of haircut. Baldness consigns you to one for the rest of your days.
Apart from that; couldn’t give a flying f….there’s far more pressing matters in life than some hair on your head.
bloomen said:
Does anyone pay attention to anyone's crown?
It's the front that causes most angst I would've thought. Mine's going in a v silly manner. I'd be dead pleased if it only the crown.
even though 99% of people won’t give a dam, or perhaps notice my crowns thinning, I’m fully aware and conscious over it, as I’ve said my confidence has taken a battering.It's the front that causes most angst I would've thought. Mine's going in a v silly manner. I'd be dead pleased if it only the crown.
I’m hoping once I’ve fixed the telogen effluvium it will become much less noticeable, however the diagnoses of early pattern balding obviously will always be an issue.
bloomen said:
Does anyone pay attention to anyone's crown?
It's the front that causes most angst I would've thought. Mine's going in a v silly manner. I'd be dead pleased if it only the crown.
Really? My crown went first and it stood out a mile. Got plenty of stick from my mates about it and looking back rightly so.It's the front that causes most angst I would've thought. Mine's going in a v silly manner. I'd be dead pleased if it only the crown.
I still mourn the loss tbh.
It’s not what you want to hear, but shave it off and move on.
Muzzer79 said:
I started losing it quickly in my 20s, then it distinctly slowed down.
My dad was bald as a coot in his early 30s. I have noticeably more than him in my 40s, but not enough to prevent shaving it off.
But it’s hair…..in the grand scheme of life, does anyone really care?
The only frustration I have is that it’s be nice to have a change of haircut. Baldness consigns you to one for the rest of your days.
Apart from that; couldn’t give a flying f….there’s far more pressing matters in life than some hair on your head.
Yes I understand this very much.My dad was bald as a coot in his early 30s. I have noticeably more than him in my 40s, but not enough to prevent shaving it off.
But it’s hair…..in the grand scheme of life, does anyone really care?
The only frustration I have is that it’s be nice to have a change of haircut. Baldness consigns you to one for the rest of your days.
Apart from that; couldn’t give a flying f….there’s far more pressing matters in life than some hair on your head.
Some people don’t care, some even go for the shaved look out of preference, however for me personally my confidence is at an all time low, and if my hair were to get worse my confidence would sky dive.
I had a bad mental health episode 5 years ago which I pulled myself out of, I don’t want to ever go down that road again so when it comes to self happiness etc I’d like to keep myself intact
Leptons said:
Really? My crown went first and it stood out a mile. Got plenty of stick from my mates about it and looking back rightly so.
I still mourn the loss tbh.
It’s not what you want to hear, but shave it off and move on.
How old were you when the crown went, and what sort of timeline form crown to the rest?I still mourn the loss tbh.
It’s not what you want to hear, but shave it off and move on.
bloomen said:
Leptons said:
Really? My crown went first and it stood out a mile. Got plenty of stick from my mates about it and looking back rightly so.
Depends how far down it gets. It may only be a wee patch forever.Must say it caught me by surprise, I’ve always had thick hair all over, needed hair cuts every 2/3 weeks, combined with my dads hair at at 70 I didn’t think I’d be facing such issues
Then you are old enough to get yourself down to Argos & buy a nice set of hair clippers - take them home & look at them anxiously like many of us have done & not regretted it in the long run . . . 
I do totally understand the trauma albeit it was a long time ago for me when I suffered big time as a teenager & very early 20’s.
I do totally understand the trauma albeit it was a long time ago for me when I suffered big time as a teenager & very early 20’s.
usn90 said:
This is what I’m hoping to be the case for me, however seeing the Norwood scale ending with the horseshoe stage 7 look has filled me with extreme dread to be honest.
Baldness is so variable there's little reason to assume that it's going to continue to absolute zero. I know plenty of people with a patch that hasn't shifted forever. My hairline went ever so slightly frilly at 25 and didn't budge for 20 years. Then it went for it.
usn90 said:
How old were you when the crown went, and what sort of timeline form crown to the rest?
It was obvious around 29, I gave in around 32. Did have a relapse and grew it back once just to see but it was hopeless.Still got a fair bit of hair everywhere else!
In all honesty I still don’t like it and I’m pushing 38 now but I don’t lose any sleep over it anymore!
Digger said:
Then you are old enough to get yourself down to Argos & buy a nice set of hair clippers - take them home & look at them anxiously like many of us have done & not regretted it in the long run . . .
I do totally understand the trauma albeit it was a long time ago for me when I suffered big time as a teenager & very early 20’s.
As I said, for me currently the clippers are an absolute last resort, I’ll be going for the transplants if it came to it.I do totally understand the trauma albeit it was a long time ago for me when I suffered big time as a teenager & very early 20’s.
Meds wise there 2, one of which I don’t want to take as I enjoy my sex life, the other is less effective although I would try it.
The current plan from the dermatologist to wait 6 months too see if I can fix and reverse the telogen effluvium and see what the result of that would be
bloomen said:
Baldness is so variable there's little reason to assume that it's going to continue to absolute zero. I know plenty of people with a patch that hasn't shifted forever.
My hairline went ever so slightly frilly at 25 and didn't budge for 20 years. Then it went for it.
You see I don’t have anyone close enough with balding that I can ask ( my uncle isn’t an option either) it’s slightly reassuring to hear from actual people that in some cases it can Infact remain in one place/stage.My hairline went ever so slightly frilly at 25 and didn't budge for 20 years. Then it went for it.
I’d like to think that if I were in a later stage of life I’d be more accepting, but currently I can’t, I fully sympathise for those who went through this earlier than myself
usn90 said:
As I said, for me currently the clippers are an absolute last resort, I’ll be going for the transplants if it came to it.
Meds wise there 2, one of which I don’t want to take as I enjoy my sex life, the other is less effective although I would try it.
The current plan from the dermatologist to wait 6 months too see if I can fix and reverse the telogen effluvium and see what the result of that would be
I do wonder how transplants work out in the medium to long term. If the transplanters fill in the bits that are missing, but your hairline continues to recede, then do you have to keep getting more and more transplants to keep on top of things. I'd imagine that it could be a losing battle for many. With the ultimate outcome being you end up with a head full of pubes.Meds wise there 2, one of which I don’t want to take as I enjoy my sex life, the other is less effective although I would try it.
The current plan from the dermatologist to wait 6 months too see if I can fix and reverse the telogen effluvium and see what the result of that would be
I think i'd prefer to grow old gracefully and naturally. I've been slowly thinning on top, receding, and going gray for twenty years now. Since my twenties.
You can't fight getting old! Too many botoxed, facially filled and facelifted women demonstrate the pitfalls of trying to fight old age!
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