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Ok, i am 18 years old, and i have copper blonde hair.
My father has curly black, Italian style hair.
I am likely to go bald later,i mean it seems obvious that i did not inherit his hair, so does that mean mean that i did not inherit tht baldness gene? Or does the baldness gene come from the paternal side?
This stuff scares the crap out of me...
P.s:no one on my mother's side was bald( i am talking about the males)
In advance, i thank you all for the possible responses i may recieve!
The story I heard in my teen years was that one's hair condition was similar to that of his maternal grandfather.
My dad was bald as an egg, but I've kept my hair (I'm in my 40s). And it's true I take after my mom's side of the family.
But genes are a blend; and who knows, they may be a crap shoot.
I'd say, take care of your hair and diet and don't start to worry until you start to shed. "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."
I've always heard that, but in the last year or so I've heard it isn't necessarily true.
My hair certainly doesn't take after my father's that way, though. He was quite bald by 18, while I've just thinned slightly on top by 35.
My mother's father and my maternal grandmother's father seemed to keep more hair than my dad, uncle and paternal grandfather - so maybe taking after the mother's side is more likely, even if not always the case.
I doubt if worrying about it will help any. If you start to notice thinning, you could try Minoxidil if you think it's worth the hassle of applying it twice a day. I got tired of that real fast, so I can't say whether it works.
The gene for male pattern baldness is on the x chromosome. For males, this means that whether or not the father is bald or not is irrelevant- it's all from your mother. Of course, there are probably other forms of baldness which come from either side- I don't remember enough biology to say.
MJ
Actually, everyone is right. My husband has been thinning since his early twenties and its very true that the major part of the baldness issue is determined by the maternal side of the family. Look at your moms father, thats your best clue. But, testosterone levels are also a big part of male pattern baldness, guys without much on top tend to have LOTS more hair in other places and both parents genetic materials contributes to that factor. I've found over the past twenty years that the free radical vitamin therapy I provide the hubby has meant he has not gone gray even into his fourties (the rest of his family went gray very early, mid twenties and by thirty they were completely gray) and it has helped him maintain a little hair on top (his maternal grandfather, great grandfather, etc. were bald as billiard balls) There has also recently been a big fuss about Shen Min, a chinese herbal mixture that is said to not only prevent hair loss but regrow hair. Haven't tried it, don't know if it works, but in any case at 18 you're way to young to really worry about baldness. Do your research and get ready for your twenties when if you're going to lose it thats when it will start to happen!
Good luck. And remember, going bald is not the worst thing that could happen. If it does, take it like a man and cultivate a personality instead.
Best wishes to all,
Dawn