new thread
I may be overly paranoid but this keeps bugging me:
I'm 17, and I've always been told when I get it cut that I have really thick hair. I also have what I think is a pretty high hairline, about 3.5 inches from my eyebrows at the worst point (above the corners of your eyes). I've been growing it out for about the last 5 months (it's about 8 inches on top and 4 on the sides and back). I've noticed for a while that when for some reason I'm unable to take a shower for 2 or 3 days it starts falling out a lot, especially when I actually get to washing it. Is this normal? I don't think it feels any thinner so I assume it's being replaced as this happens. I don't think it's anything considering my age but this and the hairline thing makes me worry it's falling out early (I *think* my genes are pretty good, my grandpa still has most of his hair at 88 but he attributes that to having it shaved every summer when he was young, which I know has no bearing on growth)
Thanks.
Hi Vic. If your only 17 then your most likely reaching the final stages of puberty. This is about the time that the male hair line begins to recede to it's final adult stage. Some hairlines tend to recede more than others. I admit that 3.5" is pretty high, but unless you see it drop back to say 4 or 5 inches in the next 1-2 years then it's nothing to worry about. Even though genetics have a lot to do with what your hair (and hair line as well) will look like you cant use a grandparent as a guage. For example, my cousin lost more than 4 inches of his hairline in his late teens and only one of his grandparents (his grandmother) had a full head of hair in her old age (and she still does which is not bad since she's in her 90's). That seems to match with his thinning hair. Now all of my grand parents lost most of their hair in their yourth.
I'm in my mid 30's and I have more hair than anybody has a right to. No connection there at all with my grandparents. My mom lost a lot of her hair in her 20's. My dad has always had a small open spot at the back of his head. My aunts have lost a large ammount of hair over the years. In fact, only my uncle and myself have kept a full head of hair. Looking back to old photographs in the family albums I see that most of my family has had major hair loss. Why my uncle and myself seem to be exempt from it, I have no idea. I just know that you cant judge your hairgrowth on your family. You can only take a very broad guess at it. I do have to say that I dont envy what may happen to my kids (if I ever have any, lol) hair.
If you continue to see a receding hairline over the next year or two then go ahead and see a hair doc. A guy I worked with, went to Bosley and Hair Club For Men. He ended up with sticking with Bosley and got a hair transplant. I know that this will sound like an add but it's not. I'm just saying that his hair looked both great and natural. If he hadnt told me I never would have known. HCFM seems to focus more on other options such as treatments and plugs. Over time and if done right, plugs can look just as good. But for a good couple of years it will look like you had plugs.
Any good hair doc can help you if you need it. The problem is that they cost big bucks. My pal paid over $8000.00 for his transplant alone. That was several sessions. Then he had to deal with regular scalp and hair treatments before and after. Each of those were several hundered dollars and he did all this over a period of several years. Many thousands of dollars and hours of his time were spent. But he ended up with a great head of hair and he was happy with it. It's an option to consider if your hair is that important to you.
Now if your growing your hair out and your hairline stops receding I'm willing to bet that a pony tail will look right at home. They seem to look better with a more exposed forehead. More natural, IMHO. Also if you like to let it just go it's own way (no clips, tails, or whatever), then it will cover the corners and nobody will see. Then of course you have coverings. Such as hats and bandanas.
So dont sweat it until you have a reason to. Let your body finish doing what it's got to do and then decide.