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Ello, found this site today. I've been scouring the net looking for info on losing your hair. I'm horrified by the notion as im only 18 (about to be 19) and i've never had short, let alone NO hair, its always been long. Its always seemed like i shed a lot of hair, but just since ive been in college have i noticed that the my hair is thinning (especially so at the forhead). I'm absolutely terrified of losing my hair (call me vain, i dont care about much else when it comes to my apprearance). I usually wash every other day with a heavy amount of shampoo and conditioner. I shampoo and condition all of my hair and usually pull out a lot of hair in the process. Brushing my hair after the shower or after i wake up is a battle too, but its always been that way, even before it was thor-like long. Can you guys please let me in on anything that will help me to avert this sudden extreme loss of hair? My dad has a full head and hes 55. are my washing habits off? please help its been troubling me greatly lately.
Hello,
Don't brush your hair after washing it. Brushing when wet breaks the hair.
Do you have members of your family (apart you father) who lose their hair ?
Could an eventual loss come from a lack of vitamin, etc ?
Bye
Vivien
I been trying to figure out when mine is breaking. I didn't know brushing when wet would break it.
I want mine mid-back at least, to my waist if it will grow that far.
Paul
Actually, as I understand it, hair loss issues are inherited more from the maternal side, so you might want to look at the men on your mom's side of the family tree and see what their hairlines looke like.
My mom's father is 85 with thin balding hair, her brothers are in their late 40's with thinning hair too. am i doomed?
Not necessarily, because heredity of traits isn't all that simple. Take my family for instance. My wife's family has a definite tendency to baldness, and our oldest son (who is not biologically related to me) followed that trend, with his hairline starting to significantly recede by his late teens/early twenties.
However, our second son (who *is* biologically mine and only two years younger) has no signs of hair loss or thinning, and his hair is just as thick as mine, just significantly shorter. I have no doubt he could grow his as long as mine or longer if he ever chose to.
As with almost any question of inherited traits, previous generations are only indicators of probability, not predictions of reality.
yea i was thinking about it and i was just like "shouldnt be happenening!" my diet is awful since ive been in college (im broke and usually only eat diners or junk food) and i dont take any vitamins, and i think my habits for my hair are unhealthy too so i think if i change those things i can save my hair...hopefully thanks for everyone's advice
I'd look seriously at your diet. If you're broke, it's actually much cheaper to buy raw food and prep it yourself than to eat out. You can also eat much more healthily that way as you control the amount of sugar, salt, fat and protein you eat. Try to eat more white meat and fish, ideally oily fish, and don't forget your veg. Try to eat as much veg as you can afford and you should get all the vitamins and minerals you need.
A healthy diet doesn't have to be boring. Brighten it up with coloured veg and some, but not too much, fruit. Use onions, chillis, herbs and spices to vary your flavours and play around with different textures for mouth appeal.
All of that should help you to make the most of the cards your genes have dealt you. You should have healthier hair and skin and as a bonus you'll feel better and have more energy too. Another benefit is that everyone loves a good cook.
See your dematologist about a drug called Propecia. It's quite expensive but actually works wonders in young guys. I've been on it for 8 months and have some regrowth in the front, basically I don't look like I'm losing hair at this point.
Please thoroughly research this drug before considering it and see a Dr for a perscription...don't buy the cheap generics online without a perscription.
Also, is your diet good? That could have an effect on your hair; however you state that the front is mainly thinning therefore it's most likeley generic.
Good luck and let us know what you decide to do.
-Phil
Hello Luke,
It is relatively normal for guys in their teens after puberty hits to have a very slight recession of hair on the forehead area and is no indication of growing bald. My hair line receded about half a centimetre in my late teens and stopped there. I'm now 38 and haven't lost any more hair since then. So maybe it's too early to say whether your case is early baldness.
However there's some great hair regrowth treatments out there like Rogaine - which can significantly reverse/slow down hair loss and apparently has more success rate the earlier it is used.
As for baldness being from the maternal side, you can have the MPB gene from both sides of the family. My father was bald in his mid 30's and I always thought that I would go the same way but it's all in the genes and can skip a generation. My paternal grandfather has a full head of hair though his son my father does not. My maternal grandfather was balding but his son my uncle has a full head of hair.
In general it's a 50/50 chance of hair loss by the time a guy reaches the young age of 50 so whatever happens just enjoy your hair while your got it and don't worry too much.
Best,
Duncan
I am pretty sure you are not losing your hair. Im in my teens and my hair has receded in the front a bit too. It also happened to my father. He still has a full head of hair. It is normal for this to happen and it happens to a lot of people.