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Most who frequent this board, whether longhaired or not, are far more hair orientated than the average man (or woman). I have always been hair-obsessed as far back as I can remember. I started worrying about hair loss in my mid-teens.
I guess I have made out pretty well now at 32. I know hair loss can strike at any time so it is still a concern but probably not as much as the fear of going bald when I was young.
If I was able to have my hair really long like my heart's desire, I think this would be a far greater issue. For those of you who do have long hair, how much do you worry about losing what you treasure? Maybe it is just my personality but I would hate to think of the agonizing process of slowing seeing one's hair disappear.
For those with a true long-hair identity, I would think baldness would be a huge psychological burden perhaps even similar to a woman with the knowledge that there is a propensity towards breast cancer in her genetic history. Would she get cancer and lose her breast or will she be spared? I know it is a flawed analogy because one is life-threatening and the other situation of hair loss is not.
So for those who have great hair now, how much is it a concern of yours that MPB will rob you of it?
Fun fun!
About two weeks ago I started to get obsessed about hair loss. For a week I read websites non-stop on topics such as Finasteride/Propecia, Rogaine/Minoxidil, dutasteride, DHT blockers such as zinc and saw palmetto, and other medicinal products.
There wasn't really much reason for the concern, since my thin hair is likely due to poor scalp care over the years, plus my daily falling hair count is very low. In the past few days, though, I have calmed down and just accepted that if anything happens, it happens. The best I can do is take care of my hair properly (and possibly, in my case, improve conditions for growing more hair). The feeling of worrying was awful, I was really depressed about it.
Plus, the prospect of hair cloning has settled my nerves. I don't know a great deal about the topic, although some people seem to believe that Aderans, the most-mentioned company carrying out research, is full of half truths and raising people's hopes.
I do know, however that were I to go bald, I would continue growing my hair until the stage where I just looked ridiculous.
Matt.
Beachbum speaking...just wondered about DHT blockers...I am familiar with saw palmetto and zinc...but what is DHT?
DHT is DiHydroTestosterone (I think I spelled that right).
When testosterone combines with an enzyme called 5 Alpha Reductase, DHT is formed. It is DHT that attacks the follicle and causes hair to get finer through each growth cycle until eventually no more grows. It exists in everyone, but it only effects hair follicles in those people with the necessary genetic makeup.
This is just a test
My take on this is that...
The only thing you can do to help prevent hairloss is to be nice to your body by keeping it relatively pure and avoiding using harmful chemicals, bad food, and keeping in shape. So just do that for all the wonderful benefits it has and don't worry.
In fact worrying will probably hasten hair loss.
You are not your hair.
If it happens i will have done everything I could to avoid it, so what is the use of worrying?
.... And with the amount of hair I've got right now, I think I could lose 50% of it without any problem ;-)
take care
-vincent
I think there are a number here who would debate that. For many their self-identity is intertwined with their hair. Have you ever read Bill's treatise On Being a Longhair?
I don't think so.
If they debate then they should get their hair cut, see that they are still themselves (even if it sucks to have shorter hair), and then see that it grows again. IMHO.
Being so attached to anything isn't good at all. Fear of hair loss is just one more proof of that!
Anyway. Being attached to long hair is better than being attached to money or violence or other similar problems I guess, so you're all free to do whatever you want of course. But you are not your hair :)
-vincent
are you your hair when it's shorter (i.e. <1cm buzz cut)
if not at what length does your hair starts to be you?
-vincent
It's not a concern of mine, and I'll tell you why: Hair loss (aka Male Pattern Baldness) is genetic. If it doesn't run in either side of your family, you're fine. It doesn't run in mine.
Nyghtfall, wondering if you could tell me something, I don't want to post a new thread about it.
My mother's father had incredibly thick hair until his 70's, he started to thin a bit, but still had more hair than the average person. He also had slight receding temples, but he had them all his life, since he was born. They didn't recede further, just stayed like that all his life and never worsened.
My Fathers father had a high hairline on the front, but had awesomely thick hair, even at age 91! So I don't have MPB, just a slight case of thinning in my family, do you think I'm likely to follow the same pattern of thinning? Do you know what chance I have of following the same pattern, like 50-50?
It is a myth to say it does happen if MPB runs in the family, and is most of the time true. Although there are certain people in America and other countries where people worry about this problem because their dad has/had it, but it never happened to them. It is a rare case, but it is truly something to worry about if it does run in your family. You Surferdude will be just fine, and even if your hair thins out alot, you're not bald. My father, even though I don't know him, has very thick hair, and my mom's hair is thick, and I get my beautiful wavyness from my "mommy" lol ;) Just take alot of care for your hair and don't worry at all.
Just to add to your post Surferdude :) -
-- My mother's brother is balding at the crown, and generally has thin hair. The balding has only really become noticeable in the past 5 years or so. Her father still had all of his hair except a bit of temple recession when he died in his 60s.
-- Two of my mum's cousins are shiny on top, the only hair they have left is the back and sides (which aren't affected by MPB). However, their father (who married into the family) is bald, although to a much less severe degree. My hope is that they inherited MPB from their dad, who has no bloodline with me.
-- My dad has showed no signs so far of any balding, although I do have the same fine hair. The thing is though, I haven't seen any of his side of the family for years, so I haven't a clue whether they're losing hair or not.
Do you reckon my chances are weak or what? The hair around my temple is further back than most of my friends', but like Surferdude said, I don't think it's a receding hairline, just a deep one.
Thanks
Matt.
I can only speculate, but you may be ok as well. I would encourage you to consult an expert.
And speculate (guess, that is) is about all we can do. Think about it: if the family gene pool within one particular generation was THAT predictable, how does one account for dissimilarities among siblings?--not all brothers go bald, balding brothers have dissimilar baldness patterns, hair color/growth patterns are different: one brother has his mother's hair type (fine and silky) while another has his father's (coarse and thick) and so on...
Well, Baldness does not run in my family, but I do feel very bad for those who lose their hair, and want it long. I suggest for of these guys to do that Bosley Hair transplant. it might not give your hair back, but it is your own hair that they get from the back of your head. It makes it look like you haven't lost hair even though your hair might be thinner. Don't mean to sound like an advertiser but the Bosley sounds like it worth it to try out. Balding men are everywhere, and most of them I seen have the rest of their remaining hair long. Kind of tells you something.
No worries over things I cannot control. If I lose my hair, I lose it and move on.
Whilst I would agree that it is something that cannot be controlled and I would simply move on were it to happen, it would be like the loss of a large part of my identity. Having not had short hair for 35years you kinda get attached and known for being the 'exception' in the circles in which I work and live.
I think the thing which makes it more palatable is that it happens to others and is socially acceptable - no one really gives you a second glance.other 'disfgurement' through illness is always the subject of stares which I would find dificult to live with. There is certainly no point in getting obsesssed about it even though I understand Stanley's pressures and I have at least been able to enjoy having my hair at a length of my choosing for so long.
I didn't really want to start the whole 'Stanley Bey's Hair' thing up again but it does strike me as sad that 'really long' hair is still your 'heart's desire' but that this desire remains unfulfilled due (I seem to remember) to your perception of what other people would think if you grew it.
I know that part of your decision to cut was to do with being a Witness and how it might affect your 'carrying the message'. Without getting into ANY religious debate (!) I can't imagine that somebody as smart and well-groomed as you would create a bad impression whatever the length of your hair.
I think this is a very interesting question. If part of one's identity is to have long hair (as it is for me) it is inevitable that losing it will be difficult. My hair is receding and thinning - I'm wondering at what point (if ever) the balance between aesthetics and the need for long hair will tip. What I mean is - will I have a 'dreaded horseshoe' because I NEED to have long hair (even though I know it looks awful) or will I have it cut off in order to 'look' better but feel worse inside ? I don't know the answer to this !
I had long hair... it started to get very very thin... so I shaved it all off and grew a long beard.
It is little or no concern for me due to low testosterone levels. Mine is only 361. The normal range is 299 to 999 which puts me in the lowest 10 percentile of that range. Absalom
Absalom, that's really interesting stuff! I didn't know a number could be associated to ones testosterone level. Can I ask how did you find your level out?
Your doctor can do this test. Testosterone is a major player in the development of your beard, muscle development, and male pattern baldness, along with genetics. Testosterone is also a major player in the development of major health problems as you get older. (I am 51 years old.) Absalom
I visited your web site and notice you've gotten really short hair cuts on a few occasions. Didn't that give you a taste of what it might be like to be bald? And if you liked that buzz-cut look (enough to get shorn to the scalp every now and then), maybe a future without a lot of hair won't be as bad as you fear.
Wow Stanley, your 32? In your photo you don't look a day over 21! What's your secret?
Sorry getting sidetracked... back to the question. Yes I'm absolutely petrified about MPB - but my family genetics seem to suggest it doesn't happen until later life. My Dad didn't start to show signs of balding until he was in his late 40's. My Grandfather (mothers side) until his late 50's.
So I figure I have 20 years of hair left at least. During which time I'm hoping for significant medical advances to combate MPB, perhaps even a cure. *fingers crossed*
Sorted
