I'm not sure what the average age is on the forums, but I figure at least a few of you are old enough to be afflicted.

I first noticed receding in the corners of my hairline when I was 24. I got really freaked out at first, thinking I was too young to be balding, but then I started taking notice of other guy's hairlines and realized I was far from alone.

I'm 28 now, and while it has gotten a little worse, it's still not too bad yet. I can still wear a "normal" haircut and not have it look bad, although I try to get it cut regularly since it tends to look worse the longer my hair gets. I'm actually one of the lucky ones, though......I think I notice it more than anyone else does. And should the day come where it really looks bad, I'm fortunate that I can rock a bald head pretty well.

I personally refuse to use treatments such as Propecia or Rogaine. From what I've heard, the side-effects to Propecia (Finasteride) are more prevalent than they'd lead us to believe. Plus, I don't want to mess with my hormones. Rogaine would just be a pain in the ass to me......having to put it in my hair twice a day. And they say if you stop using it, you'll lose all your hair really fast.

Here's to hoping for the cure, and hoping that the cure can REVERSE baldness as well as prevent it. Anyone else?

GPFontaine wrote:

I hate you for reminding me of the curse that follows my ancestors. At 28, I have a slight receding hairline. My father is bald. My mother's father is bald. My father's father is bald. My mother's father's father is bald. My father's brother is bald. My father's father's father is bald. My mother's mother's father is bald. My father's mother's father is bald. I am fucked. Here is what I know. The better you eat, the more hair you will retain. Once you start receding, your hair is still alive for about 7 years. In that time, if you are healthy enough to fight off the DHT, you can grow your hair again. DHT might not be something you want to fight off. It is a hormone and fucking with it might make you less manly. So hair loss might be a consequence of having a functional penis. God I hate you for making this post.

Haha, sorry to ruin your weekend. But yea, that looks like a rough family history you have there. Mine is somewhat checkered......my dad is as bald as could be, but both of my grandfathers kept their hair. My uncles are a mixed bag. So I could probably go either way.

I've also heard that diet plays a roll. I try to be serious about taking my vitamins. I also take zinc and iron supplements, as I've heard these can help. I'm in good shape too, so hopefully that will count for something.

drewbocop wrote:

At 21, I still have a full head of hair, no recession. But-- My whole dad's side of the family is bald as bald can be. Dale Gribble look-alikes. My whole mom's side of the family had and does have really thick, full heads of hair. My grandpa is 81, still cuts hair at his self-owned barbershop, and has a great head of hair. What side do the genetics usually take? (Please say mom, please says mom...)

The urban legend is that you take after your mother's father, but I've read things lately stating that there's no evidence to back that up.