Receding hairline (age 23) how to predict how long I have (w/o using meds)

[Anonymous]

i've been slowly receding since age 17. right now it's kinda like Heath Ledger's when he had long hair - but a bit less receded.

is there anyway of knowing how long I have? two of my uncles have high receding hairlines (age 52) but they still have hair on top at there age. does hair loss follow a hereditary pattern/time scale? or do you just inherit the balding gene which follows a life of its own?



I ask this because if I'm going to go bald on top (so far no one in my family yet, although my uncles are losing) I'd probably try to slowly accept a new shaved look. it looks okay now - my hair is longish so it isn't that noticeable. but part of me thinks I should prepare for the worst (inevitable?) and shave and get used to it

but I like my hair. I've always had long shaggy hair, it's like a part of who I am :'-(

any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[Levin]

You can use the Norwood scale: link

to determine where you are now.

How aggressive it will be can be largely indicated by how aggressive it was for other members of your family, although this isn't 100%. You could ask your uncles when they started losing theirs.

When to shave? basically when you start to look like a pillock with your receding/thinning hair :) Do it way before prince William, a good tip for you there :)) Paradoxically shorter hair often makes you look less balding then longer hair.

[Asker]

I guess I'm about norwood 2. my uncles are probably norward 3 vertex (though one could be verging on 4 minus the bald patch) the latter I'm sure was a norwood 3 during his mid/late twenties and has been very receded for a long time. He is my mums brother (so is the other) my mum has fine, soft hair and I have very similar texture hair to her. I don't get how buzzing it makes it look less receded. my bangs naturally fall over the temples. shaving would expose the hairline, but maybe that's needed?

[Levin]

Sorry about my incomplete reply. I was really out of it last night. That it started at 17, and is already a NW2, is obviously far advanced relative to much of society. But it doesn't sound extremely aggressive, I would suggest you'll probably follow a similar path to your uncles. Sounds like you have decades mate :)

I'm not sure that I can describe the theory behind it. Some links: link

[Levin]

link

link

Do some googling yourself. Generally covering it up doesn't fool anyone, I speak from personal experience. But it depends how far advanced you are, sounds like you'll be cool for a while as you are with NW2. Start to consider shaving it if you think it's beginning to look very obvious in pics, or if people stare at your hairline, or if weather starts to becomean issue

[Levin]

Also I wasn't suggesting you should buzz it straight away , just that generally a shorter haircut seems to look better for hairloss. But you're only a NW2, so I doubt that's even the point you're at yet. If you start to reach NW3, then consider it. Feel free to ask any other questions.

[Asker]

ahh, cheers for the links. I swear that stressing about going bald actually increased the shedding for a while. recently since I don't think about it as much (and pulling my hands through scalp and checking every 5 mins) I don't shed as much as I used to, but still the thought of going bald isn't nice since I naturally have a high forehead (yep) which would make it look more receded when buzzed.

[Asker]

One question if you don't mind: the fact that my hair is naturally fine and soft (people often say it's like a childs hair) does that make me more susceptible to baldness? I have the same hair as my mum (who obviously isn't bald) but she doesn't have testosterone!

[Levin]

I have a high forehead too, and I was pleasantly surprised when I went ahead and did it, despite being concerned it would look terrible. Fact of the matter is, you won't fully know how it'll look 'til you go ahead and do it, we all fear the worst but it's usually unjustified. Also, it's important to note, that with shaving your head the emphasis shifts more towards embracing it rather than hiding it or trying to cover it up. No idea about the fineness, mine was thick and unruly though.

[AmberChick]

Hair loss you follow your genes, so if your uncles still have hair, you probably will too. I wouldn't shave it all off, though, keep a little on top.

[Anonymous]

Maybe just try and question your uncles to get a better idea of what to expect.