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Ask HN: Coping with Hair Loss

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Ask HN: Coping with Hair Loss

#1

Post by HairMeOut »

I'm losing my hair and it is bringing me down. I know "just shave it". Ok, easy if you have a body like Bruce Willis or Jason Statham. Not so easy if you are pale and pudgy. Hair loss is natural and there are millions of people with more important problems in the world... I know, I know. But still. I get envious when I see men in their 60's or 70's that have full hair that is not even thinning. I catch myself comparing my hair with other balding men. To see who is "furthest" or who has lost the most. Sometimes I wish I had lost it in my early 20's like my brothers cause then it wouldn't have become part of my identity. I liked having hair.

Prescriptions or miracle cures that actually work? Affordable hair transplants? Maybe I can't except much as I'm over 40...

Re: Ask HN: Coping with Hair Loss

#2

Post by npalli »

Look, you are over 40. Who exactly are you trying to attract with a full head of hair. At this point in your life other accomplishments should dominate others' opinion of you rather than hair.

Anyways, if this is an emotional thing for you, the big three.

1. Propecia

2. Rogaine

3. Transplants (since you seem to have hair and are over 40).

Re: Ask HN: Coping with Hair Loss

#3

Post by blinded »

hair transplants do work, but it depends what you have left I believe. I found out recently Dave Portnoy got his done (https://www.thefocus.news/celebrity/barstools-dave-portnoy-c...).

But outside of that getting in shape is for sure a big task, but it's something that can really aid in confidence. Once you see some results its addicting imo.

Just my 2 cents. Hope you have a great week.

Re: Ask HN: Coping with Hair Loss

#4

Post by metadat »

Firstly, so sorry to hear it. I am bald but probably on the attractive end of things, so have it comparitively easy. I feel for your tough position.

Some things facts that may help assuage your discomfort:

1. Male weaves are becoming all the rage. Could be worth a shot.

2. I'm sorry you don't have a beautiful bald head, but the good news is- you're a guy! We aren't expected nor do we need to be beautiful to be successful in life and love. Just go out to dinner at a nice restaurant and you'll likely come across one or more ugly oafish looking men with a vastly more attractive or even extremely hot companion by his side. Character + ability to provide a good life > looks.

3. Self-assurance and self-confidence are sourced from within. Not from hair fibers.

Re: Ask HN: Coping with Hair Loss

#6

Post by rossdavidh »

Hair loss "cures" do nothing else for your health, and are also unlikely to work.

Exercising outdoors more, to become less "pale and pudgy", is good for your health, even if for some reason it fails to make you less pale and pudgy. Being outdoors, and exercising, also both improve one's mental health in a way that baldness "cures" will not.

Speaking as a pale balding dude, I get what you're saying, but chasing baldness cures is unlikely to help. Trying to do something about "pale and pudgy" is more likely to work, and also likely to have side-benefits as well even if it doesn't work.

Re: Ask HN: Coping with Hair Loss

#8

Post by metadat »

LinuxBender wrote: post #7

I personally would give nutrition a try for a year or two before turning to drugs. [1] I believe that prescriptions should be a last resort when all else has been tried and failed. [1] - https://www.youtube.com/c/DrEricBergDC/search?query=alopecia

It's pretty much a genetic thing, I recommend radical acceptance. Don't give hair hucksters your time or hard earned cash.

Re: Ask HN: Coping with Hair Loss

#10

Post by LinuxBender »

metadat wrote: post #8
LinuxBender wrote: post #7

I personally would give nutrition a try for a year or two before turning to drugs. [1] I believe that prescriptions should be a last resort when all else has been tried and failed. [1] - https://www.youtube.com/c/DrEricBergDC/search?query=alopecia

It's pretty much a genetic thing, I recommend radical acceptance. Don't give hair hucksters your time or hard earned cash.

Eating healthy isn't giving money to a huckster. There is nothing but benefit to eating healthy. In fact one can reverse most age related illness by making simple dietary changes. It is true that some people are more epigenetically vulnerable to Alopecia but it can still be reversed in them.
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