Hair loss help?

I’m honestly freaking out a little here. I think I might actually be starting to go bald.
I’ve always kept my hair buzzed really short, but recently I decided to switch things up, let it grow out to maybe an inch or so, and start using a bit of gel to style it.
Ever since I made that change, I’ve started noticing hair clogging up the drain after I shower. And it’s not just some random stray hairs; it feels significant. It definitely wasn't happening before.
The big question on my mind is whether I was just blind to it before because my hair was tiny—like, barely a few millimeters long—or if I am genuinely losing it. My wife tells me this kind of shedding is totally normal during the fall, but honestly, that sounds like a total cop-out to me.
To make matters worse, my buddies are telling me that my hair is looking seriously thin on top. Is it possible that it was always like this, and I just couldn't tell because it was too short and I wasn't giving it that "wet look" with the gel?
If I really am going bald, what’s the move? I’m way too young to just sit here and accept this fate. Is there any actual way to jumpstart hair growth? Thanks.

You're going bald. Just accept it.

You might be going bald, but there are plenty of other reasons why hair loss happens—hormones, stress, and all that. If you want to try stimulating some growth, look into using a Dollar product. It comes in a spray format.

So, what about just letting nature take its course? Is that the move? Just accept it and take better showers?

It feels like my hair started thinning out like crazy this summer. Especially around the temples.
I mean, my dad is bald, one of my grandfathers was too, and a ton of guys in my family are balding, so I’m not delusional—I know I’m probably headed down the same path. But I’m only 22. Isn't there some way to at least stall it for a few years? 😕

I’ve been wondering if there's actually any connection between hair length and the rate of balding... specifically whether guys with longer hair tend to go bald faster than those keeping it short...

Those Vichy ampules... you can find them in any decent pharmacy around town. They’ll help cut down on the hair loss, but honestly, you have to stick with them for a few months to see real results... they're incredible!!!!

Melissa Watson3

Melissa Watson3 said:Those Vichy ampoules... you can find them in pretty much any decent pharmacy around here. They’ll definitely help cut down on the shedding—just gotta stick with them for a few months to see the real magic happen. Seriously, they're awesome!

Melissa

Melissa,
I've actually heard doctors recommending those exact ampoules—could you tell me the specific name? Also, can I just grab them online? I tried looking them up myself, but everything I found was in German and I couldn't make heads or tails of it.

Dercos by Vichy
The trick is staying disciplined and sticking to the regimen for at least two months...
They even offer an English shampoo line
Just make sure to specify to the pharmacist whether you need the women's or men's specific ampoules...

Vichy

Honestly, Vichy makes products that actually work from day one. They might be a bit pricier, but in the long run, the cost is negligible.

Good luck to everyone

Melissa Watson3

So, can hair gel and all that other junk actually trigger or speed up hair loss?

stormyowl6 said:Can hair gels or similar products actually cause or speed up hair loss?

Absolutely!!!
Even those harsh shampoos loaded with heavy detergents...

So, that Johnson's baby stuff would probably do the trick, right?
I've got this pomade with castor oil and Vitamin E from Anners—should be decent enough, I guess.

Forget about using hair pomade, it’s just going to wreck your entire head...👎

Ethan Perez97 said:forget the pomade—that stuff's just gonna wreck your hair 👎

so what's your move then?

I went through something pretty similar back in the day. Even though I didn’t come from a family of bald guys, I was absolutely convinced that it was just a matter of time before... well, you know!
It usually hit me during the spring or early fall, right when my hair was at its thickest.
Fast forward to today, and there isn't even a hint of thinning; in fact, my hair grows so fast I’m constantly stuck in the barber's chair. And I can load it up with just about anything—gels, pomades, oils—and still wash it with all sorts of different shampoos without an issue.
I don't mean to sound like I'm patronizing you, but I think we were dealing with the same thing. Anyway, Melissa Watson3 gave you some solid advice... give it a shot!

Hair length doesn't actually have anything to do with balding. There’s zero proof that people with long hair go bald any faster than anyone else. The real issue is just physical damage—like if you're pulling it way too tight in a ponytail or brushing it too aggressively. It's also been suggested that being completely bald might help circulation since your scalp gets more sun exposure, but honestly, that's pretty negligible. Losing up to 80 strands a day is perfectly normal.

Jose Barrett31 said:Hair length doesn't actually dictate how much hair you lose. There’s no real proof that people with long hair go bald more often than anyone else... the real issue is just mechanical damage, like pulling it too tight in a ponytail or being too aggressive with a comb. Some studies suggest that being completely bald might help circulation slightly because of sun exposure, but honestly, that's negligible. Losing up to 80 strands a day is considered perfectly normal.

I lose at least 20 hairs every time I wash my hair, so clearly that's within the normal range 😕, but the thing is, all my friends swear they don't lose a single strand when they wash theirs. I can't tell if they're just not paying attention or what... even women lose hair when they wash it...

Perhaps I should weigh in as well...

Back when I was just 22, life threw some incredibly ugly stressors my way, and the fallout was immediate: my hair started falling out in clumps. I tried everything. I started taking these "hair vitamins" from Natural Resources (that’s the actual brand name... they come in $33) and used Derco shampoo, plus I was layering on those Dercos ampoules too. But, since my issues were so deeply rooted in my nerves, I decided to try Reiki as well... and honestly? It all worked together perfectly. Now, my hair looks absolutely fantastic!!!!

A few quick tips: tying your hair back in a tight ponytail can actually make the shedding worse because you're putting so much tension on the roots. Also, if you notice significant loss, sometimes a haircut is the best move—shorter hair just doesn't seem to fall out as much. Avoid using heavy gels or any products that weigh the hair down, and please, don't comb it while it's still wet....

These are all solid pieces of advice from my doctor...

Hair loss can be a sign that you’re low on protein, or maybe your body just isn't absorbing nutrients properly. There are a few different ways to tackle this:

- There’s one really solid, albeit pricey, amino acid supplement we order from Sweden.
- As for topical treatments, I’d personally recommend JUST—it’s a Swiss cosmetic brand that’s pretty popular here in the States through direct sales. They make incredible protein-based silk ampoules and high-concentration herbal extracts, plus they have shampoos specifically designed to fight hair loss.

- I’m not sure if you can find JUST locally, but it’s been a staple here for about 7 or 8 years, and people see amazing results with it.

- If you know someone who can ship things over from the US, I can order them for you. The ampoules are about $25 for a pack of 10, but you’ll realistically need at least 20 to 30 to see a difference. It usually takes about 3 to 4 weeks just to stop the shedding before you can even start working on reactivating those hair follicles.

I’ve been dealing with this exact same thing lately.

Ever since my hair grew out to this length, I’ve noticed it sheds a lot more, even on days when I haven't washed it. It isn't super obvious or anything, and my barber tells me it's perfectly normal to lose up to fifty strands a day, right? He says you shouldn't really start worrying until you actually notice it happening, because that's usually the sign that new growth is stalling out.

But honestly, as soon as I get a decent haircut and keep it shorter... those issues pretty much vanish.

Regarding that Thymu-Skin product they’ve been aggressively pushing during those late-night infomercials on the local news networks lately—has anyone actually gone out and purchased it? I find myself wondering if anyone here has had any direct experience with the stuff, and more importantly, whether the results lived up to the rather lofty claims being broadcasted to the masses every evening.