Losing My Hair

It is so soul-destroying watching your hair literally fall out over the years.

My hair loss started in my late teens and was noticeable in my early twenties. By my late twenties, it had gone (and so had my confidence, self esteem and ego)

Recently I have been going through some old photos (of which I have very few) to see the progression:

SIXTEEN

I had always had a high forehead (since I first had hair) but luckily, the new romantic style of the 80’s meant that it could be easily covered up.

At this time, I had no idea that I was going to lose my hair and what effect it would have on my life

SEVENTEEN

The first signs of hair loss were starting to appear in my temples with the “squaring off” of my hairline

Again, I found that the current styles meant that I could cover up any hair loss and my high forehead.
The only trouble was that my fringe always had to be VERY long to even reach my eyes and due to my thin hair, it never looked right.

TWENTY ONE

Even on this blurry photo, the temple recession was obvious and the height of my forehead was obvious.
Great Rollercoaster though!

TWENTY-TWO

At 22, my temples had receded and I was ending up with the small “island” of hair at the front. The top had become thin and so had the crown

TWENTY-THREE

Within one year (or so) the thickness had disappeared and my hair became very flyaway.

The island was starting to disappear and the temples were completely exposed. Looking at the picture taken from the side, it was obvious how thin the hair had become.

TWENTY-FOUR

Over the few years, the hair had become so flyaway, the only choice was to cut it short.

The temples had completely gone and the “island” was visible. The thinness was now spreading back towards my crown and what was left was wispy.

The typical balding man comb forward style was the only style I could do. My options had disappeared.

TWENTY SEVEN

It’s always interesting to know how other people see you.
My younger brother is an artist and back when he was 14, he loved drawing caricatures.

He did these of me – not very flattering of my hair loss J!

Even at 14 and even in a drawing, he managed to capture the lack of hair in my temples and the typical “island” of hair at the front.

THIRTY-ONE

Unfortunately, I had problems with my jaw and prior to an operation I needed, I had to wear braces on my teeth.

So, this I remember being a very bad year, bald with a brace feeling very low about myself.

It also followed the year when I had my thirtieth birthday and someone though I was celebrating my fortieth….Oh the joy!!!

THIRTY-TWO

These were taken at my brother’s wedding and looking back at them, it’s difficult the believe I was on thirty two. No smiles, I was really unhappy with myself, how I looked and seriously lack any confidence.

THIRTY-THREE

This year was when I made the decision to have a hair transplant, my hair had all but gone on the top and crown and these were taken the day before my procedure.