Reversing male pattern baldness?

[RachelSB]

Hi, I'm almost 58, and have a pretty significant bald spot at the top of my head (the typical 'monk's tonsure' spot), as well as receding from my forehead.  I'm not on HRT (may never be, not sure yet).  Is there a commercial product that can restore the hair loss I've suffered?  Will I need to go on testosterone blockers first?  

If I need to look at wigs, how long should my hair be to allow for securing the wig (or should I ask a hair stylist/wig shop consultant about that)?

 

Sorry for the barrage of questions, I'm new and impatient. ?

[Jackie C.]

So yeah, I'm only 50 but I got alopecia universalis for my 39th birthday so I feel your pain.

 

To restore the hair on your head... see a hair restoration specialist. I've been the recipient of everything from ancient potions (I had to go to a mixing pharmacy, that's a thing) to lasers. Absolutely nothing worked. Some people see some regrowth with just T-Blockers, but others don't. I didn't see results from anything, so I use wigs. I can't talk about specific treatments, but a hair specialist can poke around, maybe take a biopsy, and give you a regimen with the best chance of success. It might be a commercial product. It might be something you can only get from a witch. It'll depend on your doctor and what they see when they prod your scalp.

 

I'm a wig newbie compared to some people on the site, but I use a wig (well, wigs now) with a built-in cap. I put it on, adjust so it's straight and go about my business. When I don't want to wear a wig (like to the gym), I use the same kind of headscarf you see chemo patients with. A wig cap is more for hiding your natural hair to keep it from poking out the edges.

Your solution will depend a lot on how much money you want to spend. I'm currently spending about $60 every nine months or so to get a good-enough synthetic. Which, when you think about it is silly because I could probably be getting something pricier and billing my insurance because of my alopecia diagnosis. I did want to practice on a cheaper synthetic before I went for human hair though. I'd rather make my mistakes in wig care before they get costly.

 

Hugs!

[Astrid]

In both my personal experience and from what I've read, the older you are, the more difficult it is for products like minoxidil (Rogain) to provide positive effects (and there isn't a product that I know of to address a receding hairline).

 

Sigh.

 

Astrid

 

 

[RachelSB]

Thanks to both of you for your responses, even though they're not what I wanted to hear.  Sigh.  Oh, well.  Time to consult a hair stylist for appropriate lengths - I currently have bottom-of-the-neck hair, and that's probably too long for a wig to conceal well.

 

[Bri2020]

There are more aggressive treatments like hair transplants/plugs. If you have testosterone and are losing hair, it will continue unless you go on blockers.  Blockers won't regrow lost areas but will stop the progression (usually). I have just a bit of thinning on the top but definitely have receding "widow" peak happening.  I started HRT so don't expect it to get worse and my curly hair can hide it unless I pull it back.  My plan for dealing with the front is to have some scalp transplanted to round out the front when I have FFS.  

If you go the wig route, shorter hair is easier because not as much has to be tucked. Depending on the wig they can be fastened in with bobby pins, adhesive on forehead or just a "snug" fit.  Learning to wear a wig is a skill and you get what you pay for in them.  Good, natural looking ones can be expensive and they do wear out.  

[Vanessa Michelle]

@RachelSB I am here too unfortunately. I am turning 46 next week and have the George Costanza style, only much less and thinner hair Lol. It sucks. It actually was emotionally painful for me when I first started accepting myself as trans because I felt like a fraud and that I was not nor ever would be a real woman. I have since agreed with a message I received from @Jackie C. that it is fun trying new wigs and I have decided when the time comes I will choose to find the joy in my circumstances and I'm gonna rock whatever wig I get. You will too girl! ❤️

[Ivy]

Alas, me too.   I wear what hair I have fairly long, but use a scarf to cover the lack on top.

I have resisted going into the world of spare-hair, but I am just going to have to face reality.  It's kinda hard for me to cross this line, but…

[afin83]

Last year I noticed my hair thinning in a couple spots. Last year is also when my shell finally cracked. So I started Minoxidil and Finasteride. I have noticed some hair growth. I was 36yo when I started both. It is not a quick process either. As recommend above I would consider seeing a doctor about it. None of these treatments may work but probably couldn't hurt either.

I also started a shampoo that has some ingredients that can help the Minoxidil work and added Hair and Nails vitamins to my daily routine. I wanted to do all that I could to help it along. 

[rainflower]

I'm 37 and I had a lot of thinning and recession up front. When I went on HRT a year ago I got regrowth, and with Rogaine (minoxidil) max. strength 2x a day, I have had some good success with it. It takes about a year to work good and I am about 7 months in. My hair on top is thicker but I still have the receded spots, they are filling in tho and it is easy to style my hair to cover them. The only bad thing about the Rogaine is that it makes your hair kind of crusty, so it actually looks worse when you have the rogaine in. After a few hours it dries and you can use a comb and blow dyer to make your hair look decent. 

Having said all that, I also went into this knowing that I may have an issue with my hair and was prepared to rely on wigs. For about the first 4 months of my transition I did wear a wig, because my hair had been buzzed short.

[Confused1]

I am 65 and thought my receding hairline was permanent. I am on a T Blocker, Finasteride, Minoxidil 2X day along with Hair & Nails vitamins and mine has started to regrow.  I wasn't even going to try and now I am glad I did. The hair at the back of my head started to grow at about 2 months. The front just started at 3 months. I don't know how much it will eventually fill in. YMMV

 

Hugs,

Mike

[Ann_Adler]

Hair confuses me.  I dislike wigs they make me feel fake but as you see from my picture I suck it up and wear them when required 🙂.  I'm bald have the classic male pattern baldness the horseshoe of hair.  However with Finasteride I have noticed that I started with a sort of fluff that is developing into longer hair.  Its thin and sparse but as I'm only 4/5 months into treatment I'm curious as to what happens.  I'm not thinking it will ever be a thick head of hair but may make having hair plugs or something more feasible in the future.  Well depending on what a specialist may say when I get to that stage.

[Heather Shay]

Bepending on age and genetics and of course the dreaded T, hair loss can be tough. I am late 60's and started HRT 1-1/2 years ago. I do take finasteride and it helped slow things down. I take a biotin and collagen supplements and it has helped a little but it depends on so many factors. I wear wigs but am trying to let hair grow as long as possible and either considering extensions, weave or special topper designed for my thinned out bald spots. Hope this helps answer your question.

[Ann_Adler]

Hello Heather.

 

Well like everything regarding Transition its a step at a time and see how it works out.  I'm at the early stage with my HRT but do find great encouragement  with the way things are going.  Hair well that's just something else to keep an eye on.  As I let what hair I have grow out I will watch what happens and work round it. 😄

 

[TJ]

Like others here I am taking Finesteride and using Minoxidil 2x day as well as taking biotin and collagen.  After several months of this I did get a small area at the top front of my receding hairline to grow back fairly well, though it wasn't nearly a large enough area.  Lately I have been trying home micro-needling using a Dr Pen I purchased off Amazon.  Now a lot of sites will tell you that you should go to a doctor for the depth of micro-needling you need for hair growth...so do your own research and make your own decisions.  There are risks of infection or scaring so be warned, I'm just telling you what I have done, not recommending that you do it.  I have been micro-needing the scalp area where I want to see growth about every two weeks and after two month I seem to be seeing a bit of growth.  Too early to be sure, but I am hopeful.

[Sorourke]

Hi Heather

yes it makes you feel so awful when your losing your hair and just accepting yourself as a woman, I’m hoping that a wig will help to help me look more feminine 

hugs

Stefi

[Trans22]

I know a few cis-gender woman with hair challenges on their scalp - very thin hair, bald spots, and/or receding hair line.  I don't feel as bad about my situation because of theirs.

[Rishaya]

Many cis women have serious alopecia.  Think about it, wigs are made for cis women,  many wear them for life. So, I am seriously bald but have two identical human hair wigs with lace front.  I glue the front and tape the rest.  They look totally natural and many folks are surprised when they find out it’s a wig.  
 

with good glue, I can wear it for a week straight, just like I had hair.

[Owly]

On 2/20/2021 at 12:57 PM, rainflower said:

I'm 37 and I had a lot of thinning and recession up front. When I went on HRT a year ago I got regrowth, and with Rogaine (minoxidil) max. strength 2x a day, I have had some good success with it. It takes about a year to work good and I am about 7 months in. My hair on top is thicker but I still have the receded spots, they are filling in tho and it is easy to style my hair to cover them. The only bad thing about the Rogaine is that it makes your hair kind of crusty, so it actually looks worse when you have the rogaine in. After a few hours it dries and you can use a comb and blow dyer to make your hair look decent. 

Having said all that, I also went into this knowing that I may have an issue with my hair and was prepared to rely on wigs. For about the first 4 months of my transition I did wear a wig, because my hair had been buzzed short.

Thank you for this information. I was going to ask my provider about minoxidil for my receding hairline (probably from using Testosterone in my early 20s for a low T level). I've never considered wigs because I never felt quite at that "trans" if that makes any sense. I'd love to grow my hair for the first time since..ever.  I loved braiding my cousins' hair as a kid so maybe i can finally do it to my own hair.

How's it going since you started the minoxidil? I just realized your post was from 2021. Any tips on how to manage the topical minoxidil? thank you