How to Tell if You're Going Bald

Is it your imagination, or is it starting to look thinner up top? What's all that hair doing in the drain filter? You used to look like one of the Beatles during their heyday and now it looks like you can actually see your scalp! Hair thinning is common, as well as patterns of baldness. There are different kinds of baldness, and there are some clear signs that you may be going bald. Don't worry though. There are ways to treat and manage baldness if you identify you are balding.

Get medical help. Once you determine that you are indeed going bald, and that's it's something you have no control over, such as genetics, you can either accept your body as is or you can try to "fix" it. The efficacy of such treatments will depend on your genetics, your disposition, and your financial wherewithal.

• Minoxidil (the active ingredient in Rogaine) is an over-the-counter solution for some types of baldness. It's had some success in slowing or even rejuvenating hair growth. However, minoxidil is only effective on hair loss on the back of the head, not on the front. Side effects include irritation and unwanted hair growth on the face.
• Finasteride (Propecia) is a prescription medication pill taken daily for treating male-pattern baldness. Results include slowing of hair loss and some in some, new hair growth. Side effects may include depression, diminished sex drive and sexual function, and a low-but-present risk of a fast-growing prostate cancer, and is not recommended for women of child-bearing age.
• Hair transplants, or hair plugs, work by transplanting tiny clumps of skin, each containing a few hairs, from the back or sides of your scalp. These clumps are then plugged into the bald sections of your scalp. This won't stop balding, and may require occasional additional treatments as your hair loss progresses.
• Scalp reduction surgically removes some of the bald skin on your head. The bald skin is removed, and the hairy scalp is moved into place.

Wear a wig. You may not want the pain of plugs or the possibility you'll maybe regrow some of your hair. You may be suffering from non-permanent hair loss if, for example, you're subject to chemotherapy treatments. There is the tried and true alternative that men and women have used for centuries: the humble wig.

• Wigs come in all shape, styles, colors, and materials. You can pick up a few cheap wigs to find out what styles and colors work for you, or you can find a custom wig maker in your area who can recreate your normal styling so that your rug looks perfectly natural.
• Human hair wigs are available, and can be exceptionally good—for an exceptional price.
• Some charitable organizations, notably Locks of Love[19], offer wigs to children with long-term or permanent hair loss. These are made of human hair, and are available to a limited number of recipients for free or for affordable prices, depending on needs. To fund the charity, they also sell wigs retail. This could be a good source if you want a human hair wig, and wish to support a charitable cause at the same time.