Oh geez. I am a bit of a nervous, indecisive wreck right now. I am getting a haircut on Saturday, my first since my doctor's visits confirmed my female pattern hair loss earlier this summer. Also, and more importantly than the doctor's diagnosis, this is my first haircut since I started obsessively analyzing my head with a hand mirror and identifying every thin spot. And to make matters more unsettling, I am working with a new stylist, and I have no idea of her qualifications for working with thinning hair (although she comes highly recommended for curly hair).

In summary: new stylist + new found awareness of thin hair + pending haircut = very nervous Kate.

Prior to my heightened awareness of my thinning, I have been very happy with a short, curly bob. I keep my hair about chin length, longer in the front and short and stacked in the back. Since I have loose, curly, fine (and thin) hair, historically this cut seemed to keep enough body and style while staying manageable. But, with my hair thinning, I am wondering about slowly transitioning to a very short cut. Is now the time to start?

Now I use Dermmatch daily on my part area and on very thin spots daily, combine with a nice silicone shine spray. The products does a great job of visually camouflaging. But, the down sides are many. One, my fingers get coated in a dark brown powder anytime I scratch or touch my head (I have learned to use a pencil or pen to scratch, to avoid this when possible). Two, my hair looks matted and muddy when I work out and sweat, or when I spend too much time in the Texas summer heat. Three, my pillowcases are getting dingy and brown. Four, I feel like a fraud paining on my hairline every day. And finally, it makes it much more time consuming to do my hair every day. I fantasize about buzzing the remaining hair and going as a bald woman, but I am truthfully not totally ready for that.

I am in a conundrum. There is no denying my hair is thinning. You can see for yourself is some of the photos I have uploaded. But there is also no denying that I still have a lot of hair on my head, and the thinning is not currently overly detrimental to my appearance (from afar)... yet. Would I be rash to cut my hair too short, too soon. Or would it be a healthy move to begin transitioning myself to a short hair or no hair look?

I need some advice from fellow diffused thinning sufferers. How do you style your hair. What are the pros and cons, and how has short hair aided and abated, or worsened, your hairstyle and your self image? Is anyone willing to share photos? And finally, any tips or advice for working with a stylist on this issue?

I feel super silly and vain for even voicing these concerns; it does feel awfully ridiculous to spend some much time thinking about hair. But, I figured this has to be the most educated and experienced group around, and if you cannot provide information and help my nerves, then no one can. Thanks!