Losing my hair
It's been starting to go for a few years now, but seems to have really picked up pace recently and it's honestly stressing me out. I didn't anticipate feeling such dysphoria over my hair, but here we are. I wasn't taught how to care for my hair, so I didn't know how to nurture or appreciate its natural texture for a long time. It was only within the past few years that I started learning and seeing what a difference the right products/avoiding certain things could make. I fell in love with my hair, and now, as soon as I do, it's leaving me.
Topical Minoxidil isn't a good option, as I have 2 cats who will find a way to get in/on everything. I've heard you can use it with cats if you're very careful, but I know I'd have constant anxiety about making a mistake. Oral Minoxidil doesn't seem to be helping much (or maybe it is and I'd be totally bald by now if not for that, who knows?) and oral Finasteride comes with systemic side effects I'm not keen on risking and also isn't covered by my insurance. Topical Finasteride isn't available to me. So all that is to say, the medication routes usually suggested either aren't doable or aren't doing enough.
So what's left? I know the answer everyone jumps to is "shave it", but the thought of doing so makes me genuinely upset. I imagine how I'd look without it, or with only very short hair, and feel disgusted. It's just not me. I already struggle with how masc my overall presentation is due to available/affordable clothing options and living in a conservative area. Keeping my hair long and wearing the occasional colorful shirt or small necklace is about as far as I've been able to push it as someone who works a customer service job and is read as a man in daily life.
I guess what I'm asking for is advice on coping with this (or at least commiseration) from anyone who's gone through it. Any androgynous hairstyles that can work with a receding hairline before my hair finally bites the big one would also be appreciated; Google searching has been no help in that department.