You’re noticing more hair in your sink and in your shower. But for awhile you ignore it. Then one day you’re staring at your ugly mug in the mirror, and there’s simply no denying it anymore. You’re starting to go bald.
No one’s ever referred to men’s hair as our “crowning glory” but hair loss can still be a big psychological blow to men. For many men, it’s likely the first sign they’re getting old. Baldness is a subtle reminder that one’s youthful glory days are slowly slipping away. And it can make a man feel less confident and attractive.
Feeling blindsided by their traitorous scalp and missing their old hair, some men can get stuck in different stages of the grieving process, unable to move on to acceptance. They start wearing a ball cap or a beanie wherever they go. And they stubbornly stick with the hairstyle they rocked when they were 20, even though it’s now making their thinning hair look even worse than it has to. They don’t know how to go bald gracefully.
Because hair loss is something that affects over 40 million men in the U.S. and hundreds of million more worldwide, I thought it would be good to offer the follicley-challenged out there some help on how to deal with baldness like a man. For advice, I talked to master barber Tony England from Red’s Classic Barbershop Co. in Nashville, TN. Tony has seen plenty of men with hair loss come through his shop, and he himself is a distinguished balding man, so he knows what you’re going through. Here are his tips on balding gracefully.
Find Out the Cause
When a client comes in who’s noticed he’s starting to go bald, Tony tries to find out what’s causing the customer’s hair loss. “In many cases, hair loss isn’t caused by heredity, and steps can be taken to stop hair loss,” Tony explains. He’ll ask his client if they’ve been under a lot of stress lately. If so, he recommends that they get a massage and chill the heck out. Stress can be a big time cause for hair loss in men.
If his client is calmer than the Dali Lama, then Tony asks if they’re taking any medicines, as some medications come with the unfortunate side effect of hair loss. Once they stop taking the medication, the hair comes back. Of course, stopping or switching medication just so you don’t go bald might not be an option for most men. Check with your doctor if you are experiencing hair loss to see if a) the medication might be causing your balding and 2) if there’s an alternative you can take that doesn’t thin your hair.
Another possible cause of balding is calcium deposits on your scalp. “Calcium deposits shut the pores on your head which prevents hair from coming through the scalp,” says Tony. To clear up these calcium deposits, Tony suggests shampooing your head with hot vinegar, wrapping a hot towel around your head, and letting it sit for a few minutes. Shampoo normally right afterward, unless you want to smell like you stuck your head in the pickled egg jar at your local bar.
If you’re not stressed, taking medications, or have calcium deposits, you’re probably like millions of other men who have inherited their receding hairline from the men in their family. There’s a lot of old wives tales out there about which side of the family passes on the genes for baldness. You’ve likely heard someone say that if your mother’s father or grandfather was bald, then you’re destined to be bald as well.
But if you thought you were free and clear from inheriting your father’s bald head because your mom’s dad has a thick lush mane at 95, I’m sorry to break it to you, you’re not. Some recent studies have identified a gene that shows men are more at risk for hair loss if their father is bald. But you can also inherit this gene from your mom’s side of the family. So basically if you have any bald eagles roosting on your family tree, there’s a chance you’ll go bald, too.
Fighting Nature’s Course
So genetics has dealt you the bald card. What do you do? Well, if going bald really bothers you, you can always try to fight Mother Nature using a few techniques.
- Rogaine. Rogaine is a topical medication you put on your head that promotes hair growth and keeps the hair you do have left from falling out. You can buy it over the counter at most drug stores. The biggest drawback is that once you stop using Rogaine on a regular basis, your hair loss will resume once more. Thus, you’re pretty much signing over your scalp to Bossman Rogaine for the duration of your natural life. Rogaine isn’t cheap, either. That means you’ll have to invest a small fortune just so you can keep your hair. “You have to ask yourself if the daily regimen and expense is worth it,” Tony advises.
- Hair transplants. Another option is Hair Club for Men. You probably remember the old commercials where the guy proclaims, “I’m not only the Hair Club president, I’m also a client,” followed by a parade of before-and-after pictures of bald men who magically grew their hair back. The “magic” behind Hair Club for Men is hair transplants. A doctor will relocate bald resistant hair follicles from the back of your head to the balding areas on the top of your head. Because the hair follicles on the back of your head are resistant to hair loss, in theory you’ll never have to worry about balding again. But be careful with transplants. They’ve come a long way from the hideous and conspicuous hair plugs of the 80s. But even now, if they’re done poorly, your results will look unnatural. Moreover, hair transplants are expensive. Really expensive. You’re charged by the graft. Many hair transplant procedures require 600-1,000 grafts. A conservative cost per graph is $6. So do the math, and you’re looking at about $6,000 for the procedures. That’s quite a rich head of hair.
- Toupee. Toupee wearing men have been the butt of many a joke. With good reason. Most wigs are poorly crafted and poorly fitted. Result? You look like Uncle Louis from Christmas Vacation. But, according to Tony, a toupee can actually look completely natural if you spend enough money to get the best of the best. “You’d be surprised how many male celebrities wear wigs.” Tony notes.
If worse comes to worst, you can always try your vacuum cleaner and a cigarette.
Accepting and Embracing Your Baldness
Tony thinks, and I definitely agree, that the best option is for a man to accept the fact that he’s balding and simply embrace it. It’s cheaper and involves less work than the above options. No need for snake oil cures and tearing up pieces of your scalp like layers of turf. When you start noticing your hairline recede, just remember that millions of men go bald and still have successful careers, attract the ladies (many women actually prefer bald men), and generally have kick ass lives. Your worth as a man isn’t tied up with how much hair you have on your head. If you don’t make a big deal out of your hair, no one else will either.
Hairstyles for Balding Men
You’ve decided to accept your hair loss and revel in it. Congratulations. You’ve got moxie, my friend. But how should you style your hair now that you have less of it? Here’s what our friend Tony the Barber suggests.
The General Rule. Keep your hair short. According to Tony, short hair minimizes the appearance of balding and also gives your hair some lift which makes it look like you have more hair. Some guys don’t believe this and try to hold onto to their old styles. But if you’ve ever seen a guy with a big curly fro and a bald spot at his crown, you’ve seen how longer hair simply makes bald spots more conspicuous. So go short.
With this general rule, you can rock several hairstyles with confidence.
Clean shaven. The completely bald look is a great option for men who have very large bald spots that cover a good portion of their heads. The clean shaven look has a host of benefits. For starters, you free yourself from the tyranny of ever having to style your hair again. And you can wash your chrome dome with the same bar of soap you use on your body. On top of that, shaving your head definitely makes a statement. It shows the world you’ve accepted your hair loss and decided, “The hell with it! I am who I am.” Finally, a clean shaven head can become your signature look, one that makes you unforgettable to the people you meet. Everyone remembers the guy with the completely bald head: Seth Godin. Jesse Ventura. Patrick Stewart. Mr. Clean. You get the idea.
Buzz cut. If the clean shaven look is too severe or you don’t feel like you’re someone who could pull it off, but you still want something simple and sleek, the buzz cut is a great option. The buzz cut is an especially good way to go if your hair is starting to thin on your crown or near your hairline. The buzz cut gives you a clean, yet edgy look that will make the ladies swoon and will prevent some dude from pulling your hair when you attend your next Fight Club meeting.
Short Caesar Cut. Inspired by Roman Emperor Julius Caesar and made famous by George Clooney, the Caesar cut is a stylish way to conceal a receding hairline and a thinning top. The bangs are cut with a horizontal fringe and styled forward.
Shaggy layers. If you’re just starting to thin, but aren’t ready to go super short, compromise with some light, shaggy layers. Ask your barber to cut the top of your hair in uneven layers. When you’re styling it, just kind of of tussle your hair around. It will give you a sort of endearing disheveled look that hides your thinning hair.
The Roger Sterling. Want to get that dapper “Mad Men” look? Try the hairstyle of Roger Sterling. It’s a great do’ for men who have a receding hairline, but still have some hair on top. Get it cut short on the top, but leave it long enough so that you can comb a part on the side of your head. Sides are tight. Make sure the barber tapers the sides so they blend in nicely with the top.
The Power Donut. Instead of keeping your remaining hair close to your head, you can just say, “screw it,” and let it grow out au naturel. GQ calls this ring of hair the “Power Donut.” What’s nice about the Power Donut is that it doesn’t require much work except for an occasional trim so you avoid growing a skullet. Sean Connery, Gerald Ford, and Larry David are examples of men who rock the Power Donut. There’s something admirable about a man who doesn’t worry about adjusting his hairstyle just because he’s balding and hasn’t jumped on the buzz cut bandwagon. He just keeps doing the same hair routine he’s been doing his entire life, except he doesn’t have to spend as much time on top. Just let nature run its course and spend time worrying about other stuff.
Grow facial hair. A lot of celebrities with thinning hair rock some sort of facial hair. The facial hair directs attention from your balding head to your face. Mustaches and goatees work best. However, if you’re Kimbo Slice, then a full, “I’m going to eat you liver” beard is in order.
Just say no.
Never under any circumstances should you attempt the comb-over. No matter what style you go with, never, ever use a comb-over. Oh, and for the love of Pete, do not fall under the delusion that having a ponytail in the back will compensate for baldness on top. Hair math just doesn’t work that way.
If you’re not sure which way to go, just ask your barber for some advice the next time you’re in for a haircut. There’s no need to be embarrassed to talk to him about it. Think of your barber like your doctor, he’s seen this stuff a thousand times before.
Many thanks to Tony at Red’s Classic Barbershop for his help with this post. If you’re in the Nashville or Indianapolis area, check them out. Red’s is a classic, manly establishment where you can get great haircuts, shoeshines, and good old fashioned hot lather shaves.
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{ 81 comments… read them below or add one }
Nice article.
There’s definitely a related weight issue – as per the last photo, bald and rotund is not a good look.
I bettter get down the gym before the last few follicles fall out.
Good article. But now you’ve got me worried because 2/3rds of the men in my family are bald (gulp) I guess I’m next.
I’m screwed six ways from Sunday in the hair department and I decided early on that once it gets bad enough I’m just gonna shave it. Thankfully I lucked out on a smooth cranium except for one dent I’m pretty sure I put there myself.
Another important tip: remember the wear a hat outside. A balding head is susceptible to sunburn, and believe me, its a not a pleasant experience.
And if you’re starting to lose your hair, it could be worse, genetics were really out to get some of us. It started being noticeable for me at 16. Now at 25 its almost all gone. Embrace it — its not so bad.
Agreed Brian, embrace it. My dad is bald and my older brother well on his way. I started getting noticeable hair loss at 17-18 and within three years (I’m now 21) it’s almost entirely vanished. I keep it buzzed to the scalp or shaved clean, usually with some kind of beard stubble. Like a cross between Jason Statham and Bruce Willis in Die Hard 4.
I will say this: if going bald is hard for a man at any age, it’s doubly hard for a guy who can’t even buy a beer yet. Insecurity doesn’t even begin to describe how I felt the first year or so after noticing it. College parties were like a cat and mouse game of keeping my back to a wall so people couldn’t see the empty ring behind my forehead. I’ve since grown used to the idea that I will forever more be known as Baldy to my friends and have to rub sunscreen into my head before stepping outside.
As Cotswold said, definitely stay in shape. The one genetic blessing I received was a well-conditioned body and decent height, so I figure I’m two for three. Hair or not though, good fitness will make you feel and look more confident and always help you out. Especially when dressing up as Mr. Clean for Halloween – best costume idea ever.
Though I’m not yet bald I immediately thought Jason statham and you have a image of him which was a pleasant surprise. Screw the rogaine and hair transplants! Your going bald accept it men!! It’s biology, stop fighting it, your going to look stupid if you fight it!!!
Some advice I took from a men’s magazine was this: if you’re starting to go bald, just shave it all. Years later when your kids are looking at pictures of you, they’ll see you with hair, and then, you bald. There won’t be an awkward transitional period.
They’ll see you when you had hair as “young” and you when you started the clean shaven look as “normal”. The result: you seem ageless.
Oh, and one last thing I’ve noticed over the course of my 4+ years as a bald man. Women tend to have an opinion about baldness, and it tends to be a stronger opinion. Just spitballing, but I’d say about a third of the women I meet like it, and two thirds are either indifferent or dislike a bald head (the indifferent population seems rather small).
Couple that with the fact that I wear glasses (short-sited, so they’re almost always on)… and women tend to have an opinion about glasses.
Couple that, again, with the fact that I have facial hair, and women tend to have an opinion about facial hair as well.
Because most women have an (often strong) opinion about any one of those things, when you have all three, you really tend to polarize women into a “strongly unattracted” or “strongly attracted” group. Granted, the unattracted group is larger, but for the one’s who dig it… well, you know pretty quick that she’s into your vibe. It really cuts down the amount of time it takes to know when a woman is interested, which, in my book, is a big plus.
What about spray-on hair? That stuff looks awesome! Seriously though, if you’re balding and it’s reasonably obvious, just shave your head…you’ll never look back.
Ah, I remember well when I started to go bald back in 1985, first at the temples and then… anyhow. one last piece of advice from one who knows… don’t do the facial hair and the shaggy layers TOGETHER. I got a lot of “gee you look like a Trotskyite bomber”. Sad days.
I became bald around 17 years old. The best cure I found was… a sense of humor!
The only problem I’ve found with being bald is that your head freezes in the winter cold and burns in the summer sun. So when outside, a sensible and practical hat is required most of the year. Just make sure you take it off as soon as you go indoors.
Coming from a very long line of bald men, I knew early on that I probably wouldn’t be able to escape it. Still, it was a hard thing to look in the mirror one morning and be honest that the deforestation had clearly begun. With acceptance comes a certain level of peace, however. Think of all the confident, successful men out there (Patrick Stewart being a great example) who would now look rather strange if they were to suddenly sport a full head of hair. They own the look and they’ve made it work for them.
The best thing I did once I realized my hair was starting to thin was talk to a barber about what sort of styles would present it in the best light. My hair used to be quite long, but getting it cut shorter has definitely made an improvement. Granted, it looked a bit weird to me at first, but over time your mental image of yourself adjusts accordingly. Gabe’s point about sunscreen is an important one—most of us aren’t in the habit of putting sunscreen up there, but it is very easy to get a nasty sunburn if you don’t. Some people can pull off the hat look better than others, but for those of us who can’t sunscreen is a must.
For me is best to shave my head! respesct! :D
I’m 25 and my hair’s been thinning out for the last couple years at least. Most of the men on my mom’s side of the family are bald. I’ve already lasted longer than my uncle. Unfortunately, I’m pretty sure the shaved look is not going to work for me, since the top of my head is not a very nice round shape. I guess as it continues to thin out I’ll just keep it shorter and shorter. Maybe when I’m old I’ll rock the power donut.
I guess I was entered the ‘bald zone’ with grace and immediacy. I believed in the ‘all or none principle’. Either I wanted all of my hair – or none of it.
Shaving my head way back then (10+ years ago) was a bit of a shocker to the public, but thanks to professional athletes (including the WWF back then) the public warmed up to my shaved presence.
Now, no one bats an eye at a bald headed man.
I think anyone who is ‘in denial’ about their head balding should just ‘cut’ to the chase and shave it off. It looks better, feels better and is just an all around improvement to all the other options. IMHO
Gewd article!
There’s also Propecia, not just Rogaine. Will still cost a small fortune but it’s a daily pill, not some complicated application ritual. Not good for re-growing lost hair, but can stave off further loss.
….but watch out z, Propecia has had some side effects: erectile dysfunction, impotence, low libido.
Be careful about trying to do the silultaneous very short hair + facial hair thing. If you’ve also got tattoos or dress in a certain way, and you happen to be white, you might unknowingly convince most of the people you see that you’re a white supremacist. My brother isn’t balding but he started buzzing his head to save on hair effort, and he actually did get a few questions. It doesn’t help, of course, that he sells guns for a living and practically lives in tactical gear.
*simultaneous
If you’re bald or have it cropped short, you can wear a hat and not have to worry about what it will do to your hair. Also, you can wear a visor without your hair poofing up, just make sure to add the SPF.
Power donuts and Mad-Men wannabees just look dumb. either buzz cut, high-and-tight, or shave your head. A balding High and Tight makes you look like a badass retired General or somebody (if you’re in shape). And even though he’s bald, I’ve always been a little afriad of Patrick Stewart. Losing your hair ain’t the end of the world.
I’ve always wondered about the hereditary thing. Could it be that you learned to take a super hot shower like dad and damaged the hair follicles on the top of your head like he did? Or that something in the way Mom’s family cooks tomatoes causes baldness? I’m sure some other health related issues (like obesity) stem from learned family eating habits and diet, why not hair loss?
On the other hand, some is just in the genes. Some guys couldn’t sprout a hair on their chest no matter what kind of coffee they drank. Anyone tried strong coffee on that bald spot?
I actually have a full head of hair, but I chose to shave it off ten years ago and it was a great decision. Here are some reasons why:
- It saves me the time and effort of managing hair
- I’ve saved a fortune on haircuts!
- I never liked how I looked with hair. My wife prefers my bald/goatee style a lot more
- I once walked past a lady in a mini-van and she locked her doors. That was sweet!
- You know how a freshly shaved face makes you feel? Imagine that feeling on your whole head
- One of the most awesome sensations was going for my first swim after shaving my head. Wow! There’s no way to describe it.
- The only hair care product I own is some regular ol’ hair conditioner. I lather up my head with it daily and it keeps my cranium from drying out
There are a few negatives:
- Because of its sun-facing nature, the head burns first and hardest. Shaving a burnt dome hurts like nobody’s business
- Contrary to what the article said, you can’t wash your skull with regular soap. It stings, and it dries out the skin
- In the winter, the cold feels REALLY cold on a shaved head. I wear one of those furry Genghis Khan hats in the winter, and it keeps my head plenty warm.
- Bald guys scare some people. Sometimes that’s not so cool. Babies seem to find it amusing, though.
- Hats are a problem for the head shaver. When my head’s smooth, hats slide right off. When my head’s stubbly, hats get stuck. I stick with the skull bandana look, although people assume I’m a biker
- In the hot summer, there’s no hair to hold back the sweat, which runs straight down into my eyes. Hats and bandanas help
Even with the cons, shaving my head is one of my favorite manly pleasures.
@Brett,
Great article as usual, Brett, but I just wanted to clarify on the “maternal male-pattern baldness,” thing; it’s not exactly an old wives tale, but doesn’t represent the current opinion in genetics. The observation for years in genetics was that men developed “male-pattern baldness” with a frequency significantly higher than that of women. The classical assessment of genetics was to conclude that this represents a X-chromosome linked trait and thereby is passed from mother to son. Therefore, a man should look at his maternal uncles for indicator of whether or not he would be afflicted with the same condition. As you pointed out, recent studies suggest otherwise. It turns out that the reason men bald more than women is testosterone. In fact, Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, observed this when he observed that neither women nor eunuchs went bald. All humans have testosterone receptors in their cells. Upon receipt of testosterone, they act as molecular switches and activate and deactivate various cellular activities (e.g. growth of facial hair, muscle development). However, in some humans, this receptor activates hair loss in addition to the other perhaps more welcome effects. The exact mechanisms are not entirely understood as far as I know. I’m a graduate student in Cell and Molecular Biology, so if you ever need someone to provide a biological explanation, I’d be glad to assist. I’m a member of the AoM community, if you need to find me. Again, I love the work you do here, so keep it up.
John Wright
As a follow-up to Z…This article omits probably the most important medication for fighting the hair loss: Propecia. The Propecia generic, Finasteride, is MUCH cheaper and just as effective.
About 2 years ago, I noticed some loss above the temples and asked my family “is my hair thinning?” They all said “Yes, but we felt bad to point it out.” I then went to a hair specialist, Dr. Bernstein, in Manhattan (www.bernsteinmedical.com) and he prescribed Finasteride and told me to use a generic of Rogaine in addition, which is also much cheaper. Although the hair loss had progressed to a noticeable point, I wasn’t very far into it and that the earlier you deal with the problem the better chances you have. Dr. B told me that there was a good chance that using both meds would stop the loss and might even be reversed. Sure enough, after about 6 months, I noticed the thinner spots were fading. Now, about 2 years later, my wife and family have told me that the spots are not noticeable unless you are specifically looking for it up CLOSE. Looking in a mirror to get ready for work, no matter how short or long my hair, I really can’t tell that it was thinning in the past.
Finally side effects: I was horrified by the ads saying that there was a 2% chance that my favorite part might not work if I took Propecia. Young single guy with full head of hair and non-working member was not who I wanted to be. Fortunately, I did not fall within the 2%, and even if I did, the doctor said that the side effects were fully reversible.
Bottom line: I weighed the pros and cons and took a shot. Really glad I did. I’m sure that each man has different results, but the point is that all hope is not lost if you deal with things earlier. Mr. Clean is not going to regrow a full head of hair, but if you are a young guy and the loss has just started, you may not need to “accept fate” and become Patrick Stewart.
The ponytail is not entirely off limits.
I have a strongly receding hairline. When it became prominent I said screw it and grew a full (scraggly) beard and let my hair grow long. I got more compliments on my balding shaggy look than I have ever received before. I have since considered doing the buzz, but my girlfriend likes the hair. It’s not a good look for everyone, and some people hate it (my brother and mother most vocally), but it seems to work for me.
A timely post for me to read as I’ve been struggling lately with my rapidly receding hairline. I won’t be taking any drugs to fix it but I have begun taking vitamins which I hope will help. The vinegar rinse is a good idea too.
If I can’t get it under control I’ll likely go with the Roger Sterling look. Losing my hair wouldn’t bother me so much if I were a bit older but as it stands, I am 29 and only have a few grey hairs to my name (more would help).
Further to what John says, when I was younger – in my twenties – I bought some (non-steroidal) testosterone from a supplement company. It didn’t do much to increase muscle size, but I got a powerful shock when I looked in the bathroom mirror and saw my scalp shine through my thatch! The testosterone went down the crapper and the hair came back – until I hit the 40 mark.
Now I prefer the clean-head look, plus, I also have the muscle size and fitness gained through good training and smart eating.
Remember:
Shaving is an option, going bald isn’t !!!
Entertaining, but flawed article. You would have benefitted by consulting a dermatologist, rather than a barber to research the causes and treatments of male pattern baldness (MPB), or androgenetic alopecia, as it’s known by its scientific term. As the term indicates, androgenetic alopecia (andro = male hormones, genetic = genes) is due to a combination of genetics and male hormones.
It’s also important to clarify that male pattern baldness, while being the most common cause of male hair loss, is only one type of baldness. Men suffering from conditions such as alopecia areata will not benefit from the recommended treatments for MPB.
You are correct in asserting that the “baldness gene” can be inherited by either the mother or father; this is called having a “polygenic” source. However, it is the action of hormones on the hair follicles of genetically predisposed men that causes the follicles to shrink over time. MPB begins by the follicles gradually shrinking and producing finer hair. In addition the hair growth cycle is shortened, so the hair produced by shrinking follicles does not grow as long as normal hair before it falls out.
Eventually, these follicles “scar” and no longer produce any hair at all.
Regarding the role of hormones, reasearch has shown us that it is not testosterone, but a metabolyte of testosterone called dihydrotestosterone (or DHT), that appears to be the culprit in male pattern baldness. While testosterone is necessary for many male secondary sex characterisitics (like muscle and bone growth, voice deepening, sexual development and drive, etc.), dihydrotestosterone plays a key role in the proper development of the male urogenital tract and the prostate. It has also been found to play a role in hair growth and acne.
The story of how this was discovered is pretty interesting. Back in the 70′s researchers from Columbia University traveled to the Dominican Republic, because they had heard that several Dominican families were producing “psuedohermaphrodytic” children, or “psuedo-hermaphrodytes.” The offspring were not true hermaphrodytes, because they didn’t have both male and female genitalia. However, they did have some very unique characteristics. Until puberty, they were thought to be girls and were raised as such. The appeared to have vaginas and no testes. However, when they went through puberty they became men. They had all the physical and sexual characteristics of men and some even went on to father children. However, none of these men had a prostate gland, or, if they did, it was underdeveloped. Furthermore, none ever went bald and they had little to no acne.
The researchers surmised that this had to do with testosterone (T), so they tested the subjects’ T levels. The T levels were normal, but all of these men were very low in DHT. The researchers were eventually able to discover that all of these men were all deficient in an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase, which converts T to DHT.
This research eventually led to the creation of finasteride (Proscar) for the treatment of enlarged prostates in older men, and subsequently to its use in a lower dose (Propecia) for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia / male pattern baldness.
Sorry for the lengthy diatribe, but baldness has long been one of those conditions surrounded by old wives’ tales and snake oil treatments. I hope this clarifies things a bit.
CH
Balding men do not look as bad as they think they do. It marks maturity. Not a bad thing.
I didn’t realize I was sporting a comb-over until it started flopping around in my martial arts class about 10 years ago. Soon after that realization, I woke up one morning and decided to just comb my hair straight back. I went with that and with the next visit to my barber the hair-cut evened everything up. I have had the “swept back look” ever since and find that it is really convenient. (My wife says that the barber should only charge me half-price, which he does not agree with.)
I think that once you accept that hair loss happens then the manly thing to do is adapt to it and move on.
Great article. After a few years of angst I have fully accepted my thinning hair and enjoy watching my head “transform”. No big deal. It is who I am and my hair does in no way define who I am or what I am capable of doing. I just need to remember to apply sunscreen!
I don’t really care where it comes or who’s fault it is, I didn’t like it and I wanted to try something to get around it. Shaved my head and found out I don’t have a head that looks good shaved. I went the micrograft route and it did cost about 6K, I was very specific about not wanting to take medications – and what the expectations are, which I was told would be exceeded. Before I left the office after the surgery he handed me a perscription for finasteride and told me we could review in 12 months for the next procedure! The results are far short of what I was told to expect, so that is very disappointing and of course shaving the head is not even an option anymore because of the sweet transplant scar at the donor site. I think if you want to go the transplant route you should expect multiple sessions at 6K a piece over several years (depends on your pattern of baldness of course) to achieve and maintain a good result, and you can still expect to be on somekind of medication to assist. Looking back now I should have just learned to live with it and I think that would be my advice to anyone who losing their hair.
I started losing my hair at 22. I’m 55 now. I was in the original test group for Monoxidil before it was approved by the FDA and called Rogaine. Used it for 5 years under a doctor’s supervision as part of the test process. Didn’t work.
I’m average height at 5’9″ and prematurely bald — not a good combination for someone with a career in business during the ’80s and ’90s. I hated being, as my boss once described me, “short, bald and ugly.” I tried compensating with exercise, which got me in excellent shape and I still work out regularly to this day, but the bald guy look always trumped the physically fit look. Even a black belt in Shorin Ryu karate couldn’t overcome the lack of self-confidence the baldness gave me.
What saved me and gave me back some degree of self-esteem was shaving my head. I started shaving it about 12 years ago, before it was widely accepted, and at first no one liked it but me. It did wonders for my self-image, though, and I would recommend the full head shave for any guy whose self-esteem has been affected by baldness. I used to look like Friar Tuck from the back. Now I look kind of hip. If you don’t have the height of Dr. Phil or the money of Terry Bradshaw to offset the stigma of baldness, go with the full head shave. One more benefit — no worries about grey hair! I have no idea what color my hair is anymore.
Great article! Shaving your head could allow you to show more skin at work, which could help your job performance:http://bit.ly/bVSJZ4
As a side note, there is also a Red’s Classic Barber Shop in Indianapolis, IN for those looking for a great barber as mentioned at the bottom of the article!
Great Article. I started getting thin up top in college but it never really affected my life, confidence or outlook. By 38, I had a prominent thin, bald spot; by early 50s, I was so thin up top, that my hair looked like a combover that you could see through, even though I was not “trying” to do a combover. So much for sticking to the same haircut throughout one’s entire life. I adopted a buzzcut and while it did take some time to get used to it, now in my late 50s, I do a pretty regular weekly clipper shave with no guard on the clipper leaving about 2-3 days’ growth. By the following week, I am feeling pretty shaggy and ready for the clipper again. Occassionally, I visit my barber for a #00000 clipper shave – about 10 hours’ growth. I work out and try to keep in shape. I always feel neater, cleaner after my clipper cut.
So, I’ve come to believe that embracing baldness is the way to go. Look, nearly all men have some hairloss. It’s natural. It’s as much a part of being a man as having to start to shave, which most of us were initially eager to do as a sign of growing up.
For those going through the same thing that I went through (if you’re reading this, chances are good that you ARE!)…
I am 28 year old (29 in November of this year), and have been fighting hair loss for the past 10 years. In retrospect, I wouldn’t exactly call it “fighting” hair loss, as I did nothing to try to counter the evil plans of my scalp. I had long joked about shaving my head “when the time came” (I refused to wear a “power doughnut”).
Last month, on a Friday morning, I went about my morning routine of shaving, brushing teeth, etc. I had a large mirror in front of me, and one mounted on the medicine cabinet to my right side. I opened the medicine cabinet door, poked my head in front of it, and used the large mirror in front of me to check out the back of my head, and the top of my head.
Men, let me tell you…it was horrifying. At least, to me, emotionally. No wonder I had been on the butt end of more than a few hair loss jokes. It was Karma, coming back to get me for making fun of my father as a child! I did some worrying and thinking at work that day, and when I came home after work that Friday, I made a mad dash to the bathroom, got out my beard trimmer (I have a goatee), and without thinking about it, I shaved off what was left of that once-beautiful mop on my head.
It looked strange. Very strange, indeed! I was worried…what were people going to think at work? What would my children and my wife say about it? What nasty jokes from family members would rear their ugly heads?
I kept that “buzzed” look for three days (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday). I had Monday and Tuesday off from work as well. Monday morning, I woke up, “steamed” my head with a towel soaked in hot water, lathered up, and started shaving…
And haven’t turned back since!
(A good note here, and not that I’m an expert or anything, but I believe that having the “buzz” look for a few days helped my scalp get used to being in direct sunlight, while still providing the oils that your scalp naturally has from hair…rather than just throwing it outside to get roasted by the sun).
Not only is my head cooler, but it FEELS better too. I don’t have that worry of “oh, my bald spot is going to show!” whenever I go out. I shave my head every three days. It takes a maximum of 5 minutes or so for me now, due to me learning the contours of my head and where the “trouble spots” are (the locations on my scalp in which I need to shave in different directions to get all of the stubble, since my hair doesn’t just grow in one direction).
I guess what this overly long comment is supposed to do, is assure you that…”bald” looks good! The womenfolk around me love it, and I’ve always thought I had an odd shaped head (not to mention I have a Lipoma up on my forehead, sort of like a “horn” nub, that’s being removed next week).
So if you’re teetering on the edge…I say go for it. It will always grow back. But once you realize how much time it saves from combing your hair this way and that…you won’t WANT to go back!
***NOTICE: DO NOT USE NAIR OR OTHER HAIR REMOVER PRODUCTS***
I started going bald when I was 16 years old. By the time I was 19, it was high time to buzz it.
I often do a combination of shaving it to the skin or keeping buzzed plus facial hair occasionally.
I know the hat trick doesn’t work very well. I had an awesome youth pastor. He always wore a neat, beat up old baseball hat. I thought it was just because he was cool…
…until I saw him at a formal gathering with no hat. He looked like a totally different guy. Though his balding was kept in control by a buzz cut, it was still a shock!
The best thing my Dad did for me, was when I was 12 he shaved my head at the beginning of summer break. He just line me and my older brother up and said it is best to know what your head looks like shaved. If it looks bad you know not to do it again, plus you have the summer to not worry about brushing your hair and it grows back by September. I was lucky enough to have a normal head so now that I am balding I can rock that look. My brother not so lucky.
It took me for forever to shave the surviving hair off. Once I did it though, I never went back. Today, I can’t imagine ever wanting hair again.
@ John Wright
It’s correct that testosterone is what “causes” baldness (or at least, it is one of the direct causes). However, the propensity for baldness itself is still passed genetically. Just think… we know that it’s testosterone that causes men to generally grow taller than women… and yet, just how tall you grow still depends on genetics.
Hormones act as triggers for your body to do certain things, like bald or grow body hair or get taller when you reach puberty, but what exactly they trigger (whether or not you bald and in which formation you lose hair, the thickness and growth pattern of body hair, your height relative to other people of your own age and gender, etc.) is dependent mostly upon genetics.
So, yes, testosterone “causes” hair loss… in men with the genetic proclivity for balding. In men without such a proclivity, all the testosterone in the world won’t make them bald. And men’s levels of testosterone cannot be assessed and compared simply based on whether or not they are bald. We should know intuitively that this is not the case, since most men begin balding as they age, which is a time when the natural level of testosterone and other androgens in a man’s body begins to decrease.
just buzz it or fully bald. It exudes confidence if your in shape. one thing though. wear sunscreen. all the time.
Coming from a long line of baldies on my mother’s side, I knew well in advance it was a possibility, but the process didn’t become noticeable until one summer Saturday in 1992 when a 3-hour ride to the shore with the top down resulted in a nasty scalp sunburn.
I kept trying to deny it, Rogaine worked for a while, but ultimately it was a losing battle. The buzz cut helped, but did not totally work because I have patchy, uneven tufts at the front of the scalp, probably as a result of a gruesome but not serious scalp wound (30 stitches!) I got years ago.
So I started shaving the irregular islands off completely. At first my glowing-white scalp betrayed it as a half-measure, but eventually I got enough sun exposure to induce some nascent pigmentation, enough to do the job. I tried a full shave, but it didn’t feel like ‘me’, plus I still had some extra weight at the time which detracted from the “badass” look. I still might give it another whirl when I reach my goal weight.
But shaving the front, combined with a ‘power donut’ on which I use a #1 clipper, I have created a look I can live with. I feel it is the best approach to a dignified hairstyle for me. And the maintenance cost is a fresh pack of blades every 3 or 4 years in the old Norelco, and a few drops of oil on the clippers.
There’s a laser treatment that I do in my doctor’s office that has made a pretty dramatic difference in the amount of hair on my head. You have to have the treatment before the follicles actually die, but even very thin hairs can make a significant comeback from the treatment. It was very expensive the first year during the “ramp up” phase, but now it’s one treatment per month at about $50 per. It takes about 20 minutes under a machine that looks like a professional hair dryer. My hair stylest is amazed by the results. I wish this had been around when I was younger.
Jim,
what is the name of that treatment?
I have a full head (mid-thirties) but I have either been bald by choice or buzzed since my mid-twenties. My boss does the same thing. For me hair has always been a nuisance that you have pay a lot of money either to style or wash. Most people think I’m bald or balding even though I’m not. The babes love the bald look though so I highly recommend it.
And remember what a wise man once said. “Balding is not an option. Being bald is.”
Very timely post! Just last week, I went with the buzz cut! Shocked the family and coworkers, but that has settled down and everyone is adjusting. It took me a few days get used to it. Now, I love it and my morning routine is much shorter.
I’m 43 and was balding at the temples and crown (eventually they were going to meet). I was also getting gray and my kids were cracking jokes about the gray hair and bald spot. I decided to buzz cut it! The gray is still visible but the balding doesn’t seem so bad. I have olive colored skin and stay pretty tan in the summer and the gray stubble looks cool. My wife likes it.
I wish you had posted this last week. I really fretted over buzzing it. I’m going to stick with this for awhile. I may even shave it all off before the end of summer!
I wasted many a year and many a dollar agonizing over my hair loss. Rogaine, Propecia, various snake oils like Revivogen, Avacor. Special shampoos including Nutragena T-Gel and even trying Johnson’s Baby Shampoo (wive’s tale). Lots of wasted $$$ on vitamins and supplements, saw-palmetto, fish oil, etc. It was all a waste and pointless. It was my destiny to go bald on top. God’s way of curing me of my pansy vanity. I finally embraced it with the buzz cut and have never looked back. Once this happened I felt more of a man than ever before, not always looking in the mirror or fixing my hair. Saved lots of time and $$$ and actually gained confidence. So I say fellows, embrace it, get a buzz cut or shave your head, man up and don’t worry about your hair. Worrying about your hair is for ladies and girly-men. Embrace baldness and focus on doing stuff, not worrying about your looks.
@BenR
I was not saying that genetics was not cause. I was merely trying to illustrate the origin of the opinion that male-pattern baldness is X-linked, which is no longer believed to be the case. The testosterone receptors and all of the downstream targets of its signaling cascade are the direct causes of the “bald” phenotype. These factors are all proteins that are encoded by genes in the individual’s genome. As I stated, I’m unaware of the exact effectors in this cascade, and as far as I know, no one else is aware of them either. In short, it is an interplay between testosterone or testosterone metabolites and proteins which leads to interaction with other proteins or activation of other genes. It’s most likely a classic example of eukarotic transcriptional gene regulation.
I’ve had the shaved head + beard look for over a year now. I wore the beard with a buzz cut for five years. With the buzz, the beard may have looked like I was trying to compensate for the receding hairline. With it shaved, I think I look confident and a little edgy. I shave it every other day. It helps, certainly, to have a decent, consistent beard. I keep mine about a 1/2-inch long, a little shorter at the mustache (where my wife doesn’t want to smell my dinner when we kiss). It’s Shel Silverstein’s look.
I like the beard because it gives the illusion of having a strong, square jaw.
I learned in boot camp I have a lumpy head. Sure would like to go with a buzz cut but am worried – lumpy ain’t cool. Maybe I just shouldn’t care, wear a hat more often. Hey, I’m 60, what does it matter anyway? At least I’m not fat; that’s something.
For anyone interested who is not aware of its existence, there is a website called slybalduys.com that deals with the issue of accepting baldness. Good support for men who need some additional guidance on dealing with baldness, hairstyles.
@Michael
I don’t know the name of the treatment. I tried doing a google search on “hair loss laser” to see if I could jar my memory for the name of the equipment my doctor uses, but there are so many hits, I can’t find the name. There are also “laser combs”, but I have no idea if they work. My doctor’s treatment does work, however (again, only restoring hair that is dying but not yet dead).
Go with the buzz cut for starters–number 2 blade (1/4 inch). Then you can experiment with closer cuts/shaves.
The Wahl balding clipper is the way to go to really shave your head.
Great article guys! It’s a problem! Not for me yet, but I’ll bear it in mind…
Aw, a ponytail was my plan if I went bald. Now I don’t know what to do.
So far, my hair seems to be working out well. In my family, we are 8 males over the age of 23 and half are bald. My father is 49 and got a full head of hair, the only one of his brothers. My father gives the advice to lightly pull your hair, every time you wash it. I don’t know if that is what does it, but I am going to keep doing it as long as I got my hair.
Thanks in part to this article, I’ve decided that I’m going to shave my head this weekend for my 28th birthday. I’m black, and in the colorful words of a white buddy of mine: “A black dude shaving his head is about as eventful as an Asian driver hitting an orange cone.” However as a light-skinned black person, I won’t enjoy quite the degree of badassery that Bill Duke, T.O., and my other darker skinned counterparts do.
Cheers to the foam and the razor… and to people no longer assuming I’m Ethiopian.
Entertaining article, especially the part on hairstyles. While I agree that acceptance is the ideal way of dealing with hair loss, for many men this is impossible and balding can lead to serious mental problems.
There were a few points I would dispute however.
Firstly, although a pain to apply, Rogaine (minoxidil) is not expensive if bought over the internet in non-brand name form – a years supply can be found for under $50.
Secondly, Hair Club for Men and the like (Advanced Hair Studios, White Cliffs etc) usually end up forcing their customers to get a wig rather than transplants. They will never call it a wig however, and will refer to it in quasi-scientific terms – ‘non surgical hair replacement’, ‘strand by strand technology’ and so on.
And finally, an article about hair loss with no mention of propecia (finasteride) is unusual to say the least. Yes it may cause unusual side effects in some men, like man boobs and watery semen. But finasteride is the best defence available against male pattern baldness and is used with good results by (i imagine) millions of men worldwide. Again this can be bought cheaply in generic form.
I’ve been going bald since my 20′s. I initially went with the “Julius Caesar” but eventually I went to the “buzz cut” since the top was disappearing faster than snow in July. I go to a traditional barber and they know exactly what I want. I also started going gray at 20 so I’ve been dealing with a double whammy. I have long since accepted my baldness and realized I have more important things to worry about than a receding hairline.
45 and I gave up the ghost and have been shaving my head completely for 2 years.
I love it, my wife loves it, plus It is super easy to maintain. I shave about 3 times a week. Try headblade shaving cream. It will make your dome smooth as marble.
Right on. I just decided to go nearly full bald due to my thinning and am using a buzz shaver with only a #1 guard; A nice tight look that minimizes the balding.
In addition, I also grew a goatee and have received numerous positive comments with my new look. Grab hold guys – you look better, as they said, when you don’t highlight the fact that you’re balding. A bushy head of hair with a big bald spot in the middle looks hideous.
I am not currently balding, but I have shaved my head multiple times. I think there are lots of ways to look good, whether you have hair or not. The secret is finding the one you like the most (if you’re happy with it who cares what everyone else thinks), or ask some close friends who might have a good opinion to see what looks the best.
Patrick Stewart has always been one of my favorite actors, and for as long as I can remember he didn’t have hair. In some ways I think it makes him even more distinguished.
My hair started receding . . . RETREATING, actually, in Jr. High. Traumatic to say the least. Now that I’m 37, I’ve watched alot of dudes go mental over hair loss. I never understand the panic behind this [read Andre Agassi's book and get a glimpse], until I realized that I lived through that panic about 15 years before my peers. Now that I’m on the other side of hair, I love having it gone. I buzzed my head at 21, and recently thereafter began shaving it slick.
Years ago, I aggressively pursued a sales job. A female friend, used to competing in the pressured sales world, gave me a tidbit. “Be sure that your head is clean-shaven for the interview,” she said. [I tend to get lazy and let the few follicles bloom between shavings.] “The smooth look projects confidence in yourself.”
My ex-wife once told me if I went bald or shaved my head she was leaving me, that was the best thing she ever did for me. Over the years I have burnt my sclap a few times (after 20 years in the military I hate hats with a passion) but have found that alot of the facial mostuizers have sunscreen in them. Aloe helps with soothing the burn but also keeps the un-burnt head from appearing shiny or oily. Do-rags or skull caps also can keep the sun off and some actualy look cool enough to wear.
Embrace the bald and for the smooth as baby’s skin feel shave against the grain.
Always remember “God only made a few perfect heads, he put hair on the rest”.
Henry Miller was bald. Pablo Picasso was bald. *Neither* had *any* trouble getting the ladies!
I was just thinking about doing an article about bald companies before I read this baldness post..I myself go clean shaven in the warmer months but have a short crew cut during the winter months.
If I had known it was so liberating, I would have done it years ago.
Wanted to thank everyone for the awesome words of encouragement. My hair has been thinning over the last 10 years or so. When I was younger, my hair was a point of pride for me so starting to lose it really hurt. Took me a while to really accept it. Reading the comments here helped me finally decide to go get a buzz cut, which I did earlier today. It actually is not as bad as I thought and can see how it can really help freshen things up. I like that I’ve done something more than just think and sometimes obsess about it. I might let it grow out a little and will see how things develop. By getting it buzzed I can also see what my head actually looks like, which can be useful down the road as I inevitably lose more hair.
As has been indicated here, I think a buzz cut plus good fitness actually represents confidence and a willingness to control how you look. Better than trying to hide the natural order of things and not owning what is more than likely obvious to anyone who cares to notice your hair.
So, in short (pun intended), Thank you.
Regardless, age, bald, race etc….if you want to have long hair, short hair, buzz, whatever…..do it ! Be happy. As long as you are clean and don’t bother anyone, do what you want to do …. don’t go for years unhappy then when you get in your 80s realize you shoul have lived a diffrent life. Mercy!!
A
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I cannot believe that I actually found this type of article this fast. I’m 22 and losing my hair, and I have had long hair for a few years now and I’m absolutely terrified of losing it. Today I finally accepted that my hair in its majority will be gone by the end of the next year. I needed this article to let me know what to do. And I think I will try all of those in next decades. Facial hair will most certainly remain a part of my appearance forever, so I can at least look up to that.
This article did help me come to terms with reality. I had shoulder-length hair, and I denied that my hair was thinning. At 19, during a visit to my hairstylist, she stated, “I hate to tell you this, but you’re beginning to thin on top.” I, of course, denied it. I’m 28 now, and last night, I took a good, long, realistic look at the top of my head in the mirror. I realized that I had unintentionally been sporting a comb-over, using the front hair to cover the thin spot. However, the spot had grown significantly over the past 9 years. I was appalled.
Therefore, I took the advice of some of the comments, and I trimmed it off with a “2.” Then, I took a deep breath, took the guard off the clippers, and started trimming my hair as far as the clippers would allow. To my surprise, a bonus was waiting on me when I finished. I actually have the skull shape to wear the “nearly-bald” look. I am hesitant to shave my head because I have a problem with razorbumps (sensitive skin), and I don’t want razorbumps all over my head.
With the exception of one friend, friends and family really like the new look, and while I was saddened with facing the reality of hair loss, I’m happy with the results. Now, I just have to remember to put sunscreen on my head from now on. Having red hair, I am accustomed to putting sunblock on during the summer, but I hate sunblock at the same time – mostly because I’ve had to wear it for my entire life. I’ll adjust though, and eventually, it’ll be common place.
An additional bonus was how quick my showers are now! I am not having to wash and condition my hair. I simply use a natural soap on my scalp, rub on some coconut oil, wash the rest of me, and boom! Done. What used to take 30 minutes, takes all of 5-10 minutes.
I would concur with what others have stated. If your hair is starting to thin, save yourself the heartache, and bite the bullet. Embrace it!
SCREW IT POWER DOUGHNUT!
So glad to read that I wan’t the only one shocked at discovering his going bald.
First I asked myself: Why me?! But now I realise the right question is: Why NOT me? Screw it, I’m balding, and it’s completely normal, so why shouldn’t it be me.. after all, I’ve always thought people with a Monchichi hairstyle looked pretty damn stupid.
I remember one day telling my sister about my beginning hair problem and worrying about it, and she told me I shouldn’t think of it as being a bad thing per sé, and that she actually preferred men with landing strips cause she found them tougher, sexyer and more manly! So there you go.. there’s woman out there who dig anything!
Now I do have one question I can’t figure out by myself:
Is it ok to shave those lonesome hairs on your bald temples? or is it not done. What’s the better solution?
Kudos to the embracers!
I’m 20 years old and still have a full head of hair, but my hairline is really far back on my head. I’ve adopted a longer mop-type look to cover up that line, but I’ve been thinking about getting a shorter retro-style cut (spurred on by the Mad Men article by Brett a few years ago), and to do that, I’ll have to accept the fact that hair isn’t going to magically appear any time soon.
What a great article, as are many on this site.
I’m fairly lucky, I’m 52 and am just really beginning to thin. I first noticed it last year but this year when i saw a video of myself dancing at the company Christmas party I noticed a reflection coming from a spot on my head, and it was not greasy hair!
When I was younger I had long shoulder length hair, dark black and full. Today it’s much shorter and gray/silver.
This article helped a lot, especially to define the different hair styles. I think I can pull off a buzz cut quite nicely – it’s been that short before. Combine that with my goatee and the fact that I AM a Biker, it may make for a much more bad ass look.
I’ve always been concerned about how the ladies feel about baldness, you read a lot of horror stories. As a recently single man again, that’s still a concern of mine. However, since the number one trait women seem to really desire is confidence, being confident enough to not hide the thinning should go a long way.
Now I just need to lose the beer belly I’ve put on the past couple of years.
I’m a rather short guy with what I thought was full, auburn hair that I kept rather full. Now, I’m balding and do a Letterman type thing. Since my Dad is totally bald and always dressed well and was confident of himself, I’ve always had a sense of humor about it.
I, of course, denied it. I’m 28 now, and last night, I took a good, long, realistic look at the top of my head in the mirror. I realized that I had unintentionally been sporting a comb-over, using the front hair to cover the thin spot.
A lot of people are switching over to dutasteride (marketed as Avodart) instead of using finasteride. Dutasteride blocks both type I and type II 5a-reductase enzymes while finasteride only blocks type II. Dutasteride also has a longer half life and thus remains active in the blood for a longer time.
http://www.bernsteinmedical.com/resources/hair-restoration-papers/dutasteride-vs-finasteride/
I shave it completely. But sometimes just let it grow for a while. But whatever you do, to people you will have it one way or the other.
Started going bald when i was 17, didn’t really stand a chance considering my fathers bald & my mothers father was bald. Luckily it wasn’t deforestation of the crown or i wasn’t left with just hair around the sides & nothing on top (By the time it finally became visible). Slowly receded back from the temples (A bit like Bruce Willis in Fifth Element). So one day i just had enough & went over it with a trimmer with a number 2 on it. Never looked back. Luckily i’ve got a tidy shaped head, not to big not to small & i’m an alright build tall lad & everyone said it suited me, i was really worried about what people would think! Let the stubble grow to a standard Jason Statham would be proud of with a healthy tan & transition complete! No getting up earlier in the mornings to sort it out!