7 Options for Dealing with Hair Loss
Last Updated: August 12, 2023
Let’s get right to it: going bald sucks.
Hair is how we conform (or non-conform) to social standards. Hair, as a indicator of our personality or beliefs, starts in our teens. For me, I didn’t pay much attention to my hair. It was just there and getting a haircut was a nuisance. But for a lot of kids, hair defined them. The style they had gave clues as to who they were: into sports, in band, had wealth, or just a non-conformist.
When hair loss starts to happen, it can create a crisis of personality. When your hair starts to recede, it’s hard not to look like anything other than some unlikable character in a movie.
Think about it: What characters are going bald in a movie? CPA’s, Lawyers, evil heads of corporations, losers.
When I look in the mirror and see the giant expanse of forehead looking back, it’s not easy to maintain a positive emotional state. For many, many years, I didn’t know what to do about it so I just started cutting my hair short. Then one day I thought I’d look up hairstyles for balding men. I didn’t find a single site the dealt with what I considered balding. None of the examples looked like me. They looked like models with full heads of hair. So I decided to create this website in the hopes of helping some of my fellow balding men.
Baldness refers to excessive hair loss from your scalp. Hair loss increasing with age is the most common cause of baldness. If you are losing your hair, one option is to let it run its course untreated and just own it.
This website is for those of you who want to take a more proactive course of action. You can cover up the hair loss with a new hairstyle or you can go full in with hair transplants and medications.
If your hair loss has been sudden or is spotty, you should consult with a dermatologist to make sure it isn’t something other than normal age related hair loss.
Here are 7 options for dealing with hair loss:
Hairstyles
So you think you’re losing hair. Maybe you noticed more hair in the sink or shower. Maybe you saw a photo of yourself from a year ago and you noticed that what you see in the mirror doesn’t match that photo. One of the easiest solutions to this situation may be to get a new hairstyle. The type of hairstyle you’ll need will depend on your style and state of baldness. You’ll have different options if you have a receding hairline than if you have a receding hairline plus thinning hair and/or a bald spot.
If you’re in the early stages of hair loss, you’ve got lots of options. Start with a search on “balding hairstyles”. You’ll see lots of handsome movie stars with seemingly full heads of hair but, if you look closely, you’ll see that their hairline is receding. How helpful these examples are to you depends on your own current state of hair loss. For me, these pictures were useless. In general, a shorter haircut minimizes the impact of hair loss. A mid-fade but kept long on top can work great with a receding hairline. If you currently have long hair but are developing a bald spot on the back, going with a man-bun can be a temporary fix.
If you have a regular barber, they probably already know you’re losing your hair and would be happy to suggest options. Lots of guys want to ignore the hair loss issue and so barbers won’t mention it unless they are asked. If you have an experienced barber, they’ll know your hair and might be able to work miracles. If you get your haircut at a low-cost salon and often get a different person cutting your hair, this is the time to upgrade to a place that specializes in men’s hair.
The bad news is that you’re losing your hair. The good news is that men’s styling is very popular and you have lots of options. Getting a new haircut can also be a catalyst for developing a new style for yourself. Maybe you’ve been thinking upgrading your look. Maybe you’re starting a new job or moving to a new place. A new haircut can be just what you need to start a new chapter in your life.
Medications
Minoxidil and Finasteride are medications that can slow hair loss and, in most cases, reverse it. You might know them better by their brand names Rogaine and Propecia. Taking medication is something I’ve tried to avoid if possible and I was happy to see that both are now available in a topical form.
Minoxidil (Rogaine) applied to the scalp is used to stimulate hair growth in men and women with certain types of baldness. An increase in hair count in the area of the scalp where it is applied occurs after 3-4 months of use. Unfortunately, once the treatment is stopped, hair loss in the area will return. The exact way that this medicine works is not fully understood – that gives me pause and is another reason I’m glad it is now available topically. Minoxidil is available in the U.S. without a prescription.
Finasteride (Propecia) works by reducing the amount of the hormone DHT which causes hair follicles to shrink. When Finasteride first came out, it could only be taken orally and there were some common side effects (loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, increased chance of some prostate cancers) that made it a risky solution to hair loss. Finasteride is now available topically and side effects tend to be things like rashes, itching and other dermatological related things. Finasteride requires a prescription in the U.S. However, sites like forhims.com and keeps.com have a process to bypass contacting your personal doctor.
You might also consider seeing a doctor who specializes in hair and scalp issues to make sure medications are a good option for you. Our page on Finding Help with Hair Loss gives you some criteria you want to look for in a medical professional.
Hair Fibers
Want to make your hair issue appear to disappear with just a few shakes? If it’s early in your hair loss journey and you’re looking for a way to cover up your thinning hair, hair fibers might be the answer.
Hair fiber products are typically powders containing keratin (the same stuff your hair is made of) that attach to your existing hair to give it a fuller look. The application is very simple – shake the fiber powder onto the offending area of your head and then comb or style as usual. And that’s it! Many guys find that applying a little hair spray helps keep it looking good all day.
Hair fibers don’t stimulate hair growth, nor will they stop hair loss. They’re simply a way to cover up those thin thinning areas and give you a little extra time to figure out a long range plan. Note, though, that you do need to have some hair on your head. If you’ve got large areas with no hair, this unfortunately is not the option for you.
Toupees
Officially speaking, a toupee is “a patch of false hair for covering a bald spot”. That definition makes it sound like a toupee is a little bitty thing, but they usually cover the entire top of the head.
What comes to mind when you think of a toupee? It was probably negative. The hapless loser or degenerate that wears a toupee in an attempt to look relevant is a common character in movies and TV shows.
In fact, the negative association with wearing a toupee is so distasteful that the real-life person upon whom the character “Rugrat” in the movie, “The Wolf of Wallstreet” is based, filed a defamation lawsuit against Martin Scorsese who made the movie. Just the slight chance that people will think that he once wore a toupee (he currently sports a bald head) is so upsetting to the guy that he’s seeking $50 million in damages.
Hair Transplants
A hair transplant is like a time machine that can take you back to the golden days of a full head of hair.
Just what is a hair transplant? In a nutshell, hair transplant surgery involves moving hair follicles from high density areas of your scalp (back and sides) and then inserting them into the balding area up front.
Although hair transplants can be performed on anyone over 18, it is recommended to wait until at least 25. Regarding older ages, there is no maximum age for a hair transplant. As long as the patient is healthy and still has a dense donor area, the procedure can be done. If you have advanced baldness though, it will limit just how much of the bald area you’ll be able to reclaim.
Who does hair transplants? Typically, dermatologists and plastic surgeons are the most common performers of hair transplants but, it can be any MD who has had the additional training. Visit our page on Finding Help with Hair Loss to see the criteria you want to look for in a medical professional who specializes in hair and scalp issues.
Shaving It All Off
“Should I shave my head?” At some point every man with a receding hairline will ask that question. We then look at ourselves in the mirror, try to imagine our head without hair, and hope the dome isn’t oddly shaped.
Shaving ones head was once seen as an extreme act and would often elicit negative views from friends, family and even strangers. The thinking was that a person would only shave their head under extreme situations: Military bootcamp, cancer treatment, health issues, skinhead or possibly just “weird”.
Then came actors like Patrick Stewart, Bruce Willis, Vin Diesel, Duane Johnson, Jason Statham and Mark Strong – among others. These guys are badasses, ooze self-confidence and normalized the shaved head. Not into actors? Here are some athletes: Michael Jordan, Andre Agassi, Jason Kidd, Dana White and Albert Pujols to name a few. The next time you’re out shopping or at an event, look around. There will be several bald heads in your vicinity. A bald head has become acceptable and can even be seen as a sign of masculinity and self-confidence. (By the way, when I say “shaved” I’m also including a VERY close buzz cut that looks like you’ve got a 5 o’clock shadow on your head.)
So, should you shave your head? The ACT is very easy if you have some hair clippers laying around. The DECISION to shave it all off is the hard part.
Micropigmentation
What the heck is scalp micropigmentation? It’s a tattoo on your head that mimics the stubble look of a very close buzz cut.
You’ve probably seen bald guys who have what looks like a 5 o’clock shadow on their head and you can see the shape of their hairline. If the guy has been losing his hair, you can see the pattern of their receding hairline and/or bald spot. The micropigmentation fills in those bald areas with tiny dots that look like hair stubble. It gives the illusion that the buzz cut is a choice and that the guy could, if he wanted to, grow out a full head of hair.
If you’re considering shaving your head but know that your dark hair stubble will give away the fact that you are balding, then scalp micropigmentation is not a bad option. It will fade over the course of five or so years. It will not cause an issue if you decide to get a hair transplant down the road.
So how do you know which option is best for you? (conclusion)
How to move through this experience depends in part on your personal feelings about hair loss. For me, a receding hair line is OK but the little bald spot in back is unacceptable, and I want to do something about it.
Your environment may also play a factor in your decision. Are there guys in your neighborhood or at work who have shaved their heads? Maybe you’ll be comfortable going that route as well. Do you have a career in which looks are a factor in your success? Then a hair transplant along with topical medications might be a better option for you.
If you have a loving and accepting partner as well as open minded friends and family, you can work your way down the list until you find something you like. When it comes down to it, though, people will have their opinions but the solution that makes YOU happy and confident is the best option.
One last comment:
A combover is an ill advised hair loss option.
Do so at your own peril.
Yours in hair loss,
Craig