Hair loss, often referred to as male baldness, is a genetic condition that occurs in a predictable pattern. It can be caused by various factors, including genetics, hormonal imbalances, medical conditions, and lifestyle choices. Androgenetic alopecia, or hereditary pattern balding, is the most common type of hair loss, affecting an estimated 80 million individuals in the U.S. Baldness is one of the most common types of hair loss, and it is reversible.
Sedentary lifestyles can negatively impact circulation, including blood flow to the scalp. Engaging in regular physical activity can improve blood circulation and promote a healthy scalp. A neglected scalp can contribute to hair loss. Poor lifestyle habits and stress are among the main causes of hair loss, along with underlying diseases or infections. A sedentary lifestyle with little exercise can inhibit proper blood flow to hair follicles, which carry oxygen and vital nutrients.
Alopecia patients exercise more than the normal population, especially low-intensity exercise. Insufficient physical activity can lead to poor circulation, which can affect scalp and hair health. Your general health and lifestyle are the second biggest contributing factor to hair loss, according to Iain Sallis, trichologist and founder of Hairmedic. Chronic stress has also been linked to hair loss, but the reasons behind this are not well understood.
Hair growth involves three stages: growth, development, and maintenance. Hair loss can be caused by genetics, hormonal imbalances, medical conditions, and lifestyle choices. Regular physical activity can help improve blood circulation and promote a healthy scalp.
📹 How rapid hair loss changed my life
Just a lil video about hair loss, male pattern baldness, losing your hair. Androgenic alopecia. Whatever you want to call it. Balding.
What is the root cause of baldness?
Hair loss is a common occurrence in both men and women as they age, often due to factors such as aging, heredity, and changes in testosterone hormones. Male pattern baldness, which affects more men than women, can occur after puberty and affects around 80 percent of men by age 70. Physical or emotional stress can cause telogen effluvium, where half to three quarters of scalp hair is shed. Hair shedding usually subsides within 6 to 8 months, but can become chronic.
Other causes include high fever, severe infection, childbirth, major surgery, illness, sudden blood loss, severe emotional stress, crash diets, and certain drugs like retinoids, birth control pills, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, antidepressants, and NSAIDs.
Can a healthy person go bald?
Hair loss, alopecia, can be caused by heredity, hormonal changes, medical conditions, or aging. Baldness, a common symptom, refers to excessive scalp hair loss. Hereditary hair loss with age is the most common cause. Some individuals choose to let hair loss go untreated, cover it up with hairstyles, makeup, hats, or scarves, or opt for treatments to prevent further hair loss or restore growth. Before pursuing treatment, consult a doctor about the cause and treatment options. Symptoms can vary and can appear suddenly or gradually, affecting the scalp or the entire body.
Will I ever stop balding?
Male pattern baldness is a genetic condition that cannot be prevented, but maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle can improve overall health, including hair health. Some treatments are more effective when hair loss is mild, so it’s advisable to consult a doctor for advice. Doctors can diagnose male pattern baldness by asking about general health, hair loss, and family history of hair loss. They will examine the head and scalp, particularly areas of hair thinning or baldness. Most cases don’t require special tests, but a dermatologist may be referred for a detailed examination or skin biopsy to rule out other conditions and confirm the diagnosis.
Can exercise reverse balding?
Exercise can help reduce stress, which can accelerate two common hair loss conditions – Male Pattern Baldness and Female Pattern Hair Loss. It may also trigger the autoimmune disorder Alopecia Areata. However, it’s important not to over-train regularly, as it can cause Telogen Effluvium, a temporary hair loss condition that disrupts the hair growth cycle. This condition causes hair follicles to enter their normal’resting’ phase early.
It’s crucial to differentiate between pushing yourself during a session and over-training regularly. Dr. Manoj, a hairloss expert, explains that extreme stress causes hairs to enter the telogen phase, leading to heavy hair fall.
Does gym increase DHT?
Cardio exercise lowers DHT levels, while anaerobic workouts like HIT training and weight lifting raise them, causing hair loss. A healthy balance between cardio and intense weight training or anaerobic exercise is recommended. The British Hair Clinic, a leading clinic for professional rugby players, athletes, and body builders, advises managing DHT levels through treatments like Finasteride, PRP treatments, and laser treatment.
These athletes may have higher than average DHT levels, so it’s crucial to manage their testosterone and DHT demands to successfully perform hair transplants. The clinic’s expertise in treating professional athletes with high DHT levels is essential.
Can balding grow back?
Hair loss and death due to shrunken follicles in advanced male pattern baldness are caused by the loss of hair production cells. The regrowth process is not possible due to advanced baldness, which is influenced by various genes. The baldness gene is a collective term for the baldness gene, but there are many genes contributing to the predisposition to baldness. Reversing balding can be possible if healthy hair follicles are present, but it is not usually possible to regrow hair naturally in a short timeframe. A trichologist can assess the health of hair follicles and the overall possibility of hair regrowth.
Can lack of rest cause hair loss?
High testosterone levels can cause hair loss by converting it into DHT, a hormone that shrinks hair follicles. Low testosterone levels may not directly cause hair loss, but they can still contribute to little to no hair. To determine if hair loss is due to low testosterone, consult a doctor who can test your hormone levels and offer treatment options. Male pattern baldness, for example, is incurable in some cases, but some treatments can slow or stop the progression of hair loss.
Testosterone, typically associated with male development and function, can cause hair loss due to an imbalance in the hormone. It is considered one of the most common causes of male pattern baldness, as it affects hair growth by producing thinner, weaker hairs.
Will I go bald if my dad is?
Baldness is not solely determined by the X chromosome, but also by numerous other genes, such as those responsible for hair follicles. These cells are crucial for healthy hair growth and can be damaged or harmed, leading to a thinning hairline. If you have an X-linked baldness gene or your father is bald, you are more likely to experience baldness. However, there are still many blind spots in this field of research, and new discoveries may be made in the future.
Baldness can skip generations, and if bald relatives are present on both sides of your family tree, the chances are high that you will too. However, if baldness only appears on one side, it is highly likely that the MPB gene will skip not only you but also your siblings.
The most common causes of baldness include Male Pattern Baldness (MPB), which affects 98. 6% of men and 64. 4% of women. Lifestyle factors such as poor nutrition, strong diets, alcohol, stress, and smoking can also contribute to baldness. Additionally, some medical conditions and long-lasting treatments can lead to hair loss. Despite these potential risks, it is essential to recognize and address these genetic preconditions to prevent baldness in future generations.
Can being inactive cause hair loss?
Self-love and self-care are increasingly important in today’s busy world, where environmental factors and a sedentary lifestyle can significantly damage skin and hair. Climate changes, even relocation to new geographies, can also impact hair and hair quality. However, skincare and haircare are crucial for overall health, appearance, and personality.
Consumer preferences have evolved, with modern consumers becoming more cautious and conscious about their choices. They prefer cruelty-free, safe, and clean products that are free from harmful chemicals and toxic ingredients. Top-shelf products, which are easily available, often contain toxic chemicals like sulphate, paraben, and mineral oil. As a result, consumers are now opting for vegan, safe, and environmentally friendly skincare and haircare products. These products are not only safe for themselves but also for the environment.
Does not exercising cause hair loss?
Regular exercise and balanced nutrition are crucial for maintaining overall health, and hair loss can be prevented through improved blood flow to the scalp. However, most men with baldness are genetically predisposed to hair loss, and exercise cannot significantly impact these genes. Excessive exercise and poor nutrition can lead to premature hair loss, as chronic stress can cause telogen effluvium, causing hair follicles to go dormant. Resuming a balanced diet and appropriate exercise levels can reverse this process, but excessive exercise and poor nutrition can still contribute to hair loss.
Does lifestyle affect balding?
Hair health is influenced by diet, but high heat, chemical treatments, and tight hairstyles can damage hair shafts, causing breakage, thinning, and uneven hair loss. Smoking also contributes to hair loss by reducing scalp blood flow and affecting hair follicle nutrients and oxygen. Dr. Simran Sethi offers various hair treatments, including PicoSure Pro, Radio Frequency Microneedling with Potenza, Microneedling with PRP using SkinPen®, Glutathione with Vitamin C for Skin Lightening, Intimate Skin Lightening, Diamond Glow Facial, and SKIN by Dr. Sethi Skincare.
📹 Scalp Psoriasis: What NOT To Do #shorts
… doing this because you can actually worsen the condition and cause an infection in the process instead use an over-the-counter …
Myself stopped my hair fall with these. Detangling your hair gently with a wide tooth neem comb to avoid breakage, particularly when hair is wet and more prone to break. Use liitleextraaa cocoonniion shampoo with natural hair oil 2 times a week. This is essential part of my hair care routine and worked well in hair fall control.
As a 20 year old who’s been perusal their hair disappear since I was 17, I honestly forget that this isn’t a problem exclusive to me. After a while I started to feel ” less than” or defective. I still haven’t come to terms with what’s happening to me, but I do know that no one deserves to feel this way.
Im 18 and I started balding when I was like 14. That is pretty fucking early and it is very visble and I feel very insecure about it. articles like this give me courage that I will be able to be happy without hair at some point. Thank you for sharing your story. Balding in your teen years can effect your menatl healt greatly.
Thanks for making this article, I relate to it too much sadly. I got really worried about it and buzzed my hair last year to see what it’d look like and honestly I feel like I look better with hair. If my hairline recedes any more I’m going bald, and that’s okay. You’re right though, no one cares more than you do.
I have had long hair since I was 15 years old (27 now). My hair is probably the first thing every girl I’ve ever being with complimented about me, so what Joey said about “losing his identity” is intense for me because when you have long hair it becomes the most recognisable feature about you. I have been losing hair for a couple of years now and even though most people probably don’t notice it still (the long hair sort of masks it), I think I’ll have to shave in a year or two. With the years I grew more and more upset about it until I actually developed depression, that’s when I started looking for a treatment and ended up using Rogaine. But Rogaine gave me terrible side effects (itching, horrible headaches and I felt tired all of the time) and even after I stoped using it the side effects lasted for MONTHS so I decided to never use it again and I don’t think there is any other treatment that works beside minoxidil and hormonal (which I know can cause even worse side effects). The realisation that there is probably no treatment for me left me even more depressed, but also, I sort of gave up. After a while I came to accept that I will be a bald guy. I definitely won’t look as good as I look now and possibly will look weird (some people have terrible head shapes and I won’t know if I am one of them before I finally shave). As I accepted this fact, I became less depressed, but it definitely changed my personality a bit. I care less about appearances in general, I also feel “older”.
I have had friends going bald pretty young. One in particular held on way to long and was combing over. I honestly believed he held on because people took made fun of his balding and he didnt want to admit defeat. Just don’t poke fun at male pattern baldness, you dont know how much it can effect people when they are at home alone, staring into the mirror thinking “why me?”. Also, you never know when it could eventually come for you. Someone i know, who always poked fun at my aforementioned friend, is currently showing major signs of balding. Safe to say, he is very quiet about the siuation.
Just shaved my head, after perusal this article. Literally all my friends were like “oh, cool” or not saying anything and everything went on like everything was normal. Crazy how I used to frett this and the reaction was nearly non existent!! Feel so much more confident now. Thanks for the article and being an inspiration man.
Finally I feel like I’m not alone in this. Officially lost my squared hairline while I was in middle school. Got mistaken for a 40 year old in my freshman year of college, and then completely shaved my head by my second year of college. Every change of your hair that you described is exactly what I’ve gone through. Definitely lost the genetic lottery, but I’m happier now that I’m bald.
I can relate so much with this article that is almost like it was made for me. The first time someone said my hair was receding I was 17 and my hair was a big part of my looks and appearance. I ignored it hoping it would stop naturally but of course that didn’t happen. I was on and off shaving my hair and letting it grow from age 19 to age 22 and then I just let it grow again, used a lot of fade in the sides and long on top to try to make it less apparent but it only worked for a small window. I had self esteem issues and lack of confidence because I always was so self conscious and concerned about my hair, but had issues to be open to accept that I had to do something. At age 24, around my 25th birthday a colleague snapped a picture of me from a distance with my head a little bit down and the only thing I could see was the amount of skin in the top of my head. THAT was the moment I knew I had to simply let go. One thing that bothered me, and still does for an extent, is that during all this process where I was on and off with my hair, although people do not actively care how I look, your baldness is kind of the low hanging fruit to make jokes or snarky comments. Sometimes it hurts even though you know it was not the intention. I think this made me more empathetic towards other things regarding appearance I would make fun of in the past, because now I know how that can hurt. Thanks for this article, I really needed this. It is a great definition of the acceptance we all have to accept in our lives (for different things).
I just watched this article randomly, but what you said at the end is so true man, and more people need to realize that other people don’t think about them as much. I also looked at Seth’s comment here, and just realized that I never paid attention to the fact that he was bald. Like I could see it of course, but I never really thought “Oh this guy is bald”, I just watched his articles without having the status of the hair on his head in mind, and enjoyed his content.
As someone who has been shaving their head for a few years now, at 37 years old. I will tell you, at least for me, all the hair treatments, all the care in the world, ended up being more of a hassle than it was worth. And honestly, in my case, aside of hair transplant (which I haven’t tried), nothing really worked, so it ended up being mostly a pain in the ass (and also pretty expensive). Now, shaved I feel so much more relaxed. Not gonna tell anyone how to live their lives, but acceptance is generally pretty great for your mental health.
I’m losing my hair at 19, I’m currently debating letting it go or starting some sort of treatment for it. But at the same time, I kinda like that I’m losing it, for the sole fact that it motivates me to learn some skills since the value of my looks are slowly leaving. In a funny way this sort of lit a fire under my ass to get my shit straight, and have more things to be proud of than just my looks.
I wish it was just as acceptable for women. I had a bit of time where I started losing a lot of hair and I wasn’t sure why. I’ve recovered since then but I always feel for other women who are going through much more advanced and chronic hairloss. For a woman, not having hair is societally unacceptable. 🙁
Hair loss prevention is getting better these days. I thought I was doomed at 20 as my hair was receded and really thin but now I’m 24 and my hair is better as I done something about it. That was my personal choice and now it’s just part of my routine just like cleaning my teeth. Respect to the people who shave it off though.
Similar to your experience, I’ve always looked quite older than what I am. In my case, puberty hit me hard and early so by 7th grade I already had a full Mario mustache and by high school I could fully grow a beard. It’s something that a lot of times has made me feel bad. I wish I seemed my age. And now at 23 I’ve lost most of my hair, almost like you. I really hate it when people comment on the fact that I’m balding, as if I didn’t notice first. So when I began shaving my head, even more people started asking why, as if it wasn’t clear enough. I’m working on myself to feel as confident as I should.
Dude I have thinning hair and like the past year or so I have unironically been thinking that when it is time to finally shave it completely off at least maybe it will suit me just as good as it does that Better Ideas guy. You really radiate confidence bro and even before making this article you helped me with kind of coming to terms with balding, keep up the good work 🙂
At 19 i lost my hair. I immediately shaved my head and yeah i looked better immediately then having a few strands and thank god i do look good in a hat but even until now it affects me. I dont know if it’s because i dont have an option and forced on me or because i envy everyone else who has the option to have hair or not. I did end up getting smp done on my head and wasnt the best work but did help and i master using make up to hide the imperfection and looking like I literally just shave my head by choice but again it’s all just a temporary fix for me. At the end of the day i still want hair, i still want to have a option. But i learned to live with it and wear lots of hats. Unless it happened to you no one will really truly understand how it feels to have that rip away from you. Im still self Conscience, i still dont go any where that requires me to remove my hat, i avoid family weddings or events thats formal and ended relationships where they couldn’t accept why i like wearing hats a lot. Therapy wouldnt help me because i dont want to be told ill be ok and accept myself because i want a solution but unfortunately im not rich to get any of the solutions that can possibly fix me. So yeah the moral of my story is i learned to live with it to an extent but ill never truly be happy or comfortable anywhere. But it is what it is for me.
Finally been waiting for this one since you mentioned it on the stream. I feel like a receding hairline looks more mature/ “manly” and can be managed better than balding at the crown. That is rough. You don’t really see it until it’s too late, but everyone else notices it constantly (or so you think). My advice: unless you’re financially and mentally prepared to pop pills or use creams, just SHAVE IT. You’ll thank yourself later. Anyone who doesn’t want to be apart of your life if you don’t have hair, never was going to stay anyways
Hair loss is hard on the ego for men, even when male pattern baldness is a thing and people are used to it. Now imagine it for a woman, where it’s not really a thing. It’s tough. And it messes with your head. And I can’t just shave my head like you because….well, I have a tiny little head and I’d look like pinhead Larry. Sigh. It’s a struggle.
This article was honestly amazing to watch. I have pretty much the exact same hair loss story as you, except I shaved my head yesterday at 26 years old. My hair also looked “pubey” and I had been in denial for a long time. But now I finally did it, and it feels amazing (although still strange). My friends’ and colleagues’ reactions were also pretty much just “oh cool”, which kind of both disappointed and relieved me.
My hair story is EXACTLY the same as yours, except even if I was proactive there would be no saving it. I have THICK hair on the sides and absolutely NO hair up top. NOTHING. I need to transplant all my backhair just to have thinning hair up top. I’m so glad I shave my head now. But at 18 I was in such denial. Ever since I was 15 people would say they could see my bald spot. My biggest insecurity is now something that just gets sunburnt instead.
At the age of 18 I noticed some mild receding of my hair line, at 22 it has receded a bit more, and my untamed hair looks like that of a Roman aristocrat. But I learned to accept it early on, I embrace it, Ive always had a widows peak anyway, but the concept of balding never really bothered me, nor has it been a hindrance of my goals and ambitions.
10/10 article. I’ll just say tho, you actually had good family and friends. I had family who pressured me and tried to get me to grow it back, particularly my mom. Trying to get me to hold on longer and making it harder to just accept this new self. It did help that I was starting school and meeting completely new people. I could just have my identity as ‘the bald guy’ to these completely new people and it was very easy to accept. Girls also continued liking me, which was a pleasant surprise. Some people around you will react weirdly, as some of my family did. New people won’t give AF.
You’re absolutely right, I was miserable for 2-3 years because I couldn’t fathom the fact that I was losing my hair in my early 20s. I decided to try a buzzcut, nobody gave a shit. Then I totally shaved my head and once again, nobody gave a shit. I think my friends even admired me for simply doing it.
This is a nice and empathic article, but I disagree that the way hair loss affects you is just in your head. Dating becomes much harder when you lose hair in your late teens / early twenties. People also tend to treat you worse in general. I think you shouldn’t let society gaslight you into thinking it’s all about your own confidence. Shaving your head will look better than having a thinning receded hairstyle, but most likely you would look your best with a full head of hair.
Thanks for this article man! It’s seriously ruined my life losing my hair.. wish I could be one of those guys who doesn’t care. when I had hair girls would ask me out to work lunch and drinks on weekends and one day it just stopped. My confidence plummeted and for a guy losing his personality with hair it makes for a horrible time to be around me. For 8 years now I haven’t had the courage to even ask a girl out. My friends wouldn’t ask me out to bars on the weekends anymore to meet woman and although not super mean about they would bring it up behind my back sometimes. I’ve not reached for that new job title since I’d rather work from home in my safe job to not show my baldness.. missed weddings & big events because I wasn’t able to wear a hat… it’s detrimental guys.. I don’t mean to bitch because people have far worse problems but my god losing my hair young has really screwed my personality up.. I’m bitter/quiet and much less personable.. I know I’m bitching but it might help someone else going through this that their not alone. I’m working out way more now and trying to control other parts of my body that can change to feel a bit better about myself.
I think you handled it really well, honestly. I’m dealing with hair loss at a young age myself and am desperately trying to hold onto it (with medication, etc), because it’s totally killed my confidence and anything I liked about my appearance, it’s such a tough thing to go through so young. Good job 🙂
That outlook that “nobody truly cares” is extremely true. I’ve delt with it in other scenarios, where I’ve worried a ton for absolutely nothing. Losing my hair however, has me petrified. I’m currently growing it out, with the idea that I will bald one day, and I might as well make the most of it with all its glory.
Hey Dude, This could be a really hard article to make! Huge respect! Another thing is that you actually mention how your brother being proactive could save and regrow a lil bit more hair. I, myself who has also been proactive and got great results I really wanna say thank you for not saying “Just shave it bro, be man”. It really means a lot for the younger and even older lads. Anyway, love the content, preem quality as always Tom
I started losing my hair when I was 16 years old, and I hid it (or tried to) for a while. I didn’t want anyone to know because I feared what it would be like going through high school being bald (already wasn’t the most accepted person in my class). On the day after my high school graduation I shaved it off completely, and it felt liberating. Honestly regret trying to hide it at all, kind of robbed myself of normal high school years.
To anybody reading this and suffering from any form of hair loss, you are beautiful!!! Bald, balding, head of hair, it doesn’t matter . Never forget that each and every one of us is different and we should never feelBad about what makes us different from Each other but yet we should uplift and motivate everyone spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally so we all can have a nice life . ❤️
My hair didn’t recede but it def started thinning after 18. After 4 years of denial and taking a good hard look in the mirror I realized I was putting myself in more anguish than I really needed to. I won’t lie, after buzzing all of my hair and going back to work I def almost cried. I know it’s silly but it was like saying goodbye to a past version of my identity that I didn’t want to let go. Even now sometimes I often feel sad for the loss of hair. Though nowadays it def feels more liberating because like you said nobody really gives a shit and friends and family will love you regardless.
My hair has started noticeably receding in the last year or so, and I’ll start taking finasteride sometime sooner. I’ve noticed that I started myself noticing more when other people are balding or receding, and having a weird empathy with them. I look at them and nod, as if telling them “I understand.”
For some reason I never had a receding hairline before I started losing my hair. I am 45 and started losing my hair at like 38 years of age. I am starting with minoxidil just applied it after a shower this morning around like 3 am this morning. I just hope I am not too late. If you seen my head right now you probably would think that this is just a big waste of money and time. But I will try it out and see in about 4 to 6 months if my hair starts growing back or not. Its all my grandpa’s fault on my mom’s side of the family I think. But my dad started losing his hair really early. Who knows just wish me luck please. I will let you know my journey in about 4 months.
Youre one hundred percent correct. People are far too self absorbed to give more than a passing thought about our appearance. The same goes when you do public speaking. Why be afraid? No one is paying attention anyhow. If the hair loss bothers someone that much then there are options out there. Don’t like the options? Then leave it alone or shave it off. That’s it guys. Do something or do nothing and be ok with that decision. Life is short. Wasting it on nonsense is not a decision youll be happy with later on.
All I wanted to say was: Dude! You look so much better than you think you do! You’re actually really attractive! Your strong jawline looks excellent, the chin dimple makes it look even better in some ways. (Do you know how many guys wish they had a jawline like that?) You present yourself well with a calm and friendly demeanor so that people want to listen, but you could also command a room with that bald head if you wanted to. Your head shape works great for baldness, but you actually looked fantastic even when you still had hair and were actively balding! Your build looks very healthy like you clearly take care of yourself. Like, bro, idk what you’re roasting yourself about, but you genuinely look fantastic! And better than anything else, you look like you’d make a fantastic family man! Like, I’m sure a lot of people would easily rate you 8 or more out of 10, easily. And this comment is purely out of honesty. But as more of an afterthought, we men simply don’t encourage each other enough. I’m quite confident that more than a few of your viewers are checking you out. Watch out, some of them might even be on the prowl. 😏
Thank you I needed to hear this. At 18 I’ve noticed my hair line thinning. I’m 21 rn and my hair is still thick on top, but it looks patchy if I have long hair so I have to keep it short (like a crew cut) so it doesn’t look terrible. I miss the days when I was 17 and I was rocking the Jake Gyllenhaal/Jared Leto long hair in HS. Whatever there’s worse things in life, I hope all is good with you man 🙏
I remember my hair started thinning when I was 17 but I thought it was going to take a while for it to fully fall off. Every time I got a hair cut I got it lower than last time, till I noticed I was balding unevenly and had a patch. I’m now 22 fully shaved and shiny and with a long beard. You do gain a lot of confidence when you start rocking the Johnny Sins look.
The whole hair loss issue is a completely different story for women. The thought response when someone sees a bald man: “Oh, there’s a guy.” The thought response when someone sees a bald woman: “Oh wow! She’s bald! Why doesn’t she wear a wig? I wonder if she has cancer?” Scarring alopecia sucks, but there’s nothing I can do to change it so I don’t worry about it.
Yeah but you have strong, masculine, handsome features and can grow a beard. Try being a baby face with no jaw line, a subpar chin, and a gross pubey “beard.” lol I’d take those hair loss drugs, but I’m skeptical about long term dependence on drugs like that. I’m 27 though, and my hairline is “fine,” I’m only losing some density up front. My dads hair looks similar and he’s in his 50’s. Idk, I think it still looks fine. Hopefully it doesn’t start to get worse… 🤞
I started showing signs of balding at 14. Wasn’t a great time going through high school. I started shaving it shortly after turning 20. It instantly looked so much better and took away a lot of the anxiety. Most people tell me I look really good bald and I like to think so too. I have mostly come to terms with my baldness and don’t let it bother me but there are of course days here and there where I see an old picture of me and miss my hair a bit haha. If you are showing signs of hair loss, do one of the following things immediately. Start using hair growth medicine such as Rogaine, or shave. As Joey mentioned, the earlier you start using treatments, the more effective they are, if you wait too long, you will not be able to save your hair. Shaving is not a terrible option either if you are comfortable with it. The absolute worst thing you can do is sit there with a receding hair line, everyday you look in the mirror scared that it’s gotten worse, it’s miserable, treat it or shave it.
It’s amazing how grey hair and baldness automatically make you look much older. You know it’s supposed to, but it’s always much more than you’d think. You can either do something about it or just accept it and move on. There’s nothing wrong in choosing the former if it makes you feel better about yourself, but you know the latter is a much more fulfilling path if you can pull it off.
I started balding when I was around 18, I’m 27 now and thankfully it’s been a very slow process, although my temples have receeded a fair bit, I keep my hair fairly long on top which allows me to style it in a way that really does make it look like I have a full head of hair still. I’ve used minoxidil for a few months at a time a few times and it definitely helped fill it out again. I don’t want to do it forever though so I’ve shaved my head a few times just to prepare myself for my future. And y’know what? It looks fine.
“no one cares about your hair ” Its a cope mecanism Because the most important person of our lifes cares and its ourselfs. hair loss its not only what other thinks about our hair but how we feel about ourselfs too. and lets be realistic even tough you and others try to pretend is no big deal we all know deep down it is. this ” no one cares about your hair ” its just a way to feel less bad about all this situation
This was an incredible article. You nailed the truth super well from the internal anxiety that someone might be battling with if they’re noticing their hair loss. To shaving it all off and realizing that the anxiety was really just you and no one really cares. I’d say that is true because to be honest I thought you looked great at all stages from hair loss to shaving it bald. You were pointing out where you were noticing you were receding and losing it. But from my seeing you I wasn’t even thinking that or seeing that. We see more about ourselves than what others are seeing.
Yeah I was the same. Started thinning at 16-ish and was completely bald by mid 20s. I didn’t care much cause my identity wasn’t wrapped up in my appearance and you’re right, no one cared. I got just as much attention from women as well after I started shaving my head as before. It’s not hard to build hair loss up to be a huge deal because having hair is seen as “less attractive” and I think society teaches men that subliminally, so when we lose our hair it’s more stressful because we feel less worthy.
I’m 18 and my hair loss has really been eating me up for the last year. I will visit a skin doctor next week, I had blood tests done but in that regard theres nothing wrong with me (and even this doctor was very surprised about how bad my hair is). I reeeeaaaallly hope he’ll find some solution, because i consider my hair a big part of me, my personality. I can’t describe how soul crushing it is to always have think about my hair. I haven’t cried once probably in the last 3 year, but I recently did because of my hair loss. My plan is, if it doesn’t get better, to shave it off when i’m done with school and entering uni. But still there are so many things holding me back – will my girlfriend still like me? I mean i’m a personality kinda guy and maybe i’m a trash human being for this, but I wouldn’t like how she would look without hair, so in my mind it’s her absolute right to think the same way. I honestly don’t even know why i’m writing this, it’s just that I don’t really wanna talk to anyone about how I really feel about this. I mean I showed my dad how it looks (you kinda can’t see it bc i have pretty long hair) but he said it’s fine and I don’t wanna be a bitch about this. And I’m not a “boys aren’t allowed to cry” kinda guy and I wasn’t raised like this, I just rarely get emotional by stuff. So yeah that’s my story i guess. Stay strong 💪
Interesting story, especially considering I had the opposite experience. While you said looking older during your youth had its benefits, I’ve always looked younger than my age which caused me some hardships (being a target for bullies, people not taking me seriously at my first few jobs, women having little interest because they want older looking men). Thats only started to change recently at age 28.
Thank you for this article as I can relate so very much. I also look way older than I am, and my hairline has been going and going for about 6 years, I’m currently 16 and have 2 years of highschool left, and I do not want to shave it in that timespan, but that’s definitely my final plan after highschool. I feel shy about it because even though people got used to it and noone cares now, it still sometimes affects me as there are some people who harass me for it. Anyway, thanks, and you look amazing bald! Can’t wait to join you. Hopefully I’m not forced to shave it before I graduate highschool.
I am 24 and I battled with self-esteem because of the same issue as well. After two years of so much stress and feeling low, I accepted that whatever was to happen, I was going to be happy. Since I accepted it, I am very happy and don’t even think about it one bit. As you have said “no one really care about how you look”. Thank you for sharing.
As a rock singer at 19, I fought hair loss by wearing a cap and growing what was essentially a genetic mullet lol. The top was a different consistency and grew at half the pace. “Pubie” was a good descriptor. By 24, I accepted my lot and started slapping a #2 guard on that bad boy of a dome. Then a #1. Haven’t paid a barber since. Was nice to get it out of the way. My dad to this day cuts his own hair while wearing a cap because he keeps it styled the same as 1990. He won’t even be around family without a hat. I refuse that outcome. Great article and excellent points.
I probably would’ve brushed off going bald so young easier if I didn’t already have a few crappy flaws about myself. But this just feels like another kick at my self esteem by life. Sometimes I feel cursed. I don’t believe going bald or being bald will necessarily make you unattractive but in most cases it’ll make you less attractive compared to a full head of hair. Almost no one is good looking because they’re bald, they’re good looking DESPITE being bald. I noticed my temples receded at 17 & thought it was just my hairline maturing. But over time it just got worse and worse and now I’m basically at a Norwood 3. Rogaine isn’t doing enough to even be worth the money and hassle. Too scared to use fin & too poor to get a transplant. I went from a slightly above average looking guy to a solid 5/10 thanks to MPb. Just another kick from life while I’m already down .
I’m 21 now and I’ve been losing my hair for years, due to the fact that I started breakdancing when I was like 9 or 10 y/o, and also because of genetic I guess. For the last two years my hair has been looking really bad and I’ve been covering them with the toppik + hair spray combo (and they still look bad and keep getting worse). I need to find the courage to shave it, but damn I’ve got a pretty big and evident bump on the top of my head that I got me head spinning, and it makes my head looks pointy. This situation is really fucked up, but I guess that sooner or later I’ll have to deal with it. Fuck
Of course nobody cares. The only one who cares is yourself. And that’s also okay. I had a hair transplant when I was 36 and now have a full head of hair again. And I’ve never felt better about myself. I look ten years younger and people still compliment me about it. I never did it for them. I did it for myself. Ps: I had a gf for 4 years back then and still with het today and have two kids. So it wasn’t about getting girls.
Well I personally disagree with giving up, I’m glad you found closure. Just know that there is a way to go from fully bald to full head of hair. I can personally tell you that. I did 3 FUE transplants in 1.5 years. Bought iRestore Pro Cap and did 12 Scalp Micro Pigmentation sessions. In 2 years I had a full head of hair. Now I went from looking like Steve Austin to Roman Reigns. The way exists my dear men.
I just hit the bullet a week ago (28 yo) and I admit I’m still having a hard time coping with it, even though people around me said it looks good. Hair was a big part of my confidence, personality even, since I was very young. So going from long hairstyles to bald is being hard to swallow and this article gave me great and helpful perspective. I’ll see this as a new chapter, where there’s one less silly thing that I’ll spend my energy obsessing over and focus on improving myself in areas I have control over. Thanks for the inspiring article.
Finding out you’re just a year older than me shocked me. Like dude you’re my hero, i’ve watched every article at least once and it’s changed my life for the better, always thought you’re this older wiser guy, and now im just like “oh… he could have literally been my classmate in school and he’s taught me so much lol”
But what about finding a partner? as a Gen Z’er, I don’t know a single woman that would like a bald partner, and I don’t know a single bald Gen Z’er that has a girlfriend. If you survey all of your female friends and acquaintances, I’d be surprised if even a single one likes the bald look (at least in my generation, that’s the case, and other Gen Z’ers can confirm). I have long hair rn (trying to pull off that Eren Yaeger look), and I’ve received compliments after compliments since I decided to grow it out, but I’ve been thinning since 2019 or so, it’s not a lot, but enough so that it is noticeable when comparing my hairline to previous years. I’ll be hoping on finasteride when I hit 21 years old (this october), maybe save up some money for a potential hair transplant and treatment on the future. Ain’t no way I’ll be bald before 50, I want to be a model.
Good article. I’m experiencing a bit of a receding hairline at 21, and honestly the pictures you showed of your receding hairline didn’t look too bad, but of course, everyone’s their own harshest critic. I still think I can do something about it, so I’m going to try and manage it, but worse comes to worst, I’m fine with shaving it. My only fear is that I might have a lumpy head.
My husband is also bald and went through the same thoughts and stages you did. He actually found that being bald helped him career-wise. People seem to think he was older and therefore more knowledgeable. This led to more respect/money/roles/money. Plus I swear there is a secret bald guys club. It’s a thing! Also – just figured out youre in BC!! Me too! Good to see Canadian influencers making a big splash. Congrats 😁
I’m still not over being bald. I use to have a beautiful, thick, strong head of hair. When I started losing it around 21, I too was in denial and tried everything I could to save it, minoxidil/Rogain, Finasterid, Biotin pills but nothing ever worked. At 25 now I shave my head every day, it’s a pain in the ass but I just Do it so I look better because of the receding hairline and massive crowning. I have a beard or chin strap and I try and work out and take care of myself, but unfortunately my confidence has dropped so much. I can’t help it I constantly compare myself to other people who have a beautiful set of hair, And are better looking. Unfortunately I’m not in the best spot to where I can have confidence while being bald, even though I know for a fact it doesn’t matters because they’re a bald guys with beautiful girls and have money as well. Even though I get compliments that I am handsome and then they like my shaved head, or I have a nice shaved head, I’ll never get fully over it. I don’t think I’ll be able to afford to have transplant, nor do think my hair is strong enough to hold it. If anything I’m gonna do Scalp micro pigmentation, so at least my hair will look full. There’s of course the sly remark, and always some idiot I was going to make fun of me and telling me I’m bald even though I know it doesn’t matter and Joey’s right, nobody cares. Everyone’s just focused on himself, but it is a weak spot for me it does get under my skin, especially when people make fun of me for it even though deep down nobody really cares.
I’m a bald 32 year old. Never worried about it for more than a week haha. It’s just such an insignificant thing in my life. Always makes me wonder why some people take it so seriously. The only person who can ultimately let it affect you is… you. Don’t do it to yourself. Thanks for sharing your story to all of you guys here.
Same story here, just that it already started a few years earlier than in your case. I’ve worn a buzzcut since I was 16, bc there were basically no more hairstyles left that wouldn’t look weird with thos huge temples. What you said at 4:47 “I attached a part of my identity to my hair…” really struck a chord with me, because for me it was just the other way around: I’ve built my identity with a bald head, since I didn’t have any left in my young adulthood, and I think that is the main reason why it never really bothered me that much! Thanks for sharing! <3 Edit: 8:00 Yes to having more confidence! CHOOSING to wear a bald head, instead of being forced to wear a certain hair-style or hats to mask the hairloss, is a huge game changer!
I receiced too but fortunately not so severely yet. Shaving off is understandable and for some it actually looks good but generally hair is much better no matter how hard we try to deny it. Hair has just such a strong symbol with multiple meanings. A shaved head is almost never better than hair unfortunately but yeah you can still life a very very nice life without hair too haha
At 23 I started losing my hair. I saved it and never looked back. I came to terms with I was going to be a short, bald guy. Women still threw themselves at me my entire life because of my comfortableness I had with myself. In fact, this is what attracted my wife to me. She is two inches taller than I am, and she loved that I didn’t wear any lifters in my shoes to boost me up. I just don’t care what anyone thinks, some are tall, some are short and no one is perfect!
A bit late to the party, but I struggled big time with hairloss starting about 8 years back (28 atm) and my crown basically looked like a graveyard. I started to use a shaver, not being ready to go completely bald and it eased my stress a bit for some time. However, as time progressed, my hairline became worse and I felt that a shaver just wasn’t good enough for my mental health. Just some week back I tried going completely bald using a razor and it was the best decision I’ve made for my head and mental health. Very good article!
in my junior year of high school, my hair started falling out around the entire perimeter of my head at an alarmingly rapid pace. went to a dermatologyst and he labeled it as “stress enduced hair loss” but that it should grow back within six months. five years later, i have almost no hair on the side of my head and the hair on the back of my head is even with the arms of my glasses.
Non asian men have it better though. At least you guys have the shaved head option and it looks even better when you guys have a full set of beard to match. As an asian man, shaved head just isnt a nice look for us. The back of our skull is flat and we cant grow a beard to save our lives. Hence why you dont see many balding asian men who eventually choose to shave. You guys have it good to be honest.
Amazing article and I really appreciate it. I’m 21 and I got that strong M shaped hairline going on and I definitely know what you meant by being okay on the outside but crippling insecure about it on the inside. Always worrying whether people are noticing my hair and all that. I keep it longer and at this point nobody can really notice the hair loss due to me styling it, but I’ve always had this anxiety whenever I notice a few more hairs in the shower and know that this is eventually going to be untenable and I’ll have to shave before I hit 30. But you’re absolutely right in that there’s literally no need to stress about it because literally no one cares. We amplify our own anxieties and think that the whole world is perusal when in reality I don’t even think about anyone else’s hair in that way. It’s just made me feel a lot better about my situation, and I’ll be coming back to watch this article whenever I start to overthink it again. Thanks man.
As a guy who is starting to lose his hair, this kind of articles are great to feel less alone. You see your friends with a full head of hair and you think damn am i wrong or something? Then you find this, and you realize that no, youre not, you are perfectly normal and nobody really cares that much about your hair. Thanks for sharing your story, its really helpful
Honestly, I don’t mind baldness… on most people. The only reason I don’t like it on me is because… well, think Jean-Luc Picard, mixed with a little bit of xenomorph an no longer having hair to cover the freakishly large shape that comes out of that and you’ve got my skull-shape :p In my case it actually is a big reveal, as for some reason my hair just grows in such a way that it perfectly hides my skull shape.
I started to lose my hairline in my early to mid 20s, I was devastated because my hair was really one of my few good physical features. I did get on Propecia and Rogaine and I got lucky that it stopped and even reversed some of the hair loss. I’ve been on it for 15 years and still have the same hair so there are options if you don’t want to go bald.
I like that this article focuses on the particular stress of losing hair young. Because to me, that’s what really bothers me, psychologically speaking. The feeling of looking older than you are, when you’re in your 20s and already feeling like you’re not accomplishing enough with your life. Then suddenly you’re balding way younger than you’re ready for, and it just feels like yet another reminder of lost youth and lost time. Even if you’re biologically not that old, it just feels like such a waste. You have this image in your head that hair loss is something that happens to middle-aged men, and at that point the race is over for them anyway, so they can either stay in denial about their lost youth or shave it off with grace. But when you’re in your 20s, and you’re not fully expecting it, there’s this sense of “this SHOULDN’T be happening to me yet.” And its stressful as fuck. Especially if maybe you have some kind of body issues but your hair has been something reliable, something that you feel good about. I’m slightly overweight and have a bit of belly, I go to the gym but it doesn’t really help me. So the idea of going bald is like going from Jack Black to this weird, fat, hairless manatee. Its still fucking with me. I’ve lost both temple hair and am developing advanced thinness (not quite a bald spot but close) right at the crown. I dont feel ready to give it up. Is just something thats lowkey fucking with me every single day.
Thank you so so so much for making this article. I’ve been really depressed about my hair rapidly thinning over the past few days. What you said about it just being genetics really struck a chord in me. We just draw so much of your identity from our hair, that coming to terms with losing it is debilitating. But thinking about it just being genetics and not time fleeting by makes me feel better. Thanks for this.
Thank you so much for sharing your story with us Joey, I can imagine that it’s not as easy as it seems and maybe you had many moments while filming or cutting this where you maybe didnt want to share your story with us. I honestly tell you from a female perspective, hair or not you are a very attractive guy! And yes tbh I never liked men with bald heads but your personality, your smile and your looks are so charming that it really doesnt matte what’s on your head cuz all I see when I look at you is your beautiful eyes, your calm voice and this sweet smile. So if you ever feel insecure or ugly just look at your comments because I am pretty sure I am not the only person who finds you very attractive 😉 haha keep going Joey you are awesome!! ❤️
Trust me dude, you can try to be proactive, get on the big 3 but… 1. It’s expensive. 2. It’s time consuming. 3. Many endure side effects with fin. 4. You still worry daily about your hair loss. 5. Most importantly, for many, it simply just slows the progression. You did yourself a huge favour. Buzz it off when you get to a N3 and like you said, people basically get use to it after a few weeks and by 6 months, they don’t even remember you with hair.
Love this article. Thanks for sharing your experience with us. It resonated a lot with me from the time I came out to my family and friends and I felt so scared of them rejecting me. At the end of the day the same that happened to you happened to me (I actually think I even became more popular after coming out lol). PS: You look good shaved 😉
Can relate, started on me when I was around same age as you and also had the “great” benefit of looking much older than I am. I just accepted it at around 19y old, all treatments etc looked too sketchy and I started working out more, got bigger and I am already 196cm so fitted my look really well. Could not imagen having hair again but I am sure that in a not too distant future new technology will able you to get it back if you are willing to spend some solid bucks on it.
I really appreciate this article, I went through the same thing at 18 I had a whole fringe and I noticed it but refused to do anything about it, I had major anxiety and people asked why and you summed it up perfectly, but since I did a few years back I feel happier, I am stronger and more motivated, great article 💪
My nephew is 17, & he’s already balding. My brother tells me he’s incredibly self-conscious about it, but in the end, it’s just hair. As a gay man, I can honestly tell you that you never looked bad at any stage of your hair loss journey. I’ve buzzed my head several times & even shaved it once, & I’m not even balding. No one looked twice. I’m sure you’ve helped many guys feel better. Good job.
It sucks . I used to have magnificent hair when I was young—thick, wavy, always long, and constantly receiving comments and compliments. It was a big part of my charm. When I started losing my hair at 19, I quickly realized I was going to go bald and needed to do everything possible to stop it. Unfortunately, no product could stop my hair loss. Many times, I cried out of frustration and anger in the shower as I saw how much hair I was losing. It was everywhere, often clogging the drain with clumps. Eventually, after about three years of denial, where I wore caps all the time to hide my receding hairline, I gave up and shaved my head completely. Today, at 28, I shave my head every three days. Looking back, I honestly believe hair is a huge beauty attribute. It gives the face a nice shape and an impression of youth and health. I have an older brother who was lucky enough not to experience hair loss, and people often think he’s the younger one. I’ve also noticed he easily attracts women in their 20s, while I generally appeal to older women, around 28 and up. So, hair significantly impacts the type of women you attract and the symmetry of your face.
Yeah I have reductive hair – not as much as you, but it’s still visible. I did shave my hair once, I liked it but some people thought I was a bandit or even worse. To me… I liked it. I admit I see myself differently. I wish I was with smaller shoulder, thinner, more aerodynamic. In this body… I feel like a Juggernaut. And the hair is no exception. It’s like holding an equipment not for your class. Shaving was great for my overall body representation, although I can’t ask for perfection. Overall I think I’m going to shave in the near future.
Just a sidenote but this guy has a great bald face for shaving it off. So don’t just copy what he did. Some of us don’t have the long oval Jason Statham clone face . Anyone who is thinning or losing hair shouldn’t go the “shave it off route”. My advice if you are in your pre teens with a history of family hairloss, start with minoxidil and dermarolling and once you hit the 17 year mark take finastride. You can have a full head of hair for decades to come . And for those older than 18 and balding start minoxidil, finastride and derma rolling in conjunction. Best of luck !!
I’m gonna be 34 in less than a week. I literally went to see a female friend I want to ask out at a bar I always go to and went home because I couldnt find a hat. I’m done being a pathetic balding loser (putting it very nicely). I’d rather just be an honest bald person who owns it. Cest la vie. Than you for this article.
You keep contradicting yourself. You say it doesnt matter, yet you have gotten more confident? The honest thing to do would be to admit that it DOES matter and that other people DO care. If they did not care whatsoever, you wouldnt care either. It looked shit so you cut them off and now its better. The end.
i’m 16 years old high schooler and i’m balding, well mi hairline is receding. What can i say my grandfather was bald my dad too and his brothers too so i’m no surprised that i’m going to be bald too. I mean i can accept the fact that i’m getting bald but please i don’t want to be bald at all until i finished studying. My biggest fear is that, knowing that if don’t do nothing i might get bald in the middle of the maths lesson. In a few days i’m going to start my hair routine care and going to show it when i see any changes. Im not that worried as joey because since i was a kid i always had a buzz cut but WITHOUT knowing that i was getting bald. Well that’s it guys i’ll do whatever to keep my hairline included hair transplant if i needed but in case that does not work, y’all know how it will end 🤟🏻😩
I started to loose my hair at 27 and for 10 years covered it up with all sorts of hair spray, hats and comb forwards. I’m sure it looked awful but I was not ready to let go. Finally I shaved it at 37 and haven’t looked back since. Shoulda done it immediately noticing my hair loss at 27. Woulda saved hundreds on sprays and thousands of hours spent covering it up
im 40 and started to notice thinning in my early 30’s. ive always cut my hair very short, buzz cut style and even now im like ehh i dont care…but i do. i literally never leave the house without a hat (granted ive worn hats literally my entire life)and ive started letting my hair grow longer to provide some cover lol but its thinning enough that if a wind catches me right or if my hair gets wet, forget about it. it exposes very thin patches. maybe one day i’ll cut it all off or maybe i wont.
I got receeded hairline when I was 18 and it happened very quickly. I thought I was going bald. Now I’m 37 with the exact same hairline and I like it more than a straight one lol. So all of you young ones who are experiencing this, it doesn’t necessary mean you’re going bald if you’re hairline is going back a little.
Sorry I also hate many things about my own body but just sharing my own opinion here I think you looked great and that hairline I personaly think it looked good and now that u bold I personaly like very short or bald so I think u look awesome. Just wanted to drop this 1 more positiv honest view. I know a full thick hair is beauty standards <3 <3 <3