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Losing their hair is one of the biggest fears among men today.
Not only does going bald affect how others see you, but it also affects how you see yourself.
The reality is that 85% of men will start to lose hair by age 50, though some begin to bald or worry about it years before that.
“How will I look bald?”
“Will I still be attractive bald?”
“How do I prevent hair loss?”
On the flip side, actors such as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Jason Statham, and Vin Diesel are completely bald — but still seen as attractive men.
So how does baldness actually affect your relationships? What’s fact, and what’s fiction?
A groundbreaking study by Innerbody collected the opinions of more than 1,000 Americans of all ages, sexual orientations, and degrees of baldness to discover how they view baldness, how big the fear of going bald is, and most of all, that going bald isn’t all negative. There are actually some positive statistics about losing your hair!
What Causes Baldness?
Several factors contribute to hair loss and, eventually, baldness among men. They include:
- Because the hair loss gene can be passed down from generation to generation, the most common form of hair loss is hereditary. This factor shouldn’t be something to stress about because it’s out of your control.
- High cortisol levels, either over time or due to a specific stressful event, can lead to baldness.
- Steroid use. Steroids have several negative effects on men, and hair loss is one of them. A sudden increase in testosterone can kill hair follicles and lead to baldness.
- That’s right — if your specific hairstyle strains your hair — for example, a man bun or tight braids — it can accelerate hair loss over time.
How Is Baldness Perceived?
Quick pop quiz: Do Americans think baldness has attractive qualities?
If you answered yes, you’re correct. According to Innerbody’s study, bald men are more likely to be viewed as successful, confident, and intelligent.
It makes sense, too. Because hair loss most often affects men later in life, once they’ve already had a chance to earn an extensive education and build their careers.
So, the next time you see a bald professor or businessman, you’ll likely view them in high regard.
But this isn’t just the case for older generations.
Oh, how the times are a-changin’...
In order to be viewed in this way, balding has lately become more popular among younger generations. Why go through the slow process of losing your hair over time when you can just go bald all at once and still be seen as attractive and confident?
What To Do When Going Bald
So you’re starting to lose your hair. Or you’ve been losing your hair for some time. What should you do?
Well, you have options.
For starters, you can shave your head. But, like anything to do with hair growth, keep in mind this may require upkeep.
If you’re only balding on the top, another option is to leave hair on the sides. But keep in mind that this hairstyle is often relegated to older people.
Or, you can fight hair loss. The study found that 53% of respondents had already set aside money for hair loss treatment options, which can range from $40-$50 per Rogaine treatment to thousands of dollars for hair transplants. Interestingly, the search term “best male hair loss treatments” is up a staggering 1,025% in the last year.
In the end, choosing a treatment comes down to personal preference and budget. And as you make your decision, remember that what you think about yourself is more important than what others think.
But we highly recommend growing a beard, not just stubble or a five o’clock shadow — a full-fledged beard. The data revealed that women view bald men with beards as more attractive, strong, wealthy, and successful compared to bald men who don’t have beards.
You Still Are Attractive When Going Bald!
Here’s the good news: Balding might not be as bad as men expect it to be.
Not only are there several positives to balding, including being perceived as successful and confident, those who were already bald rarely noticed an impact on their lives.
At the end of the day, the best way to feel attractive when going bald is to do what’s right for you and be yourself.
After all, looks may attract you to someone. But it’s what’s inside that keeps you with that person.
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