What To Do if You’re Going Bald—From Hair Transplants To Scalp Tattoos
Sidestep the shedding
Thinning on top and not sure what to do about it? Fret not—we’ve got you covered in our guide to dealing with hair loss ahead.
According to the American Hair Loss Association, roughly 67 percent of men have experienced some form of hair loss by the age of 35. By our calculations, that’s a lot of fellas! All this is to say that, even though it may feel like it sometimes, you are not alone in your struggles with hair loss.
And, these days, going bald is no longer something you have to silently suffer through nor resign yourself to. There are more options now than ever before to treat, prevent and even reverse balding, and we’re here to lay them out for you, plain and simple. Ahead, find out what to do if you’re balding, from hair transplants to scalp micropigmentation and more.
Get a hair transplant
@lifeaszeph Replying to @CWNYC here’s what I’m doing to help maintain my hair #hair #hairtrasnformation #hairroutine #hairgrowth #hairtransplant #minoxidil
The only way to actually restore the hair on your head to its crowning glory (read: medically proven and wth the highest success rate) is with a hair transplant. This involves taking a strip of healthy hair follicles from the back of your scalp, above the nape of your neck and transplanting it onto the thinning area. Then, after a few months of recovery that involves a lot of swelling and scabbing, you’ll (hopefully) end up with implanted hair that behaves just as your normal hair does. With the right doctor, you’ll be looking at around a 70 to 80 percent success rate, at which point you’ll need to adopt a diligent haircare routine to maintain your new implants.
It sounds like a lot of effort, and it is! But, if a full head of hair is what you covet, it’ll be well worth every penny and minute of your time.
Get your follicles tattooed on
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While this sounds intense (or even scary for the needle-phobic), it’s actually not. Scalp micropigmentation (SMP) is a semi-permanent procedure that can help to conceal areas of thinning by “filling in the blanks”, so to speak. Essentially, it’s a bunch of tiny dot tattoos all over your head that mimic the look of healthy hair follicles. Not only does it help to make any future buzzcuts look intentional, but if you’re rocking more length, it can also help to make your hair look fuller at the part.
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There are plenty of studios that offer this service, including The Dots and Bow Bow Brow. That said, it is essentially a tiny tattoo, so it’s worth doing your research to really consider whether it’s the right solution for you.
Invest in a hair system
@ben_sherry What looks like 60 seconds took… way longer than I want to admit Coming for your job @ToupeeQueen Couldn’t have done it w/o @Philips Norelco @Rahua Beauty @GetCanopy #sendhelp #notsponsoredbutshouldbe #bald
Call it a wig, call it a toupee—either way, a hair system is a pain-free, easy way to get your crown looking full. Better yet, you can change it up at will to suit your mood and style. The key is to get a good wig; specifically, one that is cut, styled, and personalised to you. The hair only needs to be reinstalled once a month (or twice a month, if you’re particularly sweaty) and will endure workouts and swim meets alike!
There are a few places to look into, from Hair Menu, a wig atelier founded by celebrity hairstylist David Shaw, to Jullia Olger, Farrell Hair and Celebrity and Star Hair, which all specialise in medical hair replacements.
Try holistic and medical hair loss remedies
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READ: How to treat every kind of hair loss, from PRP injections to stem cell treatments
Hair tonics and scalp massages can go a long way in keeping your hair on your head. They essentially work to improve blood circulation to your scalp, which in turn keeps your follicles healthy. Obviously, it’s not as efficient a solution as some of the other options on this list, but if you’re looking to cultivate a few more baby hairs to fill in the gaps a little, it’s a good (and pampering!) ritual to integrate into your self-care routine.
Alternatively, getting PRP injections and stem cell treatments can also help to improve the health of your existing strands and slow down the shedding. That said, neither treatment is guaranteed to help with density. Still, it’s worth looking into if you want to keep your crowning glory intact—especially if you’ve had a hair transplant.
Break out the Minoxidil
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If you’ve still got some hair to work with and you’re just hoping to slow down the inevitable (or prevent it altogether), Minoxidil is a good shout. Available in both topical and oral forms, the drug is an effective treatment for hair thinning, helping to slow down hair loss and also encourage hair regrowth.
There’s just one catch—it’s toxic to pets even in tiny amounts, so if you have a furry friend at home, steer clear of Minoxidil!
Rock the recession
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READ: A definitive ranking of the hottest receding hairlines in Hollywood
At the end of the day, what’s so bad about being bald? There are plenty of hot bald guys—Jude Law, Stanley Tucci, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor in Superman, to name a few—and their baldness does not detract from their attractiveness whatsoever.
So, if all of the solutions on this list seem a little much, then just surrender to nature and rock your tresses in their natural state. Who knows? You might end up loving the breeze that comes with it!
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