By the time men enter their 50s, most will have noticeable hair loss. Going bald is so common that it should be considered a rite of passage of being male. It is more unusual for a man to make it to his 60s with a full head of hair than not; but alas, male pattern baldness creates an extraordinary amount of stress in men. Baldness has been strongly associated with depression, anxiety and low self-confidence.
A shocking reality
Working in the scalp micropigmentation field, I speak with many male clients who confide in me that the stress experienced from their hair loss has led to debilitating mental health problems. However, men rarely speak openly about how much hair loss upsets them. It’s a shameful secret.
Hair loss can be so shocking that some men will sometimes feel unable to leave the house. Many turn to anti-hair loss medication such as minoxidil or finasteride. It’s astonishing that something that will happen to most men at some point is still considered an embarrassment. Those who try to do something are accused of being vain, while those who are balding are mocked and ridiculed for looking old and unattractive.
A reminder of our own mortality
In addition, hair loss does not just affect older men. Many men will experience hair loss by the age of 20. In fact, society fails to grasp the level of distress hair loss causes in men. It does not matter how many times people say they find baldness attractive; the process of going bald is always tied to a loss of masculinity.
Because of its association with growing old, baldness reminds men of their own mortality. It changes how men see themselves and how they think others view them. There is a sense of powerlessness, as if their bodies were out of control. Anxiety around hair loss often gets lumped in with other anxieties about their bodies and feeds into low self-esteem. Single men often worry they won’t find a partner, and those with a partner worry that as they lose their hair their partners will not love them anymore.
A light at the end of the tunnel?
There is no magic pill to reverse hair loss. Even over-the-counter medicine mostly helps slow down the hair loss. Hair transplants have limitations and are very costly with results varying considerably. The fact is, it is much easier and less expensive to learn to accept the hair loss than it is to reverse it. Scalp micropigmentation can be a non-invasive solution to help you forget about your hair loss. By creating the illusion of a full head of hair you can turn back the clock on the cards dealt by mother nature and become happier. Contact us for a free consultation