Go for a textured crop. This short hair style adds layers and tousle to the top of your head, making for a more substantial look. Think Matthew McConaughey. [2] X Research source A more messy style can work also, in that it can both conceal and draw attention away from a thinning pate. Get a Caesar cut. This very short style creates a vertical fringe for styling the hair forward to conceal a receding hairline. [3] X Research source Avoid long hair. A longer length can actually draw attention to the fact that your hair is thinner. Steer clear of comb-overs, which exaggerate hair loss rather than disguising it.
Some products like Toppik use “electrostatically charged microfibers” made from keratin that intertwine with your own hair for a fuller appearance. Products like Toppik come in different colors and wash out with shampoo. [4] X Research source Other products like DermMatch color your scalp so that it more closely resembles your hair. Coloring products help conceal thinness and coat the hair for a fuller look. These products are temporary. They don’t actually increase the amount of hair on your head or stop the balding process.
According to legend, Frank Sinatra started wearing his trademark fedora to hide his receding hair line. Not only was it the height of cool, but Sinatra also angled it to convey different moods. A pushed back hat conveys accessibility, tipped forward gives a sense of mystery, and slightly tilted up means no-nonsense. [6] X Research source You can choose any variety of hat, depending on your personal style. A fedora exudes cool, while a homburg is more debonair and a ball cap more casual.
Although no longer as popular as they once were, top-of-the-line, customized “hair systems” are much better than the “rugs” of old. These weave real human hair into a membrane that looks like scalp, which is then fitted to the client’s head. [8] X Research source Adhesive technology has also come a long way. New hypoallergenic glues can bond the toupee to the scalp for as long as six weeks and even allow the wearer to swim. [9] X Research source An elite hairpiece will not come cheap, however. Expect to pay out around $1,000 to $3,000.
Propecia was approved by the FDA in 1997 and works in a majority of men. About 65% of patients experience a “significant” increase in hair growth. [11] X Research source Minoxidil, better known by the brand name Rogaine, is applied topically. While it does sometimes slow or halt hair loss, some physicians do not consider it effective. Users may also start to lose hair again after they stop treatment. [12] X Research source [13] X Research source
Hair transplants have a success rate of about 60% in 6 to 9 months. Often patients undergo the therapy in conjunction with hair growth topicals or medicine. You may experience pain or tenderness in your scalp for several days, and your doctor may prescribe pain meds or a surgical dressing for several days after. [15] X Research source Be advised that, if done poorly, hair transplants can look unnatural. Hair transplants are also expensive. You’ll need between 600-1000 individual scalp grafts, each costing around $6. In total, expect to pay $6,000 to $10,000 for a full head of hair. [16] X Research source
There is a big difference between thinking “I feel unattractive” and “I AM unattractive. ” Learn to recognize negative feelings and then consciously let them pass. Some people call this a “mental shrug. ” If you feel silly, tell yourself, “Yes, I feel foolish. ” Then, move on with what you are doing without letting the thoughts control you. [18] X Research source Challenge your negative thoughts like you’d challenge a random person making a mean comment about you. [19] X Research source
Don’t compare yourself to others. Every individual has a unique makeup. The men you see in the movies and in magazines have the benefit of things like cosmetic treatments and airbrushing. Your talents, your interests, and your relationships define you more than looks. Find things that you like about yourself, like the fact that you have a fine baritone voice or are a great fullback on your soccer team. Take a break from mirrors if you find yourself obsessing about your hair. When you feel tempted to check your hairline in a mirror, remind yourself of your great inner qualities. [21] X Research source
Accept it. 50 million men in the US have some amount of hair loss, and hair loss increases as we age. About 50% of men have some hair loss by age 50, while 80% experience it by age 70. [22] X Research source What do Sean Connery, Patrick Stewart, Michael Jordan, Bruce Willis, and LL Cool J have in common? They are all bald – and they don’t hide it. [23] X Research source Keep in mind that some women find bald men very attractive. What many find especially attractive is confidence, though, whether a guy has hair or no.
By embracing baldness, you might actually appear more rather than less manly and attractive. Concealing thinning hair can be a big turn-off, as the concealment looks desperate and lacking in self-assurance. [24] X Research source
For one thing, close-cropped hairstyles give your hair a sense of added fullness and lift. They also make existing bald spots less conspicuous and are much less expensive in the long-run than concealment or treatments. Shorter lengths like buzz cuts also exude confidence. They say to onlookers, “Yes, I’m balding. So what?”
Although you will have to razor your head every now and then, with a clean shave on top, you’ll never have to bother with washing and styling again. For many men with the style, the shaved head has become a signature look. Consider Michael Jordan, Captain Picard, and Andre Agassi.
Full goatees work well with thinning hair, for example, as do thick, handlebar mustaches. A full, bushy beard and shaved head is another bold look. If done properly, it can be extremely manly.
