What to do if you’re balding at a young age

Balding sucks. There’s no two ways about it, if you’ve just started balding you’re undoubtedly thinking about why this is happening. The truth of the matter is, that balding happens to over two thirds of men at different points in their lifetime – though this is more likely to happen as you’re getting older. But what can you do if you start balding at a young age?

Well, the first thing that you need to do if you’re a young guy who’s balding is find out the cause. If it’s male pattern baldness, which the likelihood is that it is, then you need to accept that you are balding and work out what you’re going to do about it.

For the majority of guys, male pattern baldness is a big deal, though they’re unlikely to admit it easily to themselves and others. Don’t worry, you’re not alone in feeling this way. Going bald will eventually drastically change the way that you look, and in a world which is so focussed on aesthetics, it’s understandable that this is a pretty big deal.

There are a few things that you can do if you’re starting to bald at a young age.

Accept it and shave

This is undoubtedly my favorite option; I personally went fully bald at a super young age (20) and shaved my head. Of course, when I first started balding it was a massive deal to me, like it would be to most guys. But after a few months to a year, I found myself a good grooming routine and since then, I haven’t looked back.

The majority of guys think that you’ll be treated differently if you’re a bald guy. You won’t. Aside from the occasional jibes from your friends, you’re not really going to notice a difference in the way that people treat you. If anything, I’ve found that people actually treat me with much more respect now than they did when I had hair. This is likely because baldness is associated with dominance and authority. This is probably due to a mixture of mainstream medias stars affecting the way that bald men are percieved (thanks, Bruce Willis). In my opinion, there’s also the addition that successful bald men are more focussed on improving other areas of life that they do have control over; their body, their occupation and their wealth.

So, the first option that you have if you’re losing your hair is to just shave it all off and learn to accept it. Whilst it might take you a while to get used to, you will get used to it eventually and as time goes on, you’ll think about it less and less as an issue.

Start a Minoxidil/Finasteride plan

For me, I accepted balding as I wasn’t willing to use chemicals and other substances to try and make my hair grow. I don’t judge anyone who chooses to do this however, and it can be an option for you – if you start taking it early enough.

If you’re a full on baldy, then taking finasteride or minoxidil is not going to make any difference for you. It’s not going to make you magically go from Vin Diesel to Paul Walker. But if you realise that you’re balding early enough and want to hop on one of these hair growth schemes, then it’s undoubtedly an ‘earlier the better’ type of situation.

It should definitely be said that neither of these are going to work in the short term; you need to dedicate yourself for a minimum of 6+ months to really see any results, though some people say they’ve seen results earlier than this.

Finasteride

Finasteride works by blocking the internal conversion of testosterone to DHT. Research has shown that DHT is a major component in baldness, as well as a whole host of other health problems too.

I always decided to totally avoid finasteride, also known as Propecia, because of guys reporting that it resulted in a plummeting libido and erectile dysfunction. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather have no hair and a working wang than an afro and a penis that didn’t properly.

So, although there are massive side effects that can come with finasteride, you could consider it if you’re looking for an option to help you keep your hair for longer. Just be fully aware of the side effects beforehand.

Minoxidil

Minoxidil, also known by the brand name Rogaine, was originally uses to help people with high blood pressure. In using it to treat blood pressure, research showed that it actually was great for stimulating hair growth too. Although research still doesn’t know specifically how Minoxidil works properly, it’s said that it stimulates hair growth by increasing the blood and nutrient supply for hair follicles.

Minoxidil will work best for those who aren’t totally bald yet, and if you can catch it before your MPB really progresses, you’re likely to find best results this way. Whilst it doesn’t have the same scary side effects that Propecia has, it can still commonly cause irritation in your skin.

Either way, with both of these treatments you should consult your doctors or a specialist before taking matters into your own hands.

Conclusion

 

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Can bald people get lice?

A common question amongst those who are bald or balding is whether they’re going to have to deal with lice any more. If you’ve had lice in the past, it’s understandable that this is a concern; lice can be pretty disgusting!

If you’re asking yourself whether bald people can get lice, then the answer is no. A totally bald headed man is not going to get lice on his, as they need something to cling on to.

Now, this definitely doesn’t mean that you’re totally safe from lice if you’re a bald guy. The majority of bald guys choose not to shave their head entirely. This means that there is still some hair on your head to cling on to, which gives you the opportunity to still get lice.

Now, aside from your head, there are other regions on your body that you can get lice, even if you’re a bald guy. Here’s a few examples of what I mean.

Eyebrow Lice

Eyebrow lice is actually more common than you might think. If you have itchy eyebrows, then there’s a chance that you’re experiencing some form of eyebrow lice.

Many people think that the itchiness comes from the lice itself – this isn’t true. You’re actually itching to tiny bites that the lice are making into your skin, which will cause an allergic reaction, resulting in you itching your face. I know, I’ve made it sound a million times worse than you originally thought! Whilst eyebrow lice are more common in those with hair, it is possible for bald men to get eyebrow lice too.

Beard Lice

Lice can cling onto pretty much any hair that’s on your body, although it’s much easier for lice to grip onto head hair than it is hair on your beard. This is because the hair on your head is easier for the claws of the lice to grip on to.

It’s pretty common to get beard lice, especially if you have young kids who come home from work and share their lice with you!

Chest Hair Lice

Much like beard lice, another common place for bald men to experience lice is in their chest hair. Of course, you would think an easy fix for this is to shave it all off! But, there’s really little need to go to such drastic lengths to get rid of lice.

With pubic and hair lice, you can usually visit a doctor or even find some good over the counter treatments for lice which are extremely effective.

Pubic Lice (Crabs)

Pubic lice are much shorter than head lice and body lice, but that doesn’t mean that they’re any less worrying.

Typically, pubic lice are transferred through sexual contact, but there are other ways that you can catch pubic lice without contact with another individual. This is an unlikely scenario, but it is possible to get pubic lice from sharing a towel or even clothes and bedsheets. For this reason, it’s extremely important to keep your materials regularly clean, so that you can avoid getting any of these sorts of lice.

Getting rid of pub lice is more difficult than getting rid of head lice, but it’s not impossible.

All these other forms of lice can be ways that bald men can still get lice – so if you’re bald, you’re not totally out of the woods yet when it comes to lice.

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Should you invest in a Minoxidil Shampoo if you’re going bald?

One of the most common questions I’m asked by my balding pals is whether they should invest in a minoxidil shampoo to help slow down the balding process.

My answer; kind of, but not really. Research shows that Minoxidil is most effective when applied and lieft on your scalp for a longer period of time – I’m talking hours, here. The likelihood is that you’re not going to be spending several hours every day in the shower washing your hair, so it’s likely that Minoxidil is not truly effective as a shampoo.

I say ‘kind of’, because there is really no harm is using a Minoxidil shampoo if you’re a guy. But, the likelihood is that any positive effects you’re seeing on your hair won’t be from the Minoxidil; they’re likely from the other ingredients that are in the shampoo.

Whilst there’s no scientific proof that minoxidil shampoo really works for your hair, several other ingredients may actually have an impact on your hair loss. Let’s have a look at some of these ingredients, and review whether you should invest your hard earned cash into them.

So, is Minoxidil Shampoo a scam?

Well, kinda (in my opinion) – often, companies will just use an expensive and luxury shampoo, add the label ‘minoxidil’ to it and hey presto! You’re automatically going to grow your hair back.

Now, minoxidil does work for hair loss and it’s a great option if you’re willing to accept the potential side effects that you may encounter. But, generally the minoxidil needs to be applied for longer than the length of your shower for it to really work. So whilst it’s not necessarily a scam, it’s not really allowing the minoxidil to work as well as it could.

If you’re using the Minoxidil Shampoo in the shower, then you’re likely going to wash off the formula before it really has a chance to work for you. This means that you’re not getting the full effect of the minoxidil – you’d be better off looking at other minoxidil products like Rogaine, which usually comes in a spray or liquid format.

There are other ingredients in the Minoxidil shampoo that are more likely to be effective than the minoxidil itself. Here’s a few of those ingredients with some research suggesting that they help to prevent hair loss.

1. Saw Palmetto

 

 

 

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How the Balding Gene really works

“Is your dad bald? Because if he is, that explains why you’re bald too”. Most bald men have undoubtedly heard something similar to this, or even in the opposite way. “Did you know that you actually get your balding gene from your Mom’s dad?” Both of these theories can’t be true.. or can they?

The answer? Both the genes from your mother and your father will have an input as to whether you’re going to be affected by balding.

Whilst scientists are still unsure of which side is more impactful (if you read different studies and reports, you’ll find different verdicts), it can be undoubtedly said that you’re more likely to go bald if your father is bald, or the baldness genes are on your mother’s side too.

 

The Case for Maternal Genetic Baldness

One of the more well known studies that seemingly proved that seemingly proved that your hair loss is mainly inherited from your mother is this one. It was performed in Germany back in 2005, so many years have passed since this study was undertaken and developments have been made in Science since then. It does however, still stand as one of the more prominent researches in the field.

Essentially, the research shows that men start to go bald because of the x chromosome. The Androgen receptor, which is on the X chromosome, is the primary reason that men start to bald. Men get their X chromosome from their mother and their Y chromosome from their mother, which is the reason that this study concluded that men get their balding genetics from their mother.

 

The Case for Paternal Genetic Baldness

Whilst it’s correct that men get the X chromosome from their mothers side and this is important, there’s more to it than that. Different research studies also show that men who have bald fathers are more likely to go bald too, which means that it isn’t just down to your mom.

It is correct that your mothers hereditary genes are more dominant, but that doesn’t mean to say that your dads side has no impact. It’s a combination of both sides. If your moms father is bald, then you’re more likely to be bald than if your dad is bad. But, if your moms father is bald and your dad is bald, then you’re even more likely to go bald yourself!

 

The Truth

Balding is slightly complex, and it’s likely that it’s a mixture of both your fathers side and your mothers side which may cause your baldness. Now, this doesn’t mean to say that it has to be directly from your parents generation; balding can be passed down from many generations. So, if your parents and their parents aren’t bald, that doesn’t necessarily mean you aren’t going to go bald – you could get it from your great uncle, or even further back.

This is how it’s perfectly normal for one sibling to be bald as a badger, but another sibling to have a full head of hair. There’s really nothing you can do about having the balding chromosome, so it’s up to you whether you’d like to try and combat the issue with things like a Minoxidil Shampoo or just accept the fact you’re going to gradually go bald as you age (I’d recommend the latter, but that’s just me!).

How to combat balding

As I said, there is really notthing you can do to change your genetics. You can however, mitigate any hair loss that you’re expecting to experience in the future. The best way to do this is to consider using some type of over the counter synthetic drug like Minoxidil or Propecia. Whilst they are unlikely to help you enable you to have any hair grow back, they can undoubtedly mitigate any loss you’re experiencing and slow down the process.

It must be said however, that both of these drugs are not without their own risks. You literally have to apply minoxidil twice a day, which might not sound like much now; but it’ll get annoying. Along with that, if you try Propecia then it has been linked to erectile dysfunction. What would you rather have, your hair or your virility? I know what I’d prefer!

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Bald with Big Ears – What to do about it

If you’re bald or balding, then this is definitely going to relate to you. You’ve undoubtedly heard or read people saying that “some people just suit a bald head” or that some guys just look good bald. They then proceed to give you a list of people who look good bald – usually The Rock, Jason Statham, Vin Diesel.. you know, all guys with perfect bodies and great facial aesthetics. But what about if you’re not these guys; what about if you’re bald with big ears?

Well, the number one thing that you can do if you’re going bald and you have large ears is to accept it. There’s not much that you can do about going bald, and whilst there are things that you can do to slow down the process, it’s an inevitability in the long run.

Here are a few of the options that you have if you’re going bald, but you’re slightly worried because you have big ears.

Accept it

My main pieces of advice would be to literally accept that you have big ears, and own it. You are you – and this is the way that you were created.

I understand when people talk about wanting to lose weight, or wanting to get whiter teeth and stuff like that. These are things that you easily have the power to change, and are a circumstance of your lifestyle. For guys, your body is just the way that you was born – and it’s best to accept yourself as you are. This goes for your big ears, or your nose, or your penis or whatever. Without surgery, those things aren’t going to change, so it’s probably best for you to accept yourself as you are. The same way that some women are obsessed about their breasts or their butt.. does it really matter that much in the grand scheme of things?

The likelihood is that you’re worried about your big ears affecting your attractiveness. Well, although a bald head with big ears is quite striking at first, there’s a ton of other things people will rate more important than your big ears. Appearance is only skin deep,

Improve other areas of your physical appearance

Whilst you shouldn’t be concerned too much about what you was born with, you can alter other areas of your appearance. Your physical appearance does give an indication of who you are – and whilst you can’t change your ears without surgery, you can change other areas of your appearance.

Get in shape

One of the main things that you’ll want to do if you’re going bald (big ears, small ears, no ears – any baldy should take this advice!) is to get into better shape. This doesn’t necessarily mean you need to hit the gym three times a day and take a ton of juice – no, getting into better shape can just be shifting those extra Christmas lbs.

If you’re a bit podgy, losing weight will change your facial aesthetics completely. A double chin is never, ever going to be attractive! Getting rid of those extra pounds is undoubtedly your first step on the way to looking, and more importantly feeling, better.

Take more care of your other features

Like I’ve said, you don’t have much control over some of your physical features. But there are certain physical features that you do have control over.

For example, your teeth. Having clean teeth is almost a must for any bald guy, as a woman is going to be instantly drawn to your face. Your teeth are one of the first things that your potential partner will look at anyway, so making sure their clean and white is a great way to attract others.

It goes without saying that you should take good care of other areas on your face. Keeping your nose hairs plucked and your eyebrows on point – no unibrows, please!

Anyway, the point is that you should take more control of the things that you can, and accept the things that you cannot.

Facial Hair

For most bald guys, you’ll have the option to grow yourself some facial hair. This can help contrast between your shiny head and the rest of your body, so considering a beard is a great option for a baldy.

If you’re bald with big ears, then you could consider growing yourself out a thicker beard. Doing this can draw attention away from your ears, and make them look more in proportion with the rest of your body. The best example of this is undoubtedly Will Smith as Deadshot in the film Suicide Squad;

Will Smith, a guy famed for having massive ears throughout his entire career, manages to pull the bald head look off with ease. How? Well, the well groomed beard helps attract attention away from the ears and towards his handsome face. Using a beard in the same way is a good option for those big ears like the Fresh Prince.

Ear Correction Surgery

For all that I babble on about accepting yourself as you are, I won’t get through to everybody. And there’s nothing wrong with that.

If you really can’t accept your ears and it’s causing you extreme psychological distress, then you can consider getting ear surgery.

This can be done in two ways. One option is that they can actually take cartilage out of your ears to make them smaller. This is a pretty extreme length to go to, so you need to be sure that this is genuinely something that you want. Any type of surgery like this occurs risks, so you should do some thorough research before partaking in this kind of surgery.

Another option is to get your ears pinned back. This is actually a pretty common thing for children and younger people to have done, and it is done using the same method as a full surgery. You can have a more in depth look at the method used here, but essentially it involves making a small incision into the ear and reshaping it.

This can be a good way to deal with large ears, whether you’re balding or not.

 

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How To Deal With Going Bald

To be able to deal with going bald, you must understand baldness in-depth from the definition to the causes and possible solutions. Firstly, it’s best for us to understand what baldness truly is.

What is baldness?

Baldness is a term used to refer to a scalp which lacks hair partly or wholly. In medical terms, baldness is known as alopecia. Although baldness is most common at the top or front of the head (alopecia areata), it can be patchy or affect the entire head (alopecia capitis totalis).

Men lose hair for many reasons, so hair loss may not necessarily translate to baldness. It could be a medical condition or other causes.

However, the most common form of hair loss in men is MPB or Male Pattern Baldness. This form of hair loss is genetic i.e., caused by a genetic condition associated with a testosterone by-product called Dihydrotestosterone. This by-product attaches itself to hair follicles causing them to thin/shrink over time to form partial or total baldness at the top or front of the head. If you have MPB, your baldness has been passed over to you from either side of your family tree.

Note: You could still become bald even if your father has perfectly thick hair.

Baldness statistics

Knowing the prevalence of baldness in the world today can offer you some comfort. For instance, I got some much-needed comfort when I discovered that approximately 70% of all men deal with balding or hair thinning problems at some point in life. It’s also worth noting that baldness risks increase with age i.e., 40% of men suffer from baldness by age 35 while 80% of all men aged 80 and above suffer from baldness.

You would also be surprised to know that 60% of all men with baldness would rather have more hair than more money or friends. What’s more; men are more likely to seek surgical solutions than women i.e., 20% vs. 12% although women are the first to seek help.[1]

So.. Why is baldness such a big deal?

Part of the secret of dealing with going bald lies in understanding why it is a big deal in the first place.

According to a 2015 UK survey involving 2,000 men, a majority of the men in the survey stated they would rather be cheated on or lose their jobs than go bald. The same survey revealed that approximately 33% of all men think about baldness/hair thinning problems every day. Also, 20% of the men in the study thought baldness or hair thinning makes men less attractive. [2]Although the study was conducted in the UK, it’s a pretty clear indication of how bad the problem is.

Let’s face it! Noticing the first glimpse of a bald spot on your head is a shattering realization for many. However, it can be less challenging depending on how you look at things. For instance, baldness isn’t as bad as having a chronic illness. However, I am not saying you should ignore the problem.

Hair is a symbol of vitality. It is also a sign of youth. Ignoring the symbolism as well as how baldness makes you feel isn’t the solution. Psychologist, Corinne Sweet attests to this fact. According to Corinne, men associate baldness with loss of power and attractiveness. According to most men, a head full of hair is a symbol of youth, virility, and good health. This explains why many men panic at the thought of baldness especially when it happens during their prime.

Many research studies on hair loss have revealed serious psychological effects on a person’s self-esteem and overall quality of life. Going bald can make you the butt of people’s jokes which can be very hurtful. I know countless people who think its fine to joke about a man’s baldness or thinning hair. I have experienced it first hand and to say the least; it’s not funny if you are the subject.

Identifying baldness

Before looking at how to deal with going bald, you need to determine if you are going bald in the first place. MPB is easy to identify. You don’t need any clinical experience to know when you are going bald. MPB affects the top of the scalp resulting in a horseshoe hair loss pattern. The baldness can assume different patterns such as; general thinning, a thinning crown or a receding hairline. Thinning is usually concentrated on top of the head.

General thinning

General thinning is the most rear pattern of baldness. As the name suggests, the thinning is even over the top. If you are experiencing this pattern of hair loss, you will have a thinning crown (top/back of the head) or distinct receding hairline. General thinning takes longer to identify because the thinning happens evenly from the onset. Luckily, this pattern of hair loss can be prevented in most cases and even reversed. General thinning doesn’t affect the sides or back of the scalp. If you have hair loss in these areas, you may have another condition.

Vertex or Thinning crown

This type of balding pattern affects the top and back of the head (the vertex or crown). This pattern can come alongside a receding hairline, but sometimes you may have one pattern. A vertex or thinning crown pattern starts with thinning until your scalp is visible. This is followed by a bald patch which progresses until it joins a receding hairline or results in prominent baldness at the back or top of the head. The extent of this pattern of thinning differs from one person to another although crown baldness is very common.

Receding Hairline

This is the most common baldness pattern today. A receding hairline (or window’s peak) starts at the forehead (either side). The hair loss results in the formation of a triangular peak on top of the head. Some men can experience crown thinning; however, for most men, the hair loss stops at the top of the head. If you experience aggressive MPB, your hairline is bound to recede further (until it meets the crown or results in a bald area at the front or top of your head).

It can be challenging trying to grow a receding hairline; however, there are treatments I have discussed below that are capable of reversing most (if not all types) of hair loss patterns. It is possible to experience unprecedented hair growth levels in your frontal areas with the right kind of treatment/combination of treatments.

So.. how do I deal with going bald?

Embrace baldness

Now that you know the basics of going bald, it’s time to focus on dealing with the problem. Once you understand that baldness is caused mostly by genetic factors, it becomes easier to deal with the problem. You have very little to no control over what is ingrained in your DNA. Also, the fact that baldness affects most men should make it easier to embrace the problem. Contrary to popular belief, the biggest challenge about balding is not the physical but emotional aspect of the problem.

The first/most important step to coping with any problem you have little to no control over is acceptance. Once you accept, you are in a better position to see what you can do to make things better. Denying an obvious problem like baldness won’t get you anywhere. Acceptance allows you to think straight and look at the best options available to you. Instead of focusing on denial options like a “comb-over”, you’ll be able to think clearly and focus on better solutions once you accept i.e. finding the best hairstyle or ways of slowing down the process.

There are more reasons to embrace baldness. For instance, a 2012 study conducted in the US and published in the Social Psychological & Personality Science Journal suggests that bald men appear more powerful, stronger and dominant compared to their “hairy” counterparts. [3]This
is contrary to popular belief. The study shows that being bald isn’t that bad after all. In fact, it is better than having hair according to some men and women.

This can be attested in the entertainment scene. Popular actors like Vin Diesel, Jason Statham, and Dwayne Johnson are bald but considered powerful and attractive. In fact, these actors are the epitome of male masculinity. In this context, being bald is great. Many people are of the opinion that bald men are more attractive. Furthermore, not all men worry about going bald.

Many experts in psychology argue that it all boils down to confidence. In a nutshell, the man who embraces his baldness with confidence gets rid of a big part of the problem immediately. To put it bluntly, baldness is all in your head.

If you deal with baldness by being ashamed, the problem becomes bigger. It also becomes a huge turn-off according to Amanda Sanders, a New York Image consultant. According to Sanders, women are more attracted to men who are confident about their looks even if they are bald. Sanders advises against trying to hide the problem or trying to “hang on” the little hair that is left. She finds hair weaves, hair plugs and other alternatives fake and unattractive. Sanders advices bald men to act as if baldness doesn’t matter to them and it won’t matter to everyone else.

The same strategy is embraced by many bald Hollywood actors. Bruce Willis, Jason Statham, Dwayne Johnson, Vin Diesel, Samuel L. Jackson and many others like Prince William project unmatched self-assurance. They also don’t make any effort to hide their baldness or thinning hair problems.

I can attest to the power of embracing baldness as the first and most important step to dealing with the problem. My life became better when I embraced the problem and stopped caring too much about hair loss or what other people think.

Treatment

If you find it hard to embrace baldness and want to go ahead and look for a solution, no problem! There are several great treatments available. Treatments are advisable when you notice the problem early and want to do something about it as soon as possible. Like most treatments, the probability of success is higher when the problem is addressed immediately. As long as you haven’t lost all/most of your hair, there are treatments out there. It is possible to slow down as well as stop hair thinning.

Male pattern baldness can be treated using clinically proven medicine, laser devices as well as hair restoration surgery. There are also many products available today with no clinical efficacy. The importance of doing thorough research on proven treatment methods can’t, therefore, be overlooked. Fortunately, I have done all the hard work for you, so you don’t have to waste precious time and money or risk your health using trial and error methods.

Stress medication and exercise

Although baldness is caused mostly by genetic factors, stress accelerates the problem. Periods characterized by rapid hair loss tend to have stress as the underlying factor. The reason? Stress invades the body alongside the hormone cortisol responsible for mediating a number of metabolic processes. The presence of cortisol forces other hormone levels to fluctuate. If you are genetically predisposed to balding, stress will speed up the process. Hair loss expert, Melissa Piliang can attest to this. To control stress-related baldness or hair loss problems, Piliang recommends traditional medication or active meditation such as tai chi or yoga.

Committing to get into better shape can also help according to numerous studies. One such study done in 2015 discovered that older men who are physically fit release 42% less cortisol daily compared to their unfit counterparts. [4]

Minoxidil

Antihypertensive vasodilator medication such as Minoxidil can’t restore lost hair. However, the medication can reduce as well as prevent further hair loss. The medication can also help you grow some hair back. Minoxidil is a topical medication applied on the affected areas to boost blood flow which in turn, boosts oxygen and nutrient delivery to the hair follicles. Minoxidil works by opening potassium channels which when blocked are responsible for hair loss. The medication is applied on the scalp twice a day (in the morning and at night).

According to Dr. Piliang, you can choose the 5% foam over liquid Minoxidil when you don’t want to get a greasy coating. Minoxidil stands out for being one of the few FDA approved medication for treating baldness. Furthermore, the medication isn’t linked to harmful side effects such as decreased libido and erectile dysfunction as is the case with some oral baldness medication.

Finasteride

Finasteride is another FDA-approved primary hair loss medication capable of helping you deal with baldness. The medication is also approved in the UK by the MHRA. Finasteride is a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor which simply means that the medication prevents the formation of DHT, the testosterone by-product responsible for causing baldness.

Laser treatment

Besides medication and exercise, baldness can be dealt with using laser devices. The FDA has approved several laser treatments for baldness. Among those devices is the laser comb, a hand-held low-power laser device specifically designed for the scalp. The laser comb is used three times weekly to treat the affected area. Treatment sessions last for 10 to 15 sessions. The laser comb works by promoting stabilization and regrowth. One theory suggests lasers act as antioxidants when they act on hair follicles.

The laser comb device comes highly recommended as a part of primary hair loss treatment. The effectiveness of laser devices in treating baldness has been attested in a 2014 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology. According to the study, men who received laser treatment three times weekly saw a rapid increase in their hair volume after 26 weeks. It is, however, worth noting that the effectiveness of laser devices isn’t guaranteed for everyone. Nevertheless, laser treatment might offer a placebo effect boosting your confidence even when there is no significant hair growth.

Supplementation

If you care to discover more about how to deal with going bald, try supplementation. According to a study published in the British Journal of Dermatology, people suffering from an autoimmune disorder alopecia areata known to cause hair loss are three times more likely to be Vitamin D deficient compared to their counterparts with healthy hair. According to Dr. Piliang, Vitamin D is vital for resetting hair growth phases. To increase regrowth, for instance, you are supposed to take approximately 2000 IU of Vitamin D3 daily. Supplementation is highly recommended during winter when you have the least exposure to sunlight, the main source of Vitamin D.

Important: Never “bake” your head out in the sun to boost Vitamin D production. Doing this can introduce serious health risks such as skin cancer.

When taking supplements, focus on those formulated by hair growth experts only. It is also advisable to stick to 100% natural supplements to avoid side effects. The best supplements are those formulated with all the essential ingredients required to promote healthy hair growth. They include a wide range of minerals, vitamins, amino acids as well as botanical extracts. A popular ingredient in effective hair loss supplements is saw palmetto, a herbal extract that boosts hair loss stabilization. Saw palmetto also boosts the entire full hair loss treatment process.

Like most treatments for baldness, supplements should be used alongside other treatments i.e., medication like minoxidil and laser treatment to increase the chances of success. You should seek medical advice from hair loss experts to get the best combination of baldness treatment that will work for you.

Clinical treatment therapy

This treatment is recommended for people with hair loss and/or scalp problems. Clinical therapy is usually done once in a fortnight, monthly or quarterly. The treatment sessions involve clinical visits lasting for approximately one hour. Typical treatment sessions include steam scalp treatment, laser therapy, infrared light therapy and massage.

The sole purpose of clinical treatments is maintaining and boosting the condition of the scalp and hair to stimulate hair growth. Clinical treatment therapy may involve special shampoo and conditioner formulations specially designed for different hair types. The therapy may not contribute to regrowth. However, it helps maintain the scalp and the hair that is present.

Home remedies (anti-androgen shampoo)

How do deal with going bald can be as simple as replacing your standard shampoo for an anti-androgen shampoo. You can ask your doctor or a hair loss specialist to prescribe a good anti-androgen shampoo for you. Anti-androgens stop conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone, the testosterone by-product responsible for hair loss.

Dr. Piliang recommends anti-androgens like Ketoconazole shampoo which is marketed as an anti-dandruff shampoo. According to Dr. Piliang, Ketoconazole works like finasteride but is restrained to the scalp which helps avoid negative side effects. When using shampoo products, step out of the shower and massage the shampoo on your scalp. Wait for 2-3 minutes and rinse.

Hair transplant surgery

If you’re searching for a permanent solution on how to deal with going bald, you might want to consider hair transplant surgery. This treatment comes highly recommended because it is effective for treating both male and female genetic hair loss affecting the top or front of the scalp. Hair transplant surgery is possible because only follicles on the top/front of the scalp have receptors sensitive to the hormone responsible for causing hair loss.

When hair is extracted from other areas of the scalp like the sides or back and transplanted to the front/top, the hair grows and produces more hair for life. Hair transplant has come a long way. In the past twenty years, the procedure has evolved from an old graft technique to mini as well as micro graft transplantation.

Modern hair transplant surgery is capable of creating the perfect natural appearance. It is possible to replant a group of hairs 2-3 hairs) or single hairs to match a person’s natural hair growth pattern today using the mini and micro hair transplant graft technique.

In case you are wondering if hair transplant surgery is the best hair loss treatment for you, it is necessary to consider all the options at your disposal before making a decision. It is recommendable to try a variety of effective treatments for six months or more before considering surgery. Furthermore, hair loss treatments are best administered as a combination. It is possible to enjoy success that is as good, if not better than hair transplant surgery using other treatments.

Despite being extremely effective, hair transplant surgery has its own shortfalls such as cost. It is undoubtedly the most expensive treatment for baldness out there today considering costs range from $4,000 to $40,000 depending on factors such as the size of treatment area, the surgeon’s experience, type of procedure as well as the no. of grafts. If cost is an issue, this treatment should be your last resort.

It is also important to acknowledge the preventative treatments required after surgery. Although the transplanted hair grows normally, the hair around the treatment area can start thinning prompting the need for preventative/regrowth treatments after surgery. The importance of finding the best surgeon around you can’t also be overlooked. You should seek treatment from reputable surgeons only.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about how to deal with going bald

If I don’t seek treatment immediately, will I go bald?

It depends. Factors such as the root-cause of your hair loss and type of hair loss dictate whether you will go bald eventually if you don’t seek treatment. If you have temporary hair loss which is rare in men, you won’t go bald. If you have Male Pattern Baldness, the severity of your hair loss depends. For instance, men who have aggressive MPB initially have a higher chance of losing their hair extensively and at a faster rate if they don’t seek treatment. Total baldness can happen as early as 18 years old when you have aggressive MPB, and you don’t seek treatment. The best way to tell if you will go bald eventually is to determine when your hair loss started and the rate of thinning. It’s always advisable to do something about your hair loss as early as possible if you don’t want to go bald.

How do I identify hair loss?

Although this seems like an obvious question, most men don’t know they are suffering from hair loss until the problem is in the advanced stages. In most cases, men with hair loss problems learn about the problem from other people. When this happens, your chances of enjoying a full recovery are low. Most men fail to identify hair loss problems because of denial or when the process is too slow to notice. It is also common for men to worry about losing hair when there is no reason to do so. There are three main ways of identifying hair loss. One is checking your hairline. If you have a receding hairline or notice thinning hair, you have a hair loss problem. You can also identify hair loss via other people. If more than one person comments about your hair loss, receding hairline, thinning hair, etc., you have a problem. Also, if you notice excessive hair on the bath plug after showering or on your pillow after waking up, you have a hair loss problem.

When should I seek treatment for my hair loss or baldness?

You should deal with hair loss problems as early as possible. As mentioned above, your chances of enjoying a full regrowth are higher when you seek treatment immediately. You should visit a hair loss specialist the moment you start shedding hair. There are chronic hair loss problems like Male Pattern Hair loss that tend to progress very fast if you don’t take any action.

Will I get my hair back?

Hair loss treatments aren’t guaranteed to work 100%. Effectiveness is subject to many factors. For instance, different people can respond to the same treatment differently. The time it takes to seek treatment also determines the probability of enjoying a full recovery. As mentioned above, you should seek treatment immediately. The effectiveness of treatment is also dictated by where you seek treatment. You are bound to deal with your baldness problems completely if you go to a reputable hair loss expert.

Your chances of enjoying a full recovery are also dictated by the treatment you receive. Treatment programs which utilize a combination of
effective baldness treatments tend to work better compared to programs which focus on one treatment. You should also consider getting clinically proven treatments only.

In a nutshell, the baldness treatments discussed above are effective. Although not everyone will enjoy high levels of regrowth from the same treatment/s, any response to the treatment should be considered a success including hair loss stabilization that isn’t accompanied by an increase in hair density. This is simply because, without treatment, it is impossible to stop hair loss.

Precautions

The importance of dealing with experts can’t be overlooked when looking at how to deal with going bald. It’s also crucial to focus on clinically proven treatments only. Since baldness is a common problem affecting over 80% of all men at least once in their lifetime, there are many unscrupulous individuals who come up with fake products every day or masquerade as experts on the subject. There are countless baldness treatments out there today most of which don’t work. Some are potentially harmful. To avoid serious side effects or even worsening your hair loss problem further, stick to tested and proven hair loss treatments only. Doing this will also save you precious time, effort and money you would otherwise waste trying every baldness treatment you come across.

Although there are many treatments you can try on your own, it is advisable to visit your doctor first. Specialist care is recommendable, especially when taking baldness medication since you will most likely need a combination of medicines and treatments to get the best results possible. Specialist care also allows close monitoring and custom care when treatments aren’t working as they should. A medical practitioner will also help you avoid harmful side effects caused by taking medicines containing allergens.

You should also familiarize yourself with proper grooming habits. For instance, thinning hair is best kept short. The hair should also be blunt-cut across the ends to boost the texture.

References

[1] https://bit.ly/2L4I2sY

[2] https://bit.ly/2GkiNz3

[3] https://bit.ly/2IHyPbH

[4] https://bit.ly/2GjadRs

https://bit.ly/2L2Lowz

https://wb.md/2L4r6mf

 

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How to grow a Lumberjack Beard

Are you looking to up the ante from your regular stubble or tamed beard and go all out lumberjack? Not sure exactly where to start? Well, we’ve got you covered here. This short guide will show you exactly how to grow a lumberjack beard.

 

Let it grow

This, in my opinion, is the most important and essential part if you truly want to know how to grow a lumberjack beard. Let it grow. I’ll let my beard grow out for at least a month or two before I even consider trimming it down. Obviously, this is different for everyone as some beards grow faster than other, but as a general rule, leaving it for a month before you shave is a good idea.

By leaving it, I don’t mean to leave it completely. During this time, you should keep a solid neckline by shaving it every 3-5 days (neckbeards have never been sexy, by the way). To define your neckline, follow your neckline around to an inch below your chin. This is a pretty common mistake that is often made and will ruin your meantime look completely, especially if you aren’t in great shape.

You can forget about your neckline once your beard has grown out to a sufficient length, but in the meantime, be sure to avoid this;

This is a great example of a neckline that has been shaved too high. George is in dire need of an extra half-inch to an inch along the jawline.

It most certainly isn’t a necessity to grow your lumberjack beard out without a trim. You could keep it maintained as you go. But for me, this is a far easier option. I’ll usually leave it until someone comments on me looking like a homeless person. At that point, I know it’s time to get the trimmer out.

Use these added tips

If you’re struggling to grow a lumberjack beard, these four little tips are quite useful for helping facial hair growth. In all honesty, you should probably be doing these things anyway. But if you’re not, then:

1. Wash your face thoroughly. Not with any added oils and stuff, just soap and hot water. Oily skin is known to prevent the growth of hair follicles. Your beard loves clear skin.
2. Get some sun, or take vitamin D supplements. I prefer to take vitamin D supplements as with the sun you’re obviously going to increase the amount of oil in your skin. But whatever works for you.
3. Boost your testosterone. This is why going to the gym and lifting heavy weights will always be advantageous; testosterone helps contribute to beard growth. Get down the gym and try to exclude stress factors from your life. This will help to boost testosterone.
4. Steam your pores. Whilst you’re at the gym, make use of the steam room. Exercising the follicles in your face will help promote beard growth.
5. Relax. Stress can definitely be one of the main reasons why your beard won’t grow, so make sure you’re getting enough sleep and relaxing time.

Now, I know that they sound like some pretty stereotypical tips. But in my experience, they’ve helped. And even if they don’t, they’re all good tips for wellbeing as well as growing a lumberjack beard.

Don’t waste time with oils. Yet.

Whilst your lumberjack beard is growing, don’t be drawn in to the ‘buy this oil to make your beard super long and get loads of women’ ads. Whilst a good beard oil is great when your beard is up and running, you shouldn’t need to purchase any balms or oils until your beard is a decent length.

Once you do get your beard to a sufficient length, beard oils can be a great help with maintaining a healthy beard. As long as you know how to apply them properly.

Finally, be patient and research how to grow a lumberjack beard

Patience. Another important factor for growing out a truly awesome lumberjack beard. If you have the ability to grow stubble, or even a half decent lumberjack beard, then you’re likely capable of growing a solid lumberjack beard. Though I have to say, being patient won’t work for some. I have friends in their thirties and forties who are just incapable of growing any sort of beard. Of course, if you’re one of those people, you should completely ignore this guide.

So, a few months have gone by, but you’re not getting the length you want on your beard and it hasn’t got great volume. What should you do? Panic? Apply some sort of oils and creams that promise to grow your beard tenfold but never really work? No. We wait. A solid 6 months is really the timeframe that you will be looking at if you want to go full lumberjack. Some may be a tad sooner, some a tad longer. Stick with it and you’ll get where you want to be.

That sums up our short guide on how to grow a lumberjack beard! Feel free to check out our other posts and get yourself a great beard trimmer.

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