Male. Pattern. Baldness. It’s a term that terrifies men everywhere. It threatens to take away your ability to look the way that modern society has instructed you to: well-groomed with a full head of hair. But is losing your hair all that bad?
This week I’d like to document how I won my fight against male pattern baldness.
Male Pattern Baldness Doesn’t Have To Beat You
It’s true. While it will be something that you have to adjust to, you can take control. I did, and the adjustment period was worth it. Before I get into my story, though, let’s define male pattern baldness properly.
What Is Male Pattern Baldness?
According to Healthline.com, male pattern baldness (or androgenic alopecia) is the most common type of hair loss in men. More than 50% percent of all men over the age of 50 will be affected to some extent. This can be seen in numerous ways.
- Receding hairline? Male pattern baldness.
- Bald spot on your crown? Male pattern baldness.
- Going for that traditional monk look with no hair on top? Male pattern baldness (I hope).
If you take the time to look around when you’re out and about next, you’ll probably be shocked by how many people you see with thinning or missing hair.
Why and How Do People Get Male Pattern Baldness?
Male pattern baldness is caused largely by genetics. The biggest signal to whether you’ll lose your hair or not can be found by looking at your relatives on your mother’s side, your grandfather in particular.
It can also be caused by external factors. Some examples include certain cancers, medications, thyroid complications, and steroids. Doctors are able to determine the cause of baldness by taking note of the pattern in which you’re losing your hair.
Hair loss can occur anytime, really – teens, middle age, or older. Genetics will be the determining factor here, and if it’s planned in your DNA then it’s just going to happen. But don’t worry – hope is not lost! There are additional supplements that can (reportedly) help to slow hair loss.
Hair Loss Treatments
Okay, so I have limited personal experience here but I’ll speak to what I can. Let’s list out the major players, but keep in mind that this is not a comprehensive list.
Rogaine (Minoxidil)
Rogaine is a topical foam or oil that is applied to the scalp in areas where hair loss is taking place. Note that this is not a “take until it’s fixed” method. Rogaine requires that the user apply the product indefinitely to maintain results. Hair loss may also accelerate before new hair can grow back thicker to replace it.
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Keeps (Finasteride, Minoxidil, or a combination of the two)
Keeps is a relatively new solution that claims to stop hair loss in 90% of the men using the product. It also claims that 66% of men using Keeps see hair growth. This is also a method that requires you to continue applying the product indefinitely.
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Follecular Unit Extraction (FUE)
FUE is a hair transplant that moves hair follicles from one part of your body to another. This is not the procedure that gave the look of “hair plugs” – that honor goes to follicular unit transplantation, or FUT. Around 30-80% of transplanted hair tends to grow back in about 3-4 months with this method.
This is a pricey option that is typically done over multiple sessions. Sessions cost anywhere from $4,000 to $15,000 per session.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)
PRP is a process that separates the plasma from your blood, injecting that plasma into the areas of your scalp that are losing hair. The process is quick, taking around 10 minutes, and requires 3 treatments around 4-6 weeks apart. Additional treatments are needed every 4-6 months. According to Healthline.com, there hasn’t been enough research to determine if PRP is an effective hair loss treatment.
Take Control and Cut It All Off
This is a simple way to address your hair loss. It’s not flashy or elegant, but it does force you to address the problem head-on (pun intended). If you haven’t found success with the treatment options, this may just be the way to go. It was for me.
My Battle With Hair Loss
2016: The Start
It all started in 2016 when I first noticed that my hair seemed a bit thinner. Other people said it was all in my head, and that I had nothing to worry about. I was concerned for a little while, but the self-consciousness eventually went away.
2017: The Progress
In 2017, though, I started to see some real changes. A dime-sized area on the front of my scalp was thinning and was very visible when my hair was wet. This paired with a very light thinning of my hair on top. Every now and then when I scratched my head I could see short blonde hairs falling. Yikes. I made sure to style my hair up and slightly to one side, which made the change practically invisible to anyone else. I managed to get by doing this until 2020 hit. Man, 2020 was terrible in all sorts of ways.
2020: The Beginning of The End
2020 was the year where my crown started actually balding. I was able to feel it thinning, and it was visible even when my hair was dry. I probably could have tolerated it for a while if it weren’t for the video calls I have to be on every day for work. Seeing your balding crown all the time in video calls is a great way to force insecurity.
2021: My Experience With Rogaine
I finally decided to try Rogaine. I ordered a 3 month run and followed the package recommendation. The product contained three 2oz containers, each containing one month’s treatment. The instructions called out that the product should be applied twice a day, which I followed tightly.
After the 3 month timeframe, my hair loss had been heavily accelerated. I noticed this about a week after starting the medicine, but the instructions called out that this would happen before new hair would grow in. For me, that new hair never came and I was left a balder man than when I started.
2022: The Epiphany
Around this time I’d thought of cutting my hair off, but never seriously. I was getting frustrated and in my own head about my hair loss – I mean, my wife’s first words to me were literally “nice hair”! I was nervous on many levels that this would be a seriously negative change in my life. Then I found a YouTube channel that gave me information and confidence: Baldcafe.
This guy documented his own hair loss and coping process. Beyond that, though, he interviewed many guys that were going through the same struggles. He’d have them on a video call before cutting their hair off and discuss their struggles. The video would cut to them shaving their heads, and the look of confidence they clearly felt when it was finished was so motivating. I watched multiple videos like this before deciding that it was time to take the plunge myself.
I went out and bought this Wahl hair clipper set and, with my wife’s encouragement (the hair didn’t matter to her, thankfully), I got to it.
Here’s a before and after photo. I was nervous to do it, so I went with one of the highest settings available. It weaned me into the look, but I kept going shorter and shorter – I still didn’t like the way it looked on camera.
And here I am today, fully comfortable and confident in the way I look.
And the best part? No more hair cuts to pay for! Once a week I shave my head and that’s that.
Was it difficult to do? Yes. Would I take my hair back if I could? Absolutely! But that isn’t an option for me, and as I discussed in my article on positivity, it’s just not worth it to sweat the stuff you can’t control.
So now I’m just another guy that shaves his head – and I couldn’t be more grateful for the people, opportunities, and things I have in my life. After all, it’s just hair.
Conclusion
Whew. Now that we’re at the end, let’s summarize!
- Male pattern baldness will affect most men at some point in their life
- Genetics are the major factor in whether you go bald. Look at your mom’s side of the family as an indicator!
- If you’re concerned about balding, there are multiple options available to you that meet varying budgets.
- Rogaine and Keeps require that you continue using the product indefinitely in order to maintain the results
- Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) seems to be a very enticing option, but is prohibitively expensive and not likely to be covered by insurance
- Platelet-Rich Plasma is an unproven option that has uses outside of hair loss treatment
- You can just cut it off! This was my choice and, after getting used to the change, I’m very happy with it!
- Remember that hats are amazing! There are so many styles to fit whatever mood you’re in. I’ve rediscovered a love for hats that I lost for years since losing the hair I always was worried about.
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