Is there stigma to baldness and why do men try to cover it up? 

Everything Prince Harry does is analysed under a microscope and his hair is no different. His brother has been losing his hair for several years, following in the footsteps of their father.

When out and about in New York recently, it appeared that Prince Harry’s hair looked much thinner than normal. A celebrity stylist also recently claimed that Meghan’s ‘clever retouching skills’ were put to good use for their recent Time 100 cover, where Harry had a much fuller head of hair.

What Stigma?

But the real question is, why is there so much stigma about men losing their hair and why do they try to cover it up? After all, more than 50% of men over 50 will experience some kind of male pattern baldness. That’s over 6.5 million men in the UK. Even though we are supposed to live in more ‘enlightened’ times, baldness still has a huge stigma attached to it.

Pressure to conform

Women face a lot of pressure to conform to images used by the media and marketing companies. But over the past 30 years, the same has also become true of men. Images of physical perfection rarely show a man who has lost or is losing his hair.
Comparing yourself too harshly against these unrealistic images can cause you to lose confidence and self-esteem. Having the ‘perfect body’ or look puts a lot of pressure on men to conform. Even though there are countless male celebrities with bald heads, people still see hair loss as a problem, rather than simply accept it as a natural process.

Ultimately, managing your hair loss is about managing your confidence. True, that is easier to say than do, but that is the real key to finding peace with going bald. Of course, some men don’t let it affect them at all and just roll with it. But losing your hair is often associated with ageing and attractiveness and it displays a certain amount of vulnerability that men can struggle to accept.
It can be even harder if you are not middle-aged and lose your hair. We expect baldness to happen in your 40s and beyond, not in your teens or 20s. But the reality is sometimes different, as genetics or medical conditions can be just as responsible. Society tells men they are at their physical peak in their 20s, so losing your hair during this time can make you feel like there is something wrong with you (there isn’t) and try all kinds of things to cover it up.

Did the stigma of baldness push Harry’s decision to have a hair transplant?

What can you do about losing your hair?

Instead of taking drastic measures like hair transplants or a course of pills that affect your libido, scalp micropigmentation offers the perfect alternative. It’s an affordable and safe solution that recreates the look of a shaved head. Or if you have bald patches, it can add density and depth to your hairline.