Age-related hair loss is something that many men struggle with – both physically and emotionally. And at some point, you have to consider whether the best option is to just embrace the experience and bald with grace.
Balding? You Aren’t Alone
Sometimes there’s comfort in numbers – a degree of satisfaction in knowing that you aren’t alone. And if you’re balding, you certainly have a large support group.
Androgenetic alopecia, more commonly known as male pattern baldness, is responsible for roughly 95 percent of hair loss in men. In other words, if you’re experiencing balding right now, it almost certainly falls into this category.
By the age of 35, as much as 66 percent of American men will undergo some degree of hair loss. By age 50, the statistic balloons to 85 percent. (If you’re on the younger end of the spectrum, you should know that 1 in 4 men experience some level of balding by the time they reach 21 years of age.)
These numbers may or may not provide any comfort, but at the very least they show that you’re normal. And sometimes being normal is a good thing.
4 Tips for Graceful Balding
When it comes to balding, you really have two main options. You can either fight it with all you have – investing in expensive procedures and questionable products – or you can embrace it. Most people end up doing neither. They half-heartedly try to slow down the process of balding and ultimately end up with a cul-de-sac haircut.
Don’t be that guy.
Once your balding has reached a stage where it’s noticeable, you should consider embracing this next phase of your life. And if you do so gracefully, you might even discover that people like your new look.
Here are some suggestions on how you can make this happen:
1. Shave Your Head
The gradual expansion of your bald spot is deflating. It’s also obvious to everyone around you. Instead of slowly watching every little hair slip away, why not go ahead and shave your head?
Shaving your head might sound scary, but it’s actually very simple and will quickly become secondhand nature. The best option is to shave your head with a safety razor. This provides the cleanest and most predictable cut. (It’s also a lot more cost-effective than some other options.)
The proper protocol for wet shaving your head is as follows:
· Trim your hair as short as possible with a pair of electric clippers.
· Take a hot shower (washing your head with moisturizing soap).
· Place a hot towel on your head for least two minutes.
· Use some sort of pre-shave butter or oil to prepare your scalp.
· Lather your head with shaving cream or shaving soap.
· Use a closed comb safety razor.
· Start by shaving the areas you can see.
· Using short strokes, start by shaving with the grain. Then re-lather and shave from the opposite angle.
The first couple of times might feel weird, but you’ll eventually get the hang of it.
2. Get in Shape
Once you shave your head, you can turn your attention to other aspects of your appearance. More specifically, pay attention to your figure.
A buff, bald man looks a lot better than a skinny or overweight bald man. So use this as your motivation to shed a few pounds and/or add lean muscle mass.
3. Improve Your Style
With no hair to benefit your overall look, you’ll have to find other aspects of your appearance to do the talking. This is a great time to improve your sense of fashion and try some new stylistic choices.
4. Be Confident
Finally, be confident in who you are. If you treat balding like an upgrade – rather than a demoralizing loss – you’ll exude positivity. Remember, nobody cares about your bald head more than you. Your friends and family will probably acknowledge it the first couple of times they see you, but that’ll be the end of it. Embrace this new you!
Take Back Control
When you first notice a receding hairline or thinning scalp, it’s easy to feel panicked. You might even experience a bit of an emotional crisis. But it’s not the hair loss that you’re mourning – it’s the lack of control. Because no matter how much people try to sell you on hair loss products, the reality is that biology and genetics will ultimately catch up with you.
The key to handling hair loss is to take back control. Your decision to shave your head and embrace balding is the surest way to grab power and take charge. Will you seize the opportunity to take the upper hand?
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