Male baldness is often trivialised – our research shows it should be taken seriously

By Paul Hodkinson, Matthew Hall, University of Surrey

Male pattern baldness, or hereditary hair loss, has not always been taken seriously. Celebrity hair loss and transplants are greeted with fascinated amusement while, in popular media, bald men have often been absent, mocked or maligned.

The everyday lives of ordinary balding men are often punctuated by comments, jokes and an expectation to laugh along.

Hereditary hair loss can occur any time after puberty and two thirds of men are affected by the time they’re 60. Social pressures and beauty ideals prompt many to turn to the multi-billion dollar hair loss industry, amid moves to medicalise baldness. But studies that examine the detail of men’s experiences of going bald remain sparse.

Our Journeys of Hair Loss research involved in-depth interviews with 34 men of different ages and backgrounds. It highlights why the challenges balding men can face should be taken seriously — and not only by those seeking to profit from them.

Negative emotions

Experiences varied among the men we interviewed, but it was clear that most felt hair loss had been negative overall, and many described moments or periods of emotional struggle.

Balding could often be accompanied by a sense of loss, or the development of social anxieties. The process could be particularly challenging for younger men, those who were single, those experiencing other life struggles, or those connected to cultures that placed high value on appearance and grooming, including some gay participants.

Sometimes, attempts to hide hair loss came to dominate everyday life. Constant adjusting of hair, avoiding being viewed from particular angles, and careful negotiating of weather and lighting conditions could be accompanied by ever present worry. As Nick* explained:

If it’s windy, I’m thinking I need to have a look … I’ve not looked at my hair for a little while, is there a mirror? It’s something I’m looking at more and more.

Hair loss treatment

Encounters with the hair loss industry were mixed.

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