Could you grow out your thinning hair?

YouTuber Harry James started noticing thinning hair around his hairline about two and a half years ago. His first reaction was to shave it all off, and he’s been rocking the skinhead look ever since.

However, James says that while he felt that shaving his head had dealt with one aspect of his hair loss, because he did it so early on in the process, he never really had a chance to come to terms with the process of losing his hair.

James was keen to examine all sides of hair loss and document it on his YouTube channel, Baldcafe. He decided to set aside the clippers and let his hair grow out, so he could experience how it really feels to be a balding man.

Other people’s attitudes

Whilst shaving his head allowed James to be bald and proud, he was fearful of how others might react to his thinning hair as it grew out.

But since letting his hair grow, James has visited all kinds of places and says other people don’t bat an eyelid at his balding head.

“By exposing myself to this fear, I can kind of put it to rest,” he told Men’s Health. “I realized even with this balding hair, no one cares. No one mentions it. No one gives a shit. And that’s just allowed me that final piece of the pie, that cherry on top. I have nothing left to fear with this damn balding hair. And that is going to allow me to rock my shaved head even more confidently.”

Could you grow your hair out?

Growing your hair is not something you expect to do as a balding man. But if, like James, you’d like to know how you’d feel if you did let it grow, perhaps his story will give you the confidence to do so.

Or perhaps you’re keen to grow your hair but not so keen on having your baldness exposed to the world, and that’s OK too. There are a few options in that situation:

• Hair loss drugs – if you’re in the early stages of hair loss, it might be worth trying some hair loss drugs to prevent further damage and allow you to grow your hair without fear. From prescription medications to expertly formulated supplements, there are products out there that can make a difference to your hair loss, but you do need to seek expert advice
• Hair transplant surgery – this one is for those of you whose hair loss is more advanced. It’s not a cheap option, but it is almost guaranteed to work, although it may take a few months to see the results
• Scalp MicroPigmentation – this is a great option for those of you who are unsure about growing out your hair, as it will be just as effective with a shaved head as with longer hair. A specially trained practitioner will inject pigment (exactly matched to your natural hair colour) into your scalp to create a highly realistic “buzz cut” effect. As you grow your hair, this will disguise any thinner areas, but if you decide to keep shaving you can do so with the confidence that no one will know your hair loss secret.

For more information on any of these, or to book a consultation with one of our hair loss specialists, please contact us.