Male pattern baldness affects millions of men and women worldwide. While some embrace it confidently, others go through a journey full of emotional and physical challenges.
Join me as we discover the pain points and challenges we go through when we wake up one day and notice the initial stages of hair loss.
The Emotional Journey of Going Bald
Initial shock and denial
Imagine waking up and finding over 100 strands of hair on your pillow. They say losing 50 to 100 hair strands daily is normal, but losing more can trigger emotions.
From anxiety to disbelief, it's quite the emotional rollercoaster that only those who experience baldness go through.
You wished this was temporary, like hair loss due to stress or sickness. Because most of the time, hair grows back when you deal with stress or after successful treatment for an ailment.
In my case, male pattern baldness ran in the family. Both my father's and mother's sides had it, so I knew from the outset that I had a high chance of going bald as well.
Practical Concerns and Pain Points
Emotional impact on self-esteem
As hair loss progresses, your self-esteem takes a shot, which in some cases may lead to depression. In my case, I didn't get depressed because I decided to fight hair loss.
I tried numerous hair growth products, hoping to find the miracle cure or holy grail every baldie was searching for. It was frustrating because none of them worked.
Dealing with social pressure and perception
When hair loss started to creep up on me, it was a time when society looked down on bald people. We were the butt of jokes which led to feelings of inadequacy and loss of identity for some baldies.
Movies would even show bald villains, a stereotype that would affect those going through male pattern hair loss.
But wait things have changed. A study shows that head shavers are perceived as more dominant, tougher and taller.
Addressing misconceptions about baldness
People still have misconceptions about baldness. Some would associate baldness with poor health. They may think that you're sick and about to die or you have a terminal illness like cancer.
As I mentioned, some may think that all bald guys have character traits similar to those of the bald villains they see on screen.
Coping with physical discomfort
Beyond emotional challenges, baldies may also experience physical discomfort. Having less or no hair means we are more vulnerable to sunburn and scalp problems like dryness, razor burn, and dandruff.
Navigating reactions from family, friends, and colleagues
We can't control how our family, friends, and peers may react to our hair loss. Some may be supportive, while others may be insensitive and downright judgmental.
Learning how to navigate these reactions is crucial in maintaining healthy relationships.
Dating and intimacy concerns
If your confidence gets lost along with your hair, dating, and intimacy may become problematic. Some baldies may worry that their partners will leave them for those with a full head of hair.
What You Wish You'd Known
You can't win against male pattern baldness
Looking back, one of the things I wish I knew was that male pattern baldness is the undisputed and undefeated champ. I could have saved money, time, effort, and emotions by not looking for a hair growth product that didn't exist. While some products resulted in some improvement, it took years to accept that no matter what hair growth product I used, I would never restore my lost hair.
Shaving is the best solution for male pattern baldness
Had I known the truth about hair loss and that no one had beaten it, I would have shaved my head from the start.
After spending so much time and money on hair growth products that gave marginal results, I made the best decision a balding person can make to solve hair loss once and for all: shaving my head.
If you're still on the fence about whether or not to shave your head, you can read our article on whether you should shave your head to help you make an informed decision.
Conclusion
The journey of going bald takes you on a roller coaster of challenges. You're expected to be overwhelmed initially, but remember, you're not alone.
From the initial shock of hair loss to going through pain points, you can navigate this range of experiences by accepting your baldness and rocking it confidently.
Learn from the experience of baldies who have gone through what you're facing and apply what we've learned.
If you decide to join the head shaver's club, we recommend the FlexSeries from Freebird. Today, it's one of the best electric head shavers on the market, and it also works for baldies with sensitive skin.
For more options, you can check out our comprehensive guide on the best head shavers for men.
Happy shaving!
