(Originally Aired on 7/6/19)
Hair loss, the bane of the existence of many follicle flaunters, regardless of gender. This of course includes many trans men. This like everything else effects different people differently based on genetics and a slew of other factors.
Generally speaking, once you start testosterone your hair line will likely recede to a more "masculine" placement. However, some men don't have the luck of it stopping there. So then the question becomes, what can you do?
Well, there is always the option of accepting or even embracing the extra scalp real estate. Though it is common for people with thinning hair to feel insecure about the way they look, it's also a common enough condition that the sight of you is far from going to send people running for the hills.
If you do decide that you want to fight the hair loss, there are plenty of options out there for you. Let's start with some of the more well known to get them out of the way.
Taking care of your health
Hair loss could be a sign of underlying health issues. Before doing any other methods, it’s recommended to consult a doctor to make sure your internal health, from your blood pressure to your vitamin and mineral needs, is as ship shape as you can get it.
Rogaine
We covered this in the episode about beard growth, but as a short recap this is an over-the-counter formula that you apply to the area you want to promote hair growth. If using this product it’s highly recommended to follow all instructions and consult a doctor before starting the regimen.
Hair plugs
According to symptomfind.com:
“Hair plugs, or a hair transplant, describes a surgical procedure that entails moving healthy hairs from a thicker patch of hair on your scalp, which is referred to as a donor site, to the area that is balding. Multiple hair plug sessions may be needed depending on the severity of the baldness, and the thickness and color of the hair.”
There are multiple methods for the transplantation, and they each move different amounts of hair at a time. No matter what, though, it procedure is considered surgical, which brings with it the risks of complication as well as the before and after care.
Toupee/wig
While the toupee has been considered the punch line of quite a few slapstick gags, if you are willing to invest in a good quality piece that properly matches your hair color, it can be almost impossible to distinguish it from your real hair. This does of course come with the extra time spent learning how to cut, apply, style, and remove the hair piece, though. Not to mention you will want to replace it any time it gets too dirty or worn down, and learning to properly wash and care for it in the meantime.
Comb over
This is a hairstyle that can be helpful at the beginning stages of male pattern baldness, depending on the size and location of the bald spot. This is simply the act of styling your hair to cover the bald patch. That’s it. Usually a decent amount of hair styling product is required to keep the comb over in place, but with enough time and practice it can get you through the day.
Shaving the rest of your head
Some guys can rock the completely bald look. If you can, it’s a considerably more cost effective option out of all of them, especially if you shave it yourself at home. If Vin Diesel can do it, maybe you can too?
Micropigmentation
This one is more recent, and less well known. Long story short, this is a process in which a professional tattoos little dots on your scalp to make it look like you have a buzz cut. For this to look more natural you have to keep your real hair very short to match it, but it can be cheaper than some other options.
Propecia
According to webmd:
“Propecia is the first pill that can treat male pattern hair loss. Like all prescription products, it should be given under a doctor's care. While it is effective, if treatment is discontinued, results may not be maintained.”
PRP (platelet-rich plasma)
This is a procedure that involves injecting plasma into the balding area in order to promote collagen production and get the follicles going again.
Scalp Reduction
This is another surgical procedure where they just go ahead and remove the parts of your scalp that have stopped producing hair, and stretch the hairy part of your skin over to fill in the gap.
Well there you have it, folks. A wide variety of options to solve a very common condition, ranging in extremes based on your budget and how much you want to go through in order to have a full head of hair. Again I highly suggest consulting with your doctor before doing any procedure, especially anything surgical, and make the decision that best suits your needs.