Men’s hair loss is an issue that is far from uncommon, but that doesn’t mean it’s any easier to deal with. When first confronted with thinning hair, young men may not know what steps they can take to address the problem. They can also lose their sense of style and self-confidence. No matter how severe their case may be, dealing with hair loss can be extremely stressful.
Fortunately, there are various techniques available for managing the condition. And while you treat hair loss, why not make the most of the situation? You can still be stylish and confident, hair situation aside. Here are three grooming tips to help you through hair loss.
1. Take Good Care of Your Scalp
While you’re focused on hair loss and regrowth, don’t forget about your hair’s ever-so-important neighbor, the scalp. Scalp health is often overlooked, but it plays a major role in hair health and the growth of new hair. Think of your scalp like the soil in a garden. If the soil is of poor quality, the plants growing in it can’t thrive.
Too frequent hair washing strips the scalp of natural oils, causing dryness and flaking. So if you’re in the habit of washing your hair daily, try switching to every other day. Also, replace vigorous scrubbing with a gentle massaging motion as you wash your hair in the shower. This stimulates blood flow to the scalp, which in turn contributes to hair growth.
Dandruff is often a sign of a dry, irritated scalp, which can eventually lead to hair thinning and loss. Cleansing with a gentle shampoo may remove the buildup of skin cells, but if not, use products specifically formulated to treat dandruff.
Finally, if you’re already to the “chrome dome” stage, don’t neglect sun protection. If you’re going to be exposed to the sun for a long period of time, wear a hat or apply sunscreen.
Bonus tip: While attending to your scalp’s health, don’t forget about scalp treatments. Applying topical finasteride and minoxidil directly onto the scalp can slow hair loss and stimulate hair growth.
2. Embrace the Right Styling Strategy
Once you’ve got your scalp health on the right track, you can focus on styling your remaining hair to best advantage. Young men who are losing hair can achieve great styles with the right cut and appropriate styling products. You can make it look like you have a full head of hair even if you don’t. Find a cut that creates that impression while at the same time focusing on regrowth.
In many cases, going short will be your best bet. This makes your thinning spots less apparent, and short hair, being lighter, is more suited to volumized styles. You can use a bit of styling clay to create some spikiness with short hair, whereas long hair will just flop over. Not a good look!
If you still have hair on top, a “high and tight” style can be flattering. While a combover isn’t going to fool anyone, you can still sport some layers on top, using styling mousse to create a tousled look. The volume on top will make up for your relative lack of hair in the back and on the sides.
Speaking of styling products, you’ll want to avoid anything too heavy. Thick creams and gels will weigh down your remaining hair and cause it to look oily. Opt instead for lightweight mousses, clays, and pastes that let you add texture without separating your strands, which will accentuate sparseness.
3. Grow Out Your Facial Hair
If you’re losing hair on your head but still successfully growing facial hair, take advantage of the change of venue. Facial hair adds depth to your face and contributes something to your overall look. Bald, bearded celebs like Samuel L. Jackson, John Travolta, and Bryan Cranston are onto something good. Rocking facial hair will give you the confidence you desperately need during your hair loss journey.
You can grow stubble, a goatee, a full beard, or anything in between. While the style of facial hair you grow is entirely up to you, know that different options have their advantages. A full beard is great because it allows you to be adventurous and play the rugged mountain man. It also gives the appearance of more hair overall — in other words, it might make hair loss up top less noticeable.
On the other hand, you may be in search of a more sophisticated style as you cope with your hair loss. In that case, a close-trimmed beard, goatee, a stubble could be more your speed. Whichever of these you choose to go with, know that you’ll have achieved a sleek, polished look.
Face shape is also a consideration when deciding on a style of facial hair that will flatter you best. If your face is round, consider a triangular shape — a goatee, say — to elongate your face. Men with a rectangular face, which is long enough to begin with, will do better with a beard style that adds width.
Embracing the New You
Medications like finasteride, surgical interventions, and lifestyle adjustments can all help if you’re experiencing hair loss. But even minor changes to your grooming routine will enable you to embrace your personal style and feel great about yourself again. You might be losing hair, but you don’t have to lose your sense of confidence.
