Going bald is a natural part of the aging process for many men. It’s estimated that by the age of 50, up to half of men have signs of male pattern baldness, and this percentage continues to increase with age.
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(unless otherwise noted).
Going bald is a natural part of the aging process for many men. It’s estimated that by the age of 50, up to half of men have signs of male pattern baldness, and this percentage continues to increase with age.
Going bald has no known health complications, but for many men, losing a full head of hair can feel like losing a piece of identity.
If you’ve been noticing your hair thinning or your hairline receding, it may offer some consolation to know that many famous men widely considered attractive have successfully pulled off the bald look. Just a few examples include Jason Statham, The Rock, Vin Diesel, and Terry Crews.
If you’re wondering how to look good bald, this article will give you the tips and tricks you need to make your bald head stand out in the best possible way.
Here’s what some women we interviewed had to say on the subject of balding:
"A bald man who is confident in himself is more attractive than a man with a full head of hair and little confidence." —Jen, 41
"There are many factors contributing to attraction other than your hair! How you take care of your body, personal hygiene, personality, and confidence all matter as well." —Laura, 27
"I don’t think women care about balding as much as men think. As long as you own it! Don’t hang onto those last few strands because that’s not the vibe, in my humble opinion." —Ava*, 27
What looks “good” is suggestive, and your opinion might not be the same as your friend’s opinion or your neighbor's opinion. Here are some steps you can take to cultivate your image in the best possible way, but they are not set rules you have to follow.
If you have male pattern baldness, chances are that you still have some hair on your head. Many men who notice their hair significantly thinning or their hairline receding decide to shave their entire scalp instead of leaving the classic horseshoe pattern around the rim of their scalp.
Whether you shave your entire scalp or not is your personal decision. If you’re on the fence, you may find it helpful to talk to friends or family you trust to give you an honest opinion.
Mike Anderson was just 23 when he first noticed his receding hairline. He knew male pattern baldness ran in his family, so it wasn’t exactly a shock to see hair thinning. “I wasn’t surprised, but I was surprised,” he says with a laugh, recalling old wedding photos of his grandfather, who was already bald by his early twenties. Still, experiencing hair loss firsthand caught him off guard.
Mike initially chose a short hairstyle to make thinning less noticeable. Ultimately, it took him years to fully embrace a shaved head.
“When I first started losing my hair, it wasn’t cool,” he says. “I was young, and I was dating. It bothered me, that’s for sure… To be honest with you, various sports stars, like Michael Jordan, helped me get comfortable with losing my hair. I was like, ‘Wow, he’s bald, and everybody loves him, so this can’t be too bad.’”
In his early 30s, Mike finally decided to shave his head. By then, he’d come to terms with his hair loss and felt less bothered by it.
“You’ve just got to get past it. You’ve got to let it go. I don’t think I would’ve ever done anything for it, like getting a hair replacement or taking something,” he says. “I wouldn’t have gone that route. Instead, I embraced it and focused on other things to feel good, like working out.”
If you decide it isn’t time to shave your head yet, you may want to try wearing your hair in a style that may hide balding areas. Some popular choices include:
Buzz Cut: A very short haircut where your hair is clipped near your scalp all over. It can potentially minimize contrast between bald spots and thicker hair.
Crew Cut: A crew cut is short on the sides and slightly longer on top. It might also help minimize contrast between balding areas and your hair.
Caesar Cut: A Caesar cut is a short cut with the hair at the front combed forward, which can potentially cover a receding hairline.
Ivy League: This variation of the crew cut is a little longer all around, particularly at the front. If you only have a mild receding hairline, this hairstyle gives you a little more flexibility when it comes to parting your hair.
Side Part: A side part can be styled with a longer top to cover thinning areas.
Comb Over: Hair is subtly combed over thinning spots. This may hide the early stages of balding, but it may not be as aesthetic if you have large bald spots.
Shaggy Cut: A medium-length cut with layers or a messy style may hide bald spots.
Long cuts: Longer hairstyles may be able to hide balding areas on your scalp. However, some styles may emphasize balding areas.
If you decide to take the plunge and shave your head, you may worry about being committed to one hairstyle for the rest of your life. Rest assured, there are many things you can do to switch up your vibe, including growing a beard or wearing glasses.
Assessing your face shape is one way you can figure out which styles may look best on you.
Nowadays, many apps can help you assess your face shape, and some of these are free.
These are some general rules of thumb for what type of look suits each facial type, but keep in mind that these are just guidelines. In general, many stylists and plastic surgeons aim to make the face look more rectangular for men, so many of these tips are tricks to make your face look more like this shape.
For men with rounder faces, stylists often recommend glasses and beard styles that add angles to your face, while they often recommend the opposite for men with more angular faces.
Glasses: Most styles can work
Beard: Most styles can work
Glasses: Rectangular or angular frames can add length to your face
Beard: A Goatee or angular beard can define your jawline.
Glasses: Round or oval frames can soften angles
Beard: A Short boxed or tapered beard can balance your jawline
Glasses: Taller or round frames may shorten your facial appearance
Beard: Full beard or stubble may help reduce face length
Glasses: Oval or rimless frames may complement your cheekbones
Beard: Chin-length beard or goatee may balance a narrow jawline
Glasses: Bottom-heavy or aviator styles may help balance your wider forehead
Beard: Stubble or pointed goatee may add chin definition
Glasses: Top-heavy frames may help balance your jawline
Beard: A full beard may add volume to your jaw
It’s time to shave my head, you’re telling yourself. Okay, then you’ll need the right gear to keep your hair short and scalp clear. Here are the essentials you’ll need.
Clippers: Perfect for buzzing down long hair before a full shave.
Trimmer: A trimmer can help detail the hard-to-reach areas, like around your ears and sideburns.
Shaver: A high-quality electric shaver or razor can help give you a smooth, clean-shaven finish.
Exfoliator: Exfoliating before shaving can help remove dead skin cells and reduce irritation.
Moisturizer: Moisturizing after every shave can help keep the skin soft and prevent dryness.
The best time to shave your scalp with a razor is right after you shower, as the warm water from the shower will soften your skin. Washing your scalp in the shower also helps to strip away any dead skin cells and oils that can stick to your razor blade and make it less effective.
To avoid developing razor burn or ingrown hairs, make sure that you shave in the direction that your hair grows.
If you notice dandruff on your scalp (yes, it can happen even when you shave your head), apply a small amount of moisturizer immediately after washing. Some men also use skincare on their scalp to help keep acne at bay.
You may know that male pattern baldness is caused by a hormone called dihydrotestosterone, or DHT.
Ironically, the exact same hormone that’s responsible for hair loss is also partly responsible for the growth of your facial and body hair.
If you’re starting to go bald, an easy way to add some extra balance to your face is to grow out your facial hair.
Not only can a beard change up your appearance, it’s also an effective way to compensate for thinning around your hairline or on your scalp.
As we’ve covered in our guide to growing a beard to match your facial features, the golden rule of growing a beard is that it needs to complement your face.
This means choosing a beard style that emphasizes the shape and width of your face, the type of chin you have and other factors.
Your hair only makes up a small part of your overall look. No matter whether you’re balding or not, exercising regularly and working on your fitness may make you look and feel better.
One popular look for balding men is shaving their head, growing a beard, and bulking up in the gym, especially their upper body. Think celebrities like Dwayne Johnson and Terry Crews.
You might not have the time or desire to get that big, but even putting on a little bit of muscle might help complement your look, especially if you’re on the skinnier side.
Some ways you can bulk up include:
Eat more calories: If you want to gain weight, you’re going to have to eat more calories than you’re burning.
Prioritize protein: Aim for 1.6–2.2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight daily. In imperial, this is 0.7 to 1.0 grams per pound.
Lift heavy: Focus on lifts like squats, deadlifts, and bench press that use your large muscles and multiple muscle groups.
Progressive overload: Gradually increase weights or reps over time and avoid the trap of going too heavy right away.
Rest well: Make sure you’re getting adequate rest to support your exercise. Usually, this means getting more than 7 hours per night.
Track progress: Monitor your weight and gains, and then adjust your food and protein intake accordingly.
Learn more about gaining muscle and losing weight.
Without the hair on your head, your scalp is at risk of sunburn and increased environmental exposure. Here are some tips to support your scalp skincare:
Exfoliating: You can try exfoliating about twice a week to prevent clogged pores and ingrown hairs.
Moisturize: You can moisturize daily to help prevent dryness and flakiness.
Sunscreen: Your scalp is extremely sensitive to UV rays, so it's important to apply sun protection every time you step outside to prevent a scalp sunburn. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends SPF 30+, broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen for optimal protection.
It used to be a prevalent myth that wearing a hat causes baldness. While there’s never been any evidence that this is true, hats have long been a staple in men’s fashion.
Many men who are balding decide to regularly wear a hat. Of course, you don’t need to wear a hat because there’s no need to be embarrassed about balding, but you have plenty of options if you feel like it.
Many hat styles are available including:
Beanies: Soft, casual, and perfect for covering the top of your head
Newsboy Cap: Sits low, covering receding hairlines
Fedora: A classic and versatile hat with a brim
Trilby: Similar to a fedora but with a narrower brim
Baseball Cap: Casual and practical
Snapback: A trendy, flat-brim style that can be worn forward or backward, similar to a baseball cap
Panama Hat: Lightweight and stylish, ideal for summer and outdoor events.
Knit Skull Cap: Close-fitting and warm, great for winter or cold weather
Bucket Hat: Casual, with a soft brim and offers plenty of sun protection
Straw hat: A great choice for when you’re out in the sun
Identifying the cause of your hair loss can help you figure out if it’s reversible or if it’s likely to get worse over time.
Balding is medically called alopecia. The most common cause of alopecia is male pattern baldness, which is largely determined by your genetics. There’s little you can do to stop male pattern baldness, but medications like finasteride and minoxidil may help slow or even reverse some hair loss.
You can talk to a licensed professional through our telehealth service about potential hair loss medications. If they determine you make a good candidate, they can prescribe finasteride and minoxidil online so you don’t need to go into a clinic in person.
Less commonly, baldness is caused by an underlying medical condition that may include, but isn’t limited to, the following:
Alopecia areata: Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition that causes patchy hair loss. Hair often grows back after “flare-ups”.
Telogen effluvium: Telogen effluvium is a temporary shedding triggered by stress, illness, surgery, or childbirth. It’s often reversible.
Traction alopecia: Traction alopecia is hair loss from repeated pulling or tight hairstyles. It may be somewhat reversible depending on the extent of damage to your hair follicles.
Scarring alopecia: Scarring alopecia is permanent hair loss from conditions that damage hair follicles (like lichen planopilaris or lupus).
Nutritional deficiencies: Some nutrient deficiencies may contribute to hair loss, such as a lack of iron, protein, zinc, or vitamins. Correcting these deficiencies may improve hair loss.
Medications: Medications such as chemotherapy, anticoagulants, retinoids, and others may cause temporary hair loss.
Endocrine disorders: Some hormonal imbalances, such as thyroid disease, can contribute to hair loss and may be reversible after hormone levels are corrected.
Learning how to look good bald involves understanding your goals and what type of look you want to adopt. There’s absolutely no reason to feel embarrassed by losing your hair since it’s a normal part of the aging process for the majority of people.
If you do decide you want to try to slow your hair loss, there are medications like finasteride and minoxidil available that can help. You can talk to a healthcare professional about these treatments through our telehealth service.
You may find it takes some trial and error to find what type of look best suits you. It’s normal to feel insecure about your changing hairline, but rest assured that many people still find this look attractive. If you still don’t believe us, here are some more quotes from women we interviewed:
"It’s okay. It’s a natural process. Don’t fight it, and maybe even shave your head. When too much effort is put into trying to retain thin wisps, it’s probably time to lean in and go super short." —Kirstin, 60
"I like when balding men deal with hair loss by shaving their heads, in most cases. Women are attracted to your warmth, humor, intelligence, and kindness, and the quality of your hair is not much concern. Embrace it, and don’t overcompensate by trying to hide it. Comb-overs are usually not attractive. Let it be and enjoy your life." —Marlene, 72
"Embrace it and find the look that works for you! If you are open to shaving, just do it. The in-between stage is bad."— Isabel*, 33
"Accept it, buzz it, and rock it." —Hilary*, 36
"It’s a natural part of life. Don’t hide it, embrace it." —Julie*, 27
"The fully bald head is a complete turn-on." —Kelly, 33
"Baldness is definitely not a deal-breaker for me. We live in a world where Jason Statham exists, and balding can be really attractive. In terms of physical attributes, other things matter more, like personal style, neat fingernails, and nice skin. On the topic of skin, a shiny bald head can look great. Consider using skincare products, and sunscreen on your scalp to keep it looking its best." —Libby*, 36
"There’s nothing wrong with being bald. Sometimes it’s the better option!" —Brittany, 31
"Confident men are sexy." —Gaby, 27
"I think being bald can be very attractive and that most men almost always look better being completely bald and confident than being balding and not having as much confidence." —Brooke*, 30
"It's not a big deal to be bald, but obsessing over hair loss is not cute." —Alison*, 31
"Don’t let it impact your confidence, which makes the problem much worse." —Leah, 30
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