There are tons of upside to being bald: From less money wasted on haircuts to the classic “out of bed, on the road 5 minutes later and still looking good” routine many bald guys successfully pull off in the morning – being bald has its perks. But it can also be easy for balding men to slip into some patterns that do not work in their favour. Here we share the top 5 mistakes balding men make, so you know what NOT to do.
One immutable fact about baldness is that it accentuates your underlying condition. If you play your cards right, that means you’re now even more badass, handsome or rugged – depending which style you’re after.
But if you let yourself go, the same rule ruthlessly works against you: A sweaty guy in mismatched clothes with some nondescript haircut may slip by unnoticed – but people are going to remember the bald(ing) sweaty guy in mismatched clothes.
Chances are you’re going bald. Or you will, eventually. But worry not: Simply avoid these 5 mistakes to make sure your balding head leaves nothing but positive impressions with people.
1 – Don’t grow your hair to hide your baldness
Remember that guy with the long, thin hair that seemed so out of place? Remember that you could clearly see it growing from the back part of his head, revealing large parts of his scalp?
We’ve all seen that guy. Don’t be that guy. This is one of the most common mistakes balding men make.
Going bald is a fact of life for many guys. In most cases, it starts with either a receding hairline (aka “the growing forehead”) or a thinning crown. Depending on the haircut you were sporting before (hey, maybe you rocked long hair!), that progression can make you look funny rather quickly.
If you’re like most guys, growing out your hair to hide your bald spots won’t work. There are simply not enough suitable haircuts to hide these places – and even fewer guys who can pull them off without coming across as desperate.
The good news is that there are plenty of haircuts that work with both a receding hairline and a thinning crown, rather than trying to hide them. From the Crew Cut to the Quiff, there are options. Check out our list of Best Hairstyle for Balding Men to find the one best suited to your head!
2 – Forget Toupees and Transplants
If you really like(d) your hair, and you’re not short on cash, you might be considering a high-end toupee – or, more likely, a permanent transplant.
The argument against the former is simple: Just…don’t. It could be the mistake that gives you the unfavourable look of Donald Trump.
You’ll have to explain the sudden glory on your head to people around you, and real toupees are a pain in the behind to maintain. Look around: Do you see anyone successfully pulling off a toupee? Nope, we don’t either.
The latter option deserves a more differentiated argument. There is no denying that hair transplants have come a long way. And if you’re dead-set on “keeping” your hair, they present one of the few legitimate options. Having said that, they’re still rather expensive, and you better get ready to look like your neighbours freshly sown front lawn for months in a row between sessions.
Again – look around. How many of your friends have successfully had transplants and can wholeheartedly recommend them to you? Chances are you know more guys who went bald and love it. That should tell you something. Don’t make the same mistake many balding men have made before you.
3 – Avoid the wrong beard style when balding
Beards are awesome. We love ‘em just as much as any guy. Having said that, and against what some guys popularly manifest, they’re not a case of “set it and forget it”. The wrong beard badly maintained can obliterate any hair effort you make a few inches higher.
Getting a beard right takes work, and it starts with picking a style. One of the main things to consider (besides your actual beard growth) is the shape of your head: Beards can work magic in bringing out positive and hiding suboptimal features about your head. Got a square head? Try a Balbo. On the rounder side? Consider a Goatee. Check out our list of the Best Beard Styles for Bald Men for some more inspiration, with the added benefit of already knowing your perfect beard style if and when you take the plunge.
Once you find your style, treat that beard like your life depends on it. You can get away with a lot when rocking an awesome, well-maintained beard. Trim it regularly, brush it often, and consider using beard oil for that extra touch of awesomeness.
4 – Bald men can’t neglect fashion
You might not care too much about what you wear. And that might have worked out just fine for you before.
But remember the statement in the beginning? If you’re in a battle with your balding head, don’t make the mistake of giving people any extra reason to judge you for it.
Mind you – no need to become a fashion model as soon as you notice a bit of a receding hairline. But even if you’ve been able to pull off the no-style style for your teens and early twenties, a bit of attention to how you dress can go a long way and play a crucial part in your overall appearance. Even if you don’t want to spend hours designing your wardrobe, following a few basic styling tricks will make all the difference going forward, no matter if you’ve only just started on this journey or you’re a die-hard bald head already.
5 – Don’t ignore accessories
“Accessories?? But I’m a dude!” you may say. Hold your horses – first of all, it’s 2021 and the two actually go together fairly well by now. Second, we’re talking about a rather broad definition of the term here.
For our purposes, accessories can be anything that adds a subtle (or not-so-subtle, if you’re ballsy) little touch to your appearance.
The red line on the back of your leather shoes.
The watch showing the time in a binary fashion.
The socks with 8-bit game characters on them.
The hand-made leather messenger bag from a hip niche brand.
The perfect sunglasses for your face shape.
You get the point. There’s a lot you can do without completely redoing your style or breaking the bank. If you can’t think of anything off the top of your head, take some time and look around: Ignoring hairstyles and main articles of clothing, what are things you pick up on other guys? What catches your attention? What makes you smile?
Make a list and give some accessories a try. You’ll notice quickly that sometimes, a little goes a long way in changing an impression.
Summary
Going bald is not the end of the world – not by a long shot. In fact, it might just be the wake-up call to up your game a bit and increase your awareness of your appearance.
Don’t just grow hair randomly – find a style that works with your stage of baldness.
If you can, consider growing a badass beard. It can be a game-changer.
Dress the part – pay attention to the basics and go from there.
Experiment with accessories – there’s something awesome for every style.
And last but not least – consider going bald. Millions of guys have traveled that road, and it leads to a happy place if you embrace it. It feels awesome, it’s sexy as hell and Women like it.
Instead of worrying, find out what you’d look like bald. You might just love it and never look back
