There are plenty of articles out there telling you what to do when your crowning glory starts to thin, a freakishly symmetrical ring of skin appearing on top, your temples reaching new heights to the point where you’re not sure where your forehead ends and your scalp begins. So why do you need another one?
Because, good sirs, these articles will start by telling you that there are miracle products out there that can a) slow down the process, b) hide the evidence and c) fix you up with a nice fresh crop, giving you false hope and a misguided sense that you can reverse the process.
I’m here to tell you: you can’t. And not only that – you shouldn’t.
Hair loss can be a miserable thing to happen to a man – in a world of man-buns and Brad Pitt, the pressure is on to have long flowing locks – or at least locks full stop. Hairiness has become equitable with masculinity, virility and strength, in an extension of post-pubescent growth and manliness that somewhere along the lines got taken far too seriously. It may feel like your body is working against you, and the sense of betrayal you may experience can be painful.
When the hair begins to thin on top, and the word toupé springs to mind, greet it swiftly with the mental equivalent of a sucker punch, move on and never revisit the idea. Yes, Sean Connery wore one for many years, but James Bond can do what he likes and attitudes then weren’t what they are now. These days we have hairless heroes to guide the way and provide a little inspiration.
"Stanley Tucci, after being told he had become a sex symbol for bald men, quipped “Well, someone had to do it.”"
Take Yul Brynner, for example, a veritable God amongst men and one who adopted the bald look after his role as King Siam in The King and I(1951), aged 31. Embracing it as his signature style and never looking back, no one since has rocked the polished dome quite as well as he. His muscular build, extraordinary eyebrows and mirada fuerte – which on paper sound like a rather ridiculous caricature – only add to his mystery and sex appeal, as well as making him incredibly distinctive and incomparably recognisable as an individual. Plus, he’s totally badass.
If you’re still not convinced, you only have to look to icons Forrest Whittaker, Bruce Willis, Mark Strong, Billy Zane, Patrick Stewart, John Malkovich and Samuel L. Jackson; a list of talented, attractive, smart and charismatic actors with not a hair on their head whose essence one can easily channel. The Rakecover star Stanley Tucci, after being told he had become a sex symbol for bald men, quipped “Well, someone had to do it.” His compelling on screen presence and astonishing depth of character in every role he plays has made him a respected household name, as well as the recipient of many well-deserved awards including a BAFTA and a Golden Globe.
There also seems to be a trend to counteract the supposed ‘lack of masculinity’ up top by overcompensating with exercise and facial hair. Whilst I wouldn’t dare condemn either, any distinguished gentleman knows that an impeccable tailor and a well-cut suit can do more for one’s general appearance than six months’ slog in a sweaty gym trying to attain an ab and a bicep, and the same goes for acquiring one’s own personal style – be it a handlebar moustache, light dusting of stubble or baby-faced clean shave. Having said that, we have sports stars like heavyweight boxing champion Jack Johnson to thank for giving the bald head its kickass reputation. For him, it remains a mystery whether it was to keep handfuls of hair from his opponent’s reach, a tool of seduction or simply personal preference but he looked bloody good whatever it was. Furthermore, voluntarily ridding oneself of hair is a sign of being in possession of confidence by the bucketful, subsequently making you a far more intimidating opponent in the ring (be it figuratively or literally).
