The bald facts about embracing my hair loss
Radio presenter Phil Dave opens up about the insecurity of a receding hair line and how he finally realised he can look good without his trademark spiky haircut.
“It’s fine, it’s only a couple of strands.” For years now, I’ve been telling myself that that’s all it was, every time I was in the shower, every time I was getting ready to go out. The problem is those strands add up and before long you start to notice there’s a real problem.
Of course, I’m referring to hair loss. Something that I have been experiencing for longer than I’d care to admit. I shall refrain from using the term “suffering with” as I don’t really consider myself to have suffered. Having said that, there is nothing that can prepare you for the emotional rollercoaster you experience when a part of your very identity is disintegrating before you.
Apparently we lose anything between 50-100 hairs per day, of course, for many people, those hairs grow back but for some reason mine failed to do so – why?
Even now, it’s quite hard for me to appreciate that I’m talking about something that’s happened to me. For years my hair was a bit of a trademark, imagine the lovechild of Gary Rhodes and Marge Simpson – I know, a terrifying prospect but working in radio, I needed to do something to stand out. If the truth be told, I would cover it up, for a long time I found myself simply brushing what hair was left in a different direction just to ensure that ever-growing patches were, somehow, concealed. In my prime,
I was even known as ‘Phil the Hair’.
It’s quite staggering how the insecurity of little or no hair can lead one to make the most frivolous of decisions. I did look into numerous alternatives – from hair transplants, to non surgical options (that’s where they stick a hair piece to your scalp).
The bottom line is, it doesn’t matter whether one looks good with or without hair, you have to feel good inside and that’s sometimes much easier said than done.
All these treatments had one common denominator, they wouldn’t get you much change from several thousands of pounds. As a young professional who, like so many, continues to struggle his way onto the property ladder, how could I possibly justify spending that sort of money on pure vanity?
Furthermore, who actually cares? Yet all that went through my head was, I don’t want this to happen to me, please make it stop, how do I make it stop before it’s too late? What’s the best way to conceal the truth? So many trivial questions – how ridiculous is that? Yet when I’ve spoken to others in a similar position, they have also said they felt very much the same way.
The bottom line is, it doesn’t matter whether one looks good with or without hair, you have to feel good inside and that’s sometimes much easier said than done.
To mark my recent 34th birthday, I decided to take charge, it was time to lay these proverbial demons to bed. I decided to brave the shave, from having (limited) strands of hair down to my shoulders to a number three cut all over and, I’ve got to tell you, I feel completely liberated. Not to mention, it is so quick to get ready in the morning.
Why didn’t I do it years ago? I guess I’ll never know but what I can do is tell you, if it’s something you’re experiencing and something that troubles you, go for it. You know no one will think less of you and what better way to deal with such levels of anxiety than putting it to rest.
Take it from me and mein hair!
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