The Emotional and Social Side of Hair Loss

Everybody loses hair from their head at a rate of approximately 100 hairs a day, but when the body stops producing new hairs in the place of lost hairs, or the body loses hair at a greater rate that it can replace them at, thinning hair and bald patches can occur. Whilst the majority of baldness is male pattern baldness, which at least a third of men will experience by the age of 45, there are many other causes of both male and female baldness, such as alopecia, trichotillomania (a compulsion to pull out one’s own hair) and certain nutrient deficiencies. No matter what age you start losing your hair at, no matter what the cause, there is no doubt that it can severely impact one’s self esteem and make people self-conscious and insecure.There are certain clichés and opinions that go hand-in-hand with baldness, such as men appearing old and ‘past it’ instead of a young and virile Samson with strong, thick hair. Your hair is one of your most definable and recognisable features and as such men can find that they lose their confidence, attractiveness and part of their identity along with their hair, to the point that they feel like they’re fading into the background. As it is considered part of the ageing process, many older men eventually learn to accept it. But when men in their late 20s to early 30s start to notice bald spots, or a receding hair line, it can trigger all manner of negative emotions. Whilst most employers state that they wouldn’t turn down somebody for a position or promotion due to baldness, the loss of confidence can in turn affect how well people are able to present themselves in an interview or presentation situation in the workplace and indirectly affect their chances.Surprisingly, an increasing number of women are suffering from hair loss and they often say that they feel unfeminine and that it draws stares and unwanted attention at a time when they feel unconfident and unattractive. Turn on the TV or flick through a magazine and you’re bound to see an advert for the latest shampoo or hair styling product and be inundated by celebrities and models with flowing, lustrous hair, which sends out the message of ‘you must have perfect, healthy hair in order to be deemed attractive’. Likewise, the surge in pills and topical treatments to prevent or reverse hair loss gives people a small amount of hope, but ultimately sends out the same message.It seems like people suffering from partial or complete baldness are left with the choice to either learn to live with their new, altered appearance or find a way of disguising it. The route of disguising it also has its pitfalls. Just look at how many visual gags are based on unrealistic toupees or the amount of hype surrounding celebrities such as Ben Affleck and Wayne Rooney who have had hair transplants. As well as people feeling more self-conscious and that their efforts to disguise their baldness is obvious and unconvincing, it just isn’t quite the same as the person they used to see in the mirror before they started losing their hair. Having hair that looks and feels just like their own is a dream come true for hair loss sufferers.The Total Cover Plus system uses a state of the art material as the ‘scalp’ that acts like real skin and allows the skin on the scalp to breathe without slipping around (one of the major dreaded issues with hair pieces). It also uses real human hair so that it can be styled to the wearer’s specifications and, more importantly, feels true to them. Losing your hair can lead to depression, a loss of confidence and a loss of identity, but having a realistic hair replacement solution that looks and feels realistic can really give people back their identity and self-worth.

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