Whether you are male or female, losing your hair can be a difficult time. That is partially due to the stigma that still exists around baldness. But why is there a stigma concerning hair loss?
The Stigma of Hair Loss in Men
Hair loss is a source of emotional distress for many men. That is nothing new, though. The stigma surrounding male baldness can be found as far back as biblical times. In the Holy Bible, there is a story of 42 boys who mocked the prophet Elisha by calling him “baldy”. Two bears then mauled the boys for their teasing.
It is also widely believed that Julius Caesar was obsessed with trying to cure his baldness. He reportedly attempted all manner of tonics and treatments to cure his hair loss. There are plenty of other historical mentions of men trying to find a cure for baldness too. The Vikings used a lotion of goose guano, and the ancient Greek Hippocrates used pigeon droppings combined with cumin, horseradish and nettles. These days, there are better options than animal faeces! One of the best treatments available is finasteride. It has been clinically proven to reduce hair loss. Finasteride works by preventing testosterone from converting into the DHT hormone, which shrinks hair follicles and causes hair loss. You can buy finasteride from Manual.
But why has there always been a stigma around male hair loss? Men create self-confidence from their hairstyles. So, when they lose even just a little hair, their self-esteem withers. Baldness can create serious psychological and emotional issues for men experiencing hair loss. A lot of the time, it is men’s low esteem about their baldness that makes them paranoid that everyone is staring at their hairless heads. In reality, there probably is not as much of a stigma about male baldness from others as many bald men think. Just look at successful men who have bald heads. People like Jason Statham and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson are proud of their baldness and do not try to disguise their hair loss. Indeed, many studies indicate that men with bald heads are perceived to be more masculine than men with hair.
The Stigma of Hair Loss in Women
Alopecia in women is more common than you may think. It is estimated that more than 50% of women will experience notable hair loss in their lifetimes. Hair loss can affect women’s self-perception, sensuality and confidence. When a woman experiences hair loss, it often results in significant stress and other emotional and psychological problems. That is especially true if the hair loss happens at a vulnerable time in their lives. Women experiencing baldness may question whether their partners still want to be with them, and they could become reclusive and give up activities like going to the gym or the swimming pool.
The good news is the stigma surrounding female baldness is changing rapidly. And the more that bald women have the confidence to go out in public without wearing a wig, scarf, or hat, the more they will be accepted. At the moment, bald women naturally cause attention when they go out, due to the fact that few embrace their baldness. The more that bald women are seen in public, the more the stigma will be lifted.
Talk-show host and actress Ricki Lake helped to make the issue a hot topic this year when she posted a picture of herself without hair on social media. She explained that she had been suffering from baldness for thirty years, and it had caused her deep pain and trauma. Her post struck a chord with the public, and it gained wide attention in the mainstream press.
