It's easy to feel vain about the look of your hair, especially if you
have concerns over visible thinning and hair loss. Yet, some men don't
seem bothered by their receding hair lines or shiny scalp, and embrace
their baldness instead by shaving their heads completely. Is going bald
with so much enthusiasm really a good idea, or is it better to consider
treatment for your hair loss instead?
The History of Baldness
Planned baldness, or shaving your head for the sake of fashion, has been in style just about since the dawn of time.
- In ancient Egypt, Rome and Greece, shaved heads were not uncommon and were even preferred. Egyptians then wore stylish wigs over their shaved heads for the blunt-cut black hairdo that so epitomizes this culture's fashion history. Priests in Egypt took this concept even further by removing all hair via plucking, including facial and body hair.
- During the reign of King Louis XIII of France, his premature baldness (at the tender age of just 23) led to a new fashion craze: the elaborate, curly-haired wig. Wigs soon became a status symbol in their own right, as evidenced by most of the royalty throughout Europe as well as the first American presidents.
Baldness wasn't always the height of status and fashion, however. In
fact, a number of cultures viewed shaving the head as a punishment or
penance, which is why so many prisoners are seen with bald heads in
historical photos and etchings. Other cultures shaved their heads in
times of mourning to show their grief as well as giving respect to their
loved ones. And even very recently, a Japanese pop star shaved her head
to show her contrition for violating the rules of her band, begging
forgiveness for her transgressions.
Baldness as Fashion Trend
These days, more men are likely to shave their heads and flaunt a
shiny skull rather than covering up with a wig afterwards. Stars like
Bruce Willis, Bryan Cranston in Breaking Bad and Vin Diesel have all
made headlines with their squeaky clean look that has become synonymous
with the tough guy persona. Even more elegant actors like Patrick
Stewart, Ben Kingsley and Stanley Tucci are recognizable by their
characteristic hair - or lack thereof.
Whether as a deliberate fashion statement or natural occurrence,
there's no denying that baldness is a very distinctive look. As such, it
might not be right for everyone. For men who don't want to resort to
the buff action star look, Propecia
offers a simple solution that not only prevents active hair loss, but
also encourages regrowth even in dormant hair follicles. Rogaine offers
another treatment option: a cream that needs to be applied twice daily
for maximum effect instead of coming in pill form like Propeica. If
you're not quite ready to commit to going bald, there are plenty of
options to keep the hair you have.