Losing your hair isn’t easy to deal with, especially if you find yourself suddenly finding bald spots when before you’ve had a luscious head of hair. Trying to restore your hair isn’t an easy task either. There are pills, ointments1, natural remedies, and some people even head off to get a hair transplant in Turkey. However, whether you’re in the stage of trying to regrow your hair or you’re stuck with it still receding, it can have a negative impact 2on your life. Keep reading to find out why…
Loss Of Confidence
The most common way receding hair impacts your life is by completely destroying your confidence. It can make you feel old before your time as hair loss is normally associated with older people. However, this isn’t always the case. Up to 20% of men say that they experience receding hair in their 20s, so It’s actually extremely common in younger men too. It can be hard to adapt to your new look as well, making it tricky for you to feel as confident as you once were about your appearance.
If you’re someone who prides themselves upon having thick, healthy hair, it can really lower your self-esteem when it starts to recede and change. It might seem impossible for you to restore your confidence, but you need to understand that you’re worth more than the hair on your head. You have so many other amazing qualities about you, so your hair should be the least of your worries.
Feelings Of Shame
Hair loss3, especially in younger men and women, feels like a taboo subject. If a younger man is spotted with receding hair or loss, people will assume that he perhaps has an illness or has developed alopecia. But really, it’s a natural part of being a human, and it can affect anyone, no matter their age.
Trying to keep it a secret and not being able to talk openly about it can cause you to feel ashamed of your receding hair. You should never be made to feel as though your hair is cause for shame, and the taboo 4around hair loss needs to be broken. Don’t be afraid to talk about it; you may notice an improvement in your overall attitude to your situation.
Stress On Relationships
Receding hair can also put a strain on your relationships, both romantic and friendly. If you’re single, you may be too embarrassed to go on dates for fear of what the other person might think. If you’re in a relationship, you may be concerned that your partner is going to look at you differently as your appearance has changed. However, the right person will not care about these things and will like you for who you are, not your hair.
No one has ever been in a relationship with someone purely because they liked their hair, so your partner will be understanding and want to support you through your hair loss journey. You may be worried about how your friends will see you, but if you feel ready to confide in them, you can actually strengthen your relationships. This is because you’ve let them into your world a little bit more and show them that you trust them completely.
Reduced Social Life
You may feel that your receding hair is extremely noticeable and worry about going out in public. This can make it hard for you to want to meet up with friends and family, especially in social settings like bars and restaurants. If you feel like your hair loss has drastically changed your appearance, it can make you feel as though people will be staring at you. In reality, people will barely notice you as they’re more concerned with their own lives and appearance. Don’t let receding hair stop you from living life to the fullest so get out there!
Anxiety And Depression
Feelings of low self-esteem and shame can eventually lead to you feeling anxious and even depressed, making it even harder for you to try and cope with your hair loss. You may notice that you feel more self-conscious and insecure, causing you to view yourself in a negative way. If you don’t manage to overcome it, it can make you feel depressed and feel like you’ve become worthless.
However, this definitely isn’t the case, and you may think that your brain is telling you the truth, but it really isn’t Your hair doesn’t define your self-worth, and your appearance isn’t as impacted by it as you think. You may struggle to overcome feelings of anxiety, too, particularly in social situations.
Anxiety attacks can be quite common when you’re feeling underconfident about your appearance, so receding hair can increase the likelihood of them happening. But this doesn’t have to be your life moving forward. Learning to accept the changes to your hair will massively help reduce any symptoms of anxiety and depression that you may have. If you’re really struggling, then make sure you speak to a professional who can help you to beat these emotions.
Receding hair isn’t something to take lightly, as it can have quite a negative impact on your life without you even realizing it. However, receding hair or hair loss doesn’t have to become a negative aspect of your appearance. Learning to embrace who you are and everything that comes along with it can really help boost your self-esteem and reduce any social anxiety you may have developed.
Try focusing on other things about yourself that you do like, and you’ll soon notice that your hair loss is not at the forefront of your mind anymore. Even if you decide to do something about it, like a hair transplant, learning to love yourself no matter what can really go a long way.
- Andritoiu, Calin Vasile, et al. “Effects and characterization of some topical ointments based on vegetal extracts on incision, excision, and thermal wound models.” Molecules 25.22 (2020): 5356. ↩︎
- Walker, David W., Magdalena Smigaj, and Masakazu Tani. “The benefits and negative impacts of citizen science applications to water as experienced by participants and communities.” Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Water 8.1 (2021): e1488. ↩︎
- Randolph, Michael, and Antonella Tosti. “Oral minoxidil treatment for hair loss: A review of efficacy and safety.” Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 84.3 (2021): 737-746. ↩︎
- Grandey, Alicia A., Allison S. Gabriel, and Eden B. King. “Tackling taboo topics: A review of the three M s in working women’s lives.” Journal of Management 46.1 (2020): 7-35. ↩︎
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