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For centuries already, and particularly in our modern society, a full head of hear is one of the foremost symbols of beauty, youth, health, power, and influence. TV and magazine ads abound with people whose attractiveness is frequently associated with shiny, tick, and bouncy hair. In today’s world, good looks are inescapably linked to success while images of perfect individuals with amazing bodies and hair relentlessly and mercilessly bombard the consumer.
For this reason, thinning hair and baldness are often terrifying for men while for women, and young professionals, they can equal a slow death. Falling hair is also devastating for young and middle-aged people alike, meaning loneliness and endless teasing from teenagers and feelings of growing older and loosing sex-appeal for the adults. For many people experiencing hair loss, life becomes a huge challenge - most face every new day with the horror of looking in the mirror and thoughts that their masculinity or femininity is “substandard.”
Research demonstrates that the damage of hair loss on one’s self-esteem is lasting and deep. Because male baldness is more acceptable in society, women are more reluctant to acknowledge the problem and, consequently, to seek medical and psychological help. The degree of self-acceptance varies greatly, but people experiencing thinning hair, often feel uncomfortable among colleagues, tend to fear meeting new people, and avoid going out – all leading to a life in isolation.
However, there is hope for balding people - psychological, medical and cosmetic help is widely available nowadays, ranging from surrounding oneself with loving and understanding friends and family to using hair treatments and/or hair loss concealers.
Many say that coping with hair loss must begin with the realization that you are not alone in your problem and your feelings of devastation. Discussing the issue with others can be a great consolation and will help you understand that what is inside your head matters more than what is on it. Moreover, baldness is far, far away from the worse thing that can happen to a person.
Research and education are another must take step. They should include the many promising hair loss treatments, the constantly improving cosmetic tools to cover up moderate baldness (e.g. sprays), the great variety and availability of natural looking synthetic and human hair pieces, and the hair cut that flatters people with thinning hair.
Without doubt, experiencing hair loss is always difficult and upsetting, but compassion, support, treatment, and cosmetics can be effective in learning to come to terms with the condition and lead a full life while feeling valuable and appreciated |
