Does being bald make you less attractive? No, it can make you more attractive if you pull off the look correctly. The most common misconception about bald men is that they are less masculine. It is sexy to be confident and go bald in some cultures, while it contributes to a more rugged look in others.
Baldness is no exception, despite the fact that study after study has shown that baldness is associated negatively with perceived attractiveness, both for observers and individuals suffering from it. This is unequivocal. The International Journal of Dermatology by Lee et al.
Bald Men Are More Intelligent
Researches from Barry University in Florida created a social experiment that asked if baldness in men made them more physically attractive, aggressive, tolerant, or mature. They found that men with fuller hair were lower than bald men on all of these metrics – including intelligence.
As in, men who choose to lose the hair are conducting a form of expression, “which communicates information about the self otherwise difficult to observe.” The study also explained shaved heads “are often found on men in traditionally masculine professions, so dominance may emerge through stereotypical associations ...
Dating and Desirability
The ISHRS also found that about two-thirds of adults would be concerned if they were dating and experienced noticeable hair loss. And, with 25% of men beginning to see male pattern baldness before they turn 21, this can impact a significant portion of their dating experiences.
: A study by Roll and Verenis using sketches of heads with various stages of hair loss found that the bald head was rated least attractive, whilst a full head of hair was thought the most handsome and virile.
While some men are able to easily accept the loss of their hair, there are others who fall into a spiral of depression and insecurity due to their changed appearance. They often have increased anxiety and despair due to an inability to stop their changing appearance.
All three studies found similar results: A man's shorn scalp was linked with dominance. In other words, men with shaved heads were perceived as powerful by others. It seems that closely cropped or bald domes have a certain manly swagger to them that project a powerful look.
In general, however, the highest rates of male pattern baldness are found among Caucasian men. The second highest rates belong to Afro-Caribbeans. Native Americans, on the other hand, do not struggle much with male pattern baldness. As mentioned, pattern baldness is genetic, that is, hereditary.
Half of the men in the world experience hair loss by age 50. About 70% of men will lose hair as they get older. And 25% of bald men see first signs of hair loss before age 21. “Recent advances offer a lot of hope in both treating and preventing different types of baldness,” says dermatologist Amy Kassouf, MD.
Get to know your head shape.
Your head shape has a lot to do with how solid a bald head will look, which only seems obvious once the hair is gone. Minimize any surprises by taking stock of your skull before buzzing your hair off. "A nice round head shape is best," says Mackenzey Forrey, a stylist at Bumble and Bumble.
The studies found bald men were seen as more dominant over their coiffed peers and were viewed as taller and stronger.
Benefits of shaving your head
A recent study showed that completely shaven bald men were perceived as more dominant, masculine, confident, and somehow more powerful than men who were showing male pattern baldness but had not shaved their heads completely. Makes sense - all the best supervillains are bald.
It's often said that bald men are more virile. The popular theory is that they have higher levels of the male hormone testosterone, which makes them more masculine and increases their sex drive, but they lose their hair at a younger age than average as a result. The truth, though, is a little more complex.
The Czech Republic is the country with the highest percentage of men losing their hair. In the Czech Republic, approximately 43 percent of men have either lost their hair or are losing their hair.
Japan, Korea and the Rest of East Asia
People of East Asian descent and especially Japanese, experience hair loss at one of the lowest rates in the world, and start much later in life than other places. Those that do lose hair, generally, start in their 40s and 50s rather than their 20s and 30s.
Certain races have higher rates of hair loss compared to others. Caucasians have the highest rates out of all the ethnic groups. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Native American Indians, Inuits, and Chinese have the lowest rates.
Race makes no difference. They repeated the study, this time showing participants the same faces but with hair digitally removed (so the only variable is the hair). They found the same results: People perceive bald guys as more dominant, confident, stronger, masculine, and – this is interesting – stronger.
In terms of attractiveness, bald men have all the advantages. Bald men are regarded as sexy and masculine; they are also seen as trustworthy, reliable, and often considered intelligent. Women look for these qualities in other men, so balding must be a good thing from the female perspective.
A Lower Risk of Cancer
That's right – being bald could lower your risk of cancer. The study found that men who had started to lose their hair before the age of 30 saw a cancer reduction risk of up to 45 percent.
A third of people currently looking for a man said that being bald and under 5-foot-7 would have NO IMPACT on their decision to date them. 36% also said they'd feel more comfortable making the first move on a guy who's short, or missing some hair up top.
There's no doubt about it — hair loss can have a dramatic effect on self-esteem for both men and women. In addition to hurting your self-esteem, hair loss can also trigger depression, anxiety, and other emotional conditions.
That leaves just one in 10 guys who said their online dating experience got worse after losing their hair. From this data, it's fair to suggest there are plenty of women willing to date a bald guy, although hair loss is a deal-breaker for some.