Hide Baldness

Is your hair thinning, or are you starting to go bald? Millions of people suffer from hair loss, and it can be emotionally upsetting, especially for women. You should talk to your doctor, dermatologist, or a hair loss specialist to learn about the latest medical treatments that aim to reverse hair loss. In the meantime, or if you do not wish to undergo hair replacement treatments, you can minimize your thinning hair or baldness through changing your hair style and hair products.

Steps

Hiding Baldness for Men

1. Find a good hair stylist. Getting the right hair cut can make your hair look thicker and obscure thinning spots. While barbers are a good option if you just want a short and simple cut, if you are balding, it will be worth it to go to a hair stylist. Although a stylist costs more, he or she will personalize your haircut to conceal your thinning hair and/or bald spots and will teach you how to style it.
2. Keep your hair shorter. If your hair is long, it will get weighed down, which will cause your hair to lay flat and lose volume. It will also separate, allowing your scalp to show through. Shorter hair (but not super short), on the other hand, provides more volume and a "feathering" effect, whereby one section of hair covers the edge of the next, so that your scalp does not show through.
3. Shave your head. If you do not wish to deal with the upkeep of having a good haircut and/or volumizing your hair, another method to hide baldness or thinning hair is to shave your head completely. This seems counterintuitive, but it can work because it is deliberate. Bald heads are stylish, and people will not know if you shave your head because you like it or because you are losing your hair.
   • Use an electric razor to cut your hair as short as possible. Then use shaving cream and a razor blade to shave the stubble completely, like you would if you were shaving your face.
   • Shave your head regularly so that you do not have stubble. Otherwise, if you are balding enough that you only have hair on the sides, long stubble will signal that you are losing your hair.
   • Protect your head from the sun. Use sunscreen on your head every day, and wear a hat when in the sun to protect your head. Skin cancer can occur anywhere you have skin, even on your scalp.
4. Grow facial hair. Bald or balding men can look very good with facial hair, and it will take attention away from the hair on your head. However, make sure you keep your facial hair short and well-groomed. A wild, unkempt beard will look strange in contrast with your short hair or shaved head, and it will look unprofessional in most workplaces.
5. Cover your head with a hat. Wearing a hat or a bandana can hide baldness very effectively. Baseball caps are good for informal occasions, but fedoras and straw hats are also very stylish and work for a variety of settings. Wearing a hat also has the benefit of protecting your head from the sun. However, keep in mind that you may not be able to wear a head covering in all situations. Many houses of worship and workplaces require men to remove their hats when entering, and a bandana is too informal for formal settings, like work.
6. Use a colored lotion or powder for your scalp. Some companies make products that reduce the contrast between your hair and your scalp by coloring your scalp. This makes your skin blend with your hair so that your balding spots are less obvious. This is especially helpful for people with light-colored scalps and dark hair.
   • Follow the directions on the product to apply the lotion to your skin. Be sure to cover your scalp thoroughly, and allow to dry completely. Once dry, the lotion should stand up to sweat and rain. However, the lotion will rub off on your skin if you run your fingers through your hair, and it will transfer onto your pillowcase at night. The color will remain until you wash your hair.
   • If you choose a powdered formula, be sure to rub the powder in well into your scalp. Cover all places where your scalp shows through your hair. The powder will also bond to your hair, making it appear fuller. Similar to lotion, this will last through wind, sweat, and rain, but it may transfer onto your clothes or pillowcase. It will last until you wash your hair.
7. Use a hair piece. While toupees and hair pieces are less in fashion today than in previous decades, there are still some good options out there that will cover your baldness well. This works best for men who are not completely bald because the hair piece can be blended in with your natural hair.
   • Be sure to choose a high-quality hair piece made of real human hair that matches your hair color. Only real hair will look natural.
   • You may also be able to get a customized hair mesh. This involves having human hair knotted into a mesh base. The mesh is then glued or clipped onto the head so that it appears as if the hair is growing from the scalp. The piece has to be cut well for a it to look natural. The mesh also has to be re-positioned when the glue or clips come undone and as the natural hair grows.
   • Have your hair stylist help you touch up your hair piece on a regular basis. Bring it with you when you get a hair cut so that your stylist can incorporate it into your hairstyle.
   • Keep your hairpiece clean, and be sure to adhere it to your head. If your hair piece falls off, that will defeat the purpose of having it.
8. Get scalp micropigmentation. This similar to using colored scalp lotion or powder, only the results are permanent. This involves getting micro-tattooed dots all over the scalp. The process is tedious and may take several sittings to cover the entire scalp. Scalp micropigmentation runs the risk of looking harsh and fake if the color is not correct or if it is not done well, so seek out a reputable scalp micropigmentation specialist.

Hiding Baldness for Women

1. Cut your hair in layers. Getting the right hair cut can make your hair look thicker and obscure thinning spots. It will be worth it to go to a hair stylist who will personalize your haircut to conceal your thinning hair and/or bald spots and will teach you how to style it. Ask your stylist to add layers to your hair instead of keeping it all one length. Layers create more volume and add fullness, which will hide thinning spots.
2. Use a boar-bristle brush. These brushes are more gentle than synthetic brushes and will help prevent breakage, which is important for thinning hair. Boar-bristles also distribute the hair's natural oils throughout the hair shaft, keeping hair healthy and shiny. The healthier your hair, the less thin it will look.
3. Choose the right hair color. Changing your hair color so that there is less contrast between your hair and scalp will help conceal thinning hair. Go for a lighter shade if the color of your scalp is lighter. If you have a darker skin complexion, use a darker hair color shade, such as dark brown or black. While you can dye your hair yourself using home dye kits, if you have your hair stylist do your hair, you can have the dye customized to your skin color and thinning hair needs.
4. Cover your head with a hat, turban, or scarf. Wearing a hat or a pretty scarf can hide baldness or thinning hair very effectively. There are many stylish hats for women, including fedoras and sun hats, and pretty scarves worn over the hair are also fashionable. Wearing a hat or scarf also has the benefit of protecting your head from the sun.
5. Get a wig or hair piece. Wigs are the best option when thinning hair around the temples or on the forehead becomes too visible or if you are completely bald. Wigs are a great way to increase self-esteem and feel more normal, especially for women whose hair loss is due to cancer treatments or other medical conditions.
   • There are two types of wigs: full wigs that cover the entire scalp, and partial hair pieces that only cover certain spots. If you are completely bald or have very short, very thin hair, a wig made of human hair is your best option. You can have your stylist style it for you and show you how to wear it. If you only have some thinning spots, then a hair piece made of real human hair may be a more convenient, cheaper option, Have your hair stylist insert the hair piece to cover your thin spots.
   • You will have many choices, including wig/hair piece length, color, texture (real human hair or synthetic), quality/price, and application (clip-on, interlocking, combs/clips, and weaving/bonding). Discuss your options with your hair stylist to choose the best option for you.
   • Although synthetic hair is cheaper, only real human hair looks completely natural.

Hiding Baldness for Everyone

1. Volumize your hair. Flat hair will lay close to your scalp and will emphasize your bald spots because your hair will separate, and bald spots will shine through. Therefore, styling your hair to maximize volume will help your hair look thicker. Voluminous hair also appears more youthful.
   • Use a volumizing shampoo. Many shampoo brands offer volumizing formulas that prevent product-buildup, which can weigh down and flatten hair, and which contain ingredients that plump individual hair strands to make hair look fuller. Look for labels that say "volume" or "volumizing" on the shampoo bottle. After you wash with volumizing shampoo, the effects should last until your next wash.
   • Use a blow dryer and round brush to dry your hair. Use a small amount of volumizing product in your hair. Then blow dry your hair, gently using a round brush to pull your hair up and away from your scalp. This will help your hair dry with fluffy volume and will make your hair appear thicker. Pulling your hair to one side while drying and then brushing it the opposite direction afterward also adds volume.
   • Avoid using hair gel or heavy products that contain silicone. Gel causes hair to stick or clump together, which will cause your scalp to show through. Silicone weighs down hair, counteracting your attempts to get more volume. Stick with lighter products that specifically say they add volume, like texturizing sprays/lotions or mousse.
2. Use microfibers specifically created for thinning hair. Many companies produce colored microfibers that bond to your existing hair. These come in spray or in powdered form. This is the most convenient way to cover thinning hair.
   • Shake or spray the fibers onto your hair. They are electrostatically charged, so they will bond with your hair shaft and make it look fuller.
   • These products usually stand up to sweat, wind, and rain and will remain until your next shampoo.
   • Make sure you choose a color that matches your hair or is slightly lighter. Darker microfibers and colors that do not match your skin tone will look artificial and will draw attention to your hair, which is not what you want.
3. Use Minoxidil. This is an FDA-approved topical treatment for hair regrowth, and many companies sell over-the-counter hair growth products that contain Minoxidil. Follow the directions on the product label, and use the product consistently for at least 8 weeks. Some people will see dramatic results with Minoxidil, while others may not.
   • Products containing Minoxidil come in either lotion or foam form, and they are available without a prescription. Most pharmacies in the United States sell hair growth products that contain Minoxidil.
   • Minoxidil takes time to work. Hair growth usually occurs after the medicine has been used for several months and lasts only as long as you continue to use it. Hair loss will begin again within a few months after you stop using Minoxidil.
   • Minoxidil works best in younger patients with a short history of hair loss. The treatment has not been studied in people over the age of 65, so it may not work for age-related baldness.
   • Follow all directions on the packaging of the Minoxidil product. Do not use more than directed or use a blow dryer to dry your hair immediately after applying the Minoxidil, as it may make the treatment less effective.
   • Do not use Minoxidil if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Tips

• Being confident in who you are and accepting your thinning hair may help you look better than someone who tries too hard to cover up a bald spot, especially men. A lot of men look good bald.
• Always wear sunscreen on your scalp, and try to wear a hat whenever you are in the sun. Balding or thinning hair will expose your scalp to harmful UVA and UVB rays. Wearing sunscreen and a hat will help you to avoid sunburn and skin cancer on your scalp. Some companies make hair spray with SPF and sunscreen sticks that may make application on your scalp easier than with a traditional sunscreen lotion.

Warnings

• Do not use the comb-over method if you are a man. It is out of fashion, and it just draws more attention to your baldness than shorter hair would. Don't do it.
• Long hair extensions for women can actually draw more attention to your thinning hair by weighing down the hair at your scalp. Extensions can also damage your natural hair. Clip-in hair pieces that are shorter are less damaging than long extensions that are bonded or are weaves.
• Many wigs and toupees can fall off. Be careful not to jostle around or go swimming in order to avoid losing your wig/toupee.
• Talk to your doctor about using Minoxidil. Some people may be allergic to Minoxidil, and the product may have a negative interaction with some medications. Follow all directions on the product packaging, and do not use Minoxidil if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Related Articles

• Make Your Hair Grow Faster
• Grow Long Hair As a Guy

Sources and Citations

See also

• Bald Gracefully
• Prevent Hair Loss
• Get Rid of Dry Hair and Dry Scalp
• Stop Hair Loss Naturally
• Remove Dandruff Using Vinegar
• Treat Thinning Hair
• Treat Female Hair Loss
• Use Egg Oil Massage to Treat Hair Loss
• Prevent and Treat Dandruff
• Tell if You're Going Bald

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• Obtain the Bald Look for Men