Embracing Baldness in a Hair-Obsessed World: Insights from Our Engaging Podcast

Stuart Heritage once had a full head of shiny, golden hair. But in his early 20s, he noticed some thinning on his scalp. He tried a hair regrowth treatment, but it didn’t help. As the bald spot grew, he started to cover it up with his hair. Before long, he found himself sporting an embarrassing combover. “Going bald is horrible,” he admits.

After accepting his hair loss and what it means for aging, Stuart realized that “being bald is fine.” In fact, it’s quite common. He shares with Helen Pidd that about 55% of Caucasian men over 75 experience hair loss. Bald heads used to be everywhere in pop culture, from athletes to actors to politicians. But now, they seem to be less visible.

More men are choosing hair transplants to tackle baldness. Take Rudi Zygadlo, a sound designer for Today in Focus. He watched his older brothers lose their hair, but he struggled to confront his own hair loss. For nearly a decade, he hid under hats and worried about taking them off in public. After undergoing surgery in Turkey, he still has some anxiety, but life feels less daunting. “It’s no longer an obstacle course,” he says.

If baldness becomes less common and bald stars fade into the background, will society miss them? Stuart thinks so. He explains, “When you see a bald person, you’re seeing someone who’s living their life. It might not be how they pictured it, but they’re carrying on and it’s okay.”

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