Hair Loss: Emotions & Feelings

I don’t think anyone, given the choice, would want to lose their hair. The emotional aspects of living with hair loss can be challenging.

Discovery of hair loss is a stressful experience for both genders, but substantially more distressing for women. Throughout the course of history attitudes towards hair loss have been overwhelmingly negative. Living with alopecia can be difficult in a culture that views hair as a sign of youth and good health.

Nevertheless, many doctors fail to accept hair loss as an important medical problem and ignore the real distress suffered by a significant number of those affected.

At Du Brule Hair Clinic, we specialize in assisting individuals that have decided to combat their hair loss. We understand the negative effects that hair loss can have, including the following common concerns.

1. The End of Youth

Hair loss causes both men and women to look older. Consequently, for many the experience of hair loss (more than with any other physical aspect), dramatically signals the end of youth, vitality and desirability.

2. Inability to Style One’s Hair

Many hair loss sufferers are frustrated at the time and trouble necessary to camouflage thinning hair and the inability to style their hair as they would like.

3. Dissatisfaction with Appearance and Body Image

The loss of a hairline can change a person’s appearance substantially. Hair loss changes the appearance of the face by shifting the balance of the face to the forehead, resulting in an aged appearance.

In fact, a study revealed that men who had more profound hair loss were more dissatisfied with their appearance and were more concerned with their older looks than those with minimal hair loss. This effect was apparent across all age groups but was more prominent in younger individuals.

4. Low Self Esteem

Physical beauty is one of the cornerstones of self esteem and it is one of the most vulnerable. The self esteem levels and other measures of self worth drop significantly when hair loss occurs.

5. Loss of Personal Attractiveness and Fear of Not Looking Attractive to Others

Hair is an important determinant of physical attractiveness and a means of expressing individuality. Hair loss affects the person’s feelings of attractiveness.

For balding women it is especially difficult to live in a society that places great value on youthful appearance and attractiveness. Because women are known for spending a lot of time and money grooming, dying, curling, drying and styling their hair to make it look its best, when they begin to lose their hair, it is extremely traumatic.

6. Embarrassment, Loss of Confidence, Shyness

Although a full head of hair cannot guarantee instant confidence, studies have shown that in men who suffer from hair loss, nearly 75% of them feel less confident since the onset of the hair loss, especially in dealing with the opposite sex.

7. Social Teasing and Humiliation

When hair loss reaches a stage of visible condition it can make the person the object of teasing or scorn. Studies show that 60% of all bald men are teased at some point in their lives.

8. Feelings of Depression and Introversion

In extreme circumstances, some people really take their hair loss badly and get highly distressed about it, up to the point of getting into depression. Most of the research shows that people with alopecia have higher levels of anxiety and depression.

9. Subconscious Emotions of Envy and Jealousy

Those suffering from hair loss often experience feelings of jealousy of men with full, healthy heads of hair because they very much want what non-bald people have.

10. Work Related Problems

Hair loss may affect someone who is in front of the camera or who is active in the public in a very negative way professionally.

11. Negative Effects on Social Life

Hair plays an important role in our social lives. Upon meeting someone, one of the first things you notice is their hair. Before a social engagement it is very important for us to look our best and an attractive hair style is what completes our appearance. Those affected by hair loss quickly become aware of how important hair is in our social lives.

Hair loss may cause a person to limit social activities and some even avoid seeing friends and stop going out except when it comes to work.

Surveys have shown that around 40% of women with alopecia have experiences marital problems and approximately 63% claimed to have career related issues.

The good news is that there is a solution. At Du Brule Hair Clinic we understand what you’re going through when it comes to hair loss. Contact us today and permit us to partner with you in defeating hair loss and its negative consequences.