“I Started Losing My Hair At 20” | Listen Up | ABC Science

Summary

Chris, a 29-year-old former contestant on 'So You Think You Can Dance,' shares his struggle with hair loss since the age of 20. Initially, he felt ashamed and worried about his appearance, affecting his life significantly. After trying various treatments with limited success, a hair growth cream helped temporarily, but stress from his mother's passing caused a relapse. In the entertainment industry, where appearance is paramount, Chris faced typecasting and decided to shave his head. Ultimately, he embraced a hairpiece, which has restored his confidence and sparked a desire to normalize the conversation around hair loss and the use of hairpieces.

Takeaways

• 💔 Chris began experiencing hair loss at the age of 20, which deeply affected his self-esteem and daily life.
• 🎭 As a contestant on 'So You Think You Can Dance,' Chris faced the added pressure of maintaining a certain appearance in the entertainment industry.
• 🔍 The cause of Chris's hair loss was unclear, with doctors suggesting it could be hereditary or spontaneous.
• 💊 Medication options for hair loss were fraught with side effects, causing Chris to question their worth.
• 🌱 A hair growth cream eventually provided some relief, taking about six months of consistent use to show results.
• 🌪️ The death of Chris's mother and the associated stress led to a resurgence of hair loss, exacerbating his feelings of shame and worry.
• 🎩 Chris resorted to wearing hats constantly to hide his hair loss, which became exhausting and affected his quality of life.
• 💇‍♂️ Shaving his head was a last resort for Chris, influenced by the difficulty of constantly hiding his hair loss.
• 🎬 After shaving his head, Chris was typecast into 'dad' or 'old man' roles, which was disappointing and a final straw for him.
• 🤔 Chris highlights the stigma surrounding hair pieces and toupees, drawing parallels to women getting hair extensions.
• 💬 He advocates for more open conversations about hair loss to normalize the topic and reduce the associated stigma.
• 🦲 Despite the hair piece not being his natural hair, Chris feels amazing and confident, forgetting most of the time that it's not his own.

Q & A

What was the initial impact of hair loss on Chris's life?

Hair loss controlled Chris's life, causing constant worry and thoughts about it, and making him feel ashamed of his appearance.

At what age did Chris start experiencing hair loss?

Chris started losing his hair at the age of 20.

What was Chris's occupation when he first noticed his hair thinning?

Chris was a contestant on 'So You Think You Can Dance' and was starring in the show when he first noticed his hair thinning.

How did Chris's hair loss affect his self-esteem and daily activities?

Chris was ashamed of his hair and couldn't handle the thought of anyone looking at or touching it. He felt the need to hide it constantly, even for simple tasks like going to the mailbox.

What were the possible reasons doctors suggested for Chris's hair loss?

Doctors suggested that the hair loss could be either hereditary or just happen without a clear cause.

What was the treatment method that Chris found effective in combating his hair loss?

Chris found a hair growth cream effective, which took about three months to kick in and helped his hair grow back by the time he was 22.

How did Chris's mother's passing affect his hair loss?

The stress from his mother's passing caused Chris's hair to fall out again, leading him to believe it would not grow back.

What was the impact of Chris's hair loss on his career in the entertainment industry?

After shaving his hair off, Chris was mostly given roles as 'dad' or 'old man' characters, which was disappointing for him.

What solution did Chris eventually find to address his hair loss?

Chris found using a hair piece to be a simple and effective solution that he wished he had known about earlier.

How does Chris feel about the hair piece not being his natural hair?

Chris doesn't mind that the hair piece isn't his natural hair and often forgets it's not his own because it feels connected to him.

What is Chris's perspective on the stigma around hair pieces for men?

Chris believes there should be no stigma, comparing it to women getting hair extensions and stating it's the same thing.

What message does Chris want to convey about discussing hair loss openly?

Chris feels that talking about hair loss more openly will help normalize the conversation and remove any associated stigma.

What does Chris believe is required to seek help for hair loss?

Chris believes it takes courage and strength to ask for help regarding hair loss.