It's a part of ageing that many men dread.

And now a study has confirmed what many a receding man fears - that hair loss does reduce attractiveness.

Scientists found that follically challenged men were rated as more youthful, attractive, successful and approachable after a hair transplant.

A group of 122 participants, about half of whom were also men, were asked by researchers at Johns Hopkins University to rate 13 pairs of images.

Celebrities such as Vin Diesel (left) and Bruce Willis (right) have embraced their smooth scalps

These included 'before and after' pictures of seven men who had undergone hair transplants.

Six other pairs of images showed balding men whose appearance did not change dramatically between each shot.

The volunteers awarded marks out of 100 for a range of perceived traits, including youthfulness, attractiveness, successfulness and approachability.

On average, balding men were seen as 3.6 years younger after having a hair transplant.

They were also judged to be 1.1 years younger than men in the 'control' group who did not have hair restored.

The procedure also significantly boosted ratings scores for attractiveness, successfulness and approachability.

Writing in the journal Jama Facial Plastic Surgery, the researchers said: 'Men were perceived as being younger and more attractive by casual observers after undergoing a hair transplant.

Most want to age in the same way that Hollywood actors Gerard Butler (left) and Brad Pitt (right) have - keeping their thick manes of hair

'Participants also rated post-transplant faces as appearing more successful and approachable relative to their pre-transplant counterparts.'

They concluded: 'These aspects have been shown to play a substantial role in both workplace and social success.'

Their findings come after more and more are opting to have a 'hair tattoo' - a non-surgical technique which gives the illusion of a shaved head.

The procedure, called Micro Scalp Pigmentation, works by drawing tiny particles of pigment on the scalp to resemble short hairs.

But for those who plan on ageing gracefully, it's not all bad news.

The footballer Wayne Rooney underwent a hair transplant (left just afterwards) after he began receding at a young age

Previous research has found bald men are tougher, more dominant and more powerful than their counterparts.

Having a shaved head also makes adults appear taller and stronger, according to researchers from the University of Pennsylvania.

There are health benefits too.

Men who start going bald at a young age are up to 45 per cent less likely to fall victim to prostate cancer later in life, researchers from the University of Washington found.

Sperm volume count was nearly 60 per cent lower in men with moderate to severe hair loss, scientists found. Other research found those who lose their hair while they are young may be less fertile.



