You should definitely be able to tell that we are very pro-bald and against futilely trying to cover the effects of hair loss. However, we do know that initial shock and dread that you feel when you first notice that you’re losing your hair. It’s a tough period to go through, especially when you start noticing those signs early on in your life. That’s why I have some tips to help you go through that period gracefully before you decide to take the plunge and completely shave your head.

First, I would try to recognize if you are actually balding or just experiencing normal, everyday shedding. Look out for a receding hairline (widow’s peak) and hair loss on the crown of your head, as these are common signs that you’re balding. You can check out our other article for a more in-depth analysis of the early signs of balding.

If you’ve determined that you are in fact balding, then it’s time to look into the bald crystal ball. Hair loss is largely genetic and while your family tree doesn’t always provide a 100% accurate prediction, it does provide a pretty good indication of what’s to come. Look at your dad, your uncles, and your grandfathers and see the state of their hair situation. If you can, ask them when they started to lose their hair to get a good idea of what’s going to happen at the top of your head and when it’ll happen. If your family has experienced hair loss early and often, it’s better to accept that now and try to do something about it.

I’m obviously not a huge fan of hair loss treatments, but there are a lot of options out there to help delay the inevitable. Minoxidil (like Rogaine) and Finasteride (Propecia) are both popular options that tend to serve different purposes. Minoxidil has been approved as an effective way to regrow hair, but it only works on areas where hairs still exist to some extent. So if you’re completely bald in a certain area, don’t expect Rogaine to have much of an effect. Finasteride, which you typically need a prescription to get, is a DHT blocker and help increase the apparent volume of the hair on your head. It still can’t bring hair back from the bald, but it increases the thickness and volume of your hair to cover up where ever the issue is. Although, this will target all the hairs on your head and will not allow you to do any spot treatment.

Here at We Are Bald, we think that shaving your head is the best “hairstyle” to rock when you are balding, however, there are some other ways to still look presentable before you come to your senses. I think that cutting your hair high and tight is the best style when you’re losing your hair. Please don’t try a man bun and, in case you didn’t read our last article, DO NOT try a comb-over. Seriously, very few guys can pull it off and otherwise it ends up looking pretty ridiculous.

This tip applies for both the bald and the balding: accessorize. Hats and sunglasses are a great way to cover up the balding and, for some reason, tend to look better the less hair you have. Facial hair is also a great way to look good while bald or balding. I guess the hair on your face balances out the lack of it on your head. Whether it be stubble or a full beard, facial hair is typically a good look. You also may want to increase your trips to the gym, which, aside from the obvious health benefits, helps you look great and draws attention away from whatever is happening at the top of your head.

Here are some tips and tricks to help you go through that initial shock of losing your hair. Once you’ve tried all of these, we hope you’ll consider taking the plunge and shaving your head. It really is a great look!