Guest Post by Eric

Going bald, especially if it starts suddenly and happens fast is traumatic, both emotionally and physically. Even for someone like me. Unlike many of you, I’ve dreamed often about going bald and being bald, ever since I was a small boy.  It was after one of those early dreams that I woke up and realized that I wanted to go bald when I grew up.

I fought the feeling, but the wish only intensified and I realized that it would never go away. I would always be less than happy until I was male pattern bald, like my uncle and grandfather. When some of my college classmates went bald I became hopeful that maybe I could go bald while I was still young. I dreamed about it, only to wake up the the unhappy reality of a full head of hair. I hated the hair on top of my head and wished and prayed it away. To no avail. 

When the Bald Fairy Finally Came, I Was in My 50s!

And I Had Mixed Emotions About the Process, At First

Fast forward to my early 50. The wish and desire to go bald returned with a vengeance and I began to dream often about losing my hair and being bald. Then the first unmistakable signs of MPB started! However, my dreams became conflicted: I experienced both extreme elation and fear. And guilt.

Something my dad once said to me came back: “Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it!” I thought to myself “Now you’ve done it! You’re getting your wish.

Questions I Pondered While Going Bald

• What if your wife and kids hate it?
• What if you look awful bald?
• What if your coworkers and boss ridicule you and you get fired?

I was conflicted.

I also feared that it might be a serious medical condition that was causing my baldness. A quick visit to my doctor for a physical exam an a visit with a hair restoration ‘expert’ laid these worries to rest. That left my wife’s reaction to worry about. When she was thrilled at the news that I had male pattern baldness and would be bald in just a few years, I was immensely relieved. I relaxed and began to enjoy the transition from full head of hair to bald, hoping and praying that it would happen quickly, but not overnight or over many decades. It happened just right: in about two years.

 What It’s Like to Go Bald Fast, from a Physical Standpoint

I went from a Norwood 2 or 3, all the way to a shiny Norwood 6 in just a matter of years! So needless to say, I woke up each morning to gobs of hair on my pillow, which was a thrill! My wife loved to softly run her fingers through my hair. She didn’t pull hard, but each time she came up with dozens of my hairs. She always smiled and just kept running her fingers through my thinning hair.

The hair would grow back, but I noticed that the new hair was much finer than the coarse hair that it replaced. Withing months it was obvious that I was going bald, and I was ecstatic and almost euphoric about it.

I was worried that my friends, extended family and coworkers would ridicule or taunt me about my receding and thinning hair, but all I got from them was condolences and good natured teasing. And plenty of unsolicited advice and tips on how to stop MPB or slow it down. I politely thanked them for their gratuitous advice … and ignored it.

Bring on the Dr. Phil Jokes!

Surprisingly, I found I loved being teased about going bald. My kids gave me a ‘gag gift’, a hairbrush without any bristles. It had ‘instructions’ on it saying: ‘special brush for a bald man’. I still have that gift and I will always treasure it. My wife also kept a thick lock of hair that she gently collected from the top of my head.

I still love to be teased about my smooth, shiny bald head and how it reflects light. It’s a different kind of ‘reflection’ I do about how much I desired to go bald. I admit, it makes no logical sense, but then, wishes and emotions seldom make logical sense. Most often, they cannot be explained.

The Bad Side of Balding – Warning: It Can be Traumatic!

I must admit, as strongly as I desired male pattern baldness, sudden MPB was very traumatic for me. The change in appearance was drastic, to say the least. Acquaintances who had not seen me in a few years were startled when they saw me were concerned that something horrible had happened to me.

I would say, no and it just was my turn to go bald and I was alright with it. Most didn’t believe me.

I told no one how I really felt, out of fear they would think that I needed ‘professional help’. MPB is just another part of my life now. I almost take it for granted. Until I look in a mirror.

I can’t help but smile anytime I see my smooth, shiny bald reflection. On occasion, I’m reminded of it when someone comments or gently teases me about it. If my wife is present, she never fails to say how much she loves my MPB and how sexy she thinks it is. Most of all, I love it when my wife sneaks up behind me as I am watching something on TV and kisses me on top of my bald head. I LOVE that! I go wild. What a turn on! The endorphins flow freely and I feel great.

No Regrets – YOBO (You Only Bald Once!)

I don’t for a moment regret MPB. I love it even more than I imagined I would all those pre-MPB years.

I’m beginning to forget what it was like to have a full head of hair.

As far as I’m concerned, guys with a full head of hair don’t know what they are missing. I know what I’m missing (all that awful hair I used to have on top of my head), only I am NOT missing it. Male pattern baldness was and is one of the best things that ever happened to me.

The best thing that happened to me was marrying my wife, who shares my love of MPB. I wish male pattern baldness on all those guys out there who love it, like I do. And I hope it happens to them like it finally happened to me, only much earlier in life than it happened to me.

Robert Price

Robert Price is a writer, consumer advocate, and hair loss researcher with thousands of hours of experience in the field. His goal is to keep you out of the hair loss rabbit hole, underworld, or whatever you want to call it. He founded Hair Loss Daily, the unbiased hair loss blog, in 2016. You can learn more about Robert in the my story section of this website.