Is it vanity for a man to discuss his hair loss?

The dictionary defines vanity as a “lack of real value; hollowness; worthlessness; something worthless, trivial or pointless,” so this definition begs the question…Is it vanity for a man to discuss his hair loss?

Why is it that in our society men are taught that they shouldn’t care about how they look because “they’re men.” Yet there are tons of commerials and advertisements showing pictures of men who “get the girl” or “get that new job” or are more successful because they have a full head of hair. BUT they aren’t supposed to talk about it!

Lets go back to the word vanity and break down the definition for a moment to see if it is really vain for a man to care about his hair loss…

• A lack of real value: Does hair have value to a man? Hum? YES! It is something they are born with and come to be physically identified by, unique and special in his own right.
• Hollowness: Is it empty or hollow for a man to be concerned about his appearance? Women are often concerned not only about their own appearance but also a potential mate! So is it hollow for men to be concerned about their appearance? Hell No! Attraction is important so lets not kid ourselves about it.
• Something Worthless: Is it worthless for men to express their feelings of being scared, confused and lost when it comes to hair loss? That is a big NO in my opinion. When men can openly talk about the issues they face and can get good positive support for hair loss solutions, they begin to move in a new direction emotionally and physically. They begin to set new goals, reach for their dreams and pursue potential love interests.
• Trivial or Pointless: Is talking about hair loss trivial? I beg to differ! Reaching out to a good support network or forum of hair specialists and hair loss advocates can actually help rebuild self esteem, self worth and a sense of dignity back into the lives of men, and there is nothing trivial or pointless about that.

There are so many good options available for men who are losing their hair and my hope is that more men reach out and begin to talk about the issues that concern them. One of the greatest resources I know of for men is The Bald Truth with Spencer Kobren. His radio show broadcasts Sunday nights at 8:00pm EST on XM Extreme Talk 152 and for great support and contact with reputable doctors who can answer questions about hair restoration and for talking with other hair loss sufferers, the Bald Truth Talk forum is where it’s at!