HOLLYWOOD AND HAIR LOSS

• Thursday January 5, 2006 in: Hair Loss Tag(s):

  Chinese legend has it that hair loss is a punishment of the devil.

  And nowhere is that belief held strongly than in Hollywood where's one appearance isn't simply an important aspect of career ascendancy-it might be the most important factor in determining success or failure.

  Many of the perceptions that people make, whether they are right or wrong, are made within a few seconds of seeing someone.

  Psychologists have done studies that show baldness gives the impression of a lack of sex appeal, physical weakness, and perhaps worst of all...simply being old (like Austin Powers foe Dr. Evil and his sidekick Mini-Me).

  Unless of course if you count out Superman's enemy Lex Luthor. Hollywood exceptions to the rule are actors like action star Vin Diesel, Yul Brynner and Patrick Stewart of "Star Trek and "X-Men" fame but they are the (very) few exceptions.

  And athletes turned movie stars don't count (if there are any that is). Whether or not the maxim "baldness equates impotence" is true, in a place like Hollywood where perception is everything, no one is willing to take that chance.

  Actors suffering from male-pattern baldness have been trying to disguise their hair loss for years. (Read: William Shatner).

  In the early 80's crude hair transplants started to spring up all over television and the film industry and a popular drinking game was trying to guess what aging star was wearing a 'rug.'

  So it is in this vein that I call for a 'truth in advertising' movement. In the opening credits of each show I'd like a banner stating which stars had hair restoration---and I suppose which actresses underwent breast augmentation.

  Now wouldn't that be fun!