Do you find yourself getting a little too aggressive in your defense of Bruce Willis as the sexier alternative to Ashton Kutcher? You are not alone. Eighty-five percent of men have significant hair loss by age 50, and not all of us come to grips with it so well. The key to weathering this transition is the right haircut.
"When your hair is long, it lies flat against your head and starts to part; that's when you see the scalp," says stylist Losi of the John Frieda Salon, in New York City. "When it's shorter, the hair stands upright and looks thicker."
Here Losi -- who has worked her magic on the tresses of Harrison Ford and Mark Ruffalo -- explains how to avoid the most common pitfalls.
If you have an evenly receding hairline …
Don't … attempt a comb-over. "All you need is one little gust of wind and the hair flies straight up."
Do … ask your stylist to cut your hair short, but leave it a little messy on top. "A choppy cut on top diffuses the hairline."
If your hairline is receding only at the temples (the "widow's peak" effect) …
Don't … grow it long in the middle. "You want a nice even look, and long hair will only make it look more uneven."
Do … cut it short, but leave it a little longer at the temples to hide a growing forehead. "Antonio Banderas combs it forward and it's loose. You don't see the hairline at all."
If your hair is thinning all over …
Don't … cut it shorter than two inches. "Cutting the hair any shorter allows light through to your scalp, emphasizing the thinness."
Do … scissor-cut the hair to two inches so it's short, but soft to the touch. "If you have a bald spot, this length minimizes the bump. And the short hair at the base and sides of the head attractively frames the face like sideburns."
Chronic Tonics
If potential side effects, such as sexual dysfunction, have scared you off hair-growth pills like Propecia, consider some of these over-the-counter topical solutions:
Shiseido Andogen Hair Energizing Formula: The key ingredient, Adenosine, is a component of nucleic acid, which stimulates hair growth. In a six-month study of 100 men with male-pattern baldness, 94 percent of those who slathered their scalps with an Adenosine-infused lotion experienced an increase in strand thickness. $66. sca.shiseido.com
Lab Series Skin Care for Men Root Power Hair Tonic: This product blends Adenosine with hops extract, a natural moisturizer. Thinning hair can become brittle. Moisturizing tonics and shampoos make it look lusher while preventing it from breaking. $40. labseriesformen.com
Rogaine Foam: This new, less-drippy foam version contains the same minoxidil as the old standby (still the only FDA-approved ingredient for regrowing hair), and, in a clinical study, 99 percent of men reported their hair fullness stayed the same or increased after use. $25. rogaine.com
