American Football Star Troy Polamalu Insures Hair for $1 Million
Hair is certainly not the first thing to spring to mind when you think about American Football players. You would think that they'd be more likely to insure their legs, arms or other body parts needed for their career, but Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers has had his hair insured for a cool $1,000,000.
Tackled by the hair
The American-Samoan player may be known for his skills on the field, but he's also renowned for his mane of thick, dark, curly hair it's hard to miss, and he hasn't cut it since the year 2000.
Polamalu reportedly spends 45 minutes on his haircare routine before each game. His hair is so impressive that a few years ago he became a spokesman for a shampoo brand, and the company protected his hair for $1 million, taking out an insurance policy with Lloyds of London.
It's not as crazy as it sounds hair is considered part of the jersey in American Football, and opposing team players have been known to tackle the Super Bowl-winning safety by the hair. In 2006, Larry Johnson of the Kansas City Chiefs tackled him by his hair during a 49-yard interception return.
Whilst this hasn't deterred Polamalu from keeping his hair long, other players who have also been brought down by their hair have decided to switch to a shorter style, including the Indianapolis Colts' Edgerrin James, who shaved his head the day after a 2003 hair tackle.
As fashions and hairstyles change, it is estimated that around 10% of NFL players now have hair that sticks out of their helmets. In 2008 the NFL's governing body considered changing the rules in order to require players' hair to be kept under their helmets and clear of the names on the backs of their shirts, but this was rejected.
What about hair loss?
Insuring your hair is all very well if you're a professional sportsman and spokesman for a leading haircare brand, but what happens if Polamalu experiences hair loss in the future? The star is already 33 and research shows that over half of men aged 50 and up experience hair loss, with three in ten men in their 30s already completely bald.
Troy is starting to show signs of thinning around his hair line, so what happens if he loses his hair due to male pattern baldness? Will his insurance policy pay out?
No details were released as to exactly what damage to his hair would trigger a claim but, given male hair loss is a hereditary condition and pre-determined by genetics rather than being a condition influenced by external factors, it's unlikely. Perhaps this is why the insurance policy was only taken out on a per-season basis.
Preventing male pattern baldness
A far more accessible option for men who want to ensure their hair by trying to prevent hair loss, would be to consult a hair loss specialist. They will be able to provide expert hair loss advice and recommend a tailored, comprehensive treatment plan to combat male hair loss and encourage regrowth. You can find out more about how to prevent and reverse baldness in this exclusive Belgravia video:
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The Belgravia Centre
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