Hugh Laurie on Why Hiding Hair Loss is ‘Sad’
On the eve of the unveiling of his brass star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame in October, actor Hugh Laurie opened up about his career in an interview with Variety, in which he discussed everything from his old Cambridge Footlights friend Emma Thompson to hair loss.
Laurie, at 57, would be one of the luckier men of his generation not to have been affected by the genetic hair loss condition by now as Male Pattern Baldness affects around half of all men by the time they hit 50. The incidence rises with each passing year, and by retirement age it is fair to say that most men are affected.
Laurie’s thinning crown has been evident for a long time though the make-up team appeared to disguise his hair loss rather well on the hit TV series House, in which the British actor became something of an international heart-throb. Away from that role, however be that in real life or more “earthy” productions Laurie seems less concerned about the fact that he is demonstrating the classic signs of Male Pattern Baldness.
His hair thinning is something that was evident in the John le Carré mini-series The Night Manager, in which he starred alongside Tom Hiddleston as a scheming philanthropist. Variety points out in a conversation with Laurie how the show's director, Susanne Bier, seemed in no rush to cut away from shots of the back of his head.
“I was very aware of it,” replied Laurie. “I grumbled every time, but the only thing sadder than a man with a bald spot is a man trying to hide a bald spot.”
Laurie's views may well be in the minority, however, as many men go out of their way to conceal thinning hair. It can be especially distressing when it starts while men are still in their 20s or, in rare cases, younger still, as genetic baldness is not a look that many men would freely choose.
Even when men hit their 40s, 50s and beyond, Male Pattern Baldness can be distressing, which is why men often try and style their hair in such a way as to conceal it. Whilst there are certain 'tricks' to making thinning hair appear fuller, such as washing it daily, these are solely cosmetic fixes that can give the hair a temporary boost. This will not stop the balding process, which will continue unless proactive measures are taken.
As male pattern baldness is a permanent hair loss condition caused by the constant attacks by DHT on the hair follicles located around the top of the head in men with an inherited sensitivity to this testosterone byproduct, an on-going solution is required. This is where clinically-proven male hair loss treatments, step in.
There are two MHRA licensed and FDA approved hair loss drugs used in the treatment of male pattern baldness. Finasteride 1mg is a one-a-day tablet that helps to inhibit the formation of DHT, thereby helping to stabilise hair shedding and allowing normal hair growth to proceed. Topical formulations of the vasodilator high strength minoxidil encourage localised blood flow and promote hair growth.
These two primary hair loss treatments can be used individually or simultaneously and, whichever way a man chooses, they can be employed in conjunction with additional hair growth supporting products - from specially formulated food supplements to handheld laser devices - to help maximise the hair's potential.
Laurie, at 57, would be one of the luckier men of his generation not to have been affected by the genetic hair loss condition by now as Male Pattern Baldness affects around half of all men by the time they hit 50. The incidence rises with each passing year, and by retirement age it is fair to say that most men are affected.
Classic signs of male pattern baldness
His hair thinning is something that was evident in the John le Carré mini-series The Night Manager, in which he starred alongside Tom Hiddleston as a scheming philanthropist. Variety points out in a conversation with Laurie how the show's director, Susanne Bier, seemed in no rush to cut away from shots of the back of his head.
“I was very aware of it,” replied Laurie. “I grumbled every time, but the only thing sadder than a man with a bald spot is a man trying to hide a bald spot.”
A minority view?
Laurie's views may well be in the minority, however, as many men go out of their way to conceal thinning hair. It can be especially distressing when it starts while men are still in their 20s or, in rare cases, younger still, as genetic baldness is not a look that many men would freely choose.
Even when men hit their 40s, 50s and beyond, Male Pattern Baldness can be distressing, which is why men often try and style their hair in such a way as to conceal it. Whilst there are certain 'tricks' to making thinning hair appear fuller, such as washing it daily, these are solely cosmetic fixes that can give the hair a temporary boost. This will not stop the balding process, which will continue unless proactive measures are taken.
As male pattern baldness is a permanent hair loss condition caused by the constant attacks by DHT on the hair follicles located around the top of the head in men with an inherited sensitivity to this testosterone byproduct, an on-going solution is required. This is where clinically-proven male hair loss treatments, step in.
There are two MHRA licensed and FDA approved hair loss drugs used in the treatment of male pattern baldness. Finasteride 1mg is a one-a-day tablet that helps to inhibit the formation of DHT, thereby helping to stabilise hair shedding and allowing normal hair growth to proceed. Topical formulations of the vasodilator high strength minoxidil encourage localised blood flow and promote hair growth.
These two primary hair loss treatments can be used individually or simultaneously and, whichever way a man chooses, they can be employed in conjunction with additional hair growth supporting products - from specially formulated food supplements to handheld laser devices - to help maximise the hair's potential.
The Belgravia Centre
The Belgravia Centre is a world-renowned group of a hair loss clinic in Central London, UK. If you are worried about hair loss you can arrange a free consultation with a hair loss expert or complete our Online Consultation from anywhere in the world for home-use treatment.
View our Hair Loss Success Stories, which includes the world's largest gallery of hair growth photos and demonstrates the level of success that so many of Belgravia's patients achieve.
