Mark Clattenburg’s Hair Weave

One of the best-known referees in the English Premier League has recently announced he is now using a hair weave to mask the signs of a receding hairline. 38 year-old Mark Clattenburg has never been one to shy away from the limelight, making him one of the most colourful, non-playing characters in the top flight of English football.

Talking about his decision to undergo a weave to disguise the early stages of Male Pattern Baldness, Clattenburg said: “It’s official. My hair is no longer a problem. The hardest decision to make is to pick up the phone and make that call. But I did it and it changed my life.”

The risks of a hair weave

What Clattenburg may not be aware of is the risk that hair weaves present to the remaining hair. Weaves and extensions are tightly attached to hair surrounding bald patches, placing additional weight and tension on the scalp and hair follicles. Over time this increased tension causes the hair follicles to stretch out of shape and the attached hairs to fall out a condition known as Traction Alopecia.

Worse still, hair loss caused by Traction Alopecia is not always reversible. The deformed hair follicles may no longer be able to grow hair normally, making bald patches not only larger, but also permanent.

Traction Alopecia is a condition most commonly seen in women who wear hair extensions or tight hairstyles such as braids and buns, on a near-permanent basis. But the increasingly popularity of hair weaves for masking hair loss conditions means that cases of the condition are also rising in men. It is important to remember that hair weaves are not a permanent solution to hair loss, and they should only be worn infrequently to reduce the risk of follicle damage and permanent baldness.