‘Two and a Half Men’ Star Reveals Unusual Hair Loss Treatment

Cover story? Cryer with and without the products.

Jon Cryer, who plays Alan Harper in the Emmy award winning comedy Two and a Half Men, has revealed his unusual method of dealing with hair loss. During an interview with chat show king Conan O’Brien, Cryer revealed that his hair is actually an “elaborate illusion”.

He went on to explain, “This is the work of several talented professionals making the most of, like, four hairs. It's amazing, actually, what they can do. I'm not wearing a piece - or anything like that - but it's a long involved process that starts with stuff like shoe polish.”

Cryer elaborated, “Basically, they coat the top. They basically just paint - they get a roller type thing ... and then they literally sprinkle powder in from a salt shaker. So this is, like I said, four or five hairs.”

The problem with paint

Colouring the scalp to disguise the appearance of thinning hair is nothing new, but few men openly talk about using the technique. Although paint can help disguise hair loss at a distance, there are some problems with it. Jon Cryer himself identified rain as being a major drawback to his hair loss treatment: “It flattens out and you can get the nice little rivulets going down,” he explained.

Colouring the scalp to disguise thinning hair is also quite ineffective under bright lights or when viewed close-up. Often the painted scalp remains much shinier than the surrounding hair for instance, immediately exposing the secret.

Would Cryer be better off with a wig?

During the interview Cryer, the 48-year old former star of 1980s teen comedy Pretty in Pink, mentions and rejects the use of a hairpiece to disguise his hair loss. Wigs, toupees and hairpieces have all been used by men experiencing balding with varying degrees of success. Sir Elton John famously wore a wig for many years for instance, before undergoing a hair loss treatment regime.

But just like scalp painting, hairpieces also present a number of problems for their wearers again often related to the weather. Stiff breezes and gusts of wind have all been known to dislodge wigs, causing embarrassment for the wearer. If Cryer is determined to avoid problems associated with the weather, a wig is also unlikely to be the solution he needs.

Far better for most men is to choose a proven hair loss treatment that encourages natural regrowth in bald patches and at the edges of the hairline. Real hair regrowth improves the appearance of the hairline and does not rely on any kind of visual trickery. By promoting hair regrowth, bald patches can be filled and hairlines extended, creating a completely natural appearance.

A further advantage of real hair is that it is impervious to wind and rain, sparing men and women undergoing treatment any of the embarrassing mishaps associated with the weather.