Confidence vs Hair: What Matters More in Dating?

Dating can be daunting if you’re worried about your hair, but how important is it really?

Even though men often worry that hair loss will affect their love lives, surveys suggest it’s not as big a deal as they think.

How do men feel about their hair loss?

It’s a mixed bag. Men’s reactions to hair loss vary, but studies suggest it’s often a source of stress, especially early on. According to a survey by Lloyds Pharmacy, many men reported feeling anxious when they first noticed signs of thinning hair. To deal with the initial dip in confidence, many men resort to switching up their appearance in other ways: 27% started wearing hats more often, 26% grew some facial hair, and 22% started working out more. That said, with time their confidence and acceptance of their hair loss tended to improve.

When it comes to dating, the survey revealed that hair loss was a worry. 15% of those surveyed admitted cancelling a date because of nerves about their hair loss, while 34% said they chose to wear a hat on a date or in their dating profile to hide the fact they are balding. This tendency is known as ‘hatfishing’, aka not revealing hair loss to dates.

Does hair loss make a difference in dating?

MediHair tested how hair loss affects dating prospects, by uploading two ‘fake’ dating profiles of someone called Harry to Tinder. Both profiles were identical apart from one detail: in one Harry has a full head of hair, and in the other he is completely bald. Hairy Harry received 405 matches in 10 days, while Bald Harry received 342. That’s only a 16% difference, suggesting hair isn’t a major factor for most people. MediHair also asked 450 people if they found baldness attractive; 75% of respondents selected they felt ‘neutral’ about it – in other words, it made no difference to whether they found somebody attractive.

Plus, looks aren’t everything. Personality was ranked the most important trait in a potential partner, before looks, in survey by Superdrug. When specifically asked about what they thought of hair loss when picking a partner, 97% of women said they would still date somebody with minor hair loss. 76% said they would date somebody with severe hair loss. Based on this survey, hair loss didn’t seem to bother women much.

But the same survey revealed most people prefer their date to be honest, rather than trying to hide it. 48% of respondents said they’d rather their date ditch the hat, compared to only 6% who would want their date to use a hat to disguise their hair loss.

Not only do women tend to value transparency, almost a sixth of women said baldness was the most attractive out of all male hairstyles. For men attracted to men, one in four said being bald was the most attractive look.

Based on the research, hair really isn’t the be-all and end-all in dating.

Can you do anything about hair loss?

Even though hair loss doesn’t seem to be a death sentence for your dating life, it might still be on your mind. If you find that your thinning hair is starting to affect your confidence, there are things you can do to stop your hairline from creeping back any further. You might find the urge to wear a hat more often, avoid getting your hair wet in public, or constantly fidget with your hair, which are usually telltale signs that thinning hair is bothering you. If that’s the case, treatment plans are available to nip hair loss in the bud and help boost your confidence.

You can take our free consultation to get personalized recommendations for the best plan for your lifestyle and stage of hair loss.

All of our blog articles are reviewed for medical accuracy by our Medical Director before publication.

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