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Baldness: So bad, it's good |
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Written by Donovan Henderson
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Wednesday, 17 May 2006 |
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Page 1 of 2 Baldness used to be bad.
And not in the it’s-so-bad-it’s-good sense, but in the God-will-afflict-you-with-baldness-because-you’ve-been-bad sense.
Make sense?
In the Bible, for instance, during the end times God will inflict select bad guys with baldness. The prophet Elisha called two bears out of the wilderness to chomp on some children who teased him for being bald.
Thank goodness we don’t live in Old Testament times. I used to tease my dad for being bald all the time. I guess karma caught up with me.
But in 2006, baldness is a much more accepted “hair” style. In fact, guys like Vin Diesel and Bruce Willis have made it cool.
For those of us losing our hair prematurely, we all say a collective, “Yeah, we’re cool.”
So much information about losing your hair exists online and in books it’s hard to make any sense of it. But the reality is this: Most so-called cures aren’t cures, they’re just snake oil. That’s according to firstscience.com.
Minoxidil (Rogaine) and Finasteride (Propecia or Proscar), prevent hair loss, but they don’t help regrow new hair.
Minoxidil, in fact, was first tested as a blood pressure medication.
Other treatments that attempt to unclog hair follicles, increase blood flow to the scalp or provide nutrients are missing one major point. None of those are causes of baldness, according to firstscience.com.
It all comes down to genes — and not just from your mom’s side. Those genetics come from your dad’s side, too.
Here’s a quick look at why some of us go bald:
- For reasons unknown, a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) critical in male fetus development, begins to bother hair on top of the scalp later in life. The follicles usually keep producing hair, but it is fine “peach fuzz.”
- DHT doesn’t go after hair on the side of the head, again for reasons unknown.
- Because the follicles that produce the peach fuzz don’t die until later in life, there is still hope for a cure. The drug would simply get those follicles to begin producing thicker, longer hair.
But until that cure comes along, the best choice is to embrace your genetics and not try to hide it. The combover is not the answer. Your single, 10-foot long hair swirled around on top of your head is fooling no one.
Colleen Brooks, a hair stylist at Capelli’s Salon and Spa in Fort Collins, recommends keeping hair shorter rather than trying to cover it up. This goes to show people really are over the combover.
Many haircuts can add volume, creating the appearance of more hair.
“Besides, being bald is more acceptable now,” she said. “More people are OK with it than they were 20 years ago.”
Like I said, it’s not that bad.
Donovan Henderson
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|  | "Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is Alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange. In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one, and only truth." | |
|  | We're not that bright, even though in our own little world, we're geniuses. We like 80s hair bands and one-hit wonders, but among us we have respectable tastes, too. Metallica, Iron Maiden, U2. Pursuit of all things trivial is a lifestyle, not just a game. We like some sports, love other sports, and can find something to say about anything. We watch TV and movies and we've read a book or two, even a few classics (Yes, Classic Comics count!)
We call it insight, you call it what you will. | |
|  | Felix Wong is an outdoor enthusiast living in Fort Collins. A mechanical engineer by day, he is especially passionate about bicycling, running, and backpacking. | |
|  | Hola Amigos! I'm Sandra. I like to believe that people are 70 percent good and 30 percent dumb. I'm stickin to that story. Reading this blog might make you want to be good, but probably just dumb. | |
|  | Donovan Henderson is editor of NEXTnc. | |
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I am a recent college graduate of Minnesota State University Moorhead. After recieving my B.A. in English and Mass Communications this past August I moved down to Colorado.
I enjoy long walks on the beach, candlelight dinners, and heavy metal. My hobbies include reading and writing, music, movies, and getting drunk. Some of my favorite contemporary authors include Bret Easton Ellis, Chuck Palahniuk, and Kurt Vonnegut. My top movies are anything directed by Kubrick. I enjoy listening to anything that rocks.
Right now I am just trying to get to know Colorado and FoCo better. Mostly in order to find the best drink specials on each day that ends in Y. So if you know where I can get a cheap drunk on, let me know!
--Drew | |
|  | Life's little morsels of inspiration, observation and encouragement seen through the eyes of the Nextnc reporter.
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|  | Ms. Giles currently lives in Colorado where she stars in her own private reality show. She writes aphoristic accounts of her life, taken completely out of context, and embellished with characters and situations disguised to resemble something close to interesting. | |
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| | My name is Michelle Turley and I'm 28 years old. I live in Severance with my hubbie, Brandon. We have 2 dogs and a cat. We enjoy camping, four-wheeling, and just being in the mountains. I like to cook, clean (go figure), flea market, and play poker. I have so much to say about poker... | |
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