Gray (and/or Bald) is Great (and/or Beautiful), Right?
Everyone approaches aging (and the inevitable signs of aging) differently. I’m referring specifically to the graying and/or mysterious abduction of hair from the top of men’s heads.
Acceptance of this supposed rite of passage varies greatly depending on a variety of factors. Age of onset, societal acceptance and more. Some men may be proud of their baldness, feeling a kindred relationship with Patrick Stewart (who was called “The Sexiest Man on TV” for his portrayal of Captain Jean-Luc Picard on Star Trek: The Next Generation). Still others may highlight such figures as Anderson Cooper, easily recognizable by his silver coif.
Most men will deal with one or both issue at some point. More than 40% of Americans have some gray hair by the age of 40, and approximately 25 percent of men begin balding by age 20; two-thirds begin balding by age 60.
Currently I am a 30 year-old male with a full head of light-brown/blonde hair. It was very light blonde when I was a child. My father’s hair has been thinning since I can remember. My maternal grandfather started going gray in high school. My younger brother started losing his hair in high school. So far I seemed to have escaped any hair metamorphosis; then again I could be deluding myself.
In a conversation at brunch with friends recently, I was ribbing a 28 year-old friend about the random grays scattered throughout his black hair and he told me that it was impossible for me to not have any gray hairs. Frankly the idea shocked me because I’ve checked a couple (okay, many) times since turning 30 and I haven’t encountered a single one, so I leaned over and challenged him to find any. He said something about how the color of my hair made it difficult to see any, but I’m convinced they’re just not there.
There was a time when the thought of going gray was less than palatable, but I think I’ve learned to accept the inevitable. As for potentially losing my hair, I’m knocking on wood that it’s so far so good. If it starts to go MIA from my scalp, I will most likely follow the lead of Bruce Willis and my younger brother and just shave it all off.
What are YOUR thoughts about going gray and/or bald?
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