Many people directly tie their identity to their hair. So, losing your hair can feel like you’relosing a part of yourself. Hair loss can be a highly distressing experience for both men and women — one that can affect your self-esteem and confidence.

All that said, it’s important to remember that you are more than just your appearance. And you’re not alone on this journey. There are lots of other people out there who are struggling just like you. The good news is there are also game-changing strategies that can help you on your hair loss journey. Read on to learn about three strategies to help empower you to embrace and overcome your challenges.

1. Use Medication

You may think of hair medication as little more than snake oil, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Medication-based hair loss treatment options have achieved significant advancements in recent years. It is still true that these medications may not work for everyone or provide complete regrowth. But they can significantly curb hair loss and improve your hair’s overall condition. And, yes, in some cases, they can help your hair regrow.

Though a few different medications are on the market, two are the most popular. The first, minoxidil, usually comes as a topical solution. Minoxidil is commonly used to treat androgenetic alopecia or male pattern baldness. It works by widening blood vessels to your scalp, providing better blood flow and nutrients. This, in turn, potentially stimulates hair growth and prevents further loss.

The other most common medication, finasteride, works by inhibiting your body’s conversion of testosterone into the hormone dihydrotestosterone. DHT is a hormone that contributes to hair loss by binding to hair follicles on your scalp. This causes your hair follicles to shrink over time, resulting in baldness. Finasteride is usually taken as an oral medication, making it convenient. However, it can also be used topically. Remember to stay patient when using hair medications, as they take months to take effect.

2. Surgery

A hair transplant is a surgical procedure that involves relocating hair follicles from one area to another. This procedure is widely recognized as a permanent solution for those seeking to restore a fuller head of hair. There are two main transplant techniques:

Follicular unit transplantation is also known as the strip method. It involves first removing a thin strip of scalp from a donor area of the scalp. This strip is then cut into follicular units and implanted in balding areas. It’s important to note that, with this method, the donor area is sutured, leaving a linear scar. However, this scar is often concealed by surrounding hair.

Follicular unit extraction, on the other hand, involves individually extracting follicular units and transplanting them. This requires a specialized instrument, as each unit is transplanted to the recipient area, similar to FUT. The advantage of FUE, however, is that it doesn’t leave a large visible scar like the linear incision of FUT. Instead, it leaves tiny round scars (“punch holes”), which are less noticeable and more easily concealed by surrounding hair. FUT and FUE are worth considering as legitimate long-term solutions to hair loss.

3. Hairpieces

While medication and surgery are great long-term solutions to hair loss, they don’t provide immediate relief. So, if you’re looking for a highly effective, short-term solution, adopt a hairpiece into your wardrobe. Hairpieces are dynamic, customizable, non-surgical solutions that do their thing when you put them on.

Now, don’t confuse modern hairpieces with the stuffy toupees and powdered wigs of old. Today, rugs can look incredibly natural in appearance. Wigs are one of the most popular carpet choices, and they come in various synthetic and raw materials. They can be custom-made or ready-to-wear and provide full coverage of your scalp.

The customizability of modern hairpieces is one of their greatest advantages. You could theoretically recreate your old hairline or embrace a new one altogether. And, if you’ve ever wanted perfectly electric blue hair, a wig is your ticket. A modern hairpiece lets you immediately cover up your hair loss and confidently face the world. Knowing that you can once again start every day with a reliable head of hair is a real game-changer.

Embrace Change

Hair loss can be a challenging experience that affects your self-esteem and confidence. However, using these strategies, you can restore some of that confidence and possibly some of your hair. It’s important to note that medications, surgery, and hairpieces are just three such strategies. There are others to pursue, such as seeking counseling, support groups, or focusing on developing healthy habits.

Whatever you choose to do, remember that hair loss strategies should be considered based on your individual needs and preferences. While everyone’s hair loss journey has some overlap, this journey is still your own. How much hair loss affects someone physically and emotionally varies from person to person. So, take everything with a pinch of salt and trust your gut when making big decisions. Embracing your hair loss journey can ultimately help deepen your sense of self and agency in the world.