By Margaret Abrams For Dailymail.Com
23:10 12 Jan 2024, updated 23:14 12 Jan 2024
- Hair loss influencers are making mega-bucks by discussing their hair online
- TikTok creator Zeph Sanders went viral for documenting his ‘hair journey’
- FEMAIL spoke to influencers and doctors about what products really work
Bald is certainly more beautiful for these social media stars.
As more and more people deal with hair loss, especially after having coronavirus or taking the diabetes drug Ozempic, it’s no longer a taboo topic online.
Now, influencers are cashing in on their disappearing locks by making videos documenting their hair loss journeys and supporting products that are meant to bring back hair, in an effort to de-stigmatize balding.
FEMAIL spoke to hair loss doctors and influencers to find out the response to revealing their loss of locks and which products and techniques actually work.
Twitch star Zeph Sanders started losing his hair at 20, and wore a beanie to disguise his balding almost every day and in most of the videos he made.
Now, seven years later, Zeph is known for the ‘hair journey’ he documents for his 750,000 TikTok followers, which includes everything from cracking an egg on his head to trying PRP, which is when a person’s blood is drawn and then injected to stimulate new hair growth.
Zeph told The New York Times he makes up to $7,000 a month for his hair loss content, as well as maintaining an Amazon storefront and link tree with products available.
‘I ended up revealing my hair after a video of mine went viral where a lot of people were commenting about my hairline and were calling me out for covering it,’ Zeph told DailyMail.com. He gave a ‘hairline warning’ before removing his beanie, which became his unofficial tagline.
‘I had a lot of mixed reactions. Some people were really supportive of my vulnerability, but there was also a lot of negative internet bullying as well,’ Zeph said. He made it a point to respond to the negative comments and explain that they wouldn’t stop him from sharing his regrowth journey.
Despite being open about his hair loss, Zeph thinks ‘there will always be a stigma around balding.’
Zeph thinks that previously ‘if you were balding there wasn’t much you could do about it, so people just accepted it.’ Now, he believes ‘there’s more awareness around looks and beauty, which has made treatments more accessible for everyone.’
‘I feel like there’s more pressure now to look better and keep up with the beauty standards, especially if you’re in the public eye,’ Zeph continued.
He’s trying to do his part ‘in erasing the shame that goes with balding’ while sharing ‘solutions for those who want to try to regrow and take care of their hair.
It’s not just the men who are getting in on the hair loss influencer action.
Trichologist Afsennah has amassed more than 481,000 Instagram followers for her hair growth tips, which she also shares with her 838,000 TikTok followers and in more in-depth YouTube tutorials.
Afsennah said she was inspired to start her own haircare brand after receiving positive feedback on social media after sharing her own journey.
While people have grown more comfortable sharing their hair loss, Afsennah told FEMAIL, ‘The people who contact me, both customers and followers, often express a sense of sadness due to their experiences with hair loss.’
‘It is clear how deeply it impacts their lives, emphasizing the importance of having healthy hair and a healthy scalp,’ the trichologist continued.
Dr. Hardik Doshi, the lead surgeon of hair restoration at New York City’s clinic Ample told DailyMail.com, ‘In recent years, there has been an interesting shift in the conversation surrounding hair loss, with increasing openness and transparency evident, particularly on social media platforms.’
‘Historically, discussions regarding hair loss were frequently stigmatized, and those who experienced it may have felt embarrassment or humiliation,’ Dr. Doshi said.
‘However, modern societal views, as well as the influence of social media, have contributed to a more acceptable climate for voicing this widespread worry,’ the expert continued.
Other hair loss influencers are companies like the human hair wig and topper company Lusta Hair, which shares sweet stories on TikTok about kids undergoing chemotherapy or women with alopecia.
The company provides them with life-like hair and makes videos about their experience, showing them regain their confidence.
Many times, Holly, who works with the company and has alopecia, helps these young women pick out the perfect wigs.
Kimberly Di Benedetto, the founder of Lusta Hair in Australia, told DailyMail.com, ‘When I started Lusta Hair almost nobody was talking about hair loss publicly. As a woman with hair loss myself, for nearly a decade I thought I was the only person with this experience.’
‘The women we chat to are often in the process of losing their hair, which is a very traumatizing experience,’ Kimberly, who started losing her hair because of alopecia at 19, explained.
Now, Kimberly wants to ‘force hair loss and hair-wearing into the mainstream.’
‘Because of the content we put out every day, we’ve seen an increase in other women and online influencers begin to take part in the conversation,’ Kimberly said.
Emily Foster is a globe-trotting journalist based in the UK. Her articles offer readers a global perspective on international events, exploring complex geopolitical issues and providing a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
