Short and
long
human hair wigs
for black women and men significantly increase self
esteem
Hair plays a significant role in our life.
Another person's hair is one of the first characteristics
we notice upon meeting. Our own human hair is one of the
first and last things we attend to before a meeting or a
social engagement. Hair disorder, especially when severe,
often profoundly affects the lives of those afflicted. Severe
hair loss evokes not only cosmetic concerns but may also
evoke feelings of vulnerability (nakedness), loss of self-esteem,
alterations in self-image, and, perhaps, even self-identity.
In 1992, researchers at Old Dominion University in Norfolk,
Virginia, surveyed 145 men, and found that 84 percent of
the balding men were preoccupied with their loss. They described
themselves as filled with self-consciousness, helplessness,
and envy of men with full heads of hair. Black men and women
who began losing hair in their early twenties were more
likely to suffer from extremely low self-esteem.
While stressful, balding isn't the end of the world.
Although the men reported glancing in the mirror constantly
and wearing hats even in warm weather, they manage to make
it through their daily lives without much problem. For some
it even sparked self-improvement tactics like fiddling with
hair styles, working out more, and dressing better. Survey
result is shown in the following chart.
Stereotypes associated with baldness are not
flattering. A research back in 1971(2) had been
conducted to investigate how one person was perceived
by others can be influenced by quantity of scalp
hair (regular, balding, and bald) as well as color,
length, and quality of scalp hair. Pictures of the
same person were presented to 60 judges. Differences
in appearances of this person (i.e., experimental
conditions of regular, balding, and bald) were
manipulated through modifications made by a commercial
artist. The results revealed that the person with
a regular quantity of hair was rated as most handsome,
virile, strong, active, and sharp. The person with
a balding head of hair was rated as least potent,
weak, dull, and inactive, and the person with a
bald head of hair was rated as most unkind, bad,
and ugly.
Many other studies also show employment discrimination
based on a person's appearance.
Motivation to avoid baldness is not confined
to this century. In 1150 BC Egyptian men smear their
pates with fats from ibex, lions, crocodiles, serpents,
geese, and hippopotamuses. In modern society, this
aversion is readily evident from the many available
remedies such as creams, hormones, vitamins, hairpieces,
wigs, scalp reduction and hair transplants. A government
report in 1983 reveals that over the past 9 years
the FDA has overseen the investigation of ingredients
in about 300,000 products claimed to help hair re-grow,
none of them has any medical benefit, of course!
