We’ve discussed in the past that there are certain natural ways to support healthy hair. Specifically, in the piece “5 Foods You Need For Hair Skin And Nails” we looked at salmon, sweet potatoes, eggs, dark chocolate, and oats all as foods that can promote strong and healthy hair (among other things!). At the same time though, many people who deal with genetic hair loss susceptibility ultimately find that they need to pursue more intensive options than mere dietary changes. And particularly for men suffering from male-pattern baldness and alopecia, this is where hair transplants can come into play.
Once upon a time, the hair transplant option was somewhat taboo. It was commonly believed that “plugs” would look blatantly artificial, and were somehow shameful. Indeed, popular TV shows from Friends to Arrested Development even made fun of the idea.
At this point though, this sort of thinking is decidedly outdated. There is more understanding for men who want to explore hair treatments, and as a 2021 piece at GQ put it, transplants “actually look good now.” As the article explained, this is essentially because the technology behind the procedures has gotten more sophisticated. Transplanted hair is now virtually indistinguishable from a natural head of hair –– and as the piece hints, this is something that’s being demonstrated more frequently by celebrities (who never do seem to experience balding or thinning anymore….).
With all of that said, we know that many men who might want this kind of procedure still aren’t convinced –– and that addressing hair loss can be a sensitive topic in general! So, to build on the idea that these procedures are getting both better and more common, we thought we’d take a look at some famous men who appear to have had transplants (though we’ll note that most of these men have not confirmed their procedures).
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Steve Carell
The beloved comic actor is commonly admired for his hair transformation. And if you haven’t noticed it yourself, go back and watch the first season of The Office again. Early in that show’s run, Carell is quite clearly experiencing visible thinning at the front of his scalp. Soon thereafter however (and in countless films and public appearances since) he’s boasted a full, attractive head of hair. Indeed, Ryan Gosling’s character even specifically tells Carell’s in the film Crazy, Stupid Love, “You’ve got a good head of hair.”
Wayne Rooney
In case you’re not a sports fan, we’ll note that Wayne Rooney is a former football (as in soccer) star. He spent most of his career playing for Manchester United and the English national team, with FourFourTwo ranking him as the third-best English player in history (well ahead of, say, David Beckham and his notably splendid hair!). Rooney experienced balding at a fairly early age however, and evidently struggled with it as such a public figure. He has since undergone hair transplants, and while it seems genetics may yet catch up to him, we commend him for making the decision.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk has had a fairly full head of hair for about as long as he’s been one of the most famous people on Earth. Indeed, this is really the only image most people know of the Tesla founder and world’s richest man. A quick search of a younger Musk will show you that his hairline had all but disappeared at one point. It’s a virtual certainty that he’s had one or two successful transplants over the years (and his hair looks great!).
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Daniel Negreanu
For those who may not follow pro poker, we’ll note that Daniel Negreanu is among the very best in the world at it. It would be difficult to definitively declare a top living player, but his resume –– six World Series of Poker bracelets, $42 million in winnings, and two World Poker Tour titles –– is “almost unbeatable.” Amidst all this winning meanwhile, Negreanu also seems to seek the spotlight more than some of his counterparts –– which means we’ve watched his image evolve over time. Somewhat like Musk, Negreanu had a dramatically receding hairline and significant thinning fairly young. Over time however, he grew a terrific head of hair with help from a transplant (which he’s been refreshingly open about).
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Joe Buck
Finally there’s Joe Buck –– a renowned, prolific sports broadcaster who despite working in an audio medium has become a very visible figure in American sports. Buck’s transformation was not quite as dramatic as some we’ve seen, but he has discussed his hair transplant openly –– most notably in an appearance on CONAN, during which he joked that he’d prodded actor Matthew McConaughey for advice about plugs. For his part, McConaughey has never admitted to a long-suspected transplant (which, if that’s what it was, was extremely successful!).
These are only a few of many famous men we could point to who have had hair transplants (or at least appear to have done so). We hope this helps to show that these procedures are becoming more common and more effective, and that those men struggling with hair loss can consider a procedure a viable option.
