Today is the start of Movember, a month where guys grow out their moustache to raise awareness about men’s health issues.
That is all fine and good, but the occasion also proves to be a sore point for those who just can’t grow facial hair.
This may seem like a trivial grouse, but it can affect a person’s self-esteem. Lacking hair on the cheeks or around the lips is emasculating for some.
Even individuals who can grow some semblance of a beard will sometimes still feel less confident if their facial hair is patchy or sparse.
Jonathan Yong, who opted for facial hair transplant in 2015, says men feel insecure about the whole subject.
“When I started talking to some of my closer friends, they opened up and eagerly asked about the procedure,” the self-employed 52-year-old relates.
“I think there are not much platforms for men to talk about this specific vulnerability they’re faced with. They don’t really know where to go to get more information.”
He then stumbled onto an online group, in which men shared different ways of improving facial hair growth. The advice he got was to opt for a transplant.
“Many flew to Turkiye to get it done because it’s cheaper, compared to the US or Europe. When I discovered a hair transplant clinic in Malaysia, I instead went there for a consultation,” Yong shares.
For him, it was more like casually ticking off an item on his list of things to do in life – and not entirely a vital wish. He now has hair covering his chin and lower cheeks.
Yong does acknowledge though, that having facial hair can be an extremely important issue for other men.
“There a lot of guys who are envious of others who can grow a full beard. I think, generally, they only feel complete and stereotypically manly with facial hair.”
Read more: Six-pack abs, nice skin, full head of hair? How men fret about their looks too
Celebrity-driven trend
The older generation may remember Tom Selleck with his moustache from the 1980s Magnum PI series. Younger men however, look to stars like Jason Momoa – whose beard captured attention when he first appeared in the 2018 Aquaman film.
In the past decade or so, more celebrities have stepped out sporting glorious facial hair.
It is very much the same on the local front. There are celebrities here who are known for their facial hair.
Sharnaaz Ahmad is one such Malaysian actor. He admits to having had a facial hair transplant though. He says he got it done last year to fill in his prior patchy beard.
“I actually already was able to grow a beard, but it looks uneven on the cheek areas,” he points out.
“I thought about it, and got it done – for the sake of getting it done. Now it looks good, because nampak sekata (uniform).”
According to him, men should not be judged about such things.
“Whether you want to have a full beard or not, it depends on the individual. I feel that if a guy wants it, he should have the option to somehow get it,” he stresses.
“I think everyone is born different, but if you can choose something to make yourself feel happier, why not?”
Sharnaaz notes that he is not ashamed about getting a facial hair transplant.
“Why do you want to lie about doing it? I don’t see any problem with it. So, I’m open about it. I don’t do (surgery on) lips or nose. Beard? I just wanted to.”
He adds that as a bearded actor, there are more chances to play different characters. Nevertheless, he still believes having talent is what matters in the long run.
Root of the matter
Dr Aly Alias Stephen Nah asks for people to always think about why they are doing something – such as opting for facial hair transplant.
“My advice would be to ensure they are doing it for themselves and not under societal or peer pressure. It’s essential to be informed, have realistic expectations, and consult with a professional before making a decision.”
He says that facial hair transplants have been on the rise in recent years, and the interest has indeed sky-rocketed due to popular culture,
“The surge of interest occurred during the hype of Tony Stark, when the Ironman movies came out (starting in 2008). At that time, facial hair enquiries would make almost 20% of the total consultations,” Dr Aly shares.
“However, hair transplants for the scalp are still more common. An exact ratio would vary by clinic and region, but in my experience, for every 50 scalp hair transplants, there will be one or two facial hair transplants.”
To him, the concept of “perfect” facial hair is quite a misnomer. He says that hair grows in a very messy, haphazard and asymmetrical shape on the face.
“Ultimately the ‘perfect’ facial hair, in essence, should be imperfect.”
As it is, Dr Aly is the one who performed the hair transplant procedure on Yong.
He cites factors such as personal preferences and societal standards as reason why someone who go to great lengths for having facial hair.
“For some men, a full beard is a symbol of masculinity, maturity or status. Others may feel it enhances their aesthetic appeal or is in line with current fashion trends,” he points out.
Dr Aly says that personal confidence can also play a significant role – the same way some people feel more confident with a full head of hair.
“Lastly it is the ability to make choices to decide their self expression. Facial hair allows a person to determine what image they want to project and how they want to curate their look.”
He cautions that facial hair growth relies on genetics and does not necessarily follow a specific timeline.
“This explains why, some men in their early or mid twenties, can still develop sudden onset of facial hair when they do certain interventions such as applying minoxidil, doing derma-rollers, applying commercial tonics, and yes, even some urban myths of slapping some whisky onto their face,” Dr Aly explains.
“Hair transplant for facial hair or beard is a cosmetic procedure where hair follicles from one part of the body, usually the back of the scalp, are transferred to the face to enhance or create a beard.”
He does however say that, like any surgical procedure, there are risks and potential complications – which is something men should take into consideration.
Read more: The science-backed skincare trend proves that beauty is not just skin deep
Getting it well-styled
A barber in Petaling Jaya, who just wants to be known as Zack, believes that the unshaven look became a “thing” about five years ago.
This is based on his observation of more men coming into his shop asking for help with grooming their beard or moustache – and not a full shave.
He says that there are no one style that is popular, but instead, it is probably more about having neatly shaped facial hair.
“Probably they think their face will look more manly with a beard, for example. Or at least, they want a moustache.”
Zack goes on to lament that he himself can’t seem to grow facial hair – maybe just some “miserable” strands around his lips. He says this is extremely ironic, as he then has to help other guys with their beard or moustache.
“I think it’s always a case of whether you have it or you don’t. And somehow, I just am not blessed with being able to grow hair on my cheeks.”
As for where he works, it caters to men. Even the name indicates as such, which is Dude’s Barbershop.
The menu is just simple: a haircut or a shave. He occasionally does perms (which is another trend among men this year).
According to Zack, it is common to have his customers complaining about how they can’t seem to grow facial hair. He says he knows a lot of guys who want facial hair but are unable to grow it.
He also acknowledges that there are celebrities that are famous for their facial hair.
“Oh, Sharnaaz is definitely one of those men who is famous for having thick and even facial hair. You could even call his beard ‘legendary’.”
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