A man who shut himself off after losing his hair as a teenager has found his confidence again, thanks to a new hair system.
Zac Jones of Sparks, Nevada, started to notice his hair thinning when he was 17 and much of it fell out. With a family history of male-pattern baldness, Jones knew what was going to happen.
Losing his hair at such a young age was devastating, as Jones told Newsweek that he was “very upset and really shocked.” He knew it was genetic but hoped to have much longer before it happened.
While still a teen, the Gen Zer went completely bald and felt lost. He became “extremely depressed” and closed himself off from everyone else.
“I was constantly mistaken for being 10 years older than my actual age. I was constantly shut in and rarely went out,” Jones, now 21, said. “It was definitely harder to date women my age or even make friends my own age, so I never tried to.”
He tried taking Minoxidil to encourage hair regrowth, and while it worked a bit, it didn’t have the full effect he wanted. Ultimately, Jones decided to shave what little growth occurred and tried to embrace being bald.
Male-pattern baldness, also known as androgenic alopecia, causes hair loss on the scalp or a receding hairline. As explained by the Cleveland Clinic, it occurs in seven stages:
- Little to no hair loss or hairline recession
- Slight hair loss near the skin around the temples
- Deep hairline recession around the temples, potentially leading to an “M” or “U” hairline
- Deep hairline recession and loss of hair at the top of the head
- The hairline recession connects to the bald spot on the crown
- Hair between the temples and crown is thinning or gone
- There’s no hair on the top of the head and a thin band around the side
The condition affects two-thirds of men. According to the Cleveland Clinic, many start to notice the early stages by their thirties, but some will experience it in their late teens or early twenties. Indeed, about 25 percent see the first signs before turning 21, and by age 50, about 70 percent will lose their hair.
Finally Finding a Solution
As hard as Jones tried to feel good about himself, he hated how he looked. He felt resigned to the idea of this being his reality.
But in November 2024, that finally changed, as Jones visited a salon that specializes in hair systems. The custom-made hairpieces, which look like natural hair, are attached using tape or adhesive glue.
“It was about $300 for the single unit, and I wear it all the time. The glue holding it to my head lasts for about four weeks, and I just re-glue it monthly. I also have a backup unit when I need to replace the original,” Jones said.
He continued: “It definitely helps me feel younger and my own age. Now, I can finally go places without people mistaking my age. I feel more confident when heading out in public.”
Since he started wearing it, he’s received many compliments, as his friends and family love the color and style. He also loves that the color matches his natural hair tone.
The Social Media Response
As a result of his newfound confidence, Jones shared his story on Reddit, posting as user u/Parrotsandarmadillos. He shared several images of himself before and after getting the hair system, showing the difference it’s made.
But it’s not just his appearance that’s changed. Jones wrote on TikTok that it’s helped him feel so much better, and he’s finally “working on healing.”
In just a matter of days, the Reddit post went viral, with over 8,100 votes and more than 540 comments at the time of writing.
It felt important for Jones to share this with other men who may be going through similar experiences. He hopes to encourage them not to give up and to find a solution that will make them happy.
“I wanted to show anyone in my position that they have options,” Jones told Newsweek. “I know exactly how hair loss feels, especially since it happened to me so young. Some people can embrace baldness, but not everyone wants to.”
He continued: “Hair is part of our identity and one of the ways we can express ourselves. It has an impact on our social lives, dating, mental health, and identity. It makes it even harder with social media giving us the expectations to have naturally full, beautiful hair. Understanding that makes dealing with it much easier.”
The online reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. Many expressed happiness for him, while some felt he looked just as good without hair.
This surprised Jones, who always assumed “people didn’t like [him] bald” and that they’d avoid him. Getting that validation after years of pain was a huge boost.
“I’m still happy with my system, but it does make me feel a little better to know that many people actually liked my baldness,” he said.
Among the hundreds of comments on Reddit, one user wrote: “Looks great! Confidence suits you.”
Another person replied: “Dude, you rocked baldness! But what counts is how you feel, so keep on going.”
One Redditor commented: “it looks like your real hair too, you look great with and without.”
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