This time, we will share the results of a survey conducted by LoveMA, operated by Webster Marketing Inc. The survey was conducted with 490 adult Japanese men nationwide regarding “countermeasures for receding hairlines.”
Do you worry about your “hairline” receding? As you age, you may notice that “your hairline has become thinner, and the scalp is more visible” or “your forehead has become wider.” This survey focuses exclusively on Japanese men and covers “what triggered them to notice their receding hairline” and “how they deal with it.” You may want to compare the results with men in your country.
Survey outline
Survey target: Adult Japanese men nationwide
Survey period: February 14-27, 2023
Survey method: Voluntary responses via the Internet
Number of valid responses: 490 people
Age of respondents: 0.8% in their teens / 13.3% in their 20s / 33.0% in their 30s / 29.8% in their 40s / 15.3% in their 50s / 7.8% in their 60s and older
Summary of survey results
・Approximately 60% of men surveyed responded that they are “very concerned” or “somewhat concerned” about their receding hairline.
・The age breakdown of responses to the question “Are you concerned about your receding hairline?” shows that “somewhat concerned” was the most common response.
・The top reason for becoming concerned about receding hairlines was “looking in the mirror.”
・The top strategy for dealing with receding hairlines was “changing hairstyle.”
The percentage of Japanese men concerned about their receding hairline is 67.6%.
When asked if they were concerned about receding hairlines, 67.6% of the 490 adult men surveyed answered “somewhat concerned” (43.7%) or “very concerned” (23.9%). The remaining 32.4% answered, “Not concerned at all.” The results by age group are as follows:
The results of the survey by age group are as follows:
In all age groups, the most common answer was “somewhat concerned.”
The percentage of respondents who answered “very concerned” also exceeded 20% in all age groups.
The combined percentage of “very concerned” and “somewhat concerned” was highest among those in their 40s, exceeding 70%.
What triggered concern about the hairline recession?
1. Look in the mirror. (61 people)
2. pointed out by others. (54 people)
3. when your hair is wet. (43 people)
4. Increased hair loss. (28 people)
5. When I gave my bangs. (27 people)
6. The shape of the forehead has changed. (20 people)
7. It’s getting harder to set my hair. (14 people)
Of the 331 respondents who answered that they were concerned about their receding hairline, the most common trigger for their concern was “looking in the mirror” (61 people). This was followed by “being pointed out by others” (54 people), “noticing it when their hair is wet” (43 people), and “increased hair loss” (28 people).
Many people notice their receding hairline by themselves, such as when looking in the mirror or discovering hair loss. However, there are many triggers for this concern in daily life.
Here are some specific responses.
Rank 1: Looking in the mirror.
“I was shocked when I looked in the mirror” (35 years old).
Many people noticed visually by looking in the mirror during face washing, etc.
Some also realized their receding hairline by looking at themselves in online meetings or photos.
Rank 2: Pointed out by others.
“My friend told me, ‘Has your forehead gotten bigger?'” (28 years old).
“When I was in high school, a hairdresser told me, ‘Your hairline is receding'” (32 years old).
“It started when my family pointed it out to me face to face, ‘Your hairline is receding'” (66 years old).
Those who pointed it out included “family,” “friends,” “colleagues,” “hairdressers,” etc. Many were pointed out, and I can imagine the discomfort. Some also realized their receding hairline when they checked their whole head after being told they had thinning on the crown.
Rank 3: When hair is wet.
“I noticed it when my wet hair looked sparse in the bathroom” (36 years old).
“I started to become aware of it after a bath” (42 years old).
“I noticed it when I went to the pool” (52 years old).
When hair is wet, baldness is emphasized, and it appears transparent. Therefore, many people noticed it in the bath, shower, or pool.
Rank 4: Hair loss has increased.
‘Since my hair loss has been increasing.’ (36 years old)
‘Hair gets caught in the drain after washing, and hair is noticeable around the pillow.’ (49 years old)
‘A lot of hair came out when drying with a hair dryer.’ (61 years old)
The fourth rank is “Hair loss has increased.” If many thin, baby hairs are falling out, it is said to be a sign of baldness. Many people may have been worried when they saw a lot of hair in the drain or on the pillow after washing it.
Rank 5: When lifting the bangs.
‘When I started working in sales and set my hair in a style that lifts my bangs.’ (24 years old)
‘When I cut my hair short and lifted my bangs.’ (31 years old)
‘When I tried to dye my gray hair and lifted my hair like an all-back, I became concerned about the density of my hair.’ (45 years old)
“Lifting the Bangs” is in fifth place.
Some people may have realized something was off when they lifted their bangs, which they usually kept down. If you’re too embarrassed to show your forehead, you may only be able to have a hairstyle that hides it with your bangs.
Rank 6: The shape of the forehead has changed.
‘My forehead has become wider in an M shape.’ (38 years old)
‘The roundness of my forehead has become angular.’ (51 years old)
The sixth place is “The shape of the forehead has changed.”
Some people may have noticed hair loss due to a receding hairline from a change in the shape of their forehead, such as it becoming more square or an M shape. In addition, some may have noticed the difference in the feeling when touched and visually.
Rank 7: It has become difficult to set hair.
‘I couldn’t set my bangs well when setting my hair.’ (29 years old)
‘I can’t get the same hairstyle as before even though I set it the same way.’ (39 years old)
The seventh place is “It has become difficult to set hair.”
Some men may find it difficult to set their hair due to a receding hairline, making it even more stressful when they know their hair loss.”
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What are the remedies for receding hairline?
1. Be creative with hairstyles.
2. Use hair growth products.
3. Seek treatment at a hospital.
4. Do nothing.
5. Massage the scalp.
6. Use hair growth shampoo.
7. Improve my lifestyle.
I heard about “measures to take when the hairline recedes,” and as a result, the overwhelming first place was “to change hairstyle (185 people)”. The second place was “to use hair growth products (91 people)”, and the third place was “to receive treatment at a hospital (66 people)”.
Many people are taking self-care measures such as “changing their hairstyle,” “and using hair growth products,” “massage,” and “shampoo.” It may be difficult for some people to immediately seek treatment at a hospital because they are worried about their receding hairline. Some people also choose to “accept it without doing anything.”
Now, let me introduce the reasons why people chose each measure.
Rank 1: Change hairstyle.
“Since it is the easiest thing to do, I change my hairstyle to make it less noticeable” (35 years old)
“I grow out my bangs to hide the width of my forehead” (49 years old)
“I have short hair because if I grow it out, the receding hairline becomes more noticeable. Hair growth products worked on the top of my head, but they didn’t have much effect on my hairline” (57 years old)
The full measure was “to change hairstyle,” which can be done quickly and without incurring costs other than hair salon fees or hair styling products. There are mainly two directions for changing hairstyle: “grow out bangs to hide the forehead” and “go for short haircuts.” However, many people also thought that “hiding it makes it more noticeable, and I become more self-conscious about it.”
Rank 2: Use hair growth products.
“I will try over-the-counter hair growth products because they seem to be effective” (36 years old)
“I want to try something easy to use, so I plan to try hair growth products that are sold at drugstores” (40 years old)
“I use hair growth products to prevent it from progressing” (66 years old)
The second place was “to use hair growth products.” Many people are considering or already using hair growth products because they think they are practical and easy to buy. Hair growth products sold in stores are applied to the scalp, but there are also “ingestible type hair growth products” prescribed by clinics.
Rank 3: Receive treatment at a hospital.
“I feel safe relying on specialists so that I will receive treatment at a hospital” (26 years old)
“I thought it would be better to receive treatment because shampoo and hair growth products did not work” (38 years old)
“I will get a prescription for medication at an AGA clinic. It has been proven effective, and I think it is one of the most effective and reliable treatments at present” (43 years old)
The third place was “to receive treatment at a hospital.” Many people want to receive AGA treatment or treatment at a dermatology clinic. Some people have transitioned to clinic treatment after trying self-care measures that were not very effective. It is reassuring and comforting to receive therapy while consulting with a physician. On the other hand, some people are hesitant because they feel it may be expensive, even if they are interested in receiving treatment.
Summary
Many Japanese men, regardless of generation, are concerned about “receding hairlines.” While many people notice it themselves, some have become worried after being pointed out by those around them.
Self-care is the most common solution when it becomes a concern. However, some say they may visit an AGA clinic if self-care does not work. However, there are also voices saying, “I think it’s too late now. I should have taken action earlier.”
If you want to receive adequate treatment as soon as possible, consulting an AGA clinic and getting a prescription for medication is also a good option.
