How to Talk to Your Partner About Hair Loss (Without Crushing His Confidence)

We recently interviewed Boss Clinic Director, Debra Best, about one of the most common issues when it comes to male hair loss: how to talk to your partner without crushing his confidence.

Question: What is the worst way a partner can bring up hair loss with their partner?

Debra: “Well, I’ve seen a few variations. I’ve seen partners just book an appointment for them. I wouldn’t suggest the blind side is the best way.”

Question: What would you recommend instead?

“Sometimes ladies will come in asking about their own hair, and the partner is the support person. But halfway through the consultation, the partner starts asking questions about their own hair, and we end up doing a double consultation, which is absolutely fine. We’re very happy to do that.

That is a way some ladies may bring the subject gently into the conversation. They’re pretending the consultation is for them, and it could be, but they see that their partner is suffering and they may not know exactly how to get them to take the next step.

Because the general way a man will typically respond is to say is it doesn’t bother them, even if it does.”

Question: Can you tell me about a time when a partner’s involvement made all the difference?

Debra: “We’ve had partners buy the other partner a consultation or a starter package as a gift. And they just say, ‘Look, we know that it’s something you want to do, that you prioritize everybody else in the family, so we want to show that you are also a priority to us.’

They’re giving you the gift because if you’re a family man, you will prioritize other expenses over yourself. It doesn’t take away the suffering, but you’re thinking of everybody else, and instead of you feeling like you might be selfish if you do this for yourself, we want you to be the best version of yourself, because you can then give more to your family and the people close to you if you feel really good about yourself.”

Question: What’s different about a guy’s demeanor and openness when a couple comes in versus when he comes in alone after his partner has said something?

Debra: “When they come in together, they are communicating and making it a joint decision; maybe because of the finances, it becomes a joint decision.

Whereas I think they’re probably a bit more open about how they’re feeling when they’re alone. They’re more likely to tell me how it’s affecting them.

Question: What do you tell partners when they ask you privately how to handle hair loss?

Debra: “You just have to find an avenue. It could be somebody that’s had a treatment and how well it’s turned out for them, and just really getting the subject on the table and being able to talk about it. Figuring out ways that don’t railroad the person into a response gives them space to talk about it.”

Question: Have you ever had a situation where a husband is losing their hair and their sex life was affected?

Debra: “Well, I’ve had countless women say that they’re being distant to their partner because they either don’t like the partner touching their hair or paying attention to their hair, or they just don’t feel beautiful anymore because of their hair.”

Question: What advice do you have for someone who’s watching their partner suffer but is terrified to say the wrong thing to them?

Debra: “You could subtly bring it up with old photos… how things look a little different now, how good they looked, how happy they looked before compared to now, and maybe even pick something that they used to do before that they’re not doing now, because it generally does affect people like that.

They might not feel fun and happy like they did before. It does affect how they interact socially a lot, and the amount of times people have told me that they’re getting hair treatments because they want to get a promotion or they’re trying to push themselves to a new level in their career or in relationships, and they feel as though their lack of hair is holding them back.”

Book a free consultation or contact us directly at info@bossclinic.com.au to learn more about our treatment options.