I’m 22, a model who has just recently hit it big. The clients seem to love my look, but I worry that my hairline is receding and my hair seems thinner, just like my older brother’s hair. It hasn’t been a problem yet on the job, but the competition is intense and I want to stay on the top as long as possible. My brother uses a scalp coloring agent which seems to cover the thinning, but I don’t think that will work for me under the lights. What are my realistic options? I have been extremely busy and don’t have much time between bookings. Are hair transplants an option ?

As young men age, the normal hairline does rise about ½ inch in the front and about 1 – 1 ½ inches in the corners. I call this the mature male hairline. This is not what the advertisers want in their young male models. Like with male actors, low hairlines are a sign of virility and youth, and no one wants to get cast as an older man before their time. This patient’s hairline is a great example of the youthful look (Patient RA, after 7,147 grafts). I have had the wonderful opportunity to work with many daytime actors during their off-season hiatus, to put back their adolescent hairline and they, like you, were afraid of being replaced with a more youthful ‘would be’ competitor. The best thing for you to do is to use Propecia and possibly consider Rogaine as well if you are really balding. A good evaluation by a competent doctor is an important first step. I would strongly suggest that you make an appointment to see me in my Los Angeles office. Having worked with so many actors and others in the public eye, I understand the sense of urgency, since your earning capacity can be affected.