An online community dedicated to men experiencing hair loss has captured widespread attention thanks to members sharing remarkable makeovers, with before-and-after photos showcasing freshly shaved heads.

The subreddit r/bald was established 15 years ago to serve as a supportive network for men dealing with hair thinning issues.

Today, this digital gathering spot attracts over 1.2 million visitors each week, all adhering to a straightforward guideline: no negative comments about baldness.

Participants contribute by posting images of themselves before and after they shave off their thinning hair or receding hairlines, receiving enthusiastic encouragement from fellow members.

Remarkably, this forum stands out as one of the few online spaces where trolling and bullying are noticeably absent.

Given the dramatic improvements seen post-shave, it’s not entirely surprising that these transformations are met with overwhelmingly positive feedback.

And it’s not just in the eye of the beholder. 

Research suggests that men with thinning hair who shave their heads are perceived as more dominant, confident, masculine and stronger than those with visible hair loss. 

One user of Reddit forum r/bald shows off his impressive transformation after shaving off his thinning hair

In another, a user reveals the before and after shots of his newly-shaved head – to acclaim and support from commenters

Studies from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania found that men with completely shaved heads were viewed as more powerful, often described as having a ‘leadership’ look. 

Men with shaved heads were also perceived as nearly an inch taller and up to 13 per cent stronger than their counterparts with hair.

And while surveys show that a full head of hair is rated highly for attractiveness, a fully shaved head is preferred over a naturally balding head, which is ranked lowest in desirability. 

A 2025 survey of more than 2,000 British women revealed that bald men are actually seen as more attractive than hairy blokes.

When asked about the features they find most attractive in men, women cited a bald head as the second hottest male attribute – right after a muscular physique.

In fact, say experts, this may explain the appeal of hairless Hollywood heartthrobs like Jason Statham, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, and Vin Diesel.

On subreddit r/bald, the transformations are incredible – and matched by an almost overwhelming surge of positivity from fellow group members. 

In one post, a handsome young man with a significantly balding pate posts a picture of him before and after shaving his head, captioned: ‘Was it the right decision?’

Another user shows off his new look after ridding himself of his receding hairline 

The comments below are unanimously positive. 

‘Excuse me, wtf is that glow-up?!’ asks one Redditor.

‘100% the right call, welcome home brother,’ writes another. 

Says a third: ‘This whole comment section is probably the single greatest confidence booster any one person has ever received in all of history.’ 

In another post on the thread, titled ‘Tis done’, a bearded man in grey glasses shows his hair loss transformation.

‘I decided to go for it before the new year and am loving it. Thanks for the encouragement, y’all. This community is something else,’ he wrote beneath the post. 

‘Dude, you’re hot,’ wrote one commenter below, while others added that it was a ‘wise decision’. 

Said another Redditor: ‘I’m one of the women who has no idea how they ended up on this sub, but every time I see the before and after, I’m absolutely stoked for the OPs. Amazing.’ 

Experts say that groups such as this are particularly beneficial for men who may be struggling with their self-confidence around their hair loss.

It’s something that many men worry about. But if you’re losing your hair, don’t panic – it might actually work in your favour. Pictured: Jason Statham

This could explain the appeal of stars like Jason Statham, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson (right), and Vin Diesel (left) 

While baldness was once prized, in ancient Egypt, as a symbol of high social status and religious devotion, it doesn’t carry quite the same reputation today. 

Nearly 6.5 million men in the UK will experience significant hair thinning by age 50. 

Yet surveys show more than 90 per cent of people experiencing hair loss report a negative stigma – perceiving it more as a ‘disadvantageous disease’ than a natural trait.

And it’s no surprise that men feel embarrassed about their balding. 

Hair loss is openly mocked in popular culture – with popular film or TV characters with thinning hair often portrayed as insecure, aging or villainous, like James Bond’s Ernst Blofeld. 

As a result, more than a third of men with hair loss report feeling depressed – and a shocking one in five British men say they’ve contemplated suicide due to the distress it’s caused them.

Groups like r/bald, therefore, may help men feel less alone in struggling with negative feelings about their hair loss, says therapist Allyssa Powers.  

‘Many men are socially conditioned not to share vulnerabilities or struggles with other men,’ she told the Daily Mail. 

‘F**k it fine, let’s do this,’ wrote one user, revealing his transformation from balding to freshly shaven 

‘It was time! I feel so good about it,’ wrote this user, showing off his transformed hairline

‘However, the online space makes it easier to be bold and the anonymity can also give these users a boost of confidence to share with an online community.

‘It is a powerful thing to feel seen and accepted as you are. While it may seem silly to some, a lot of us do not get this type of positive reinforcement in our day to day lives. 

‘Many of us also hold the notion that commenting on someone’s appearance is taboo or unkind and so it can be a topic that is never addressed in the real world. 

‘This kind of forum gives men the ability to gain perspective from other men in a low stakes environment and ultimately feel like they are apart of a community of people like them.’

Adds BACP-registered Psychotherapist Sumeet Grover: ‘When men are able to reassure and support one another online, it can feel emotionally validating and less lonely. 

‘Shame, and the fear of social judgement often sit at the heart of the difficulty in speaking openly face to face.’

The subreddit’s founder, an anonymous 40-year-old man from Philadelphia, said he was inspired to create the page after growing sick of his baldness being the butt of the joke. 

‘I created it as a therapeutic way for me to accept that I was losing my hair,’ he told the Metro last year. 

This man transforms from a balding pony-tail wearer to rocking a slickly shaven pate 

‘I’ve always had short hair, so it took me a little while to realise that with the little hair that I had, maybe I should take ownership and just decided to shave it – and I loved it.

‘I remember the date I did it really well because it was one of my best friend’s 21st birthday, and we’d all gone out to the casino and had a big celebration.

‘And that was the day that I thought ‘What am I doing’ and I just finally accepted it.

‘I was in my early twenties at this time and instead of being the butt of the joke with friends, I decided to make it a more meaningful thing.’

In 2011, r/bald was born, and the love started pouring in: ‘I initially started with posts like ‘bald guy of the week’, sharing pictures of celebrities and spreading this message of ‘don’t let this get in the way of you being successful’,’ and then it kind of took off from there.’