Progress in the service of bald. Part 1
For more than a hundred years, medicine exploits men’s fear of hair loss. Science offers more and more expensive means for bald: an era of hair transplantation segues to a gene therapy and hair growth from stem cells.
In the ancient times
Must say that the attitude of society towards bald changed in different historical epochs. We have no information as to whether the Neanderthal issue of concern was the lack of hair. But in ancient times in Hellas bald head was seen by society as a punishment of the gods. Some Greek states flatly denied military commanders to employ, if those on the head was a rare vegetation or, worse, baldness. The Romans also did not like bald, and even tried to hold in the Senate so-called law of bald, banning bald men to 30 years to run for the post of senator. Even bald slave was made to sell for half price. Naturally, such an attitude on the part of citizens forced to hide their bald deficiency. The only reliable way to fight hair loss at the time was a wig. It is well known that wigs were popular in ancient Egypt and Assyria. In ancient Greece and Rome, the fashion plates from strangers hair was widespread, and even emperors, like Otho, wore wigs.
However, with the advent of Christianity, the situation with bald ecame complicated. The fact is that the church is not loving the wigs. Somebody else’s hair were considered the devil’s mask. One of the Church Fathers Clement of Alexandria argued that the owner of the wig can not get a priest, as God’s blessing does not pass through the artificial hair. And the Council of Constantinople in 692, the number of people for wearing wigs was excommunicated from the church.
And only since the seventeenth century wigs were rehabilitated. French King Louis XIII, who lost hair due to venereal disease, covered his bald head with a wig. Wanting to please the monarch, and the courtiers hastened to decorate the head artificial mop of hair. Louis XIV, who inherited from his father not only the throne, but sparse hair, gave birth to the present “wig boom” – everyone wanted to be like the “Sun King”. The then-fashion has 45 varieties of this product, and not only bald wear them, but also quite hairy. Later, wigs are one of the symbols of the era of the great monarchies: in the XVII century to enter the British Parliament, gleaming bald head, it would be in the highest degree strange.
In modern times, public pressure on the bald faded. The superstitious fear of man with a bare head became a thing of the past. Today, in an era of political correctness, mankind perceives bald as full members of the community. However, attempts to hide his bald not only ceased, but assumed the character of mania. Today, look at the man who has lost hair, as the poor or outcast, is often cultivated by bald themselves. There is currently a collective inferiority complex. According to psychologists, the fear of hair loss is not caused by dissatisfaction with loved ones or colleagues, but as an imitation to some ideal, often from the sphere of show business, the cult of an “eternal youth” , which the western society worships today. Here are some facts. Musician Jon Bon Jovi went into a deep depression because of his own hair. He frequently compares himself to the musician Sting, and comparison is clearly not in favor of John: “I look at these guys like Sting, and think he looks cool, but I am beginning to lose hair. British band Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher in an interview with British magazine Uncut has admitted that his brother Liam is terrified of baldness. American actors and singers in the pages of the application to the magazine Mirror actively sharing recipes against hair loss, and explain how using a special massage of the head to stop hair loss. Everybody knows that Sir Elton John is the master of using high-quality lining, which creates the illusion of one hundred percent hairy. However, baldness – the great leveler: because hair loss is experienced by celebrities as well as by ordinary people.
