Akon’s music has long been a favourite of millennials who grew up listening to it in the noughties.
Even though he isn’t as prolific anymore, he hasn’t disappeared from the public eye. Still, everyone was caught off guard by the sight of his new thatch which looked a little odd.
From being called the ‘Lego man’ to having a ‘grass hut’ on his head, Akon’s hair transplant quickly became the talk of the town for all the wrong reasons.
We’ll now take a closer look at how it all unfolded.
Who Is Akon?
Aliaune Damala Bouga Time Puru Nacka Lu Lu Lu Badara Akon Thiam — or who you might better know as Akon is an RnB superstar, best known for smashing out superhits like “Lonely,” “Smack That,” “Don’t Matter,” and “Right Now (Na Na Na).”
He won the Billboard Artist of the Year award in 2007 and has also received 5 Grammy nominations.
Did Akon Get A Hair Transplant?
In 2022, Akon admitted to getting a hair transplant. Though, looking at his photos, it seems that the “Beautiful” singer had the surgery all the way back in 2020 — his Akon City’s inauguration photos from then bear evidence of his new hairline.
I went to Turkey and got a procedure. In the beginning, my whole front was loose. It was real (sic) thin…Turkey is known for two things: hair and teeth. They’re really good. They specialise in hair.
Timeline Of Akon's Hair Loss
Since Akon typically sported a close-crop haircut, his hair loss wasn’t as obvious. However, that changed with time.
Year 2008
Akon’s hairline was positioned quite high up in the first place, but there were no signs of recession or thinning, especially at the front.
Year 2013
There wasn’t any noticeable change in the singer’s hairline 5 years later. Perhaps he was also experiencing hair loss around this time but not as dramatically.
Year 2015
The temple hair appears to be thinning, as its edges look less defined. In addition, his hair appears to be combed down in a sort of fringe in the front, possibly because he wanted to conceal the outline of his hairline.
U.S. Embassy Nairobi, Akon in July 2015 (cropped), CC BY 2.0
Year 2019
Through his frontal fringe, Akon’s scalp is clearly visible. Even though the singer still had hair for some of the year, he eventually shaved it all off, which made his hair loss less apparent.
Collision Conf, Akon DF2 4639 (47859034612), Cropped, CC BY 2.0 (left) and Web Summit, 2019 – Centre Stage – Day 2 VJR22097 (49025047892), Cropped, CC BY 2.0
Year 2020
He probably had his surgery around this time because his hairline became noticeably low and straight. It also looks very dense at the front.
Where Did Akon Get A Hair Transplant?
Akon underwent hair transplant surgery in Turkey. Although he didn’t specify the city, it’s likely he had his surgery in Istanbul since it’s the country’s hub for this procedure.
What Type Of Hair Transplant Did Akon Get?
Akon most likely had a follicular unit extraction or FUE hair transplant, where individual hair grafts are taken out of the scalp using a punch tool. These grafts are then transplanted into the balding areas via small incisions.
During Bootleg Kev, Akon responded that they had indeed removed the grafts from the back of his scalp when asked whether he had the “graft thing” done.
How Many Grafts Did Akon's Hair Transplant Need?
For his hair transplant, Akon may have received between 1,500 and 2,000 grafts. In his case, the hair loss was limited to the front of his head and temples — he was likely on the Norwood Stage 3.
Although it is an early stage on the Norwood Scale, hair loss can begin to be noticeable, especially as the hairline recedes and forms an M-shape.
Patients at this stage of hair loss usually need between 1,000 and 1,600 grafts, but the total graft count can vary depending on their needs.
Akon's Hair Transplant Before And After
Here’s a look at Akon’s hair before and after his surgery.
Jean_Nelson/Depositphotos.com (left) and akon/Instagram (right)
Why Did Akon's Hair Transplant Draw So Much Attention?
Mainly, the low positioning of Akon’s hairline made the results of his surgery look unnatural.
According to a study published in Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, the average forehead height in men is about 61.4mm (6.14cm or 2.4 inches).
Akon’s forehead height looks to be around 4-5cm after his hair transplant, which is lower than average, making it slightly odd.
Regardless, the singer himself was happy with the results of his surgery despite all the ridicule.
These days, Akon is shaven bald again to try a “new look,” especially maintaining his waves felt like a bit of work, as he explained in another Bootleg Kev podcast.
But as he said it himself, the “beauty of it” is that he can always grow it all back.
Reactions To Akon's Hair Transplant
Redditors also had some thoughts in regard to Akon’s hair transplant.
"Think it looks fine. Maybe its too straight thats why people think it looks artifical (sic) but tbh no need to be rude to him or anything it just looks okay."
"Still think this is a hair system of some sort. Not a transplant."
"Its not the fact that its too perfect. Its the juxtaposition of having a perfectly youthful hairline while looking visibly older in other aspects i.e face aging etc. Otherwise, its a great transplant."
"It looks good on him but might look ridiculous on someone else."
How Much Did Akon's Hair Transplant Cost?
Akon’s hair transplant in Turkey cost him $7,500. In America, the Don’t Matter singer noted, he would have had to pay $50,000 for the same procedure. Therefore, he found Turkey to be the better alternative.
Though he could afford the 50 grand, he decided not to do it in the US because “anything related to healthcare or any kind of medical procedure, America tags on 10 times.”
Interested In Getting A Hair Transplant?
Contact us for more information about hair transplant surgery if you’re interested in getting your hair restored permanently!
