Bradley Cooper is a blue-eyed Hollywood dreamboat who’s dominated the industry for over a decade now. He’s not just devilishly handsome but also supremely talented – with the voice of an angel, of course.
There’s not a thing about him that anyone would change. Except, something did change. And it didn’t escape attention either because it was right around the time when his career took off. More specifically, we’re talking about his hairline (his nose is a different story).
It changed very subtly, so much so that it left people questioning whether or not it actually happened. But once we put aside Bradley Cooper’s before and after photos, the change is pretty obvious.
Even so, the question remains: did Bradley Cooper’s hair transplant actually happen or is on hair loss medication? Let’s find out.
Who Is Bradley Cooper?
Bradley Charles Cooper was born in 1975 in Pennsylvania to Gloria Campano (a newscaster for NBC) and Charles Cooper (a stockbroker). This star wasn’t exactly born to a family of actors, so he didn’t really think of pursuing a career in acting, either.
But all that changed after he watched David Lynch’s: “The Elephant Man”. Initially, his parents weren’t really on board with it either, but once he played John Merrick for his master’s thesis (he did that again in 2014 and even got nominated for a Tony Award), they changed their minds as well. He has a Bachelor’s in English and a Master’s in Fine Arts.
And while he was doing his Master’s, he was also working on his first film: “Wet Hot American Summer” (in fact, he skipped his graduation for it). While the film wasn’t so successful, Bradley went on to play roles in different films and TV series.
In 2005, Wedding Crashers put the spotlight on him for a while, but that was nothing compared to how it became after his role in the 2009 film “The Hangover.”
From then onwards, he’s been a part of many successful films like “The Silver Linings Playbook,” “American Hustle,” “American Sniper,” and “A Star Is Born.” He has had 9 Oscar nominations (not won yet) and eight BAFTA nominations (one win) and is currently working on a Netflix biopic “Maestro.”
Did Bradley Cooper Get A Hair Transplant?
From 2008 to 2009, Bradley Cooper’s v-shaped widow peak hairline became much straighter, possibly because of a small hair transplant.
As you can see, before Hangover came out, Bradley’s hairline had the classic “M” shape of male pattern baldness.
In 2014, RadarOnline reported that Cooper had “a lot of bald guys in his family…” And it’s so because pattern baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia, tends to run in families. Genetics play a significant role in it, and so do your hormones.
Together, they result in the miniaturisation of hair follicles, which leads to the formation of permanent bald spots on the top and crown of the head. The hairline also recedes to the point of extinction.
Things were looking the same for Bradley Cooper, as there was a clear recession of his temple hair, and his hairline also had a widow’s peak. However, that changed after a year, and it’s speculated that he had surgery in the meantime.
A hair transplant is, after all, a permanent solution for pattern baldness. However, it doesn’t give instant results. You have to wait for 12-18 months to see the final results.
Was Bradley Cooper On Finasteride?
In 2014, RadarOnline reported a source claiming that Bradley Cooper was on Propecia (brand name for finasteride) for his hair loss. It’s because he was “so anxious about his receding hairline” and didn’t want to “lose his leading man looks.”
Finasteride, as you might know, is FDA-approved for male pattern baldness. It works by stopping the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone – the hormone primarily responsible for this type of hair loss.
It’s available as a tablet, and hair loss sufferers are usually recommended one tablet a day. This too won’t immediately start growing your hair. In fact, it can take around 3-6 months for you to notice any change in your hair density. But it can actually work.
Only the problem is that finasteride can cause some serious side effects, such as:
- Decline in libido
- Difficulty having or maintaining an erection
- Breast enlargement
- Depression
And you have to keep taking the drug to maintain the results. Hair loss usually resumes after you stop taking the medication.
So, although it’s reported that Bradley Cooper took finasteride for his hair loss, he could have had hair transplant too.
Hair transplant is more expensive, but it’s a one-time procedure, and it gives permanent results. It’s possible that the actor had surgery, but he hasn’t even confirmed it. Neither has he said anything about taking Propecia.
How Many Hair Grafts Did Bradley Cooper Need?
Seeing as how Bradley Cooper’s hair loss wasn’t too extensive, he might’ve needed around 1,000 to 2,000 grafts, according to a graft calculator.
He was only losing his hairline, putting him at Norwood 2. There was no evident thinning in his crown area, so he probably didn’t need any grafts there.
For a while, he tried hiding his hairline with different messy hairstyles like Jude Law. But as his hairline continued to recede, it was becoming quite apparent that he was losing his hair.
However, after 2009, the size of his forehead is relatively smaller, and his hairline is also much straighter, so he might’ve just had some new hair grafts put in there.
How Much Did Bradley Cooper’s Hair Transplant Cost?
Today, the cost of an average hair transplant in the US is around $8,000, but it can even go as high as $20,000 (or even more).
Even back in 2008 (if that’s when Bradley got a hair transplant), the surgery might’ve cost thousands of dollars, especially because the clinics in the US usually charge by the number of grafts. The consultations, medication, and aftercare would have cost him extra as well.
Conclusion
Bradley Cooper’s a star in every sense of the word. Without or without hair, he has a je ne sais quoi which makes him a remarkable actor.
If the sources claiming that he was worried about his hair loss are true, he might’ve thought that having hair was important to him becoming a star. And so he either took finasteride or had hair transplant surgery for it.
But even if you’re not a superstar, losing hair can cause much distress, since it can feel like losing a part of your identity.
If you’re also experiencing it, you should consider getting in touch with a medical professional for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.
