David Beckham is the epitome of a “perfect English gentleman” (of course, barring the England vs. Argentina World Cup match in 1998). Although he was a footballer first, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that he was and still is just as much of a celebrity. And David’s hair, in particular, has got a fanbase of its own (it’s got 72 million search results…).
It doesn’t matter whether he’s sporting long blonde locks, messy spikes, a ponytail, or a mohawk, this man can pull off anything. But there’s this one widely circulated picture of him on the internet where it clearly looks like he’s balding. That was back in 2020, and his hair has since made a comeback.
But that’s led many people to wonder whether their very own Becks had a hair transplant or he’s just using hair loss drugs like minoxidil or finasteride to hide his baldness. Or was that thinning just a temporary one-time thing? In this blog, you’ll find out all about David Beckham’s hair transplant (alleged, obviously).
Who Is David Beckham?
Born 2nd May 1975 in Leytonstone, England, David Robert Joseph Beckham is a retired English footballer who’s been a part of the biggest and best clubs in football, including Manchester United, Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, AC Milan, and the English national team, among others. At the time of writing, he’s 48, but he retired from the sport when he turned 38.
And for the 21 years during which he played, he was known for “bend(ing) it like Beckham” for his phenomenal free kicks, not to forget that he’s also regarded as one of the best passers in the history of football. However, it all began because of his parent’s love for the Reds, who he also fell in love with.
And then, in 1992, when he was just 17 years old, “Golden Balls” made his premier league debut for this very club after winning the FA Youth Cup. Four years later, in 1996, he won his first FA Cup with Man Utd (with one of his most brilliant goals).
The team would go on to win another one with David onboard in 1999 – the same year that Beckham also became a Spice Boy. The previous year, however, he found himself facing very harsh criticism for kicking Diego Simeone while playing for the national team. It all ended well though, as David went on to become the team’s captain in 2000.
Needless to say, he’s had an illustrious career (both on and off the field). While he retired back in 2013, he currently, co-owns the club Inter Miami and also has a stake in Salford City.
Has David Beckham Had A Hair Transplant?
David Beckham might have had a hair transplant in 2021 to improve the overall density of his frontal and crown hair. However, it’s just as possible that he might be getting some other non-surgical hair loss treatments for that. In any case, the footballer hasn’t said anything about his thinning hair.
On getting a hair transplant though the star was once quoted saying, “There is definitely nothing wrong with doing that but I don’t think personally I would. If I do start showing signs of going bald, then I will shave it off.” That was back in 2012, and there was no talk of Beckham’s baldness up until 2018.
In August 2018, The Sun reported that David had joined the growing list of celebrity hair transplants. But a few months after, in September, Beckham was papped swimming in a pool in Miami with what looked like thinned-out hair; his scalp clearly showing through his hair.
David said nothing, and things went on until while out shopping in the Cotswolds in 2020, he was again seen with hair the same length and rather low density. This is unusual because a hair transplant is meant to last a lifetime, so did David even get a hair transplant in 2018? We don’t think so.
In recent years, a lot of the time David cuts his hair a bit short, it looks like he’s balding, especially under certain lighting conditions. And it may just be the light. Add to that the pale skin and the blonde colour of his hair, these things can also make it look like you’re thinning.
Does David Beckham Use Finasteride?
It might be that David’s using a hair loss drug like finasteride and/or minoxidil to make his hair denser. This medicine works by stopping the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone – the latter is what miniaturises hair and causes baldness.
Minoxidil’s mechanism of action is not entirely understood but it’s believed to work by increasing blood flow to the hair (supplying more oxygen and nutrients to them).
Of course, these drugs are not without risks and can cause some serious side effects. You also have to keep using them in order to see results.
So, David might not necessarily be taking this (we can’t say it for sure anyway) as there are some other hair loss treatments like low-level laser therapy (LLLT) or platelet-rich plasma injections (PRP).
What Was Causing David Beckham’s Hair Loss?
If anything, it’s possible that David’s hair loss is a result of the tight hairstyles he’s worn over the years, such as the cornrows, ponytails, or even the Alice bands.
Tight hairstyles can cause a type of hair loss known as traction alopecia, which especially affects the temple areas because of the stress on the hair roots there.
It could be other areas as well, depending on the type of hairstyle worn. Many women experience this and choose to get a hair transplant for it.
It doesn’t look like he’s experiencing genetic hair loss because his hairline is very much intact, which is not how usually hair loss happens in androgenetic alopecia.
Typically, in androgenetic alopecia, the hairline forms an “M” shape at first and keeps moving backwards towards the crown area. The crown hair loss can also occur simultaneously.
And this hasn’t been the case with David. His hairline’s slightly matured, with his widow’s peak diminishing a little, but mostly it’s his temples that have changed.
What Type of Hair Transplant Did David Beckham Have?
If David had a hair transplant, it’s possible that he might’ve opted for the Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) technique. It uses a punch tool to extract grafts from the back of the head and place them into the bald spots.
There’s another Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT) technique, but it leaves a linear scar at the back that can very easily be seen with short hair. Since nothing like that’s been seen on David’s scalp, that can be ruled out.
Where Did David Beckham Have His Hair Transplant?
Around the time when his first hair transplant was rumoured, David was in Miami (because of his Inter Miami club), he could’ve had the surgery in Florida, US then. But we don’t think he had the surgery then anyway.
Since his primary residence is in London, if David Beckham’s hair transplant really happened, he might’ve had it there. But it can be a bit expensive. Celeb hair transplants can cost as much as £30,000, so David’s might’ve not come cheap either.
Did David Beckham Also Have A Beard Transplant?
David’s beard is also in a league of its own, hence David Beckham’s beard transplant rumours. They’re likely to be false though, as the retired sports star’s facial hair looks much the same over the years. It has looked bushy at times when he’s grown the hair out.
The long length of the beard hair might’ve also covered some areas that looked empty before, which can naturally make anyone think he had surgery there. But it seems quite unlikely.
Conclusion
David Beckham’s hair transplant rumours don’t seem entirely true, and that’s mainly because he isn’t losing hair too obviously.
There are many photos of him in which his hair looks less dense, and suspiciously enough, around that time, he’s also been seen wearing a lot of caps, but it then makes a recovery somehow.
Since a hair transplant is supposed to be permanent, his hair shouldn’t come and go like this. Instead, it’s possible he’s on some other hair loss treatment to improve the density.
In any case, if you’re also losing your hair, make sure to consult a medical professional for a diagnosis and treatment plan.
