# Homeless people (men) are rarely bald. Is there a reason? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 11, 2005, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-people-men-are-rarely-bald-is-there-a-reason/289664 "2005-02-11T23:08:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2005, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-people-men-are-rarely-bald-is-there-a-reason/289664/1 "2005-02-11T23:08:02Z")
In reviewing out local population of older, hardcore homeless men, they almost all have a full head of hair. I see very few bald homeless men. Is there any correlation with tendency toward baldness being linked with avoiding mental diseases or addiction? ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2005, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-people-men-are-rarely-bald-is-there-a-reason/289664/2 "2005-02-11T23:16:50Z")
A friend of mine who’s a hairdresser believes that many men (and women, too) wash their hair far too often, which can contribute to hair loss. Homeless men don’t shower as frequently, which may actually be good for their hair. ---
**Author:** ![Sevastopol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@Sevastopol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevastopol)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2005, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-people-men-are-rarely-bald-is-there-a-reason/289664/3 "2005-02-11T23:18:04Z")
Alcohol addiction supresses testoserone production. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2005, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-people-men-are-rarely-bald-is-there-a-reason/289664/4 "2005-02-11T23:21:05Z")
I provided medical care for a homeless shelter population, and I saw plenty of balding guys. Got any stats to back up your premise? ---
**Author:** ![Huerta88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2005, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-people-men-are-rarely-bald-is-there-a-reason/289664/5 "2005-02-11T23:30:38Z")
I have no proof (I suspect such statistics are sparsely kept), and I haven’t even noticed this anecdotally myself, but my father assures me that “winos” when he was growing up always had the most luxuriant heads of hair. I am assuming that many of the vagrants you’re seeing are also habitual drunks FWIW. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2005, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-people-men-are-rarely-bald-is-there-a-reason/289664/6 "2005-02-11T23:38:42Z")
Could it be that homeless people bundle up when it’s cold, and cover up when it’s hot? In which case, we don’t get to see if they’re bald? ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-people-men-are-rarely-bald-is-there-a-reason/289664/7 "2005-02-12T00:15:49Z")
> [@Sevastopol](#): > > Alcohol addiction supresses testoserone production. But then this is the assumption that all homeless people that have a full head of hair, are alcohol addicts. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-people-men-are-rarely-bald-is-there-a-reason/289664/8 "2005-02-12T00:22:56Z")
> [@ParentalAdvisory](#): > > But then this is the assumption that all homeless people that have a full head of hair, are alcohol addicts. The vast majority are. (Cite: I lived in a homeless shelter for eight years.) ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-people-men-are-rarely-bald-is-there-a-reason/289664/9 "2005-02-12T00:28:59Z")
Possibly they aren’t as old as you think they are. Being homeless for an extended period of time, possibly exacerbated by drug / alcohol abuse problems is a good way to wind looking fifty-something when you’re actually only 35 or so, and being dead by the time you’re 45. ---
**Author:** ![Roches](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bc8723/32.png) [@Roches](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roches)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-people-men-are-rarely-bald-is-there-a-reason/289664/10 "2005-02-12T00:54:06Z")
Thats what I first thought of – that someone who lived on the streets and was chronically using drugs or alcohol might well look much older than they are. The idea about suppression of testosterone is interesting too – although, on the other hand, malnutrition and certain drugs (possibly including excessive alcohol) can cause hair loss. If the observation is true, why don’t some homeless people have extensive hair loss because of these factors? Around here, most homeless people wear some kind of hat or toque. It’s very cold in the winter, and even in the summer it usually gets pretty cold at night. Also, shelters hand out warm clothing, including hats – some homeless people have a hat with a logo calling for more affordable housing. I don’t see their hair often enough to make an evaluation. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-people-men-are-rarely-bald-is-there-a-reason/289664/11 "2005-02-12T05:01:20Z")
Was _The Lonely Guy_ on TBS last night? ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-people-men-are-rarely-bald-is-there-a-reason/289664/12 "2005-02-12T11:39:24Z")
On a related note… why does it seem like, the less formal education a person has, the better their vision? ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-people-men-are-rarely-bald-is-there-a-reason/289664/13 "2005-02-12T15:32:23Z")
I have to agree with the OP’s anecdotal observations though I would throw in a qualifier or two. One possiblity (if it is true) is that a low level of testoterone is often accompanied by fatigue, depression, inability to concentrate, decreased work performance, etc… Sounds like a recipe for ending up without a job. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-people-men-are-rarely-bald-is-there-a-reason/289664/14 "2005-02-12T15:47:37Z")
> [@Sevastopol](#): > > Alcohol addiction supresses testoserone production. Sounds like a great working hypothesis. ---
**Author:** ![rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/919ad9/32.png) [@rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rabbit)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-people-men-are-rarely-bald-is-there-a-reason/289664/15 "2005-02-12T16:03:02Z")
just an aside, the lack of washing does seem to contribute to healthier hair. I decided to grow my hair long for the first time in my life a couple years ago, so being the geek I am I actually RESEARCHED it online (gotta love the internet). Concensus was clear, you wash every day your hair suffers. (Several places, and I think even here on the board, mentioned that real hair for wigs is usually purchased from 3rd world countries as N. Americans was their hair so much that its too fragile to weave into wigs). OVergeneralizations, I know, but still worth thought. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-people-men-are-rarely-bald-is-there-a-reason/289664/16 "2005-02-12T17:27:09Z")
There’s a homeless man near my old apartment building\* who has a really spectacular haircut, like James Coburn circa [bIn Like Flint\*\*. I’m guessing a charitable hairdresser did some pro bono work. The guy’s in his sixties with red, weathered skin and clothes straight out of a dumpster, but that hair is really incredible. I’ve noticed great hair among white homeless men, but plenty of bald black homeless men, so homelessness per se isn’t the only factor to consider. * * * \*The Seminary Rd. overpass over Shirley Highway is the residence of a frighteningly huge number of homeless men and women in Alexandria ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-people-men-are-rarely-bald-is-there-a-reason/289664/17 "2005-02-12T17:28:20Z")
How can you _tell_? The vast majority of homeless men I see (and I see a lot, as I now work at the public library) wear hats, particularly this time of year but really year round. They almost never take them off. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-people-men-are-rarely-bald-is-there-a-reason/289664/18 "2005-02-12T17:30:34Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > There’s a homeless man near my old apartment building\* who has a really spectacular haircut, like James Coburn circa [bIn Like Flint\*\*. I’m guessing a charitable hairdresser did some pro bono work. The guy’s in his sixties with red, weathered skin and clothes straight out of a dumpster, but that hair is really incredible. > > I’ve noticed great hair among white homeless men, but plenty of bald black homeless men, so homelessness per se isn’t the only factor to consider. > > * * * > > \*The Seminary Rd. overpass over Shirley Highway is the residence of a frighteningly huge number of homeless men and women in Alexandria You are correct. I should made the caveat in my OP that I was speaking almost exclusively about _white_ homeless men re the non-baldness issue. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-people-men-are-rarely-bald-is-there-a-reason/289664/19 "2005-02-13T05:37:02Z")
As the first of several people in this thread to postulate the ‘hats’ explanation, I would like to expand it: If you have a full head of hair, you’re less likely to need a hat for protection from weather. So we’re more likely to see your hair. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-people-men-are-rarely-bald-is-there-a-reason/289664/20 "2005-02-13T06:47:03Z")
At first, thinking of men I’ve seen on the street recently, I was willing to give tentative assent to the OPs hypothosis. But then I thought about the time I’ve spent working in shelters (where, incidentally, I would be far more likely to see people without hats). I can think of several bald men who were homeless when I knew them. Among all races 'd say they made up at least the normal percentage of homeless men I’ve known. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeless-people-men-are-rarely-bald-is-there-a-reason/289664.md?page=2)