A recent poll has found that men are in "total denial" about their receding hairline for two-and-a-half years before finally admitting that they are thinning on top.
In fact, the poll - which consisted of 2000 men aged between 25 and 50 - found that almost one-tenth buried their head in the sand about their hair status for a decade or more.
Men speak out about the difficulty of losing their hair:Now, speaking as a bald man who now rocks a chrome dome, seeing your hair fall out can certainly knock your confidence.
In fact, the poll - conducted by haircare brand NIOXIN - found that men are desperate to hold onto their hair out of fear that it will make them look older and less attractive.
And one-third of those polled revealed that they worried their friends would make fun of them if their hair started to become too wispy.
NIOXIN's Sara Traversi said: "Men losing their hair has been happening forever, yet it’s still not easy to cope with.
"It can rock confidence and leave men feeling anxious or embarrassed.
"As a result, many will try to pretend it’s not happening - especially when it’s in the early stages and is easy to hide.
"The fact that hair thinning is so common in men doesn't seem to make it any less distressing for them to go through."
The study also found that, on average, men who experience hair loss will see it start to happen between the ages of 26 and 30.
However, 7% reported that they started noticing signs of hairloss from as young as 18. (For those interested, mine started going at 22...)
For 7-out-of-10 of the men asked revealed that they had other people point out their thinning hair - with more than a quarter facing remarks from their work colleagues and almost one in 10 even getting comments from their boss.
As a result of these comments, 53% of those asked revealed that they were left feeling embarrassed and 36% upset. And roughly 33% added that it was comments from other people that made them realize that their hair was thinning out to begin with.
And 70% said it made them more inclined to try using certain products designed to stop it. (Once again, something I can attest to!)
The poll also revealed that 47% of men were, or would be, gutted to realize their hair was thinning with 62% admitting they would do everything they could in an attempt to hold onto it as long as possible.
Amazingly, roughly 60% of the men asked said that they feared they would look older and less attractive as a result of hair loss.
So, what do you do when your hair starts to thin? Well, once I realized there was no magic potion out there, I simply shaved it all off - something that 41% of the men polled agreed with.
However, one-third of the men said they felt more comfortable just wearing a hat to hide it while 29% attempted to style their hair in a different way.
Amazingly, 20% of those polled revealed that their confidence took such a hit from hair loss, that they either canceled a date or called in sick to work because they were feeling self-conscious about it.
Despite this, 45% of men are not using/would not use any products in an effort to combat their thinning hair.
Traversi added: "There are lots of conflicting stories, myths and old wives’ tales about why hair loss happens and how to treat it.
"Many believe that it’s hereditary from your mother’s side, which isn’t necessarily true.
"While others have been told that having a ‘cow’s lick’ means you’re less likely to lose your hair, which again doesn’t have any scientific evidence behind it.
"However, science is making great strides in helping men regain hair through different products, and replenishing thickness in what they’ve got left - which is good news for men worried about losing it."
To view more about the survey findings and see tips on how to help a loved one cope with their hair loss, click HERE.
For many men, losing your hair isn't fun or easy, and it can really have a negative impact on your mental health. But, speaking from experience, accepting it and owning it is the best positive step you can make.