to think my 67 year old dad is mental for wanting to get a wig??!

9 replies

KnockedUpMell · 13/12/2011 07:28

My dad has had full on frontal baldness for as long as I can remember. He must have lost his frontal hair in his 30s. He has suddenly decided that he would like to start wearing a wig, at 67! I told him he was crazy (I initially thought he must be joking). Obviously it his choice etc, but he honestly believes that it will not be obvious to the rest of us. (My dad lives abroad and is a rather prominent public figure, and any change in his appearance is sure to be noticed!) He has recently found some golfing buddies, all of whom are about 20 years younger than him, and I suspect it is a case of wanting to fit in / not wanting to feel like an older man when with them. Should I even bother trying to eplain to him that regardless of what type of wig he gets, it will be obvious that he is wearing one as his frontal baldness is very prominent (think shiny head as opposed to thinning hair)

OP posts:

MabelLucyAttwell · 13/12/2011 07:57

Youir father has been your age. You have not been his so how do you know what he thinks or feels?

My mother was well into her eighties and still looked after her appearance, standard of clothing etc. Leave your father alone. It's his life. Let him live it as he wants.

What's the difference between a man wearing a wig at 67 to enhance his appearance and a woman colouring her hair at 67 for the same reason (and no my mother did ot colour her hair because she did not have to).

CogitoErgoSometimes · 13/12/2011 10:14

YANBU but if he wants to have a late-life lost-youth vanity crisis and risk being laughed at for wearing a syrup, it's his decision. Golfing buddies aside, is this a case of cherchez la femme? Maybe you could find ways to boost his confidence.

Zondra · 13/12/2011 10:29

Let him get on with it! I do think it's a bit bizarre after suffering from baldness for 30 odd years to wear a wig but, he's obviously got a notion now so, let him carry on.

Just be glad he lives abroad OP...

KurriKurri · 13/12/2011 10:48

I do agree with you that the wig is not a good move for someone who has been bald for years. But it's his head and he can do what he wants, - with any luck he will get fed up of it, wigs are pretty uncomfortable, hot and scratchy if you have a bald head.

noddyholder · 13/12/2011 10:50

My dp is bald when my mum first met him the very 1st time(!) she asked him in all seriousness why he didn't get 'a wee toupee'. I am surprised he didn't turn on his heel there and then! They always look a bit daft tbh

iwantbrie · 13/12/2011 11:30

I really think men who are losing their hair look so much better (and younger) if they shave the whole lot off... or is it just me?

GrimmaTheNome · 13/12/2011 11:39

What's the difference between a man wearing a wig at 67 to enhance his appearance and a woman colouring her hair at 67 for the same reason

Because a wig will not enhance his appearance.

He won't look 20 years younger, he'll look like an old man in a wig. Loads of men of all ages are bald (really, some start losing it about the same time they begin to grow facial hair!). So long as what he's got is cut neat and short what's the problem? Its not a sign of age, its a sign of a mix of genes and testosterone .

Original poster

KnockedUpMell · 13/12/2011 12:34

the thing is, he HONESTLY believes that NO ONE WILL NOTICE that he is wearing a wig, provided he gets one that is discrete! He thinks it will look like he has had some new hair growth and his hair is just thinning..... ..... I've no idea how I'll be able to keep a straight face when he does finally get it!

OP posts:

BiancaStroud · 14/12/2011 10:28

Wow, you haven't been flamed for using the term mental! If it makes him happy then why not?

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