Boy George, lead singer of the pop band Culture Club, has always been known for his eccentric style. Back in his 80s heyday, Boy George was known for his unusual headgear, including hats, braids, and other hair accessories that gave the impression of a strong head of hair.
But on a 2022 appearance on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, Boy George revealed he’d had a hair transplant to give his trademark locks a much-needed boost.
So what else do we know about Boy George’s hair transplant surgery? In this article, you’ll learn all the essential info about Boy George’s hair transformation over the years.
Yes, Boy George has had a hair transplant. Though he didn’t reveal when or where he’d had his procedure, George told footballer Jill Scott he had undergone hair transplant surgery:
This is evident in these before and after hair transplant photos:
Boy George isn’t bald these days. But it’s only in recent years that he has had a hair transplant as it is likely that his receding hairline developed much earlier.
In these photos from his early career, George is already approaching Norwood stage 3:
This looks like typical male pattern baldness. However, the heavy braids and hair accessories worn throughout George’s career may have contributed to his hair loss, leading to a secondary hair loss condition known as traction alopecia.
Traction alopecia is a type of hair loss caused by excessive tugging on the hair follicles. It’s often associated with hair extensions, as well as wigs, beads, braids, dreadlocks, and other styling choices that add extra weight to the hair.
Traction alopecia is usually reversible, but if you don’t change your styling habits, hair loss can become permanent.
As he’s got older, Boy George has lost more hair. This is pretty standard for those with male pattern baldness due to the progressive nature of the condition. It’s why more than 80% of men are 30 or older when they get a hair transplant [1].
George was 61 when he revealed he’d recently had a hair transplant, suggesting he was in his late fifties when the procedure took place.
Boy George hasn’t revealed what type of hair transplant he had, FUE or FUT. But based on the density of his hair, we can speculate that it’s more likely to have been FUE.
Not only is FUE the more popular modern hair transplant technique, but it also leaves less scarring around the donor area. So for someone with thinner hair like Boy George, it may have been important to minimise the evidence of his hair transplant.
Boy George had lost a fair bit of hair before his hair transplant treatment, approaching stage 5 or 6 on the Norwood Scale. This amount of hair loss requires a lot of grafts, so we estimate he’s had a 4,000 graft hair transplant.
A 4,000 graft hair transplant costs roughly £13,000 in the UK, based on an average cost per graft of £3.25.
Boy George attributes his decision to restore his hair to Wayne Rooney’s hair transplant surgically.
Wayne Rooney decided to come clean about his hair transplantation back in 2011. This in turn helped to inspire a generation of men to tackle their hair loss with hair restoration treatments.
There’s a distinct lack of density around the mid-scalp, which suggests George left it a little late to get a hair transplant. Hair transplant surgeons can only do so much if you’ve lost a substantial amount of hair, which is why it’s important to speak to a specialist at the earliest signs of hair loss.
Nonetheless, George’s hair transplant looks pretty good considering the coverage required. His hairline is appropriate for his age and offers him new styling options.
These photos reflect the results Boy George has achieved thanks to his hair transplant.
Considering getting a hair transplant? There’s a lot to know before you take the plunge. These guides will help you get to grips with the basics of hair transplants:
If you are interested in learning more about how we can help you restore your lost hair, then book a free consultation with our award-winning team to ask any specific questions you might have and enquire about our FUE and FUT procedures.
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