In the era of meticulously curated social media profiles and airbrushed perfection, Walton Goggins, actor and emerging ‘Internet’s boyfriend’, is carving a path that bucks the trend. The phrase may be a cringey Gen-Z label for some, but there’s no denying the growing allure of Goggins. His portrayal of the hard-bitten, ageing Rick in The White Lotus season 3, paired with his wry charm and impossibly sculpted physique, is striking a chord with both women and men alike – particularly those of a certain age.
For middle-aged men, Goggins represents something of a throwback to the gritty, cool icons of 70s cinema. His rugged appeal is reminiscent of the likes of Lee Marvin, Steve McQueen, and Warren Oates—actors who brought a mix of charm, toughness, and existential cool to the screen. But Goggins isn’t just playing the role of a hard-boiled character. Off-screen, he’s cultivated a persona steeped in zen wisdom, offering insights like, “What has brought me an extraordinary amount of peace in my life is when I fell in love with myself. Genuinely, I think that is the path of all spirituality.” And while that might sound a bit too deep for some, it certainly works in his favour.
But here’s the kicker—Goggins is doing something even more radical: he’s making going bald cool. And I can’t stress enough how revolutionary this is. Now, just to clarify, I’m not going bald. My hairline is thick, healthy, and looking good – almost like a well-cooked steak. However, I must admit, the crown isn’t quite as it once was, and I occasionally check it with a handheld mirror. But the fear of losing hair? It’s a universal anxiety for many men. According to one survey by hair wellness expert Jamie Stevens, a majority of men said they’d rather have a small penis than go bald.
The market for hair loss treatments is booming, with the US hair loss treatment manufacturing industry alone expected to hit a whopping $3.9 billion in 2024. Hair, it seems, is a deeply rooted source of male insecurity. But Walton Goggins, through his role as Rick, is turning this narrative on its head.
Goggins’ character, Rick, sports a deliberately messy look—dyed black hair that’s thinning on top, with a bold bald patch emerging at the back. It’s a look that could be perceived as a flaw, but Goggins wears it like a badge of honour. And that’s where the true brilliance lies. Rather than opting to shave it all off at the first sign of thinning hair, Goggins’ approach is simple: let it grow out. Don’t hide your bald spot, make it a feature. Let that receding hairline and crown shine through proudly, unashamed, even embracing a bit of colour.
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This, to put it bluntly, is game-changing for men experiencing the slow creep of hair loss. Instead of the shame that often accompanies thinning hair, Goggins offers a new perspective: it’s cool to embrace your natural look. Growing your hair long, letting it recede, and giving the scalp its space can look as effortlessly chic as it does rebellious. But don’t be fooled—it requires a certain attitude. To pull this off, you’ll need the gravitas of someone who’s seen life’s rough edges, the confidence of a man who’s unbothered by the passage of time, a character type akin to a zen master rather than a smooth-talking yoga instructor.
This shift in how we view baldness and ageing is one of the most refreshing cultural changes in recent memory. It’s not just about accepting your receding hairline; it’s about redefining what it means to get older. Thanks to Goggins, growing old doesn’t have to mean turning into a dowdy, middle-aged figure from a stale sitcom. No, it can mean embracing your inner cult film star—someone who uses “dude” without anyone batting an eyelash.
In this new world where the middle-aged man can confidently rock his thinning hair and unpolished charm, Walton Goggins has become the unlikely champion of an untapped revolution. To the Goggins of the world, thank you for showing that you can age with grace, charisma, and, above all, baldness.
