Tyler Morehead [00:00:04]:
From the day I went in there, if anybody asked me, and I've had people ask me, at first I did not want to do it, and I was really against it. I just thought that was one of the most ridiculous things in the world to think about doing. But the minute I got it on, I realized what it did, too. And since then, it's just become such a non issue for me. I mean, I wish I'd have known about it ten years earlier. It would have saved me so much time and hassle and money.


Kevin Rolston [00:00:41]:
Welcome to Hairpod, the podcast where you get to hear real people talk about their hair journeys. I'm your host, Kevin Rolston, and each week I get to interview people from different walks of life whose lives have been touched by hair loss in some form or fashion. Many of our guests have experienced hair loss themselves and found a way to get their confidence and their hair back. In this episode of Hairpod, I talk with outdoor enthusiast and former hair club model Tyler Moorhead about his experience with hair loss and non surgical hair loss solutions. Tyler expresses his original aversion to hair systems. We discussed the stigma and the misconceptions that can get in the way of finding a solution, as well as the things that helped open him up to new hair loss options. Tyler's story begins with an accident when he was 13 years old that left a large scar on his head, something he didn't worry about until he started losing his hair in his twenties.


Tyler Morehead [00:01:40]:
Well, the scar is pretty big. It goes from about my eyebrow on my left side all the way to the back of my head. But it was a farm accident we had during wheat harvest. It was right after the 4 July, and we were moving equipment from one, what we call strips, where we farm the wheat from one strip to the next. And I was on my way home with a buddy of mine who had gone up to help, you know, do it. And on the way home, we lost control, or I lost control of the truck. And, yeah, that was. That was how it all started.


Tyler Morehead [00:02:09]:
It wasn't, I guess, not a good situation, according to my parents, but I, you know, by the grace of God, it all came together.


Kevin Rolston [00:02:16]:
Yeah. So survived. That's a scar that people usually always ask me.


Tyler Morehead [00:02:20]:
They're like, wait a minute, you were 13. How are you doing this? Well, out there, we were able to get. You could get what's called a farm husbandry permit at the time. So you were allowed to drive farm equipment on the farm, and that's what kind of made it okay. But, you know, it's still a 13 year old kid out driving a farm truck because, you know, in most cases, today doesn't sound too realistic. But, you know, back in the eighties, I guess that wasn't as big a deal.


Kevin Rolston [00:02:44]:
Yeah, that's one thing I discovered. I think farm people have their own rules, so it's just, life's a little different on the farm.


Tyler Morehead [00:02:50]:
It tends to be sometimes, yeah.


Kevin Rolston [00:02:53]:
So you have a scar on your head, but in your teens it's not really a big deal because you had hair to cover it up. Right, right.


Tyler Morehead [00:03:00]:
Yeah. It wasn't a problem until I got to about college and it even wasn't even a problem then. But just as my hair started thinning out a little bit more and more, I could see it. And, you know, it's kind of funny. I always make the joke, like, during the summer it's red, and during the winter it's purple. That's just kind of how it looks, meaning the scar. So the more as time went on, you know, you could just see it all the time.


Kevin Rolston [00:03:21]:
Okay.


Tyler Morehead [00:03:22]:
Some kind of huge deal. But, you know, we all get self conscious about stuff like that, and that was just one of those things for me.


Kevin Rolston [00:03:28]:
Yeah. You said in your twenties about what age? And how did you first notice that you were losing your hair?


Tyler Morehead [00:03:35]:
I think I kind of started noticing somewhere around, it was early twenties, say maybe somewhere around 23, 24. I was living in New York at the time, in New York City, and I just started noticing hair on the bottom of the shower when I got done, you know, showering. At first I didn't really think that much of it, but it seemed like it was just getting more and more. So it took a little while for me to physically notice that was happening. But, yeah, it just kind of crept in one night and that's what it was.


Kevin Rolston [00:04:04]:
What age were you when you finally tried to do something about it? What were the first steps you took?


Tyler Morehead [00:04:09]:
Let's see, what would I have been, about 30? I was in my mid thirties at that point. And, you know, I lived in, worked in La, I was. Filmmaking is really was what I wanted to do. And so I'd go on these sets and I had hair and makeup artists that would always say, oh, you should try this stuff. And there's all kinds of little things you can put in your hair to make it look a little thicker. I was doing them all, you know, I was trying them all, but I think by the time I hit my mid thirties, I kind of started getting tired of doing that, and it just seemed to be getting a little bit harder and harder to do that, too. And, you know, I have to credit my mom on that one. One day she said, hey, you know, why don't you check out no hair club or Bosley or one of those things and see what they can do? And that's kind of what kick started it.


Kevin Rolston [00:04:50]:
Okay.


Tyler Morehead [00:04:51]:
Was just her saying that.


Kevin Rolston [00:04:56]:
Hair loss is hard enough without dealing with the exposure of a scar or the pressures of the film industry. Denial is a common response in the early stages of hair loss, and sometimes a little extra push is helpful. Fortunately, Tyler was able to get some direction from his mother. But this was just the beginning. Ultimately, it's up to the individual to take action. Finding the right solution is a process. It is emotional, and, look, it's hard to decide on a solution for a problem you never wanted in the first place. Tyler shares a bit about his initial experience seeking guidance.


Tyler Morehead [00:05:34]:
The first thing that they had recommended to me was a hair transplant. And just based on what they were telling me, I decided that I did not want to do that. It just didn't seem to be something that I was that interested in, so. And I really wasn't. Like, when I first went in, I really didn't want to be there in the first place. Kind of that denial or something, you know, but I really didn't want to be there, you know, I was kind of doing it not to appease my mom, but she had recommended. It was a great idea, so I wanted to not let her down in that way, I suppose, but, yeah. So when they told me the hair transplant, I just immediately decided that that was something I didn't want to do.


Tyler Morehead [00:06:10]:
When I told them that then they had recommended the non surgical procedure that you can do and they explained what that was, and I didn't want to do that either. So I left there. I just thought, yeah, no, this isn't for me. It's just what it is. I'm just going to have to live with. It was my initial, and I think a couple of days later, you know, I was talking to my mom on the phone. She asked how everything went. I told her I just wasn't interested.


Tyler Morehead [00:06:34]:
And the idea being was, you know, well, why don't you go try it? You don't know until you try it. If you don't like it, just go back to normal. But if you do, then great, you got a problem fixed.


Kevin Rolston [00:06:44]:
Yeah.


Tyler Morehead [00:06:44]:
So that once again, you know, she kind of changed my mind on that one. But I did go back in and try it. Of course, I haven't regretted it sense.


Kevin Rolston [00:06:53]:
Tell me a little bit about how.


Kevin Rolston [00:06:54]:
You felt when you first got it. Because I have a hair system myself, and my first look, it was life changing. It was pretty legitimate. So tell me about your reaction. The first thing you thought when you saw yourself now all of a sudden struggling to have any hair, and now you got a full head of hair. What was that like for you?


Tyler Morehead [00:07:15]:
You know, it sounds so cliche, but I I really remember that, that moment vividly, actually, because initially, you know, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I saved the picture. They took a picture of me before and one right after, but I'll never forget. They didn't let me look in the mirror until it was done. They said, don't do it. Just let us do what we need to do. You look at it when you're done, and if you want to keep it, you're good. But when they wheeled me around in the chair and they swung it around and I saw myself in the mirror, I made the joke to myself, and this is a farm kid thing. Like, we don't speak up too much about much, but I remember thinking to myself, oh, there's that guy.


Tyler Morehead [00:07:53]:
I haven't seen him in forever. And it was just a really great feeling. And when I left there, I'll never forget, too. I had a big dog at the time. I had an Akita. She had been in the house all day long. So when I got done at hair club that day, I went home to walk her, to let her out and let her do her thing. And I remember walking her, you know, around the area where I lived, and it just felt great.


Tyler Morehead [00:08:16]:
I didn't have to wear a hat. I didn't have to worry about all the hair junk in my hair. I mean, it was just one of the most amazing things. I just. To this day, I still remember how it feels.


Kevin Rolston [00:08:25]:
You used to do some modeling, too, is that right?


Tyler Morehead [00:08:28]:
I did. That was back in my younger years, when I still had my good looks or whatever looks I did have.


Kevin Rolston [00:08:35]:
So when you see yourself, you're in an industry where, you know, everything is your image and your appearance. Did you feel a little bit of that same kind of confidence you used to have as the younger model, Tyler?


Tyler Morehead [00:08:48]:
Honestly? Yeah, I had it all. I mean, I had all that confidence back. I mean, it was pretty wild, you know? And at the same time, there was always a little bit of trepidation, too, because I knew what I had done, and I always wondered how many other people knew. And, you know, I think going back to what you said earlier, fewer people, I think, have recognized it or seen it or even asked me about it.


Kevin Rolston [00:09:10]:
Yeah.


Tyler Morehead [00:09:10]:
Then I thought everybody would know that I did. And as it turns out, I guess, you know, people don't look at your hair that closely or something. I don't know, but they just never, I've been asked very few times.


Kevin Rolston [00:09:21]:
Yeah, I think it really does just blend in so well, first of all, and my other question for you is, you talk about other people noticing, but what about you noticing it? Is it often that you have that thought, how do you feel with it on? Is it something that's always on your mind that, oh, I've got a hair system on, and this is someone else's hair that I've got on my head, or is it something that kind of blends in and feels more a part of you?


Tyler Morehead [00:09:45]:
Definitely the second, I think when I first got it. Yeah, I would think that more often than I do now, obviously. But, yeah, after a few weeks of having it or a couple of months of having it even, I didn't even think about that anymore. Those first couple of days. I knew it was there. And, you know, it's new and you're, it's new to your body and you kind of can sense everything about it. But that went away after a couple of days for sure. And nowadays I don't even think about it anymore and I don't even really notice it anymore either.


Tyler Morehead [00:10:13]:
I just. It's become such a natural part of life.


Kevin Rolston [00:10:21]:
Hyler decided to set aside his fears and take a leap. This is pretty inspirational, especially considering the positive impact it had on his life. Its interesting to hear peoples first impressions of themselves after getting a hair system. Its normal to be concerned about what other people might think. But as Tyler points out, most of this is in vain. People often take us as we come. It turns out we are our own biggest critics. It seems both Tyler and I share the same sentiment, that the longer we have our hair systems, the more they become a part of us and the more faith we have in them to withstand all of our adventures and activities.


Tyler Morehead [00:11:02]:
My wife and I are very active with just about everything. We live near the beach and we love cruises, we love the beach life, surfing. I mean, everything that I used to do, I still do. And, yeah, we've come back on nothing, and I don't remember that. It's the second part of your question, but it was the same thing. I've come back on nothing.


Kevin Rolston [00:11:20]:
Yeah, it's just basically about the awareness, and that's the one thing that a lot of people can't believe. When I first got my hair system, I did a series of videos wherever I, I just put it, the test, and I was standing in it upright in a jeep that was kind of going down the road. And we hit, you know, pretty good pace, and the hair was fine and it was holding on. They even had a, here in south Florida, they had a hurricane simulator at the science museum. And I went in there and you could stand it and feel the winds. And I put it to the test and cranked that thing up to a cat three, and, you know, it held on. Look, I mean, if your hair can hold on in category three, you're good. You know, the water skiing and swimming and biking and mountain climbing, whatever you want to do, there's really no limitations to it.


Kevin Rolston [00:12:01]:
And that's how I, you know, answer that question to a lot of people. So it's great to hear that you feel the same way.


Tyler Morehead [00:12:07]:
Yeah. You know, your second part of your question, I did think about it. We put it through a lot, just like you have, or I've put it through a lot. And when you said that about the cat three hurricane, that's awesome. I love that story. But when my wife and I first met, I took her on a trip to Cabo, Mexico. My family was going down there. I remember we were out in the water that day and there was a storm or something, but I got rocked with, like, a five foot wave that crashed right on top of me.


Tyler Morehead [00:12:33]:
I did not see it coming. And I can remember my face and head and everything getting planted in the sand. I mean, it rolled me pretty good. And I remember coming up, you know, from, from the depths and thinking to myself, I better check to make sure the hair is still on there. Yeah, it was fun. I mean, I came up with my hand on my head, trying to make.


Kevin Rolston [00:12:51]:
Sure that it was there.


Tyler Morehead [00:12:52]:
Yeah, it was there. It was fine the whole time. Not one issue. Yeah, I think you can put them through quite a bit.


Kevin Rolston [00:12:59]:
Yeah. Oh, you definitely can. And, yeah, when you have a moment like that, then, you know, you build up trust with your hair and you realize how much of a part of you it becomes. Now, you mentioned that you're married, so when you met your wife, is this with a hair system? When you met her, it was. It was okay. And how does that go now? Right away? Are you open and honest about her, or does it take time when you realize that she loves you for who you are before you say, hey, by the way, I wear a hair system.


Tyler Morehead [00:13:27]:
You know, it's funny, that's become kind of a big story, really, for both her and I, technically, but even more so with hair club, because this is not the first interview I've been asked that question, and I've answered it the same way. But when we first met, I think we were out on our. The first date was, you know, as a story in itself, but the second date, we were sitting down at dinner and I decided, I thought, well, I was new to having the hairdouse, but I wanted her to know. I thought, well, if this is going to be an issue, we might as well get this out of the way now. And I told her, I said, hey, something you should know, you know, I told her about the hair and she goes, oh, that's cool. I've got extensions in. And that was the end of the story. It's never been an issue since.


Tyler Morehead [00:14:03]:
We're like, well, I guess that's. She's definitely a keeper.


Kevin Rolston [00:14:12]:
What a sweet story. You know, it raises a good point. People are always working on their appearance and should be free to do so. Whatever makes us feel more confident, right? We do view hair systems differently than hair extensions, lash extensions, or other forms of personal style and expression. It is unfortunate how societal norms and stigmas can limit the options we see for ourselves. Tyler talks about his journey from resistance to finally trying out a hair system.


Tyler Morehead [00:14:44]:
From the day I went in there, if anybody asked me, and I've had people ask me, at first, I did not want to do it, and I was really against it. I just thought that was one of the most ridiculous things in the world to think about doing. But the minute I got it on, I realized what it did, too. And since then, it's just become such a non issue for me. I mean, I wish I'd have known about it ten years earlier. It would have saved me so much time and hassle and money. I mean, the thousands of dollars I spent on all this other stuff that didn't work for me personally. And I just thought, man, if I had just done that ten years earlier, it would have been so much easier and so much less stressful.


Kevin Rolston [00:15:19]:
I tried a lot of things that weren't right for me. It wasn't the right solution, but it cost me a ton of money. And if I could have gone right to the solution that I needed, which was the hair system, it would have been better. Tell me about your journey a bit and some of those things so that if you were talking to that Tyler ten years prior, what are the things you learned, what are the shortcuts you could have taken? What are the things that you tried that did not work for you that would have saved you some money? What were some of those things specifically?


Tyler Morehead [00:15:50]:
Oh, my gosh. Well, I can honestly, I can just say I tried everything. There was nothing that I didn't try. Whether it was the clinically stuff, the stuff that you go to the doctor get the prescriptions for, all the way to the hair, laser treatments to the shampoo. I mean, you name it, I tried it for sure.


Kevin Rolston [00:16:07]:
Yeah.


Tyler Morehead [00:16:07]:
But I think just for me, you know, to kind of more on. Answer your question, I grew up in the eighties. That was kind of my childhood. My grandpa was. He had lost all of his hair. He had three brothers. He had five brothers, so half of them had full heads of hair. The other half did not.


Tyler Morehead [00:16:24]:
My grandpa was one that did not. But he had a toupee, and I can remember as a kid him wearing that when the family would go down at night for dinner, and then he would not wear it during the day. He'd wear out. On the farm, you just wear a cap all day, perhaps. So. I always equated everything with hair, whether it was transplant or the systems that you and I both have. I always equated it to what my grandpa used or wore, and that was, I think, my biggest deterrent to say, yeah, I don't want to do that. Like, I'm not gonna.


Tyler Morehead [00:16:53]:
Not that I had anything against my grandpa, obviously. I love that guy.


Kevin Rolston [00:16:56]:
Yeah.


Tyler Morehead [00:16:56]:
You know, I just didn't want to, especially my thirties, be equipped to my grandpa. I was like, nope, not ready for that yet. Yeah, maybe one day, but not today. And that's really. That was my biggest mental challenge with it all. And that's just the thing. I'm like, we get these ideas in our head that limit us from so much more stuff that we probably could actually do. And this was one of those things for me.


Kevin Rolston [00:17:18]:
Yeah.


Tyler Morehead [00:17:18]:
I think that through trying all that other stuff, it was just that denials of just saying, go try it. I mean, check it out, at least research and find out if it's something that would work where I just didn't want to do that. That wasn't even a conversation for me. I'm like, nope, I don't want to have it. My cousin, he knew that I was getting there, and. And he had considered it. I think he's still considering doing it, but he has said that to me before, too. He's like, dude, I just can't believe you probably look ten years younger than you did before.


Kevin Rolston [00:17:44]:
Yeah.


Tyler Morehead [00:17:44]:
So to me, I mean, age has never been that big of a deal to me either way, but, yeah, to hear that kind of stuff, it's pretty nice, actually, so I'll take it. I'll put that in the bank. Mandy, I hear you.


Kevin Rolston [00:17:57]:
Anymore, when you get a compliment, you got to take it. You got to run with it.


Tyler Morehead [00:18:00]:
Exactly. One day, I'll really appreciate those compliments. Granted, I still get them.


Kevin Rolston [00:18:08]:
You living in south Florida, talk to me about the heat with your hair system. Does it feel hotter than having a natural head of hair?


Tyler Morehead [00:18:16]:
Honestly, I don't think I could tell the difference one way or the other. No. I think some days, especially with the humidity, when it gets really hot, you know, you know, we get the nineties, and it's 100% humidity out there. There are oftentimes I kind of feel like, oh, man, what's this thing going to do? Or what's this hair going to do? But, yeah, it's pretty much always the same.


Kevin Rolston [00:18:34]:
Yeah, I tell people that because people will ask, yeah, no, it's. To me, it's. There's no temperature difference. It's amazing how much the hair system really breathes, that it feels exactly like a regular head of hair. And if I had to say, if there's any annoyance that, you know, comes with having a hair system is the curse of having hair, is you have to fix your hair. But, oh, wow. You know? So that, to me, is the thing. It's having real human hair on your head that, yeah, you gotta put a little bit more time in it.


Kevin Rolston [00:18:59]:
It's not as quick as being completely bald. So if there's any kind of attraction to it whatsoever. But you know what? That is a curse I am thankful to have every single day. I've got to fix my hair. Oh, wow.


Tyler Morehead [00:19:11]:
I have to comb it. Yeah, that was another first thing out when I first got the head hair. I remember waking up the next morning. I didn't even have a comb. I had a couple brushes, but I'm like, I didn't really have anything to actually comb it, so I had to make it to the store. But back to your point. Yeah. That's about the only downside to having hair.


Tyler Morehead [00:19:28]:
You actually have to comb it.


Kevin Rolston [00:19:34]:
It was really refreshing to have such an open conversation with Tyler about his journey with hair loss. Personally, I related so much to what he had to say. It was also nice as a reminder that sometimes the answer were looking for is the one we are most resistant to. Being open minded is key. Its essential to emphasize that while Taylor is delighted with his hair system, it may not be the ideal hair loss solution for everyone. There are numerous options available, and just because Tyler didnt have success with laser therapies or other treatments doesnt mean that those options dont work great for you. Thats why at hairpod, we strongly encourage our audience to seek professional guidance. Discovering the right solution can help you regain your confidence and live life to the fullest.


Kevin Rolston [00:20:22]:
I hope my conversation with Tyler has been encouraging. If youd like to hear more stories about hair loss, make sure to subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast app. Thanks for listening to another episode of Hairpot. Check us out at Hair Club on Instagram or search harepod on Facebook to continue the conversation. If you know someone who could benefit from hearing this episode, wed love it if youd share with them. If youre enjoying the show, consider leaving us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app. We also have a website. Check it out by going to podcast dot hairclub.com.


Kevin Rolston [00:20:56]:
were here to build people up and share real stories so people experiencing hair loss feel a little bit less alone. And when you share, review, and subscribe, it helps us do just that. So thank you. Until next time.