Louis Theroux has released a new statement updating fans on his ongoing battle with alopecia.
The BBC documentarian has been suffering from the hair loss condition for several years, having first shared his diagnosis publicly back in 2022.
Taking to social media, Theroux revealed he’s preparing to make a big change to his appearance as he embraces his continued loss of hair.
Posting on Instagram, Theroux shared a collection of selfies showing off his new short haircut but confessed he’s prepared to take his trim one step further.
"Latest from Alopecia-land," he began. "I’ve cut the hair short because I realised the longer it was the worse it looked.
"But it’s patchy AF and I’m basically preparing the way for a full head shave sometime in the next 12 months."
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Theroux went on to explain he plans to take inspiration from some famous bald-headed Hollywood stars such as Stanley Tucci and Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson.
"Big glasses a la Tucci, big muscles a la Dwayne Johnson, plus a year-round tan," he wrote. "That’s the formula."
The BBC star also shared a throwback photo of his younger self in the nineties with a much longer mop of hair.
"I’ve included a last photo from 1994 that I stumbled on yesterday as a reminder that the hair was always a problem, which I will have to worry about less and less as it disappears," he remarked. "It’s like when your house burns down. 'At least I don’t have to hoover!'"
This isn't the first time Theroux has addressed his changing appearance during his alopecia struggles.
In 2023, the star reached out to his social media followers for advice after losing a significant portion of his eyebrows.
Several months later he took the plunge and tried a form of "temporary tattoo" to fill in his brows.
"I’m happy to have my old face back," he wrote, in an Instagram post at the time. "The new brows are neater and more shapely than my 'real' ones were."
To find out more information about alopecia and for details of support that is available, visit the NHS website or the Alopecia UK website. Readers in the US can contact the National Alopecia Areata Foundation.
News Editor, Digital Spy
Emma is an experienced entertainment news journalist with NCTJ accreditation and a First-Class Honours Degree in Journalism. Having started her career as a broadcast journalist, Emma’s voice has been heard on varying radio stations across the UK including Absolute, Magic, BBC Three Counties Radio, LBC London News and more.
Later specialising in multimedia entertainment news, Emma has brushed shoulders with numerous famous faces and interviewed the likes of Edward Norton, Margot Robbie, Sir Michael Palin, Rick Astley, and too many soap stars to count. Having produced a range of engaging news content over the years for brands such as 7Digital’s Entertainment News, Yahoo, and Express Online, Emma eventually joined Digital Spy in 2022 as Deputy News Editor, becoming Acting News Editor in 2023 and then News Editor in 2024.
While she’s gained lots of praise during celebrity interviews throughout her career, the most memorable compliment Emma’s ever received was when a Game of Thrones star remarked "Your teeth are stunning!". LinkedIn
