NEW research has revealed insights for baldness in the UK, including the city of Gloucester. 

Experts at the barber shop Ruffians analysed the average number of monthly Google searches for terms related to male balding, such as ‘how to cover a receding hairline’ and ‘how to prevent male hair loss’. The findings were placed onto an overall table of 78 UK cities, with Gloucester ranking 29th.

Robyn Mulgrew, store manager at Ruffians, said: “It is fascinating to see such a wide range of cities and towns in the ranking. There are many reasons why men in some areas may experience a higher rate of balding than others, from genetics and stress to diet and smoking.  

“While there are steps you can take to slow down the progression of balding, such as maintaining a balanced diet and managing stress levels, it is an inevitable change for many men as they age, and it is important to embrace it.

“Many people find that a clean-shaven look or a well-groomed buzz cut helps with confidence after experiencing hair loss. Baldness can be a sensitive issue for some people, but it’s important to remember that it doesn’t define you, and embracing it with confidence is key.”

The research used data from Google Keyword Planner to reveal the rankings. A seed list of initial search terms was established based on commonly Googled terms in relation to coping with hair loss. Then, the monthly average search volume for each term in each UK city was taken from Google Keyword Planner.  

The total number of monthly average searches in each location was compared against its population. This established the monthly average searches per 100,000 people, allowing for accurate comparison of the search rate across locations of differing sizes.  

This final figure was used to sort the locations from highest-lowest number of searches per 100,000 population. Gloucester’s data showed a population of 133,522, average monthly keyword searches of 286 and 214 keyword searches per 100k population. 

Elsewhere, the data showed Wakefield at the top of the table suggesting it is the most “balding area” of the UK, whereas Derby made the foot of the list.