'I didn't like the way I looked bald': Zak Hardaker details hair transplant experience

Zak Hardaker has taken the bold decision to detail his hair transplant procedure.
Zak Hardaker scores a tryZak Hardaker scores a try
Zak Hardaker scores a try

The Wigan centre spent nearly £5,000 on the procedure at the British Hair Clinic in London, focusing on the receding hairline above his forehead.

He admits he didn’t “like the way I looked” and, after researching hair transplants, decided to take the plunge last week.

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“When I shaved my head in the first lockdown, mine never grew back,” said the 29-year-old, who recently became a dad for the first time.

The area where Zak Hardaker has had a hair transplantThe area where Zak Hardaker has had a hair transplant
The area where Zak Hardaker has had a hair transplant

“It was a bit of a joke but then after a few months it started to hurt a little bit. It got to a point where I didn’t like the way I looked, bald, if I’m honest. I’d look in the mirror and I didn’t like the way I looked.

“And that’s not normally me. So that’s the reason why – I didn’t feel great going bald.”

He detailed his experience during a candid 15 minute video via his Instagram page and even invited anyone with queries about the procedure to message him.

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The former Leeds and Castleford star was allowed to travel to London during lockdown as it was classed as a medical procedure.

He explained: “They took 2,800 donors out the back of my head, it’s like a tiny white hair which is implanted into your head and then your hair comes off the donor.

“Each donor they pull out could contain one, two or three hairs. I had 7000 hairs – so I had quite a lot of ‘three hairs on one donor’, which is pretty good.

“I’ve just had the receding hairline done, for people going for more, they will need more grafts done.

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“As for the pain rating and procedure, they have to anaesthetise your head – it took about two minutes – and that was the worst bit. The (pain rating) was eight out of 10. But two minutes later I couldn’t feel a thing.

“After that, I had a sandwich, a Coke, a Kitkat, chilled out for 20 minutes and then they were ready for the next part.

“They had a TV in the corner with Netflix, so I banged The Equaliser on and watched that for two hours while they went to town on my head. It took the whole procedure out of my mind, really.”

Hardaker’s forehead is still swollen from the procedure and he has been told to sleep at a 45 degree angle for a few days, but he has no pain or discomfort.

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He added: “I know you can go to Turkey and do it for £2,000 and I’ve seen good and bad results. Mine was a bit more expensive and I’m really happy with the results – I’m looking forward to the next few months and hopefully I get a big quiff by summer!”