A recent study has revealed that bald men are often perceived as more attractive than those with a full head of hair, challenging long-held beauty stereotypes and encouraging men to embrace their natural look.

The research, commissioned by dating site Illicit Encounters, surveyed 2,000 women on the physical attributes they find most appealing in men. While a muscular build was the top-ranked feature, chosen by 42 percent of respondents, a bald head followed closely, selected by 40 percent.

Jessica Leoni, spokesperson for Illicit Encounters, emphasized the subjectivity of attraction, stating, “Attractiveness is in the eye of the beholder. Bald men are among the sexiest looking chaps out there.”

The findings align with previous studies that suggest baldness may be associated with a number of positive traits. Men without hair are often perceived as socially dominant in a non-threatening way, and are thought to exude maturity, intelligence, honesty, and even higher levels of education.

In addition to bald heads and muscular physiques, other desirable features included blue eyes (38 percent), beards (36 percent), dark hair (31 percent), and curly hair (30 percent). High cheekbones (26 percent), blonde hair (22 percent), green eyes (21 percent), and hairy chests (18 percent) also made the list. Tattoos and piercings were favored by 10 percent and 7 percent of women, respectively.

These results suggest that rather than investing in costly treatments to reverse hair loss, men experiencing baldness may benefit more from embracing their look with confidence.

Tom Simons, 45, from Tonbridge in Kent, shared his personal journey with hair loss. “I started losing my hair in my mid-30s and was horrified at first. I wore hats constantly and even considered a wig,” he recalled. “But a female friend told me to just ‘be bald and proud,’ so I shaved it all off. I haven’t looked back.”

He added, “There’s a certain confidence being bald gives you. I don’t know what it is, but I definitely get more attention now than I ever did before.”