When Rhys Jones started losing his hair as a young man, it really hit his self-esteem.
He was still in his late teens when he began thinning up top. He didn't want to go out, he didn't want to socialise.
His loss of confidence is a common reaction in young men who experience hair loss, which for some symbolises ageing, and affects their self-perception.
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But he wasn't prepared to let his low self-esteem get the better of him.
Instead, he decided to research ways to combat it - and he now has a business helping others who find themselves in the position he was once in.
The 26-year-old said: "I was 19 or 20 when I started losing my hair. It took all my confidence away. I didn't want to leave the house.
"So I started to research what I could do about it. I looked into hair transplants, which takes hair from the back of the head, but there's a risk it might not work, and you have to wait a year for it to start growing. And that's when I discovered a non-surgical hair system, and I couldn't believe how amazing they are."
The hair system involves applying hair to the scalp with an adhesive, and instead of waiting a year, it shows results within an hour.
It's not permanent like a hair transplant, needing monthly visits to maintain and refresh.
But the results can prove impressive.
"In 2017 I decided I needed to do something to get my confidence back so I had a hair system fitted and in just over an hour I had a full head of hair. It completely changed my life.
"I was working as a store manager for Subway, but in 2019 I enrolled in an evening barbering course in Gower College. Barbering is something I’ve always wanted to do, but my busy work life always got in the way. But with the support from the franchisee and my amazing team, I finally managed to enrol into college.
"The first lockdown gave me the opportunity to think about my future and what I wanted to do. I’ve been very passionate about hair systems since I had one myself and combining that with barbering I decided I wanted to give men who are suffering with hair loss their confidence back.
"So, after six amazing years as a store manager, I decided, in December, 2020, to leave and start doing non surgical hair replacement myself.
"In May, 2021, I found a lovely building to start my journey from. It needed a lot of tender loving care, but with help from my family and partner, we transformed it into something amazing and my hair studio was born".
The business, Studio 71 in Ammanford, specialises in nonsurgical hair replacement for men, but is also open as a barbers and salon with appointments available with Lisa and Rachel for ladies' hair.
Rhys added: "The feedback has been amazing. Sometimes clients are a bit apprehensive at first as you have to shave some of the scalp, and they think, 'hold on! That's the little hair I have left'.
"So they can be anxious at the beginning, and it can seem daunting, but because I started losing my hair when I was young and I've had a hair system myself and I've been through it, I'm able to identify with them and convey the process exactly to them.
"I’ve fitted many systems now and seeing the reaction of my clients makes everything worth it".
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