Reading time: 3 min.
Wayne Rooney Hair Journey

The father of three and world-renowned Manchester United player is one of the most famous hair transplant success stories to date. Unlike David Beckham’s hair transplant and Xherdan Shaqiri’s hair transplant (which have both yet to be confirmed) Rooney had been upfront about his hair transplant procedures.

He’s paved the way for many more celebrities to reveal their own FUE and FUT hair transplant procedures (you can see many of the most famous celebrity hair transplant before and after photos).

Wayne Rooney’s hair shows just how successful hair transplants can be. His profile as a household name has raised awareness and popularity of hair restoration surgery around the world since his first hair transplant in 2011.

In this article, we’ll explore Wayne Rooney’s hair transplant journey throughout the years.

Table of Contents

Wayne Rooney’s hair loss 2016

England’s historic defeat against Iceland in the Euro 2016 knock-out round certainly got football fans talking. But it wasn’t the only fallout from a disappointing tournament for England fans. The England captain’s hairline also took a hit following the defeat, with Wayne Rooney’s hair looking much thinner the next day.

However, like many who undergo such hair loss treatments, the aggressiveness of male pattern baldness can still affect untreated areas. Which it seems is exactly what happened to Rooney post-Euro 2016.

Wayne Rooney right before EURO Cup 2016

Wayne Rooney right before the 2016 EURO cup

During the four England games in Euro 2016, Rooney can be seen on the pitch with what appears to be a full head of brown hair. But the following day he sported a much-changed look. His hair quickly began to thin. 

By July 2017, he had significant balding as can be seen in this Everton Football Club 2017 video:

So what happened to Rooney’s hair?

Did it just fall out overnight? Obviously, the answer is no. It’s much more likely that Rooney used hair fibres or a hair thickening spray to cover up the area of thinning hair temporarily.

Wayne Rooney at EURO cup press conference

Wayne Rooney at a 2016 EURO cup press conference

These can be used to great effect for areas with hair loss, making the existing hair look thicker. However, since this is a spray, the results aren’t long-lasting and will wash out.

It’s entirely possible that with the end of the football season looming and a big international tournament to prepare for, Rooney opted to postpone having multiple hair transplants and concentrate on the job at hand.

What does Wayne Rooney’s hair look like in 2022?

Hair loss symptoms can worsen over time, even after a hair transplant procedure. In many cases, like Rooney’s, ongoing treatment is required to prevent continuing hair loss.

It appears that Wayne Rooney has sought additional hair transplants to tackle his thinning hair. Six years later, in 2022, photographs show him with a much fuller head of hair.

Wayne Rooney 2022

Wayne’s hairline hasn’t changed too much from the natural-looking slightly M-shaped hairline he sported during Euro 2016. But the bald spot developing on the crown has become much fuller.

What’s next for Wayne Rooney’s hair?

Like many men who experience androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness), Wayne will probably need to use hair loss treatments on an ongoing basis to make sure his hair transplant stays looking sharp. He may need additional hair transplants in future, as well as topical or oral treatments like Minoxidil, Finasteride, or Dutasteride.

Wayne Rooney isn’t the only Premier League player to have hair transplant surgery. Rob Holding visited the Wimpole Clinic to restore his hairline and his self-confidence and he’s been thrilled with his results.

Rob Holding before and his FUE hair transplant at the Wimpole Clinic

Read more about Rob Holding’s hair transplant and his experience at the Wimpole Clinic. You can also see more of our outstanding hair transplant before and after results in our gallery.

Wayne Rooney Hair Journey, Wimpole Clinic

The Wimpole Clinic offers FUE Hair, Beard & Eyebrow Transplants & Trichology.
Talk to a specialist ☎ 020 7935 1861.

Book a consultation

Simply fill in your details in the form below and we'll get in touch with you shortly.