Machine Gun Kelly‘s hair has gone through some dramatic changes over the years. While he hasn’t publicly confirmed undergoing a hair transplant, all the evidence points towards him having had at least one hair restoration procedure.
MGK has even shared photos of the back of his head that clearly show what looks like a follicular unit transplantation (FUT) hair transplant scar, suggesting he’s not worried about keeping his hair transplant a secret. In this article, we’ll explore:
Machine Gun Kelly’s real name is Colson Baker. He was born in 1990 in Texas, USA, and he’s a Grammy-nominated and multi-platinum rapper, singer-songwriter, and actor.
He’s known for hip-hop, rock and pop-punk music, and appeared in films like The Dirt in 2019. He was recently engaged to actress Megan Fox, and the couple are expecting a baby together.
MGK’s hair has dramatically changed over the years, particularly between 2012 and 2014. Dr Gary Linkov, a celebrity plastic surgeon, shared a video where he discusses his theory that MGK had two hair transplants — one in 2013 and one in 2014. Watch the full video below:
Here, we’ll explore how Machine Gun Kelly’s hair has changed over the years — from when he was balding at 22 to the head of thick, healthy hair he has today.
In 2012, Machine Gun Kelly was just 22 years old. He had significant signs of male pattern baldness with an M-shaped hairline and temple hair loss. Based on the image above, MGK was likely at a Norwood stage 3 to 4.
The image above was also taken in 2012, which shows that the MGK still had a healthy supply of hair in his donor area. This would make him a good candidate for a hair transplant.
Around 2012, at the peak of Machine Gun Kelly’s hair loss, he sometimes wore a headband. This concealed his receding hairline and made him look younger.
In June 2013, MGK had a completely different hairline. He’s grown his hair long on top of his head and combed it forward, concealing his actual hairline. This may have been to cover up regrowth from a receding hairline transplant.
This image, also taken in 2013, appears to show a scar from an FUT hair transplant. This type of hair transplant leaves a signature strip scar at the back of the head, which can be visible if you cut your hair short.
In 2014, MGK‘s new hairline was revealed. It was significantly fuller than his 2012 hairline and made him look much younger. But you can see there’s still some thinning around the frontal area.
Dr Linkov hypothesises that Machine Gun Kelly had an FUT hair transplant in the summer of 2013 [1]. He believes that soon after this photo was taken in the summer of 2014, MGK had a second hair transplant performed using follicular unit extraction (FUE). Learn more about the difference between FUE and FUT here.
By 2015, MGK’s hairline had changed again. The thinning area around the front has filled out, and he has a youthful, natural-looking hairline. This suggests his transplant was performed by a skilled surgeon.
In 2017, MGK continued to show off a healthy, natural-looking hairline with no signs of recession or male pattern baldness.
Machine Gun Kelly shared these photos online as part of a promotion for his album in 2019. He shaved a strip into the back of his head and got a tattoo with his album title (Hotel Diablo), but this shaved area also revealed what appeared to be his FUT scar.
This suggests that although MGK has not spoken out about his procedures, he was also not trying to hide them — because this strip scar is a strong indication that he had an FUT transplant at some point. You can also see small, circular scars in keeping with an FUE transplant in the shaved area, suggesting MGK has indeed had at least two hair transplants.
Although MGK grew his hair longer on the top in 2024, which concealed his frontal hairline, he still appears to have no signs of male pattern baldness as far as we can tell. He has a full head of hair, which is in keeping with a hair transplant — hair transplants are permanent and results often last a lifetime.
Machine Gun Kelly needed a hair transplant because he had an aggressive form of androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness). While some men don’t experience this level of hair loss until their 30s and 40s, MGK had significant frontal balding by age 22.
As a musician and celebrity, his physical appearance is an important part of his career. So, MGK likely took action by getting a natural-looking hair transplant to restore a youthful hairline. He may have also used other treatments for hair loss, such as Finasteride and topical Minoxidil.
Male pattern baldness is caused by a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This male sex hormone is important for several bodily functions, but can also bind to DHT-sensitive receptors in your hair follicles. This causes the hair follicles to shrink over time.
The growth phase becomes shorter, leading to thinner, shorter hair. Eventually, the affected hair follicles stop producing hair altogether.
In men, this causes a receding hairline, hair loss around the temples, and a bald spot on the crown. In time, it may cause complete baldness. In women, female pattern hair loss generally presents as diffuse thinning across the scalp.
MGK lives in Los Angeles, California. We don’t know where he had treatment, but he likely chose a local clinic.
Dr Linkov estimates that Machine Gun Kelly‘s hair transplants cost around US $22-30,000 (around £17,700-24,150) in total. He estimated $10-15,000 for the first transplant and $12-$15,000 for the second transplant [1].
The average Los Angeles hair transplant cost tends to be much higher than in the UK. In the UK, a hair transplant costs £4820 on average versus $11,590 in LA (around £9338).
Are you experiencing hair loss like MGK and hoping for results like his? At the Wimpole Clinic, we can help.
We work with expert trichologists and some of the best hair transplant surgeons in the UK. We are one of the longest-standing hair loss clinics globally, celebrating our 50th anniversary this year. We’re one of only four clinics worldwide that have reached this milestone.
During your hair loss consultation, you’ll be assessed by a hair doctor who will use diagnostic trichology tests to identify why your hair is falling out.
Once you have a diagnosis, you’ll be offered the most appropriate treatment options. These may include PRP hair treatment, hair loss medication, low-level laser therapy, or a hair transplant. Our surgeons create such natural-looking results that it’s possible to get a hair transplant without anyone knowing.
Our clinic is trusted for celebrity hair transplants, including well-known stars like Rob Holding and Ben Stokes. Ready to get started? Book a consultation at your nearest clinic location today.
Find out more about celebrity hair transplants in these FAQs.
Cheyenne Jackson revealed on social media that he had five hair transplants to get the look he wanted. Calum Best has had even more, with a grand total of six hair transplants — learn more about Calum Best’s hair transplants here.
David Beckham has never confirmed whether he’s had a hair transplant, but he has definitely dealt with some hair loss over the years. His hair loss can be hidden with hair thickening spray, so he might just be great at hiding it. However, some have speculated that the big improvements in his hair could only be achieved with a transplant.
Plenty of celebrities have turned to hair transplants to transform their look. Some of the top celebrities who have had hair transplants include:
Sean Connery, who played James Bond, used several hair systems over the years to disguise his hair loss. Connery started to experience male pattern baldness at a young age, and he wore a hair system for every one of the James Bond films he starred in.
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