Star of The Office (U.S.) Steve Carell appears to have had a dramatic hairline transformation over the years. As more and more celebrities reveal that they’ve had a hair transplant, the hair restoration procedure has begun to be talked about more openly and without stigma.
Steve Carell hasn’t opened up about his own procedure yet, but based on his changing hairline, it seems likely he’s had a hair transplant. So what do we know about the changes in Steve Carell’s hairline? In this article, you’ll find everything you need to know about Steve Carell’s hair transplant, including:
Steve Carell’s hair transplantation took place around 2006, during his role as Michael Scott in The Office (U.S.). Eagle-eyed fans noticed a change in his hairline throughout series 1-7, as it became fuller and neater.
Steve Carell was experiencing male pattern baldness, the most common cause of hair loss in men. It affects up to 80% of men [1]. This is typically diagnosed using the Norwood Scale, which categorises the 7 stages of male hair loss.
Comparing photos from the early 2000s to 2006, you can clearly see Steve Carell’s hair loss progressing. During his time on The Daily Show, when he would have been in his late thirties, he seems to have a receding hairline. This is a typical sign of male pattern baldness, with 66% of men experiencing this type of hair loss by the age of 35 [2].
This photo shows Carell at around Norwood stage 1 to 2. At this stage you would see noticeable thinning around the hairline and temples, and in some cases, the crown. The thinning hair may create a slightly M-shaped hairline.
By 2005, Carell had further hair loss on his hairline and temples. This put him at around Norwood stage 2 to 3 during the first season of The Office. As office manager Michael Scott, Carell wore his hair slicked back, exposing his scalp beneath a thinning mini pompadour. This is a famously difficult hairstyle if you have a receding hairline, since it emphasises your forehead and reveals the shape of your hairline.
Whether this was a deliberate styling decision to highlight Scott’s middle-aged-manager status is up for debate. But by season 2, his hairline appeared much fuller, leading to rumours of hair transplant surgery.
Many men opt to lower their hairline with a hair transplant, as a receding hairline is one of the predominant signs of male pattern baldness.
Some men may experience hair loss more quickly and in other areas. Some men develop a bald spot on the crown. However, it seems that Carell experienced most of his hair loss along his temples and hairline.
During mid-2006, it appears that Carell opted for a hair transplant procedure. From season 2 of The Office (U.S.) onwards, Carell has a much neater, more youthful hairline.
The biggest change is the noticeable filling out of the thinning patch that sat at the front of his hairline during the first season of The Office. A hair transplant can increase hair density, filling out thinner patches and halting the appearance of an ageing hairline, which is why many celebrities opt for a hair transplant.
With any hair transplant procedure (with the exception of artificial hair transplants) it takes time for new hair growth to show. The amount of time needed to see new hair growth depends on the procedure, and whether you use medications like Finasteride and Minoxidil to stimulate hair growth. However, the average amount of time to see new hair growth after a transplant can be anywhere from 6 to 18 months.
Carell’s hair transplant may have taken around a year to grow in. His procedure is said to have taken place in mid-2006. By 2007 – season 3 of The Office – his hairline was noticeably fuller and a lot more natural.
The hair transplantation surgery seems to have been incredibly successful for Carell, since his hair looks to be in good condition decades later, with no signs of a receding hairline present.
The type of hair transplant operation that Carell received has never been revealed. However, it is speculated that he used the Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) technique.
FUE is the most popular choice among men nowadays, as it’s less invasive and tends to leave less scarring than FUT [3]. FUE involves extracting each hair graft individually using a micropunch. The punch removes each tiny follicle cluster, leaving a small hole in the scalp which heals relatively quickly without the need for stitches.
Steve Carell may have chosen an FUE over a FUT, as FUE hair transplants are significantly less invasive, produce less post-transplant scarring, boast faster results, and allow a shorter hair transplant recovery time. It’s ideal for someone who is in the spotlight. According to the ISHRS 2022 census, more than three-quarters of male hair transplant patients chose to undergo an FUE transplant [4].
In addition, it’s possible to get an unshaven FUE hair transplant, which makes it much easier to conceal your procedure. Steve Carell possibly opted for this technique to keep his hair transplant under wraps.
Carell’s long-lasting results have proved that his procedure was performed well, potentially at a renowned Los Angeles hair transplant clinic.
The extent of hair loss measured against the Norwood Scale determines how many hair grafts are needed to complete a hair transplant. Using the Norwood Scale, we can calculate the approximate number of grafts needed for Carell’s hair transplant. As he was around stage 2-3 on the Norwood Scale, this would call for between 1000 graft hair transplant to a 1500 graft hair transplant.
In the UK, hair transplantation prices for a 1500 graft transplant can start from anywhere between £3,250 and £4,875. Our UK hair transplant cost analysis is helpful when pricing procedures up, and can help you avoid shady clinics.
Hair loss can be mentally taxing, especially if it’s a sudden occurrence. At the Wimpole Clinic, we’ve been providing outstanding hair restoration services for more than 50 years.
Our team of experts is on hand to provide leading customer service, answer any questions you want to ask about the best hair loss treatments for men, and guide you in the best direction for your unique hair restoration journey.
England cricket captain Ben Stokes had a hair transplant at the Wimpole Clinic in 2018, and in 2023 opened up about the experience to further reduce the stigma surrounding these hair restoration procedures:
“It’s amazing in cricket now how many people have had [a hair transplant]. It’s a conversation thing now. People ask about it: “What’s it like? How many grafts did you need? Does it hurt? I think I’m going to get one.” The stigma around it has just completely disappeared.”
At the Wimpole Clinic, we offer discretion, as well as a diverse range of services, from FUE and FUT/strip transplants to non-surgical hair loss treatments like laser hair loss therapy.
Book your free consultation to get started and check out our list of questions to ask before hair transplant surgery to get the most out of your free hair loss consultation.
It’s never been revealed why Michael Scott’s hairline changed so dramatically from season 1 to season 2 of The Office (U.S.). But it’s been speculated that the actor Steve Carell had a hair transplant between seasons, then used alternative styling to create Michael Scott’s look from season 2 onwards.
Steve Carell had typical symptoms of male pattern baldness, including a receding hairline and thinning temples. But in recent years his mature hairline appears full and straight.
Many celebrities have either confirmed they’ve had hair restoration surgery, or are rumoured to have done so due to improvements in their hairlines over the years. Take a look at some celebrity hair transplants below:
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