Everyone has something to say about Donald Trump’s hair. Most 78-year-old men show signs of a receding hairline or temple hair loss, but not Trump. He knows his hair is a subject of discussion and has even poked fun at his own bald spot [1].
There has been even more speculation about Trump’s hair recently following a video widely shared online. It shows Trump at his golf club sporting a flatter, less bouffant hairstyle.
While his hair looks very different from his normal look, people have speculated that it may just be “hat hair”, and not a new hairstyle at all. Watch the full video below:
Trump has never spoken openly about having hair loss treatment, but the question remains — did Donald Trump have a hair transplant? In this article, we’ll explore:
Donald Trump is one of the most recognisable men on the planet. Born in 1946 in New York, he was the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021 and the 47th president from 2025.
Before being elected as president, he worked as the CEO of the Trump organisation, which oversaw hotels, real estate, casinos and golf courses. He also hosted the reality TV show The Apprentice from 2004 to 2015. He is married to Melania Trump, and has five children.
Donald Trump has never openly admitted to having a hair transplant, but the possibility has been widely speculated. Plastic surgeon Gary Linkov shared an in-depth evaluation of the five hair transplant procedures he believes Trump may have had. See the full video below.
Although none of these procedures have been officially confirmed, Linkov believes Trump had the following procedures:
Let’s briefly run through each type of procedure. Some of these procedures are not commonly used anymore because more effective modern surgery has replaced them.
Punch graft hair transplants (also known as hair plug surgery) became popular in the 1950s. Surgeons used a 4 mm punch to move islands of hair from the back to the front of the scalp. While it can create the impression of thicker hair, this outdated procedure can leave you with unnatural-looking results.
Surgery has progressed, and punch hair transplants are no longer used. Modern FUE hair transplants have a punch size of 0.8mm to 1mm, meaning no sutures are required, and scarring is nearly invisible.
Rotational flap surgery is another type of hair restoration procedure (although it’s also used for reconstructive non-cosmetic surgeries). It involves rotating a section of the scalp with healthy hair follicles to cover a balding area. The flap stays attached at one end to maintain blood supply.
This technique can give instant coverage and create a natural-looking hairline, but it can leave significant hair transplant scarring. Nowadays, FUE or FUT is generally used instead, although rotational flap procedures are still used in some cases (such as after surgery to remove tumours [2]).
An FUT hair transplant is a modern hair restoration procedure that is still regularly used.. A strip of skin is removed from the donor area, and the individual hair follicular units are harvested from this tissue.
These follicular units are then transplanted to areas of hair loss. This leaves a thin strip scar at the back of the head, which could be visible if you wear your hair very short. But results around the hair transplant donor area usually look very natural, and a good surgeon will be able to minimise scarring.
An FUE hair transplant involves harvesting individual follicular units from the donor area. You can’t move as many hair follicles in one go as with FUT, but this process means scarring at the donor area is almost invisible, even with your hair cut very short. Follicular units are then transplanted into the recipient area in the same way as FUT, creating natural-looking results.
Interestingly, Trump’s father, Fred Trump, had visible male pattern baldness in the 1970s but appeared with a lower hairline as he got older in the 1990s. This suggests he may also have struggled with male pattern baldness and received treatment for it. You won’t necessarily go bald if your dad is bald, but it may be more likely.
Trump’s hair has gone through some serious changes over the years. Here, we’ll explore how his hair has changed over the course of his life.
This image shows Donald Trump aged 4. As a child, his hair naturally parted on the left side, and he had a healthy, normal hairline.
By 18 years old, his parting was still on the left, but Trump had started combing it over to the right. As you can see from this photo, he developed a widow’s peak in the centre of his forehead and had mild early hair loss around his temple area.
By 1978, Trump’s hairline had significantly changed. It had become straighter, and small clumps of hair were visible at the frontal hairline.
Linkov speculates that around this time, he may have had a plug graft hair transplant. The small islands of hair visible along his frontal hairline would be in keeping with this type of transplant.
By 34 years old, it was impossible to see Trump‘s true hairline because he combed his hair over his forehead. Much of his forehead was covered by hair, suggesting that his hair plugs may have been placed too low on his scalp, giving the impression of a small forehead.
This shows the importance of working with a transplant surgeon who understands facial proportions and will not give you an unnaturally small forehead.
In 1991, at 45 years old, Trump’s hairline looked different again. His left temple showed a unique pattern of balding — Linkov hypothesises this may be the result of rotational flap surgery to cover the hairline plugs.
Alongside rotational flap surgery, Trump may also have had a scalp reduction, where hairless gaps on the scalp are stretched and sewn together. This comes with the risk of significant scarring, and it’s not regularly used anymore.
Over the following years, Trump continued to have periods of his hair looking thinner and then thicker again, suggesting potential hair transplants or hair loss medication. This image shows his hairline in 1993. The photos below show his hair changes from 2010 to 2016.
In 2018, Trump poked fun at his bald spot during a speech. Linkov suggests the shape and location of his bald spot are in keeping with expected scarring from rotational flap surgery many years ago.
Another video from 2018 showed more extensive balding at the back of Trump’s head when he was caught in a strong wind:
In 2025, Trump‘s trademark hairline is still going strong. His doctor disclosed in 2018 that Trump used Finasteride to prevent further hair loss [3], so there’s every chance that Trump has continued to do this.
Hair transplantation isn’t the only way to increase hair coverage. Here are some other treatments Trump used or may have used:
Fortunately, early treatments for hair loss have moved on, and quality hair transplant results look very natural these days. In fact, experienced surgeons create such realistic results that it’s often possible to get a hair transplant without anyone knowing.
If you’re losing hair, the first step is to get checked out by a trichologist. These hair doctors complete a comprehensive assessment, including diagnostic trichology tests.
Once you know the reason your hair is falling out, you’ll be offered a range of treatment options. If you’re a good candidate for a hair transplant, you’ll benefit from the expertise of some of the best hair transplant surgeons in the UK.
Our clinic is trusted for celebrity hair transplants and has delivered outstanding results for well-known stars like Rob Holding and Ben Stokes. Want to know how you can get these results for yourself? Book a consultation at your nearest clinic location today.
Donald Trump has proved his hair is not a wig. During one interview, he allowed his interviewer to tug on his hair to prove it was firmly attached to his head. Watch the video below.
Trump’s hair needs careful styling to create his bouffant combover. He combs it forward from the sides and sweeps it over to create his look. He then uses hairspray to hold it in place.
Trump’s hair has become an international icon in its own right because it’s highly distinctive, and people have speculated about its true nature for many years. His hair is instantly recognisable and a part of his bold public image.
Several videos have done their rounds on the Internet, showing Trump speaking during a strong wind which then whips a hairpiece off his head. These videos are fake and were likely created for comedy value. Trump is not bald, but he has likely had several procedures to preserve his hair.
Simply fill in your details in the form below and we'll get in touch with you shortly.
Δ
