Joel McHale Hair Transplant: A Look at Joel’s Hairline Transformation

Many celebrities have a way of looking younger for longer, and there’s a lot that plays a part in that. It’s typical for actors, musicians, athletes, and TV stars to put special effort into a good exercise routine and healthy diet, for example. However, there is often something else at play: cosmetic surgery.

One type of cosmetic surgery that is both minimally invasive and prominent in the world of stars is a hair transplant. Often, famous people like to keep quiet about undergoing this procedure, but, sometimes, celebrities come out and speak openly about it. One such celeb to do just that is Joel McHale. Want to learn more about the Joel McHale hair implants? Keep on reading.

Who is Joel McHale?

Joel McHale is an American actor and comedian born on November 20 1971. He hosted The Soup, which focused on pop culture and helped his rise to stardom, but his most notable role was in the TV show Community, in which he played a great role as Jeff Winger. He’s also starred in Ted, Blended, Spy Kids: All the Time in the World, and It’s a Wonderful Knife, alongside actor Justin Long. With so many roles under his belt, he has certainly made an impact on the entertainment industry!

About the Joel McHale Hair Transplant

Joel McHale is one of the few celebrities who have come clean about their hair transplant surgery. Not only did he get one – he got a total of three.

He opened up about his hair transplants during a podcast he did with Justin Long, in which he talked about the reasons why he opted for the procedure. Speaking about it, he said: [1]

“Yeah! I’d be totally bald. We’re not all born with gorgeous thick hair like you”.

He then spoke about his hair loss journey, stating that he started to lose his hair when he was only eighteen, around the time he started hosting The Soup.

Clearly, Joel McHale was very happy with his results, as he then said: [1]

“Three surgeries later, look at my hair! The technology is bananas now. They pluck your hair and stick it there.”

While three surgeries may seem like a lot, it clearly worked well for the actor. He was experiencing significant hair loss from a young age, and this surgical intervention has meant he can hang onto a head full of hair throughout his career.

A Look at Joel McHale’s Hairline Through the Years

To get a real insight the Joel McHale hair transplant, it helps to look at his hairline over the years.

2004: 2004 was near the beginning of Joel McHale’s career. During this time, he was already showing signs of male pattern baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia. He had an M-shaped hairline, meaning his hair at the temples was receding. The rest of his hair was intact, though.

2007: Joel McHale began hosting The Soup in 2007. He was in his twenties during this time, and he still showed his M-shaped hairline, but there is speculation that his first hair transplant took place around this time.

2009: Joel McHale’s hairline appeared significantly fuller in 2009, which is when he first began his role in Community. While he still has a slight recession, his hairline is not as far back as it was during 2004, suggesting one of his hair transplants occurred before 2009.

2015: Fast forward to 2015, and Joel McHale’s hairline looks fuller than ever before. This is likely due to a second hair transplant.

2025: In 2025, Joel McHale hair still looks wonderfully full. This is a great case for hair transplants, as it shows that they can stand the test of time. To this day, he is benefiting from a full head of hair thanks to the procedure, even showing thicker hair than he had in his early 20s!

When Did Joel McHale Get His Hair Transplants?

While Joel McHale has come clean about getting three hair transplants, he has not specified when he actually got them. You can make a guess by looking at his changing hairline, though. Many people believe his first hair transplant occurred between 2004 and 2009, his second between 2010 and 2015, and his third anytime after that.

Was Joel McHale’s Hair Transplant Successful?

Yes – Joel McHale has stated he is happy with his hair transplant results. Additionally, comparing his hair before and after the procedure, it’s clear to see that the treatment was extremely effective. He has been able to maintain full, thick hair with a straight hairline. There is also a big chance that the impact of the hair transplant on Joel McHale’s career was quite significant, too – who knows if he would have gotten the same roles if his hair loss had continued?

How Many Hair Grafts Did Joel McHale Need?

It’s hard to go into the specifics of Joel McHale’s hair loss treatment without speaking to him or his surgeon, but we can make some guesses.

Before he got the hair transplant surgery, Joel McHale had quite a significantly receding hairline, making him at around Stage 3 of the Norwood Scale. That means he likely had around 2,500 grafts in total. The average cost of a single graft is between £1.90 to £4. The cost changes significantly depending on the location and the clinic.

What Type of Hair Transplant Did Joel McHale Get?

There are different types of hair transplant procedures. Joel McHale’s hair surgery remains somewhat of a mystery, though – while he admitted to getting three, he hasn’t said the type of hair transplant he got.

However, we can make a guess. If Joel McHale underwent his first hair transplant in the 2000s, it’s highly likely that he received a follicular unit transplantation (FUT) procedure. This is a method that involves extracting a strip of skin containing hair follicles from the scalp. The strip is then divided up and readministered into the recipient area.

Later in his career, Joel McHale likely opted for another method – follicular unit extraction FUE. The FUE transplant offers less scarring. It’s a precise procedure that involves a micro punch tool that extracts individual hair follicles from the scalp before implanting those same follicles into the recipient area.

Other Treatments Joel McHale May Have Gotten

While hair transplants are an excellent way of growing hair, and McHale’s hair transplant journey was undeniably a successful one, he still may have opted for additional hair loss treatments, including the following.

Minoxidil: Minoxidil is a topical hair loss treatment that is applied directly to the scalp to promote new growth. It works by stimulating blood flow to the scalp, leading to thicker, healthier hair. Often, people who have undergone hair transplants are advised to use minoxidil to prevent further hair loss.

Finasteride: Another hair loss medication is finasteride. It is a prescription-only medication usually used to treat enlarged prostates but also works well at preventing male pattern baldness. It works for this by inhibiting the production of DHT, which is responsible for male hair loss. Like minoxidil, many men have finasteride recommended following a hair transplant to maintain results.

Clinical Treatments: There are several effective clinical treatments Joel McHale may have gotten to boost his hair growth. These may include low-level laser therapy, microneedling, and platelet-rich plasma injections.

Why Are Celebrity Hair Transplants So Common?

Hair restoration is a big part of looking good and youthful. It makes sense, then, that so many actors, musicians, and athletes opt for hair transplant surgery to maintain their looks. Celebrities are constantly in the public eye, after all, and are judged more harshly than the average person for how they appear. Plus, for actors, their appearance can even impact the jobs they receive. The impact of Joel McHale’s hair is pretty impressive indeed, considering he later landed a role as a main character in Community!

Of course, you do not need to be a well-known celebrity to benefit from a hair transplant, as many ordinary people opt for this surgery to increase their confidence.

Do You Want a Hair Transplant Like Joel McHale?

The Joel McHale hair transplant has inspired many. It makes sense, considering he went from a receding hairline to a full head of hair!

If you’re considering a hair transplant, it’s best first to understand the underlying cause of your hair loss. Some types of hair loss are temporary and don’t require surgery – generally, hair transplants are best for those experiencing androgenetic alopecia (female or male pattern baldness).

If you are set on a hair transplant, start doing research into the different kinds of transplants and surgeons. If you want to see the direct results of a hair transplant, check out our patients gallery.

Joel McHale Hair Transplant: Final Thoughts

Joel McHale admitted to getting a total of three hair transplants during his career. The outcome is incredibly impressive – today, he has more hair than he did in his early 20s!

If you want to follow in his footsteps, download our hair track app. Doing so will put you in touch with the top surgeons in hair transplantation, and you can even book consultations there. We look forward to hearing from you!

Sources:

1. https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/community-star-joel-mchale-needed-3-hair-transplant-surgeries-to-feel-like-himself-id-be-totally-bald.html/