Ben Stokes Reveals The Secret Battle Behind His Cricket Career
Former England cricket captain Ben Stokes reveals how a hair transplant restored more than his hair, it rebuilt his confidence and helped break the silence surrounding male hair loss.
Known for his fearless performances on the pitch, Ben Stokes has revealed the private battle he faced away from cricket, explaining why he wants more men to talk openly about hair loss.
The former England cricket captain, who recently retired from international cricket, is used to dealing with pressure.
From leading England’s Test team through some of the most memorable moments in modern cricket to producing match-winning performances on the biggest stages, he has built a reputation as a player who thrives in the spotlight.
But away from the pitch, Ben was facing a different kind of challenge; one shared by millions of men but often kept private: hair loss.
Now, seven years after undergoing a hair transplant at the award-winning Wimpole Clinic in 2018, Ben has further revealed the impact hair loss had on his confidence and mental wellbeing, and why he is proud to be part of a movement helping to change attitudes towards hair restoration.
For Ben, speaking publicly about his experience is not about vanity. It is about confidence, self-esteem and encouraging men to have more honest conversations about something that can have a profound emotional impact.
The moment Ben realised his hair was changing
Male pattern hair loss is the most common form of hair loss in men, affecting millions worldwide. While the physical changes can happen gradually, the psychological impact can be significant.
For Ben, being a professional cricketer meant his changing hairline was constantly visible. Matches were filmed from multiple angles, photographs appeared across the media and social media meant he was regularly seeing images of himself.
It was through watching himself play that he began to notice his hair was thinning.
“It’s something that I was very aware of and very worried about from a young age. Now, looking back, it was the first thing I would see when I watched TV footage of myself on the cricket field bowling.
“I guess that’s purely because of the angle the cameras are on you from a fielding point of view. When you’re bowling, it’s above you, on top of your head. The more I played on TV, the more I noticed I was going a bit thin.”
For many men, hair loss is not something that happens overnight. Instead, it is a gradual process where small changes become increasingly noticeable.
For Ben, those changes started affecting the way he viewed himself.
Choosing to act early
Unlike some men who wait until hair loss becomes more advanced, Ben decided to address the issue while he still had a significant amount of existing hair.
At the time of his procedure in 2018, Ben was in his twenties and wanted to take a preventative approach to protecting his hairline.
“When I had my hair done in 2018, I was 27 or 26 years old. Losing your hair at that young of an age is not something you want to be screaming and shouting about.
Before his transplant, Ben found himself making small adjustments to hide the areas where his hair was thinning.
“If I ever had a cap on, the first thing I would do when I took it off is ruffle my hair to cover up the bald spot. You subconsciously start doing these things.
“Even if I was putting a suit on, I’d be looking at the back of my head and thinking, “What does it look like?
“Just those tiny things that start creeping in that you worry about. But since having it done, I don’t have to do that any more. It’s something you don’t have to worry about any more.”
The Wimpole Clinic approach: planning for the future
In 2018, Ben underwent an FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) hair transplant with 1,800 grafts transplanted from the donor area at the back of his scalp to areas including his temples and crown.
The procedure was carried out by the Wimpole Clinic surgical team led by Dr Mir Malkani.
The focus was not simply restoring lost hair, but creating a long-term plan designed around Ben’s individual hair loss pattern.
Dr Malkani explains that early intervention can be important when managing male pattern hair loss.
“Seeking treatment early on in your hair loss journey is really important. In some cases, you may not even need surgery if it’s possible to manage your hair loss with medication. This can save you money and keep your hair intact without invasive measures.
“But even if a surgical procedure is recommended, early treatment means you can create a hair loss management plan that maintains your hairline now and for many years to come.”
For Ben, one of the reasons he chose Wimpole Clinic was the detailed consultation process and understanding the future implications of treatment.
“At the first Wimpole Clinic consultation I had many years ago, we were talking about the future. They explain everything so it actually makes sense to you. I had no idea about what hair does.
“It would have been easier to just come in and go. “Yeah, let’s get this done, out you go.” But there was actually a conversation about the future. You know, this is why we’re doing this, and we’re going to do it this way because of X.”
The reality of the transplant journey
Although Ben was comfortable with the procedure itself, he admits the recovery period required patience.
“I just walked in, sat down, watched some TV and then seven hours later I was in a car on the way to the hotel.
“The procedure itself, I wasn’t worried about. It was more afterwards. I remember having it done, and for two or three days afterwards thinking, “This isn’t going to work.”
“I definitely had buyer’s remorse for two or three days. But I think that’s just a natural reaction to having something like that done.”
As with all hair transplant procedures, the recovery process is gradual, and the final results take time.
Ben followed the aftercare advice carefully to protect the newly transplanted follicles.
“I was told the aftercare was very, very important. So I didn’t properly wash my hair for two weeks; I just sprayed it with water in the shower.
“I avoided knocking it. I slept with one of those neck pillows you get on the plane to make sure. I was very lucky; I didn’t scab that badly. But as soon as I felt I could put a hat on, I was going out.
"It was just amazing how much confidence I got after having my procedure and seeing the results. I wasn’t worried about it any more.”
Breaking the stigma around men’s hair transplants
One of the biggest changes Ben has seen since having his transplant is how openly men now discuss hair loss and hair restoration.
Within professional sport especially, once private conversations have become increasingly normal.
“I started noticing it, the team started noticing it. Not in a bad way; loads of our team have thinning hair, so you just have a joke with everyone, because it’s just one of those things.
“But 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.”
Ben says his teammates were also impressed by how natural his result looked.
“I got a lot of comments from the lads on the team before and after I had my hair transplant done. They’ve said in their own words that it is definitely the best one they’ve seen.”
Why Ben wants men to talk openly about hair loss
For many men, hair loss can affect confidence, but embarrassment can prevent them from seeking advice.
Ben believes that more public figures speaking honestly about their experiences has helped change perceptions.
“But now I think the way in which hair procedures are perceived is completely different. Even going back to when I had mine done, it used to be a big secret. Men didn’t want other people to know that they’d had a hair transplant.
“But I think the more it’s publicly out there that people are getting them done, it’s making it a lot easier for men in particular to feel comfortable having it done.”
Ben’s advice to men considering a hair transplant
Ben believes anyone considering treatment should take time to understand the process, seek expert advice and have realistic expectations.
“Don’t rush into it. Listen to everything that your clinic says. You need to have it in your mind that it’s a prolonged process.
“It is more complicated than just going in, getting it done, and getting a nice head of hair again. So take on all the advice you can from the professionals and don’t rush into it.
“But don’t underestimate it — when you have this done, it’s insane. If someone who knew you before says it looks good, you’re buzzing.”
Seven years after his procedure, Ben Stokes continues to be supported by Wimpole Clinic and remains passionate about helping to normalise conversations around male hair loss.
For him, the biggest transformation has not simply been physical.
It is the confidence that comes from no longer worrying about his hair and the freedom to focus on what matters most.