Larry Arthurs began studying medicine with a head full of hair and dreams.
But things changed following his twentieth birthday after a surgery placement at the Royal Free Hospital where he noticed the strands of his fringe wither and fall due to stress.
“I was hoping that lowering my stress would bring my hair back after a few months”, Arthurs told The Cheese Grater in an exclusive interview, “it only got worse as I moved from surgery to intensive care immediately followed by criminal psychiatry".
Larry is now 21 years old. Every day, he wakes up, gets out of bed, and spends at least 30 minutes staring into the mirror. He has five hairs left on his fringe and an emerging bald spot on the back of his head has started to appear, which students have been seen using as a mirror to check their own hair.
This is the life of one balding student in UCL: one of many. Everyone has their own journey with hair loss, as reflected by the different students and communities at UCL that The Cheese Grater has reached out to.
UCL has worked hard to provide student support by now offering scholarships to send students to Turkey following satisfactory exam results.
Jason Willis, a third year fine art student, is one of the thousands of students applying for the two available scholarship positions. In my latest meeting with him, he has only one remaining strand of hair on his head, which he has named Nemo.
“Ironic isn’t it”, said Jason, “all the extra hours I’ve spent revising have caused me to lose more hair. Statistically, it isn’t likely for me to get this scholarship anyway. But I have to believe in myself, otherwise why even dream that things might be better. I want to be able to tell my children that I fought for my dreams.”
Somewhere in one of UCL’s halls of residence, a flat party is underway. Music blares out of Bluetooth speakers, the drinks endlessly flow, fairy lights dazzle, love blossoms and hearts break under one roof.
In the opposite flat of all the spectacle, a group of students illegally manufacture finasteride and minoxidil, hair loss prevention drugs, in their kitchen. They sell and distribute it to students at these parties. These students, who have requested anonymity, have reported their drugs to have a 99.9% purity.
A balding student buys from these manufacturers and applies minoxidil powder on his head. His pupils dilate, his heart rate doubles, he’s reached Nirvana. “TIGHT, TIGHT, TIGHT!” He shouts out to the room. In six months, he hopes to see noticeable results.
Vin Stewart has been the subject of much gossip in UCL. Where most balding students fight tooth and nail for each strand of hair on their head, this Law student has been employing a simple technique he describes as “not caring.”
“Go with the flow”, Vin proffers to readers in our exclusive interview with him. He walks out of the interview saying just these few words.
He is off to a simulated court proceeding as part of his degree, playing the role of the judge. Someone offers Vin the ceremonial powdered wig often worn on such occasions. He rejects it and takes his seat. The gavel strikes. All rise…
The sun shines on his bald, bald head.
This article appeared in CG98.