William Shatner seen leaving hair transplant clinic in LA
He marked his 91st birthday earlier this year, but William Shatner is proving that you’re never too old to invest in your looks.
The Star Trek legend appeared to be treating himself to a minor makeover this week at his go-to hair transplant clinic in the San Fernando Valley.
Exclusive DailyMail.com photos show the Canadian actor visiting Denise Johnson Originals, a well-reviewed hair replacement center in Encino, California, on Monday afternoon.
Online, the clinic boasts how it ‘specializes in making custom hairpieces, hairpiece repair, free consultation for hairpieces and much more.’
William Shatner, 91, was seen visiting Denise Johnson Originals, a well-reviewed hair replacement center in Encino, California, Monday
The Star Trek legend, whose apparent hair loss has been a big talking point among fans for years, was previously spotted at the clinic last March
Speculation over Shatner’s mane – or lack thereof – has sparked rumors over the years, including claims he previously wore a $25,000 hairpiece
Shatner, who is reported to have begun losing his hair early in his career, was seen sporting visible gaps in his hair in late 2020, about six months months before he was first photographed visiting the clinic
The actor’s hair appeared thin and sparse, with his scalp visible, during a 2008 outing in LA
The permanent procedure, which can cost between $4,000 and $15,000, involves taking grafts of hair follicles from where the hair is at its fullest and thickest – typically the back of the head – and placing them in the thinning areas of the scalp.
The transplanted hair then stimulates growth in the balding areas, eventually falling out before new hair grows in its place.
The company appears to be Shatner’s hair clinic of choice as the visit marks the second time he has been seen at this particular facility following a sighting in late March 2021.
The TV star, who found global stardom as Captain Kirk in the classic Sci-fi series and last year became the oldest person to go to space, is reported to have begun losing his hair early in his career.
The nonagenarian, who has had been married four times and split with most recent spouse Elizabeth in 2020, was casually dressed for the outing in a purple dress shirt, black jeans and sneakers
Online, Denise Johnson Originals boasts ‘custom hairpieces, hairpiece repair, free consultation for hairpieces and much more’
Speculation over his mane has been a big talking point among fans for years, with published reports claiming he previously paid around $25,000 for a hairpiece and in 2008 the actor denied wearing a toupee.
What is a hair transplant?
A hair transplant is a procedure that involves removing small pieces of scalp containing hair follicles from a ‘donor site’ and moving it to the thinning area of the head.
The procedure, which can cost between $4,000 and $15,000, uses grafts from where the hair is at its fullest and thickest – typically the back of the head.
The transplanted hair then stimulates growth in the balding areas, eventually falling out for new hair to grow in its place. The results are meant to be permanent.
Shatner’s hair even became an online celebrity in its own right over the years, with several web pages and blogs, such as Shatner’s Toupee, being devoted to chatter about his tresses – or lack thereof.
In his 2009 autobiography, Shatner even poked fun at the buzz surrounding his hair writing: ‘[W]hile in my lifetime I’ve seen science make extraordinary inroads into solving the most complex questions of life, after all this time I admit that I am thrilled that there are some things that forever will remain a mystery. For example, do I wear a toupee?’
During Monday’s outing, father-of-three William, who has had been married four times and split with most recent spouse Elizabeth in 2020, was casually dressed in a purple dress shirt, black jeans and sneakers.
He recently attributed his healthy physique and youthful appearance to his love of horse riding and dog walking.
‘I certainly don’t spring out of bed like when I was younger,’ he told an interviewer.
He added: ‘But what does get me out of bed are my two Dobermans and my horses. I’ll feed the dogs around 7am and then pile them into my car for the half-hour ride to the stables.
‘The hotter it gets here in California, the earlier I go. I take a bottle of water with me because hydration is so important as you get older.
‘On the way, I’ll go to a drive-in café and order a large iced green tea and a twice-toasted grilled cheese sandwich. At the arena I’ll let the dogs have a run about while I prepare my horse.’
Star Trek was canceled in 1969, but a dedicated following of Trekkies kept the series alive in popular culture until the first motion picture in 1979.
In the hit sci-fi series, Captain Kirk’s hair texture seemed to change throughout the years. Pictured: Shatner in 1968 and 1989
The Canadian actor became the oldest person to travel to space last October at the age of 90
The series inspired several generations of fans, and had an undeniable impact on Shatner’s life and career.
In October, Shatner became the oldest person to enter space when he flew into the atmosphere in one of Amazon mogul Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin spacecraft.
The Amazon founder credited Star Trek with igniting his interest in space travel.
Shatner, whose decades-long career includes The Defenders, T.J. Hooker and Boston Legal along with the original Star Trek series and films, initially wanted to be part of Bezos’s launch last July, its first with passengers, but ended up going months later.
