Louis Theroux says he is preparing to 'fully shave his head' due to alopecia

Louis Theroux has given fans an update on his alopecia and revealed he's preparing for a 'full head shave'.

The long-adored documentarian, whose latest podcast series featured an interview with cancelled Hollywood heavyweight Armie Hammer, is now so far along in his alopecia journey (which began in 2023 with scattered facial hair growth) that he's getting ready for the change.

On Monday (31 March), Theroux announced the news to his followers on Instagram in typically unselfconscious fashion.

Alongside a gallery of selfies, which displayed different angles of his hair, the 54-year-old wrote: "Latest from Alopecia-land. I've cut the hair short because I realised the longer it was the worse it looked. But it's patchy AF and I'm basically preparing the way for a full head shave some time in the next 12 months.

"Big glasses a la [Stanley] Tucci, big muscles a la Dwayne Johnson, plus a year round tan. That's the formula. I've included a last photo from 1994 that I stumbled on yesterday as a reminder that the hair was always a problem, which I will have to worry about less and less as it disappears.

"It's like when your house burns down. 'At least I don't have to hoover!'"

Louis Theroux has suggested he'll be shaving his head in the next 12 months (Instagram/@officiallouistheroux)

Upon seeing this update, one of Theroux's fans suggested he should produce a documentary on 'the wild world of hair transplants', while many others wished him well.

"My alopecia took away a lot of my facial hair - halved my eyebrows, and decimated my beard so much that all I'm left with is a straggly spattering of what, when grown, looks like a poor attempt at a handlebar moustache!" read one message.

"Thanks for being loud and proud about what you're going through. It helps!"

The TV star has been candid about his alopecia over the years (Instagram/@officiallouistheroux)

Support group Alopecia UK also weighed in, sharing: "Great to see some lovely supportive comments from some fab individuals in the alopecia community. Whatever you decide to do @officiallouistheroux, you will still be the same brilliant journalist, documentarian, broadcaster and author. You got this, but get in touch if you need anything."

Alopecia is the medical term for hair loss, and while it covers several types, is often used in relation to 'alopecia areata' - thought to be an autoimmune condition that causes hair to fall out.

Towards the end of 2023, the TV star shared a clip of himself shaving off his own eyebrows which saw him asking social media users for their opinions on his new look.

Bear Grylls, who himself was the subject of a Theroux doc two years ago, commented: "We are much more than just our silly eyebrows... you're a true champ."