It started with a few strands on the pillow and finding more hair than usual in the drain after showering.

At 23, James Earl's hair began thinning much earlier than most of his peers.

It progressed to a point that the top of his hair was visibly thin, while the sides and back were intact.

'It was all‑encompassing,' says James, now 41, from the Lake District. 'I'd choose the darkest seat in a restaurant so the light didn't highlight my baldness. In every photo, all I saw was my hair.'

Around 6.5million men in the UK experience hair loss, with male pattern baldness accounting for 95 per cent of cases.

Male pattern baldness is linked to genetics, meaning it runs in the family. In James's case, both his grandfathers went bald young.

For many, it's a minor inconvenience and seen as a normal part of ageing. But for others, like James, hair loss at such a young age can be devastating.

'I avoided going swimming or going outside when it was windy because I was so self-conscious of people seeing my hairline,' says James.

'While I was losing my hair, my confidence and self‑esteem were very low and I put on quite a bit of weight. At my heaviest, I was around 18.5st.

'It was just one of those situations where I was turning to food to make me feel better about my hair loss – but my weight made me feel even more insecure.'

When father-of-two James Earl was losing his hair, his confidence and self‑esteem were low and he began comfort eating. At his heaviest, he weighed more than 18.5st

James is pictured before and after getting a hair system fitted

James tried minoxidil serum – an over-the-counter drug that slows down hair loss in around half of cases – which maintained what hair he had but didn't help him regrow any.

He says he was hesitant to try other more intensive approaches, such as finasteride, a daily tablet that is often effective at triggering hair growth but has been linked to unpleasant side effects.

'I didn't really want to go down the route of surgery either,' says James.

'It seemed invasive and painful – and I wasn't prepared to take medication for the rest of my life that might affect me in other ways, things like depression, anxiety and erectile dysfunction.'

Then, while searching social media, he came across a solution that is growing in popularity as a cheaper, non-surgical alternative to hair transplants: a custom-made hairpiece.

Typically costing between £150 and £800, so-called 'hair systems' are bonded to the scalp and styled to blend with existing hair.

Salons across the UK now offer the treatment, which can deliver dramatic, natural-looking results – if they're done right.

Each system is made from individually woven strands of human hair matched to the client's natural colour and texture, attached to a thin base and secured to the scalp with adhesive.

Experts say an added benefit of a hair system is that wearers can safely swim and shower with one attached – as the glue is water-proof.

After seeing results online, James paid for a salon to fit him with a £450 system, which he hoped would restore his confidence.

But the results were not perfect straight away.

James tried minoxidil serum – an over-the-counter drug that slows down hair loss in around half of cases – which maintained what hair he had but didn't regrow any

James experimented with different types of hair systems - with varying results. 'The first hair system I got was way too thick and not the right colour,' he says

'I rushed into my first hair system and came away with what can only be described as a dead guinea pig on my head,' he admits.

'The colour was wrong, the density was far too thick and it didn't blend into my natural hair at all. My family all agreed it wasn't right.'

Thankfully, his family hairdresser was able to thin it out, restyle it and blend it into his natural hair so it looked much better.

Over the following years, he tried different styles of systems that better matched his natural hair and found one that is properly colour-matched, thinned and blended.

Unlike toupees, which can be removed by the wearer, hair systems are attached with a special glue and require removal, cleaning and reattaching every few weeks.

However, James says the trade‑off is worth it for the boost to his confidence.

He says his friends and family 'don't even consider' he's wearing a system any more – it simply feels like his natural hair.

'Having hair again gave me a new boost,' he says.

'It also gave me the push to lose weight through eating a healthy diet and increasing the amount of exercise I was doing. Now I'm a healthy 14 stone.'

Dr Aleksandar Godic, a dermatologist specialising in hair loss, says: 'Hair is strongly associated with appearance, youth and identity, so losing it, particularly at a young age, can make some men feel older or less attractive.

'It may lead to embarrassment, increased self-consciousness in social or professional situations, or anxiety about how other people perceive them.

Though hair systems require regular maintenance and refittings, James says the trade‑off is worth it for the boost to his confidence

James earlier this year... he says: 'I finally feel like myself again.'

'For some men, the psychological impact can be substantial and should not be dismissed simply because male pattern baldness is medically harmless.

'When discussing treatment, we therefore need to consider how much the hair loss bothers the individual, rather than simply how advanced it appears clinically.'

Dr Godic adds: 'Medications such as finasteride, dutasteride and minoxidil can be effective but they generally need to be used long-term to maintain their benefits.

'Some people do not want to take medication indefinitely, may experience side effects or simply prefer a non-medical solution.

'Results also vary, and treatment is generally better at preserving and improving existing hair than recreating hair in areas that have become completely bald.'

Each year, thousands opt for transplants, which can cost upwards of £4,000. However, these are not always successful and may not be suitable for those with more advanced hair loss.

Dr Godic says: 'Hair transplantation can produce excellent results in appropriately selected patients but it is surgical, relatively expensive and dependent on having an adequate donor area.

'It also cannot create an unlimited amount of new hair, and further procedures or ongoing medical treatment may be required as natural hair loss progresses.'

'Modern systems can look extremely natural and provide an immediate cosmetic result without medication or surgery,' he adds.

'They can also achieve a degree of density that may not be possible with transplantation in somebody with extensive hair loss.'

When it comes to picking the right hair system, Dr Godic says that the most important consideration is that it should look natural for that particular person, rather than simply having as much hair as possible.

'A common mistake is choosing a system that is too dense, too dark or has an unnaturally low or perfectly straight hairline,' he says.

'I would recommend seeing an experienced, reputable hair system specialist and looking at their actual results, particularly close-up photographs and examples of hairlines.

'The objective should not be to recreate the hair somebody had at 18, but to create a density, hairline and style that match the person's age and facial features.'

Based on his own experience, James set up Cheshire Hair Clinic four years ago, where his clients range from a ten‑year‑old boy with medical hair loss to men and women as old as 85.

At his clinic, hair systems start at around £600 and typically last four to six months.

He says he speaks to men every day who feel they 'can't be themselves' because of hair loss – a sign, he believes, that more men are finally taking their mental health seriously.

'There's lots of people on social media that say things like, "Why don't you just brave the shave and go bald?" And my argument is always, well, why should you?

'You wouldn't have that conversation to a woman who had extensions put in - and it's the same thing. It's just about giving people a choice and an option.'

As for the impact on his confidence, James puts it simply: 'I finally feel like myself again.

'I can't tell you how much having hair changes your outlook on life. I feel much better about myself when I look in the mirror or at photos.

'It is a transformational experience.'