That’s a big thing for tech jobs, especially with the relatively low security. If you’re not working you’re not learning, and if you’re not learning you’re behind the curve and seen as “less valuable”.
Especially with how specific job postings are, if you don’t have the right combination of experience, you’re worthless. So if you’re bored maintaining some ancient irrelevant stack, you’re worse off.
I really didn’t want to go the medicine route years back. Like OP Im a guy who always kept it long. I decided to give the basic regimen a try and went with a keeps like service because dermatologists are by far the worst doctors I’ve had to work with.
And although it thinned, the thinning totally stalled, to a point where it’s a little noticable but on a good day isn’t at all.
I haven’t cut my hair in years and despite it being annoying to take care of sometimes, I get to look in the mirror and see the version of myself that I like to see which makes the little bit of medication worth it imo.
I always hated the “just shave it and own it, bro” attitude because damn my hair is part of my identity, I love having it. I’ll put some effort into keeping it.