Pop star Robbie Williams has revealed he is considering getting a toupee after experiencing insecurities over his thinning hair during a podcast interview on Thursday.
Speaking on The Steve Bracknall podcast, the 52-year-old hitmaker explained that he felt pressure regarding his physical appearance due to his career in the entertainment industry.
Williams told host Steve Bracknall: "I'm losing my hair - this is all powder and scaffolding now. Can you see the powder?"
Hair powder is a cosmetic styling product used to add volume, texture, and matte hold to hair, frequently applied when hair is thinning.
Bracknall responded: "Well I can't see your scalp so it's working... What worries you about your hair? We can be honest..."
Williams candidly replied: "I'm a popstar, that's what I do for a living and you're supposed to have some sort of looks and some sort of hair..."
When Bracknall noted, "You sound very worried about it," Williams confirmed his anxieties about his appearance.
Williams said: "I am because I've got powder in, that's why it looks alright, but it's on its way out. And I'm thinking about getting one of those hair systems. Have you seen them?"
A hair system, also known as a toupee, is a partial hairpiece designed to cover thinning hair or bald patches on the scalp.
Autism Diagnosis and Creative Coping
The discussion about his hair comes after Williams revealed earlier this month that he has been diagnosed with "a little bit of autism" while continuing to battle intrusive thoughts.
The singer had previously disclosed an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis, but revealed he also has the neurodevelopmental spectrum condition.
Speaking during a Q&A at the Autumn/Winter launch of his clothing brand Hopeium at retailer Flannels, Williams said he uses the autism diagnosis as a "get-out-of-jail-free card."
He explained that he has learned to "train his brain to be creative" in an effort to block out thoughts that could cause him to "panic or be scared."
Williams said: "I have ADHD and I just found out I have a bit of autism as well, which I actually f****** love because it explains so much."
He added: "It is my get-out-of-jail-free card now, and all the weird s*** that I do I just say, 'Sorry, I'm autistic'."
Discussing how his conditions affect his daily focus, Williams noted: "With the ADHD you can completely and utterly concentrate on something 1000 per cent, but with absolutely everything else, you just cannot do it. Ask my kids."
He described his creative process, saying: "What I'm completely and utterly obsessed with is creating images and making funny things, if I'm creating images and funny things, I'm not thinking about me, because my brain is incredibly creative, and it can be creative about everything in the world that you panic or scared about."
Williams shared an example of his intrusive thoughts while traveling: "For example, this is how crazy I am, recently, I was sitting on a plane, and I thought 'what if I can have telekinesis and my intrusive thoughts tell the plane to crash itself'."
He continued: "So that's the kind of level of insanity that I'm dealing with, it's best to train my brain to do something better than worrying about having supernatural powers and crashing a plane."
Autism was historically defined as a serious developmental disorder marked by intellectual disability and difficulties learning or understanding language. Medical experts have broadened the definition in recent years to cover symptoms including repetitive words or behaviors, difficulty adjusting to routine changes, and challenges in social situations.
Living with Tourette Syndrome and Stage Anxiety
In October, Williams admitted he has also been secretly living with Tourette syndrome during an appearance on Paul Whitehouse and Dr Mine Conkbayir's podcast, I'm ADHD! No You're Not.
Reflecting on his symptoms, Williams said: "I've just realised that I have Tourettes, but they don't come out. They are intrusive thoughts that happen, I was just walking down the road the other day, and I realised that these intrusive thoughts are inside Tourettes. It just doesn't come out."
The singer admitted he struggles to process public affection while performing live: "Not only that, you would think that a stadium full of people professing their love to you would work as (a distraction), but whatever it is inside me cannot hear it. I cannot take it in."
Despite performing in front of sold-out stadium crowds for decades as a solo artist and previously with boyband Take That, the Angels hitmaker admitted he remains terrified of touring.
Tourette syndrome is an inherited neurological condition characterized by involuntary physical movements and vocal sounds known as tics.
ADHD Diagnoses and Substance Abuse History
Williams, a record 18-time Brit Award winner, revealed he has been diagnosed with ADHD three separate times, explaining that he "forgot" each time he was informed of the condition.
Recalling his initial discovery, Williams said: "So the first one was around 2006, where I saw these things, ADHD, on the internet. I'm like, 'all of those things are me.' Wow."
He explained his subsequent pursuit of medication: "And then I started to hear that you could get some medicine that behaved a bit like speed, right? Adderall."
Williams continued: "So, I go see the guy and I'm like, 'I already know I'm all of these things. I already know that.' So, I'll go and say this, then you give me the thing. And he gave me the thing."
He described his initial reaction: "There was a relief that I'd got it officially diagnosed, but then also there was more a relief that I was getting 200 of these tablets and then I thought the tablets might fix me because you're always looking for the cure."
Williams detailed how he abused the prescription: "You're always looking for the cure for the ailment of the disease inside your head. So I quickly went from taking the pills to crushing them and snorting them."
Having battled multiple substance addictions since reaching fame in the early 1990s, Williams has completed several stints in rehabilitation facilities for alcohol and drug abuse.
ADHD is a complex neurobiological condition characterized by inattentiveness, such as short attention spans, distractibility, forgetfulness, and misplacing items, as well as impulsivity and difficulty sitting still.
