Does Pavel Durov wear a wig? The main mystery of Telegram

Comparing his 2006 photo with fresh Instagram shots, it's hard to believe they're the same person. At 22, Pavel Durov was a slender young man with receding hairline, sticking out ears, and glasses. At over 40 — a fit billionaire with sharp cheekbones, an android-like appearance, and an absolutely incredible for his age thick mane of dark hair. The internet is buzzing: Durov himself explains it all with a strict regimen, exercise, and a vegetarian diet, but observers doubt it. The mystery of his hair has grown into three main versions.

Version one: wig

The main evidence for this version is the too sharp contrast. Many surgeons and laypeople claim that even high-quality hair transplantations do not give such an incredible density as Durov demonstrates. In hair loss, donor follicles often do not suffice to cover the entire head. Therefore, commenters on Reddit and Telegram channels, comparing photos, concluded that it's a wig or a hair system. Opponents of this version counter that ultra-modern transplantation technologies allow achieving incredibly high density.

Version two: hair transplant

Many plastic surgeons believe that Durov did indeed have a transplant. Arguments: unnaturally clear hairline, noticeable on some videos, and a change in hairstyle — Durov started combing his hair forward, which is characteristic for people who need to hide the transplanted area. Supporters of this theory are sure that the entrepreneur has undergone at least one, and more likely several, hair transplant operations. The founder of Telegram himself does not comment on these rumors.

Version three: hair replacement system

This is the newest and most substantiated insider version. It was voiced by Ksenia Sobchak, citing informed sources. According to her data, Durov did not have a transplant and is hiding his head under a hair replacement system — a high-tech attachment that is glued to the head and worn for years, with the edges being reapplied monthly. This pleasure costs about 100 thousand rubles, and, according to legend, many Hollywood stars use this method. In this case, the explanation for the sudden appearance of the luxurious mane is the most logical.

Why is this important?

On one hand, Pavel Durov's hairstyle is his personal matter. On the other hand, this story shows how even the most closed person becomes the subject of intense analysis by millions of eyes. Users, posting gifs of the transformation, summarize: the changes affect not only the hair but also the face and ears. Durov continues to post photos of his bare torso in freezing water and just smiles at the rumors.

Conclusion: until the founder of Telegram gives an interview to a plastic surgeon, the mystery of his hair will remain one of the main IT puzzles.

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