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Google

Why you should be using two-step verification for all your accounts

One of the best ways to keep your accounts safe only requires a phone that can receive SMS messages.

YOU CAN NEVER keep your accounts too safe. Accounts do get compromised, security breaches occur and most of the time, we rely on simple passwords.

Yet there is one useful way to improve your account security that you mightn’t be aware of. The only thing you need is your phone.

What is two-step verification?

Passwords on their own aren’t particularly secure. While you’re recommended to come up with as strong a password as possible,

Two-step verification (or two-step authentication depending on how you want to phrase it) adds an extra layer of security to your account, by making use of your phone on top of your existing email/username and password requirement.

Its main purpose is to prevent anyone from remotely accessing (or hacking) your account by making them require your phone as well, a difficult task considering that most hacks or security breaches happen remotely.

Great, but how does it work?

In this case, we will use Google as an example with all services supporting the feature follow the same basic template.

To start off, you will need to go into security, which you can find when you click on account under your profile, and you will see the option for two-step verification.

From there, it’s a matter of entering in your number, choosing whether to receive an SMS message or voice call with your code, and entering in the code you receive.

Google 2-step verification (Pic 2) TheJournal.ie TheJournal.ie

Once you’ve done that, you will be asked if this is your own personal computer – it’s strongly recommended you use your home computer instead of work – and then to officially confirm your decision.

Google 2-step verification Gif TheJournal.ie TheJournal.ie

And that’s it. You get a new code sent to you every time you require one to keep your accounts safe.

Who supports it?

Of the most popular services out there, AppleFacebookDropbox, GoogleTwitterEvernotePayPalSteamMicrosoftLinkedInWordpress, Amazon, and Tumblr are just a few that offer two-step verification (Details on how to activate each one is included in each link).

This isn’t an extensive list by any means, but it shows that many of the services you already use it. They may offer different variations of the same thing, either by different names, different length codes or sometimes text, but ultimately, it’s something you should have activated.

Read: Google must delete your data if you ask, orders judge in landmark case >

Read: The Data Protection Commissioner is very worried about the new postcode system. Here’s why… >

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12 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jay Nash
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    May 28th 2013, 8:51 PM

    I first realised that I was going bald when it started taking longer and longer to wash my face…

    337
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    Mute Steve Hardy
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    May 28th 2013, 8:52 PM

    Snap

    55
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    Mute Ignoramus Shamus
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    May 28th 2013, 10:25 PM

    That made me laugh out loud. Thank you. :-)

    43
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    Mute John O'Neill
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    May 28th 2013, 11:30 PM

    Some would willingly go bald to lose a wife…

    46
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    Mute Deirdre Mac Mahon
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    May 29th 2013, 12:22 PM

    Brilliant

    2
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    Mute Good News Caravan
    Favourite Good News Caravan
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    May 28th 2013, 8:57 PM

    A secret passed down from my father and his father to him, is to grow out the side of your hair, and simply swoop the hair across the bald scalp.

    Nobody notices a thing and the ladies seem to go wild for it.

    295
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    Mute Niall Mullins
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    May 28th 2013, 11:56 PM

    And then you end up in politics. Sorted!

    35
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    Mute Paul Martin
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    May 28th 2013, 9:45 PM

    I’m more worried about finding my wife going bald

    116
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    Mute Steve Hardy
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    May 28th 2013, 8:51 PM

    I’ve been bald since my twenties, doesn’t bother me in the slightest, just takes me longer and longer to wash my face each day

    76
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    Mute Damien Kelly
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    May 28th 2013, 9:12 PM

    “Sponsored by Regaine” – stopped reading.

    73
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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    May 29th 2013, 12:37 AM

    Re-gain your confidence

    8
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    Mute Clifford Brennan
    Favourite Clifford Brennan
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    May 28th 2013, 10:28 PM

    My hair started leaving the building in my mid 20s. Initially it was dreadful. I was all about tactical hair manoeuvres. Eventually I decided to zero blade the lot. Best decision I made.

    68
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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    May 28th 2013, 10:37 PM

    Good call man, that’s exactly what I’d do if I became follically challenged

    33
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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    May 29th 2013, 2:34 AM

    see the ad where the guy drives a sports car into what looks like a hotel lobby, and he’s delighted with his wind-swept hair afterwards.. utter madness

    6
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    Mute anthony byrne
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    May 28th 2013, 9:28 PM

    I guess im one of the 62% who dont really give a toss.

    67
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    Mute Martin Galvin
    Favourite Martin Galvin
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    May 28th 2013, 10:36 PM

    Hair,hair! …. I mean here,here!

    26
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    Mute huzar
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    May 29th 2013, 12:18 AM

    Or do you mean ‘hear hear’?

    33
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    Mute Hakuin Murphy
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    May 28th 2013, 10:23 PM

    People fear uncertainty.
    Men worry more about going bald because they fear it’s a real possibility they’ll end up having less sex.
    Whereas finding a wife means less sex is pretty much guaranteed..

    66
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    Mute Gillian Weir Scully
    Favourite Gillian Weir Scully
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    May 28th 2013, 9:37 PM

    And yet I think bald men very sexy.

    62
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    Mute anthony byrne
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    May 28th 2013, 9:45 PM

    I read the article again. I don’t accept many of its findings … Such as, lack of confidence … Thats bulshit too. The most severe side effect that I’ve experienced is … You get cold very quickly when outside without a hat in winter, and severe sunburn if you go out without a hat in summer.
    Those are the only side effects ive ever had

    59
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    Mute Martin Morad
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    May 28th 2013, 8:50 PM

    A life with out a Wife is like a Kitchen Without a Knife!

    55
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    Mute John Appleby
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    May 28th 2013, 9:14 PM

    I am equally unworried about both but the tufts that are now starting to invade my nostrils and ear holes are a pain in the arse

    53
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    Mute martin hession
    Favourite martin hession
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    May 28th 2013, 9:20 PM

    And the hairs on your arse affecting your nose and ears? That’s mad :-D

    51
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    Mute Deirdre Mac Mahon
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    May 29th 2013, 12:25 PM

    # tears of laughter running down face in operating theatre

    4
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    Mute Johnny O Connor
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    May 28th 2013, 8:47 PM

    Im bald down below to get a wife

    49
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    Mute martin hession
    Favourite martin hession
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    May 28th 2013, 9:02 PM

    Silly poll that doesn’t have an option saying “do something about it…” dont know, shave it off and leave it alone are not options I would take.

    25
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    Mute martin hession
    Favourite martin hession
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    May 28th 2013, 9:11 PM

    You go bald because you have too much Dihydrotestosterone… this affects the hair follicles on the top of your head but not the follicles on the back and sides. There is a drug called finasteride that when taken daily lowers the amount of Dihydrotestosterone the body produces slowing down and stopping hair loss. Then just get a hair transplant for the thinning parts of your head. Check out dhi in Blackrock…

    27
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    Mute Bobbie Byrne
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    May 28th 2013, 9:20 PM

    @Martin,
    I also heard Finasteride can lower your sex drive and give you a limp d!ck so there’s the trade off.

    56
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    Mute martin hession
    Favourite martin hession
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    May 28th 2013, 9:23 PM

    Viagra for that :-D

    9
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    Mute Bobbie Byrne
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    May 28th 2013, 9:25 PM

    Viagra causes hair loss.
    It’s a vicious circle!

    63
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    Mute Nelly
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    May 28th 2013, 9:52 PM

    Martin I know a guy that got a hair transplant years ago.now he’s gone bald everywhere else but the top of his head where he got the transplant.what would you do then

    43
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    Mute martin hession
    Favourite martin hession
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    May 28th 2013, 10:23 PM

    Either do nothing shave it off or don’t know… did he stop taking his medication…

    12
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    Mute Graham Kiely
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    May 28th 2013, 11:23 PM

    Brilliant :) smartass

    7
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    Mute Master Mc Man
    Favourite Master Mc Man
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    May 28th 2013, 8:54 PM

    Old person sad bald or
    Young person cool bald?

    43
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    Mute Bobbie Byrne
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    May 28th 2013, 9:09 PM

    Middle aged, worried bald?

    41
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    Mute B Collins
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    May 28th 2013, 9:22 PM

    Some guys wear it so well that it seems like they were born to be bald. Like that presenter on TG4. Wouldn’t look as good if he had hair.

    38
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    Mute Jonathan
    Favourite Jonathan
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    May 29th 2013, 4:05 AM

    I started losing mine in my early 20′s and it was a genuinely traumatic experience. I went from looking 20 to 35 in 12 months, I got the constant piss pulled out of me and I couldn’t get within 5 feet of a girl my age in a nightclub without being looked at like an old creep. It killed my confidence and had a huge effect on my life.

    Strange that we have to grin and bear it when we get ripped to pieces for something that we can’t control, yet taking the piss out of a girl for gaining weight because she eats too much chocolate and is too lazy to go to the gym is socially unacceptable…..

    33
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    Mute Sandra Turner
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    May 28th 2013, 9:03 PM

    Why go bald? Why go bald? Why go bald? In neon

    27
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    Mute martin hession
    Favourite martin hession
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    May 28th 2013, 9:13 PM

    Across from the george lads :-D

    14
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    Mute anthony byrne
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    May 28th 2013, 9:30 PM

    Its of cultural signifficance.

    6
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    Mute Cpm
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    May 28th 2013, 10:06 PM

    :( Why go Bald? :)
    :( Why go Bald? :)
    :( Why go Bald? :)

    Good call, Sandra

    4
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    Mute Paul Lanigan
    Favourite Paul Lanigan
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    May 28th 2013, 9:25 PM

    You really need a reality check if you’re worried about going bald. Get a life, there are people starving in this world

    23
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    Mute Chuck Farrelly
    Favourite Chuck Farrelly
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    May 28th 2013, 9:44 PM

    But are they bald?

    95
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    Mute Fran Rooney
    Favourite Fran Rooney
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    May 28th 2013, 10:50 PM

    Starvin Marvin is!

    23
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    Mute David Cloherty
    Favourite David Cloherty
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    May 28th 2013, 9:04 PM

    Breaking bad

    22
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    Mute Gar.
    Favourite Gar.
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    May 28th 2013, 8:58 PM

    My uncles (on my mothers side) all have hair like sideshow bob so phew.

    19
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    Mute Patrick Roche
    Favourite Patrick Roche
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    May 28th 2013, 10:37 PM

    I’m not bald, my hair on the sides just grows 10 times faster than the top

    18
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    Mute Shirley Boshell
    Favourite Shirley Boshell
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    May 29th 2013, 12:33 AM

    That’s mad!! My husband had a full head of hair when we met but he’s been pulling it out ever since. Can’t think why!!!!!!!

    17
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    Mute Jack Bowden
    Favourite Jack Bowden
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    May 28th 2013, 9:30 PM

    Martin, is there a way to put hair on my chest? I’m 32 and I haven’t got a single hair on my chest and I’ve moobs. :-)
    I know how to get rid of my moobs – exercise n loose weight.

    16
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    Mute Sharon Kelly
    Favourite Sharon Kelly
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    May 28th 2013, 11:28 PM

    Bald men are sexy anyway!!!!

    14
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    Mute Colmmccarthy
    Favourite Colmmccarthy
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    May 29th 2013, 12:15 AM

    Why bother to do a survey if your response is “I don’t know”?

    13
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    Mute Niall Mullins
    Favourite Niall Mullins
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    May 29th 2013, 12:02 AM

    Bald since my 20s but shaved it before that anyway. Never bothered my confidence. Nice to see regaine taking such a vested interest in a survey like this though.

    12
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    Mute Thinkshpake
    Favourite Thinkshpake
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    May 29th 2013, 12:10 AM

    Shave it off… The friar tuck look is not a good one

    10
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    Mute keith irish
    Favourite keith irish
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    May 28th 2013, 9:36 PM

    Leave it as it is, cant wait till i get to sport a ‘bobby charlton’

    10
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    Mute Niall Mullins
    Favourite Niall Mullins
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    May 29th 2013, 12:04 AM

    Bald since my 20s but shaved it before that anyway. Never bothered my confidence. Nice to see regaine taking such a vested interest in a survey like this though. Detect the sarcasm…

    8
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    Mute Bobbie Byrne
    Favourite Bobbie Byrne
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    May 28th 2013, 9:04 PM

    The advice I heard over the years to keep your hair relatively strong and to ward off baldness is to wash hair in warm water, not hot water and not to use shampoo at all. However conditioner is ok to use apparently.

    7
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    Mute martin hession
    Favourite martin hession
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    May 28th 2013, 9:15 PM

    And then rub ice cream on your micky…

    133
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    Mute Damien Kelly
    Favourite Damien Kelly
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    May 28th 2013, 9:31 PM

    pmsl

    24
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    Mute Margaret Martin
    Favourite Margaret Martin
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    May 28th 2013, 10:36 PM

    Get a wig.problem solved

    6
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    Mute Mickey Mouse
    Favourite Mickey Mouse
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    May 29th 2013, 7:54 AM

    Some men are ok with it some are not! As a young guy who knows these are your only options that work. 1) Minoxdil – always buy online years supply is €50 2) nirozal shampoo – during clinical trials they found the side effects causes hair loss to slow down. It can be bought anywhere for dandruff
    3) propecia – a tablet that blocks the hormone responsible for hairloss. Most effective but kills the sex drive.
    4) hair transplant – take the hair from the back and put it up on top but very expensive. 5) and finally live with it. If you don’t care and you can pull off the Jason statham look then go for it. Don’t buy anything for hairloss in shops as its all online for 10% the price

    5
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    Mute RB
    Favourite RB
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    May 29th 2013, 10:09 AM

    What do you prefer Amy full head of hair or shaved ?

    2
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    Mute vv7k7Z3c
    Favourite vv7k7Z3c
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    May 29th 2013, 5:02 PM

    I don’t mind really… It’s whatever the guy prefers himself!

    1
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    Mute Damien James Murray
    Favourite Damien James Murray
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    May 29th 2013, 2:13 PM

    Been shaving my head since I was about 18. Started thinning up top when I was 30.
    I’m more worried about finding a partner then going bald

    1
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    Mute Spud Mulligan
    Favourite Spud Mulligan
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    May 29th 2013, 6:35 PM

    Thailand for you my friend.

    1
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