Pavel Durov Wears a Wig? The Main Mystery of Telegram

Comparing his 2006 photo with fresh Instagram snapshots, it's hard to believe they are of the same person. At 22, Pavel Durov was a slender young man with receding hairline, sticking ears, and glasses. At over 40 — a fit billionaire with sharp cheekbones, an android-like appearance, and an incredibly lush head of dark hair for his age. The internet is abuzz: Durov himself attributes it to a strict diet, exercise, and a vegetarian lifestyle, but observers are skeptical. 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 a high-quality transplant doesn't give such an incredible density as Durov demonstrates. Often, there aren't enough donor follicles to cover the entire head in baldness. Therefore, commenters on Reddit and Telegram channels, comparing the photos, concluded that it's either a wig or a hair replacement system. Opponents of this version counter that ultra-modern transplant technologies allow for incredibly high density.

Version Two: Hair Transplant

Many plastic surgeons believe that Durov did indeed undergo a transplant. Arguments: an unnaturally clear hairline visible in some videos, as well as a change in hairstyle — Durov started combing his hair forward, which is characteristic of 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 surgeries. The founder of Telegram himself does not comment on these rumors.

Version Three: Hair Replacement System

This is the newest and most well-supported version, announced by Ksenia Sobchak, citing informed sources. According to her data, Durov did not undergo a transplant but hides 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 once a month. This pleasure costs about 100,000 rubles, and, according to legend, many Hollywood stars use this method. In this case, the explanation for the sudden appearance of the luxurious mane becomes 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 his transformation, summarize: the changes affect not only the hair but also the face and ears. Durov continues to post photos of his bare chest in freezing water and merely 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 in the world.

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