Lex Luthor's inability to grow his hair back, in a prominent storyline, is primarily due to the severe deterioration of his clone body, which was affected by a specific disease.
The Physical Toll of a Clone Body
In a significant narrative arc, the version of Lex Luthor who had seemingly returned from the dead was actually a younger, seemingly reformed man known as Lex Luthor II. This persona was eventually revealed to be a clone of the original Lex Luthor. As part of this clone's inherent flaws, its body began to deteriorate rapidly.
This deterioration manifested in several critical ways:
- Accelerated Aging: The clone body aged at an unnatural and accelerated rate, quickly moving beyond its chronological age.
- Hair Loss: A prominent symptom of this degenerative process was irreversible hair loss. This was not a choice but a consequence of the clone's failing biology.
- Disease Affecting All Clones: The specific condition affecting this clone was described as a disease impacting all clones, indicating a systemic flaw in their creation or existence that led to their eventual breakdown.
Exposure and Revelation
The physical decline of the clone body, including the prominent baldness, served as a stark visual indicator of its failing health and, by extension, the true identity of the man behind the facade. It was this evidence, among other clues, that allowed Lois Lane to uncover the truth about Luthor's clone harvesting and false identity. With assistance from Superman, Lois Lane ultimately exposed Luthor, leading to the public revelation of his fraudulent return.
Ultimately, Lex Luthor could not grow his hair back because his baldness was a direct, inescapable symptom of his cloned body's rapid and fatal decay, a condition beyond his vast intellect or resources to control.
