- I think I’m starting to lose my hair, what should I do?
The good news is that early action is the key to fighting hair loss. While there are products that can help re-grow hair, it’s much easier to prevent baldness than it is to un-do it. So – to prevent hair loss, the two main, medically proven options are Rogaine and Propecia, which are the respective brand names for minoxidil and Finasteride. Finasteride is also available in generic formula now that Merck’s patent on Propecia has expired (as of 2006).
As with any medical product, consult your doctor first – you will need a prescription for Finasteride; Rogaine is available over the counter in a few different forms and strengths.
- There’s so much confusing information out there, what are the legitimate options for hair growth? Are there any?
There are some, yes, but as mentioned previously, it’s easier to prevent hair loss than it is to re-grow hair if you’re already bald or balding. That said - there are certainly options to look into. Both Finasteride and minoxidil have proven to at least offer some re-growth (mainly on the crown or back of the head, neither product has been medically proven to offer much help around the front or temple regions).
Other available products are marketed as inhibiting or blocking DHT (dihydrotestosterone), which is a by-product of Testosterone, and thereby counter-acting baldness and promoting hair growth. These products, such as Procerin, Avacor, Revivogen, Crinagen or Provillus, tend to consist of different combinations of herbs, vitamins and minerals; companies producing these products generally can not offer scientific proof that they stimulate hair growth. There are users that swear those products have helped, so you can certainly evaluate them -- but please proceed with caution.
Finally, surgery involving transplanting hair from one area of your head to another is an option to consider; this does not result in new hair growing, it instead moves hair from one part of your head to another. Again, please consult with your doctor before setting out with one or more of these alternatives.
- I’m already (sadly) bald as a stone, is there any hope?
There are definitely steps you can take but, it’s very difficult to reverse baldness with current products and solutions. Both Finasteride and minoxidil have been proven to offer some hair re-growth but hair tends to come in thinner (like peach fuzz or slightly thicker) and only on the top of the head.
All of that said, don’t lose hope - there is also a new treatment, known as “hair multiplication” that may be available in coming years. Researchers have discovered that stem cells exist in hair follicles and that hair multiplication (or hair cloning) might be possible within a few years – the process would involve taking existing stem cells from current follicles, growing/multiplying them in a lab and then transplanting new follicles back into your scalp. Even further down the road may be causing current cells to trigger nearby follicle cells which have shrunk to regenerate. Again, these are down the road but may eventually be the best bet for those of us with little to no hair already.
A final thought – while you can look into a wig or a toupee, our recommended approach, which would save you a lot of effort, is to completely shave what hair you have left and maybe balance it with some facial hair. It’ll make you look hip and younger with relative ease and little to no investment, especially compared to other options.
- My hair is thinning but not gone yet, any recommendations?
Absolutely – and the sooner you take action the better! It’s much easier to prevent loss than to reverse it. The first products you should evaluate are Propecia and Rogaine, but there are also lots of other options you can check out.
More basic fixes are hair coloring or dying products and/or thickening shampoos or sprays – but to really halt hair loss, Propecia or Rogaine are the best bet. Finally, environmental factors such as diet, lack of exercise, hypothyroidism, excessive pulling on the scalp (from things like cornrows), and even stress has been shown to have an impact (along with side effects from other medications or treatments such as some anticoagulants or chemotherapy). Therefore, while the majority of hair loss is due to natural, genetic, male-pattern baldness, it is always worthwhile to discuss your concern over thinning hair with your doctor.
- How much do hair loss treatments cost?
Well, of course that depends on which treatment or treatments you select. Trying to prevent hair loss or to re-grow hair can be quite expensive because it generally involves lifetime treatment (or until you decide you’re comfortable going bald) and even using one product, such as Propecia, will run you about $65 a month. Multiply that by 12 and the number of years you intend to stick with it and you’ll see how that can add up. If for no other reason that alone justifies doing your homework and selecting the product(s) that you think best fits your needs.
- I heard that baldness is caused by too much testosterone, is that right?? If so, consider me a stud…
Ha ha, welcome to the club, all of us who are losing our hair tend to feel that way! Here’s the deal: some form of balding eventually occurs in most men, as over 50% of us will face this issue by age 50. Most of it is due to “Androgenetic Alopecia,” otherwise known as male pattern baldness. The cause of male pattern baldness is DHT, or Dihydrotestosterone – which, is indeed a sex hormone and can inhibit hair growth.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a lot understood about exactly why or how DHT causes baldness (which probably is related to the difficulty in coming up with effective hair loss treatments), but, in affected men, that an abundance of DHT will cause “follicular miniaturization,” where the hair shafts gradually shrink until they disappear.
DHT and your libido are both tied strongly to the amount of free testosterone in your system – but free testosterone hasn’t been shown to impact virility unless it’s nearly completely removed from someone’s system (greatly reducing libido, we imagine). Also, free testosterone tends to decline with age while hair loss is progressive, so there’s definitely not a completely correlation. But you should feel free to make the argument that you have a ton of “free testosterone” and that your bald pate is evidence!
- Who are you guys, anyway? Great site, thanks for all the help.
Like many other web sites, ours was born from frustration in tracking down this information – and from the resulting interest in collecting what we learned and sharing it in turn with friends, family members and others worried about their hairline. Along the way we’ve formed a number of partnerships and HSG has gone from a quick one page overview to a much deeper resource.
- I’m only 20 but think I’m starting to lose my hair - what is the earliest age that guys can actually start going bald?
Though genetic hair loss is more commonly begins in the late 20’s or 30’s, it is possible for some guys to start losing hair as early as puberty. For example, famous bald guy Patrick Stewart lost nearly all his hair by around as age 19. So, losing your hair at a young age is possible, but it also isn’t abnormal or anything that you should get too upset about. Of course, if you feel that your hair loss is extreme or very sudden, please consult your doctor.
- What’s the deal with male pattern baldness and heredity? I’ve heard conflicting things about it relating to your mother’s father?
There actually is some, although incomplete, scientific basis for this theory. The gene for the Androgen receptor, which plays a significant role in the probability of hair loss, is found on the X chromosome. In males, the X chromosome is passed down from the maternal side and, therefore, individuals have a 50% chance of sharing the same X chromosome as their maternal grandfather.
There also is scientific evidence that guys are more likely to lose their hair if their fathers experienced hair loss. So, while there is an evident genetic tie to your mom’s dad, you can’t blame him 100% for your receding hairline.
- I think it might be easier and cheaper to just shave it all off. Any thoughts?
You know what? More power to you. More and more people are following this route and, as it becomes more common, it’s in turn more accepted. A manager at my company went this route not too long ago after battling with a near comb-over and thin, wispy hair for a long time, and he looks much better. You’ll save a lot of money and look instantly younger.
We’d consider balancing your new look with a little facial hair. And get yourself a good razor, like a Gillette Fusion or a good electric razor from Norelco, Panasonic, or one of the models carried at Brookstone.
