Male-Pattern Baldness (MPB) is a hair loss condition that affects millions of men and women worldwide. And while the onset is different for men and women, one simple fact is the same: the earlier you catch it, the easier it is to handle.
After all, it is much harder to regrow new hair as opposed to keeping the hair you have already got.
In this article, you will learn the different causes of hair loss and how to identify the early signs of balding. You will also learn the most common ways to treat the issue before it becomes a more permanent problem.
The 8 Main Causes of Balding
Before you can understand how (and why) early balding occurs, it is a good idea to understand the different causes of hair loss.
Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA)
Colloquially known as Male-Pattern Baldness (MPB), AGA is a genetic condition that affects both men and women. The eventual result of this condition is hair loss (1).
The exact cause of AGA is unknown, but the androgen DHT is believed to be a major culprit.
DHT is produced in three places in the body: the testicles, the prostate, and the hair follicles (2). It is a result of the interaction between testosterone (the male sex hormone) and 5AR (an androgen). The excess DHT then attaches to the hair follicles and, in individuals with AGA, this leads to inflammation and irritation (3).
As the inflammation continues, it results in a process known as hair miniaturization.
This process makes it difficult for hair to grow, as the strands become shorter and shorter until, eventually, they can no longer push through the scalp.
In recent years, another theory by which pattern baldness progresses has been “discovered:” scalp tension. It is thought that mechanical tension of the scalp can increase the presence of DHT, which then triggers the aforementioned process.
Alopecia Areata (AA)
Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune condition (4). It occurs when the immune system believes the hair follicles are foreign and attacks them.
The main symptom of AA is patchy baldness, which seems to come on out of nowhere. This balding typically happens on the scalp, though more advanced forms of the condition lead to total hair loss on the face and head (Alopecia Totalis) and hair loss on the entirety of the body (Alopecia Universalis).
While not incredibly common, this condition does affect more than 6 million men and women in the United States alone.
Nutritional Deficiencies
The foods we eat provide our bodies with crucial nutrients, such as calcium, iron, and potassium. However, a poor diet or malabsorption problems can mean your body is not receiving the vitamins and nutrients required to keep it running at its best (6).
Nutritional deficiencies are not a common cause of long-term hair loss, but they can result in temporary thinning and baldness. This is especially true if you are low on a few of hair’s most vital nutrients, including iron, niacin, biotin, and vitamin E.
Fortunately, nutritional deficiencies can be solved with an improved diet and, in some cases, vitamin supplements. With improved intake, you can then avoid the many symptoms of poor diet, such as anemia, weight loss, and hair fall.
Illness and Medications
Our bodies can be delicate in many ways, as they require balance and overall wellbeing. Unfortunately, these can be thrown off by both illness and medications which can then trigger short-term or long-term hair loss.
The two most common types of hair loss to occur from illness and medications are Telogen Effluvium (TE) and Anagen Effluvium (AE) (7).
TE is the most common, and it occurs at the very last stages of the hair growth cycle. Hair fall begins weeks to months after an illness or medication, and it can take just as long to resolve.
AE is less common but is often seen in patients undergoing chemotherapy. It occurs during the phase of active growth, and it can begin as soon as a few days after the medication is administered, and it may take several months to resolve.
Mental and Physical Stress
Stress is a problem commonly faced by people throughout the world. It can take on many forms and have various triggers including traumatic injury, surgery, or loss of a loved one.
The most common symptoms of stress include:
- Low energy
- Headaches
- General aches and pains
- Overall discomfort
It can also manifest as panic attacks, which include accelerated heart rate, quickened breathing, and feelings of chest tightness.
Another symptom of stress can be thinning and hair fall. It is most commonly classified as TE, and it can occur months after the triggering event.
But exactly how strongly is stress linked to hair loss? This question was answered in a 2017 study (9).
The study included 33 female college students. Eighteen of the students were in the midst of exams, while the other 15 were not.
Throughout the study, the researchers used various tests to measure stress. They include:
- Self-reported distress and coping strategies (Perceived Stress Questionnaire [PSQ]
- Trier Inventory for the Assessment of Chronic Stress [TICS]
- Cytokines in supernatants of stimulated peripheral blood mononucleocytes (PBMCs)
- Trichogram (hair cycle and pigmentation analysis)
The study was then split into three periods: T1 (before the start of the learning period), T2 (between the 3-day written exam and oral exam), and T3 (after 12 weeks of rest following exam period).
As the results showed, the stress perception of the exam students increased significantly in T2. There was further evidence of this stress, though, and that was cytokines.
Cytokines are pro-inflammatory substances that are released by the immune system in response to injury, illness, or stress (10). An increase in cytokine levels, then, is a good indicator of body-wide inflammation.
The good news is that in many cases, this form of hair loss resolves itself.
Hormones
Whether due to medical treatment or illness, hormone imbalance can wreak havoc on your body and its various systems. One such system it can interfere with is the hair growth cycle.
The most common causes of hormone imbalance are Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), thyroid disease, and hormonal birth control. If you suspect a hormonal imbalance is the cause of your hair loss, it’s best to speak with your physician.
Early Signs of Balding
Here is a closer look at the most common signs of early balding.
Excessive Amounts of Hair on the Pillow and in the Shower
Firstly, male pattern baldness is not necessarily about how many hairs you shed each day but more about how quickly you are replacing them.
Becoming paranoid and worrying about each hair that is lost will not help with your stress levels either.
Pattern Hair Loss and Receding Hairline
The other thing to take note is that common balding takes place in a pattern (that is why it is known as male or female pattern baldness) so seeing clumps of hair come out will usually mean you have a different kind of hair loss.
MPB starts at the temples and forehead and typically recedes over time. The hairs at the front become thin and wispy over time and eventually fall out due to hair follicle miniazturization. However, there is a difference between a mature and receding hairline.
DHT (the male hormone that is believed to be primarily responsible for pattern baldness) causes hair follicle miniaturization where the dermal papilla is starved on the nutrients and minerals and oxygen it needs to grow (11, 12).
DHT also causes hair to go into a ‘dormant’ or ‘resting phase’ so hair that falls out is not replaced.
Itchy, Flaky Scalp
One of the first signs may be an itchy scalp. This can be caused by a build-up of sebum on the scalp and is often a precursor to dandruff and hair loss.
This is not necessarily a cause or effect of hair loss, but the two are often correlated.
Hair Takes Longer to Grow
Because pattern hair loss comes from hair follicles entering a resting phase, as well as often being starved on nutrients and minerals, quite often your hair will take longer to grow after a hair cut.
There are other factors involved as well and it can be hard to tell for sure but this often an early warning sign.
Thin, Wispy Hair
Hair follicles typically get thinner, less radiant, and lose some of their shine before eventually falling out.
So if the front of your hairline around the temples and forehead seems to be getting thinner and more wispy, this is fairly typical of male pattern baldness.
Consider Your Relatives
The mainstream convention is that hair loss is genetic, and while that is true to some extent, it does not tell the whole truth. It is actually more of a ‘genetic predisposition’ which means it is more likely that you will suffer from male pattern baldness but it is not guaranteed (13).
It also means there are things you can do to prevent hair loss. Anyway, when you are looking for early signs of balding, you might want to consider your relatives (on both sides of the family tree) to see if any of them suffer from pattern baldness.
Fathers, uncles, and grandfathers will give you a good indication of the likelihood that you might be seeing the beginning stages of male pattern baldness.
What Are Your Options?
The earlier you catch pattern hair loss, the easier it is to do something about it. It is incredibly hard to re-grow hair where it has been completely lost and the dermal papilla has healed over.
If you are facing the reality of early balding, you are likely wondering what your next steps are.
Prescription and Over-the-Counter Treatments
The first line of defense against hair loss often recommended by doctors is one that involves topical and/or oral medications.
Minoxidil
Minoxidil, more often known by its brand name of Rogaine, is a topical hair loss solution that was originally developed as a treatment for high blood pressure (14).
The exact mechanism by which minoxidil works is not yet known, though there are a few theories.
The first involves the drug’s role as a potassium channel opener (15). In short, this function can theoretically widen the blood vessels which will then improve the delivery of blood, and oxygen and nutrients as a by-product.
A second theory is that minoxidil upregulates various genes and, more specifically, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (16). As a result, the drug may support vasculature and promote hair growth.
And if those potential theories are not enough to convince you, there is also research studies to back its beneficial claims.
One such study, performed in 1990 at Duke University, followed 31 male subjects with AGA as they completed four-and-a-half to five years of minoxidil treatment (17).
The hair growth seen in the men peaked at one year of treatment, at which time it then began to slow. However, the growth results were still improved over those seen at the beginning.
But more recent studies, including one performed in 2016, has also proven these positive results (18).
The study took place in two parts.
The first part consisted of a 24-week period that included randomized, double-blind controls.
The second part took place over 80 weeks and all participants received the 5% minoxidil foam formulation.
By studying these subjects, the researchers were able to conclude:
5% MTF is effective in stabilizing hair density, hair width and scalp coverage in both frontotemporal and vertex areas over an application period of 104 weeks, while showing a good safety and tolerability profile with a low rate of irritant contact dermatitis.
Minoxidil is available over the counter, but there is also a prescription option to consider.
Finasteride
Finasteride, also known as Propecia, was the second hair loss drug to receive FDA approval.
However, unlike minoxidil, the way in which finasteride works is clear.
Finasteride is a 5-alpha-reductase type II inhibitor that promotes hair growth by reducing the levels of DHT in the scalp (19). This is why finasteride is so effective in treating men with AGA.
Scalp biopsies have shown finasteride to reduce DHT levels in the scalp between 60 and 75 percent (20).
And beyond just biopsies, its effects were proven in human subjects.
One such study (well, actually, two) was published in 1998 (21).
The first study consisted of a total of 1553 men from the ages of 18 to 41 with male pattern hair loss.
The men were split into two groups. One received oral finasteride 1 mg/d, and the other received a placebo.
The men in the first group (finasteride) saw a significant increase in hair count at year 1, while the men in the second group (placebo) saw continued hair loss.
And while these results were promising, the second part of the study was even more promising.
1215 of the men from the first study went on to continue with treatment, and they continued to see positive hair growth results even to the end of year two.
As the researchers concluded:
In men with male pattern hair loss, finasteride 1 mg/d slowed the progression of hair loss and increased hair growth in clinical trials over 2 years.
Low-Light Laser Therapy (LLLT)
Low-Light Laser Therapy (LLLT) is a relatively novel treatment method for hair loss. It has been used for years in dermatology, but it is only recently becoming a favorite of hair loss sufferers around the world.
As the name of the treatment suggests, LLLT is a therapy that utilizes lasers. The low-light lasers stimulate the hair follicles (in a variety of ways) to produce hair growth.
The current medications on the market treat one type of hair loss in particular – pattern baldness. One of the great things about LLLT is that it can work to treat many types of hair loss (22). Here is how.
Through various trials and research studies, LLLT has been shown to promote hair growth in three ways (23, 24):
- It stimulates epidermal stem cells
- It promotes anagen phase hair growth
- It reduces inflammation
When hair loss occurs, whether it is from pattern baldness or alopecia areata or even stress, the main cause of the hair loss is often inflammation. That is, the hair follicles become inflamed, the follicles miniaturize, and the hair strands can no longer make their way through the scalp.
This means the hair will come in shorter until, eventually, it stops coming in altogether.
You certainly want to treat the root cause of your hair loss, as this will stop the hair loss cycle entirely. But in the meantime, you want to treat the inflammation so as to reverse follicle miniaturization. It has been shown that LLLT can do just that.
How to Perform LLLT
You can practice LLLT at home, or under the care of a dermatologist or esthetician. If you are practicing at home, you will have a few devices to consider.
The most common devices for at-home laser therapy are combs and helmets. These are used on the scalp in small, regular doses to ensure the proper and efficient delivery of low-light lasers to the follicles.
The comb will be used just like a regular comb. You will place it on the hairline and then move back towards your crown very slowly. You need to make sure that the teeth of the comb are making contact with the scalp to ensure the lasers are making direct contact.
As for the helmet, it is as simple as placing it on your head and switching the device on.
While LLLT is not an FDA approved therapy, laser combs (but not helmets) have received FDA “clearance.” This simply means that the device is likely safe for human use, though its effects have not been fully proven in human subjects.
Scalp Massage and Exercises
Scalp massage and exercises boost blood flow to the scalp while also stretching the dermal papilla cells to stimulate hair follicles (25).
How to Perform Scalp Massages
If you are ready to get started, here’s a basic rundown of the daily process:
- Place your thumb, index, and middle fingers on either side of your head (just above the ears). Use your fingers to massage in a circular motion, and apply varying levels of pressure as you do so.
- From the sides of the head, move up to the crown. Continue with circular motions, and backtrack to previous places on the scalp as you do.
- From the crown, slowly move to the middle of the hairline and temples. Continue applying varying levels of pressure.
- Finally, bring your fingers from the hairline to the crown, and finally to the base of the scalp.
This entire process should take about 10 minutes, though you can extend it if you would like.
How to Perform Scalp Exercises
To further increase blood circulation, you can use using facial muscles to ‘exercise’ the scalp. Here is how to do so:
- Lift your eyebrows as high as possible, and hold them in place for 2 minutes. Return your eyebrows to the resting position.
- Furrow your eyebrows as deep as possible, and hold them in place for 2 minutes. Return your eyebrows to the resting position.
- Lift your eyebrows as high as possible and hold for 3 minutes. Then furrow your eyebrows as deep as possible and hold for 2 minutes. Return to the resting position.
You can also use your fingertips to ‘stretch’ the skin of the scalp, by placing two fingertips on the scalp and pushing and pulling them away from each other.
Microneedling (Dermastamping)
If you want to further increase blood flow to the scalp, you will want to take your treatments to the next level. One way to do that is with microneedling.
Microneedling is a technique that uses tiny needles to puncture the scalp. As these wounds heal, they increase collagen levels in the skin (which is important for elasticity) as well as promote the proliferation of Dermal Papilla Cells (DPCs).
And while it may seem odd to cause intentional injury to promote hair growth, there is actually proof that it works. In 2013, researchers compared microneedling and Minoxidil (26). The group to receive both Minoxidil and microneedling saw better results than the Minoxidil-only group:
How to Perform Microneedling
There are two common microneedling tools: the dermaroller, and the dermastamp. Never share microneedling products.
The dermaroller can cause damage to surrounding hair structures. The dermastamp, on the other hand, is easy to target and much easier to control.
To use the dermastamp, you will first want to clean the scalp.
You can then use the stamp to puncture the areas of your scalp with thinning and hair loss. Applying light pressure, target the areas first vertically, then horizontally, and finally diagonally.
You can perform this technique once per week.
Conclusion
When you first notice the early signs of balding, you may be startled and unsure of what to do. However, there are many causes and, as such, many ways to treat the problem.
If you want me to answer any questions you have on the early warning signs of going bald just leave me a comment in the box above.
Hi Will,
Im 18 and I don’t know if I’m receding as one side is higher than the other but it’s been like that since I’ve been born but it’s got just a tad higher in the last few years on the higher side the other side is completely fine just wondering what your thoughts are on the matter?
Hi Matthew, it’s hard to tell from your description, but it does sound like your hairline could be receding. It would be useful to know if pattern hair loss is common in your family. If you think you are losing your hair it would be wise move to take action now to stop any further loss. It’s much harder to regrow hair than it is to stop losing it.
Hello, I am 19 years old and i have noticed the loss of hair around my temples as of lately. It all started around 17 my forehead got bigger but i thought it was just a maturing hairline. To the naked eye my hair is fine though. My dads hair is fine and his dads is fine as well. My moms side: my grandfather has these arcs around the edges of his hairline but everything else is fine. My uncles on my moms side have both expierienced a receeding hairline except for one of them. I have my moms hair. I am not sure on what to do as I feel i am maybe to young to start treatment?
Hello Andres, thanks for the question. My first suggestion would be to do a few easy things first, see if you can stop any further loss. For example, make sure your nutrition is good. And start daily scalp massages to reduce scalp tension, for 5-10 minutes daily.
Hey Will, just found out about your website. My father, and his father is bald, my moms side is fine. I inherited my hair type from my mother, all the people with this type of hair did not have hair loss at all. I am not seeing symptoms yet,but my scalp is itchy and I have deandruffs, this is for about a year now, also I have very greasy hair, I am 17, so it might be puberty. I got some products from a trichologist (a lot of people are skeptical about them) but the products worked great, removed everything. I still tend to get greasy hair, so I have to wash everyday with a shampoo, if I dont do it for like 2 days, I start getting itchy scalp and dandruff again. When I used the products first, seen an improvement imidietaly, and my scalp was ok after 3 days. It was like this for 3 months, so I took the products again, and it became fine (I had longer hair and was not drying them). Right now it was getting a bit worse in the winter again, but I wonder, could this be a symptom ? I am not seeing any miniturazition or thinning at all 🙂
Hello Jaroslav. Good on you for taking decisive action and working to prevent any hair loss before it happens. You may be fine, but it’s hard to tell at this point since you’re still young. I have have particularly greasy hair then this could be a sign that your diet needs adjusting. For example, I would recommend taking a pint of warm lemon water each morning before breakfast (3 squeezed lemons) to help break down some of the unhealthy oils in your body. If you do start seeing thinning or recession then I highly recommend starting Hair Equilibrium to stop any further loss.It’s easier to keep your existing hair than to regrow lost hair (though it’s definitely not impossible).
I am 24, started around age 19 after serious thinning and a lot of frontal hair loss. Finasteride (Propecia) has made my hair loss stop completely so far. No side effects that I notice, I take half a pill every day (.5mg).
Okay, well Propecia isn’t something that I personally recommend. After all, hair loss is a symptom of a bigger health problem and masking that symptom with a powerful pharmaceutical is not the best option. Especially when there are natural ways to stop and reverse hair loss available. Thanks for your comment Jose. Will
Hey there… I’m 17 right now and I have itchy scalp full of dandruff. I wash my hair every day. If I don’t wash it then my hair get starting too greasy and dandruff increases. I have thin hair as compared to my friends and the volume of my hair too is less. So are these early signs of balding??
Hi Tanishq, these could be early signs. I recommend that you don’t wash your hair every day. The regime I recommend is to wash your hair once per week, with apple cider vinegar (4 teaspoons.)
If your hair gets greasy very quickly, and you also have dandruff this is probably to do with your diet. Your hormones also play a big role at your age. Try to eat more plant based foods and remove fried foods and dairy from your diet.
Of course there is a lot more you can do but this will get you started.
Will
I m getting balding,my hair line is decreasing and I have loose many hairs. I’m just 16.these are in out genes can this problem be solved.
Hi Ankush,
Will’s Scalp Secrets guide is a great place to start: https://www.hairguard.com/scalp-secrets/
-Steph
Hi, so I’m 20 years old and already I’m experiencing male pattern baldness, but not in the way that you have described. See, my real problem is that I just don’t seem to have as much hair in the middle of my scalp as I do on the sides. I don’t really actually see much hair falling out of my head, but my hair is definitely noticeably thinner in the middle than on the sides, although all of my hair has generally been very thin and wispy. Recently, I shaved my head, and now that I am seeing the beginnings of hair regrowth, I DEFINITELY notice how much less (or thinner, I don’t really know) hair I have on the middle than on the sides. My question is, is there anything I can do to change this? Again, I really don’t notice a lot of my hair falling out, I think it’s just much thinner in the middle. Happy to answer any questions put forth.
Hi Will, I’m not sure since this doesn’t sound like pattern baldness, it could be some other kind of alopecia. I would firstly make sure you’re not deficient in any important nutrients or minerals as this can often cause diffusive thinning.
Hi…. Actually my some o fb hair turns into grey then lots of stress my 50 % hair turns into grey and now I noticed line reciding well my temples where full of hair there was no gap between them now I just recently turn 19 so I noticed my hair line recides but templs have lots of small hairs and my hair is full of thik even Comb can’t run through my front hairs… So is there any problem? And my hair growth is much faster thn anyone… Pls suggest me what to do what should I have to use to wash my hair….
Hi Faizan,
I recommend you check out this in-depth guide: https://www.hairguard.com/scalp-secrets/
– Steph
Hi, I’m 20 years old and I have noticed some thinning at the crown area. It does get itchy. But I don’t see any hair falling out, a few do fall out in the shower though. My hair in general is very thick and dry. If I don’t wash it for a couple of days it does get itchy. I’m anemic and may have a few vitamin deficiencies. I just wanted to ask if you think it’s balding or if it’s due to health reasons? My mums brother is bald. Thank you
Hi Dave,
The symptoms you mention don’t really align with early signs of balding. I’d say it’s more likely due to other health problems.
You mention some vitamin deficiencies, so the first thing is to get those sorted.
Steph
HI Im 40 and feeling my hair is starting to thing at the front? What can I do to make the hair not recede and be strong?
Hi Tim, start with my free eBook – Scalp Secrets. Go from there!
I’m 18 I have the m shaped hairline and over some years its more dominantly notifiable I would say but still normal at my point and it’s hard to say because I’m my family my dad is bald and my mom side my uncle is bald but my grandpa’s have very thick hair and I have my mom’s hairline so I’m in between and I have been on a low carb 20 carbs or lower a day diet and take men’s daily vitamins everyday and my hair seems to be very healthy sometimes my forehead gets oily but only after I sweat it’s just my hairlines seemed to of got higher but I was wondering if I should take a certain vitamin like biotin maybe and would like a suggestion
Hi Sam, thanks for the interesting comment. It’s hard to say whether you’re predisposed to hair loss. I would definitely keep a close eye on your hair. We don’t necessarily advocate a low carb diet (not that it’s a bad thing) its more about staying away from carbs that would spike your blood sugar. For some people gluten can also be a trigger for inflammation that leads to hair loss.
As for vitamins and minerals, biotin might be worth taking, but a healthy diet is the first priority. Vitamin K2 is also a worthy suggestion because it will help reduce the scalp calcification which could lower blood flow to the scalp causing hair loss later.
I’m 20 years old and my frontal and vertex has been rapidly loosing hair. Most of the male patterns seem to correlate with my problem since my hair falls off when I take a shower and hairs appear in my pillow. I’m not sure if it’s the antibiotics I took because of my surgery last month or it’s my parents genetics. My dad is bald and Paternal Grandfather as well, but my moms side seems to be okay. My diet consist of huge Intake of protein since I’m active and go to the gym. I just recently purchased Rogaine to get my hair back. My question is there any other methods to regain if not maintain any further hairloss? Please I would like to know.
Hi Marco,
Thanks for your comment.
I recommend you check out this helpful guide: https://www.hairguard.com/scalp-secrets/
– Steph
I’m 17 years old and I have just received chemotherapy of leukemia ,my dad is bald but my mother’s dad and brothers are not bald but my hairs start falling and M shape is start making over my head .Will I also become bald if yes then what should I do to prevent baldness please give me some tips
I haven’t looked into regrowing hair after chemotherapy, so I can’t really offer a good opinion on that. Given your dad is bald there is a chance you’ll start losing hair to pattern baldness as well. I would suggest reading lots of articles on the blog and taking action. The Hair Equilibrium Program would also be highly recommended for you. Send me an email to will (at) hairguard.com and we can make sure you get access to that.
Hi, I was on isotretinoin for 3 months and 3 months after finishing my course I noticed a rapid onset of hairfall. Majority of the hairs I have been shedding since 6 months are with a sort of white bulb at one end. My temporal regions are thin and I notice heavy thinning and shedding around the time my hair starts itching. Is this temporary or permanent? My father has a full hair of head but 2 out of 3 uncles on my maternal side and my maternal grandfather are bald.
Its hard to say but it sounds like it is related to the medication. This kind of hair loss is usually very reversible, though I don’t know enough about the medication to give you specific tips. I would start by optimising your diet to reduce inflammation and maximise hair growing nutrition.
Will
Hi..Will.I am 18 years old..I have been having continous thinning for 3 years..my hairline has gotten m shaped and I see bald paches on the temple and less hair on the crown..my hair now almost looks like jason statham’s in The One.. will my hair regrow?
Hi Shahriar, I just had a look at Jason Statham in ‘The One’ and see what you mean. This is quite severe pattern baldness for an 18 year old. I think that at this point it will be almost impossible for you to have fully thick hair (without a hair transplant) but I certainly think that using our methods you would be able to stop any further thinning/recession and might even be able to regrow some. My general rule of thumb is that reverting back to 3-5 years ago is about as good as you can expect with natural methods. I hope this helps.
Will
Hello, my name is Vaughan. I’m 17 years old, and I’m just really scared I’m going bald, I’ve got thinish hair, I don’t know any family members that are bald, I don’t know anyone on my moms side but there’s know one on my dads. How can I tell if I’m starting to go bald at this age?
Hi Vaughan,
I think you’ll find this post helpful: https://www.hairguard.com/mature-hairline-vs-receding-hairline/
– Steph
Hey Will,
I’m a 21 year old college student and I’m not sure if I’m starting to experience MPB. I first noticed hair loss last year around finals, I saw that my whorl was getting a little bigger and my hairline seemed to raise a little. The hairs on the end of my hairline at the temples seemed to be beginning to thin and my part started becoming more defined. One of my main things that makes this issue more prominent is that my hair appears to lose it’s color close to the root but still has it’s color near the ends. Do you know what could possibly cause that, and if there is any way to reverse it?
Hi Hanon,
The hairs that appear to lose color at the root – do they then change into a normal color as the growth continues?
I think you’ll find this post on receding hairline vs maturing hairline to be helpful.
– Steph
Hi I want to give a bit of useful advice to anyone that may read this but I have cured my fiancé s male pattern baldness and his hairline was receding consistently with the m shape and he was only about 25 when it started. We tried to recover it in the past but we did not stay consistent but for.the last three weeks which is now 7 years later in a desperate attempt to save his hair .
I have been using onion juice and a mix of my own oil concoction I put together and along with a some vigourous daily scalp massage I have brought back his hairline .he has very fair skin and a brush cut so I can clearly see black little pores in places there had no pore at all .you know what the tight skin on your forehead looks like some people even have fine hair there well he didn’t so seeing the little black stubbles under the skin with a naked eye was incredible.
The best way to encourage yourself too is take photo of your hairline with your smartphone and now zoom into the photo you won’t believe what you can see with just you phone. I’m guessing that the onion regimen will be something he will have to do forever to grow even more hair and retain it. Which I think is totally fine if we have stripped our hair all these years and continue to do so with shampoo why wouldn’t we try a regime that’s all natural. All you have to do is look up onion mask online so many recipes, but I literally just blend a yellow onion squeeze the juice onto the scalp and then I massage it for like ten min I then put all the onion blend on the scalp and put plastic cap on his head he chills around the house for 30-hour and then washes with a mild sulfate free shampoo and sometimes I give him an apple cider vinegar rinse after but he always gets a deep conditioner (sheA moisture manuka deep cond) I don’t even let him use reg cond anymore he always deep cond and let’s cond sit for five to ten min then rinse.
Then comes oil of your choice I try to use every oil that blocks dht promotes growth and stimulates skin and then I massage his head for 15 min or longer sometimes when I have time. When you start to see the results I was seeing you began to become addicted lol. I’ve even treat his patchy beard but honestly facial hair especially if it’s never been Ina certain spot before is even harder to grow but I have seen subtle improvement so I will continue to treat his beard when I do his hair treatment. The one treatment can be done as often as you wash you hair he washes about 3 times a week but I only do it twice a week and results are incredible. Good luck to all and remember the key to success is consistency.
Hey Will I am 27 years old my hairs are not thinning and very less hairs shedding is happening but my temples are deep my front hairline is not M shaped right now but my father is bald he is 55 now i want to know will i go bald like him i am just worrying about my deep temples if I watch my hairline so in 3 years it hasn’t changed..
Hi Shaz,
The fact that your hairline hasn’t changed in three years is a great sign.
I would recommend you check out this post on the topic of mature hairline vs receding: https://www.hairguard.com/mature-hairline-vs-receding-hairline/
Regards,
Steph
Hey–I have the “widow’s peak” hairline but sort of always have. Lately I’ve noticed that the peak of the “widow’s peak” has gotten thinner, and I’m seeing just a little bit more skin in the parting that sort of happens naturally above it (I have long hair and wear it tied back daily). My wife thinks I’m just being paranoid. Could this be the result of a “mature hairline” kind of deal? There isn’t much baldness in my family, my dad is 50 something and he’s still got plenty of hair. I guess if my hair wasn’t so long all the time it would be easier to tell what was happening underneath.
Hi Dustin, it’s hard to tell. Could it be a problem with traction alopecia from tying your hair back? Either way I would keep an eye on it so you cab be proactive about stopping any further loss if it does look like it’s receding.
Hi! I have one older brother so he seemed to show signs of baldness. but to make sure I’m looking for a sign of baldness article and I were here. Thanks for sharing!
Is it possible to regrow lost hair on a completely bald head.
It is very hard difficult, although theoretically not impossible. As a good rule of thumb, it is possible to regrow the hair you’ve lost within the last 5 years. Again, that’s just a rule of thumb which comes from experience running this site. Some people have lost their hair more slowly over the years and therefore they could probably expect more than 5 years ago. Hope that helps.
Will
Hey there,I am 19 and two years back I let my hair grow wild,didn’t care much about it,didn’t go for regular trimming or oiled it,just led it to grow on it’s own.on the contrary I would crush walnut nuts in my hand to extract the oil and directly apply it along with the powdered nuts to my hair.to remove the powdered nuts from my hair I would use to comb my hair with a comb having very fine bristles.it was a mess.Ya I am a moron!after trimming my wild ,dirty hair I experienced fair amount of hair fall,redness and itichy scalp and pimples on my scalp.oh! not to forget dandruff also!.after using treatment both oral and topical my itiching,pimples and the redness were gone and I experienced some hair growth.i still got some decent hair but it doesn’t feel fuller as it used to be earlier.what do you suggest?
Hope you answer soon.
Hi Moeen,
I recommend you check out Will’s Scalp Secrets guide to get started: https://www.hairguard.com/scalp-secrets/
– Steph
Hi! How can hair loss that is caused by single stress experience that ocurred 10 years ago and resulted in male pattern baldnes be reversed?
Hi,
I would recommend you check out this post written by Will on his hair regrowth journey: https://www.hairguard.com/how-to-regrow-your-hair-naturally/
Regards,
Steph
Hello I’m Mubarak and I’m 19 y/o I’ve recently noticed that my hair was shedding and breaking, also I’m having itchy and tenderness sensation in my scalp. I’m also having a slow hair growth all over my body especially my temples and I’ve lost a weight and stressed alot lately, So how Can I know whether my hairloss is Telogen Effluvium or Male pattern baldness?
They were in good condition in March 2018 after that incident that I’ve stressed alot they were growing slowly at everywhere in my body +They started Ichiness,hairfall/breakage, and thinning in July 2018.
Could you please tell me what’s that!
Hello,
I’m a 28-year-old guy and I have long thick hair! However, I’ve been suffering from stress and depression for the past two years. I noticed recently a round patch at my crown. My hairline is perfectly fine and I don’t shed a lot. I talked to a dermatologist recently, but I got zero help. I did not get a blood test or a scalp biopsy. She said that I might be balding. My father is bald, but I have a few uncles who are not. My maternal grandfather never went bald until he was 50. My mother also suffers from hair loss, but I’m not sure if it’s age or something else.
Hi Misfer. Stress can be a big factor. If you hadn’t had much hair loss before your stressful period then I would say that’s a pretty strong indicator they could be related. It’s very difficult to say for sure though. Either way, hopefully you directly solve your stress and depression issues. That would be a good first step. On the bright side, many people who have directly stress related hair loss can often find it easier to recover that lost hair. As long as you deal with the stress successfully. Breathing exercises, meditation and exercise are good ways to counter stress as well.
Dear Will,
I am a man 49 years old. No antecedents AGA in my family. I have a normal hair until 40 years old. From this age I fell progressive hair loss. Four months ago I decided do anything with this problem. I use minoxidil foam 3 months ago, and dermaroller two months ago. I read your web and prefer use natural product before that minoxidil, so I bought your elixir scalp. My question is how I can change from minoxidil to scalp progressively. Now I have been using the scalp elixir for three nights. I had thought to use scalp at night and minoxidil in the morning to finish with the minoxidil (about 15 days) and then continue only with scalp elixir at night. Is it correct.
Thank you very much and sorry for my bad english
Hi Ramon,
Thanks for your question!
You’re right that it’s best to transition from the minoxidil to minimize the amount of shedding you’ll experience.
Our recommendation is to taper your use of the minoxidil.
For example, you can begin to apply every other morning for two to three weeks. You can then taper again and apply every two days apart for two to three weeks. You’ll continue until you run out of the course.
You may still notice some shedding, but it should be significantly less than if you stopped suddenly.
Regards,
Steph
Hey. I’m a 23 year old male, turning 24 later this year. I’ve had a head thick of hair and my hair is what I loved most. I always took care of my looks and was always very picky with my haircuts. I’ve noticed since December just 5 months ago, I started losing hair above my left temple, where the left side of my forehead is. It started off just thinning, then that area has now receded a bit.
Also my hairline was perfect, always had it thick of hair. Until I’ve noticed over the past 2 months or so, that some spots on my hairline has begun to thin. I’ve visibly noticed less hair on my hairline and in that general area above my hairline, and it’s started to recede a bit. There are small gaps in my hairline where my hair used to be, now it’s either bald or thinning. It’s not a huge difference, but it is noticeably different.
I’ve compared pictures that I’ve taken of myself over the past year or two, and there is a noticeable difference in my hairline. You can see the gaps in my hairline and the thinning.
This hair doctor I saw a couple months ago gave me finasteride 5mg that I’ve been taking for a couple months now. I basically cut the tablet in 4 pieces, and take it 3 times a week.
What else do you suggest and recommend I can do.
Hi Bills, it’s a big decision to take finasteride at such a young age. Personally it isn’t something I would take, but the decision is up to you and the guidance of your doctor. There is a lot you can do in addition. I recommend taking a look at our Pro Area, this is the best place to get started.
Hey Will, I think I maybe experiencing telogen effluvium. back in September 2019 I was losing rapid weightloss in a very short time. During this time I was likely not getting enough nutrients.
At the start of 2019 December, I experienced a lot of hair fall thinning, my hair was completely fine the night before. On the next day, I wanted to try using distilled water and then put alot of really cold water from the fridge into a cup, I poured way too much of it over my hair and ever since doing that my hair was noticeably thinner and weaker. the texture of my hair felt weaker, thinner and my hair it looks like my temples receded but, that could be just because my hair became thinner and weaker.
it has now been 7 weeks since that happened, my hair became a little bit more thinner but, I am seeing quite longish hairs growing around my temples and hairline. But I am still shedding dead long hairs on my pillow alot of them (having a white bulb/tip) on the end and in the shower.
What’s your thoughts on this?