To Baldly Go: Top Tips For Fighting Hair Loss

Just like wrinkles, hair loss can be a natural part of ageing for men. That doesn’t mean that you have to accept it though. There are ways that you can put a stop to that growing bald spot.

Possibly the three biggest challenges in the world are world peace, global hunger and… ageing. While the first two are existential, the latter makes us realise that we are mere mortals, and as such, many people will spend a small (or large) fortune) trying to combat the march of time and signs of ageing such as hair loss and wrinkles. While many try to see ageing as a natural side effect of the privilege of getting old, others do what they can to fight it. And although hair loss will affect most men, it is one of the biggest areas of the male grooming industry.

While some men experience hair loss as a result of illness, diet, stress or lifestyle, male pattern baldness is the most common cause of hair loss and affects around 80% of men as they age. In the US, more than half of men will have experienced some hair loss by the time they are 35.  Baldness caused by illness, lifestyle or stress tends to appear in patches or involve mass hair loss. In contrast, male pattern baldness usually results in hair loss from specific areas of the head: the crown, the temples, or general thinning all over.

If you have started to notice that your hair is thinning, there are things that you can do to slow, or stop, the march of time (and your hair line):

1. Adjust your hair care routine

Taking care of your hair can help to slow down hair loss. Avoid washing your hair in super hot water. Tepid water will help you to protect your follicles and prevent pores from opening up. Once your hair is wet, be gentle; pat it dry and avoid rubbing vigorously.

2. Try hair loss medication

If hair loss is something that seriously worries you, or if you know that hair loss runs in your family and you want to stop it in its tracks now, then hair loss medication might be the best course of action for you. The two most popular hair loss medications, and the only two to be clinically proven in the UK, are finasteride and minoxidil, better known by their brand names of Propecia and Regaine.

Propecia works for around 85% of men who experience hair loss. The drug inhibits the production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a male hormone that plays a part in development during puberty, but which also causes hair follicles to shrink, making hair grow increasingly thin until it stops growing altogether. Most men will notice their hair loss slow down or stop with  Propecia; some will even notice their hair start to grow back again.

Minoxidil started as a treatment for high blood pressure, but a notable side effect was hair regrowth, so the product has evolved to become a leading hair loss drug. Minoxidil used to be available in foam or cream form, but minoxidil tablets make it easier than ever to take a controlled dosage of the drug for optimal results.

3. Consider your lifestyle

You might not think that the amount of sleep that you get can affect your hair health, but the growth hormone that is produced when you sleep plays a valuable role in maintaining healthy skin and teeth. Aim for at least 7 hours a night. Exercise is important too: cardiovascular exercise will help to reduce stress and increase blood circulation, both of which can prevent hair loss. While a lifestyle change doesn’t offer a guarantee that your hair loss will slow, stop, or even reverse, making an effort to be healthier and to take care of yourself more will at the very least make you feel better about yourself, which will make you better equipped to cope with the challenges that life – and hair loss – throw at you.

4. Getting the right diet can help to maintain your overall health, including helping you to keep a full head of hair. Fill up on omega-3 packed oily fish like mackerel and salmon, as well as eggs, nuts and seeds. And don’t forget to get your full intake of veg; a combination of vitamins A, C, and D will help you to keep healthy hair and nails.  B vitamins are vital for healthy hair, too. If you are concerned that you are not getting enough vitamins, you could try supplements.

5. Try topical treatments

If you are starting to notice that a few more hairs than normal are coming away on your comb, or when you wash your hair, a topical shampoo could help. Shampoos promise to do one of, or a combination of, two things: promote healthy hair growth, and prevent hair loss. There are so many different types of hair loss shampoo available; some of which contain stimulants such as caffeine, some, like Regaine, which contain clinically approved drugs, and some that promise botanical support. From oils to shampoos and leave-in conditioners and thickening treatments, there are products at all price points to choose from.

Male pattern baldness is, for most men, a perfectly normal and natural part of ageing. However, different men cope with this hair loss in different ways. If you are anxious about hair loss, it is best to confront the situation as soon as you can. It is, after all, much easier to slow down or stop hair loss than it is to reverse it. If your hair loss has passed beyond the point of treatment, embrace your baldness and celebrate the process of ageing naturally.