A lot of guys assume they can tell how high their testosterone is just by looking in the mirror. Big beard? High testosterone. Bald? High testosterone. Deep voice, big hands, broad shoulders? Same assumption. But the more I’ve researched testosterone, the more I’ve realized it’s not that simple.
You cannot accurately determine your testosterone level by looking at yourself. You can have every one of these signs—or none of them—and still not know what’s actually happening hormonally. The only real way to know is through blood work. I recommend getting tested regularly so you have a baseline and can see how your levels change over time. That gives you an opportunity to address your lifestyle, training, nutrition, sleep, and recovery before low testosterone becomes a bigger problem.
A lot of physical characteristics are influenced by genetics and the testosterone you were exposed to during puberty—not necessarily what your testosterone levels look like today. There are, however, some signs that can indicate your testosterone is still healthy and exactly where it needs to be:
Indicators that your testosterone is solid
- You build and maintain muscle relatively easily. Testosterone supports muscle protein synthesis, so having adequate levels can make it easier to maintain and build muscle. But testosterone is only part of the equation—your nutrition, workouts, sleep, and recovery matter too.
- You’re strong for your size. If you’re naturally strong relative to your body weight, can train hard, and have good physical performance and endurance, that can be another positive sign. Testosterone affects muscle mass, recovery, and neuromuscular function.
- Your libido and sexual function are strong. If you’re thinking about sex, have a healthy sex drive, and don’t have problems performing, chances are your testosterone is doing pretty well. One of the things that can happen when testosterone declines is a noticeable drop in libido and sexual performance.
- You have oily skin or still get pimples. This may not be the testosterone superpower you were hoping for, but androgens can stimulate your sebaceous glands to produce more oil. That’s also why some guys who start using testosterone can experience acne.
- Your body and facial hair haven’t thinned significantly. Having a thick beard doesn’t automatically mean your testosterone is high today, but if you developed a lot of body or facial hair when you were younger and it remains thick as you age, that can be a positive indicator. Genetics and androgen sensitivity also play a major role.
- You maintain a masculine physique. Broad shoulders, a smaller waist, and the ability to carry and maintain muscle can be associated with adequate testosterone. As testosterone declines with age, guys may find it harder to maintain muscle and easier to gain body fat.
High testosterone — what about hair LOSS?
A testosterone-related issue we need to talk about is hair loss. Having high testosterone doesn’t automatically mean you’re going bald. Male pattern hair loss has a lot to do with DHT (dihydrotestosterone) and how genetically sensitive your hair follicles are to it. Testosterone can be converted into DHT, which can gradually miniaturize susceptible follicles until the hair eventually falls out.
This is actually one of the reasons we developed Pete & Pedro’s new DHT Defense Shampoo. I was worried about keeping my own hair, and I wanted something designed to support healthier hair and scalp. We spent nine months developing it with ingredients including saw palmetto, pygeum, caffeine, biotin, green tea, zinc, B vitamins, and a ton of botanicals. We wanted to create a shampoo for guys noticing thinning—or those who want to be proactive about caring for the hair they’ve got.
