I’ve always been paranoid about losing my hair because male pattern baldness absolutely runs rampant in my family. Both grandfathers, my uncles, my cousins—bald.
So about five years ago, when I started noticing more hair in the drain, on my pillow, and in my brush, I freaked out. My hairline was changing, my widow’s peak was disappearing, and I was thinning around the crown. I knew I needed to do something.
My first reaction and what I learned
I threw everything at it. I tried minoxidil, finasteride, and a red-light therapy cap. Unfortunately, minoxidil irritated my scalp and made my hair feel greasy, while finasteride caused sexual side effects almost immediately. That was a deal breaker for me. I stopped both, but I wasn’t about to stop looking for ways to protect my hair.
The big thing I learned is that for a lot of guys, hair loss is connected to DHT, or dihydrotestosterone. DHT can attach to susceptible hair follicles and gradually cause them to miniaturize. The hairs become finer and weaker until eventually they stop growing. That’s why one of the most important lessons I can give you is this: don’t wait until your hair is gone to start caring about it. The earlier you notice thinning and take action, the better opportunity you have to preserve what you’ve got.
My Hair Preservation Equation
Because traditional treatments didn’t work for me, I started researching other options and working with labs and chemists in the hair-care industry.
- That ultimately led to the development of Pete & Pedro Boost Hair Growth Oil, which I use to support a healthy, hydrated scalp.
- I also realized I wanted a shampoo designed specifically for thinning hair and scalp health, which led us to develop DHT Defense Shampoo with ingredients including saw palmetto, pumpkin seed, pygeum, rosemary, caffeine, biotin, and niacin. These products became part of my routine because I wanted options beyond finasteride and minoxidil.
But products are only part of the equation. I also got serious about scalp health.
- I use a shampoo brush to gently massage and clean my scalp, helping remove oil, dead skin, styling-product buildup, and other junk.
- And after shampooing, I always use a hair conditioner. Shampoo and conditioner perform two different jobs, which is exactly why I’m not a fan of 2-in-1 products. Shampoo cleans; conditioner replenishes, smooths, and strengthens hair.
- I also don’t use cheap, low-quality hair products, and I treat my hair like something worth protecting.
- I switched to a silk pillowcase because it pulls and tugs less on my hair while I sleep, and I added a hair supplement to my routine.
- I personally use Nutrafol. It’s definitely not cheap, but I’m willing to invest in taking care of my hair.
Take action ASAP
The biggest takeaway from my experience is simple: take action early. I caught my thinning when my hairline was just beginning to change, and instead of ignoring it and hoping for the best, I did something about it. You have multiple options—from improving your hair and scalp routine to medications and, for guys who need or want it, hair transplantation. The right solution will be different for everybody.
At the end of the day, your hair is your responsibility. If keeping it matters to you, educate yourself, pay attention to changes, and start taking care of it before you’re staring at a bunch of hair in the drain wondering what the hell happened. I was genetically dealt a pretty crappy hand when it comes to hair loss, but I decided I wasn’t going to sit around and do nothing. It’s your hair and your responsibility, so take action asap.
