Most guys will deal with hair loss at some point. By age 35, roughly two-thirds of men notice some degree of thinning or hair loss, and by 50, that number jumps to around 85%.
I know those numbers are scary because they freak me out too. Hair loss runs heavily in my family, and when I started noticing more shedding, thinning around my widow’s peak, and my temples beginning to recede, I took action immediately.
For me, the key was catching my hair loss early. I tried finasteride, but I experienced sexual side effects and stopped taking it. I also tried minoxidil and eventually went the natural route, including developing my DHT Defense Shampoo and taking a hair multivitamin. I was willing to do pretty much anything reasonable to preserve my hair because I know my genetics aren’t exactly working in my favor.
The bottom line is simple: don’t wait until you’ve lost a significant amount of hair before you start caring about it. Watch for changes, care for your scalp and hair, improve what you can control, and act early. Prevention is much easier than trying to fix the problem after the fact.
The main thing I want you to understand is that genetics may determine whether you’re predisposed to losing your hair, but there are things you may be doing that can make it worse. The sooner you notice changes and start addressing them, the better your chances of protecting the hair you have. Waiting until your hair loss becomes significant is one of the biggest mistakes you can make.
Mistakes That Can Make Your Hair Loss Worse
- Waiting too long to take action. — If you notice increased shedding, thinning at your temples, recession, or thinning around your crown, don’t ignore it. I noticed subtle changes in my own hair and immediately started addressing them.
- Using TRT/testosterone without considering its effect on your hair. — Increasing testosterone can also increase androgen activity, including DHT, which plays a major role in male-pattern hair loss. If you’re genetically susceptible to hair loss, you need to be aware of this.
- Crash dieting or losing weight too rapidly. — Whether you’re drastically cutting calories or using a GLP-1 that causes rapid weight loss, your body may not be getting enough calories and nutrients to support healthy hair. Protein and healthy fats are especially important.
- Eating a poor-quality diet. — If you constantly eat highly processed foods and don’t give your body quality nutrition, your hair won’t be as healthy as it could be.
- Smoking. — Smoking is associated with male-pattern baldness and vasoconstriction, and it’s another habit that isn’t doing your hair or scalp any favors.
- Using the wrong comb on wet hair. — Wet hair is especially vulnerable to pulling, tugging, and breakage. Instead of attacking it with a fine-tooth comb, use a wide-tooth comb and be gentle when you’re detangling after a shower.
- Not conditioning your hair. — Conditioner isn’t just for the ladies. It helps smooth the hair shaft and cuticle and keeps your hair healthier. I recommend conditioning at least two or three times a week.
- Using cheap, low-quality hair products. — Your shampoo and styling products matter. Low-quality products can contain ingredients that dry out or damage your hair, so I recommend investing in higher-quality products with better ingredients.
- Using excessive heat. — Blasting your hair with a super-hot hair dryer can dry it out, make it brittle, and cause breakage. Excessive heat isn’t doing your scalp any favors either.
- Wearing tight or dirty hats too often. — Constant pressure and tension from tight hats or headbands isn’t ideal for your hair. I also recommend keeping hats clean and not wearing the same one day after day without giving your scalp and hair a break.
