One morning you wake up and look in the mirror to find that your hairline is further back than it used to be. As you run your fingers through your hair, you realize it’s also not as full and thick as it once was.
You think: “Yikes… when did this happen?”
Don’t worry, gents. These are just a few of the first signs of hair loss men typically experience.
Whether we’d like to admit it or not, androgenetic alopecia, also known as male pattern baldness, doesn’t happen overnight. In fact, for most men, going bald is a gradual process that sneaks up on us as we age.
Male pattern baldness happens in stages (see the Norwood scale image below for a visual example).
The sooner you spot the signs and start treatment, the better your chances of keeping your hair — and potentially restoring the hair you’ve lost.
So, how do you catch hair loss early? According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the following might mean you’re starting to lose your hair:
Excessive hair shedding after showering or brushing
A noticeable change in your hairline
A clearer view of your scalp
Random bald spots
Hair that takes longer than usual to grow
Others mentioning changes in your hair
Photographic evidence of hair changes
Let’s explore these in more detail.
On average, people lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day. So, the four or five strands you notice in your hands after shampooing probably aren’t anything to worry about.
Natural hair shedding happens as individual hairs exit the final phases of the hair growth cycle. Some stray hairs on your pillow or at the bottom of the shower drain are normal. But if you’re noticing more than usual, you could be experiencing hair loss and you may want to schedule a consultation with a dermatology provider.
A receding hairline is a classic sign of male pattern baldness. Unfortunately, it’s also a sign many men ignore until it gets severe, either because they don’t notice it developing or because it isn’t particularly pleasant to acknowledge.
Here are some of the signs you should look out for:
Receding hairlines often start around the temples. Over time, the pattern usually worsens until the hairline is lower in the center than at the sides.
About 25 percent of men aged 40 to 55 have this type of hairline, according to an article published in the journal Male Androgenetic Alopecia.
You might notice your hairline is beginning to recede when:
Some hairstyles expose more of your forehead than you’re used to seeing.
You spot your hairline taking on an M-shape when washing or drying your hair (which looks like the frontal top of your head is bald, with hair on the sides).
You notice a little more scalp showing on the back of your head.
For some men, a receding hairline begins to appear at the crown — the area right at the top of your head. If you’re going bald on top, you might notice your skin is visible through your hair when you look at the back of your head in the mirror.
Roughly 31 percent of men aged 40 to 55 have some signs of vertex baldness (balding at the crown).
While a receding hairline is a common sign of hair loss, other signs, like diffuse thinning — a type of hair loss affecting the entire scalp — can result in baldness that starts from the back or crown rather than the front hairline.
Just like a receding hairline, the easiest way to spot diffuse thinning is pay attention to how your hair feels. What does it feel like when you run your fingers through it, when you get out of the shower, or when you comb it?
If your hair looks and feels thinner, it could be the result of male pattern baldness.
While male pattern baldness is a major culprit in causing a bald patch at the crown of the head, patches elsewhere might be due to other forms of hair loss like alopecia areata or telogen effluvium.
Right now, there aren’t any scientific studies showing that male pattern baldness affects the speed at which hair grows.
But, anecdotal evidence suggests that slow-growing hair could be an early sign of balding. Hair follicles age like the rest of the body and may grow at a slower rate later in life.
Usually, the hair on your scalp grows about six inches a year, which means you’ll gain about an inch of new hair every couple of months. If you notice a slower growth rate, you could be losing hair.
Male pattern baldness can affect hair count (the total number of hairs on your head or the density of hairs in any specific area). So you might find it takes a little longer for hair to grow back after a short haircut. In some cases, it may not grow back as thick as it once was.
A partner, friend, or barber might be able to see places on your head that you just can’t, like the crown or back of your head. If they see your head regularly, they’re likely to notice a change.
If it turns out you are starting to lose hair, your barber can probably recommend hairstyles to help your hair appear fuller or conceal thin spots.
If you’re really concerned about hair loss, you can take pictures of your hairline or the top of your head every few months in the same lighting conditions to see if your hairline is receding.
Doing side-by-side comparisons of photos from ten years ago to see if your hair looks thinner might help with some perspective, as well.
The signs above are the best ways to identify potential balding. But, other things you may think are signs of baldness aren’t actually signs at all.
False signs of early balding include:
Itchy scalp. An itchy scalp typically happens due to dandruff or other scalp conditions.
Hair that looks thinner when wet. Thin-looking hair after you swim or shower is more often a result of hair sections clumping together and revealing your scalp than actual hair loss.
Widow’s peak. A widow’s peak is a dominant genetic trait. This inherited hairline shape can resemble an M-shaped hair pattern seen with male pattern baldness, but it isn’t actual hair loss.
Normal hair shedding. A few hairs on your pillow or bar of soap are completely normal and not a reliable indicator that you’re losing an abnormal amount of hair.
Club hairs. A tiny white bulb at the end of a hair that falls out is a natural part of the hair growth process and isn’t a cause for concern.
A bald grandfather on a certain side of your family. While scientists don’t know exactly how male pattern baldness is inherited, they do know that bald family members don’t guarantee you’ll be bald too.
For most men, hair loss develops gradually over the course of months, years, and even decades, with the hairline steadily receding and scalp hair slowly getting thinner.
That being said, there’s no definite timeline for when you’ll go bald. Depending on your sensitivity to the effects of the male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), you may notice rapid hair shedding or slow but steady hair loss.
Regardless of how quickly or slowly you’re going bald, it’s important to treat hair loss as quickly as possible to protect your hair and prevent thinning from worsening.
Understanding the source of thinning hair may not completely reverse balding, but it might help slow down the process or prevent it from getting worse. Your hair might start to thin or fall out for a few different reasons.
Here’s what to know.
(Our guide to the causes of hair loss has more info on other hair loss triggers, like medication, stress, or skin infections.)
If you’ve taken a moment to Google, “Why am I balding?” chances are, male pattern baldness was the first result that came up. This common cause of hair loss is mostly genetic and affects the majority of men who suffer from hair loss.
With androgenetic alopecia, hormonal changes cause an increase in DHT, which makes hair follicles shrink, resulting in thinner, shorter hairs. This shrinkage prevents new hairs from growing, leading to hair loss.
While the most common cause of hair loss is male pattern baldness, your hair might be falling out because of an underlying health issue, like:
Thyroid disease. Severe thyroid disorders (like Hashimoto’s disease) can cause hair loss. But you’ll likely experience other symptoms, too, like fatigue or weight gain.
Malnutrition. According to some research, severe malnutrition can be a cause of hair loss, especially if you’re not getting enough protein in your diet.
Alopecia areata. This condition causes hair loss in small, typically discrete, circular bald patches anywhere on the scalp. Alopecia areata is a disease that occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles, causing them to fall out.
Telogen effluvium. This is a temporary type of hair loss often caused by very stressful, anxiety-inducing, or traumatic events, hospitalization, or even as a side effect of medications. It might look like permanent hair loss, but it’s reversible. And it usually resolves on its own.
Tinea capitis. Also known as scalp ringworm, this scalp fungal infection causes small, scaly spots and pustules. If left untreated, it can lead to hair loss from permanent scarring.
Trichotillomania. Sometimes, folks experiencing a mental health issue will pull out their own hair. This is a condition known as trichotillomania.
Traction alopecia. This is temporary hair loss as a result of tight hairstyles that cause pulling and friction on the scalp.
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Daily habits and other factors can lead to hair loss as well, including:
Excessive styling with harsh hair care products (bleach, chemical straighteners)
Tight hairstyles (braids, cornrows, ponytails)
The good news is that if any of these are behind your hair loss, your hair should eventually grow back once you change your routine.
If you can catch early signs of balding, you might be able to kickstart hair regrowth. Let’s go over some proven balding treatments.
Minoxidil is an FDA-approved topical treatment for hair loss. Because it’s topical, you may experience fewer side effects compared to oral treatments like finasteride.
You can also get minoxidil over the counter in the United States, making it an easy option for anyone looking to take action right away. Hims offers access to both minoxidil liquid solution and minoxidil foam.
This FDA-approved oral treatment is an effective male pattern baldness treatment. Through Hims, you can also access providers who can prescribe topical finasteride spray or a chewable version.
Finasteride works by blocking DHT, the main culprit of male pattern baldness.
In many cases, drugs like finasteride and minoxidil can help men regrow lost hair, although there’s no guarantee this will happen.
Biotin vitamins aren’t a medical treatment for hair loss, but the nutrient is an essential building block for new hair.
According to a systematic review, these supplements may help your body grow healthy hair with an extra biotin boost, particularly if you suffer from a deficiency.
Saw palmetto is a popular ingredient in hair-thickening shampoos that may help with hair loss. Like finasteride, it works by partially blocking DHT.
Anti-dandruff shampoos containing pyrithione zinc or ketoconazole may also help by supporting a healthy scalp.
In a study conducted by ISRN Dermatology, researchers found that 15 men who used a hair lotion composed of finasteride, minoxidil, and ketoconazole for 90 days experienced noticeable hair growth.
You may not know it, but stress affects your health in a number of ways. It can zap your energy, make you feel physically ill, and even cause your hair to fall out.
That’s right, stress can contribute to thinning hair in men. On its own, stress-related hair loss is generally temporary and usually resolves itself over time.
If you’re looking for results and can swing the cost, hair transplantation surgery might be an option for severe balding.
A hair transplant is a surgical procedure that involves harvesting healthy hair from the scalp or body that’s not affected by male pattern baldness. These hairs are transplanted into areas with thinning or baldness.
Although several types of hair transplant surgeries are available today, they tend to be costly and can involve a lengthy recovery time.
For more information on this hair restoration process, check out our comprehensive guide to hair transplants.
If you think you’re experiencing hair loss, you’re not alone. Most men lose at least some of their hair at some point.
Balding can happen at varying speeds, to varying degrees, at almost any time in life.
Here’s what to know about spotting the signs early:
Learn to spot the early signs of balding. Visible scalp, a receding hairline, slow hair growth, and bald spots might be early signs of hair loss. The sooner you address thinning, the higher your chances of stopping hair loss in its tracks.
Know your treatment options. Treatments like minoxidil and finasteride can help you take control of balding before it gets worse.
Get in touch with a professional. Seeing a healthcare provider for hair loss is the best way to understand what’s going on and find a solution that works for you.
If you’re ready to dive in with a research-backed hair loss treatment today, connect with one of our licensed healthcare providers online from the comfort of your home.
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This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Learn more about our editorial standards here.