• 1.What causes hair loss?
• 2.When does balding start?
• 3.How fast do men go bald?
• 4.What does normal hair loss look like?
• 5.What can you do about balding?
• 6.The Head Shaver Range (Shave It Kit page)

Learn the basics of balding from onset to progression and what you can do about it.

In patches or all over. Receding from the front or from the crown. Balding, though it might be distressing, is a natural part of life for many men. In fact, research on the matter tells us that about 70% of men will lose hair as they get older. And even men who don’t have a genetic predisposition to balding will experience significant hair loss by their 50s.

Consider this article your “Balding 101” as we take a dive into the top five things you need to know about hair loss.

1. What causes hair loss?

If your hair has started to thin, you might be wondering why. The process itself isn’t complicated, but there are a variety of factors from heredity to environment that all play important roles. Research tells us that the biggest player in the process is dihydrotestosterone or DHT. More specifically, your inherited sensitivity to DHT.

The higher your sensitivity, the weaker your hair follicles become, resulting in faster and more pronounced hair loss. And that sensitivity can be compounded by certain behaviors like smoking, weight training, stress, anabolic steroid use or hormone replacement therapy.

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2. When does balding start?

For men with a predetermined sensitivity to DHT, balding typically starts around puberty when the system is flooded with the hormone testosterone. As testosterone is made in the body, a certain amount is converted into DHT which then accumulates in the hair follicles, among other places, and creates a perfect storm of circumstances that result in hair loss.

Inherited sensitivity coupled with lifestyle and environmental factors affect the timeline differently for every man experiencing hair loss, but the general rule of thumb is that the decade and the percentage line up once puberty has ended. So, 20% of men will experience some hair loss in their 20s; 30% of men in their 30s; and so on.

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3. How fast do men go bald?

You’re probably aware that the process of growing hair is cyclical. At any given point in the cycle, your head has roughly 100,000 hairs. As part of the cycle, older hair is shed, and new hair grows to replace it. On average, you lose 50 to 100 hairs each day, but it’s unlikely that you’ll notice this.

The process of balding isn’t cyclical, but it is predictable. Once you notice the telltale signs of male pattern baldness, you can expect hair loss progression to take 5–25 years. Yes, that is a wide range of time, but going bald is a wildly different experience for every man.

As mentioned above, the genetic nature of balding means you’re likely to experience hair loss similarly to other men in your family. But the timeline can be vastly different depending on your exposure to stress, quality of nutrition, frequency of certain medications and other factors.

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4. What does normal hair loss look like?

“Normal” can mean many things where hair loss is concerned. For some men, the first signs that the process has started is a noticeable change in their hairline, specifically at the temples. For others, balding may be more apparent to their barber in its early stages as the hair begins thinning at the crown.

These areas are the most affected because of the scalp’s particular sensitivity to DHT and the path balding takes is hereditary, just like your inherent sensitivity. So, if the men in your family experienced receding hairlines, your hair loss may take a similar path.

What’s not normal is large patches or clumps of hair ending up in the sink or on your brush. If you notice that your scalp is patchy all over or other parts of your body are becoming increasingly less hirsute, that could be a sign that something else is at play. It might be a good idea to schedule time with your GP to discuss.

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5. What can you do about balding?

Regardless of where you are in the process, you’re likely curious about your options for managing male pattern baldness. From hair regrowth products to toupees to shaving, there’s no shortage of ways to minimize the effect that balding has on your appearance and your confidence.

Restoration.

Surgery is the most common procedure to restore lost hair. There are many types, but hair transplantation is the most popular. This surgery involves locating viable follicles elsewhere on the body and transplanting them to the head. Other types include tissue expansion, scalp reduction, flap surgery, and several grafting options.

Non-surgical restoration includes medications like Minoxidil and Finasteride which may be applied topically or taken orally. Generally, the prescription medication route is best done as early in the balding process as possible and some men do experience new hair growth.

There are pros and cons to these hair restoration solutions. Surgical procedures offer faster, more permanent results but can be expensive and painful during the healing process. Non-surgical medications are generally painless, but require consistent, daily use over many months before any results can be seen. On top of that, these medications are a lifelong commitment as their restoration effects end when you stop taking them.

Replacement.

Hairpieces, wigs, or toupees­ – often called “hair systems” – for balding men have come a long way. If this is something you’re thinking about experimenting with to cover thinning hair, keep in mind that you get what you pay for. Inexpensive wigs made from synthetic hair are available but may not react the way you’d like in all situations, especially in windy environments, rain, or while swimming.

Modern, high-end wigs are often hand-crafted using real hair. They’re built to fit the scalp and can last for many years before needing to be replaced. The kind of fit depends on how they are worn. They can have silicon or polyurethane bases that stick to the head or use a lace-based system that covers the remaining hair.

Just like with restoration efforts, replacement options come with their own set of pros and cons. The biggest pro is the immediacy of using a hair system. Once it’s designed, trimmed, and fitted, you can enjoy the look of a full head of hair instantly. But a quality, professionally fitted wig can run several hundred dollars, take many months to create, and may need to be replaced every year or sooner.

In addition to the cost of replacing your wig, the hair loss it’s covering will continue unchecked. Often people with hair systems need  to visit an experienced barber to ensure proper fit and coverage. 

Removal.

If the thought of surgery, taking or applying a medication for the rest of your life, or covering your head with a synthetic wig doesn’t sound all that appealing, there is always the option of shaving your head.

For many men, there’s an uncertainty around taking such a bold action and a whole lot of questions. “What will I look like without hair?” “What about the shape of my head?” “What if I can never regrow any hair at all after I shave?”

Here’s the thing: regardless of whether balding is in your genetics, most men will lose hair as the get older. If you have an inherited sensitivity to DHT, this process will happen much faster. As mentioned above, there are plenty of options to cover or “fix” hair loss, and maybe by the time you’re ready to take the plunge, even more will be available. But shaving your head completely can offer control over an uncontrollable process. And just like with hair restoration procedures and hair systems, the science of shaving has seen major advances in recent years.

Pre-shaving foams and creams, after-care balms and moisturizers – even the razor itself – have all undergone intense study and reconfiguration to offer balding men the best possible results when they choose to shave. Gillette’s Baldly razor and shaving care products, for example, were specially designed and formulated using rigorous testing and focus groups to create a shaving experience that inspires confidence.

Wherever you are in the balding process – and your acceptance of it – having a better understanding of why and when balding happens, plus what you can do about it is so important.

With research well underway for methods of regrowing hair and stopping the balding process altogether, it’s possible that no one will need to worry about hair loss in the future. Until then, explore your surgical and non-surgical options or take Cleveland Clinic dermatologist Dr. Amy Kassouf’s advice and “embrace your hair loss.” You won’t be alone!

You won't have a hair out of place.
Promise.

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Disclosure

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Any concerns you have related to hair loss, skin care, or other related issues should be discussed with your physician. Do not rely on this information as a substitute for professional medical guidance.