Men’s hair loss explained: Options to slow and treat

Hair loss, hair thinning, or receding hairlines. These topics can feel difficult to talk about, but affect over 80% of men in their lifetime.

While common, and often inevitable, you don’t need to throw your hands in the air and accept these changes without a fight. Understanding and treating hair loss is still in your control.

At Apotecari, our goal is to help break complex topics such as hair loss down into manageable portions. We recommend identifying the specific and individual issues you or your loved one is currently experiencing and then proceeding to research the options available.

Read on to discover what you need to know about thinning hair, receding hairlines and male pattern hair loss.

Armed with the right knowledge and tools, you can approach thinning hair ASAP.

What causes a receding hairline?

When hair no longer replenishes itself as it once did, hair follicles become smaller and eventually disappear. Once a follicle is gone, hair can no longer grow from that location. The reasons behind these changes can be complex but are generally related to aspects such as genetics, hormones, scalp microbiome, diet, lifestyle, and stress.

When it comes to ‘male pattern hair loss’ or androgenic alopecia, it is the production of the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) that is responsible for causing hair follicles to shrink as well as shortening the hair growth cycle. When hair follicles shrink, the resulting hair is often far thinner (finer).

This progressive hair loss typically presents itself as either a receding front hairline (loss from around the temples), loss of hair on the crown (the top of the head) or a combination of both, hence the name male pattern hair loss.  A receding hairline exposes more of the forehead as the condition progresses.

Your unique situation

It’s important to see the signs of a receding hairline early and pay closer attention from when you first start noticing changes.  The first signs of hair loss aren’t always obvious so knowing what to look for can help bring attention early. Each situation is unique so the more you understand about your own hair loss, the better equipped you are to make changes early on.

Here are some early hair loss signs to look out for:

• More hair shedding on the pillow in the morning – Tossing and turning in the night can lead to friction between the pillow and your hair. If more hair than usual is noticeable in the morning, this could be a sign of progressive hair loss.
• Styling your hair feels more challenging – if your hair isn’t looking or sitting how it usually does, this may be a telltale sign that thinning has started.
• Comparisons with old photographs – this simple task can confirm what you may already be thinking. Gradual changes day-to-day can be hard to spot so old photos can help.
• Catching your hair from different angles in the mirror – Grabbing a smaller hand mirror to view the back/top of your head can show you angles you don’t normally see. This simple exercise can help to provide a full picture of your current situation.

If any of the above resonate with you or your loved one, there are a few other questions you can ask to help build a bigger, more personal picture:

• Have there been any big life changes or stressors you can identify in the last 6 months?
• Has there been a period of diet or lifestyle change, such as a weight loss plan or excessive takeaways?
• Have you noticed any changes to the scalp itself, such as dryness, irritation, or excess oiliness?
• Is ageing a factor? Male pattern hair fall is more prevalent as men get older.
• Could genetics be at play? If others in the family experience or have experienced male pattern hair loss, there’s a good chance a similar experience is likely.
• Are there any lifestyle factors such as smoking or medication that are at play?

How to slow a receding hairline

As mentioned, knowing your hair and getting started early are important to maintaining hair and achieving the best results. If hair thinning is a relatively new occurrence for you or your loved one, there are a few changes that can be made straight away to help prevent thinning and loss.

Style with care – For longer hair, avoid tight styles which put pressure on hair follicles. Use high quality cleansing, colouring and styling products where possible.

Hit nutrition requirements – often underplayed, the nutrition piece of the puzzle should not be ignored. From combatting oxidative stress at the scalp to providing the building blocks of keratin, a healthy diet is crucial in the fight against hair fall. Making balanced and healthy food choices that include a variety of colourful fruits and vegetables, oily fish, adequate protein and whole grains can help ensure important hair nutrition bases are covered.

The weight loss hair loss connection – If you’ve noticed increased hair fall during weight loss, training or dieting, there may be an obvious connection. Nutritional deficiencies associated with dieting as well as acute telogen effluvium (TE) can be triggered by sudden weight loss. Working with a professional or nutritionist can assist with healthy weight loss while still hitting macro- and micro-nutrient requirements.

Stop smoking – Easy to say but harder to kick. Unfortunately, this lifestyle vice has a strong link to hair loss. So if you smoke regularly and are starting to see signs of hair fall, this is one change that must be made as soon as possible.

Manage stress – While stressful events are not always possible to avoid, employing practices or methods to better ‘cope’ with life stressors can be valuable. Regular exercise, mindfulness techniques, and confiding in loved ones or professionals can help.

Be sun smart – Thinning or receding hair leaves the scalp more vulnerable to sunburn and damage. Where possible use sunscreen, seek shade and opt for a hat when heading outdoors. Sunburn leads to a cascade of oxidative stress reactions which can further damage the hair follicles, something that is easily avoided by taking simple steps.

Where Apotecari can help

Nutritional deficiencies can impact hair growth as well as the structure of the hair. Apotecari has been formulated with three core nutritional supplements at its core. Each inner hair care supplement has been formulated to target different aspects of hair and scalp health.

MANE EVENT (capsules) – For hair growth and reducing loss, Mane Event is a potent formulation that combines specific vitamins and minerals, the amino acids cysteine and methionine (building blocks of hair keratin) as well as antioxidants to push growth barriers and support hair fall.

See what 90 days of Mane Event supplementation looks like, here.

CROWNING GLORY (capsules) – Enhancing scalp health day by day, Crowning Glory provides rich nourishment in the form of essential fatty acids, antioxidants, minerals and vitamins. Nourishing, hydrating and supporting the scalp from within is an oft-overlooked step that is important for hair growth.

See what 90 days of Crowning Glory supplementation looks like, here.

Hair Atelier (powder) – A protein and antioxidant hit that utilises plant-based proteins, vegan collagen and Australian native extracts. Think of Hair Food as topping up nutritional gaps and helping support growth and thickness from within. Did we mention it is extremely versatile and absolutely delicious?

See what 90 days of Hair Food supplementation looks like, here.

Scalp stimulation – This simple act of nurture can help stimulate hair growth and support thickness. Apotecari’s 5-in-1 Scalp and Shampoo brush has gentle, flexible silicone tips to support exfoliation and circulation. Used with shampoo to lather and cleanse or with conditioner to slowly massage, this scalp tool is a must for the shower. Regular massage helps stimulate blood vessels and capillaries to encourage blood flow which delivers nutrients and fresh oxygen to the scalp and follicles.

So, what’s right for you?

My Hair Analysis – Taking this 3-minute quiz can provide a complete naturopath and trichologist backed recommendation. This quiz can be taken by you or on someone’s behalf. My Hair Analysis asks a series of questions to obtain an overall picture of someone’s current hair condition, lifestyle, diet and hair/scalp goals. By obtaining a personalised and uniquely tailored recommendation, the results are going to be faster and more effective