Look, even those who can pull off a bald head better than anyone else — looking at you, Michael Jordan and Kelly Slater — were probably scared at the first sign of thinning hair. And, while going bald doesn’t necessarily hurt your chances with women, it’s still a drastic change for a man who’s used to having hair atop his head.

For those guys who are dealing with that reality, we’ve given you the best styling products for men’s thinning hair before. But, since the topic of men’s hair loss is always one of importance and intrigue, we reached out to Regina Shanklin — the owner of the 18/8 Fine Men’s Salon in Morristown, NJ — for a little bit more advice on how to deal with things up top.

According to the American Hair Loss Association, by the age of 35, two-thirds of American men will experience some sort of degree of hair loss. By the age of 50, that number increases to 85% of men. However, some men can start to notice that their hair is beginning to thin out as early as their 20s.

While there are many different types of hair loss, the most common is a male pattern baldness. Hair loss and/or thinning of the hair will generally start at the hairline, and recede along the crown of the head. While the hairline begins to recede, the peak of the hair starts to thin out forming an “M” contour shape. Once this process begins, it will continue until the hair along the crown and “M” meet. This leaves men completely hairless on the top, except for the hair on the side of the head.

What Causes Hair Loss?

The most common cause is genetics. Since genetics is the main culprit, and ethnicity plays little to no part, that’s why hair loss can begin as early as your 20s. One of the biggest misconceptions to hair loss is that tight fitting baseball hat, or touching the hair often will cause hair loss. It doesn’t. Neither will brushing your hair often, or styling products.

One of the key factors is a substance called DHT, which is formed from the testosterone hormone in the body. When your DHT count is high, it blocks the hair follicle from the bloodstream. This prevents the hair from receiving vital nutrients from the body. Without the proper nutrition, the hair follicle will begin to thin out, and eventually fall off leaving behind a bald spot.

Hair Loss Solutions

If you start to notice your hairline is beginning to thin out, or you’re wearing baseball hats to cover up the bald spots, it’s time to get proactive and consider remedies that will slow down the process.

The most important key to preventing hair loss is nutrition. Hydration and eating a well-balanced diet is the first step to making sure your hair follicle receives the nourishment it needs to stay healthy. If you smoke, stop. Smoking has been linked to increasing male-pattern baldness. If those steps alone don’t work, there are treatments that can be added to help.

One treatment option is True Solutions® from 18|8 Fine Men’s Salons. It’s a step-wise treatment program that starts with a consultation with a True Solutionist who will perform a painless and thorough analysis of the scalp to recommend the treatment regimen that will yield the best results. Depending on the type and the extent of the hair loss, the treatment options can range from topical treatments from DS Laboratories®, Club Roots or Actiiv® to cold laser therapy from Theradome® to a referral to Bosley® for hair restoration. The topical and cold laser therapy treatment options can work alone or in combination depending on the extent of the hair loss to stimulate hair follicles to boost hair growth. It’s painless, and often, men can begin to see results as early as 30 days following treatment.

While there is no way to permanently prevent hair loss altogether, there are proven solutions that will slow down the process. Be sure to talk to your hair stylist to check in on the status of your hair. An educated stylist can also suggest different cuts for thinning hair that will prevent the dreaded comb-over look. They can also pinpoint you the best shampoos, conditioners and styling products that will add volume to your existing hair, without weighting it down.

Regina Shanklin is the owner of 18/8 Fine Men’s Salon in Morristown, NJ. To learn more about men’s hair loss, please visit their website.

Lead image via Getty.

By Guest Writer