🧔 Men’s Hair Loss (Androgenetic Alopecia)

Androgenic alopecia, commonly known as male-pattern baldness, is the most common cause of hair loss in men. Understanding the biology and treatment options helps in making informed decisions.

🔬 What’s Going On Under the Scalp?

  • Testosterone isn’t the direct culprit—it’s actually its potent byproduct, dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
  • The enzyme 5‑alpha reductase, present in skin, scalp, and prostate, converts free testosterone into DHT.
  • In genetically predisposed individuals, DHT binds to hair follicles, blocking nutrients, causing follicles to shrink (miniaturize) and produce thinner, brittle hairs until they essentially fail and stop producing hair.

⚠️ Often Overlooked: Thyroid Hormones

While DHT is the main driver behind male pattern baldness, another underappreciated factor is thyroid hormone imbalance, especially T3 and T4.

  • Hair grows in three cycles: anagen (growth), catagen (transition), and telogen (shedding).
  • T3 and T4 extend the growth phase. Low levels accelerate the cycle into shedding, resulting in loss.
  • Several studies show this connection clearly.
  • Supplements like Nutrafol work mainly because they support thyroid health (iodine, selenium, etc.).

✅ Tip: Ask your doctor for a full thyroid panel (T3, T4, TSH) to rule this out as a contributing factor.

💊 Evidence-Based Treatment Options

1. Ketoconazole Shampoo

Used at 1–2% concentration, ketoconazole shampoo not only fights scalp fungus and inflammation but may also disrupt local DHT activity.
✅ Study on ketoconazole effectiveness.
Use: Twice weekly, leave in for 3–5 minutes.

2. Oral 5‑Alpha Reductase Inhibitors

Finasteride (1 mg/day) blocks DHT production. Widely prescribed and effective.
Dutasteride is stronger but less commonly used due to limited long-term studies.
✅ Talk to your doctor; this is prescription-based.

3. Minoxidil (Rogaine)

Increases local blood flow but does not treat DHT.
Best used alongside other therapies. If you stop, minoxidil-dependent hairs fall out.

4. PRP Injections

Platelet-Rich Plasma is extracted from your own blood and injected into the scalp to stimulate follicle activity.
✅ Read the study
✅ Available at Inject Beauty – right across the street from our barbershop. Free consults offered.

💡 Other Tools & Techniques

  • Hair Transplants: Our partner IdealofMeD in Turkey offers Swiss-quality results at a lower cost.
  • Scalp Micropigmentation: Cosmetic tattooing to darken thinning areas – coming soon to our shop (license secured).
  • Strategic Haircuts: Let us help you style around a receding hairline or crown thinning.

🎯 Realistic Goals & Mindset

Most treatments stop further loss. Regrowth is a bonus.
Drop the ego—1 in 3 men deal with this. 9 out of 10 guys mention it in our chair. Let's fix it.

✅ What You Can Do Right Now

  • Start using 2% ketoconazole shampoo.
  • Talk to your doctor about finasteride.
  • Book a free PRP consult at Inject Beauty.
  • Plan a transplant with IdealofMeD.
  • Ask us about scalp micropigmentation or smart haircut styling.

🤝 Let’s Talk About It

If you’re dealing with hair loss and want options, come sit in my chair. I’m happy to talk over lunch or during a cut. You don’t have to go bald—unless you want to.

Last updated: July 11, 2025