Do you find yourself adjusting your hair to hide the thinning patches? Are you ready to give up and just shave it, Mr. Clean style? Dealing with hair loss can be a challenging and stressful experience. This can be especially concerning for men who notice increasingly thinning hair. There can be a hit to self-confidence as your reflection in the mirror isn’t what it once was.
While it can be disheartening, you’re not alone. Many men go through this same experience. You don’t have to throw in the towel just yet if you’re not ready. There are proactive steps you can take to address this issue. If you’re lucky, some can even prevent further hair loss.
Check out these practical tips to manage your hair loss concerns. Instead of letting it get you down, let it empower you! Take control of your hairline and use the tips to make informed decisions about your hair health.
1. Medications
Probably one of the most common ways to start hair loss treatment is by exploring medications options that might work for you. Sometimes a pill could work. More often, topical creams are used. A combination of both, working in tandem, might be your best bet.
When it comes to topical solutions, a foam or gel solution of minoxidil is often prescribed initially. It’s FDA-approved and you work it right into your scalp to improve blood flow and stimulate follicles. You can use this in combination with finasteride, which is typically a once daily pill. It works to block the production of dihydrotestosterone, which is a hormone that causes male pattern baldness. Used with minoxidil, you can slow the loss of hair and also promote regrowth.
2. Hairstyle
Men deserve a seat at a nice salon or barber shop. How you care for your hair can have a direct impact on its health. Pamper yourself every once in a while, and treat yourself to a spa day. Go for the extra wash and scalp massage. Get your beard trimmed and enjoy the hot towel treatment.
Your hair and skin are an outward reflection of how you care for yourself and what you put in your body. Learn from the stylist what you need to do for your hair type. Ask them what style might help with the thinning. They may recommend more texture or a shorter style. They should also be able to tell you how many times to wash it a week and what products will help or damage your hair. Harsh dyes and tight braids can damage those follicles over time, so listen to what they have to say.
3. Lifestyle
Not to harp on taking care of yourself, but you should. It turns out a lot of things that you should do to be healthy overall also create good hair health. Good hygiene, exercise, water intake, nutrition, and sleep all play a role, says the SleepFoundation. Sometimes how you treat your body is reflected outward through your skin and hair.
Did you know smoking can cause damage to not only your lungs, but your hair? Studies have proved a correlation between smoking and cellular deterioration of hair follicles. If you need a reason to quit, take a look at your scalp. Quitting bad habits is just the start of living a healthy life. Sun damage can also impact your hair, which makes sunscreen so important. Try to get in some exercise and get that blood pumping and circulating too. And swap out alcohol and soda for more water.
4. Platelet Treatments
If medications and changing up your hairstyle and lifestyle aren’t making a big impact, maybe it’s time to try professional treatments. These are kind of like topical medications in that they are site-specific. It works right where your bald spot is. If you don’t want to use other medications or steroid options this could be something to try.
Plasma-Rich Platelet Therapy, or PRP, collects platelets from your blood, and the plasma is injected directly into your scalp. Current research has determined the practice is effective and stimulates regrowth of hair follicles for those with androgenetic alopecia. That said, you’ll need to do your research on providers, as this practice isn’t standardized yet. This can be used in combination with other treatment options to increase their effectiveness as well.
5. Hair Transplants and Scalp Reductions
Hair transplants are more invasive that the plasma treatment injections or medication, but have great success. It is a more expensive option, but it is considered a permanent solution. Follicles from DHT-resistant areas of the scalp (places with thick, growing hair) are taken and transplanted to your bald spots. This method has high efficacy in reducing thinning hair and encouraging growth because you’re working with healthy follicles. They can take root and grow and fill in your bald spot.
A scalp reduction is another permanent surgical option, and it too is a little more costly. It does require more healing and recovery time than a hair transplant as well. Instead of dealing in individual follicles, the surgeon removes your bald spot. They then stretch your scalp to cover that area with skin growing healthy hair. Local anesthetic is used so it shouldn’t be painful, but recovery can take a few months.
Give Yourself Grace
Balding can be rough on your self-confidence. It can also be frustrating to feel like more and more hair goes with every passing year. Remember, the hair does not make the man. And try a couple of the options in this article to see if they work for you. Be kind to yourself and give treatments time to work. You didn’t lose your hair overnight and it won’t come back immediately. Work toward an overall healthier you and see if progress is made.