Healthy looking hair is often treated as a matter of finding the right shampoo, conditioner or styling product. Those things can improve how hair looks and feels, but they only address part of the picture.
Hair health can be influenced by scalp condition, nutrition, illness, genetics and hormones. Understanding the difference between protecting the hair you already have and treating genuine hair loss can save time, money and frustration.
Look after the hair you already have
The visible hair shaft can become dry, brittle and prone to breakage even when the follicle underneath is healthy.
Frequent heat styling, chemical treatments and aggressive brushing can contribute to damage. Washing often enough to keep the scalp comfortable, using conditioner where appropriate and avoiding excessive heat can help preserve the condition of the hair.
These habits may make hair look fuller because fewer strands are breaking, but they cannot stop genetic male pattern hair loss.
Pay attention to the scalp
Dandruff, seborrhoeic dermatitis, psoriasis and other scalp problems can cause itching, redness or scaling.
Treating an underlying scalp problem can improve comfort and appearance, although it will not reverse genetic hair loss.
“Healthy hair care starts with understanding which factors you can realistically influence,” says Ana Carolina Goncalves, Superintendent Pharmacist at Pharmica. “A good routine can reduce unnecessary breakage and support scalp health, but it cannot reverse the hormonal process responsible for male pattern hair loss.”
Nutrition matters, but supplements are not a cure all
Hair follicles need adequate protein, vitamins and minerals to function normally. A balanced diet with foods such as eggs, fish, dairy products, beans, lentils and tofu can support normal hair growth.
Certain deficiencies, including iron deficiency, can contribute to shedding. Significant calorie or protein restriction may also affect the hair cycle.
However, taking extra biotin, zinc or iron without a deficiency is unlikely to make hair grow faster and excessive supplementation can sometimes be harmful.
If increased shedding occurs alongside unexplained tiredness or major dietary changes, professional advice may be more useful than guessing which supplement is needed.
Learn to recognise male pattern hair loss
Male pattern hair loss, or androgenetic alopecia, commonly begins with recession around the temples, thinning at the crown or both.
It is influenced by genetics and the effect of dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, on susceptible follicles. Over time, these follicles become smaller and produce finer, shorter hairs.
This gradual process is different from sudden hair loss.
Distinct bald patches, rapid shedding or hair loss with pain, redness or scarring should be assessed because another condition may be responsible.
Know what hair products can and cannot do
Volumising shampoos and styling products can make individual hairs appear fuller. Conditioners can reduce breakage and improve shine.
These cosmetic effects can be useful, but they should not be confused with biological regrowth.
If the hairline continues to recede or the crown becomes progressively thinner, repeatedly changing shampoo is unlikely to address the underlying cause.
Treatment is different from grooming
When male pattern hair loss is the issue, some men may consider medical treatment.
One established prescription option for suitable adult men is finasteride tablets.
Finasteride reduces the conversion of testosterone into DHT. This can help slow further hair loss and may support increased hair growth in some men.
Results need to be assessed over months rather than weeks, and continued treatment is generally needed to maintain the effect.
Finasteride can cause sexual side effects including reduced libido, erectile dysfunction and ejaculation problems. UK medicines regulators have also strengthened warnings around depression, suicidal thoughts and reports of sexual dysfunction persisting after treatment has stopped.
Anyone considering finasteride should therefore have their suitability assessed and understand both the potential benefits and risks.
Track changes consistently
Hair loss develops gradually, so checking the mirror every day is rarely useful.
Photographs taken every few months under similar lighting and from the same angles can make changes easier to judge. This can also be useful when monitoring treatment because meaningful differences are unlikely to appear within days or weeks.
Know when to seek advice
Gradual recession around the temples or crown may fit the pattern of male pattern hair loss. Sudden or patchy loss is different.
Seek professional advice if hair loss develops rapidly, occurs in distinct patches or is accompanied by significant itching, redness, pain or scarring.
It is also worth speaking to a healthcare professional if widespread shedding appears alongside other unexplained symptoms.
Keep expectations realistic
There is plenty you can do to support healthy hair.
Gentle grooming can reduce breakage. A balanced diet supports normal growth. Treating scalp conditions can improve the health of the skin underneath.
What these measures cannot do is change the genetics behind male pattern hair loss.
The most useful approach is to understand what is causing the change, protect the hair you have and consider evidence based treatment when appropriate.
