Male pattern baldness occurs in stages. So, even though it’s sneaky, if you learn how to recognize the signs early and are quick to start treating it, you may be able to not only keep the hair you have, but even get some of what you’ve lost back.
Of course, that’s if you know what to look for.
A Change in Your Hairline
The most obvious of the stages of hair loss is the painfully slow receding hairline. This progressive-yet-predominant hair loss can start right after puberty, but typically kicks into high gear for men in their 30s and forties.
We know… One day you’re wondering how to build up your credit score, and the next, you’re wondering how to build back your hair.
Baldness often begins in the hairline. The flat or mildly receded hairline you previously had has transformed into a distinctly M-shaped one.
You may notice temple hair loss at first. For most people, this begins with hair thinning at the crown of the head and temples and often starts with thinning hair, rather than total hair loss.
Over the course of a year or two, you should be able to determine whether or not you’re losing hair around your hairline.
If you’ve noticed a receding hairline and want to know what your next steps need to be, you can read more about them in our guide, How to Stop a Receding Hairline.
Noticeable Thinning of Your Hair
There’s no rhyme or reason when it comes to hair loss. Sometimes it comes on suddenly, sometimes it starts at the crown of the head and sometimes it's a slow but persistent thinning that creeps in over a few years.
Diffuse thinning — a type of hair loss that can affect the entire scalp or specific areas — results in baldness that starts from the back or top or the crown, rather than from the hairline.
Just like a receding hairline, the easiest way to spot diffuse thinning is to see how your hair feels daily. Pay attention to what it feels like when you run your fingers through it, when you get out of the shower or when you comb it around.
If you notice that your hair looks and feels thinner, it could be the result of male pattern baldness.
Excessive Hair Loss After Showering or Brushing
On average, people lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day. So, the four or five hairs you notice in your hands after shampooing your hair this morning probably aren't anything to be concerned about.
Some hair shedding on your pillow or at the bottom of the shower drain is normal, but if it's starting to appear excessively, you may be experiencing hair loss and you may want to schedule a consultation with a dermatology provider.
Photographic Evidence Is Showing
You’re having one of those days where you’re feeling real nostalgic. You decide to flip through some old photos when you notice something startling. It’s your hair. And we’re not talking about the mullet you decided to rock that one week back in high school.
So you check in the mirror to make a side-by-side comparison. While you still have a head of hair, it's not the same as your glory days. It’s thinner, it’s definitely receding and somehow, those luscious locks of yesterday feel further away from you than ever before.
You might also notice signs of balding by comparing two photos that were taken a few months to a year apart. If this is the method you choose to assess your hair loss, be aware that lighting conditions can affect the appearance of your hairline.
Hair may appear thinner in bright downlighting (fluorescent light is particularly bad for making your hair look thin, even when it’s perfectly normal).
This makes it important to compare photos with similar lighting conditions.
If you’re really concerned about hair loss, you can photograph your hairline or the top of your head every few months in the same lighting conditions to see if your hairline is receding.
Hair Is Taking Longer to Grow
If you’re the type of guy who visits his local barbershop religiously every two or three weeks and you’ve noticed you’ve had to slow down to every three to four weeks or even four to five weeks, hair loss might be the culprit.
Male pattern baldness doesn’t affect the speed at which your hair grows, but it does affect the thickness of your hair and your total hair count, which can make it seem as though your hair is growing extra slowly.
While this slow growth can be throughout the head, it can also be in just one area or on one side of your head.
Your Barber or Hair Stylist Mentions Something
And speaking of your regular barber shop visits, nobody knows the top of your head better than your go-to barber. In some cases, if your hair is thinning or you have balding areas on the back of your head, you might not even be aware of it.
Your barber gets a bird’s eye view (literally) of your hair and can assess whether or not your hair is thinning or receding. Use this time with them to discuss your concerns and ask them to keep an eye out for any changes to your hairline.
And if it turns out you are starting to lose your hair, they’ll probably be able to recommend other hairstyles that may make your hair look fuller or conceal any thin spots.
While this is obviously a Band-Aid® over a bullet hole kind of temporary solution and won’t actually promote any hair growth, it can make you feel more comfortable and confident as you start other forms of hair loss treatment.
Of course, that’s if you know what to look for.
A Change in Your Hairline
The most obvious of the stages of hair loss is the painfully slow receding hairline. This progressive-yet-predominant hair loss can start right after puberty, but typically kicks into high gear for men in their 30s and forties.
We know… One day you’re wondering how to build up your credit score, and the next, you’re wondering how to build back your hair.
Baldness often begins in the hairline. The flat or mildly receded hairline you previously had has transformed into a distinctly M-shaped one.
You may notice temple hair loss at first. For most people, this begins with hair thinning at the crown of the head and temples and often starts with thinning hair, rather than total hair loss.
Over the course of a year or two, you should be able to determine whether or not you’re losing hair around your hairline.
If you’ve noticed a receding hairline and want to know what your next steps need to be, you can read more about them in our guide, How to Stop a Receding Hairline.
Noticeable Thinning of Your Hair
There’s no rhyme or reason when it comes to hair loss. Sometimes it comes on suddenly, sometimes it starts at the crown of the head and sometimes it's a slow but persistent thinning that creeps in over a few years.
Diffuse thinning — a type of hair loss that can affect the entire scalp or specific areas — results in baldness that starts from the back or top or the crown, rather than from the hairline.
Just like a receding hairline, the easiest way to spot diffuse thinning is to see how your hair feels daily. Pay attention to what it feels like when you run your fingers through it, when you get out of the shower or when you comb it around.
If you notice that your hair looks and feels thinner, it could be the result of male pattern baldness.
Excessive Hair Loss After Showering or Brushing
On average, people lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day. So, the four or five hairs you notice in your hands after shampooing your hair this morning probably aren't anything to be concerned about.
Some hair shedding on your pillow or at the bottom of the shower drain is normal, but if it's starting to appear excessively, you may be experiencing hair loss and you may want to schedule a consultation with a dermatology provider.
Photographic Evidence Is Showing
You’re having one of those days where you’re feeling real nostalgic. You decide to flip through some old photos when you notice something startling. It’s your hair. And we’re not talking about the mullet you decided to rock that one week back in high school.
So you check in the mirror to make a side-by-side comparison. While you still have a head of hair, it's not the same as your glory days. It’s thinner, it’s definitely receding and somehow, those luscious locks of yesterday feel further away from you than ever before.
You might also notice signs of balding by comparing two photos that were taken a few months to a year apart. If this is the method you choose to assess your hair loss, be aware that lighting conditions can affect the appearance of your hairline.
Hair may appear thinner in bright downlighting (fluorescent light is particularly bad for making your hair look thin, even when it’s perfectly normal).
This makes it important to compare photos with similar lighting conditions.
If you’re really concerned about hair loss, you can photograph your hairline or the top of your head every few months in the same lighting conditions to see if your hairline is receding.
Hair Is Taking Longer to Grow
If you’re the type of guy who visits his local barbershop religiously every two or three weeks and you’ve noticed you’ve had to slow down to every three to four weeks or even four to five weeks, hair loss might be the culprit.
Male pattern baldness doesn’t affect the speed at which your hair grows, but it does affect the thickness of your hair and your total hair count, which can make it seem as though your hair is growing extra slowly.
While this slow growth can be throughout the head, it can also be in just one area or on one side of your head.
Your Barber or Hair Stylist Mentions Something
And speaking of your regular barber shop visits, nobody knows the top of your head better than your go-to barber. In some cases, if your hair is thinning or you have balding areas on the back of your head, you might not even be aware of it.
Your barber gets a bird’s eye view (literally) of your hair and can assess whether or not your hair is thinning or receding. Use this time with them to discuss your concerns and ask them to keep an eye out for any changes to your hairline.
And if it turns out you are starting to lose your hair, they’ll probably be able to recommend other hairstyles that may make your hair look fuller or conceal any thin spots.
While this is obviously a Band-Aid® over a bullet hole kind of temporary solution and won’t actually promote any hair growth, it can make you feel more comfortable and confident as you start other forms of hair loss treatment.