​Some men embrace the grey hair (hint, Richard Gere, George Clooney) while some men do not. You don’t even have to be older to experience grey hair. Here are some common questions and answers about this salty look!

Genetics are the #1 culprit of going grey. What actually happens to the hair is that hair follicles contain pigment cells that produce melanin, which gives your tresses their color. When your body stops generating melanin, hair presents itself as gray, white, or silver. (Haupt, 2012) People with a family history of greying or early age greying happen to have the genes that cause you to stop generating melanin at an earlier age.
Other things like lack of protein in the diet and smoking could also be partly to blame. There is also no scientific evidence to the saying that ‘stress creates grey hair,’ although there has been evidence to back up the claim that stress can create temporary patches in hair loss.

Scientists have learned a lot about the aging process of hair and why we turn grey. Researchers at UT Southwestern have discovered a “protein called KROX20 plays a role not just in nerve development but in hair color and growth.The KROX20 protein turns on skin cells that develop into shafts of hair. These cells then produce a protein called stem cell factor (SCF) that is essential for hair colour. When that SCF protein was deleted from mice in KROX20 cells, their hair turned grey and then white. “(Anupma, 2018) See Video below for more on this discovery. 
Even after this discovery, there aren’t any products that are currently backed by science to reverse the progression of grey hair. There are many claims for natural ways to reverse greying, anything from green tea to onion juice.

So if you happen to be someone who is turning grey, you have some options: embrace it, try natural recipes and hope for the best, or simply dye your hair. The choice is yours! 

Resources:
https://health.usnews.com/health-news/articles/2012/08/23/gray-hair-at-25-yes-heres-what-you-can-do
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gray-hair-myths_n_4892577
https://makehappyfoundation.com/2018/01/07/research-finds-grey-hair-balding-can-reversed-soon-happy-shock/
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We've compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions we get asked about mens hair loss, baldness, and treatment. To view the full list of questions and answers, click here.

Answer: Finasteride is FDA-approved to treat male pattern baldness. 

Although it is approved as treatment, finasteride isn't guaranteed to work on everyone. Studies have shown that after five years of treatment, 90% of men taking finasteride experienced either a growth of new hair or a halt to their hair loss. Specifically, about half of men showed an increase in hair growth, and 40% reported no new hair loss. To put that in perspective, 6% of men treated with a placebo (no finasteride) had an increase in hair growth, and 75% of those not taking finasteride lost hair. 

Taking finasteride is not a quick fix. The medication needs to be taken daily and you may need to take it for several months for it to work and to see results. It can even take up to 12 months before you get the full effect of the medication. Stopping the medication can lead to continued loss of hair or even loss of the hair you gained while on the treatment.

For men with fine or thin hair, volume can be a struggle. It seems like no matter what you do, your hair falls flat and can look un styled.
Some solutions to this can be in the products you use, the method to try your hair and the comb you use. Start with volumizing shampoo and conditioner as well as volumizing spray or gel. Here is a good article: https://www.holdthehairline.com/best-hair-thickening-shampoos-for-men/Then use a round brush and blowdryer to create volume, then follow that with a volumizing spray. Here is another good article on the right brush to use: https://www.toolsofmen.com/best-hair-combs-for-men/

Dandruff can leave you feeling less than happy about the look of your hair, but dandruff is usually an easy fix whether by using the correct products or a visit with your dermatologist. Dandruff shampoos can work to reduce dandruff and let the vital oils in your hair remain present. After shampoo, there are even products that you rub on your scalp when its dry that can relieve itching like this one from HeadandShoulders:https://www.amazon.com/Head-Shoulders-Minute-Moisturizer-Treatment/dp/B00FIZGN2Q

Thinning hair can happen earlier than you might imagine,  It is especially prevalent in Caucasian men and can affect up to 30% of them by age 30, and up to 50% by age 50.  But if you take action before its too late, you can prevent total baldness. Nowadays there are medications like Finasteride that have been proven to prevent or stop hair loss by 90%. You can read some frequently asked questions here:https://baldness.doctor/faqs/
 
Taking finasteride is not a quick fix. The medication needs to be taken daily and you may need to take it for several months for it to work and to see results. It can even take up to 12 months before you get the full effect of the medication. Stopping the medication can lead to continued loss of hair or even loss of the hair you gained while on the treatment.

A cowlick is a section of your hair that stands out or makes your hair fall a certain way- it can be in the front, a swirl in the back or any combination of ways. Cowlicks can be helped by using a blow dryer and also a hair straightener. It wont happen overnight, but if you consistently style with a blowdryer, product and straightener in the direction you want your hair to go, eventually you can overcome the cowlick and make your hair preform the way you want it to. It takes some training! Here is a good article on cowlicks: https://theidleman.com/blogs/grooming/how-to-stop-a-cowlick-in-your-hair

​Here are the best ways to stay well groomed, from neck to nose- don’t forget these grooming tips to look your best in 2019.

When you get a fresh cut, don’t forget to have your barber shave/clean up your neck. This might be something to add to your routine too, to make sure your neck doesn’t have any stray hairs.

via Milkman Grooming Co.

Using small tools like these to shave and clean your ears from hair is an easy way to stay well groomed.

Keep those nose hairs trimmed, even if you have a mustache or beard. 

​Keeping your eye brows groomed can give your face a whole new look. This is a helpful article on eyebrow grooming for men. 

Regular barber visits, styling products and trims will keep both your hair and your beard happy and healthy. Beard trims will likely be more frequent than hair trims, but both need to be part of your routine. 

​If you engage in activity that requires you to wear a helmet, you know the pain of helmet hair. Here are 5 ways to avoid this whether you have short or long hair. 

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1. Start with clean hair. Clean hair will break less easily, although you don’t want to ride with wet hair.
2. Leave in conditioner. Leave in conditioner has been suggested by lots of men's hair blogs regarding helmet hair. This will leave your hair soft and flexible.

 

3. Wear a bandana and braid long hair. Wearing a bandana will help keep the front parts of your hair from being pushed right up against the helmet. It has also been suggested to wear a “soft” bandana as opposed to a rough fabric one. If your hair is long, braid it and still wear a bandana over it under the helmet.

4. Consider a cloth under your helmet. If you don’t want to wear a bandana, they also sell cloths or “skull caps” to wear under your helmet. Here is one from Under Armour .

5. Don’t wear your helmet too tight. Finding the right sized helmet will help you know that your hair isn’t going to damage your hair if you ride for a long time. 

Sometimes its hard to trust what you read online, much less trust that a medicine you see online could be a real solution to a medical issue you are having. So we thought it would be beneficial to walk you through the steps a customer takes when signing up for Baldness.Doctor and how with this medication at least, you can trust our process and that you will be working with a licensed physician throughout the process. 

Once you have visited www.baldness.doctor and decide its the right choice for you, you will fill out the forms on the Plans page, shown below. You will not be charged anything until you meet with a doctor online. 

Once we receive your information we will have one of our Board Certified Physicians contact you within 24 hrs for your free video consultation. This is to make sure that you are the correct candidate for finasteride to treat your hair loss. You do this without ever leaving your home, and all you need is your phone or computer. 

If the doctor you meet with determines that Finasteride is right for you, you will start receiving your medication to your home, in a discreet package. If you have further questions we can always be reached at support@baldness.doctor.  You can cancel anytime by emailing us also, although we dont think you will want to once you see your results. This photo below is from a client after using the program for only 90 days! 

​If you live in a part of the country that gets cold, even frigid in the winter, your hair can be effected by these cold temperatures and wind. Here are 3 ways to keep your hair looking great throughout the winter months. 

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1. Wash your hair less. Experts recommend only washing your hair a couple times per week. If you got to the gym everyday however, this might not be possible. If you have to wash your hair daily, its best to only wash the scalp and leave the rest alone, only giving it a full wash 2-3 times per week. “ "It's paradoxical, but people who wash their hair a lot to get rid of oil are drying out their scalp and producing more oil," (Kincaid, 2018).

2. Use Conditioner. Even if you have short hair, you should use conditioner in your routine. Why?“Each hair is covered in tiny cells which look a bit like fish scales. Damage causes these to stand out which makes the hair look dull, rough and out of condition. Conditioners work by smoothing down these scales so your hair looks smooth and shiny again.” (Canary, 2018) 

3. Tie it back. If you have medium to longer hair and are active, its best to tie your hair up for activities to avoid damage to the ends. If you run, ride a motorcycle or wear a helmet for sports, its best to tie your hair up when doing this because if you don’t your hair is open to the wind breaking it and causing split ends and broken pieces, effecting the overall health and look of your hair. 

Video via The Long Hairs

For more great tips visit these links below:

https://www.sciencealert.com/how-often-you-should-wash-your-hair-according-science
https://www.birchbox.com/guide/article/mens-hair-conditioner
https://blog.thelonghairs.us/long-hairstyles-for-men/
https://thelonghairs.us/ 

References:

Kincaid, Ellie. 27 Jun 2018. How Often Should You Wash Your Hair According to Science. Business Insider.
https://www.sciencealert.com/how-often-you-should-wash-your-hair-according-science
Canary, Kate. 2018. Hair Conditioner: When, How, and Why Men Should Use It. BirchboxMan.  
https://www.birchbox.com/guide/article/mens-hair-conditioner

An issue that isn’t often talked about is men's confidence, its assumed that all men are confident and don’t need help boosting their confidence. There are countless women's magazine articles about ways to boost confidence and de-stress, but not many ones for men. Here we will talk about 4 important ways men can boost confidence. 

1. Exercise. Not only will exercise make you feel physically better about yourself, it increases a sense of wellbeing and can help you relax. Being less stressed can help you feel better inside and out. For some great work out tips, follow this link. 

2. Appearance. Changing your appearance and taking good care of your appearance can be as simple as getting a clean shave, a new hairstyle, an updated wardrobe, or fixing issues like baldness or getting glasses or contacts. The better you feel about your appearance, the more confidence you will have. 

3. Downtime. Everyone needs downtime to unwind and focus on hobbies or enjoyable activities. A good way to achieve this is to take a break from social media, where lots of comparing goes on. There have even been studies that suggest too much social media can make you feel worse about yourself. So step away for a while and go outside, read, game, or whatever your hobby of choice may be.

4. Find your people. Having a group of friends, family, or significant other who you can spend time with and be yourself around can increase your confidence. It can make you feel part of a group and make you aware of your great attributes that others enjoy too. Studies show that real social interaction can help with a whole host of issues, and help you feel more confident. 

Recently read an article about millennials and hair loss, and one of the main factors they talk about is increased stress in millennials resulting in possible hair loss at earlier ages. While most male pattern baldness is genetic, stress isn’t good for your hair or any other part of your body. We have compiled 4 things you can do right now to lower your stress level. 

​1. Get enough sleep. Not getting enough sleep can leave you feeling rushed, ill, and can cause headaches. Also when you don’t get enough sleep you probably reach for more caffeine, which can make you feel more ramped up and overall jittery and anxious/stressed. 

2. Drink enough water. Staying hydrated is important for stress relief because your body has to work harder if you are dehydrated, it keeps your body cool and makes your skin look better which can be helpful to your overall confidence (something that might cause you stress if you aren’t feeling good about your appearance.) Dont believe us? Check out this article:
https://www.onemedical.com/blog/live-well/6-benefits-of-staying-hydrated/

3. Take pride in your appearance. This is kind of a “fake it until you make it” goal that says if you take pride in your appearance daily, you might have a better chance at feeling less stressed and overall better about yourself. See the links below for good resources on staying in control of your appearance. 

4. Exercise. Not only will exercise make you feel better about your appearance, it is actually proven that exercise can reduce stress levels. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America puts it like this: " The physical benefits of exercise—improving physical condition and fighting disease—have long been established, and physicians always encourage staying physically active. Exercise is also considered vital for maintaining mental fitness, and it can reduce stress. Studies show that it is very effective at reducing fatigue, improving alertness and concentration, and at enhancing overall cognitive function. This can be especially helpful when stress has depleted your energy or ability to concentrate.” 

If you’ve come to this blog you are probably concerned because you’ve seen some signs of balding or have other men in your family have went bald, and you want to know the warning signs. Balding is very common, and effects about 30% of men by age 30 and 50% of men by age 50. Below are 3 common warning signs that baldness might not be far in your future.

1. Widows peak (pictured below) also known as a receding hairline, is a common warning sign of male patterned baldness. It usually appears as a “M” shape and keeps receding back. 

         2. Hair falling out in the shower is also a sign of progressing baldness. While losing some hair is a normal process, we lose about 25-100 hair follicles a day. But when a larger amount of hair is falling out vs what is re growing, you are on your way to baldness. 

       3. Thinning hair on crown or top portion of head can be noticeable and can progress into full baldness as time goes on. To learn more about why this happens, visit a previous blog Here. 

References
https://theidleman.com/manual/health/early-warning-signs-male-pattern-baldness/
https://www.baldingbeards.com/how-long-does-it-take-to-go-bald/
www.baldness.doctor
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