Male Hair Loss

Name: John

Question: Is growing your hair out unhealthy in anyway if you are a teenage male?

Answer: No, growing your hair out as teenager does not lead to hair loss, if this is what you meant. The length of your hair does not affect its health in anyway. Hair grows in cycles with each strand having a lifecycle independent of the other hairs. The hair sheds once it has reached its end of lifecycle. This explains why we lose hair everyday yet we still maintain a head of hair. The longer your hair, the more you notice the hair coming out as it gets trapped in the bath plug or it gets stuck in your clothes. To summarise, hair can be healthy even if you keep it short or long.

It is important to regularly check your hair for signs of hair loss though, because male pattern baldness can start early for some men. Most men will see the early signs (a receding hairline and loss of hair from the crown) in their 20s or 30s however for some it will begin in the teens. For others it will develop later in life. As soon as you notice any changes, it is advisable to get your hair checked out so you know what is causing the hair loss. The earlier that genetic hair loss is treated, the better the results that can be achieved. 

More Information:
Hair Loss Product Reviews
Hair Loss Success Stories
Hair Loss in Young Men

We often hear about female celebrities putting themselves through punishing health and diet regimes and the detrimental effects that rapid weight loss can cause, including hair loss. Telogen Effluvium is the name for hair loss that occurs after the body undergoes a severe shock – often the result of pregnancy, emotional stress or yo-yo dieting. The shedding often starts after the person has recovered from the event. It is mostly a temporary condition however sometimes hair loss treatments can help rebalance the hair growth cycle.

But what happens when a man loses weight suddenly? Senior hair specialist at the Belgravia Centre, Leonora Doclis, says that men can also suffer from hair loss after dieting or rapid weight loss. “There is a three month delay between the actual event and the onset of hair loss,” Doclis explains, “furthermore there may be another three month delay prior to the return of noticeable hair regrowth.” Doclis says that this means that the total hair loss and regrowth cycle can last six months or longer as the added shock and upset due to the actual hair loss can prolong the recovery period.

Most men will suffer from Male Pattern Baldness at some point in their lives and have to make a decision to either maintain their hair with hair loss treatments or go for the bald look. Doclis points out that if a man suffers from stress, illness or drastic weight loss and develops Telogen Effluvium as a result, this hair loss condition can trigger Male Pattern Baldness.

So will male celebrities like Stephen Fry, who has been recently pictured looking much thinner, be losing their locks in the near future? Television personality Fry has undergone a strict diet and exercise regime, cutting out bread, potatoes, sugar and red meat. The 52 year old, who is 6ft 5”, has lost a hefty 6 stone and now weighs 15 stone. Fry’s Body Mass Index (BMI) is now around 24.94, which is in the ‘healthy’ range. Fry’s pre-diet weight of 21 stone put his BMI at around 34.92, in the ‘obese’ range. So while Fry has done well to lose the excess weight he was carrying, losing weight in too short a time period, can put a person, male or female, at risk of hair loss, not to mention the long-term health implications.

If you are concerned about hair loss, it is important to get a diagnosis to establish the cause. A hair specialist will be able to do this and advise on suitable treatment, if required. To book a free consultation with a hair specialist at Belgravia, call 020 7730 6666 or message the centre. Alternatively, fill out the online diagnostic form and a treatment advisor will contact you to discuss your condition in more detail.

More Information:
Hair Loss Self-Diagnosis
Telogen Effluvium
Hair Loss Success Stories

Interesting Articles:
Hair Growth After Telogen Effluvium
Celebrity Popstars Suffer Hair Loss As a Result of Extreme Dieting
Renee Zellweger at Risk of Hair Loss?

You would be forgiven for thinking that most men in their twenties are concerned solely with finding the right job, finding the right girl and where their football team ranks. But there is one other issue you can add to that list: hair loss.

Only this week, The Daily Mail revealed that Eastender actor and I’m A Celebrity winner, Joe Swash, is showing a distinctive bald patch. But Joe, who is just 27 years old, is not alone. The vast majority of men, around 80%, will at some point in their lives develop male pattern baldness and for about a third of men, the genetic processes that lead to this condition start before a man reaches 30.

Joe has even undergone hair restoration surgery in an attempt to maintain his trademark ginger locks. It is rumored that the actor has spent £3,000 on a hair transplant operation which involves taking hair from the back of the head and inserting it on the crown of his head. Male pattern baldness is a result of the hormone Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which inhibits the growth of hair – but the hair follicles at the back and side of the head remain largely unaffected so a surgeon uses these follicles to transplant into bald areas. It is not always successful though, as in the case of Joe, added to which it can be painful and costly.

What is not known is whether Joe tried prescriptive hair loss treatments. There are only two that have shown sufficient evidence that they are effective in preventing hair loss and regrowing hair following large-scale, recognised clinical trials. They are called Minoxidil and Propecia.

Minoxidil works by improving blood flow to the follicles and about 70% of men will see hair loss stabilized or re-growth. Propecia works by reducing the levels of DHT and allowing the hair growth cycle to continue as normal. It has been shown to work for 70 - 80% of men.

The Belgravia Centre’s in-house pharmacy prepares Minoxidil in a concentration level to suit the individual. This means that our team of specialists can prescribe clients a tailored treatment programme using a specific-strength Minoxidil and Propecia. This produces effective results when administered with the correct hair growth booster suited to the individual’s hair loss condition. Our clients have achieved remarkable results which can be seen by viewing our hair loss success stories.

The important thing to remember when it comes to genetic hair loss is that the earlier you seek treatment, the better your chances of maintaining your hair. So, if you are a young man, don’t feel you are alone. The Belgravia Centre offers free consultations in which a specialist will diagnose the hair loss and discuss treatment and the results it can produce. To book you appointment, just call 020 7730 6666 or message the centre. Alternatively, complete the online diagnostic form and a treatment advisor will be in touch.

More Information:
Hair Loss Product Reviews
Hair Growth Boosters

Interesting Articles:
Hair Loss in Men – How Hair Ages
Hair Loss More Common in Young Men Than Ever
My 19 Year Old Son’s Hair is Thinning. Are Hair Loss Treatments Safe?

If a relationship is healthy and then one partner suffers hair loss, could this lead to heartbreak? We’re not talking one partner going off the other because they don’t like the look of him or her without hair. But rather the person suffering the hair loss distancing themselves from the partner because they feel they have become “someone else”. This is quite common, according to Dr Nigel Hunt, Professor in Psychology at the University of Nottingham, who has studied the psychological impact of hair loss. Dr Hunt says that the condition can directly affect the connection the sufferer has with their loved-ones.

And, says Dr Hunt, hair loss can affect single people too. Losing one’s hair can have lead to major issues with self-esteem and adversely affect their ability to approach and meet new people.

Senior hair loss specialist at the Belgravia Centre, Leonora Doclis, says that many clients at the clinic mention low self-esteem as a result of losing hair, and many say they wear hats when they go out because they are embarrassed by the way they look. Doclis adds, “Even if clients do not suffer from a lack of confidence, they are concerned by the way that other people, work colleagues for instance, look at them.”

To make matters worse, doctors often don’t give sufferers the support and advice they need because hair loss itself is not a life-threatening condition (although it can be a sympton of an underlying medical condition so should always be checked out). A hair specialist will not only be able to provide a diagnosis but also discuss the range of treatment options. Many forms of hair loss can be successfully managed using proven hair loss treatments. Doclis explains the benefits of seeking treatment: “Once a person starts treatment they begin to feel like they are taking control of the situation, which helps their confidence increase. And when they see results, their self-esteem receives a massive boost.”

If you are concerned about thinning hair or hair loss, then come to the Belgravia Centre for a consultation (which is free) with a hair specialist. To book an appointment, please call 020 7730 6666 or message the centre. Alternatively, you can submit the online diagnostic form. This will be reviewed by our team here and a treatment advisor will be in touch soon.

More Information:
Hair Loss in Men
Hair Loss in Women

Hair Loss Success Stories:
Female: “…already my confidence has been restored…”
Male: “I am feeling so much better after treatment…”

Interesting Articles:
A Man’s Confidence During Hair Loss
How Women’s Hair Loss Affects Quality of Life

Climate and religion have always been handy excuses for men to shave their heads without being accused of attempting to pervert the course of nature. These days however, it seems every man and his dog is doing it. It appears bald is the new black, with celebs such as Eric Bana, American T.V host Stephen Colbert and even Beyonce Knowles’ sister Solange among the latest to adopt the hottest trend of 2009. But those with male pattern hair loss could be risking their chance to keep their hair follicles active if they too jump on the baldness bandwagon.

For guys like Chris Daughtry and Vin Diesel, their shaved heads are almost like their trademark. They decided long ago that that was going to be the way they dealt with hair loss and for some, it’s the most convenient and cost-effective option. However there is the risk in head shaving, in the case of men who are interested in preventing hair loss or growing back their own hair, that they won’t be able to gage the extent of their hair loss. And as it progresses the hair follicles shrink, which means without the use of treatments they can actually become dormant and stop producing hair altogether.

Uncontrollable baldness might not be so crash hot when the head shaving trend is past. Then again, Michael Jordan started losing his hair in the 80s and he’s still one of the most famous baldies around. After he shaved his head to deal with hair loss, his style was copied by professional sportsmen and average Joes alike. But many of the modern-day head shavers have a more temporary or devil-may-care attitude to baldness.

Stephen Colbert shaved his head in honour of the troops in Iraq. Eric Bana shaved his for the part of Romulan villain Nero in Star Trek. And Halle Berry is set for an on-screen shave in the upcoming Nappliy Ever After. For 22-year-old singer Cassie, it was “the ‘I don’t give a f**k’ attitude that was always present, but never showcased”. And there’s no doubt that even Rihanna’s mohawk is a bit intimidating to say the least. But what happens after the bald phase is over?

“At the moment, it’s perfectly fine to shave your head. You don’t need hair,” says Adam Rapoport, style editor of GQ magazine. Note that all the celebs who are shaving their heads at the moment don’t actually have a problem with hair loss and could grow it back when they wish. For roughly 80% of men world-wide though, male pattern baldness will be on the cards and about a third will have notable hair loss by the time they’re 30.

According to statistics from Conair, 22 million men aged between 22 and 65 shave their heads regularly. These men may not realise if thinning hair is actually a problem, or the extent of their hair loss. But if it gets to the stage where the balding patch becomes smooth, they may never be able to grow their hair back. It might not bother some, but not everyone can pull of the bald look, even if it is in fashion.

“Don’t do it reflexively,” Rapoport says. “It’s not a democratic style. If you’re a pale dude, with a weak jaw line and a few extra pounds, you might not look as good as others.” Mumbai-based celebrity stylists Shivram K Bhandary and Pompy Hans agree there are strict rules about head shaving.

“This look goes best with people with an egg-shaped head or a round head. If your head is flat then you should avoid it completely because it can look disastrous,” says Bhandary. Hans adds: “If you are lean then the bald look is a big no-no. One should have broad shoulders and a good body structure to carry off this look with poise and confidence.”

Confidence then, perhaps, is the most important characteristic one can possess during the early stages of hair loss. Seeing your hair disappear can be scary at first but there are hair loss treatments that work for the majority of people who use them under the right conditions. On the other hand, whether it’s the trend or not, some people warm to the idea of the bald look. But you need to wear it with confidence so that, like a good suit, it never goes out of fashion.

More Information:
Propecia
Hair Growth Boosters
Hair Loss Success Stories

Interesting Articles:
The Norwood Scale – How Bald Am I?
A Hair Loss Sufferer’s Dos and Don’ts
Celebrity Hair Loss

He was always considered the good-looking one in 80’s pop sensation Wham!, but Andrew Ridgeley is no longer the youthful looking prince charming he once was – as well as his hair turning a distinguished colour of grey, he is now showing clear signs of hair loss.

It is 25 years since Wham had their first number one hit with ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go Go’ – at the time, Ridgeley had thick, lustrous brown locks. Just two years later, in 1986, the duo broke up and Wham’s founder (and talent), George Michael, went on to achieve global success as a solo artist. Ridgeley’s musical talents were not as strong – his looks and his hair certainly contributed to his success in Wham! – but the royalties keep coming in and allow him to live comfortably.  Ridgeley, now 46, leads a quiet life near the coast in Cornwall and spends his time surfing and playing golf.

But Ridgeley is not alone in losing his hair. Approximately 1 in 2 men of his age will suffer from male pattern baldness. By the age of 60, more than two-thirds will start to lose a significant amount of hair. While Ridgeley may be comfortable with the bald look, many men prefer to keep their hair. It is possible to prevent baldness if the hair loss is spotted early enough and treated. There are currently two proven hair loss treatments that can be used separately or combined, depending upon the individual. To see the kind of results that clients at Belgravia have achieved, please take a look at our extensive range of hair loss success stories below.

If you are noticing a receding hairline or hair loss, contact Belgravia for a free consultation. One of our hair loss specialists will diagnose the condition and advise on treatment options. To book an appointment, simply call 020 7730 6666 or message the centre. Alternatively, you can submit the online diagnostic form which will be reviewed in our clinic and we will be in touch over the next few working days.

More Information:
The Norwood Scale – How Bald Are You?
Hair Loss Treatment Options
Hair Loss Success Stories

Interesting Articles:
Hair Loss in Men – How Hair Ages
Moby Blames Baldness on Genetics, Not Party Lifestyle
Why Men Worry About Hair Loss But Do Nothing

Last weekend a new science fiction film was released. Surrogates is set in a futuristic world where people choose to live as ‘operators’ in the safety of their own homes and send out a perfect looking ‘surrogate’ robot version of themselves to face the real world. The film explores the fear that many people have of growing old and looking old, including hair loss. The film’s protagonist, an FBI agent investigating the murder of the son who invented surrogates, is played by Bruce Willis; tellingly, his ‘operator’ is bald and his robot looks much younger and has a full head of hair.

While Willis’ surrogate version looks slightly scary, there is a way to tackle to baldness that doesn’t produce that plastic look. For the majority of men, genetic hair loss will be a reality at some point in their lives. But if the condition is spotted early enough then it can be tackled using proven hair loss treatments. The effect can vary from a cessation of hair loss to re-growth that looks natural.

In real-life, Willis seems content being bald and has been quoted as saying, “Hair loss is God’s way of telling me I’m human”. But this does not mean that every man should or will feel the same way. For many men, losing hair can be a distressing experience.  And just as a man has the right to go for the bald look, so too a man should have the option of maintaining his locks.

Hair loss can be successfully treated without the use of plastic surgery. Take a look at one of Belgravia clients and follow video footage of a hair loss treatment programme.

If you are noticing thinning hair or any hair loss, call the Belgravia Centre for a consultation (which is free) with a specialist. We can diagnose the condition and advise on treatment. To book an appointment, please call 020 7730 6666 or message the centre. Alternatively, complete the online diagnostic form and a treatment advisor will be in touch.

More Information:
Hair Loss in Men
Hair Loss Success Stories

Interesting Articles:
Hair Loss and Action Heroes: Could Bond Be Bald?
Is Baldness Predictable? Home DNA Testing for Hair Loss
Eric Bana Knows Bald is Not Beautiful in Hollywood

When the current Bond, actor Daniel Craig, was first unveiled to the public, there was uproar among some who thought his quirky, rugged good looks were not in keeping with the suave charm of Ian Fleming’s leading character. However, after appearing in two great films, it seems we have warmed to Craig, but how would we feel if Bond suffered from hair loss? Would there be a national outcry? All of the six actors who have so-far played Bond have had hair in the role.

So it may surprise you to know that among the many actors who have auditioned for Bond, and failed to be chosen, is veteran of British theatre, film and television, Sir Michael Gambon. In 1970, Gambon screen-tested for the role but was unaware at the time for which part he was auditioning to play. When he found out, Gambon was shocked and told Bond producer Albert ‘Cubby’ Broccoil the traits that made him unsuitable: baldness, teeth “like a horse’s” and “tits like a woman”. Cubby’s deadpan reply was, “So did Sean!”

Action heroes that are bald are more likely to be of the butch, aggressive kind (think Bruce Willis as John McClane in Die Hard, Vin Diesel in The Fast and the Furious). For the time being, it seems that Bond will retain a full head of hair. However, most men of Bond’s age either have or will develop male pattern baldness. By the age of 35, 2 in 5 men will show signs of hair loss, which rises to two-thirds by the age of 60. So how does the handsome spy keep his locks? Perhaps Bond will always be a character who takes time to look after his mane and pops in for his hair loss treatments when he is off duty.

If you are concerned about hair loss, the sooner you have it checked out and treated, the better your chances of maintaining a healthy head of hair for all those leading ladies to admire. The Belgravia Centre offers free consultations with a hair loss specialist. To book an appointment, please call 020 7730 6666 or message the centre. Alternatively, if you are unable to make it into the clinic because you are half way round the world fighting off evil villains, then you can always fill out the online diagnostic form for a mail order treatment service.

More Information:
Hair Loss in Men
Hair Loss Success Stories

Interesting Articles:
Hollywood Star Samuel L. Jackson on Hair Loss
Tom Cruise Using Minoxidil for Thinning Hair
Why Men Worry About Baldness But Do Nothing

Liberal Democrat MP Chris Huhne has removed an insult directed at Conservative William Hague from his conference speech, reported the Daily Mail yesterday. Huhne, the party’s home affairs spokesman, had prepared a speech for his party conference in Bournmouth yesterday, in which he labelled bald Hague as a “skinhead who has gone around the beer cellars of Europe and come up with the dregs”. The criticism was to be an attack on the Conservative’s alliance with right-wing parties in Europe but Huhne later edited out the comment for fear it would overshadow his message.

The Lib Dems’ Chief of Staff, Danny Alexander, said of Huhne’s jibe about Hague’s hair loss, ‘”There was a line in an early draft, and I think he decided that the substance of that was important, not getting into a discussion about William Hague’s hairstyle or his drinking habits”.

While this may seem like politicians playing normal games, looking for sound-bites that push their party line on the public, the fact that Huhne thought to include this in his speech reinforces the fact that people often think of bald people as aggressive. There is the stereotype of the football hooligan who is a skinhead and some of the leading bald actors play the ‘tough guy’ (think Vin Diesel, Bruce Willis). However, for a large majority of men, baldness is just a genetic fact of life. And it’s not just something that affects middle-aged men. By the age of 35, 2 out of 5 men will suffer from some form of hair loss, and primary cause will be genetic. This figure increases to 65% by the age of 60.

Perhaps Huhne, who has a full head of hair, is one of the few who will not develop male pattern baldness. Or perhaps, he knows about the proven hair loss treatments that can stabilize hair loss and encourage re-growth. There are two products available to men, Minoxidil and Propecia, which can be used separately or combined on an individualised treatment programme. Both have been licensed by the MHRA and ’FDA-approved’ for the treatment of hair loss in the UK and the USA respectively.

If you are noticing excessive hair loss or thinning hair, the Belgravia Centre offers a free consultation with a hair specialist. To book an appointment, please call 020 7730 6666 or message the clinic. Alternatively, complete the online diagnostic form and a treatment advisor will be in touch with you shortly.

More Information:
Hair Loss in Men
Hair Loss Success Stories

Interesting Articles:
The Norwood Scale – How Bald Are You?
Balding Politicians – Will Voters Accept a Leader with Hair Loss?
MP Mark Oaten, Who Said Baldness Led to Mid-Life Crisis, Releases Memoir

In these modern times, it’s acceptable for a man to be seen taking care of himself. No one bats an eyelid when a man goes to the gym, buys grooming products and takes care to dress stylishly. But while many men will visit a hairdresser and take time to style their hair before leaving for work or university, many do not realise the benefits of taking action to prevent future hair loss.

Hair loss affects 1 in 5 men by the age of 20. This doubles to 2 in 5 men by the age of 35. By the age of 60, more than two thirds of men will suffer. The cause of this is nearly always genetic. Male pattern baldness follows a distinct pattern – starting with a receding hair line above the temples, followed by hair loss from the crown. If left untreated, the entire top of the scalp becomes bald leaving hair at just the sides and back.

The good news is that the earlier the hair loss is spotted, the more successfully it can be managed. There are two proven hair loss treatments that can be used individually or combined depending upon the condition of the hair. Minoxidil and Propecia are the only products to have been licensed by the MHRA and approved by the FDA, the medical regulatory bodies in the UK and USA respectively.

Jonny Harris, Director of The Belgravia Centre, says, “My Grandfather (on my Mum’s side) was completely bald by his late 20’s.  I myself started losing my hair at the age of about 21 – I’d notice it coming out when I put wax in my hair in the morning, and I’d see my hair all over the floor of the shower.  Although I could see my hair coming out, my hair thinning wasn’t really visible at the time.  I began to use treatment and since then I have had no further thinning – I am now almost 27.”

Belgravia has been treating hair loss for many years. Take a look at our hair loss success stories below to see the results our clients are achieving.

By treating male pattern baldness in its early stages, a man significantly increases his chances of stabilizing the hair loss and generating re-growth. Belgravia offers a free consultation with a hair specialist. To book an appointment, please call 020 7730 6666 or message the centre. We are open 7 days a week and late nights Monday to Thursday. For a consultation via the website please complete the online diagnostic form and a treatment advisor will be in touch soon.

More Information:
Hair Loss in Men
Hair Loss Success Stories

Interesting Articles:
What’s the Significance of the MHRA and FDA When it Comes to Medications?
Why Men Worry About Baldness But Do Nothing
Early Signs of Hair Loss in Men and Women