How Do I Regrow a Thinning Hairline if I Have Afro Hair?'

Name: Shay

Question: Hello. I am 25 years old, with Afro Caribbean hair and I have noticed that my hair line is thinning very badly. I would like to know what is the best way to get it to grow back thick and remain that way without going through surgery. I’ve been thinking about getting a hair transplant but it’s too expensive and I didn’t want to have a visible scar at the back of head. I’ve tried castor oil and many other natural products to grow it back but I have not had any luck.


Answer: Hi, Shay. Hair loss around the hairline is a common sign of Male Pattern Baldness and is one of the most stubborn areas to treat. However, there are effective treatments available for a receding hairline that don't require surgery, and these are suitable for all hair types, including Afro hair.

As long as there are active follicles around your hairline and no truly bald areas - where the skin becomes shiny and smooth, indicating that the follicles have ceased to function - then there are non-surgical options. The two MHRA licensed and FDA approved male hair loss treatments are topical applications of high strength minoxidil and the oral tablet finasteride 1mg.

These elements can be used separately or together, assuming medical suitability is determined, but when treating a receding hairline generally finasteride alone is not recommended. The reason for this is that, whilst the minoxidil can help to promote hair growth, whether or not finasteride has any influence on hair regrowth where thinning edges are concerned, is unproven. The reason this one-a-day tablet is often used as part of a male hair loss treatment course is because of its action as a 'DHT inhibitor'.

DHT or 'dihydrotestosterone' is an enzyme in the body that causes thinning hair - and can lead to eventual baldness - in men who have inherited a predisposition to androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness). By hindering the formation of DHT, finasteride can prevent it from attaching itself to the hair follicles around the top of the head (the area affected by MPB), thereby addressing the cause of genetic hair loss at its root.

Castor oil and similar natural remedies for hair loss will not address this underlying cause, which is why they haven't been working for you. They may, however, improve the condition of your hair - just not a hair loss condition. After being assessed during a consultation, a dedicated hair specialist will be able to provide you with personalised recommendations for a hair loss treatment course tailored to your precise needs so that you are aware of all your non-surgical options, including hair growth supporting products, where appropriate.