Testing Out 10 Of The Most Common Myths About Hair Loss
Few things attract more myths than hair loss. Perhaps it’s because of the importance we place on a healthy head of hair or maybe it’s because it’s an area we’re still learning so much about.
But it’s time to put these myths to bed and separate fact from fiction. We’ve put our heads together at The Hairy Pill® to look at some of the most common myths and misconceptions we hear.
They cover everything from the rumoured causes of hair loss to supposed cures and treatments. We’ll look at the research and dispel the myths. We’ll also offer some relief — because there are hair loss treatments that are proven to work.
- Does wearing a hat cause baldness?
- Does smoking cause hair loss?
- Does stress cause hair loss?
- Do haircuts cause receding hairlines?
- Does styling your hair cause hair loss?
- Does high testosterone cause hair loss?
- Do you inherit hair loss from your mother (or father)?
- Can minoxidil stop hair loss?
- Can vitamins stop hair loss?
- Is hair loss permanent?
Does Wearing a Hat Cause Baldness?
A lot of people worry that wearing a hat stops your scalp from ‘breathing’. But that’s not how the hair follicles in your scalp work. They receive oxygen and nutrients — everything they need to grow hair — via the bloodstream, not from the outside air.
The science is clear: There is no evidence that wearing a hat will make you go bald.
There’s one point of friction in this argument though — and that’s friction itself. Wearing a hat may produce friction between the hair and the fabric. It won’t cause male pattern baldness but it may weaken or break your hair.
Does Smoking Cause Hair Loss?
We already know that smoking isn’t good for your health but research shows that it may not be good for your hair either.
A 2020 study of 1,000 men, including 500 smokers and 500 non-smokers, found that male pattern baldness was statistically more prevalent among those who smoked than those who didn’t.
The research shows that smoking may be responsible for early-onset androgenetic alopecia.
While smoking may not directly cause hair loss, it may accelerate or worsen it if you’re prone to hair loss or already experiencing it. Researchers believe that smoking may increase oxidative stress (which causes cell and tissue damage), reduce blood flow, and damage the hair that’s left on your head.
Does Stress Cause Hair Loss?
We associate so many stressful events with hair-raising consequences. A fright makes your hair curl or stand up on the back of your neck. Stress and frustration make you want to tear your hair out.
So does stress cause hair loss?
The answer is yes and no. Everyday stress has no impact on your hair. Extreme physiological or emotional stress may cause temporary hair loss.
Genetics, not stress, predetermine androgenetic alopecia, the progressive type of hair loss that may lead to balding.
But if your body experiences an extreme form of stress or trauma (something like a severe illness or sudden death of a loved one), it may force your hair growth cycle into a longer ‘resting’ phase, triggering hair loss.
This type of hair fall, called telogen effluvium, starts to become evident a few months after the event and will usually go away on its own with time.
Do Haircuts Cause Receding Hairlines?
We hear plenty of anecdotes about hair not growing back along the hairline after a bad haircut. Though it sounds convincing, we can put this rumour to bed:
No, haircuts do not cause a receding hairline. A haircut is superficial; you only trim the strands. Even a close shave goes nowhere near your hair follicles.
A receding hairline happens below the surface, when damaged hair follicles lead to progressive hair loss. It is usually a result of age and genetics. A haircut just won’t do it. But some hairstyles might…
Does Styling Your Hair Cause Hair Loss?
You may hear your hairdresser or barber caution against certain hairstyles. There’s a reason for this.
Some hairstyles, including braids, dreadlocks, cornrows, tight buns, and tight ponytails, may damage your hair follicles and cause hair loss.
These hairstyles can pull on your hair follicles. If the tension is prolonged, it can weaken the follicles, leading to a type of hair loss called traction alopecia.
Does High Testosterone Cause Hair Loss?
Testosterone gets a bad rap. Many people blame their hair loss on the male sex hormone (which is found in both men and women at differing levels).
But how much do high testosterone levels have to do with hair loss?
It’s complicated but high levels of testosterone do not cause hair loss. However, some of your testosterone is converted daily into a hormone called DHT, which has proven links to hair loss.
Even then, genetics still plays an important role.
Many people have hair follicles that are genetically sensitive to DHT. This potent hormone shrinks sensitive hair follicles, reducing their ability to produce hair.
If you want to know more, we have an article that goes in-depth into the role of DHT on hair loss.
Do You Inherit Hair Loss from Your Mother?
It’s one of the oldest tales in the hair loss handbook. After taking the blame for so long, it’s inevitable for mothers to ask: ‘Will my son be bald if my dad is bald?’
For more than a century, it has been widely believed that the male hair loss gene is passed down through the mum. But how much truth is there to the myth?
There’s some truth to the idea that mothers pass on the hair loss trait but it’s complicated. You can inherit your hair loss from your mum and dad.
We’ve still got a lot to learn about the genetics behind male pattern hair loss. But here’s what we know so far.
There’s no single ‘baldness gene’ but the closest you get is the androgen receptor (AR) gene. This gene determines how sensitive your hair follicles are to DHT, the hormone that shrinks your follicles (see our article about testosterone and hair loss for more on this).
A huge study of almost 13,000 men found that those with the AR gene had more than twice the risk of developing male pattern baldness than those without it.
Now here’s the clincher for the myth: the AR gene is found on the ‘X’ chromosome, which is inherited from the mother.
But it’s not the only gene that makes you go bald. Male pattern hair loss is polygenic, which means multiple genes are involved — as many as 63. Only 6 of them are found on the ‘X’ chromosome.
And that’s before we even look at the other factors that may contribute to balding, such as your health, diet, and environment.
So we know that the whole balding thing is not just on Mum.
That begs the question…
Will You Go Bald If Your Dad is Bald?
It’s entirely possible, even if you haven’t inherited the AR gene from your mum. Melbourne researchers, including our own Dr Rodney Sinclair, found that more than 80% of people with noticeable balding had a father who had lost his hair.
Can Minoxidil Stop Hair Loss?
Available over the counter, minoxidil (most commonly sold in Australia under the brand name REGAINE®) is a topical hair loss treatment that helps enlarge blood vessels to facilitate the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the hair follicles.
Many men use minoxidil or REGAINE® (ROGAINE® in the United States) for frontal hair loss and it’s one of the most popular treatments for male pattern baldness.
But what does the science say? Can minoxidil stop hair loss?
Plenty of research shows that minoxidil is an effective treatment for hair loss but it may take time (on average 6–9 months) to see results.
One trial found that 5% topical minoxidil significantly improved hair density in men with androgenetic alopecia (providing 45% more hair regrowth than the 2% minoxidil treatment by week 48). The higher minoxidil dose also triggered an earlier response to treatment.
Some studies also show that topical minoxidil treatment may help promote hair regrowth for female pattern hair loss, although a 2% dosage is preferable to decrease side effects.
Can Vitamins Stop Hair Loss?
Pharmacies and even supermarket shelves are stocked with a plethora of generic hair growth vitamin supplements. But are they effective?
Only some vitamin and mineral supplements may help stop hair loss — and even then, they usually only work if they have been personalised to your body’s needs.
For example, if you have a deficiency in zinc, iron, or vitamin D, you may benefit from supplements.
If you’d like to know more or delve into the science behind each supplement, you can read our article about the efficacy of vitamin supplements on hair growth.
Is Hair Loss Permanent?
It’s the question everyone wants to know: Can you reverse your hair loss?
In most cases, the answer is yes. But how (and how much) you can reverse your hair loss depends on the type of hair loss and how early you catch it.
If your hair loss is caused by something like stress, hormonal changes, medication, or an illness, it is often temporary. Your hair may return to normal once the trigger has been removed.
There’s no cure for the most common type of hair loss, androgenetic alopecia. But if you act early, some treatments can stimulate dormant hair follicles to help stop hair loss and regrow hair.
Once a hair follicle is destroyed, usually in the later stages of hair loss, your hair loss may be permanent.
Get Started on Your Personalised Hair Loss Treatment Now
If there’s one thing you can take away from this myth-busting article, it’s this:
Regardless of what causes your hair loss, there is something you can do about it.
The Hairy Pill® is a men’s and women’s hair loss treatment plan with a specific formulation that is personalised to your needs.
Along with customisation and home delivery, the treatment service includes phone consultations with doctors with experience in hair loss and can answer all your questions.
And the best bit? It’s just one pill, taken daily. Get started now.
