What is the Average Age People Start Losing Hair

If you’ve started noticing some of your hair falling out, it’s natural to wonder whether it’s temporary or an indication of more hair loss to come. That naturally leads to the next question: when do men typically start balding?

The answer is: it depends.

 

 

 

 

 

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While most men experience some loss of hair thickness as they get older, male pattern baldness (androgenic alopecia) can start at any age. When and how much you lose depends primarily on genetics, although statistics show that the likelihood of hair loss only increases with age. The following chart shows the percentage of men with noticeable hair loss at different ages.

Hair Loss in Teenagers

While you may feel like you are too young to start losing your hair in your teens, the reality is that hair loss can begin as early as 15 or 16 years old. While it’s uncommon, hair loss in your teens tends to come on gradually, beginning with thinning hair or a receding hairline.

Starting to lose your hair at this age can be especially difficult, as few people this age are experiencing the same thing. If you notice or think you are losing your hair at this early age, you should consult with a physician, or professional at Bosley, on the reason and what options are available to you. Chances are, there are ways to preserve your hair, especially if you start early.

Hair Loss in Your 20s

The majority of androgenetic alopecia (or male pattern baldness) sufferers start noticing their hair loss in their mid to late twenties. By age 20, about 20% of men have at least some visible hair loss. Since your 20s are often a time for finding yourself and meeting new people, hair loss can have a significant impact on your social life and confidence in general. And while some men feel comfortable shaving their heads and going completely bald, others have a harder time adjusting to this new reality. If you relate to this, now is a great time to address your hair loss and take action. The earlier you do something about your hair loss, the greater the opportunity to preserve your hair.

Hair Loss in Your 30s and Beyond

By the time you turn 30, you have a 25% chance of displaying some balding. By age 50, 50% of men have at least some noticeable hair loss. By age 60, about two-thirds are either bald or have a balding pattern. While hair loss is more common as you get older, it doesn’t necessarily make it any easier to accept. It’s never too late to address your hair loss. No matter what stage you’re in, there are solutions that can help.

Hereditary vs. Non-Hereditary Hair Loss

While the majority of hair loss is caused by male pattern baldness (which is a hereditary condition), there are other non-hereditary causes for hair loss — although these are usually temporary (unlike male pattern balding).

These hair loss causes can happen at any age, and will usually continue until the external factors have been addressed. If your hair loss is caused by any of these factors, make sure to consult your primary physician.

Lifecycle of a Hair Follicle

The average scalp contains about 100,000 hairs, and you lose about a hundred hairs every day. Many people lose up to 50% of their hair before they start to notice the thinning.
Each individual hair survives for an average of four years, during which time it grows about half an inch each month. Usually around the fifth year, the individual hair falls out and is replaced within six months by a new one. When the hair doesn’t cycle back to the growing phase, that’s when hair loss occurs. This is the normal growth phase of your hair and the technical terms for the stages of hair growth are:

• Anagen (growth phase)
• Catagen (transitional phase)
• Telogen (resting phase)

Summary

If your hair loss turns out to be hereditary (like the majority of male hair loss), you have a number of different options depending on your level of hair loss and your specific balding pattern. If you’re ready to do something about your hair loss, start by learning about the various treatment options that are available.

If you want to talk to a Bosley professional about your hair loss, schedule your free consultation now.