Hair Loss Prevention 101

As we age, our bodies inevitably age with us. As men, we can look forward to beer bellies, bushels of ear hair and, of course, baldness. Though men like to think that they'll have a full head of hair well past their primes, reality tells a different story. By the age of 35, about two-thirds of men will experience some appreciable hair loss while nearly 85 percent of men will have significantly thinning hair by the age of 50. It's not all bad news, though. There are ways that you can slow a receding hairline, so sit tight as AskMen gives you a crash course. Welcome to Hair Loss Prevention 101.

What causes hair loss?

Although hair loss can be blamed on your mom and dad (i.e., genetics) there are other causes—preventable ones—that include nutritional deficiency, infection, prescription drugs, chemical hair products, and even emotional stress. Taking care of these, while focusing on ways to stimulate growth, should keep you well ahead of the pack in your hair-loss-prevention quest.

Eat more fish

Not only are fish loaded with protein and minerals, but they’re also an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D. Both nutrients have been linked to preventing hair loss in chemotherapy patients. That holding true for healthy men hasn’t really been studied, but both nutrients offer a host of other health benefits so there should be nothing stopping you from including more fish in your diet.

Keep your iron levels in check

Iron-deficiency anemia, which is more common in women, is a well-known cause of unexpected hair loss, but the loss may be so slight that you barely notice it. Adding some iron-rich foods to your diet like pumpkin seeds, quinoa or tofu may help if you run into any problems. This is particularly important if you’re a vegetarian looking into hair loss prevention, since it can be harder to get enough iron when you have to avoid red meats or eggs.

Don’t forget your vitamin B

Also important for hair growth are B vitamins biotin, folate, B2, and B12. In fact, some, like biotin, are so important that they’re prescribed alongside medical treatments for hair loss (like Rogaine). If you think you’re lacking vitamin B or any nutrient for that matter (like iron), speak to your doctor before you get yourself tested or go down the supplements route. An even simpler solution is to structure your diet accordingly, although getting enough biotin may be a challenge.

i have breast cancer i started my chemotherapy and I lost my hair ...

I wouldn’t take any hair-growth medicine without your doctor’s specific okay.

Remember, it’s going to regrow fully without help, now that the chemo is over. It may be slightly changed–how much curl it has or doesn’t, or a little thicker–but it’ll be back without any goading.

It’s hard to be patient–no pun intended–but I suspect Rogaine or something like it won’t speed up the regrowth. Meantime, be glad you’re beating your illness.

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