Studies have shown that most men – a good 25% – will experience the first signs of hair thinning between the ages of 30 and 35. By the age of 50 around 85% will experience significant balding. It may not be a problem for some but others find it discouraging. Men’s hair loss can greatly affect self-confidence and could even be a sign of waning health.

Unfortunately, one of the biggest factors in men’s hair loss is the genetic build-up of a person. If hair loss was an apparent trait of a person’s mom or dad then it is very likely that their son will inherit this trait. However, there are other reasons why a man would experience hair loss and those can be handled with a little determination and healthy living.

Handling Emotional Stress

Believe it or not but emotional stress plays a major role in men’s hair loss. Prolonged stress can cause short follicles to die off early and in most cases the damage will be permanent. As a matter of fact, stress can lead to 30 to 40% of the total amount of hair at any given time to die. This is a big contrast when compared to the average 15% of “dying” hair on a person’s head.

Eat More Fish

Fish are natural sources of Vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids. While these have been proven to be good for the heart, there are signs that they could prevent hair loss for men. There has been no conclusive study on this claim but the medical society is considering it as a positive lead. There are also a lot of other benefits in including fish in a daily diet so there isn’t much to lose in giving it a try.

Keep Up with Vitamin B and Iron Intake

The B Vitamins such as Biotin, B12, B2, and folate are all essential ingredients in revitalizing hair growth. That’s why they are often key ingredients in high-profile hair growing products like Rogaine. Iron-deficiency is more common with women but it is still a problem for some men, particularly vegetarians since iron is more prevalent in red meat and eggs, not vegetables.

Do not immediately jump to vitamin supplements. There could be certain chemicals triggering hair loss so it is always a better choice to first consult a professional doctor to determine which vitamin supplement is best. This is mostly important in order to get biotin since the rest of the B Vitamins can be naturally achieved through a better balanced diet.

Be Careful with Minoxidil and Finasteride

Finasteride is a chemical drug that will prevent testosterone from turning into DHT or dihydrotestosterone. DHT is the medical culprit in genetic causes for men’s hair loss and this drug can be used to slow the process down.

Minoxidil on the other hand is a mystery to the medical world. It is commonly used to treat high blood pressure but patients also noted significant hair growth as a side effect. How it achieves hair growth is still under debate but the results are undeniably there. There are possibilities for side effects when taking Minoxidil but are very minute and controllable.

Taking these should be a last-resort for anyone worried about hair loss. They are drugs specifically designed for pattern baldness – the genetic and natural occurrence of hair loss in men. Before taking any of these drugs, especially since they are non-prescription drugs that can be bought over the counter, it is advisable to try the first two methods listed above.