Hair is a fickle friend. Some days it feels in great shape, others not so much. Despite the inevitable ups and downs, maintaining consistent growth over a long period of time is where the real rewards lie.
If you’re constantly asking yourself, ‘Why is my hair not growing?’ you’re in the right place. This blog outlines the core reasons why your hair may not be growing and some of the simple steps you can take to stimulate it into growth. Let’s get to it.
The causes
A lack of hair growth cannot be traced to one root cause. Every guy is different and there are a variety of causes that could be stopping your hair from flourishing. We’ve highlighted the most common below.
Male pattern hair loss
Thought to impact over 6.5 million men in the UK, male pattern hair loss is the most common cause of stunted hair growth. The condition is caused by a genetic sensitivity to the hormone DHT, a by-product of testosterone, which can disrupt the hair growth cycle and severely damage follicles over time.
Male pattern hair loss can be challenging to process, with many guys experiencing mental health issues after diagnosis. Remember: you’re not alone. 95% of hair loss in men is attributable to male pattern hair loss, and there are positive paths you can take to stop it and promote future growth. We’ll get to some of those solutions in a second.
Ageing
It’s no secret that most guys experience hair thinning the older they get. While this is often because of male pattern hair loss, ageing itself is also likely to be a cause for those over the age of 50. In fact, studies have shown that by this age, 85% of men will experience substantially thinner hair.
Poor health
High stress, excessive drinking and eating a poorly balanced diet will all impact the rate of your hair growth, not to mention the myriad other adverse health effects. Ditching these bad habits and enhancing your mental health could make a difference to your hair, improving its structure and laying the foundations for further growth.
The solutions
So - those are the common causes, but what are the solutions? Here are some of the key ways that you can stimulate hair growth.
Start a clinically proven treatment plan
Minoxidil and Finasteride are the only two medications clinically proven to treat male-pattern hair loss and are often used in combination to enhance effectiveness. Minoxidil is applied as a spray and helps to reactivate and revitalise hair follicles that have been shrunken by male-pattern hair loss. In contrast, finasteride comes as a tablet and works to block the transformation of testosterone into DHT, the hormone responsible for hair loss.
For many guys, a finasteride and minoxidil treatment plan is the correct route to take, but they aren’t suitable for everybody. We always suggest undergoing a professional consultation before committing to a treatment plan.
Treat your hair with care
Whether you’re styling, drying or washing your hair, the way you treat it will affect its rate of growth. Using a gentler touch gives your hair the space to grow and flourish while being aggressive can halt progress. Try not to use overly powerful hair dryers and be softer when using product, too. Trust us: your hair will reward you for it.
Cutting bad habits and eating a balanced diet
As we mentioned previously, bad habits such as smoking and excessive drinking won’t do your hair any favours. Cutting out these unfavourable actions will enhance your overall physical health and will be reflected in the health of your hair too. When combined with a more balanced, nutrient-rich diet, you lay the fruitful foundations for future growth. Foods high in protein, such as lean meats, beans and oily fish, are particularly beneficial too.
Conclusion
It’s important to note that these solutions won’t work for every guy. For instance, someone dealing with a more advanced level of male pattern hair loss on the Norwood Scale may require a different treatment process for a man in the early stages. Fortunately, for the vast majority of guys, there are plenty of options available for encouraging hair growth.
All of our blog articles are reviewed by our Medical Director before publication.
