How to Prevent Hair Loss

Hair loss is often preventable, especially when it’s treated in the early stages. Being proactive and getting your hair loss evaluated by a doctor so you get the right treatment gives you the best chance at stopping it.

Hair loss doesn’t have to be a given. While it’s true that some forms of thinning are determined by your genetics, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t steps you can take to slow or prevent it from getting worse. In fact, if you catch it early enough, many types of hair loss can be managed. Here are some of the most common causes of hair loss and how to prevent them.

Quick Guide: 8 Tips to Stop Hair Loss (that Actually Work)

1. Identify the cause (pattern vs. temporary hair loss)
2. Be proactive about treatment
3. Use a DHT blocker
4.  Use minoxidil
5. Eat a balanced diet
6. Get regular health checkups
7. Maintain scalp health
8. Lower stress

8 ways to prevent balding

1. Identify the cause of hair loss (pattern vs temporary)

By far, the most common cause of hair loss in men is a condition called androgenetic alopecia (AGA) or pattern hair loss. This type of hair loss is driven by a male hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Your body naturally makes DHT from testosterone, and DHT is needed to maintain normal health. However, in some people whose genetics increase their chances of developing this kind of hair loss, DHT can cause hair follicles to shrink.

Over time and without treatment, these hair follicles can become permanently damaged and unable to produce hair. This is why many men who suffer from AGA end up with the classic signs of pattern hair loss: a receding hairline and a circular patch of hair loss at the crown, or very top of the head.

Luckily, AGA doesn’t happen overnight. That’s why we encourage men to look out for early signs of thinning and receding hairlines, it can be as subtle as noticing that your hairline is slowly moving upwards and back despite not changing anything about your hair styling routine or diet (both things than can affect hair health and therefore the appearance of your hair). For others, it might be a small, sparse patch of hair at the top of the head that slowly gets wider over time.

In addition to AGA, men can experience hair loss for many other reasons:

2. Be proactive about treatment -- earlier is better

We keep saying this and it’s because it’s important: consulting with a doctor or hair loss expert to correctly identify the cause of your hair loss could be the difference between hair loss treatment that works and doesn’t. This is especially relevant for men with androgenetic hair loss, which is progressive and typically continues to worsen over time.

Hair loss medications such as finasteride and minoxidil are backed by decades of research that support their safety and efficacy for treating pattern hair loss. Additionally, at least one study has shown that starting treatment earlier (when hair loss isn’t advanced) is associated with greater improvements in hair thickness and an overall more positive treatment response to medication (Yanagisawa et al., 2019).

For both AGA and non-AGA related hair loss, making lifestyle changes can stave off additional shedding, giving your hair a chance to recover. However, it’s important to understand that these complementary strategies, while potentially beneficial for stress-related hair loss, may not be as helpful if you’re experiencing AGA.

3. Use a DHT-blocker like finasteride or dutasteride

Finasteride and dutasteride belong to a family of medications called 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs). These medications require a prescription from a licensed physician. Note that while oral finasteride has been approved for the treatment of male pattern hair loss in North America, no forms of dutasteride are.

If you have AGA, 5-ARIs can make a big difference in preventing hair loss. These medications work by stopping the body from making DHT. With less DHT around, miniaturization (hair follicle shrinking) is slowed down, allowing hair follicles to continue producing healthy hair.

Many medications, including finasteride and dutasteride, can be prescribed in different formats. Topical finasteride and topical dutasteride are growing in popularity because they may offer more targeted hair loss treatment compared to oral tablets and potentially have fewer side effects. Note that these topical formulations are examples of compounded medications, which haven’t been approved by the FDA or Health Canada. These agencies don’t provide oversight over the quality, safety, or efficacy of these formulations. You can learn more about finasteride and dutasteride by visiting our blog pages.

4. Use minoxidil

Along with finasteride, minoxidil is a time-tested medication that’s commonly used to help prevent hair loss. Unlike finasteride, it is possible to get minoxidil over the counter and without a prescription, such as Rogaine®.

Compared to finasteride, minoxidil’s benefits for hair growth are more general. Its primary function is to widen blood vessels to increase blood flow, oxygen, and nutrient delivery to cells, promoting growth. Research has shown that minoxidil can also directly stimulate hair growth (Patel et al., 2023).

Because its effects are more general, minoxidil can help prevent different types of hair loss, including telogen effluvium, traction alopecia (hair loss due to excess tension on hair), as well as female pattern hair loss. The FDA has approved certain topical formulations of minoxidil in specific concentrations for men and women, but oral minoxidil tablets can also be prescribed (these are off-label and may be compounded in some cases). If you're interested in trying either the oral or topical forms but still aren't sure we have a great guide to help you learn more about minoxidil.

5. Eat balanced, nutritious meals

While eating well won’t necessarily make your hair grow faster than the rate of growth dictated by your genetics, it can affect the quality of your hair growth. This is because hair is primarily composed of protein; the building blocks of which come from what you eat.

You’re probably already familiar with protein-rich foods: poultry, beef, fish, and legumes like lentils and chickpeas. These are important, along with fruits and vegetables which are high in antioxidants and vitamins that are beneficial to cell health and metabolism.

Nutrient deficiencies can cause hair to become dull and brittle (more prone to breaking). They can also start to affect the health of the scalp, which indirectly affects hair health. This can present as excess sebum production, itching, or even dryness. These can cause inflammation which can negatively affect the health of hair follicles over time.

What about taking supplements to prevent hair loss? The reality is that true nutrient deficiencies in the general population are rare, so if you’re otherwise healthy, it's probably not necessary to take a supplement specifically for hair. Always consult with a doctor before deciding to take any supplements or herbal remedies. For example, there’s some evidence that supports Vitamin D’s potential role in fighting the inflammatory aspect of hair loss and supporting the growth of hair cells that produce keratin, the main protein in hair strands.

Can I prevent hair loss after taking weight loss medications like Ozempic and Zepbound?

Even if you aren’t using a GLP-1 to lose weight, sudden and significant weight loss can trigger temporary hair loss. It’s possible to lower your risk for hair loss associated with taking GLP-1s by working with your doctor to figure out the optimal dosage that allows you to maintain your weight loss goals in a slow and controlled way, while ensuring that you’re keeping up with an appropriate caloric intake (to lower the risk of a nutritional or caloric deficiency) and exercise.

You can learn more about the link between Ozempic and hair loss by visiting our blog.

6. Get regular checkups, including monitoring hormone levels

As men age, it’s normal for levels of hormones like testosterone and DHT to change. Low testosterone can cause noticeable physical changes like weight gain, decreased muscle loss, or erectile dysfunction. Low testosterone can be treated with hormone therapy.

There’s a common misconception that testosterone causes hair loss. This isn’t necessarily true, as we clarified above, it’s DHT that triggers pattern hair loss in men who have a family history of the disorder. Testosterone replacement therapy may increase the production of DHT, but testosterone itself doesn’t directly cause thinning.

Because of the potential for increased DHT levels, men taking testosterone replacement therapy often have concerns around whether this could increase the risk for hair loss. While hair loss is a known side effect of this type of treatment, whether someone has a genetic predisposition or a family history of pattern hair loss is important to consider when assessing overall risk.

It's worth pointing out that androgens are just one example of hormones that can change over time. Thyroid hormone imbalances (both hyper and hypothyroidism) can also cause hair loss or changes in hair quality. If you want to learn more, we have a whole article on thyroid related hair loss. Getting appropriate treatment for hypo and hyperthyroidism can help regulate hair follicle function and the hair growth cycle.

7. Take scalp health seriously

Many people want to know if they can prevent hair loss naturally. If there is an underlying medical reason for your hair loss, natural solutions may not give you the results that you’re looking for and may not be an option for men with more significant hair loss. That said, there are strategies and products that can support the look and feel of healthy hair, such as maintaining a healthy scalp and choosing hair products that soothe, strengthen, and hydrate.

Studies have shown that scalp health can have an impact on hair growth. Inflammation around the hair follicle can impede the hair growth cycle, and many studies have connected follicle inflammation to hair loss disorders like AGA (Chen et al., 2025; Peyravian et al., 2020). Inflammation can be caused by a few factors, including too much sun exposure, excess sebum (oil) production, or the overgrowth of certain species of bacteria and/or fungi.

Wearing a hat or sunscreen is key to minimizing the risk of UV damage to the skin. Also, don’t overlook the importance of keeping up with a regular hair washing routine. You don’t need to have a squeaky-clean scalp all the time, but regular washing with a gentle shampoo can help keep bacterial and fungal populations in-check and remove excess sebum.

The truth is that most hair care products are not designed to sit on scalp skin for an extended period of time (scalp serums are an exception), so it’s important to be realistic about ingredients and their claims. If you are interested in a scalp serum with a natural DHT blocking ingredients we offer a specially formulated hair serum that contains saw palmetto extract, a natural ingredient that can potentially support hair growth and prevent hair loss.

While we’re on the subject of scalp care: don’t forget to wash those hats and pillowcases regularly. Sweat, bacteria, and oil can build up in fabrics overtime, potentially exposing your skin and increasing the risk of inflammation.

8. Lower your stress levels

Stress and its effects on hair are well known. Research has shown that elevated stress hormones can negatively impact the hair growth cycle (Thom et al., 2016). In most cases, stress-related hair loss is temporary, and once the triggering event or experience passes, hair growth generally returns to normal.

Because stress comes in so many different forms, it could take a few tries to find a practice or solution that works for you. Depending on the nature of your stress, this could look like speaking to a therapist, counsellor, or trusted friend, meditating, getting exercise, being out in nature, or simply listening to music. The most important thing about stress is recognizing it and from there, taking steps to lower it.

There are physical types of stressors as well; things like undergoing major surgery or serious illness. These events put the body under acute stress, which can trigger hair loss along with other physical changes. In these situations, following your doctors' recommendations for optimal recovery is really important.

When to seek medical help for hair loss

Our goal with giving you tips on how to prevent hair loss is to help men feel empowered and more confident about taking the right steps to treat hair loss. There are situations when medical intervention may be necessary, for example, if you’re losing your hair because of an underlying medical condition or your hair loss is progressing.

If your hair loss isn’t getting better or worsens quickly, it’s important to consult with a doctor or other trusted healthcare professional. Additionally, if you notice that your mental health or personal relationships are being negatively affected by your hair loss or the fear of hair loss, these are also extremely valid reasons to reach out to a doctor or mental health professional. Preventing hair loss might be the end goal, but it’s important not to forget about other aspects of your life that could be indirectly affected by how you feel about your hair. Ready to take the next step? We’re here to help.

FAQ

1. What’s the #1 cause of hair loss in men?

Most men lose hair due to androgenetic alopecia (AGA), genetic “pattern hair loss” driven by DHT, which shrinks follicles over time. Early signs include a receding hairline or thinning at the crown. Other causes include stress, illness, medications, hormonal imbalances, infections, and nutritional issues.

2. Does early treatment really matter?

Yes, earlier is always better. AGA is progressive, and research shows that men who start treatment early respond more strongly. A proper medical evaluation helps distinguish AGA from temporary shedding like telogen effluvium, which is often reversible.

3. Which medications actually work?

There are two main types of medications to help prevent hair loss:

DHT blockers (finasteride, dutasteride) slow or stop follicle miniaturization

*Finasteride is FDA-approved while dutasteride is not. Topical versions are compounded (not FDA/Health Canada approved) but are increasingly used for people who want targeted treatment with potentially fewer systemic side effects.

or

Minoxidil (topical or oral) boosts blood flow and directly stimulates growth

4. Can diet or lifestyle changes prevent hair loss?

They support hair health but won’t override genetics. Adequate protein, balanced nutrition, and avoiding deficiencies (e.g., vitamin D) help maintain stronger, healthier strands. Sudden weight loss, especially with GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, can trigger temporary shedding.

5. What else should I do to protect my hair?

Check hormone levels (testosterone, thyroid) if symptoms suggest imbalance

Maintain scalp health (control inflammation, wash regularly, protect from sun)

Manage stress, which can disrupt the hair cycle

Seek medical help if shedding worsens quickly or affects mental well-being

Hair loss can be slowed or stabilized, especially when treated early, but getting a proper diagnosis is the key to choosing the right path forward.

References:

Chen S, Li L, Ding W, Zhu Y, Zhou N. Androgenetic Alopecia: An Update on Pathogenesis and Pharmacological Treatment. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2025;19:7349-7363. Published 2025 Aug 25. doi:10.2147/DDDT.S542000.

Patel P, Nessel TA, Kumar D D. Minoxidil. [Updated 2023 Feb 24]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482378/.

Peyravian N, Deo S, Daunert S, Jimenez JJ. The Inflammatory Aspect of Male and Female Pattern Hair Loss. J Inflamm Res. 2020;13:879-881. Published 2020 Nov 10. doi:10.2147/JIR.S275785.

Thom E. Stress and the Hair Growth Cycle: Cortisol-Induced Hair Growth Disruption. J Drugs Dermatol. 2016;15(8):1001-1004.

Yanagisawa M, Fujimaki H, Takeda A, Nemoto M, Sugimoto T, Sato A. Long-term (10-year) efficacy of finasteride in 523 Japanese men with androgenetic alopecia. Clinical Research and Trials. 2019;5(5). doi:https://doi.org/10.15761/crt.1000273.