Signs of Balding: Early Symptoms & How to Tell If You’re Balding

As we age, it's not uncommon to begin worrying about how our body is changing. For many, this means checking for early signs of balding.

If you don't know what type of hair loss, lifestyle choices, or symptoms may indicate a future of balding, this guide has you covered. We outline the main signs of balding, as well as their potential causes and treatments.

For those with a family history of balding or those beginning to experience hair thinning, read on to begin understanding your circumstances.

How to Tell if You’re Balding

For men, around 30-50% of the population will likely experience male pattern baldness (scientifically known as androgenetic alopecia) by the age of 50. In turn, around 49% of women will experience a type of hair loss throughout their lives, with female pattern hair loss being the most common.

With such high numbers, you're not alone in experiencing conditions such as a receding hairline or patchy hair loss. However, it may be hard to determine whether it’s just thinning hair or the early signs of balding.

It's always best to talk to a hair loss professional to determine if you're developing symptoms of male or female pattern baldness. In the meantime, you may begin to identify some of the signs yourself with the handy guide below. This can help you make an informed decision on whether to undergo hair growth treatment.

Signs of Balding in Men

The initial signs of hair loss and balding in men can differ greatly between individuals. You may experience one or more of the following symptoms in various orders and degrees of severity:

1. Hairline recession, especially along the temples, to create a distinct M-shape

2. Gradual thinning of hair at the crown of the head

3. Diffuse thinning across the entire scalp

4. Bald spots or strips

5. Excessive hair shedding daily, particularly when showering or brushing your hair

6. A dry, irritated, flaky, and/or itchy scalp

7. Hair takes longer to grow

8. Others notice changes to your hair

9. There's photographic evidence of hair loss or changes

10. An overall clearer view of your scalp forms

Any of these symptoms of male pattern baldness or hair loss can appear suddenly. In turn, they may take time to become noticeable, making it difficult to determine early signs of balding.

If you're concerned about developing any type of male pattern hair loss, consider keeping an eye out for these symptoms. Otherwise, book in a consultation with a hair loss professional to receive an accurate diagnosis and tailored treatment plan.

Signs of Balding in Women

Men and women alike can experience mild to excessive hair loss, with some cases leading to balding. For women, some early signs of hair loss may be similar to those of men, while others remain distinctly unique.

You may be showing early signs of balding as a woman if you experience one or more of the following:

1. Overall hair thinning across the scalp, but usually concentrated at the middle and/or top of your head

2. Excessive hair shedding after showering or brushing

3. A receding hairline at its centre point

4. A widening part or significant hair loss on either side of it

5. Less volume in your ponytail or other hairstyles

6. Bald spots

If you happen to style your hair with a side part, it may be more difficult to notice hair loss patterns around the hairline or the top of the scalp. So, be sure to regularly assess for a receding hairline or excessive loss of hair on your brush and/or shower drain to help with early identification.

Why It’s Important to Determine if You’re Balding Early On

Treating hair loss is best done with early detection, and male or female balding is no different. It's crucial to identify the early signs of hair loss to ensure you have sufficient time and resources to develop the optimal treatment plan for hair growth.

Beyond allowing for better planning, you may want to diagnose male pattern baldness or female hair loss to:

• Potentially identify an underlying medical condition

• Utilise cosmetic or medical treatments that work best during the early stages of hair loss

• Save time, money and/or effort by addressing hair loss early, rather than waiting for more extensive and expensive treatment options later on

• Allow for greater accuracy in a hair loss professional diagnosis

• Build back self-esteem and confidence levels

Getting female or male pattern baldness diagnosed early on may help you greatly in the long term. So, if you want to prevent further hair loss or determine why you're balding, consider booking a consultation with a hair regrowth professional right away.

Common Causes of Balding

Now that we know how to identify common signs of balding in men and women, it's time to understand what causes this condition.

There are many reasons why your scalp fails to grow new hair or excessive amounts fall out. However, female and male pattern baldness are genetic conditions that affect how your scalp responds to certain hormones. Namely, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which has been linked with the shrinkage of hair follicles that leads to hair loss.

Although not directly linked as a cause of balding, some of the more common and well-researched reasons for individuals to experience notable hair loss include:

1. Age

2. Menopause

3. Hormonal changes

4. Certain medications

5. Autoimmune conditions

6. Stress

7. Scalp infections

8. Regular wearing of tight hairstyles

9. Radiation therapy

The most accurate means of determining your hair loss cause is to seek out a professional opinion.

How to Treat Early Balding

Hair loss treatment at the early stages of balding may help to stimulate hair growth. There are various treatment options to choose from, but a hair growth professional may be able to design a tailored plan after an in-depth consultation. This plan may incorporate one or more of the following methods:

Prescriptive Medication

Some prescription medications are often used as a first course of treatment for pattern baldness. This usually includes minoxidil and/or finasteride, which can be taken orally or topically to stimulate hair growth.

By promoting blood flow to the scalp, these medications may kickstart hair regrowth that has lessened due to a series of conditions. Such effects may also be beneficial after a hair transplant to maintain the growth phase of the transferred hairs.

Management of Hair Health

In the case that your hair loss isn't caused by genetic factors, ensuring that you have healthy hair may go a long way to preventing further loss. Although these steps aren't a guaranteed measure of stopping hair loss, they may be beneficial all the same:

1. Eat a balanced diet that's rich in vitamins and minerals that support hair health

2. Avoid styling your hair with heat-based tools like straighteners or curling irons

3. Use gentle hair care products that don't contain any harmful chemicals

4. Avoid dyeing or bleaching your hair, as this can damage the hair follicles

5. Get regular trims to remove split ends and keep hair healthy

6. Keep your scalp clean and moisturised

7. Manage your stress levels

Even if these habits don't necessarily prevent hair loss, they can keep said hair healthy. This is crucial when looking into surgical options such as a hair transplant, which requires healthy donor hair from unaffected areas of the scalp.

Hair Transplant

One of the more decisive means of treating balding or hair loss, a transplant is a professional service tailored to your unique needs. Healthy hair follicles are precisely removed in small strips, typically from the back and sides of the head, and then transplanted to areas with thinning or bald spots.

Once there, the hair grafts eventually take root. The exact timeline of results differs between individuals, but new hair is expected to grow for years to come with proper care. The often permanent nature of this treatment makes it a popular solution for those living with hair loss or balding.

Non-Surgical Hair Regrowth Treatments

Beyond hair transplant surgeries, there are numerous treatment options for hair loss available at a cosmetic clinic. Each may be more beneficial for a certain type of hair loss or restoration goal, so it's best to discuss options with a hair growth doctor.

In the meantime, some of the more popular options you may consider include:

1. Growth Factor Therapy: Key growth factors are applied to the scalp to improve its condition and maintain hair follicle function

2. Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF): Uses your blood components to stimulate hair growth and support skin health on the scalp

3. Low-Level Light Therapy: Therapeutic red light maintains follicle function as a part of an ongoing hair plan

4. Scalp Micropigmentation: Develop further hair density after a hair transplant and hide signs of scarring with pigment deposits

Check out other treatments that may suit your hair restoration goals at your local transplant clinic.

Let a Professional Identify and Treat Your Early Stages of Balding

Still worried about whether or not you're experiencing the early stages of balding? Contact the team at Gro Clinics and allow us to perform an in-depth and completely free assessment.

With clinics conveniently available across Australia, we can provide a local consultation in-person or online. During this time, we will analyse your hair changes and overall health to create a personalised treatment plan.

Receive care that's made for you and your hair concerns with Gro Clinics.

Frequently Asked Questions

Am I losing hair or just paranoid?

It may be hard to tell on your own if you're experiencing the first signs of permanent hair loss or just being paranoid. To help soothe your concerns, consider checking whether you exhibit the more common signs of balding or thinning hair.

If you find your daily hair count of lost stands increasing significantly, or thinness in your remaining hair, you may want to schedule a professional assessment.

At what age does balding start?

Balding can start at any time, impacted by numerous lifestyle, hormonal and genetic factors. However, the most common age for female and male pattern baldness to begin is around 20-30 years of age.

Everyone's hair journey is different, so you may experience symptoms at an age outside of this timeline. Contact a hair growth doctor to learn more about your potential for developing baldness.

Can you fix balding?

Since most forms of balding are genetic, there's no method of outright 'fixing' the condition as of now. Regardless, the symptoms of hair loss can be slowed or managed through proper treatments.

In fact, new growth may also be stimulated with a personalised approach from a hair restoration professional.

Why is Gen Z balding so fast?

There's no current scientific proof that Gen Z is experiencing a faster rate of balding when compared to other generations. However, it's a common myth that has become more prevalent recently.

People believe Gen Z are balding faster due to higher levels of stress, poor diets, more hair products containing harsh chemicals, and even increased environmental pollutants. Again, this theory is without proof, but Gen Z should remain vigilant about changes to their hair density.