How To Talk To My Partner About His Hair Loss? Tips To Start The Conversation

Written by the UPGUYS Editorial Team

Published on November 21, 2021

If your husband or boyfriend is on the verge of baldness or losing hair, and this makes you anxious and concerned, or you're wondering whether your husband is going bald or not and that you want to understand what they're going through, you've come to the right place.

This article will discuss the causes of balding, its signs, treatments, preventions, and, more importantly, how you can start a conversation about hair loss with your man.

In the following, you find:

- How to spot baldness in men?

- How will balding affect men?

- Talking about baldness with your man

- Know when to stop

- Exploring treatment options

- A hairy conclusion 

- Key takeaways

How to spot baldness in men?

Several factors can contribute to male baldness; let's review them and see how can you spot them:

There are four major factors that could contribute to hair loss in men.

1. Genetic

Baldness is associated with the AR gene found on the "x" chromosome. Research on about 12,000 European men found that people with this gene had more than twice the risk of baldness than those without it. Although this is not the only gene that can cause baldness. 

If your man has genes that will contribute to his hair loss, that's tough luck, but there are ways to manage this situation if caught early.

Bonus tip: Check if his father and uncles are bald because hair loss is usually hereditary. So check for male pattern baldness in their family.

2. Age

If your favourite guy has inherited hair loss genes, then there's a chance that you may see signs of it before he hits even 21. But with most men, by the age of 35, you can see a noticeable amount of hair loss.

All men - and even women - may lose some hair when getting older; in fact, 85% of men will have significantly thinner hair when they hit 50, and that's no cause for concern; that's just how life is.

Some thought-provoking statistics about hair loss

Bonus tip: If your guy's hair loss is exceeding natural expectations, you'll probably see that:

- He has a longer forehead (use old photos to compare)

- His pillow is full of hair strands (use a white pillowcase for a better inspection)

- The shower drain is full of his hair

- His hair comb is full of hair strands

- His scalp is visible

And if you see these signs, then there's a high chance that he is going bald.

3. Hormones

DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) is what makes guys go bald. It is an endogenous androgen sex steroid and a hormone, among many, that makes men, well, men! DHT controls body hair as well. 

An excess amount of this hormone can make a guy bald.

Definition of DHT

Bonus tip: Look for hair loss around the temples and crown of his head, in addition to a receding hairline. Another sign can be acne, as high DHT levels can cause them.

4. Big trauma or distress

Hair loss can happen after major surgeries, following the death of a loved one, or any emotional stress such as a divorce, etc. It's not uncommon for men - or women - to suffer from hair loss in difficult periods of their lives, and this type of hair loss usually stops when they emotionally stabilize.

Bonus tip: If your boyfriend has gone through a lot lately and you see he's losing hair, ask him what you can do to help and reduce his stress.

How will balding affect men?

Hair is a body part, and losing it can be challenging. While some men embrace the bald look, others try to avoid or treat it.

Some studies have shown lower confidence scores for bald men in comparison with guys that are not bald.

They might feel less attractive, less confident, and less desired.

Some men even express their frustrations with high treatment prices and state that they HAVE to stay bald because they can't afford a hair transplant or PRP therapy.

You must know that not all men react to this phenomenon the same. Some men don't mind it; some love it, and some may even look forward to having a bald head. 

It is essential to keep in mind that if your guy is happy with his appearance, you support him, and if you want to talk about this issue, you should take measures to do it gently, in a manner that does not overstep any boundaries.

Talking about baldness with your man

The subject of hair loss is sensitive, and it highly depends on each individual's outlook. Nevertheless, you need to take certain steps to start a positive conversation about it and help him seek proper treatment if that's what he wants.

Read more: How To Grow Hair Faster: 10 Tips & More.

Useful tips on how to have an effective conversation with your partner about his baldness

1- Try to understand his view and feelings

Going bald can trigger fear of getting old in your man. He might fear that you wouldn't find him desirable anymore or that he's losing control.

Try to be understanding and compassionate of his fears and emotions, and whatever you say, DO NOT discredit his feelings when he's sharing them with you.

2- Let him bring it up

If you don't want to seem insensitive or critical, you need to wait for the right moment to show your support. Let your man lead and wait for him to bring up the subject. When he initiates the conversation, you'll have the opportunity to share your support or opinion about it.

The bottom line is that you don't force the subject by bringing it up constantly, as he can get defensive about it.

3- Offer suggestions for healthy hair growth

While the leading causes of baldness in men are genetics and changing hormones, other factors such as depression, anxiety, stress, bad diet, lack of exercise, and smoking can negatively affect hair growth.

Encourage your husband or boyfriend to relax, eat better, exercise more, and quit smoking, all in a positive tone.

Show that you are with him every step of the way, and that you are willing to make adjustments (like going to run together and devise a healthy meal plan) to make it work.

4- Do your research first

Have trustable and verified information to share with him when he starts the conversation. Research different treatment options, and show your support if he chooses to try any of them, or even if he chooses to ignore them.

After all, it's HIS head!

Know when to stop

As covered earlier in this article, you must show your unconditional support to your partner. Always have in mind that his feelings matter most. So, if you have a happy, healthy bald man who expresses his happiness about his new look, you shouldn't start a conversation about this matter, as it may adversely affect his confidence.

Here's a list of dos and don'ts.

Dos

- Let him lead the way and start the conversation

- Let him choose whether he wants any treatments or not

- Let him decide what type of treatment he wants

- Let him express his feelings about the matter

- Express your support, regardless of his decision

Don'ts

- DO NOT force the conversation

- DO NOT withdraw your love and support, regardless of his decision

- DO NOT Guilt your partner into hair treatments

- DO NOT compare him to other men or his younger self

Exploring treatment options

Now that your partner has shown an interest in treatment, this is your time to shine and suggest various treatment options to help him make an informed decision.

Different strategies of treating hair loss

1- Medications

Some types of hair loss can be treated by medication. Prescription and non-prescription drugs can help with Androgenic Alopecia (male pattern baldness) by blocking DHT.

Medications are an effective way to treat hair loss and can, in time, help hair grow back.

2- Topical treatments

Formulas and creams featuring the proper ingredients may also stimulate hair growth by blocking DHT.

3- Laser hair regrowth devices

There are headbands, combs, and hats that harness the power of lasers and may help hair regrow. These devices target hair follicles with a low-level laser beam, reducing inflammation while simultaneously encouraging hair growth.

4- Hair transplant

Hair transplant is a procedure in which a surgeon or dermatologist moves hair strands from the back or side of the head to where the scalp is most visible, usually the front or top of the head.

If your partner doesn't want to go through any of these treatments, there are always wigs and hairpieces that he can use.

Read more: The 20 Best Foods For Hair Growth

A hairy conclusion 

As a partner of someone who is losing hair, what you can do is provide support and comfort and aid him in making a choice that he's comfortable with.

In a friendly and positive atmosphere, when your partner has started the conversation himself, you get to voice your opinions and suggest treatment options, as long as you're not pushy about it.

It's of utmost importance that you recognize it is ultimately his decision, his head, and his look.

But if you have a partner who is open to the idea of hair treatments, you can share your knowledge and impress him with the depth of your research on the matter!

Key takeaways

- Genetics, age, and hormones are the main three factors that cause baldness.

- Not all hair loss leads to baldness.

- Talking about hair loss should start with the one who's losing hair.

- Showing love and support, no matter what decision your man makes, is very important.

- There are several treatment options available for hair loss. Make an appointment and discuss it with your doctor.