First, let’s state the obvious: there’s nothing wrong with being bald. You don’t need hair and you are certainly not alone in losing it. In fact, it is estimated that half of men will experience a noticeable degree of hair loss before the age of 50. And yet we also know that the experience of baldness can take a serious toll on a man’s self-esteem – and there’s a multi-million pound industry ready to deal with the fallout. From topical treatments to next-generation transplants and hair growth “helmets,” there have never been more options for the follicular-challenged man. And some of them are quite exciting.
Before you bring out the big guns, there are plenty of more affordable options to explore (you can start by browsing some of the articles in our collection below). If you’re just trying to maintain the locks you have, for example, then a good shampoo and proper washing routine can go a long way. Men who are a little further along in their personal growth journey may also want to explore clinically proven medications—both oral and topical—that can slow the rate of hair loss and even promote healthy regrowth.
Already exhausted the obvious options? Well, there are some more advanced treatments that you may not have heard of yet. We tasked our editor-in-chief, Shane C. Kurup, with rounding up some of the most exciting.
Next generation hair loss treatments
Are you ready to take things on? Read this first.
Non-invasive clinical treatments
While transplants have permanent results, they can be a long and difficult process. Non-invasive treatments that have little to no downtime are increasingly popular. Uronyxin London, offers two advanced hair loss treatments that you could do during your lunch break.
Autologous Micrograft Technology
This is the newer, more advanced alternative to platelet-rich plasma injections, but instead of using blood, three small grafts of healthy hair follicles are taken to create a follicular stem cell suspension solution, which is injected into the scalp. Although it doesn’t actually grow new follicles, the formula is more effective at inhibiting hair loss and stimulating dormant follicles to grow thicker manes, with an 80% success rate in increasing hair density. Results can last up to 18 months when additional treatments can be administered. £2,850 per treatment
Tricopat hair restoration
An advanced delivery system to improve the efficacy of growth factor serum. It uses a dermabrasion tool with 0.25mm needles to create micro-traumas on the scalp, helping the penetration of the serum to increase oxygen and nutrient stores. The treated scalp is then exposed to LED light, pressure wave and electrical stimulation, which further increases blood circulation and extends the ‘anagen’ growth phase of your hair. A 2021 study of 30 men found a 14.61% increase in total hair count per square centimeter and a 13.62% increase in hair diameter after six months. A course consists of four 20-minute sessions, every three weeks. £1,350
Hair Transplants 3.0
Things just got a whole lot smarter… See what’s on offer in 2024 and beyond.
Stem cell technology
Stem cells seem to be the magic beans for dealing with many issues. We spoke to his Munir Somji Dr MediSpa Clinic and a key player in the development of stem cell hair transplantation.
What is stem cell hair transplant?
Taking a small sample of healthy follicles and cloning them. You multiply your healthy papilloma cells in a lab and then put them back on your scalp.
What are the benefits?
As you can create a large amount of dermal papilla cells from a single follicle, you don’t have to go through a large collection of your existing follicles, but you will have these multiplied cells to implant into the scalp. Essentially, you are not limited by the limited supply of hair from the donor area on your head – the supply of new follicle cells is pretty much infinite.
When will this process be available?
Five years ago, we thought it would be ready for release, but further tweaks are needed. It could be another five years.
Follicle banking
How about saving your healthy follicles for later in life? Bessam Farjo, hair restoration surgeon and co-founder Farjo Hair Instituteoffers this service with HairClonea hair loss biotechnology.
What is HairClone?
This state-of-the-art technique involves harvesting and concentrating hair follicle cells using cryopreservation. The procedure begins by extracting 100 hair follicles, usually from the back of your scalp. They are then cryopreserved (frozen) ensuring their viability for later use when the cloning aspect becomes available.
What are the benefits?
It’s an insurance policy – by tying up your follicles at an earlier age, you can protect against aging hair. Younger follicles will still behave their age even when used later on. It is minimally invasive.
How much does it cost?
There is a one-off fee of £1,700 and a fee of £1,200 for the surgery. It is £600 if done as part of a hair transplant. Annual maintenance costs around £100.
DIY topical treatments
Calecim Professional Advanced Hair System
A new topical growth formula treatment made with – you guessed it – stem cells. Created by Singapore company CellResearch, using red deer stem cells applied with a dermal sealing tool for better penetration. A six-week home course is £315.
FOL005 peptide
During a 2004 study by Swedish biotech Follicum on arteriosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries), researchers discovered that osteopontin – a bone sialoprotein – stimulates hair growth. It led to the creation of a patented peptide formula, FOL005, which is set to hit the market in topical gel form in 2025.
https://www.menshealth.com/uk/style/grooming/a62084201/cure-for-baldness/
