Aging of hair in men – everything you need to know

This is one situation where men and women are equally affected, in that their hair changes with time. Men also experience aging hair! But what really happens? Find out all you need to know about hair aging in men.

Aging of hair in men...they always go gray first

George Clooney, Vincent Cassel and "McDreamy" from Grey's Anatomy are all examples of celebrities who turned the salt-and-pepper look into something sexy! But there was no special secret: as in women, the appearance of gray and white hair is the first symptom of aging of hair in men.

So why does this happen and who's responsible? As with women, genetics often play a role in hair aging in men. This means that there is no real age marker for the onset of white hair, and that different men will experience hair aging in different ways. Involved: melanin production by the melanocytes. Melanin is a pigment that colors the skin and hair. The various shades of skin and hair color found on different people are linked to the different quantities of melanin. With age, the melanocytes produce less and less pigment, and graying hair begins to appear.

Is there a link between hair aging and balding in men?

Are you going bald on the crown of your head or your forehead? Well, the good news is, this balding is not linked to hair aging. This is hair loss, also known as alopecia. Unlike hair aging, not all men are affected by hair loss. Hormonal and genetic parameters play a role. It is estimated that 50% of men are affected at age 50. It isn't uncommon to see young men, 25 or 30 years old, already starting to go bald...

Alopecia, or hair loss, should therefore not be confused with aging hair. It loses texture and grows in more thinly. In thinning out, the hair mass appears reduced overall and less dense.