A normal head consists of 100,000 to 150,000 hairs (based on scalp size and natural hair density). Daily hair loss in men is a natural occurrence and most men will have an average hair loss between 50-100 hairs per day. Losing more than 100 hairs per day is classified as excessive hair loss.
Most men will go through the process of increased hair loss at some age (there is evidence to suggest hereditary factors are involved). Men produce high levels of the hormone Testosterone and this is converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. An excess of DHT shrinks hair follicles and over time they become so small that they cannot replace lost hairs. The follicles are still alive, but are no longer able to perform their task of producing healthy hair.
Men generally experience 'vertex balding' (crown area) and/or 'receding frontal hairline' (bitemporal recession), but can also suffer from 'diffuse thinning' throughout the top of the head. Typically, at first the hair begins to recede at the front (i.e. hairline moves further backwards). Usually the hair on top of the head starts to thin out at the same time and gradually a bald patch develops in the middle of the scalp (crown area). The vertex balding will grow outwards and the receding front will extend backwards until they both meet resulting in no hair being visible on top of the head.
Most men are left with hair around the back and sides of the scalp resulting in the stereotypical image of a man with male pattern baldness. The end result of vertex balding, the receding hairline and the strip of hair remaining around the back and sides is more commonly known as Male Pattern Baldness.
This is the common type of hair loss that develops in most men, usually taking 15-25 years to go bald, but some men go from a full head of hear to being bald in less than 5 years.
In some men there is total hair loss which leaves a completely bald scalp.
The most effective and guaranteed hair replacement solution for hair loss is to use hair systems.