If you’re noticing hair loss around the temples, you’re not alone. Hair loss or thinning in this area is actually a common experience for many men.
While it is often connected to genetics and hormonal factors, there are other potential culprits, as well as some key steps you can take to prevent it.
Read as we explain why you may be losing hair in the temple area and what you can do about it.
How to tell if you're losing hair on your temples
Hair loss on temples often begins subtly but can progress to more noticeable thinning over time. Here are some typical signs and stages [1]:
- Gradual thinning: The first symptom is typically gradual thinning at the edges of the hairline around the temples [1].
- Receding hairline: As temple hair loss progresses, it may create a visible recession that reshapes the hairline into an "M" or "U" pattern. This generally affects both temples, though one side may thin faster than the other.
- Shortened hair growth cycle: You may notice that hair in these thinning areas grows more slowly. This might be due to a shortened growth cycle, where hair follicles produce progressively thinner, weaker hair over time.
- Reduced hair density and texture changes: In addition to recession, hair at the temples often becomes finer or softer, giving the impression of reduced density and contributing to a patchy appearance.
What causes temple hair loss?
Hair loss or thinning at the temples in men is typically influenced by the following factors [2]:
Genetics and hormonal changes
Ever heard about the baldness gene? Androgenetic alopecia, or male pattern baldness, is primarily driven by this gene, which impacts your hair follicles' sensitivity to a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (or DHT, for short).
Basically, if you're sensitive to DHT, it binds to your hair follicles, causing them to shrink and eventually stop producing visible hair. This usually starts at the temples, followed by the crown of the head.
So, if you've seen a lot of temple hair loss in your family tree, your DNA might just be to blame.
Hormonal changes, although often associated with female pattern hair loss, can also impact men.
They often kick in as you age — your testosterone starts to drop, your DHT production ramps up, and you may start to notice a thinning hairline.
Stress
Stress may also be the reason why those temples have started to look a little more sparse.
When you're stressed, your body releases cortisol, aka the stress hormone. When your cortisol levels are too high, they can disrupt your hair growth cycle, pushing more hair into the 'resting phase' and leading to what is called telogen effluvium.
The resting hairs stay attached to the hair follicles at first, but about 2-4 months later, they start to shed as they are pushed out by new hair growth [3].
So, you don't lose hair at the same time as you experience the stress. It is actually a delayed symptom — and a sign of hair regrowth.
However, the hair that grows back can often be weaker and finer than before — so it's important to address your stress levels, so you can not only prevent further hair loss but also start growing strong, healthy hair again.
Nutritional deficiencies
Low levels of certain essential nutrients can weaken your hair structure, making your hair more prone to shedding, particularly in sensitive areas like the temples.
Although you don't need any special tests in order to get male pattern baldness diagnosed, if you believe a deficiency may be at play, it's important to chat with your doctor, so they can help you address it.
If you're low on iron, for example, there's less oxygen getting to your hair follicles and, as a result, they may not have enough fuel to keep stimulating hair growth.
Protein is another one; a lack of this important macronutrient can trigger what's called acute telogen effluvium.
A common symptom of a zinc deficiency is hair loss where hair follicles come out in sizeable clumps, and too little biotin (or vitamin B7) can lead to thinning hair and, in some cases, hair loss.
The best way to prevent vitamin deficiencies from impacting how healthy your hair is — or how much of it stays on your dome — is to eat a varied and balanced diet packed full of lean protein, whole grains, veggies, and fruit.
Hairstyles and traction alopecia
Last but not least, tight hairstyles can contribute to traction alopecia. This type of hair loss occurs as a result of prolonged tension on the hairline and can become permanent if left unaddressed.
Now, tying up your hair every now and then is fine. It's the constant pulling that could get you into trouble.
So if you wear tight braids or a tightly-pulled bun every day, just remember to give your hair a break from time to time. If you still want to have it out of your face, using bobby pins or a claw clip are two way gentler alternatives.
How to hide temple hair loss
Looking for quick ways to camouflage your temple hair — or lack thereof? These tips may help:
Experiment with different haircuts
The right haircut can make your hair look a lot fuller than it actually is. If the hair around your temples is thinning, here are some new looks to consider:
- Buzz cut. Since it is quite close to the scalp on the sides and back, a buzz cut looks nice and even, focusing the eye towards the top of the head, rather than the temples. A crew cut, high taper fade, or Caesar cut can also achieve the same results.
- Clean shave. Committing to a clean shave may seem like a daunting step for some, but if you're ready, why not? Not only is it sure to even out any patchy areas, but it's also super low-maintenance.
- Long hair. On the other end of the spectrum, there's long hair. Now, we know what you may be thinking: "I'm reading an article about hair loss and your tip is for me to... grow long hair?" We hear you, but if it's mainly your temples that are thinning, you may still be able to achieve a good length that will help to hide that annoying hairline recession.
Use scalp concealer
You may have never heard about scalp concealer before but this clever hair product is perfect for hiding thinning patches, on your temples or otherwise. It's pretty much like makeup for your scalp.
You can get it in powder form, spray, cream, or even little fibres. Applying it couldn't be easier: you slap it onto your dome, it blends into your scalp, and suddenly, you've got a brand-new hairline.
Some scalp concealers even make your hair look more voluminous, and the best part is that many are water- and sweat-proof, so they stay on for ages — even if you're out playing footy or on a big night out with your mates.
Is temple hair loss reversible?
Playing around with new 'do and using scalp concealer are two effective ways of temporarily hiding your temple hair loss — keyword here being 'temporarily'.
So, can you actually reverse it for good?
Thankfully, yes, there are many ways to stimulate hair growth, whether through lifestyle changes, medical treatments, or even hair transplants (although these are invasive and pricey, to say the least).
How to treat temple hair loss
Let's start with some lifestyle tweaks to promote temple hair regrowth, and then move on to medical options:
Manage stress
There are many ways to manage your stress levels. Relaxation techniques like meditation or journalling, for example, can go a long way [4].
If you prefer something a bit more intense, exercise can also reduce stress and, as a result, promote hair growth (though it is only one piece of the puzzle).
And this is actually science: when you exercise, the endorphins kick in and your mood starts to lift — it's basically like a natural high.
Plus, whether you're smashing weights, going for a run or finding your zen at a yoga class, while you're moving your body, you're way less likely to concentrate on whatever's causing the stress.
When your stress levels are well-regulated, your hair will cycle through its growth stages naturally, leaving you with strong, healthy hair.
Maintain a nutrient-rich diet
On nutrition, we mentioned before that a varied diet is key to keeping your hair healthy — and that you want to make sure you're getting enough iron, biotin, zinc, and vitamin D to support hair and scalp health [5].
But, what foods specifically should you add to your grocery list? A few that can help you naturally treat hair loss include:
- Berries
- Green leafy vegetables, like spinach, kale and collard greens
- Avocado
- Seeds and nuts
- Capsicum
- Sweet potato
- Fatty fish like salmon, tuna, and sardines
- Eggs
As for what to avoid, high-fat foods can cause your scalp to produce more oil, which can impact hair growth; while high-sugar foods can lead to those hormonal shifts we mentioned before.
You also want to avoid drinking too much. A schooner here and there isn't a huge issue, but too much alcohol can deprive your body of essential nutrients, particularly zinc, a super important one for those who experience male pattern hair loss.
Practise gentle hair care
As you can imagine, the right hair products can make a world of difference in how healthy your hair is.
When treating hair loss, you want to go for milder formulas containing active ingredients to target thinning hair and minimise breakage.
Developed with Aussie hair care experts, Pilot's Hair Growth Shampoo & Conditioner Duo gives your follicles the best chance to thrive.
The shampoo supports fuller-looking hair, while helping to reduce pesky dandruff to ensure your noggin looks and feels its best. The conditioner helps to hydrate and thicken your hair while also controlling dandruff and strengthening it.
Men who treat hair loss early have a better chance of keeping and regrowing their hair, so if your temples have to look a little... scarce, this duo is a must-have for your shower caddy.
While we're on the topic of gentle hair care, remember to avoid tight hairstyles (we already know how they can contribute to temple hair loss), as well as heat styling.
Too much heat on your hair can easily cause damage, which in turn can lead to breakage. If you blow-dry your hair every day, it may be time to change up your hair routine.
Put Pilot's hair loss treatment to work
Whether you're losing hair around the temples, or anywhere else on your head, Pilot's hair loss treatment offers the most effective clinical solutions to help you both maintain and regrow hair — and it has helped thousands of men achieve real results.
The personalised treatments can target hair thinning, a receding hairline, or advanced hair loss, so there are different options to suit your personal needs.
Your treatment is organised over the phone through consultation with a health practitioner and delivered straight to you, so the whole process is both easy and discreet.
Image credit: Guto Macedo via Pexels
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