How can I grow thicker hair? A guide for men

Going bald isn’t exactly the thing you want to talk about over a frothy, but it’s something countless blokes go through at some point in their lives.

The Australian College of Dermatology reveals that 50% of men show signs of baldness by the time they reach 50 [1]. Known as androgenetic alopecia, or male pattern baldness, it’s completely normal to start thinning out as the years roll on.

But what if there was a way to have thick and healthy hair and give yourself more happy years with a head of luscious locks? In this guide, we’ll explain why your hair is thinning and what you can do about it.

What causes thinning hair?

Losing your hair is a normal part of being human. You actually lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day on average, but when you lose more, you’ll start to notice it as you enter the excessive shedding category [2].

Most of the time, hair thinning and hair loss are down to your genes and hormones, the same thing that determines hair texture and hair type. It's why some people have fine hair vs. coarse hair.

When it occurs, your hair follicle gradually shrinks over time, resulting in hair that becomes shorter and finer [3]. Eventually, the follicle doesn’t grow any new hair at all. But the follicle doesn’t necessarily die. That’s why it’s possible to grow new hair through treatments like hair transplants.

Genetics are the primary cause of thinning hair, with an estimated 80% of people with a predisposition to baldness impacted by it [4].

Of course, genetics isn’t the only reason. Other causes might include:

• Your hair care routine, including heat styling with hot tools like the hair dryer, styling products, overbrushing damp hair or your shampoo and conditioner choice.  
• Not eating a balanced and healthy diet
• Medications you take
• Medical conditions, such as chronic stress or immune system deficiencies

On a side note, you might be interested to know that hair thinning only becomes noticeable to the average person after losing at least 50% of the hair in a particular place, such as your scalp [5].

That’s why the risk of going bald increases with age. According to one study, the prevalence of baldness increased from 31% in the 40-55 range to 53% in the 65-69% [6].

Is it possible to make hair thicker naturally?

Hair thickness and hair density are 2 distinct concepts that are often confused. Before going into how to grow thicker hair, what do we actually mean?

• Hair thickness is the diameter of individual hair strands
• Hair density is the number of hairs per square centimetre

Your genetics primarily influences hair thickness because the diameter of each individual hair depends on the shape and size of the follicle [7]. Some treatments, like keratin treatments and volumising agents, may temporarily thicken hair.

When we talk about most proven treatments, such as hair transplants, what we’re actually talking about is improving hair density. As long as the follicle is alive, hair can be regrown. So, what we’re actually doing is increasing the number of hairs on your head to reverse baldness and cover up any thinning patches.

How do I grow thicker hair?

Growing thicker hair naturally is the holy grail in the cosmetics business. In the past, it was viewed as an impossible concept, with treatments focusing on improving hair density instead.

However, some studies show emerging treatments could increase hair thickness, along with structure and strength.

For example, a study involving bioactive collagen peptides found a correlation between increased hair thickness and stimulated follicle cell proliferation [9]. Meanwhile, some scientists have been studying whether plant-based topical treatments are effective. In one study, a shampoo using Plantago asiatica L. was used in a trial. Over 12 weeks, participants saw hair strand thickness improve [10].

However, it's important to note that these are extremely recent studies using small numbers of participants, and we’re only at the beginning of whether formulations directly addressing hair thickness instead of density work long-term. Moreover, these studies haven’t received broad peer review, but it’s an interesting development all the same.

How to treat hair loss

Treating hair loss is a matter of finding out what’s causing your hair loss and pairing that with the appropriate treatment to improve hair growth. Depending on why you’re losing your hair, it could be as straightforward as discontinuing a particular medication or slowing down hair loss by changing your diet or quitting smoking.

Realistically, since the cause of most hair loss is down to genetics, you’ll have to look further afield for options. Here are some ideas for different hair loss treatment solutions.

Hair loss solutions

Thankfully, science has given us an array of other treatment options for restoring hair bit by bit. Topical and clinical treatments are available in Australia for blokes worried about hair loss.

Certain shampoos and conditioners for thinning hair, like Pilot's Hair Growth Shampoo & Conditioner, are designed to lay the groundwork for thicker, healthier, and happier hair follicles.

Pilot also offers clinical hair loss treatment plans. Pilot’s clinical hair loss treatment is convenient, discreet and most importantly, effective. You can get started at home with our online quiz, which helps us understand your hair loss concerns. 

Next, there’s an appointment with one of our Aussie practitioners who will provide personalised advice and a treatment plan to support healthy hair growth.

Your treatment is shipped to your door, and you have access to unlimited follow-ups to discuss any changes. A straightforward way to boost hair growth from home.

Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT)

Otherwise known as red light therapy, this treatment uses red light wavelengths to boost hair follicles to increase hair density and thickness. Initially, it was explored by NASA for healing wounds sustained by astronauts in space.

It’s believed that it activates the enzyme cytochrome c oxidase in your cell’s mitochondria to produce more adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is the primary energy source your cells rely on. By activating this process, your hair follicles receive more energy and more blood flow to stimulate hair growth.

It doesn’t work on everyone, but some men have reported benefits. For example, in one study, 35% of men said they’d experienced increased hair growth compared to a controlled placebo group [13].

Hair transplants

Waiting until you’re experiencing advanced hair loss means many treatments might not work as effectively as you’d like. Instead of trying to restore hair follicles or encourage more growth, hair transplants rely on transporting follicles from donor areas to balding areas via surgery. As you’d expect, it’s classified as a permanent hair restoration solution.

Two hair transplant methods are used today:

1. Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE): Extracting individual hair follicles and implanting them into the target area.
2. Follicular Unit Transplantation (FUT): Removing a whole strip of healthy scalp from a donor area and dissecting it to create individual follicular units, which are then transplanted to where you want them to go.

A 10-year study examined patients who had undergone hair transplants. Alongside high success rates of 80-90%, it remains the only genuinely permanent solution to hair loss that’s maintained strong satisfaction rates over at least a decade [14].

Restoring thickness through the power of science

Hair thickness is governed by the size and shape of your hair follicles, which are governed by your genetics. Although there’s some evidence we might be able to target hair thickness, the most successful treatments concentrate on hair density and restoring the performance of your existing follicles.

At Pilot, we’ve got access to qualified Aussie practitioners and proven treatments to support you as you take on hair loss head-on.

Hair loss might be a natural part of getting older and your genetic makeup, but that doesn’t mean you have to take it lying down. Start sounding out some treatments by approaching a medical professional today.