Myth #1: Male pattern baldness only affects older men.
It is thought that 50% of all men over the age of 50 suffer with some degree of hair loss. Hair loss does get more likely with age; this is just a fact of life. However, male pattern baldness can and does happen at any age. Some men even suffer in their early 20s or even teens.
Myth #2: I won’t suffer with hair loss if no one in my family has it.
Hereditary factors can play a role in who gets hair loss[2]. However, you can also be the only person in your immediate family to suffer with it. You might get it, and your brother doesn’t. Your dad might have it, and you don’t.
Myth #3: Wearing hats puts me more at risk.
Wrong. This is not supported by medical evidence. Cap, beanie or Stetson hat — wear them loud and proud.
Myth #4: Hair grows back thicker and fuller the more you cut it.
This is wrong too. There’s no evidence to support this claim. What is true is that hair can grow at different rates depending on where it is. It can also be thicker and fuller in certain places, and thinner in others.
Myth #5: Hair loss is permanent.
Hair can naturally grow back in places it once was lost, depending on the type of hair loss. Some types of alopecia caused by illness can be temporary and hair can grow back. Male pattern baldness tends to be permanent, but there are treatments that can slow hair loss down and cause regrowth in some cases.