Who Is More Likely to Lose Their Hair — Men or Women?
Published on August 3, 2026
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Both men and women can lose their hair. But they probably won’t experience hair loss in quite the same way.
Men are almost expected to lose their hair, especially as they get older; it also tends to follow a fairly predictable pattern. Women, on the other hand, can also be susceptible to hair loss, though it’s far less likely to be talked about openly.
When it comes to male and female hair loss, there are ways to slow down the shedding process or even regrow some hair.
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What Statistics Show and Why It Matters
Androgenetic alopecia — also known as male or female pattern baldness — is by far the most common form of hair loss in both men and women. As many as 80 percent of men will develop androgenetic alopecia by age 70, but surprisingly, so do 50 percent of women.
“I see a fair amount of androgenetic hair loss in both men and women, with recent shifts toward women, as they are seeking treatment earlier,” says Neal Shah, MD, PhD, a dermatologist at Stony Brook Medicine in New York.
In men, male pattern baldness can start in early adulthood. About 1 in 4 men start losing their hair before they turn 21. By the age of 35, about 2 in 3 men have started losing some hair. Women, however, tend to start losing hair later in life, partly because of hormonal shifts during pregnancy and menopause that can lead to hair shedding and altered hair growth. One study found that most consultations for hair loss in women occur between ages 30 and 59. Dr. Shah notes that many women consult a doctor only after trying to fix the problem themselves with hair products or by covering up the loss with a different hairstyle.
Causes of Hair Loss in Women vs. Men
Although hair loss is common among both men and women, but the reasons for the shedding often differ.
Causes in Men
Male pattern baldness is caused by the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is more prevalent in men. DHT gradually shrinks hair follicles, leading to a receding hairline, thinning at the crown, or both.
While there’s a genetic component to male pattern baldness, the long-held notion that the trait is inherited from the mother’s father is not entirely true, and some experts believe other unknown factors are at play.
Hair loss in men can also be a side effect of certain drugs, such as those used for cancer, arthritis, depression, or heart disease. Stress and scalp infections like ringworm can also cause hair loss.
Causes in Women
Women are also commonly affected by androgenetic alopecia, and age and hormonal fluctuations often play a central role.
“Perimenopausal and postmenopausal women have a shift toward testosterone-induced hair loss like men with a slightly different visible distribution,” says Shah. Unlike men, who often develop a receding hairline and bald spots at the temples or crown, women typically experience diffuse thinning across the top of the scalp while their frontal hairline remains largely intact.
Hair loss or increased shedding may occur during pregnancy, after childbirth, and throughout perimenopause and menopause. They may also occur due to medical conditions, including:
- Telogen effluvium, a type of stress-related shedding that’s more prevalent in women than men
- Polycystic metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), a condition in which high levels of androgen hormones can contribute to hair loss, among other symptoms
- Alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease that attacks your body’s hair follicles, causing patchy hair loss. Research suggests that women are more likely to develop this condition, too.
- Thyroid disorders, including hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, which can disrupt the hormones that regulate the hair growth cycle, causing hair follicles to leave the growth phase too early
- Traction alopecia, which is caused by tight hairstyles that pull on the hair
- Iron deficiency and other nutritional deficiencies
- Chemotherapy or radiation treatment, which can damage the cells in your hair follicles, causing the hair to fall out
Treatment Options
Early intervention is the key to success with hair loss treatment. Shah says treating the underlying issue that’s causing your specific issue is first and foremost. Working with a dermatologist can help you find an option that works best for you.
Medications
These products are often topical and come in creams, lotions, and shampoos.
- minoxidil (Rogaine), a topical medication that’s approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat both male and female pattern baldness. It’s available over the counter and doesn’t require a prescription.
- finasteride (Propecia), a prescription medication that is FDA-approved to treat male pattern baldness. Most commonly, it’s available as an oral tablet, but it can also be taken as a topical solution or spray.
- corticosteroids, which can help reduce inflammation and both slow the speed of hair loss and treat sudden and extensive hair loss. These can be injected, applied to the skin, or taken orally.
Other medications, such as low-dose oral minoxidil, dutasteride, doxycycline, spironolactone, and ketoconazole can be used off-label and can be a helpful secondary treatment, says Shah. “These all come with side effects, risks, and benefits that we tailor to each person,” he adds.
Hair Regrowth Procedures
If medications alone aren't enough, several in-office procedures may help stimulate new hair growth or restore hair in areas of significant thinning.
- Hair Transplant This procedure removes hair from one part of your body and transplants it to the scalp.
- Light Therapy Medical-grade lights are directed at the scalp to help regrow hair.
- Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy A healthcare provider draws a sample of your blood, concentrates the platelets, and injects them into your scalp to help stimulate hair growth.
Resources We Trust
- Cleveland Clinic: Hair Loss in Women
- MedlinePlus: Male Pattern Baldness
- American Academy of Dermatology: Hair Loss Resource Center
- Rush University Medical Center: Alopecia
- American Hair Loss Association: Hair Loss Organizations
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
- Male and Female Pattern Hair Loss: A Guide to Clinical Presentations and Diagnosis. Cleveland Clinic. June 9, 2021.
- Gupta AK et al. Epidemiological Landscape of Androgenetic Alopecia in the U.S.: An All of Us Cross-Sectional Study. PLoS One. February 27, 2025.
- Men’s Hair Loss. American Hair Loss Association.
- Gupta AK. Menopause and Hair Loss In Women: Exploring the Hormonal Transition. Maturitas. July 2025.
- Androgenic Alopecia. MedlinePlus. July 27, 2023.
- Hair Loss. Mayo Clinic. February 7, 2026.
- Hair Loss in Women. Cleveland Clinic. February 9, 2024.
- Asghar F et al. Telogen Effluvium: A Review of the Literature. Cureus. May 27, 2000.
- Alopecia Areata. National Alopecia Areata Foundation.
- Hussein RS et al. Impact of Thyroid Dysfunction on Hair Disorders. Cureus. August 10, 2023.
- Traction Alopecia. StatPearls. May 4, 2025.
- Vitamins, Minerals, and Hair Loss: Is There a Connection? Harvard Health Publishing. April 22, 2024.
- Hair Loss Treatments. Cleveland Clinic. February 9, 2024.
- Hair Loss: Diagnosis and Treatment. American Academy of Dermatology Association. December 13, 2022.
- Hair Loss. Mayo Clinic. February 7, 2026.
Meet Our Experts
Oyetewa Asempa, MD, FAAD
Medical Reviewer
Dr. Oyetewa Asempa is an assistant professor of dermatology at Baylor College of Medicine, and the director of the Skin of Color Clinic for Baylor's department of dermatology. She ...
Cathy Garrard
Author
Cathy Garrard is a journalist with more than two decades of experience writing and editing health content. Her work has appeared in print and online for clients such as UnitedHealt...