Struggling With Hair Loss? Here’s What The Science Says

You probably noticed it gradually: your part looks a little wider; the hairline sits slightly higher than it used to. You tell yourself it's the lighting, or the way you slept, or that you've always looked like that. By the time it's obvious in the mirror, it's already been progressing for years.

The loss you're seeing at 35 was set in motion at 28. And, as much as you’d like to think otherwise, your hair follicles didn’t disappear overnight. They thinned out gradually, cycle by cycle, producing finer and shorter strands until eventually they stopped producing hair at all. The further along that process gets, the narrower your options become. Which is exactly why getting ahead of it matters.

If hereditary hair loss runs in your family, it's worth paying attention to your scalp earlier than you think you need to. And, when it comes to over-the-counter treatment, one product has the clinical support behind it: Men’s REGAINE^® Foam.

Minoxidil is one of the only over-the-counter ingredients with strong clinical evidence for promoting hair growth^[3]. It was originally developed as an oral blood pressure medication, with hair regrowth identified as a side effect and subsequently studied in depth.

Applied topically to the scalp, minoxidil is thought to prolong the anagen (active growth) phase of the hair cycle, giving thinning follicles more time to produce hair^[4]. It works best when those follicles are still active, which is why earlier use early tends to produce stronger results.

Apply Men's REGAINE® Foam after your morning shower while your hair is thoroughly dry, and again before bed as part of your existing wind-down. Keep it on the bathroom counter where you'll see it. The application takes less than a minute: part the hair at the area of thinning, apply up to half a capful of foam directly to the scalp, massage in gently, and wash your hands. A phone reminder for the first few weeks is worth setting until it becomes automatic.

The biology of hereditary hair loss is gradual by nature. DHT, a hormone produced naturally by the body, binds to receptors in genetically susceptible follicles and shortens the active growth phase of the hair cycle over time.

Each cycle, the follicle produces a slightly finer and shorter strand than the last. Eventually it stops producing hair altogether, and once a follicle reaches that point, topical treatment can't bring it back^[5].

What this means in practice is that the follicle that's currently thinning is still treatable. Men who act on the earliest signs of change give themselves considerably more to work with than those who wait until the loss is undeniable. 

Male pattern baldness

This is the most common form of hair loss in men and affects up to half of men by the age of 50^[5]. It tends to follow a familiar path, beginning with a receding hairline at the temples and thinning at the crown, and over time the two gradually meeting. It's hereditary, and linked to sensitivity to DHT, a hormone that affects the hair growth cycle over time^[6].

Telogen effluvium

Excessive shedding that occurs after physical or emotional stress, illness, nutritional deficiency, or major hormonal changes is called telogen effluvium^[7]. The good news here is that it’s usually temporary. Once the underlying cause is sorted, the hair cycle typically gets back on track.

General hair thinning

Hair thinning without a clear pattern can be linked to iron and thyroid changes or simply the natural shift in hair texture that comes with age. It may also occur alongside androgenetic alopecia, making it harder to distinguish the primary driver^[6].

If what you're noticing looks more like male pattern baldness than anything else on this list, Men's REGAINE® Foam is formulated specifically for that.

Your hair is worth getting ahead of. Hereditary hair loss is gradual, predictable and – for most men – very much something you can do something about. Men's REGAINE® Foam is where you start, and it’s available without prescription. Ready when you are.

Shop Men’s REGAINE® in-store and online at Chemist Warehouse.

^1. Client calculation based in part on data reported by NIQ through ScanTrack Service for the Hair Care category for the 52-week period ending date for the Australia Grocery and Pharmacy channel, according to Client defined product hierarchy. Copyright © 2025, Nielsen Consumer LLC.

^2. Olsen EA et al. J Am Acad Dermatol 2007; 57; 767–774. Self-assessment after 16 weeks of treatment. Individual results may vary. Research sponsored by Regaine.

^3. Minoxidil: a comprehensive review.

^4. Minoxidil activates pathway in human dermal papilla cells.

^5. Male Androgenetic Alopecia.

^6. Androgenetic Alopecia

^7. Telogen Effluvium.

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^{Article content disclaimer: Always read the label and follow the directions for use.  Sponsored content in partnership with REGAINE®.}