What It’s Really Like To Lose Your Hair in Your Twenties

In your early 20s, your frontal cortex hasn’t fully developed. You’re probably still trying to get a handle on your identity, and you’re not even old enough to legally rent a car. It feels too early to worry about hair loss, yet early balding is surprisingly common. Research indicates that up to 30 percent of white men experience some degree of male pattern hair loss before they hit 30, with those numbers increasing with age. Percentages are often lower for men of other races.

If you’re noticing hair loss or are curious about the early signs of balding, knowing where to learn more about what to expect can be challenging, as much of the information is geared toward older men. To help, we spoke with 14 men who began balding in their twenties. They shared what they first noticed, how they coped with hair loss, and the advice they’d offer others in similar situations.

It’s Not Always Easy To Tell 

Some of the men we spoke to didn’t notice their hair loss until someone (or something) else pointed it out for them. 

• “I noticed thinning and loss at the crown of my head. At first, I really didn’t care, but it was pointed out by a coworker while I was seated.” —Jason C.

• “I’m a pretty tall guy, so before anyone ever told me, I found out about my bald spot on a surveillance camera at a dollar pizza shop in NYC one night…sobered up real quick. I was shocked at first and figured I’d come to terms with it. Over time, I started losing confidence before trying Hims about a year ago.” —Brian P.

• “I remember my barber first pointing it out, and from then on, I [was] very self-conscious and wondered if people were judging me when they saw my hair from behind.” —Everett F.

• “It was tough to start losing my hair. It made me feel very old, and others commented about it.” —Kevin L.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, it’s normal to shed 50 to 100 hairs per day, but any more than that could be a sign of abnormal shedding. Here’s what some of the men noticed first.

“The first sign I noticed was abnormal hair fall. Within a year, the density of my hair was almost half!”  —Ben J.*

“I would wake up, and ten to 20 hairs were on my pillow. I was worried because some of the men in my family have hair loss.” —Jimmy C.

“I started noticing hair loss right after high school. I was very upset that I started to lose my hair that fast.” —Andrew R.

Male pattern baldness tends to follow a specific, well, pattern, with the hairline beginning to take on an M-shape.

• “I noticed the male pattern balding forming at the front hairline after I decided to part ways from my locs to a low Caesar cut. I felt horrible and like I was aging too fast.” —Randy B.

• “I noticed hair loss in my late twenties. I was pretty oblivious, to be honest. I just found myself ‘shedding’ constantly. It wasn't until I got sober that I really started noticing the receding hairline and thinning on top. When my barber mentioned it to me, I knew I had to take action. I'm sure I would look great bald, but I'm not ready to take that step. I'm trying to be an actor, plus I like my hair!” —Andrew D.

• “The most obvious was my receding hairline, which I attributed to wearing hats a lot and pulling my hair back. I didn't feel great about it and often shaved my head to avoid dealing with it. Then, as that hair grew back, I noticed I also had some mild hair loss at my crown (again, didn't feel great seeing that in my early twenties).” —Ian G.

• “[I first noticed] thinning hair. Nothing crazy, but I did start to see more receding hairline, too. Didn’t feel terribly bad in the beginning.” —John S.*

• “I noticed thinning at the hairline, and in images, I could see the crown fading. It would continuously fall out, and my self-esteem would decrease. It can feel like a defining feature.” —Brandon D.

• “For me, the experience was an eye-opener because no one in my family has hair loss issues, so when I started to see mine thinning at the top, it was a total surprise. I tried to hide it with braids, but eventually, it became too hard, so I cut all my hair low and now wear a hat.” —Sergio B.

What would the guys say to someone else dealing with early balding?  We asked them for their advice.

• “It’s not an end all — there are solutions.” —Brian P.

• “What helps me is keeping a short haircut and wearing a hat. If you’re not a fan of going completely bald, I'd suggest a good barber and really low hairstyle. Keep it lined up. Also, grow a beautiful full face beard!” —Sergio B.

• “It’s not over. There are plenty of options.”  —Randy B.

• “[Managing hair loss] requires a very specific routine and takes patience.” —Kevin L*

• “Bodies are weird and strange and also wonderful, so it's just something that happens. But it's not the end of the world, especially if you act fast.” —Ian G

• “Start treating it sooner, don’t think it won’t affect you.” —John S.*

• “Everyone I know my age has thinned or receding hairlines. It's just something that happens, and we can take control of it. If you can and are willing to spend the money, why not!” —Andrew D.

• “It’s possible to prevent it if you catch it early.” —Jimmy C.

• “This journey is a continuous one. Even today, with most of my hair back, I still panic a bit when I think about switching up my hairstyle or even going to the barber because my mind tricks me into believing I’m still losing mass amounts of hair. My partner reminded me that at this point, I’ve gone from bald to long hair.” —Brandon D.

• “Hair loss is nothing to be ashamed of. But moreover, it is okay to seek treatment or help to combat hair loss.”  —Everett F.

Not ready to embrace your baldness just yet? We’ve got you covered. Check out our hair loss treatments that can slow hair loss and may help regrow your hair.

*Indicates names have been changed to protect privacy