{"id":2415,"date":"2022-02-13T04:32:08","date_gmt":"2022-02-13T04:32:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/craftofmanhood.com\/\/?p=2415"},"modified":"2023-07-28T18:59:05","modified_gmt":"2023-07-28T18:59:05","slug":"does-more-testosterone-mean-more-hair","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/craftofmanhood.com\/does-more-testosterone-mean-more-hair\/","title":{"rendered":"Does More Testosterone Mean More Hair?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One of many long-held myths about testosterone<\/a> in men is that more hair is a sign of more testosterone. But like many myths, there’s some truth to it, but it’s also more complicated than it looks. Hormones and body hair are linked, but so is male-pattern baldness, so what’s the real story here when it comes to testosterone?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Levels of sex hormones like testosterone are linked to body hair and baldness, but it’s also partly related to genetics. Some people will have genes that make them more sensitive to testosterone’s effects, making them grow more body hair. However, Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) commonly causes male-pattern baldness.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nothing is ever straight-forward when it comes to the human body, and there are many myths, half-truths, and a lot of confusion about testosterone and what effect it has. Whether it’s horror stories about roid-bros in the gym to fear of low testosterone and how it can affect your life, plenty of people are understandably confused by conflicting takes on testosterone. We will look at how testosterone levels will affect the body, particularly hair growth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does More Testosterone Mean More Hair?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Every person, whether male or female, will have the sex hormones<\/a> estrogen and testosterone in their body, and it’s the levels of these that affect different aspects of the body, including strength, libido, and hairiness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Testosterone is known as an androgen, and in men, it is produced primarily in the testicles. After the high growth of testosterone in your teenage years, your testosterone levels will naturally decline as you age. But testosterone also fluctuates throughout the day \u2013 these hormone levels are usually at their highest in the morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having excessively high levels of what is known as free testosterone in your blood (that is, testosterone not bound to a protein) usually has some clear and often visible side effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We’ll go into detail about the various signs, but high testosterone can increase body hair, often making it thicker and coarser. The areas on the body most affected appear to be the chest, back, and facial hair (but not the hair on the scalp.)<\/p>\n\n\n

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Does Less Hair Mean More Testosterone?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Another familiar myth about hair and testosterone is that male-pattern baldness automatically means you have higher testosterone levels. While it can be a sign that points towards high testosterone levels, that’s not the whole story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Male pattern baldness is a well-known pattern of hair loss where the front of the hairlines recedes, and the distinctive ‘M’ shape forms. As the baldness progresses, eventually, the top or crown of the head can become completely bald.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, this baldness is caused by the hair follicles shrinking and disrupting the hair growth cycle. As the hair becomes finer and finer, eventually, the hair follicles go dormant. A combination of hormones and genetics causes this particular issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DHT, or dihydrotestosterone, is made from the free testosterone in the body by an enzyme known as 5-alpha reductase. DHT is the hormone most often linked to hair loss in men, but DHT alone is not the problem \u2013 the sensitivity of your hair follicles to the actions of DHT will be the most significant cause of hair loss, which is a genetic factor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the AR gene results in you having sensitive receptors on your hair follicles, then even a tiny amount of DHT can trigger hair loss. So yes, in this case, the higher your testosterone levels are, the more likely it will be that you’ll have excess DHT, causing baldness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How To Tell If Your Testosterone Levels Are High<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While the symptoms I’ve listed above are often signs of high testosterone, men are more likely to suffer from lower amounts of testosterone, especially as they age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Signs of high testosterone are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n