Hair

Sponsors: Helix Sleep, HVMN, ROKA

Psychological States & Hair

Hair Anatomy & Stem Cells

3 Phases of Hair Growth

Sponsor: AG1 (Athletic Greens)

Minoxidil & Blood Flow

Increase Blood Flow: Massage, Tadalafil, Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP), Microneedling

Microneedling, Minoxidil & “Dead Zones”

Sponsor: LMNT

Botox Treatments

Androgens, Hair Growth & Pattern Hair Loss; Scalp vs. Beard Hair

Topical Caffeine & Slowing Hair Loss

IGF-1: Growth Hormone & Sermorelin; Insulin Sensitivity: Myo-Inositol

Iron & Hair Growth

5-Alpha Reductase & Saw Palmetto; Curcumin

Ketoconazole & Offsetting Hair Loss

Topical & Oral Finasteride

Post- Finasteride Syndrome

Dutasteride

Mechanical & Chemical Stimulation for Hair Growth

Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Momentous, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

The Huberman Lab Podcast discusses science-based tools for everyday life, and this episode focuses on hair loss and ways to slow or reverse it. The podcast covers the biology of hair, common myths about balding, and various treatments for hair loss, including minoxidil, microneedling, Botox injections, and herbal compounds. The podcast also discusses the importance of blood flow, hormones, and nutrients for hair growth, as well as the potential side effects of hair regrowth treatments. The audience is encouraged to subscribe to the podcast, check out the sponsors, and follow Huberman Lab on social media.

- The Huberman Lab Podcast discusses science and science-based tools for everyday life.
- The topic of this episode is hair and how science has taught us ways to slow or reverse hair loss.
- Hair is fascinating from a biological standpoint because every hair has its own stem cell niche that determines its growth duration.
- The podcast will address what determines the length of a hair, what regulates stem cells, and how to slow or halt hair loss.
- The podcast will also dispel common myths about balding and hair replacement.

- The podcast is separate from the speaker's teaching and research roles at Stanford.
- The speaker thanks the sponsors of the podcast, including Helix Sleep, HVMN Ketone IQ, and Roka.
- Helix Sleep offers customized mattresses based on a brief quiz and is offering up to $350 off and two free pillows.
- HVMN Ketone IQ is a ketone supplement that increases blood ketones, which can benefit cognitive work and workouts. Use code Huberman for 20% off.
- Roka makes eyeglasses and sunglasses designed for sports performance and everyday wear. Use code Huberman for 20% off.

- Mechanical stimulation of the follicle and blood flow are critical for maintaining hair and stimulating hair growth.
- Botox injections can be applied to the scalp to relieve tension and increase blood flow to the stem cell follicle area.
- Botox injections must be done by a skilled professional and repeated as the effects wear off.
- The efficacy of Botox for offsetting hair loss is not clear, but it is a safe alternative to Minoxidil.
- Botox injections can also improve hair growth in people with Acutis Verticus Gyrata.

- Botox may be a good treatment for reducing scalp squinting and hair loss.
- Insulin growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and cyclic AMP are key players in stimulating hair growth.
- Androgens, such as testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT), inhibit hair growth by reducing IGF-1 and cyclic AMP.
- Pattern hair loss is androgen-dependent alopecia, which is caused by the conversion of testosterone to DHT by 5-alpha reductase.
- Different patterns of androgen receptors on the scalp determine where hair loss occurs.
- Androgen receptors on the face are responsible for beard growth, and a high density of androgen receptors on the scalp predisposes regions to hair loss.

- Caffeine can be used to stimulate hair growth or halt hair loss by inhibiting PDE and indirectly stimulating IGF-1.
- Topical caffeine application can be as effective as minoxidil application without the negative side effects.
- Drinking caffeine does not have the same effect as topical application.
- Caffeine can also reduce apoptosis and maintain the stem cell population, making it a good choice to use with other chemical treatments.

1. Increasing IGF-1 can increase hair growth and maintain hair.
2. Growth hormone is released during the first hours of sleep, especially with regular bedtimes.
3. Prescription drugs like growth hormone and cermorelin can increase IGF-1, but have side effects.
4. Insulin sensitivity is important for IGF-1 action at the hair follicle and stem cell.
5. Supplements like myoinositol, berberine, and metformin can improve insulin sensitivity.
6. Exercise and maintaining a healthy nutritional program are also important for hair growth.

- Iron and ferritin are important for proper hair growth
- Blood levels of iron should be measured to ensure sufficient levels without toxicity
- Women should aim for iron levels between 25 and 100, while men should aim for levels between 30 and 150
- Iron tests are usually inexpensive and can be added to a regular blood panel
- Low iron levels may require supplementation from nutrition or supplements.

- Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a form of testosterone that can cause hair loss by shortening the growth phase and miniaturizing the follicle and stem cell niche.
- Sol Palmetto, an extract of the Sol Palmetto berry, can inhibit 5-alpha reductase and reduce DHT, helping to maintain or extend the growth phase of hair.
- Sol Palmetto is known to have very few side effects and is usually taken at about 300 milligrams per day, divided into two or three doses.
- There are many herbal compounds and plant-based compounds that people argue can increase hair growth, but there are few clinical studies to support any of them.
- Curcumin is known to be a potent inhibitor of 5-alpha reductase and DHT, but it may cause side effects in some people.

- Ketoconazole is a commercial compound used to offset hair loss and stimulate hair growth.
- It is an antifungal that was initially developed to treat dandruff and severe psoriasis.
- Ketoconazole shampoo has been shown to give about an 80% response rate of maintaining hair that would otherwise be lost.
- It is important to get a shampoo that is at least 2% concentration of ketoconazole.
- Side effects of ketoconazole can include scalp irritation and thinning/brittleness of hair, which can be offset by using shampoos that contain biotin.

- Inhibiting 5-alpha reductase and reducing DHT can increase hair growth by reducing the negative impact of DHT on hair follicles.
- Finasteride is effective in reducing DHT and can increase hair count by up to 20% and reduce hair loss in 90% of people who take it.
- Finasteride has significant side effects if not dosed properly and there is a wide variation in the amount of different isoenzymes that people make.
- The effective dose of finasteride in the blood is 0.2 milligrams and the lowest effective dose should be taken to minimize side effects.
- Topical finasteride is associated with 30 to 50% fewer side effects than oral finasteride and should be taken once a week.

- Post-finasteride syndrome is a new phenomenon that has been discussed in recent years.
- It occurs when males take finasteride for hair loss or prostate treatment and then stop taking it, leading to severe side effects such as reduced libido, erectile dysfunction, and depression.
- The syndrome seems to occur more in younger males taking high dosages of finasteride.
- Dihydrotestosterone, a hormone involved in male development, may be involved in the syndrome's development.
- Finasteride can carry serious side effects, including post-finasteride syndrome.

- Dutasteride is a molecule similar to finasteride that inhibits all three isoforms of the 5-alpha reductase enzyme.
- It works two to five times faster than typical finasteride at inducing hair regrowth and reduces DHT by 95%.
- Dutasteride is associated with a lot of side effects related to the DHT pathway, such as reduction in sex drive and increase in estrogen and prolactin.
- Some people take dutasteride because they are impatient and want faster hair growth.
- Mild reductions in DHT can be achieved through other methods such as salt palmetto, topical caffeine, and ketoconazole.

- Hair loss is a common issue that can cause anxiety and depression in many people.
- By age 50, approximately 50% of all men and women will have experienced significant enough hair loss that they start to notice it.
- Psychological states can impact patterns of hair growth or loss, and hair loss and hair graying can impact psychological states.
- There are both mechanical and chemical approaches to slowing and reversing hair loss, and hair growth is strongly regulated by hormones such as estrogen, thyroid hormone, insulin-like growth factor, and androgens.

- Combination treatments involving a mechanical stimulus and a chemical stimulus are better than either one alone for hair regrowth.
- Microneedling is the most effective mechanical stimulus for hair regrowth.
- The combination of microneedling and finasteride is the most effective way to regrow hair.
- People's responses to hair regrowth treatments are highly individual and there is no way to know a priori what the response will be in terms of side effects.
- It is important to consider both mechanical and chemical approaches to hair regrowth treatments.

- The audience is encouraged to subscribe to the podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple, and leave a five-star review.
- The audience can leave questions and comments in the YouTube comment section.
- The audience can check out the sponsors mentioned in the podcast to support it.
- The podcast discusses supplements and provides a link to see the supplements discussed.
- The audience is encouraged to follow Huberman Lab on social media and subscribe to the Neural Network newsletter for free toolkits and summaries of podcast episodes.

1. Hair is made up of a root and shaft, with stem cells located at the base of the root.
2. Stem cells give rise to different types of cells that make up hair.
3. Keratin is the protein that creates the durable structure of hair.
4. Different organs in the body have pockets of endogenous stem cells, including hair.
5. The hair bulb contains stem cells and melanin-producing cells that give hair color.
6. Sebum from the sebaceous gland waterproofs and protects against infection.
7. The erector pili muscle causes hairs to stand up, trapping air and warming the body.
8. Capillaries deliver nutrients and oxygen to support hair growth.
9. Treatments that increase blood flow can slow hair loss and extend hair growth, but no single manipulation can robustly enhance hair growth.

- Hair growth occurs in three phases: the anagen phase (growth), the catagen phase (receding), and the telogen phase (rest).
- Different hairs on the body have different durations of the anagen phase, which determines how long they can grow.
- Hormones, such as dihydrotestosterone, can affect the duration of the anagen phase and promote hair loss.

- Athletic Greens is a vitamin mineral probiotic drink that covers all foundational nutritional needs.
- The probiotics in Athletic Greens are optimal and vital for microbiotic health.
- Athletic Greens contains adaptogens, vitamins, and minerals to meet all foundational nutritional needs.
- Listeners can try Athletic Greens and receive five free travel packs and a year's supply of vitamin D3K2 by visiting athleticgreens.com/huberman.

- Blood flow is important for hair growth and delivery of nutrients and oxygen.
- Minoxidil is a drug that increases blood flow and extends the antigen phase, slowing hair loss.
- Minoxidil can have side effects such as lowering blood pressure and increasing prolactin levels.
- Dosage of minoxidil is important and can range from 0.25mg to 5mg for oral use and 5% concentration for topical use.
- Topical minoxidil should be left on the scalp for 3-5 minutes to be absorbed.

- Treatments that increase blood flow to the hair stem cell niche can slow hair loss or maintain existing hair.
- Minoxidil works by increasing blood flow around the clock, while scalp massage and red light therapy increase blood flow temporarily.
- Low dose Tadalafil, originally used to treat prostate health, is being prescribed by some doctors to increase blood flow to the scalp and slow hair loss.
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections into the scalp can also increase nutrient delivery to the hair stem cell niche, but are expensive and not well-supported by clinical data.
- Microneedling, which involves using a roller with tiny needles to stimulate the scalp, can reactivate semi-quiescent stem cells and augment hormone-based hair regrowth treatments.

1. Microneedling can be used alone or in combination with other treatments for hair loss.
2. A review found that microneedling shows positive benefits in both men and women of various ages.
3. Needle lengths of 1-2.5mm are more effective than shorter lengths.
4. The combination of microneedling and minoxidil is more effective than either treatment alone, especially for recovering "dead zones" on the scalp.
5. Minoxidil treatment is likely a lifelong commitment to maintain hair growth.

- Element is an electrolyte drink that contains salt, sodium, magnesium, and potassium.
- Electrolytes are critical to the function of all cells in the body, including nerve cells.
- Even slight reductions in electrolyte concentrations or dehydration can lead to deficits in cognitive and physical performance.
- Element contains a science-backed electrolyte ratio of 1,000 milligrams of sodium, 200 milligrams of potassium, and 60 milligrams of magnesium.
- The speaker drinks Element first thing in the morning, during and after physical training, and in the sauna to stay hydrated and maintain electrolyte levels.

The Science of Healthy Hair, Hair Loss and How to Regrow Hair | Huberman Lab Podcast