Can Low Testosterone Cause Hair Loss?

Last modifed: April 4, 2022

Before we can discuss the effects of low testosterone on hair loss, we need to clear up a few misconceptions. Most people have heard about the connection between hair loss and testosterone levels, however there’s a lot of conflicting statements. It’s quite possible that you’ll have heard male pattern baldness is a sign of high testosterone levels, but this isn’t actually the case. When people think about hair loss they tend to think of men with androgenic alopecia or male pattern baldness. This is caused by DHT, not testosterone. DHT or Dihydrotestosterone is related to testosterone, but high test levels themselves are functionally irrelevant.

What actually happens is men that are already predisposed to male pattern baldness, can slightly speed up the hair loss, when taking excessive, unnatural testosterone. However, even in this case the risks we’re found to be low, even in already balding men taking TRT (testosterone replacement therapy) which is substantially more aggressive than natural testosterone boosting supplements. Increased testosterone levels did however stimulate facial hair growth. And even when looking at the general population the largest current study shows there is actually no connection between high testosterone levels and hair loss[1].

Unfortunately for bald men everywhere this does mean that the myth about bald men being more virile simply isn’t true.

The misconception comes from the fact that DHT is a by product of the breakdown of testosterone. But, the amount of DHT that your body produces is genetically independent of testosterone levels themselves.

DHT pauses the growth process of hair follicles and over time this pause in growth becomes permanent.

You said this article was about low testosterone levels? So, what about those?

Oddly, low testosterone levels can be the cause of hair loss not directly related to androgenic alopecia. There are a number of ways in which this can be caused. Low testosterone levels can cause stress, increased anxiety and low mood, all of these things increase cortisol levels, which are directly linked to DHT production. Unlike testosterone Cortisol (the stress hormone) is directly linked to hair loss. Weight gain, another side effect of low testosterone can also cause men who are otherwise not predisposed to male pattern baldness to lose their hair.

Testosterone Boosting Supplements And Hair Loss

So you’re probably wondering if boosting your testosterone levels, potentially with supplements if you’re reading the testofuel blog, could help reverse hair loss caused by low testosterone. Unfortunately, not for any already dead follicles. However, it is possible that the best testosterone supplements can raise your test levels enough to resolve the issues that have been caused before any more hair follicles die. The best testosterone booster supplements should have none proprietary blends, meaning you should know exactly what you’re taking. These supplements should not have any negative effects on hair growth. However, it is possible that some proprietary blended supplements that do not openly show their ingredients could even have side effects which make hair loss worse.

Can Testosterone Supplements Give Me A Better Beard?

Yes, this bit is actually true, increased testosterone levels can improve hair growth in certain areas of the body. It’s unlikely that any natural testosterone boosters are going to give you a glorious beard if you didn’t have any facial hair to begin with, but the supplements are going to help thicken and improve the hair that you do have there.