Proteins and Baldness: Debunking the Myth

Melanie Ramos 6 min. of reading Personal Care Leave a comment

Some regular readers of this blog will know about the many myths surrounding sports supplementation, especially when it comes to protein shakes: liver problems, erectile dysfunction, performance issues, and so on… To this unfortunate mythology about whey protein, we have to add another popular belief to debunk: whey protein as a cause of male baldness.

In this article, we’re going to explain the real role of whey proteins in hair loss, the importance of nutrition for hair health, the reasons behind alopecia, and some preventive and palliative methods to avoid or stop the process leading to baldness.

Why do we lose hair?

The vast majority (over 90%) of people who lose hair do so due to genetic or androgenic origins.

What does this mean?

It means hair falls out as a genetic consequence for each person, not because of an external cause. That said, there are other factors that can also cause hair loss or speed up the process…

One of the most common reasons for hair loss is stress. Hair reflects how we handle emotions daily. Often, when stressed, we notice more hair falling out than usual. Usually, this is temporary, but in some cases, it can speed up alopecia that would have appeared later. In these cases, the loss can become permanent.
Another very important reason is our eating habits. While better nutrition won’t necessarily improve hair if loss is genetic, diet can greatly affect hair loss. If we follow an unbalanced diet, the body has to survive with fewer minerals, prioritizing vital organs. Hair is last on the list because luckily, we can live without it.
Other possible causes of hair loss include hormonal imbalances like hyperthyroidism, excess Vitamin A, or iron deficiency due to illnesses such as anemia.

A diet rich in proteins and amino acids, especially those from animal sources, can contribute to good hair health. So, whey protein shakes don’t have a direct link to hair loss.

Tips to avoid hair loss

Every body reacts differently to various foods and products, so you need to know yours well and find what suits you best. But there are general tips you can follow if you want to prevent hair loss.

Don’t forget to eat meat. Meat is an essential protein source your body needs to function properly. If you don’t eat meat, you should consume substitutes like legumes, brown rice, or corn.
Iron deficiency can also cause hair loss, so make sure to eat foods that prevent this deficiency.
You can drink herbal infusions that strengthen your hair, like horsetail, which boosts blood circulation and helps hair growth.
Avoid smoking: besides being harmful to your health, it also causes hair loss.
Drink onion juice. It might not sound great, but a glass of water with onion juice helps strengthen hair and prevent hair loss.
Avoid stress: take your breaks and relax.

Truths and Myths about hair loss

Wearing a cap or hat can speed up hair loss

False

This myth is based on the idea that a cap blocks oxygen from reaching the scalp, but hair follicles get oxygen from the bloodstream, not the air. So, good news for hat lovers: they’re not causing any harm.

Dirty hats, however, can cause scalp infections, which in turn can speed up hair loss.

Hair loss is caused by reduced blood flow to the scalp

False

Growing hair requires significant blood flow. Once hair is lost, less blood is needed, so blood flow to the scalp decreases.

Therefore, reduced blood flow to the scalp is a result of hair loss, not the cause.

Hair loss is inherited from the mother

False

This myth isn’t entirely true. While the primary baldness gene is on the X chromosome, which men inherit only from their mothers, other factors are also involved.

Research suggests men with a bald father are more likely to develop male pattern baldness than those without, according to King’s College London (UK).

Using a hairdryer can cause hair loss

True

Using hairdryers at very high temperatures can burn hair, making it more fragile and speeding up hair loss, although the damage is temporary and reversible.

So, when using a hairdryer, it’s best to set it to a lower temperature and keep it at a safe distance from your hair to avoid damage.

Hair gel or styling products can speed up hair loss

True

Proper application of styling products should avoid contact with the scalp, applying only to hair (preferably the ends). Unfortunately, over time, these products spread onto the skin, blocking follicle openings and artificially hardening the hair shaft.

Therefore, it’s advisable not to overuse these products and to wash your hair more often to avoid prolonged exposure.

Genetics and hormonal factors cause most hair loss

True

Common baldness in men and women is caused, as the name suggests, by androgenic stimulation of hair follicles. It’s actually due to the accumulation of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), an active androgen that penetrates follicle cells and inhibits their metabolism and growth.

The genetic background of androgenic alopecia isn’t fully identified yet, but two enzymes, 5-alpha reductase and aromatase, are involved—aromatase is notably increased in female alopecia.

Some therapeutic efforts focus on controlling these enzymes.

Washing hair daily can cause hair loss

False

Many people think washing hair daily causes more hair loss. If you see lots of hair in the shower drain, it’s because those hairs were already weak and loose in the follicle.

On the contrary, washing hair daily can be beneficial as long as you use a suitable shampoo.

Shaving hair stops hair loss

False

While cutting hair is healthy to get rid of damaged or old hair and improve its appearance, there’s no cause-effect relationship proving that hair becomes stronger or hair loss stops because of this.

The problem with hair loss lies in the follicle, not the hair shaft.

Poor nutrition can promote hair loss

True

Nutrition is very important for maintaining healthy hair. Stress combined with poor nutrition are main causes of diffuse hair loss.

However, this loss is temporary until proper nutrition is resumed.

Steroids increase the risk of baldness

True

Taking anabolic-androgenic steroids stimulates dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which, as explained earlier, penetrates follicle cells and inhibits their metabolism and growth, accelerating baldness.

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