At 40, Prince Harry's hair loss sparks discussion: Is genetics the cause behind his balding? Experts weigh in

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle were recently spotted at the 2025 Invictus Games Opening Ceremony in Vancouver, Canada. The royal couple was seen walking hand in hand amid the rumours of trouble in their marriage and divorce. However, the pictures and clips from the event are making rounds on the internet, and the couple's PDA looked a bit odd to fans, but surprisingly that is not being much talked about. Prince Harry's hair loss has sparked discussion on social media.?

Two years later, Prince Harry expressed a horrific story about his brother Prince William's “alarming baldness” in his book called 'Spare', Prince Harry's recent pictures have sparked discussions about his hair loss.?

Prince Harry called William's hair loss 'alarming'

In the much talked about book of Prince Harry, he mentioned an anecdote about an argument he and William had following Prince Philip's funeral in April 2021, when Harry said William 'really looked' at his brother 'maybe for the first time since we were boys.'.?

Harry also discussed his brother's appearance and wrote, "His familiar scowl, which had always been his default in dealings with me; his alarming baldness, more advanced than my own; his famous resemblance to Mummy, which was fading with time."

Prince Harry's loss grabs eyeballs

Prince Harry's former hairdresser, Sam McKnight, after noticing the viral pictures, shared a post on his Instagram and urged the 40-year-old to learn from his big brother and go for a hair chop.?

McKnight also begged the royal to follow in his brother's footsteps and 'let it go' and shave his head or get a hair transplant. Sam McKnight is London's most famous hairdresser, who has clients such as Lady Gaga and Kate Moss.?

In the post, he remembered Prince Harry from his younger years when the prince had 'thick, healthy crowing glories, just like his mother.' However, the 40-year-old royal king's hair loss discussion on social media raises a question: Is hair loss a genetic issue?

Is hair loss a genetic issue??

Hair loss can be influenced by multiple factors that can range from genetics to hormonal changes in the body. “Genetic predisposition is a very big factor in men where hair loss & baldness are directly related, but it is not the only thing that is responsible for it. Genetic factors like family history of baldness and inheritance pattern can be considered as reasons affecting hair fall in men,” says celebrity cosmetologist Dr. Mahnaz Jahan Begum, an esteemed aesthetic expert, entrepreneur, and founder of Keraderm Clinics.

Here are 5 major reasons behind hair loss in men?

1. Impact of DHT hormone: The impact of DHT hormone in excess causes baldness in men.?

2. ?Genetic predisposition: If there is a genetic history of baldness or hair thinning in the family, then you are likely to have the effect of it from an early age.

3. Stress: Stress & anxiety also play an important role, as they also disrupt the hair growth cycle.

4. Medical illnesses: Medical conditions such as thyroid, scalp psoriasis, or autoimmune diseases that result in hair thinning.?

5. ?Poor lifestyle: A diet lacking essential nutrients such as iron, zinc, and biotin can result in hair loss. Moreover, if there are factors like smoking, alcohol consumption, and use of heat styling tools a lot, then they too have a very bad impact on your health and result in hair loss.

Can hair loss be reversed or prevented?

According to Dr. Shitij Goel, Director of Dermatology, at Sharda Hospital, “We do notice a genetic link to hair loss patterns in men, particularly because of their family trends, but early intervention, medical and treatment-based, nutritional correction, improving protein intake, and managing stress can help maintain healthy hair.”

6 ways to minimise hair loss in men?

1. Healthy Diet: Foods rich in protein, like eggs, nuts, and leafy greens, might be nourishing for the hair.
2. Gentle Hair Care: Be sure not to use harsh shampoos or to apply excessive heat. Use gentle, sulphate-free products.
3. Scalp Massage: Massage with coconut oil or castor oil regularly to improve circulation to the scalp.
4. Reduce Stress: Yoga or meditation reduces the loss of hair caused by stress.
5. Stay hydrated: Hydration is key to good health, skin, and hair. Hydration is the best for healthy hair.
6. Consultation with a Specialist: Too much loss of hair needs a dermatologist consultation for treatment methods.

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