Levels Of You

Most people think hair loss is simply a question of how much DHT is present.

But what if the real question is how sensitive your follicles are to that DHT?

In a landmark study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, researchers compared scalp biopsies from men and women with androgenetic alopecia and analysed the biology of their hair follicles.

One of their most interesting findings?

Female frontal hair follicles contained approximately 40% fewer androgen receptors than male frontal hair follicles.

Why does that matter?

DHT (dihydrotestosterone) doesn’t act on hair follicles unless it binds to an androgen receptor.

Think of the receptor as a lock and DHT as the key.

The more receptors present, the more opportunities DHT has to influence the follicle and contribute to miniaturisation over time.

This may help explain why men commonly develop recession of the frontal hairline and temples, while many women retain their frontal hairline despite also experiencing androgenetic hair loss.

It’s an important reminder that hair loss isn’t just about hormone levels.

It’s also about how the follicle responds to those hormones.

The same DHT.

A different biological response. - Dr Jonathan Hopkirk

Reference:
Sawaya ME, Price VH. Different levels of 5α-reductase type I and II, aromatase, and androgen receptor in hair follicles of women and men with androgenetic alopecia. J Invest Dermatol. 1997;109(3):296–300.

Medical Disclaimer: The information provided is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered personal medical advice. Hair loss has many potential causes and treatment suitability varies between individuals. If you are concerned about hair loss, seek assessment from a qualified healthcare professional before commencing any treatment.

Most people assume:

Higher % Minoxidil = more hair growth.

But when you actually review the literature, the story becomes far more complicated.

While 5% Minoxidil clearly outperformed 2% in the original studies, the evidence ABOVE 5% becomes surprisingly inconsistent. In fact, one randomized trial found 5% Minoxidil actually outperformed 10% Minoxidil, with the higher-strength group experiencing more irritation, dermatitis, shedding and unwanted facial/body hair growth.

There may still be a role for 10–15% formulations in selected patients, but the idea that “stronger automatically means better” is not strongly supported by current evidence.

One of the biggest overlooked issues is stability.

As concentrations increase, especially beyond ~7.5%, the risk of crystallisation and precipitation rises, meaning the medication may not remain optimally dissolved and delivered to the scalp. More concentration does not necessarily mean more follicular delivery.

This is likely why 5% has remained the evidence-based gold standard for so long:
• efficacy
• tolerability
• stability
• long-term adherence

The best treatment is not always the strongest treatment.
It’s the one you can tolerate and use consistently for years.

Key literature discussed:
• Olsen EA et al. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2002
• Saleh F et al. Int J Dermatol. 2019
• Goldust M et al. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2022
DOI: 10.1111/ced.15338
• Varothai & Bergfeld. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2022

Medical Disclaimer: This post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or personalised treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.

Hair loss is a natural part of life for many people.

For some, it barely registers. For others, it can have a significant impact on confidence, self-image, and how they feel when they look in the mirror each day.

There is no right or wrong way to feel about it.

But if hair loss is something that concerns you and you think you may want to address it, there is one thing that becomes increasingly valuable with every passing month:

Time.

Unlike money, time cannot be earned back.

The footballer featured in this post is a great example. In just 12 months, the progression of his hair loss has been substantial. While not everyone experiences hair loss this aggressively, it highlights how quickly things can change for some individuals.For male pattern hair loss the average reduction in hair density each year is considered to be about 5%.

The challenge is that hair loss is often easier to stabilise than it is to reverse.

When people seek advice early, they typically have access to a broader range of treatment options. As hair loss progresses and more follicles are lost, the treatment pathway often becomes more complex, more intensive, and in some cases may ultimately require surgical intervention to achieve the same cosmetic outcome.

This is why we encourage people not necessarily to start treatment immediately, but to start with understanding.

Get a diagnosis.

Understand what type of hair loss you have.

Understand what is driving it.

Understand what your options are.

From there, you can make an informed decision about whether treatment is right for you.

The earlier you understand the problem, the more opportunities you generally have to preserve what you already have and build a long-term plan that aligns with your goals.

Hair loss may be common, but that doesn’t mean you have to ignore it if it matters to you.

Medical Disclaimer: This post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or personalised treatment. Hair loss progression, treatment suitability, and outcomes vary between individuals. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before commencing any treatment.

Welcome To The Levels Of You Clinic Partner Network, Briony 👏

We are delighted to welcome Cosmetic Nurse Briony Beard to the growing Levels Of You Clinic Partner network.

Briony is known for her thoughtful, personalised approach to patient care and her commitment to delivering natural-looking results that help people feel like the best version of themselves. Combining clinical expertise with a genuine passion for aesthetics, skin health, and overall wellbeing, she has built a reputation for creating treatment plans tailored to the individual rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.

What stood out most to us about Briony is her belief that confidence extends beyond the skin. She understands that concerns such as hair thinning and hair loss can have a significant impact on self-esteem and quality of life, which is why we are excited to support her in bringing HRP™ to her patients.

Through her dedication to ongoing education, patient safety, and achieving meaningful long-term outcomes, Briony embodies the values we look for in our clinic partners. Her patients appreciate her honest guidance, gentle manner, and unwavering commitment to helping them achieve results that are both natural and sustainable.

We are incredibly excited to have Briony join the Levels Of You family and look forward to supporting her as she helps more men and women navigate their hair restoration journey with confidence.

Please join us in welcoming Briony to the network. 🙌

Seven months ago, during this patient’s first HRP™ appointment with us at , I took the small image in the corner as part of their baseline assessment.

This week, completely unprompted, the patient sent me the larger image from work to show me how their hair was progressing.

Moments like this are a reminder that hair restoration is rarely about finding a magic treatment. More often, it’s about finding a plan you can stay consistent with long enough for the biology to do its work.

Compliance is the science.

Hair follicles operate on timelines measured in months, not days or weeks. Consistency, patience, and a long-term commitment to treatment are often the biggest predictors of success.

About HRP™:
• Personalised treatment plans designed by our doctors
• Prescription serums formulated to target the underlying drivers of hair loss
• A focus on hormonal, inflammatory, and scalp health pathways
• Long-term management and ongoing medical guidance

HRP™ may be suitable for:
• Male and female pattern hair loss
• Stress-related shedding
• Post-viral hair loss
• Hormonal hair loss including PCOS and menopause-related changes
• Postpartum hair shedding
• Chemically or medically induced hair thinning

Medical Disclaimer: All medical treatments carry potential risks, side effects, benefits, and limitations. These risks are unique to both the treatment being considered and the individual receiving it, and are discussed in detail during consultation with one of our doctors before any treatment is commenced. Not all treatments are suitable for every patient. Results vary between individuals and depend on a range of factors including diagnosis, medical history, treatment adherence, lifestyle factors, and individual biological response.