Mumbai, 5th October 2026: Men are seeking help for hair loss at a relatively young age, with consultations concentrated among men in their 20s and early 30s.  The Man Matters Hairfall Index 2026, based on 704,152 consultations conducted between August 2025 and August 2026 finds two in three men consulting for hair loss are in their 20s. It looks at how men across India describe their hairfall concerns, how these descriptions change with age, and the stage at which they seek professional consultation.

According to the data, 87.2% of hairfall consultations were from men under the age of 35, with men in their 20s accounting for a significant share of the consultation base. At the same time, 65.2% were already at Norwood Stage 3 or higher at the time of consultation, where a stage was recorded by a doctor. The data indicates that men are seeking help relatively young, but many are doing so after their hair loss has progressed beyond the earliest stages.

The data also highlights the different ways men describe their hair concerns. Young men notice their hairline first, and older men notice they've lost volume. Among men under 25, a receding hairline is the more common concern (18.8%, against 14.5% for thinning). After 35, that reverses: thinning and low volume take over at 19.6%, while receding hairline drops to 14.6%. Men usually first notice hair loss at the hairline. As they get older, the complaint changes. They stop saying "receding" and start saying "low volume," which usually means thinning at the crown and top of the scalp.

Hairfall itself can refer to different experiences and does not necessarily mean that an individual is going bald. Androgenetic alopecia, or pattern hair loss, is driven by genetics and the sensitivity of hair follicles to DHT and can begin any time after puberty. Temporary shedding, or telogen effluvium, can also occur following stress, illness or a health change and may resolve once the underlying trigger passes. The data cannot determine which underlying cause applies to an individual.

Hair health is increasingly being viewed through a more holistic lens, with factors such as lifestyle, nutrition, stress, overall health, scalp condition and daily hair-care practices all being considered when understanding an individual’s hair concerns. In consultations, these aspects are explored alongside questions about the person’s hair history, recent changes in health or lifestyle, and the nature and pattern of their concerns. This broader understanding helps provide context around what an individual may be experiencing, rather than looking at hair fall or shedding in isolation.

“87% of Indian men who consult for hair loss are under 35. Two in three are already at Stage 2 or beyond by the time they do. Wherever you are, the earlier a doctor sees it, the more options you have.” Dr. Sumit Upadhyay, Man Matters

The Hairfall Index is based on consultation intake data submitted by men in India who consulted online for a hair, scalp or skin concern, covering ages 18 to 60+. Concern types were identified from what each individual described at intake, with near-identical phrasings merged into broader categories. Where available, stage was taken from the doctor’s record at consultation. Figures are presented as percentages of their respective stated bases, with the base size shown alongside the findings.

The data is intended to show directional patterns in who is seeking help and how they describe their concerns, rather than clinical prevalence of hair loss among the general Indian population. It reflects men who chose to consult about a hair, scalp or skin concern and demonstrates association rather than causation. It cannot determine what causes hairfall for any individual and is not a diagnosis or substitute for professional consultation.