Understanding Prince Harry’s Hair Loss: Causes and Treatment Options

Key Takeaways:

• Has Prince Harry had a hair transplant? There is no evidence to indicate Prince Harry has had a hair transplant. His hair loss, especially at the crown, has continued to progress over the years. Though unconfirmed, reports have linked him to non-surgical hair-thickening treatments.
  
• What does available evidence suggest? His hair loss has not generally recovered and has continued to progress over time. This is the natural course of male pattern baldness when not surgically treated. This further suggests he has not had a hair transplant procedure, and may have used non-surgical options at most.
  
• What has he been linked to? In 2020, tabloid reports suggested he’d visited a London clinic for hair-thickening therapies. This remains speculation, as there is no official confirmation from Prince Harry regarding this.
  
• How much hair loss does he have? Our surgeons assess his hair loss at around Norwood stage 4. His hair loss is more concentrated at the crown area, which is made more visible by his fair and light coloured hair.
  
• Could he have a transplant if he wanted one? Yes, Prince Harry may be considered a viable candidate for a hair transplant if he chooses to have one. With a healthy donor area and an experienced hair transplant surgeon, the area with baldness can be effectively treated. It is important to note that there is no indication he is considering it.

Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has lived most of his life in the public eye. From his childhood as a young royal, through his move to California, and now moving back to the UK with his family.

That level of visibility and near-constant media attention means his physical appearance is closely followed, and over the years, just like most men, he has started to show signs of male pattern hair loss.

Now in his forties, Harry’s gradual hair loss, like many other men, has become increasingly noticeable, especially at his crown. Some media reports have over the years linked him to non-surgical hair thickening treatments, but he has not at any time confirmed or denied this.

Prince Harry’s Hair Loss Over the Years

As a royal, Prince Harry has been photographed countless times for decades, making it easy to analyse the gradual progression of his hair loss. Despite reports of potential hair loss medications, his hair loss has visibly continued to progress with no clear signs of reversal.

Mid-2010s

Prince Harry’s hair loss started at the crown area in his early 30s. Hair loss for many men first occurs at the front hairline/temples area, but in Prince Harry’s case, he began losing hair at his crown area.

Male pattern hair loss is an inherited condition that causes hair follicles that are sensitive to DHT to slowly shrink and eventually produce thinner and shorter hair. 

“Male pattern hair loss is strongly influenced by genetics, and the pattern, rate and extent of hair loss can vary from person to person. The hairs across the top of the scalp are generally the most susceptible, but not everyone loses hair the same way. While many men first notice recession around the hairline and temples, others may begin thinning at the crown. This is a normal variation of male pattern hair loss. Crown thinning can also be easier to miss because it is difficult to see yourself, so I would encourage anyone noticing changes in this area to have it assessed early, before the hair loss becomes more advanced.”

Dr Dilan Fernando, Co-founder and Hair Transplant Surgeon at The Treatment Rooms London

Late 2010s to early 2020s

In the subsequent years, public photos reveal further thinning at his crown, with more scalp becoming visible in that region as well. If left untreated, male pattern baldness will naturally progress, with varying rates and severity between individuals. Our surgeons estimate his hair loss would be Norwood 4 at this point in time.

Could Prince Harry Have a Hair Transplant if He Wanted One?

There is no indication that Prince Harry is considering surgery as a treatment solution to his hair loss. He appears to have let his hair loss simply progress naturally. However, he will likely be a candidate if he ever chooses to have a hair transplant.

Deciding whether to have a hair transplant is a personal choice, and while some men may choose to have one, others may feel comfortable with their loss.

If he ever decides to have a hair transplant in the future, the focus would be on achieving coverage at his crown and possibly the frontal hairline to achieve overall hair results. 

One thing to be mindful of is being realistic with the hair loss in the crown region, as it typically requires a larger number of grafts, and also the hair grows in a circular whorl pattern.

This would need proper planning for donor area management by an experienced surgeon who can also re-create the natural whorl pattern.

Understanding the Limitations of Non-Surgical Treatment

Non-surgical options like minoxidil and finasteride are excellent at helping to slow the process of pattern hair loss. The earlier you start them in your hair loss journey,  the more effective they are, as they allow you to preserve your existing hair that would otherwise thin out.

There are other non-surgical options out there, like scalp therapies, which are shown to have modest benefit for encouraging hair growth. If you want a quicker or more temporary fix, then you can consider hairpieces or camouflage (fibres or concealers). These can be useful, especially if you are in the public eye.

Non-surgical treatments have their limits, however. Medications can prove ineffective, especially if you have more advanced hair loss. At more advanced Norwood stages, you should have realistic expectations with topical or oral treatments like Finasteride – they can slow down the loss, but can’t help to regrow hair that has already been lost. 

“Male pattern hair loss is progressive by nature, so there are two important considerations,  preventing further hair loss and restoring coverage for areas that have already lost hair. Medications such as finasteride and minoxidil can be very effective at stabilising further loss and may improve density where follicles are still present, but they cannot restore hair in areas that have become completely bald.

That is where hair transplant may be suitable in some patients.Optimising medical treatment can also reduce the amount of grafts required and potentially decrease the need for further procedures as hair loss progresses.”

Dr Dilan Fernando, Co-founder and Hair Transplant Surgeon at The Treatment Rooms London

Are you considering a hair transplant?

Hair loss can be a deeply personal and sensitive issue. For some people, it is a cosmetic concern, but for others, it can really eat away at their confidence every time they look in the mirror.

It can make them second guess how they look when taking a photograph or entering a crowded room. Each individual will have their own experience, and that is why we ensure that they each get a unique hairline that suits who they are. 

Explore our extensive gallery of hair transplant results, where you can check a wide range of before and after transformations achieved on behalf of our patients.

With each case, you can get a glimpse of how we have helped hundreds of people like you achieve their dream hairline, often just from a single-day procedure. 

Furthermore, our patient journey is second to none, with hair transplant aftercare factored into our pricing structure.

For more information about costs associated with an FUE hair transplant, take a look at our dedicated hair transplant cost page or try our hair graft calculator to figure out how many grafts you might need.

Get in touch today if you’d like to book a consultation to discover how our team may be able to help you achieve a fuller, natural finish to your hairline.