Has Donald Trump Had a Hair Transplant? Expert Review and What the Evidence Shows

Key Takeaways

• Has Donald Trump had a hair transplant? There’s no confirmed evidence that Trump has had a hair transplant. While his hair has generated a lot of attention and speculation, there is also no evidence from an extensive review of his pictures.
  
• What’s actually confirmed about his hair? In 2017, a long-time personal physician, Dr Harold Bornstein, told The New York Times that Trump takes a daily dose of finasteride, which is a common prescription treatment for male pattern baldness.
  
• What have people speculated about? Many have speculated about a potential scalp reduction in the 1980s or use of a wig. Neither of these is confirmed. On the famous Tonight Show, he invited Jimmy Fallon to tousle his hair to confirm it was real hair.
  
• What would modern treatment involve? If you have a similar family history of male pattern hair loss, the most modern technique today is FUE (Follicular Unit Excision). FUE is a minimally invasive technique and is preferred for its minimal downtime and other benefits.

Donald Trump’s hair is one of the most talked about aspects of his appearance; from his time as just being a successful realtor to twice becoming the president of the United States of America, he has spent decades being in the public eye.

His distinctive comb-over has drawn endless speculation, and the fact that, despite his age, he does not appear to have the expected level of hair loss. Also being from a family with a verifiable history of male pattern hair loss, he seems to have defied all the odds.

In 2017, his longtime personal physician told The New York Times that Trump takes a daily dose of finasteride, which is a common prescription medication for male pattern hair loss.

While there is no visible or verifiable evidence that he has undergone a hair transplant or artificial fixes like wigs, his hair understandably would have attracted attention due to his distinctive style and changes which should be associated with his ageing.

Has Donald Trump Had a Hair Transplant?

There is no sufficient evidence to suggest Donald Trump has had a hair transplant, and this has not been confirmed by him as well.

The only genuine and confirmed detail we know of is the comment by his longtime physician Dr Harold Bornstein in 2017. In an interview with The New York Times, he confirmed Donald Trump takes a daily dose of Finasteride. Finasteride is a prescription tablet which helps reduce DHT, the hormone that plays a key role in the development of male pattern baldness.

Finasteride and Minoxidil are among the most efficient medical treatments available for hair loss, and when used consistently over many years, can slow the progression of hair loss and help maintain existing hair. Using medication early enough based on his family history of male pattern baldness could have been a deliberate decision, leading to him still having a head relatively full of hair for men of his age.

There was speculation of him using a “toupee” or wigs over the years. In fact, he addressed that on The Tonight Show, when he asked Jimmy Fallon to tousle his hair to confirm he had no wigs. There was a situation when the wind blew against his hair. An artificial or wig would not move in such a fluid and natural way, which further confirms he was not wearing artificial hair.

Trump’s hair is also styled in a way that effectively covers the areas most prone to thinning. His signature comb-over does that effectively, and that is a technique many men use to make their thinning hair less visible.

Modern Hair Loss Treatments

The way Donald Trump appears to have managed his hair loss shows that early intervention and consistent use of medications like Finasteride or Minoxidil can be helpful in managing hair loss.

Finasteride

Trump’s personal physician, Dr. Harold N. Bornstein, talked about him using this medication daily. Finasteride works by lowering DHT, the hormone that drives male pattern baldness. When taken consistently, it can help slow hair loss and help maintain existing hair.

Minoxidil

This is also known by the brand name Regaine. Minoxidil is applied to the scalp and can also be taken orally as a low dose tablet, but must be done under medical supervision.

Minoxidil works differently from Finasteride by improving blood flow to the follicles and prolonging the hair growth phase. The two can also be used together for a more synergistic effect. To maintain results, both medications need to be taken continuously.

Non-surgical options

Non-surgical options can also be explored, with options like low-level laser therapy, medicated shampoos such as ketoconazole, or platelet rich plasma (PRP) treatments. Evidence for these varies and tends to be more effective when used to play a supporting role.

Hair transplant surgery

Hair transplant surgery is an effective option that can be explored. Medications may not produce desired results when the hair loss is already advanced, as the medications are unable to grow back lost hair.

In cases like this, hair transplant can be explored by moving hair follicles from a donor area to areas with hair thinning or baldness. There are two hair transplant techniques: FUE (Follicular Unit Excision) and FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantation).

Thinking About Your Own Hair Loss?

If you are suffering from hair loss and you are reviewing options like medical solutions or hair transplant, it is important to speak with a medical professional so as to understand your current situation and best options.

At The Treatment Rooms London, we specialise in providing world class care to our patients through our surgeon-led approach. Every patient is assigned to a surgeon who will assess their hair loss and give them medical advice on their best options. The same surgeon will lead the procedure, further providing you with personalised care from the entire team.

Book a call to speak with one of our surgeons and discuss your hair loss and best options.

References

1. Scutti S. Trump is taking hair loss drug, doctor says. CNN Health [Internet]. 2017 Feb 2 [cited 2026 Sep 4]. Available from: https://www.cnn.com/2017/02/02/health/trump-drugs-propecia/index.html
   
2. Asfour L, Cranwell W, Sinclair R. Male androgenetic alopecia. [Updated 2023 Jan 25]. In: Feingold KR, Anawalt B, Blackman MR, et al., editors. Endotext [Internet]. South Dartmouth (MA): MDText.com, Inc.; 2000– [cited 2026 Sep 4]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK278957/
   
3. Ho CH, Zito PM. Androgenetic alopecia. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 [cited 2026 Sep 4]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430924/
   
4. Jimenez F, Alam M, Vogel JE, Avram M. Hair transplantation: basic overview. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2021 Oct;85(4):803–814. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2021.03.124