1. Look For Clues

Forget clumps of hair in your sink. Male pattern baldness comes slowly, as hair follicles close in reaction to hormones produced by your body, says Dr Bessam Farjo, hair loss expert and founder of the Farjo Medical Centre.

A hair’s life cycle is up to seven years – then it drops out, and a new one grows in its place. Unless the follicle’s shut up shop. But by then, you’re half a decade too late to take action.

“You’re likely to start losing your hair in two places,” says Lilly Dillon, trichologist and managing barber at London grooming mecca Ruffians. “At the temples or on the crown.” Or, in some unfortunate cases, both.

Early action is most effective at halting the retreat, but since receding is gradual it can be hard to notice. Compare your current hairline to old Facebook profile snaps to check if your forehead’s grown, and quiz your barber about your hard-to-check crown.

The old wives’ tale about baldness skipping a generation isn’t true (sorry), but receding hairlines are hereditary, says Farjo. So even if you’re not noticing thinning, a family photo album full of cue balls means that either you’re adopted, or baldness is inevitable.

2. Raid The Medicine Cabinet

There are only two recognized treatments for hair loss, says Dillon: Propecia, taken orally, which prevents your body producing the follicle-closing hormone, and Minoxidil, labeled as Regaine, which you apply straight to the scalp to encourage the follicles to stay open.

Both are clinically proven to work, but don’t expect miracles, warns Farjo. Though these treatments prevent further loss, neither can actually grow hair back. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. So start as soon as you suspect you’re getting lighter up top.

3. Get Stimulated

If the drugs don’t work, all isn’t lost. “Once you have thinning hair, you should start to use a stimulating or clarifying shampoo,” says Dillon.