Androgenetic Alopecia, more commonly known as male-pattern baldness, accounts for almost 95% of hair loss issues. Fortunately, we know many of the factors that play into this genetic disorder, as well as hair restoration solutions to lessen its effects. But it definitely wasn’t always that way.

Hair restoration and hair loss have quite the interesting history. From diagnoses to treatments, hair loss has plagued individuals and stumped scientists for a long time. Here’s a short guide to some of the fascinating history behind hair restoration and hair loss.

When in Rome
Recent research has revealed that hair restoration certainly isn’t a new avenue of study. In fact, this practice may even date back as far as 50 BC. According to National Geographic, the laurel often pictured atop Julius Caesar’s head may have just been another iteration of a wig to mask the Roman emperor’s hair loss.

Revolutionary Times
The journey to discovering the root of hair loss was certainly a long one, and not without its fair share of blunders. For example, in 1778, Samuel Johnson actually claimed that hair loss was the result of a “dry brain.” Whether he was referring to dehydration or a lack of education, we may never know.

The Age of Hair Transplantation Begins
It was later discovered that, unlike what Samuel Johnson believed, hair loss was a result of hormonal and heredity factors in addition to stress. But it wasn’t until the 1950s that hair transplants became the new experimental treatment. Dr. Norman Orentreich, a New York dermatologist, made the first steps towards hair transplant around that time when he moved donor hair to a patient’s bald patch, where it began to grow naturally.

Fast Forward to Today
Hair replacement options have grown to encompass colored sprays, wigs, extensions, and several hair transplant procedures. The most commonly used procedures today are FUE hair transplants and FUT hair transplants, and they’ve grown popular due to their high success rate.

Medical science has given us many things, hair transplant surgery included. But that’s definitely not to say that it wasn’t a challenging journey to get to the point we’re at today!