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 Hair Institute. 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.

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.

There are only two recognised treatments for hair loss, says Dillon: Propecia, taken orally, which prevents your body producing the follicle-closing hormone, and Minoxidil, labelled 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.

Go under the knife? Modern hair transplant surgery can undo much of the damage from male pattern baldness. Healthy follicles are transplanted from your neckline to your scalp, where they grow as usual. There’s a limit to how much you can cover, says Farjo. You’re only blessed with a finite number of transferable follicles.

Read the full ‘5 steps to take if you’re losing your hair’ article here