Bald Heads and Body Hair
A: This is actually a common misconception that has been reinforced by a long-standing stereotype. While it may seem like men with bald heads often have a lot of chest, back, or facial hair, the reality is that body hair and scalp hair are not directly linked.
In my own experience, I've seen every possible combination. I know a number of male clients who have little to no excess body hair and yet are completely bald. I also know an equal number of men with thick, full heads of hair who resemble gorillas below the collar. Between those two extremes are countless variations.
The confusion comes from the fact that some of the same hormones involved in body hair growth also play a role in male pattern baldness. The key hormone is dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a byproduct of testosterone. DHT encourages the growth of facial and body hair, but in men who have inherited a genetic sensitivity to the hormone, it can gradually shrink the hair follicles on the scalp. As these follicles become smaller, they produce finer, shorter hairs until they eventually stop producing hair altogether.
DHT by itself doesn't cause baldness. The determining factor is whether a man's scalp hair follicles are genetically sensitive to it. That's why two men with similar testosterone levels can have completely different hair patterns. One may keep a thick head of hair throughout his life, while another may begin losing his hair at a relatively young age.
Body hair is also influenced by many other factors, including genetics, age, and hormone sensitivity. Some men naturally grow thick hair on their chest, back, shoulders, and arms, while others develop very little body hair regardless of their hormone levels.
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See also:
Receding hair lines and balding
Why do men lose hair more than women?