No doubt about it, SARMs are getting a lot of attention lately. Users claim they are safer alternatives to steroids and lead to less unwanted side effects like hair loss and gyno. Critics say they haven’t been researched enough to make such bold claims.
However, love them or hate them, you can’t deny the fact that SARMs provide a range of benefits, such as muscle gain, fat cutting, great skin and even improvement in the quality of sleep.
Many bodybuilders can’t stop raving about these miracle compounds that accomplish what years of training and dieting accomplish (and in some cases, don’t at all), in a matter of months.
One of the many benefits that SARMs are supposed to provide include hair growth. What, then, of all those articles that claim SARMs cause hair loss? Are SARMs the good guys or bad guys, or are they somehow miraculously both?
Well, that’s exactly why we’re here! We clear the air and some of the mystery as we examine SARMs and their role in hair growth, so read on to have your questions answered!
SARMs & Hair Loss
Do SARMs cause hair loss? Here’s what we know
Long story short, some SARMs can cause hair loss, but some SARMs can also prevent hair loss. Each SARM is created uniquely, and therefore, different SARMs share different relationships with hair growth. It all lies in how suppressive the SARM is.
Suppression? What’s that, you ask?
All SARMs reduce or suppress the number of natural testosterone hormones produced by the body. Some suppress this to a great extent (to the extent that they end up severely harming the body, even), while some don’t suppress them so much.
If you’re wondering what testosterone has to do with hair growth, the hormone is one of the key contributors to DHT formation, which in turn is a key contributor to hair loss. Therefore, taking a SARM that suppresses testosterone to a safe yet substantial amount can actually prevent or slow down hair loss.
Contributing Factors
When to expect hair loss due to SARMs
SARMs majorly cause hair loss when you take over and above the recommended dosage and over cycles exceeding 10 weeks. This causes your hormones to get confused and go into a tizzy, possibly resulting in hair loss.
It’s also important to understand the role of androgens in hair loss. Excess androgens cause something called follicular miniaturization, or hair thinning. The magnitude of the effects of androgens on the body varies depending on other factors, but the minute you raise androgen levels via external compounds (in this case, SARMs), you can expect some amount of hair loss.
Therefore, ultimately, every SARM, regardless of the dosage, will have an impact on hair follicles, whether this is growth, loss or is a side effect of virilization.
Other reasons
Other reasons for hair loss on your cycle
More often than not, though, is that the hair loss or shedding reported during SARM cycles is attributed to stress and nervousness, rather than the effect of the SARM itself. This hair grows back within a few weeks of ending the cycle. Therefore, by stressing about whether you’re going to lose hair during your cycle (which may or may not happen!), you’re actually increasing the probability of hair loss, thanks to your stress.
Additionally, buying products that are not of high quality can also result in hair loss. Bad products and untrustworthy companies could be the reason behind hair loss, rather than the generic SARM itself. Such companies adulterate their SARMs, adding in other elements, generally prohormones.
Therefore, purchasing pure, high-quality SARMs will also help in not losing hair on your SARM cycle. In fact, such products could also possibly lead to better hair growth, especially if taken properly in the recommended dosages.
Hair Friendly SARMs
Which SARMs are the most “hair friendly”?
These SARMs are commonly referred to as “hair friendly” and should not cause any shedding:
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Ostarine
Also known as MK 2866, Ostarine doesn’t lead to hair loss since it’s the most commonly available and used SARM, not to mention the mildest. To experience hair loss on ostarine, you’d have to be taking well over 50 mg a day! However, in most cases, ostarine doesn’t lead to hair loss.
Ligandrol
Also known as LGD 4033, Ligandrol is another common SARM that many folks use for its ability to spur lean muscle growth and cut fat. Of the people who use Ligandrol, about 1-2% report hair loss and shedding on their cycles. However, this is mild and hair starts growing back a few weeks after the end of the cycle. This also indicates that the hair loss may have been due to stress, rather than Ligandrol itself.
Ibutamoren
MK 677, also known as Nutrobal, is not really a SARM, but a growth-hormone secretagogue (GHS). Therefore, where SARMs bind to the androgen receptors in the muscle and lead to bulky muscles, GHS works by encouraging the production of your body’s natural growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF 1), both of which play an important role in the growth and development of your muscles.
Therefore, since MK 677 is not a SARM, this means that, by default, we can rule out the possibility of it causing hair loss. In fact, many folks who use MK 677 also do so for its hair-loss-preventing capabilities. As a bonus, you also get healthy skin, making this one of the most popular compounds used.
Cardarine
Like MK 677, cardarine, or GW 50156 is not a SARM, but is often talked about in the same sentence. Cardarine has zero effect on the natural production of testosterone, which means that it doesn’t cause any hair loss. If you do experience hair loss on cardarine, it’s probably because you’re using a bunk product or overdoing the dosage.
Stenabolic
SR9009 not only has a cool-sounding name, but is a non-hormonal compound that is often confused with a SARM (since it’s so commonly talked about in conjecture with SARMs). Stenabolic, being non-hormonal, won’t touch your testosterone, and therefore, has zero impact on hair loss or growth.
Andarine
Next on the list is S4 or andarine, a mix of ostarine and Ligandrol, when it comes to its overall power and suppressing capability. Again, andarine in the right dosage, in the right cycle length, will not cause hair loss. A minority of users have reported hair loss or shedding on S4 cycles.
Worst For Hair
Which SARMs are the least hair friendly and cause shedding?
These SARMs are more likely to cause hair loss than others:
- RAD 140 (Testolone)
- YK11
- S23
Testolone
RAD 140 isn’t so “rad” according to some folks who claim that it caused immense hair shedding or hair loss. This is generally temporary hair loss/shedding that will come back after your cycle ends.
YK11
One of the most revered SARMs in the market, right up there with S23, YK11 is among the strongest SARMs available. With that said, YK11 does have some direct androgenic and anabolic activity that can cause hair loss depending on the dosage.
S23
Another cool-sounding SARM, S23 is among the strongest SARMs, which means that its suppressing capabilities are also quite high. S23 will definitely lead to some suppression, but this won’t be too much of a problem if you stick to the correct dosage and follow an 8-week cycle, at the most. Shedding is reported by a small percentage of users.
Solutions
How to battle hair loss while on SARMs
We get you—the stress of losing hair is very real. In fact, it’s so real that half the time, the stress is behind the hair loss on SARM cycles, instead of the actual SARM itself. However, pure, high-quality SARMs won’t cause any hair loss, as mentioned earlier. In case you still face hair loss on a high-quality SARM, this could be due to overdosage.
Whatever the reason, if you want to combat hair loss while on your SARM cycle, MK 677 is your best bet. This compound can be used along with your major SARM on its cycle and continue for a few weeks after the cycle ends; this means around 12-15 weeks of MK 677 usage. While on this MK 677 cycle, your body will be producing more growth hormone, leading to healthy skin and hair. Bye bye, hair loss!
Using Finasteride With SARMs
A common prescription treatment for male pattern baldness is a pill called Finasteride. It works on the 5AR receptor, which is how your body converts testosterone to DHT. But since SARMs do not work on 5AR, taking Finasteride (or Dutasteride, for that matter) will not affect any hair thinning caused from using SARMs.
People who are very prone to losing their hair can use topical RU58441, which is a potent anti-androgen. Be forewarned, it can really mess you up if you ingest it, so be careful with this stuff.
FAQ
FAQ and final thoughts about keeping your hair on SARMs
Which SARM is the worst for people with hair loss?
RAD140 is considered to be the least hair friendly SARM out of all of them. YK11 is up there too. It’s not fully understood why RAD140 causes hair loss, but those who are prone to balding should avoid it and use something like LGD-4033 or Ostarine instead.
Are SARMs hair friendly?
Yes – all SARMs are going to be easier on your hair than traditional anabolics and pro hormones. Besides, SARMs cycles are typically planned for 8 to 12 weeks, which is not enough time to progress hair loss to a significant degree.
Do SARMs increase hair growth?
On paper, SARMs should be able to increase hair growth by lowing the amount of DHT that can bind to androgen receptors in the scalp. However, this has not yet been proven and more research needs to be done.
Ultimately, all SARMs have some impact on hair, but each SARM is built in a unique way that leads to each SARM’s effect on hair being different from the other. SARMs that cause relatively more suppression could result in hair loss, but most SARMs will not cause any hair loss. If you are experiencing hair loss on your SARM cycle, it is prudent to examine your stress levels, your SARM dosage, and the purity and quality of your product.
Bunk products are a very real threat in the SARMs market; some of them harm more than just your hair, which is why it becomes essential to buy high-quality products. Adulterated SARMs sold by fake companies, with prohormones mixed in them, can adversely affect your health to a great extent. Therefore, visit the verified source list for your SARMs needs; brands listed on this site are all verified, tested and safe.
If it’s stress that’s causing hair fall, don’t worry too much; the loss is temporary and reversible. Your hair should return to normal after you stop your cycle.
Ultimately, pure, high-quality SARMs won’t cause hair loss, even if they are extremely suppressive. Taken correctly, in the right dosage and for the right amount of time, SARMs can even lead to hair growth and better hair. Therefore, ensure you’re taking your SARMs right to reap the benefits!
my hair good shiney.Thank you for sharing such a well-structured and informative blog post. The content was organized in a way that made it easy to follow, and the key points were highlighted effectively.