Last updated on 1 November 2026
Baldness does not come only from your mother's side. The AR gene on the X chromosome plays a role, but hundreds of genes from both parents together determine how sensitive your hair follicles are to DHT. If early hair loss runs in your father's family or on your mother's side, your chance is higher, but it remains a chance and not a certainty.
The idea that baldness always comes from the mother's side is one of the most persistent misconceptions about hair loss. It has an appealing quality: a simple formula. Look at your mother's father, and you see your future.
But it doesn't work that way. It's a bit more complicated, and below you can read how it works.
Is baldness inherited from your mother?
Partly. The "mother's side" story has a grain of truth. There is a gene on the X chromosome that plays a role in hereditary hair loss: the AR gene, which codes for the androgen receptor (the protein in the hair follicle that DHT binds to). Men have one X chromosome, which they receive from their mother. If that receptor is sensitive to DHT, the hormone responsible for most male baldness, it increases the chance of hair loss.
Hence the mother's side story. And that is not entirely wrong.
But it is not entirely correct either. Because the AR gene is not the only gene involved, and certainly not the only one that is decisive.
How does heredity in male pattern baldness really work?
In recent years, scientists have found hundreds of genes that contribute to male hair loss. A large 2017 study (Hagenaars et al., PLOS Genetics, 52,874 men from the UK Biobank) found more than 250 independent genetic locations (loci) associated with severe baldness. They are spread across almost all chromosomes and therefore come from both the mother and the father. An earlier twin study of 739 elderly Danish men (Rexbye et al., 2005, Journals of Gerontology) estimated that 79% of the differences in baldness can be explained genetically.
The conclusion was clear: hereditary hair loss is a complex interplay of hundreds of genes. Not one gene, not one parent. The AR gene on the X chromosome plays a role, but it is far from the complete story.
What is true: if male hair loss is prominent in your family, you have a higher chance. But "prominent" then refers to both sides of the family, not just your mother's side.
What does your family history say about your chance of baldness?
There is no formula that can predict with certainty whether you will go bald. But there are factors that increase the chance. If your father went bald early, that increases your risk. If your mother's father had hair loss early, that counts too. If a pattern is visible among the men on both sides of the family, there is a good chance that you are susceptible to it as well.
But it remains a chance, not a certainty. Even if all the men in your family are bald, that does not have to be true for you. And the other way around: men with no baldness in the family can still develop it.
Something else you should not lose sight of: many men with a hereditary predisposition notice the first signs early. Between the ages of 18 and 25, a considerable share of men see their hairline start to shift a little or their crown start to thin. That is not necessarily a disaster, but it is a signal to take seriously. You can read how to recognize the first signs in recognizing hair loss.
What is the role of DHT in hereditary baldness?
DHT is the hormone that gradually makes hereditarily sensitive hair follicles shrink (more in DHT and hair loss). The mechanism behind hereditary baldness is called androgenetic alopecia. It has everything to do with DHT, a hormone made from testosterone. In men with a genetic sensitivity, DHT molecules bind to the hair follicles, particularly on the crown and along the hairline.
This shortens the hair growth cycle. Hairs grow for a shorter time, become thinner, and over time growth stops completely in those areas.
The difference is not in the amount of DHT a person produces, but in how sensitive their follicles are to that hormone. Someone with little DHT but highly sensitive follicles can go bald just as easily as someone with a lot of DHT but resistant follicles. This sensitivity is largely genetically determined. That is why heredity is such a big factor.
Can you tell whether you will go bald?
The most honest indicator is your own scalp. If you notice that your hairline is changing slightly, your crown is getting thinner, or you are consistently losing more hair than before, these are signals you should take seriously.
Take a photo of your hairline and crown every two months, in the same spot, with the same light. Changes that you can barely see with the naked eye become visible in photos over a longer period. With the Norwood scale you can determine which stage you are in.
Also look at your family history, but look broadly. Not only at your mother's father, but at the men on both sides. If your father already had a clear hairline recession at 25 and the men on your mother's side still had full hair at 60, then it is probably your father's genes that are decisive.
But stay realistic: even a detailed family history gives no guarantee about which way it will go.
What can you do if baldness runs in your family?
The honest message: you cannot change your heredity. The sensitivity of your follicles to DHT is in your DNA. But that does not mean you can't do anything.
Starting early helps. This is perhaps the best-supported principle in hair loss. Hair follicles that are still active can be supported. Follicles that have been inactive for a long time are harder or no longer possible to reactivate. The earlier you step in when you notice the first signs, the more hair you can keep.
Medication such as finasteride and dutasteride reduce the production of DHT in the body. They are effective, but they have side effects that you need to weigh seriously beforehand. That is a choice you make together with a doctor, not something you just start on your own.
If you prefer to work without medication, there are topical options that can improve the environment for your hair follicles. The Hairborn Growth Serum contains ingredients such as Redensyl™ and Procapil™ that support the hair growth cycle and nourish the follicles, without the systemic effects of medication. It does not remove a genetic predisposition, but it can slow the decline if you act early.
The serum works with the BornActive™ formula: twelve ingredients, including Capilia Longa™, Hairborn Complex™ and Procapil™. And if it doesn't work for you, the 150 Days Growth or Money Back Guarantee simply gets you your money back.
What is the answer: does baldness come from mom or dad?
Baldness does not come exclusively from the mother's side. It is a complex interplay of hundreds of genes, from both parents. The AR gene on the X chromosome plays a role, but it is only a piece of the whole.
If hereditary baldness occurs in your family, it increases your chance. But it is not a sentence, and the "mother's side" formula is too simple to rely on. Look at the full family history, pay attention to the signs you already see yourself, and act early if you want to tackle it. Timing makes a bigger difference than most people realize.
Frequently asked questions
Can you take a DNA test to determine your risk?
There are commercial genetic tests that look at specific risk markers, including variants of the AR gene, but these give a risk indication and not a certain prediction. They also do not always take into account all the hundreds of genes that play a role.
Does a full head of hair on your grandfather mean you will be spared too?
No, that offers no guarantee. Because hundreds of genes from both parents are involved, you can have a full head of hair on your grandfather on your mother's side and still be susceptible to baldness yourself through other genetic variants, for example from your father's side.
Can identical twins still go bald differently?
Yes, even though identical twins have the same genes, they can still experience a different course of hair loss due to differences in hormone levels, lifestyle or other non-genetic factors that influence the expression of those same genes.
Does ethnicity play a role in the chance of hereditary hair loss?
Yes, research suggests that the prevalence and pattern of androgenetic alopecia can differ between ethnic groups, possibly due to differences in the distribution of susceptible genetic variants. This is still an area where research is developing further.
Is baldness inherited from the father's side?
Yes, from the father's side too. Most of the genes associated with baldness are not on the X chromosome but spread across other chromosomes, and you inherit those from both parents. Only the AR gene comes via your mother. A father who went bald early therefore also raises your chance.
How hereditary is baldness in men?
In a twin study of 739 elderly Danish men (Rexbye et al., 2005), heritability was estimated at 79%. That number says how much of the differences between men can be explained genetically, not how big your personal chance is. Environmental factors also play a role.
Is there a link between early graying and hereditary hair loss?
There is no strong evidence for a direct genetic link between early graying and hereditary hair loss. They are two separate processes that both involve aging of the hair follicle, but run through different pathways.
Can environmental factors strengthen or weaken a genetic predisposition?
Yes, environmental factors such as stress, smoking and overall health can influence how quickly a genetic predisposition manifests, even though they do not change the underlying genes themselves. A healthy lifestyle can therefore possibly contribute to a slightly more favorable course.
Is the chance higher if both parents have a family history of hair loss?
Yes, in general, the more family members on both sides who have had early or extensive hair loss, the greater the chance that the relevant genetic variants are also present in you. It remains an increased chance, however, not a certainty.
From what age do you notice hereditary hair loss?
Often between 18 and 25, when the hairline shifts or the crown gets thinner. Take a photo every two months in the same spot and with the same light, so you can see changes over a longer period. If you notice signs, acting early helps: follicles that are still active can be supported better than follicles that have been inactive for a long time.
