As we age, some people find their hair starts to thin and turn gray. While this is a natural part of aging, it can significantly impact confidence and self-esteem, causing many sufferers to seek out a solution.
Hair pieces have advanced considerably but are a temporary solution. A hair transplant is permanent but is an expensive option with a long healing time. So what other solutions are there?
Self-proclaimed “anti-aging fanatic” Bryan Johnson has had impressive results from his hair loss reversal practice that combines oils, treatments, and cutting-edge, innovative technology.
Read on to learn more.
Who Is Bryan Johnson?
Bryan Johnson is an entrepreneur and investor who created Braintree, an online payment system. He sold the company to PayPal in 2013 and launched Kernel, a non-invasive brain measurement system.
Johnson is passionate about slowing and reversing the aging process and developed the Blueprint Protocol. This daily routine is designed to slow aging through a rigorous exercise regime, strict diet, and medical treatments.
He has put considerable thought and research into developing this protocol. One aspect it focuses on is reversing his hair loss and graying. Looking at the before-and-after photographs of his hair, you can see it is darker and fuller.
What Is Bryan Johnson’s Hair Loss Type?
Bryan Johnson has androgenic alopecia which is a common form of hair loss. It affects up to 50% of men and women and follows different baldness patterns between genders. This is why it is commonly referred to as male or female pattern baldness.
Androgenic alopecia is a genetically predetermined disorder, meaning you can inherit it from your parents.
What Specific Treatments Has Bryan Johnson Used for Hair Loss?
As with essentially every other part of his life, Johnson has extensively researched his hair loss treatments. This includes undertaking several tests to define exactly the steps and routine most likely to work for him.
If you’re wondering when you should start working on your hair, it’s better to start sooner rather than later.
Here are the key elements of Bryan Johnson’s hair loss reversal routine.
Red light therapy
As any barber will tell you, increasing blood flow to the scalp can help you hold onto your tresses. You can achieve this through regular massages, but Johnson opts for cutting-edge technology to promote circulation in his scalp — lasers.
“I use red light therapy as I started losing my hair in my early 30s. I’ve had to work really hard to try to keep a head of hair, and this is a useful thing.”
Red light stimulates vasodilation, meaning it causes blood vessels to dilate so more blood can flow through them. However, more research is needed to establish its effectiveness.
Every morning, Johnson uses a red light therapy cap that has 312 laser diodes for six minutes. Studies on the treatment are not yet conclusive, but Johnson says they are “pretty good” and continues using it in his hair care routine even though it’s “not the most powerful treatment.”
Personalized topical treatment
Johnson took a genetic test to develop the “most powerful formulation” for a topical solution he uses on his scalp every morning. It contains ingredients reported to benefit hair retention and regrowth like caffeine, minoxidil, and rosemary oil.
Here are the ingredients in Johnson’ topical solution:
- Caffeine USP 1%
- Finasteride USP 0.25%
- Minoxidil USP 5%
- Azelaic Acid 1.5%
- Diclofenac 0.5%
- Tea Tree Oil 5%
- Rosemary Oil 0.37%
- Ginkgo Biloba 0.05%
- Biotin 0.01%
- Melatonin USP 0.0033%
Johnson massages this solution into his scalp for one to two minutes using a silicone scalp scrubber. While Johnson undertook testing to predict how he would respond to the ingredients, you may be able to achieve results by using a caffeine shampoo, minoxidil treatment, tea tree oil, and rosemary oil on the scalp each day.
Microneedling
In his YouTube video, Johnson mentions that he intermittently uses microneedling on his scalp to increase the effectiveness of the topical formulation.
This process involves using a dermaroller or dermastamp covered in tiny needles over the scalp that leaves tiny holes in the skin, allowing the topical formulation to penetrate better. It also increases blood flow to the scalp.
Johsnon doesn’t incorporate microneedling into his routine so often anymore as he and his team were “a little worried” because he was “doing so many things” for his hair.
He noted,
Gray hair reversal
Aside from reversing his hair loss, Johnson also aims to halt and reverse the graying of his hair. He started going gray in his late 20s, particularly at the temples. He has tried a lot of different things to reverse the graying and admits he used to dye his hair in the past.
Johnson says he no longer dyes his hair, but one of the formulations he uses does contain color. However, he mentions they have biopsied his hair and saw “the color is being produced beneath the scalp.”
The two products Johnson uses for gray reversal are GR7, an anti-gray treatment used three to four times per week, and Mayraki, a colored herbal extract that boosts melanin production, applied once per week.
Nutrition
Nutrition plays a key role in hair health, so you need to ensure you eat a balanced, nutritious diet and add supplements if needed.
Johnson says, “You’ll want to make sure you’re getting adequate protein, Omega-3 fatty acids, Biotin (Vitamin B7), Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Iron, and Zinc.”
Be gentle
This might seem obvious, but being rough with your hair is often extremely detrimental and can undo all your hard work. Johnson stresses the importance of “basic stuff like being careful with your hair, not combing too hard, not pulling really hard at the follicles.”
Be mindful about how you brush and wash your hair to avoid causing extra damage.
Are There Any Risks With Bryan Johnson’s Hair Loss Protocol?
As with many procedures and supplements, some users may experience side effects from different elements of Johnson’s hair loss protocol, such as:
- Minoxidil: Some people experience itchy skin and headaches from topical minoxidil. Common side effects of oral minoxidil are headaches and hypertrichosis (excessive hair growth).
- Red light therapy: This treatment appears safe, but long-term safety hasn’t been established. Misuse may cause damage to the skin and eyes.
FAQs
Bryan Johnson has detailed all aspects of his Blueprint Protocol on his website, including his hair loss treatments. He also recommends products and treatments and in many cases offers a discount.
However, some of the treatments are expensive and therefore not viable for everyone. That being said, he does recommend some alternative approaches that are more budget-friendly.
Bryan Johnson’s hair care protocol focuses primarily on nutrition, topical treatment, and innovative technology. He does undertake some injections into the scalp, but all procedures are non-surgical.
It’s difficult to put an exact price on Johnson’s hair loss protocol as he is consistently researching and trying out new products and procedures. He reportedly spends $2 million per year on his anti-aging program.
You Might Also Like
Discover Andrew Huberman’s top supplement recommendations for optimizing health, performance, and well-being, backed by scientific research.
