Asian Hair Loss Tracking: Adapted Protocols for East and South Asian Hair

Asian hair has the highest individual strand diameter and the lowest follicular unit density per square centimeter of any hair type. These characteristics mean that standard tracking benchmarks built on Caucasian hair data will produce inaccurate readings for East Asian, South Asian, and Southeast Asian users. This guide covers how to adapt your tracking protocol.

Why Asian Hair Needs Calibrated Tracking

The average Caucasian scalp contains 170 to 230 follicular units per cm2. Asian scalps typically range from 140 to 200 FU/cm2. Despite the lower density count, Asian hair's larger diameter (80 to 120 micrometers compared to 60 to 80 for Caucasian hair) means each strand covers more scalp area. This creates the visual illusion of similar or even greater coverage.

Without calibration, an AI tracker might flag a healthy Asian scalp at 155 FU/cm2 as thinning when it is well within normal range. That is why setting ethnicity-specific benchmarks matters.

Step 1: Set Your Ethnicity Baseline in myhairline.ai

Open your myhairline.ai profile settings and select your hair ethnicity category. This adjusts the reference density range from the default Caucasian benchmark (200 FU/cm2 average) to the Asian benchmark (170 FU/cm2 average). The system will then calculate density changes relative to your expected baseline.

This single setting prevents false alarms and ensures that a density reading of 160 FU/cm2 is interpreted correctly as mild thinning for Asian hair, not moderate loss.

Step 2: Adapt Your Photo Protocol for Straight Hair

Asian hair is predominantly straight (round cross-section), which means it lays flat against the scalp. This makes early thinning harder to detect visually because the hair does not "lift" to expose the scalp the way wavy or curly hair does.

To compensate, follow these photo adjustments:

• Use overhead lighting. Direct overhead light creates the most scalp contrast with straight, flat-lying hair.
• Part the hair in consistent locations. Mark 3 to 4 part lines on your scalp and photograph the same parts every session.
• Wet hair photos optional. Wet Asian hair clumps heavily and can exaggerate thinning appearance. Stick to dry hair for consistency unless your dermatologist requests wet photos.

For the full photo protocol, see our guide on taking consistent hair loss progress photos.

Step 3: Understand East Asian vs. South Asian Patterns

Hair loss does not follow identical patterns across all Asian populations.

East Asian men (Chinese, Japanese, Korean): Androgenetic alopecia often presents as diffuse vertex thinning or a Ludwig-like pattern rather than the classic frontal recession. The Norwood scale still applies, but the starting presentation tends to cluster around stages 3V and 4. Frontal hairlines frequently remain intact longer than in Caucasian men.

South Asian men (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi): Patterns more closely resemble Caucasian androgenetic alopecia with frontal M-shaped recession. Density baselines overlap between the Asian and Middle Eastern ranges (150 to 210 FU/cm2), so calibration remains important.

Southeast Asian men (Thai, Vietnamese, Filipino): Patterns vary widely. Density typically falls in the 140 to 190 FU/cm2 range. Onset is often later than in Caucasian populations.

Step 4: Track Treatment Response with Adjusted Expectations

Treatment response data is overwhelmingly derived from studies on Caucasian and mixed populations. When tracking your response, keep these considerations in mind:

• Finasteride shows 80 to 90% efficacy at halting further loss across ethnicities, with 65% experiencing regrowth. Response rates in Asian populations appear comparable based on available data from Japanese and Korean studies.
• Minoxidil produces 40 to 60% regrowth. Asian men may respond well to the 5% concentration, though some studies suggest the 2% formulation is better tolerated.
• Hair transplant graft survival remains consistent at 90 to 95% across ethnicities. However, Asian hair's larger diameter means fewer grafts may be needed for equivalent visual coverage.

The thicker strand diameter provides more coverage per graft, which is why the adjusted ranges skew lower.

Step 5: Log Density Changes Monthly

For accurate trend detection, upload photos at minimum once per month. Asian hair's growth cycle averages 5 to 7 years in the anagen phase (compared to 2 to 6 for Caucasian hair), which means changes can be slower to appear.

Set your tracking interval to monthly and review your density trend line at the 6-month mark. A 10% decline from your calibrated baseline over 6 months warrants a dermatologist consultation.

Use the male pattern baldness tracker for ongoing monitoring between sessions.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Using Caucasian benchmarks. A density of 155 FU/cm2 is normal for Asian hair but would indicate thinning on a Caucasian scalp. Always calibrate.
2. Over-interpreting wet hair photos. Wet Asian hair clumps dramatically and can look much thinner than it is. Track with dry hair.
3. Ignoring vertex thinning. Because frontal hairlines often remain stable in East Asian men, check the vertex zone regularly.
4. Comparing to non-Asian progress photos. Treatment result photos from Caucasian patients will show different density patterns. Compare to your own baseline only.

When to See a Dermatologist

If your myhairline.ai density readings show a sustained decline of more than 15% from your calibrated baseline over 3 to 6 months, book a dermatology appointment. Bring your tracking timeline, which provides objective data that eliminates the guesswork of visual assessment.

Start tracking your hair density with benchmarks calibrated for Asian hair at myhairline.ai/analyze.

Medical disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a licensed dermatologist for personalized diagnosis and treatment recommendations.