What do you think?
Rate this book
Hair Like a Fox: A Bioenergetic View of Pattern Hair Loss
The Current View of Pattern Hair Loss is Incoherent While it is often stated with great confidence that pattern baldness is the result of defective genes and "male" androgenic hormones (e.g., dihydrotestosterone or DHT), the theory is physiologically unsound. In fact, after 60 years of research the "genetic-androgen" doctrine has produced a single FDA-approved "therapy" that works less than 50% the time and can result in permanent chemical castration (Minoxidil is a nonstarter for many men and women). The Future Isn't Bright Because The Theory is Wrong While resources for those interested in pattern baldness are few and far between, Ralph M. Trueb and Desmond Tobin’s 2010 book, Aging Hair , provides, in my opinion, a relevant counter point to the ideas presented in this book. However, the future doesn’t appear to be bright, as the two "Mainly because the pathogenesis mechanisms of androgenic alopecia are not fully understood, the treatments available are limited and vary in effectiveness..." - Aging Hair (2010) Reevaluating The Foundations of Pattern Hair Loss In contrast, castrates and pseudohermaphrodites--who serve as the foundation for all baldness research--are protected from baldness 100% of the time. What gives? Standing on the shoulders of giants (e.g., Otto Warburg, Albert Szent-Györgyi, Gilbert Ling, Ray Peat and others), HAIR LIKE A FOX sets up an alternative 'bioenergetic model' of pattern hair loss with a focus on the smallest unit of life, the cell. This same context elucidates simple yet effective therapies for halting and perhaps reversing pattern hair loss in a way that harmonizes with our unique physiology.
- GenresHealthScienceNonfiction
110 pages, Paperback
First published November 3, 2013
74 people are currently reading
218 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 22, 2020
Excellent introduction to a bioenergetics view of nutrition and health more generally. It's not really about hair per se; reversing baldness is just the specific angle that Danny Roddy comes from to talk about the bigger and more important principles.
June 11, 2015
Not sure yet if it's appropriate to give to certain friends as a gift.
June 23, 2022
Hair health connects to everything!
I read this thinking I would learn more about hair loss to help avoid that fate for myself but ended up wading into a much broader and more fascinating space of human energy theory, and particularly how the body’s metabolism (or usage and access to energy) relates to health. It also covers in concrete terms how to provide the body what it needs to have the maximum energy, at least in terms of diet. And it’s not a long read either!
Movement and other behavioral and environmental factors are not discussed but are covered ad nauseam elsewhere, so there’s plenty more to explore! Bravo to Mr. Roddy! Must read!
I read this thinking I would learn more about hair loss to help avoid that fate for myself but ended up wading into a much broader and more fascinating space of human energy theory, and particularly how the body’s metabolism (or usage and access to energy) relates to health. It also covers in concrete terms how to provide the body what it needs to have the maximum energy, at least in terms of diet. And it’s not a long read either!
Movement and other behavioral and environmental factors are not discussed but are covered ad nauseam elsewhere, so there’s plenty more to explore! Bravo to Mr. Roddy! Must read!
May 18, 2017
Very informative as in line with most of its reviews. Regardless of how well Danny's nutritional layout works, the thing about this book that appeals most is its sincerity followed with tedious and direct knowledge. With many of the complications discussed aside, I felt as if I was reading from a man who truly figured out marriage. It made me change my diet, at least, and my metabolism is higher. Watch for meat intake.
August 11, 2022
great resource, lots of research
I found some of this book a little ponderous, but the majority is helpful. If you aren’t willing to consider data that contradicts your dietary-religious views, skip it. But if you’re willing to hear a different take, this is a good read about supporting hair.
I found some of this book a little ponderous, but the majority is helpful. If you aren’t willing to consider data that contradicts your dietary-religious views, skip it. But if you’re willing to hear a different take, this is a good read about supporting hair.
May 7, 2021
Quality and information was super intriguing. Biggest complaint is that it reads like a science textbook. However, if you really want to understand why pattern baldness is a thing and steps to prevent it (as well as other health issues), then this book will be a fantastic read.
September 12, 2020
Very informative and well referenced book. Not much information on what do do actually do with all this information though. Needs a sequel.
March 25, 2021
The beginnings of my Ray Peat journey.
March 9, 2022
A great introduction to the bioenergetic view of overall health. I was debating taking a class on bioenergetic nutrition, and this book definitely convinced me to sign up.
April 26, 2024
read this per the recommendation of my nutritionist!
Read
December 24, 2025It was $4 in Amazon, I fell into a trap. Not exactly rocket science at this point. Basically Ray Peat info reformatted. Easy to digest.
March 17, 2014
For being a whopping 82 pages long, this is packed with references and a lot of detail. I have the kindle version, but will probably pick up the paper version as well, since I find it easier to take notes and reference back to a paper version.
Notes will definitely be needed. There is a fascinating cascade of hormones discussed in this book. Since this type of science is still work for me to understand, I will need notes, likely color coded and a flow chart.
Danny links all this science back to the issue of hair loss, both male pattern and female hair loss. He links a hormone cascade involving the thyroid, adrenals and sex organs, nutrition and its effects on those hormones as well as cellular respiration bringing it back to how that cellular respiration results in hair growth or lack thereof.
I think, however, this will play a strong role well beyond hair growth. Many may consider male pattern baldness a cosmetic issue, but Danny lays the ground work for how that issue is a visible symptom of something of great importance, the health of your cells and how well they work. He sticks to his point, hair growth, but I think the importance of what he is imparting also plays a HUGE role in much more - adrenal fatigue, chronic fatigue syndrome, all the hormone disorders like PCOS, endomitriosis, etc, diabetes, cancer and more.
It is worth reading, and understanding, even if you are not worried much about hair loss.
Notes will definitely be needed. There is a fascinating cascade of hormones discussed in this book. Since this type of science is still work for me to understand, I will need notes, likely color coded and a flow chart.
Danny links all this science back to the issue of hair loss, both male pattern and female hair loss. He links a hormone cascade involving the thyroid, adrenals and sex organs, nutrition and its effects on those hormones as well as cellular respiration bringing it back to how that cellular respiration results in hair growth or lack thereof.
I think, however, this will play a strong role well beyond hair growth. Many may consider male pattern baldness a cosmetic issue, but Danny lays the ground work for how that issue is a visible symptom of something of great importance, the health of your cells and how well they work. He sticks to his point, hair growth, but I think the importance of what he is imparting also plays a HUGE role in much more - adrenal fatigue, chronic fatigue syndrome, all the hormone disorders like PCOS, endomitriosis, etc, diabetes, cancer and more.
It is worth reading, and understanding, even if you are not worried much about hair loss.
June 17, 2016
Well researched medical information
Being a doctor who closely studies functional medicine, I have to endorse the fact that the author did his
homework researching the medical background for his book, and I also founding his materials to be well written,
as well as, very comprehensive to the public.
But regarding its bottom line suggestions for hair loss prevention, although I do agree with some of them (such as increasing the dosages of bio-identical progesterone, vitamin D3, protein intake, and scalp light exposure for hair maintenance purposes), I would have to disagree on the bagsic recommendations for overall increasing sodium intake or decreasing all EFAs, especially of DHA and EPA.
Nevertheless, albeit abbreviated, this is an information packed book, which also provides much valuable understanding of the hormonal, nutritional and metabolic causes of hair loss during one's lifespan.
Henceforth, I would whole heartedly recommend this book for good information about the subject it is supposed
to present.
Being a doctor who closely studies functional medicine, I have to endorse the fact that the author did his
homework researching the medical background for his book, and I also founding his materials to be well written,
as well as, very comprehensive to the public.
But regarding its bottom line suggestions for hair loss prevention, although I do agree with some of them (such as increasing the dosages of bio-identical progesterone, vitamin D3, protein intake, and scalp light exposure for hair maintenance purposes), I would have to disagree on the bagsic recommendations for overall increasing sodium intake or decreasing all EFAs, especially of DHA and EPA.
Nevertheless, albeit abbreviated, this is an information packed book, which also provides much valuable understanding of the hormonal, nutritional and metabolic causes of hair loss during one's lifespan.
Henceforth, I would whole heartedly recommend this book for good information about the subject it is supposed
to present.
Read
January 29, 2016Informative to say the Least!!!
This book is beyond informative and is an interesting look at the difference between what the masses are fed compared to a concrete look at the bioenergetic way of how we lose or produce hair. Did the research. Love when people get passionate about their beliefs and she's light on the truth. It's worth looking at if hair loss is causing you angst!
This book is beyond informative and is an interesting look at the difference between what the masses are fed compared to a concrete look at the bioenergetic way of how we lose or produce hair. Did the research. Love when people get passionate about their beliefs and she's light on the truth. It's worth looking at if hair loss is causing you angst!
September 23, 2015
Nicely written book that will do its best to explain how to maximise your mitochondrial metabolism in cells that generate hair growth. A lot of this can be taken outside of its dedicated context and understood for health in general. At times I missed some more detailed explanations and perhaps some graphical representations, but in general this is a good book!
October 5, 2016
Great job of making a very complex subject accessible.
December 29, 2014
Incomprehensible. Not sure I understand what action to take.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews