DHEA, Test Boosters, and Hair: Which Supplements Are Safe?

The supplement industry loves selling "natural testosterone boosters" with promises of increased muscle, energy, and libido. If you're concerned about hair loss, you might wonder: will these supplements accelerate balding?

The answer depends on which supplements actually work—and most of them don't.

DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone)

The reality: DHEA supplements do increase androgen levels, particularly in older individuals with low baseline DHEA. If you're taking DHEA, some of it will become DHT.

If you're on finasteride: Finasteride blocks the conversion of testosterone to DHT, so it provides protection. However, DHEA may also convert through pathways finasteride doesn't fully block.

Recommendation: Unless you have documented low DHEA levels (blood test), there's no compelling reason to supplement. The hair risk probably outweighs the marginal benefits for most men.

Tribulus Terrestris

Tribulus is marketed as a testosterone booster but consistently fails to demonstrate this effect in clinical trials. Since it doesn't actually raise testosterone, it doesn't raise DHT either.

Recommendation: The hair risk is probably zero because the testosterone-boosting effect is probably zero. Save your money.

Fenugreek

Some studies show fenugreek may modestly increase testosterone or block its conversion to DHT. The data is mixed and effects are small.

Recommendation: Low concern. Any testosterone increase is modest, and some research suggests it may actually inhibit 5-alpha reductase (like finasteride does).

D-Aspartic Acid

May temporarily increase testosterone, but effects are transient and return to baseline. The spike is short-lived and unlikely to meaningfully impact hair over time.

Recommendation: Low concern, and questionable efficacy anyway.

Ashwagandha

One of the few "natural test boosters" with some legitimate evidence. Studies show modest cortisol reduction and potential testosterone increases in stressed individuals.

Recommendation: The testosterone increase is modest (maybe 10-20% in some studies). If you're on finasteride, this is largely mitigated. Probably fine, especially for stress/cortisol benefits.

The Test Booster Paradox

Here's the irony: if these products actually worked well to boost testosterone, they'd be classified as drugs and regulated. The fact that they're sold over-the-counter largely proves they don't work well enough to matter.

The ones that DO work (actual anabolic steroids, prohormones) are either illegal, prescription-only, or banned—precisely because they have real hormonal effects.

Real Testosterone Boosters (That Actually Work)

• Sleep optimization — Poor sleep tanks testosterone
• Weight management — Obesity decreases testosterone
• Resistance training — Builds muscle and optimizes hormones
• Stress reduction — Cortisol suppresses testosterone
• Adequate nutrition — Zinc, vitamin D, healthy fats

These lifestyle factors affect testosterone far more than any supplement—and don't carry hair risks.

The Finasteride Shield

If you're taking finasteride for hair loss, you have built-in protection against most testosterone-to-DHT conversion. This makes the theoretical risks of test-boosting supplements much lower.

However, finasteride only blocks type 2 5-alpha reductase. Some conversion can still occur through type 1 (which dutasteride blocks but finasteride doesn't). So complete immunity isn't guaranteed.

The Bottom Line

Most "testosterone boosters" don't actually boost testosterone meaningfully. The ones that don't work pose no hair risk (because they don't do anything). The ones that might work (DHEA, possibly ashwagandha) pose theoretical risk that's partially mitigated by finasteride.

Your safest bet: focus on lifestyle factors that naturally optimize testosterone, protect your hair with proven treatments, and skip the snake oil.