Abstract
This article reviews about hair growth and its cycle, male pattern baldness and its cause, hair growth promoters, and the evaluation methods for such promoters. The mechanism of hair growth and causes of male pattern baldness are still not clear, but recent studies on hair growth are bringing up some interesting and important facts. New discoveries on energy metabolism, interaction between hair matrix and dermal papilla, and action of androgens are discussed along with their application to the production of new hair growth promoters. A new hair growth promoter, monopentadecanoylglycerol (PDG), is discussed in relation to its effect for promating the energy metabolism.
