AI Can Now Detect Early Signs of Balding

A personal moment at a New York hair salon sparked the creation of MyHair AI, a new tool designed to help individuals detect early signs of hair loss using artificial intelligence. Founder Cyriac Lefort was getting a routine trim when his stylist casually mentioned he appeared to be losing hair. That single comment, whether accurate or not, set off a chain of events leading to the development of an app that offers medical-grade analysis of hair density and early balding patterns.

Lefort, a 32-year-old serial entrepreneur, recalls feeling targeted by the remark. “He didn’t say that to my friend sitting next to me, just to me,” Lefort explained. Though he personally didn’t believe he was balding, the emotional impact was immediate. He purchased the shampoo the stylist recommended, realizing how vulnerable people can feel about hair loss. “Hair loss is such an emotional topic for men and women,” he noted. This experience drove him to investigate the hair loss industry, where he found a landscape filled with confusion, misinformation, and clinics with unverified reviews. A subsequent visit to a hair doctor confirmed he was not, in fact, experiencing hair loss, solidifying his resolve to create a trustworthy solution.

Teaming up with business partner Tilen Babnik, 28, Lefort set out to build MyHair AI. The pair developed an initial prototype through “vibe coding” in just a few weeks. The process is straightforward: users take photos of their scalp and upload them to the app. The proprietary AI model, trained on over 300,000 hair images, then analyzes these pictures to measure hair density and identify subtle changes indicative of thinning. Over time, as more photos are added, the system tracks the progression of hair health, enabling users to establish personalized prevention routines. The platform also helps individuals locate reputable specialists and read verified reviews to avoid scams.

“Our AI tells you what’s really happening with your hair, matches you with products that actually make sense for your hair type, and explains the science behind them, including possible side effects,” Lefort stated. By introducing transparency and clinical accuracy into this $50-billion market, the founders believe they can fundamentally change how people understand, treat, and shop for hair health. The journey from idea to launch involved a year of conceptualization, several weeks of initial coding, months of scientific and clinical validation, and additional time spent building a consumer-friendly application. MyHair AI officially launched this summer.

Initially, the founders handled all development themselves. “We didn’t hire anyone for the initial prototype; it was fully vibe coded,” Lefort said. As the product gained traction, professional engineers were brought on to ensure the codebase was robust and scalable. This approach highlights how quickly modern startups can bring concepts to life. The company has already attracted more than 1,000 paying subscribers and amassed 200,000 user accounts. To date, the app has analyzed over 300,000 scalp photos. Partnerships are in place that allow specialists and clinics to utilize the MyHair AI technology, speeding up evaluations for their own patients. Recently, the company announced that Dr. Tess, a well-known dermatologist, has joined its board.

While other companies like Hims operate in the same space, Lefort emphasizes that MyHair AI stands apart because it relies on a dedicated AI model specifically trained for diagnosing baldness, rather than adapting a more general large language model. Looking ahead, the company is focused on expansion. Plans include building a booking platform and forming additional partnerships with clinics. Lefort aims to develop AI that functions effectively in everyday, real-world scenarios. “Men worry about two things in their health, sexual dysfunction and hair loss,” he observed. “We address one of the biggest day-to-day concerns.”

(Source: TechCrunch)