Loss of excessive hair growth causes psychological distress in many people, seriously affecting their social confidence and quality of life. The dermal papilla (DP) plays a pivotal role in regulating hair follicle (HF) morphogenesis and hair growth. However, the genes that govern the DP function in HF have not been extensively investigated. Genome-wide association studies have reported that two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (rs929626 and rs1081073) of the transcription factor EBF1 (early B-cell factor 1) are associated with male pattern baldness.1 Additionally, in Ebf1 whole-body knockout mice, hair follicles fail to reenter the anagen phase after the first hair cycle, presumably because of the lack of intradermal adipocyte precursors.2 These findings suggested that EBF1 plays a vital role in hair loss-related diseases.