Prescription Drugs for Hair Loss Treatment

Filed under: Hair Loss Tips on Thursday, April 24th, 2008 by Gina | No Comments

From the beginning of time, women have cared for their hair. As 2005’s Most Popular Hair Extensions far back as 4000-300 B.C. Egyptian women and even men are shown with various wigs and elaborate hair styles. Hair is a contributing factor to ones confidence and serenity. Our culture strongly identifies femininity with a thick, lustrous head of hair. Images of full bodied, shining hair are synonymous with female attributes, sexuality, desirability and vigor. Thinning, dry, lusterless hair is identified with illness, old age, and poverty.

Every generation goes thru more and more transformations and capitalizes on current trends of Hair Styles. The big Hair Style trend these days is in full swing in Europe and is just starting to spread in the United States. It is the trend of Hair Extensions. Hair extensions involve the attachment of human or synthetic hair to your existing hair to create a more full or long look immediately. Hair extensions can add instant body, length to your look and can also help with hair thinning and hair loss situations.

There are many different methods of hair extensions on the market today, some good, some not so good. Mark Sharp, co-founder and creative director of Mark Glenn Hair Enhancement of London, England and Glenn Kinsey, co-founder and managing director have taken revolutionary steps in developing a fiber hair extension method that not only doesn’t damage the existing hair but can even improve the condition of the hair. They have transformed the lives of women who suffer from varying degrees of hair loss caused by conditions such as alopecia, trichotillomania, genetic factors, stress and post-operative trauma.

The Mark Glenn extensions, commonly known as MG extensions, use no glues, bonding solutions, threads, weaves, injections, and nothing is stuck on the head. They are attached using a very fine braid. A small section of existing hair is split into two. The fiber hair is also split into two to make the braid and is finally wrapped around the base of the hair, protecting it. The fiber is then ″sealed on itself″ using a heat tool (which is no hotter than a typical pair of curling tongs or crimpers). This creates a tiny plastic seal. It’s important to point out that during this process, your own hair is safely ″cocooned″ inside the fiber so it doesn’t come into direct contact with any heat. Therefore, your own hair stays in perfect condition. For hair loss or thinning problems, the extensions are applied with non-allergic mesh and the fiber hair is woven thru the mesh to create the look.

Glenn Kinsey of Mark Glenn Hair Enhancement has joined us today for a brief question and answer session on their fiber hair extensions.

Welcome Glenn and thank you for joining us today! We have a few questions for you about your wonderful hair extensions.

Question: I understand that you and Mark have previously worked with human hair extensions. Why did you switch to synthetic fiber extensions?
Answer: Several reasons:

1. Weight - human hair is twice the weight of fiber and therefore feels ″heavy″ on the head - at its worst, this increased weight and stress on the hair can cause ″traction alopecia″. In addition, human hair is porous - it soaks up water - which can significantly increase the weight when wet.

2. Tangle - human hair tends to ″matt″ and ″tangle″ - this is because the surface of human hair has little ″spines″ on it, that look like roof tiles under a microscope. Because this ″alien″ hair isn’t being conditioned by the natural oils that condition your own hair, these ″spines″ tend to ″stick out″ and tangle up with the other hairs on your head. Consequently, you do need to use quite intensive conditioners to keep the hair in good condition. Fiber, however, has a smooth surface and therefore is less likely to tangle.

3. Glue - human hair extensions are typically applied with glue and removed with acetone - a recipe for damage, the results of which we regularly see in our studio. Our method doesn’t use any chemicals.

4. Colour match - a stylist using human hair would typically take a swatch of the client’s hair and send it to a human hair supplier who would then pick the closest colour from a specific range. We actually colour-blend our hair with the client in front of us - taking into account all the different subtle shade shifts that may exist in their hair - to get an absolutely perfect match

5. Ethics - there’s a great deal of mystery surrounding the origins of human hair used in extensions and it’s very difficult to track the exact source. A common source for top quality hair is from female Russian prisoners, for example

6. Look and feel - fiber looks and feels just like real hair but is much kinder to the hair and is much easier to style and take care of.

Question: What percentage of your clients gets hair extensions for hair loss issues versus fashion?
Answer: The split is approximately 50/50

Question: You have developed your own branded method (MG extensions) for applying fiber extensions. What is unique about your method in comparison to other methods available? Do you plan to patent your application method?
Answer: We have a proprietary technique for working with female hair loss, for which clients visit us from all over the world. For fashion purposes, we’ve amalgamated several different methods and added our own unique adaptations to create a technique that creates a beautiful look

Question: Why do you feel that fiber extensions are superior to human hair extensions? Could you apply human hair extensions using your method if a client really preferred human hair?
Answer: See above. Apart from using pliers and a metal clip (which is great fun through airport metal detectors and very uncomfortable when you lay your head on a pillow!) the only way to apply human hair is with glue.

Question: What training and education is involved for stylists doing MG extensions?
Answer We work in teams of two people - a ″lead″ and an ″assist″. Team members start out as an ″assist″ and then, after about 12 to 24 months, progress up to a ″lead″. ″Leads″ are the ones that direct the work. Our training is very intensive and ″on the job″ to allow team members to experience the bewildering array of both styles and techniques, as well as the differing types of hair loss they may encounter.

Question: What are the legal requirements in England for doing hair extensions?
Answer: Sadly, there are no specific legal requirements for hair extensions over and above those for a normal hair salon.

Question: What are the minimum requirements for someone wanting hair extensions? Length of hair? Stable hair loss? Have you turned down clients for hair extensions and why?
Answer: We regularly turn away clients no matter how much they want hair extensions, if we don’t think it’s going to look sensational! For fashion work, the main reason is length of existing hair - for the best results, the clients hair needs to be at least 4 to 6 inches long. This is because you need existing hair to conceal where the extensions are attached. For our clients with hair loss, there can be a whole range of reasons, from too little existing hair to hair loss that hasn’t ″stabilized″.

Question: There are some hair extensionists that don’t recommend getting fiber extensions because of esthetic reasons. Can you describe the quality of the fiber hair, where it is made and why these recommendations are not valid?
Answer: We only use a beautiful, hand-made fiber that is absolutely undetectable from the real thing in look, feel and behavior. It’s actually more expensive than some human hair! Cheap fiber is truly awful, akin to ″Barbie-doll″ hair. You only tend to spot bad extensions - we pride ourselves on the fact that, in general, no-one even suspects our clients have extensions and we have a large number of celebrity clients that, in some cases, even the media haven’t spotted that their hair isn’t their own!

Question: You mention on your website, http://www.markglenn.com that the fiber extensions do not damage your hair and can even improve the condition of your hair. Can you explain how they can improve the condition of your hair?
Answer: First of all, we don’t use any chemicals. Secondly, your own hair is ″cocooned″ and protected inside the extension and continues to grow as normal. Thirdly, when the extensions are removed, they just slide off your hair leaving no mess or residue. Because your hair has been protected in this way over a few months, the condition of your own hair often improves.

Question: What is the maintenance schedule for fashion and hair loss fiber extensions? What happens if you do not follow the maintenance schedule?
Answer: For fashion, you’d need to either remove the extensions after three months or have them removed and replaced. Initially, the extensions are attached at the base of your hair. However, your hair will grow at around half an inch a month so the extensions start to grow down your own hair. If you leave it longer than 3 months, there’s a risk that the newly grown hair above the extension may start to matt and tangle and, in the worst-case scenario, dreadlock. For hair loss, the particular technique we use demands that clients visit us every six weeks for similar reasons - the ″mesh″ can start to feel a little loose if it’s left for much longer than 6 weeks.

Question: If someone has very thick hair and wants only to lengthen it, why wouldn’t you just apply the extensions to the ends of the hair, instead of at the roots?

Answer: Because you’d see a ″bump″ where the extension is attached.

Question: Can you treat fiber extensions the same as your own hair? I.E. shampooing, conditioning, curling, brushing, etc

Answer: Yes - wash it as normal, blow dry, curl, condition, brush - just like the real thing. And because the fiber is actually non-porous, you don’t need to use expensive products on the hair, e.g. conditioners, because they’ll have no effect on the extension hair itself. The only thing you have to avoid is direct, sustained heat e.g. hot-iron straighteners etc. Rollers etc. are fine.

Question: Are there any restrictions? Can you color or perm the fibre extensions?
Answer: You can’t perm the extensions but you wouldn’t need to - you can achieve the same look using rollers, for instance. Colour has no effect on the extension hair, again, because it’s non-porous. This is great for clients who continue to have their ″roots″ done, in the knowledge that the colour won’t affect the extension hair.

Question: On an annual basis, what would a typical client pay for Fashion and Hair Loss Fiber extensions including maintenance schedules? Are the majority of the costs associated with cost of the materials or the labor?
Answer: Costs do vary from head to head and style to style. Since we have two people working on a client’s head at the same time, cost is predominantly based on the amount of time it takes with each particular client. On average, a fashion client would pay around GBP 1,500.00 per year and a hair loss client, around twice as much. And bear in mind that you don’t need to visit a hairdresser since we take care of all this during appointments.

Question: Your Hair Loss fiber extensions qualify for funding from medical plans in England. Did you have to go thru a certification process for this funding? Have any of your clients outside England received payment from medical plans in their country?
Answer: Because of the way the UK health system works (which is funded by the Government) it very much depends on the attitude of local health authorities rather than a specific ″test″. Some health authorities are happy to fund their patients, whereas others are not, preferring the cheaper option of providing wigs. We’ve yet to have someone from outside the UK who’s funded by a health plan etc.

Question: Do you plan to offer training to stylists outside your salon so that other salons in the world can offer MG Extensions?
Answer: Not at present, although it’s something we may consider in the future.

Question: Are there reputable salons in the US that you would recommend?
Answer: Since the majority of our techniques were developed in-house and are therefore unique to us, it’s unlikely you’d find anyone locally who does things in quite the same way. The fact that, currently, we have clients that visit us from 14 different countries, seems to confirm this. I so wish I could recommend others, but we simply haven’t yet come across anyone who provides a similar result to a similar standard

Thank you very much Glenn for your valuable input!! For additional information about Mark Glenn Hair Extensions, visit their website located at http://www.markglenn.com

More Chest Hair Removal Alternatives For You

Filed under: Hair Loss Tips on Thursday, April 24th, 2008 by Gina | No Comments

1. Waxing: This is a very popular method in the media because of the exquisite pain it brings to people who try this method. For some reason it puts a smile to audiences faces but that’s another story. This method is quick and will leave you quite smooth for a long time compared with other manual methods of hair removal.

2. Depilatory Creams: These creams work by essentially dissolving the roots of your hair so that they fall out on their own. The thing is this method may have undesirable byproducts such as cause acne breakouts, as well as cause irritation to the skin in general. Chemical burns are also possible depending on the strength and quantity of the product you apply to your body.

3. Electrolysis: this is the only permanent solution for hair removal and is quite popular for that reason. It is a bit more expensive than other hair removal processes and requires several treatment sessions before it is done.

4. Epilators: are devices that pulls the hair from their roots (ouch) and can last for many weeks to a month and a half. These devices work better for certain lengths of hair such as less than a quarter of an inch. There may be some hard-to-reach places on your body that will make this method impractical in some cases.

Women Lose Hair Too!

Filed under: Hair Loss Tips on Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008 by Gina | No Comments

Millions of women in the United States suffer from hair loss each year, but there is hope for these women because hair replacement solutions specifically for women are improving. Due to an increasing demand for female hair loss solutions companies are constantly testing and improving their products to create hair replacement systems that look natural and unnoticeable.

There are several reasons as to why women lose their hair. The most common one is female pattern baldness, medically known as Androgenetic Alopecia. Pregnancy, losing lots of weight on a crash diet, and other forms of stress on the body is another cause of loss of hair in women. This condition is known as Telogen Effluvium. The final common female hair loss condition is Alopecia Areata when the immune system goes after an individual’s own hair for an unknown reason. This condition comes along with sudden bald spots.

To help combat the problems mentioned in the previous paragraph, hair replacement systems provided by reputable companies should look natural, be manageable like regular hair, and should also include a 100 percent money back guarantee. The custom hair can be washed as well and often comes in human and synthetic hair options. Another great feature of hair replacement for women is that there are many hair styles to choose from so women suffering from hair loss can always look their best.

A quality female hair piece for women should last between two and four months depending on several factors. These include the time spent maintaining the hair piece, the amount of styling gels and sprays used, and the type of base material all make a difference in how long it will last. One sign of a good company to purchase a hair piece from is one that custom fits the hair piece. Custom fitting will increase the life of the hair piece. With custom fitting it will be determined what type of hair replacement solutions should be used.

One type of hair replacement solution is an integration hair piece which is vented, and has base material patterns similar to a hair net. They are designed so women with thinning hair can pull their existing hair strands through the base. These hair pieces act as a great way to thicken your natural hair and reduce the visible areas of your scalp. The other type is a full cap hair piece which is used for more extreme hair loss, and can be managed just like regular hair. These are more commonly referred to as wigs. A qualified hair replacement company will consult with you on which option is best for your specific situation.

Female hair loss is a difficult situation for the millions of Americans that suffer from it, but there is hope.

Eating for Your Hair - Preventing Hair Loss Naturally

Filed under: Hair Loss Tips on Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008 by Gina | No Comments

From the beginning of time, women have cared for their hair. As 2005’s Most Popular Hair Extensions far back as 4000-300 B.C. Egyptian women and even men are shown with various wigs and elaborate hair styles. Hair is a contributing factor to ones confidence and serenity. Our culture strongly identifies femininity with a thick, lustrous head of hair. Images of full bodied, shining hair are synonymous with female attributes, sexuality, desirability and vigor. Thinning, dry, lusterless hair is identified with illness, old age, and poverty.

Every generation goes thru more and more transformations and capitalizes on current trends of Hair Styles. The big Hair Style trend these days is in full swing in Europe and is just starting to spread in the United States. It is the trend of Hair Extensions. Hair extensions involve the attachment of human or synthetic hair to your existing hair to create a more full or long look immediately. Hair extensions can add instant body, length to your look and can also help with hair thinning and hair loss situations.

There are many different methods of hair extensions on the market today, some good, some not so good. Mark Sharp, co-founder and creative director of Mark Glenn Hair Enhancement of London, England and Glenn Kinsey, co-founder and managing director have taken revolutionary steps in developing a fiber hair extension method that not only doesn’t damage the existing hair but can even improve the condition of the hair. They have transformed the lives of women who suffer from varying degrees of hair loss caused by conditions such as alopecia, trichotillomania, genetic factors, stress and post-operative trauma.

The Mark Glenn extensions, commonly known as MG extensions, use no glues, bonding solutions, threads, weaves, injections, and nothing is stuck on the head. They are attached using a very fine braid. A small section of existing hair is split into two. The fiber hair is also split into two to make the braid and is finally wrapped around the base of the hair, protecting it. The fiber is then ″sealed on itself″ using a heat tool (which is no hotter than a typical pair of curling tongs or crimpers). This creates a tiny plastic seal. It’s important to point out that during this process, your own hair is safely ″cocooned″ inside the fiber so it doesn’t come into direct contact with any heat. Therefore, your own hair stays in perfect condition. For hair loss or thinning problems, the extensions are applied with non-allergic mesh and the fiber hair is woven thru the mesh to create the look.

Glenn Kinsey of Mark Glenn Hair Enhancement has joined us today for a brief question and answer session on their fiber hair extensions.

Welcome Glenn and thank you for joining us today! We have a few questions for you about your wonderful hair extensions.

Question: I understand that you and Mark have previously worked with human hair extensions. Why did you switch to synthetic fiber extensions?
Answer: Several reasons:

1. Weight - human hair is twice the weight of fiber and therefore feels ″heavy″ on the head - at its worst, this increased weight and stress on the hair can cause ″traction alopecia″. In addition, human hair is porous - it soaks up water - which can significantly increase the weight when wet.

2. Tangle - human hair tends to ″matt″ and ″tangle″ - this is because the surface of human hair has little ″spines″ on it, that look like roof tiles under a microscope. Because this ″alien″ hair isn’t being conditioned by the natural oils that condition your own hair, these ″spines″ tend to ″stick out″ and tangle up with the other hairs on your head. Consequently, you do need to use quite intensive conditioners to keep the hair in good condition. Fiber, however, has a smooth surface and therefore is less likely to tangle.

3. Glue - human hair extensions are typically applied with glue and removed with acetone - a recipe for damage, the results of which we regularly see in our studio. Our method doesn’t use any chemicals.

4. Colour match - a stylist using human hair would typically take a swatch of the client’s hair and send it to a human hair supplier who would then pick the closest colour from a specific range. We actually colour-blend our hair with the client in front of us - taking into account all the different subtle shade shifts that may exist in their hair - to get an absolutely perfect match

5. Ethics - there’s a great deal of mystery surrounding the origins of human hair used in extensions and it’s very difficult to track the exact source. A common source for top quality hair is from female Russian prisoners, for example

6. Look and feel - fiber looks and feels just like real hair but is much kinder to the hair and is much easier to style and take care of.

Question: What percentage of your clients gets hair extensions for hair loss issues versus fashion?
Answer: The split is approximately 50/50

Question: You have developed your own branded method (MG extensions) for applying fiber extensions. What is unique about your method in comparison to other methods available? Do you plan to patent your application method?
Answer: We have a proprietary technique for working with female hair loss, for which clients visit us from all over the world. For fashion purposes, we’ve amalgamated several different methods and added our own unique adaptations to create a technique that creates a beautiful look

Question: Why do you feel that fiber extensions are superior to human hair extensions? Could you apply human hair extensions using your method if a client really preferred human hair?
Answer: See above. Apart from using pliers and a metal clip (which is great fun through airport metal detectors and very uncomfortable when you lay your head on a pillow!) the only way to apply human hair is with glue.

Question: What training and education is involved for stylists doing MG extensions?
Answer We work in teams of two people - a ″lead″ and an ″assist″. Team members start out as an ″assist″ and then, after about 12 to 24 months, progress up to a ″lead″. ″Leads″ are the ones that direct the work. Our training is very intensive and ″on the job″ to allow team members to experience the bewildering array of both styles and techniques, as well as the differing types of hair loss they may encounter.

Question: What are the legal requirements in England for doing hair extensions?
Answer: Sadly, there are no specific legal requirements for hair extensions over and above those for a normal hair salon.

Question: What are the minimum requirements for someone wanting hair extensions? Length of hair? Stable hair loss? Have you turned down clients for hair extensions and why?
Answer: We regularly turn away clients no matter how much they want hair extensions, if we don’t think it’s going to look sensational! For fashion work, the main reason is length of existing hair - for the best results, the clients hair needs to be at least 4 to 6 inches long. This is because you need existing hair to conceal where the extensions are attached. For our clients with hair loss, there can be a whole range of reasons, from too little existing hair to hair loss that hasn’t ″stabilized″.

Question: There are some hair extensionists that don’t recommend getting fiber extensions because of esthetic reasons. Can you describe the quality of the fiber hair, where it is made and why these recommendations are not valid?
Answer: We only use a beautiful, hand-made fiber that is absolutely undetectable from the real thing in look, feel and behavior. It’s actually more expensive than some human hair! Cheap fiber is truly awful, akin to ″Barbie-doll″ hair. You only tend to spot bad extensions - we pride ourselves on the fact that, in general, no-one even suspects our clients have extensions and we have a large number of celebrity clients that, in some cases, even the media haven’t spotted that their hair isn’t their own!

Question: You mention on your website, http://www.markglenn.com that the fiber extensions do not damage your hair and can even improve the condition of your hair. Can you explain how they can improve the condition of your hair?
Answer: First of all, we don’t use any chemicals. Secondly, your own hair is ″cocooned″ and protected inside the extension and continues to grow as normal. Thirdly, when the extensions are removed, they just slide off your hair leaving no mess or residue. Because your hair has been protected in this way over a few months, the condition of your own hair often improves.

Question: What is the maintenance schedule for fashion and hair loss fiber extensions? What happens if you do not follow the maintenance schedule?
Answer: For fashion, you’d need to either remove the extensions after three months or have them removed and replaced. Initially, the extensions are attached at the base of your hair. However, your hair will grow at around half an inch a month so the extensions start to grow down your own hair. If you leave it longer than 3 months, there’s a risk that the newly grown hair above the extension may start to matt and tangle and, in the worst-case scenario, dreadlock. For hair loss, the particular technique we use demands that clients visit us every six weeks for similar reasons - the ″mesh″ can start to feel a little loose if it’s left for much longer than 6 weeks.

Question: If someone has very thick hair and wants only to lengthen it, why wouldn’t you just apply the extensions to the ends of the hair, instead of at the roots?

Answer: Because you’d see a ″bump″ where the extension is attached.

Question: Can you treat fiber extensions the same as your own hair? I.E. shampooing, conditioning, curling, brushing, etc

Answer: Yes - wash it as normal, blow dry, curl, condition, brush - just like the real thing. And because the fiber is actually non-porous, you don’t need to use expensive products on the hair, e.g. conditioners, because they’ll have no effect on the extension hair itself. The only thing you have to avoid is direct, sustained heat e.g. hot-iron straighteners etc. Rollers etc. are fine.

Question: Are there any restrictions? Can you color or perm the fibre extensions?
Answer: You can’t perm the extensions but you wouldn’t need to - you can achieve the same look using rollers, for instance. Colour has no effect on the extension hair, again, because it’s non-porous. This is great for clients who continue to have their ″roots″ done, in the knowledge that the colour won’t affect the extension hair.

Question: On an annual basis, what would a typical client pay for Fashion and Hair Loss Fiber extensions including maintenance schedules? Are the majority of the costs associated with cost of the materials or the labor?
Answer: Costs do vary from head to head and style to style. Since we have two people working on a client’s head at the same time, cost is predominantly based on the amount of time it takes with each particular client. On average, a fashion client would pay around GBP 1,500.00 per year and a hair loss client, around twice as much. And bear in mind that you don’t need to visit a hairdresser since we take care of all this during appointments.

Question: Your Hair Loss fiber extensions qualify for funding from medical plans in England. Did you have to go thru a certification process for this funding? Have any of your clients outside England received payment from medical plans in their country?
Answer: Because of the way the UK health system works (which is funded by the Government) it very much depends on the attitude of local health authorities rather than a specific ″test″. Some health authorities are happy to fund their patients, whereas others are not, preferring the cheaper option of providing wigs. We’ve yet to have someone from outside the UK who’s funded by a health plan etc.

Question: Do you plan to offer training to stylists outside your salon so that other salons in the world can offer MG Extensions?
Answer: Not at present, although it’s something we may consider in the future.

Question: Are there reputable salons in the US that you would recommend?
Answer: Since the majority of our techniques were developed in-house and are therefore unique to us, it’s unlikely you’d find anyone locally who does things in quite the same way. The fact that, currently, we have clients that visit us from 14 different countries, seems to confirm this. I so wish I could recommend others, but we simply haven’t yet come across anyone who provides a similar result to a similar standard

Thank you very much Glenn for your valuable input!! For additional information about Mark Glenn Hair Extensions, visit their website located at http://www.markglenn.com

Natural Hair Care Tips

Filed under: Hair Loss Tips on Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008 by Gina | No Comments

Here are some hair care tips that you can use to improve the health and look of your hair.

While choosing your styling products, make sure that the main component is not alcohol. Presence of too much of alcohol tends to make your hair dry.

Avoid putting your hair styling products directly on your scalp. Doing so will clog the pores on your head.

Before entering a pool, wet your hair so your hair will soak up the initial water instead of the chlorinated water in the swimming pool. When swimming, remember to wear a cap to protect your hair from chlorinated water. In case you are not wearing a cap make sure that you shampoo and condition your hair properly after your swimming is over.

Hot air can be damaging to your hair. So avoid or minimize the use of hair dryers and hot curlers as much as possible. If you are at all using a hair dryer make sure you use the cool mode of the hair dryer.

Avoid using the blow dryer at one spot for more than a few seconds. Instead, keep it moving and most importantly you keep it at a good distance away from your hair.

To speed up the drying process, blot your hair dry with a towel instead of rubbing it to dry it. Leave the remaining moisture in your hair and let it dry naturally rather than drying it with a blow dryer.

If you notice a difficult knot in your hair, use your fingers to detangle it instead of combing it, which can result in breakage of hair.

Hair tends to be most fragile when it is wet. Avoid brushing or combing when it’s wet, as doing so can cause breakage of hair. Wait until your hair is almost dry before you attempt brushing it.

Use wide toothed and smooth tipped brushes or combs. Sharp and smaller toothed combs can cause damage to your hair.

Keep your brushes and combs clean by washing them every week using soap or shampoo.

Make sure you comb your hair with wide toothed comb or use your fingers to remove any tangles before you start brushing it.

Begin by combing your hair gently at the ends to get any tangles out and work your way up to the root of your hair.

Remember to always brush or comb your hair with a down ward stroke.

Avoid using plastic brushes or combs, which create static electricity, thus resulting in causing damage to your hair.

A healthy lifestyle will mean healthier body and mind including healthy hair for you too. Diet and Hair loss are closely associated, and hence you must pay attention to your diet for a healthy hair. Excessive stress, smoking, not exercising and scarcity of nutrition are can prevent your hair from remaining healthy. Get the required amount of sleep.

Learn your hair type, whether it is dry or oily and purchase shampoos & conditioners that are best suited for your hair type. Trial and error and extensive research is the best way to find out which particular hair product is ideal for your hair.

Shower with warm or cool water. Hot water can dry and irritate your scalp, resulting in irritation at times even.

Hair Loss Is Hell

Filed under: Hair Loss Tips on Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008 by Gina | No Comments

Most people think of hair loss as a part of getting old. That’s one of the reasons we hate it so much. Who wants to look or get old? Young people can have hair loss problems as well as older people. It is much harder for someone under 30 to deal with a hair loss problem than for someone over 60. Women can also have hair loss problems, which is much harder than for a man. Although it is possible to look good with little hair, most people would rather look good with lots of it!

Although there is no cure for hair loss, there are products that can help. People that are losing their hair will often spend money on products that they think will help them. In this day of looking good and feeling good, it’s important to most people to look young and healthy. It pays to do a little research to find out which products can actually help and which ones are a waste of money.

The first thing you need to do is find the reason for your hair loss. This is important because it will determine the products and the steps needed to deal with the problem. There are many different reasons for hair loss. Pregnancy, stress, hair pulling, genetic background are just a few of the possible causes. Sometimes the problem is only plugged hair follicles that can be helped with a special shampoo. You should beware though that there are products on the market that don’t help at all, even if they claim they will.

Another type of help for hair loss is hair transplantation. Transplantation can be very successful but also expensive. Before you decide to have a hair transplant get a couple of different opinions. Hair transplantation is not only expensive it is surgery. Many times it must be repeated, which of course is no fun and means more cost. Medical plans often cover treatment for hair loss problems. Ask your company if they cover hair loss treatment.

Dealing with a hair loss problem is an investment in yourself. You are important and it’s worth the time and cost to treat a hair loss problem. A hair loss problem will not cure itself. You must take action or nothing will change. Change isn’t change until something changes!

The best advice is to seek professional help, such as a dermatologist. They can help determine the root of the problem and make suggestions for treatment. The quicker you start to seek help, the better the chances of keeping your hair longer. Get the advice of your doctor or a professional in the field of hair loss prevention. It will be money well spent and in the long run, could even save you money. One last word of comfort. Beauty comes from within and little or lots of hair can’t change the truth!

Male Hair Loss

Filed under: Hair Loss Tips on Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008 by Gina | No Comments

You are young, energetic male in your late 20’s and suddenly started experiencing hair loss, you are bound to be baffled. Male hair loss is something which is very common and usually occurs at the age of late 50’s but now males in their late 30s and 40’s have started experiencing it. This male hair loss is popularly known as male pattern baldness. Delving into its reason we come to know that the main reason behind this hair loss is either genetic disorder or even heredity problem. That’s why nowadays men between the ages of about 20 to 45 start experiencing hair loss. The temple is the prime place from where male hair loss begins.

Apart from genetic and heredity reasons male hair loss can also occur due to the excess production of DHT which ultimately causes inflammation of the scalp. This is the reason why human body considers the hair follicles foreign objects and they finally starts attacking them. But now this can be prevented by using Super Oxide Dismutase treatment. In this treatment human body decides that your hair follicles are foreign objects it produces Super Oxides. Thus, Super Oxide Dismutase reduces the levels of Super Oxides.

Apart from that there is one more solution which helps in curbing male hair loss and that is DHT. This DHT solution considerably reduces or inhibits the levels of DHT. According to few expert dermatologists the chemical reaction is the main reason that ultimately leads to male hair loss. Thus as a result of the immune system attacking the hair, scalp can become inflamed, flaky and itchy. Thus, DHT treatment helps in treating these symptoms.

Considering the increase in male hair loss Combat Hair Loss provides various hair loss products which not only stops the hair fall but enhance the hair growth. Scientifically dihydrotestosterone or DHT acts on a hormone receptor on the hair follicle. It slows down hair production and produces weak, shorter hair. This at times ultimately results in stoppage of hair growth from the follicle completely, resulting in male hair loss.

Human Hair Extensions Can Give You a Makeover

Filed under: Hair Loss Tips on Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008 by Gina | No Comments

As you glance across virtually every print medium such as newspapers, magazines and catalogs, there seems to be one thing in common as far as hair cut styles is concerned. The long hair cut style is everywhere. So what are you supposed to do if you don’t have long hair and you really want the long hair cut style? Well, let’s see, human hair grows about ″ per
month, so if your hair is at ear level, that would be almost two years to wait for that ‘hair cascading down your back’ look. And of course by the time you grow your hair out, the short hair cut style will be in.

″Don’t limit yourself to just adding length to your hair. Hair extensions offer a simple solution to fine hair and can add a little pizzazz to thick, curly or wavy hair in any color or style.″

Rod Sickler
Owner
Images by Rod & Company
Rantoul, Illinois

In today’s society, two-year waits are OUT and immediate results are IN. The beauty industry recognized the demand for instant long natural looking hair and thus today’s hottest trend was born-Human Hair Extensions. Hair extensions are not only for lengthening your hair, according to Rod Sickler, owner of Images by Rod & Company and Sexy Hair Concepts Artistic Team Member.

″Any hair type can support hair extensions″, says Sickler. Sickler makes hair extensions easy by creating cutting-edge hair styles for his clients. Some examples include sleek and straight hair, vivacious ringlets and striking color enhancements with the use of different highlighted and lowlighted hair extensions. He describes the hair extension process as very painstaking and challenging as it requires many hours and various techniques to complete. The rewards are many as he is able to re-invent hair, tweak techniques and fulfill his clients’ needs.

One of Sicklers’ hair extension clients, Holly Leach of Rantoul, Illinois, says she wanted to get hair extensions because she was ready for a change and wanted Sickler to re-invent her look by adding thickness and length to her thinning hair with European Hair Extensions. She was absolutely amazed at the results. ″I came into the salon (Images by Rod & Company) looking one way, and came out looking totally different″, says, Leach. Leach has had her hair extensions for about 5 months now, with absolutely no issues and no complaints. She maintains the hair extensions with non-soy based conditioning shampoo and moisturizers from Sexy Hair Concepts, and uses hair dryers and curling irons with no problems. Leach concludes,″Hair Extensions are worth the time and money, when you can get fabulous-looking long hair instantly″.

″Hair extensions are a huge self-esteem booster because they give women the opportunity to get the long hair style look without the wait″
Guinevere Werr

Manager, The Spa East Bank Club, Chicago, Ill

Some women are concerned or have heard that hair extensions can cause damage to their natural hair, or even loss of hair. Guinevere Werr, Manager of The Spa at the East Bank Club in Chicago, Ill, says the fusion application method Sickler uses from So.Cap., an Italian company, does not create any damage to the natural hair since it is applied ″ from the scalp and not directly on the scalp. Werr assisted Sickler with applying brown hair extensions with some highlight extensions to her sisters’ hair. She adds that Sicklers hair extension clients have lost almost no hair extensions and have had very little maintenance issues.

So where do you start if you are thinking of getting hair extensions? You must research the different types of hair used for hair extensions, the different types of attachment methods, the hair stylists’ education and training, any maintenance schedules and of course the cost.

There are a lot of different types of hair that are used for hair extensions. There is human hair and synthetic hair. Synthetic hair is used to add the high fashion colors, such as pinks and blues. Generally speaking, if you are going for the natural, it grew out of my head, look you should go with human hair. Human hair comes in many different textures and grades. The human hair must be strong and healthy to produce extensions that will last and wear without tangling or drying. European human hair is well- known as quality human hair used for extensions.

There are three basic techniques to attach the hair. They are fusion or strand by strand, weaving and bonding. There are many variations to these techniques and they are sometimes called by different names.

Fusion/strand by strand: This process is done strand by strand in small sections using heated adhesive sticks or glue specifically made for hair extensions. Extension hair is added directly to your own hair. Sickler uses the fusion method from the Italian company So.Cap. Hair is attached about ″from your scalp and looks totally natural. Sickler comments, ″No one can visually see that you have hair extensions. It’s up to you if you want everyone to know″.

Weaving is a process where a corn row or track is created around the head and close to the scalp. Extension hair is sewn on the tracks. Your own hair lies over the tracks for a natural look. Bonding is a process where bonding glue is applied onto the weft of the extension hair and then applied at the root of your hair. A weft is horizontal hair strands attached together at the top of vertically flowing hair strands. Wefts can be machine-made or handmade.

There are some disadvantages to each of these methods. Sometimes if the hair extension application method is not done properly, the hair extensions will simply fall out, or cause damage to your natural hair. Also, with additional pressure to your scalp from the weight of the heavy extensions, there could be some thinning of your natural hair and/or headaches as you adapt to the new weight. There have been some reports of allergies to the chemicals that are used. You should discuss the disadvantages of hair extensions thoroughly with your hair stylist so that there are no surprises.

The hair extension training and education your hair stylist has received is very important to the success of their work. Sickler received his hair extension training from renowned expert, Joseph Accola, and he keeps up-do-date on techniques by attending beauty shows across Europe where hair extensions are more popular than in the U.S. ″Hair extension education and training are paramount to successful hair extensions for any hair stylist″, says Sickler. If you are looking for a hair stylist to do hair extensions and they don’t have the proper training, you could be very disappointed with the results.

After you have your hair extensions in place, you will need to schedule regular maintenance visits to check your extensions. How often you need to go back will depend on the type of hair and the method of attachment that was used. As your hair grows out, some of the hair extensions will need to be removed and replaced or touched up.

On a day-to-day basis you should treat your human hair extensions as you would long hair. Brush, shampoo, condition and moisturize on a regular basis. Some hair stylists will recommend specific high-quality hair care products to use with your extensions. You can also use hair dryers, flat irons, curling irons on most types of human hair extensions. Color treatments can be done on the hair extensions, but you should consult with your hair stylist before considering this. Monthly color touch-ups to your roots will not be a problem, as the hair extensions will not be touched.

Although it doesn’t hurt physically to get hair extensions, it may hurt you financially. There really is no way around this factor. To get good hair extensions on your whole head, you will need quality human hair, an experienced hair stylist, at least one assistant and about 6-8 hours of time. The ticket price can vary from $150-$2000 depending on what you are having done. Adding a few highlights or lowlight hair extensions can be quite less as the time and amount of hair needed is less.

In short, here are ten tips to follow after you have decided you want to get hair extensions and have selected a beauty salon. To find beauty salons that do hair extensions, you can look in the yellow pages or search online. The beauty salon directory at www.hairresources.com will allow you to search for ‘hair extensions in your City, State.

1.After selecting a salon, schedule an initial consultation to discuss what you would like to have done and any concerns that you have.
2. Ask about what hair extension experience your hair stylist has and where they received their training.

3. Make sure the hair stylist listens and understands your needs and concerns. Does he/she communicate well with you?

4. The hair stylist should ask you about your lifestyle, health, hobbies and your normal hair routine

5. An analysis of your scalp and hair should be done at the initial consultation to make sure your hair is in a condition for successful hair extensions.

6. Ask to see before and after photos of hair extension clients

7. Ask for references and be sure to call them

8. Ask how often the average client needs to replace the hair. This is very important for anticipating future costs

9. Get a written estimate for your hair extensions with an itemized list of the services required to achieve your new look

10.Get a written maintenance plan. Plan should include recommendations for products, grooming tools, follow-up appointments and any special instructions.

Hair extensions have many advantages and several disadvantages that should be addressed, but if you want to create an instant long hair style, human hair extensions are the way to go

Premature Hair Loss Products

Filed under: Hair Loss Tips on Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008 by Gina | No Comments

Millions of people around the world experience premature hair loss for a variety of reasons and will go out and purchase premature hair loss products. There are several premature hair loss products available today that may help slow the progress of thinning hair, or even prevent it altogether.

The treatments come in many forms. The two most common, and the only two approved by the FDA are minoxidil (usually marketed under the brand name Rogaine) and finasteride (most commonly marketed under the brand name Propecia).

Minoxidil is one of the most common treatments for the prevention of hair loss. This is a topical product that comes in both spray or lotion form, and it is applied directly to the scalp,usually twice daily. In terms of premature hair loss products, it is effective for both men and women. It appears to work by increasing the size of the hair follicles and increasing the hair shafts as well, although it is not entirely clear how it does this. It not only seems to prevent balding, but it also appears to promote new hair growth. It is a good idea to talk to your doctor before starting this or any treatment, however, because even over the counter products can produce unpleasant side effects. Your doctor or even your pharmacist can give you more information regarding these issues.

The second of the most popular premature hair loss products, finasteride, comes in the form of a pill. This pill prevents the hormone testosterone from becoming the hormone dihydrotestosterone. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a hormone that has been known to shrink the hair follicles in some people. Finasteride is available by prescription. Within a few months it can possibly even promote new hair growth. Effectiveness and side effects vary, however, so be sure to discuss it thoroughly with your doctor. Finasteride is unsafe for pregnant women to use or handle.

There are several natural premature hair loss products available on the market as well, but you will want to research them thoroughly and discuss them with your doctor before trying them. Rest assured, however, that premature baldness, although a very natural thing, can be effectively treated in many people.

Fast Hair Growth Tips for Man Hair Restoration

Filed under: Hair Loss Tips on Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008 by Gina | No Comments

Hair loss afflicts thousands of men and makes them feel insecure and embarrassed. Most men with hair loss would part with their expensive cars, boats, or other prized possessions for more hair. This was revealed by the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery after its national survey. It shows that men value their hair and would go to great lengths to restore it. So what can you do if you are one of the men losing their hair? Well, you can try these time tested fast hair growth tips for male hair loss restoration.

Medical Checkup

The first sensible action is to determine the cause of your hair loss soonest. Hair loss in males can have several causes and underlying reasons. Only after you find out the reason can you choose the best hair loss treatment and product.

Change Medications

Medications for arthritis, migraine headache and some other medical conditions can cause hair loss. So do some medical treatments such as chemotherapy. Check with your doctor the possibilities of alternative medicines and medical procedures which don’t cause hair loss as a side effect. You can then apply the other quick hair growth tips suggested here to help regrow the hair.

Stress Management

Stress, whether mental or physical, has long been associated with hair loss. Extreme stress such as a surgery or serious illness can result in a sudden hair loss. Fortunately, the hair will normally regrow within a few months after the stressful event is over.

Stress in daily life can also cause hair loss. You have to strike a balance between work and recreation to relieve from daily stress. Exercise regularly. Take proper rest with adequate sleep. These measures help reduce stress, and put your body in a healthier state more conducive to increase hair growth.

Proper Hair Care

Another fast hair growth tip is to care for your hair properly. Improper perming, bleaching and dyeing will damage the hair. Grooming wet hair can stretch and break it so don’t style your hair until it’s dry. Keep the hairdryer on a low setting else you might overheat and harm your hair. Of course it is better to air-dry your hair where possible.

Appropriate hair styling helps in hair growth too. Don’t tease or pull your hair with styling like ponytails or cornrows. Teasing and pulling strain and break the hair. Wear a loose hair style that won’t strain your hair instead. As long as your hair follicles aren’t damaged, the hair should grow back after you stop or cut down the hair-damaging activities.

Hair Growth Vitamins

Proper nutrition is essential for fast hair growth. Magnesium, zinc, iron, vitamins, essential fatty acids, amino acids and other nutrients are responsible for natural hair growth. Hair loss is likely if these are deficient for whatever reason.

When you take the next meal or snack, keep a few key nutrition principles in mind: Eat a variety of foods while avoiding foods high in sugar or fat; choose natural and lightly processed foods; and don’t over cook. Follow these simple rules to supply your body with adequate protein, useful carbohydrates, and a good balance of dietary fats. All of which promote healthy hair growth.

quick and easy way to supplement your body with the hair growth nutrition is a well-balanced multi-vitamin and mineral product. There are also specially formulated vitamins for faster hair growth. These hair growth vitamins are usually a combination of amino acids, biotin, vitamin B6, vitamin E, and zinc. Taking hair growth vitamin is a good way towards faster hair growth and also hair strengthening.

Scalp Massage

Scalp massage is one more tip for faster hair growth. It stimulates the hair follicles and unclogs any blocked oil glands in the scalp. Washing the scalp with care serves the same purpose to remove oil, dead skin and other debris clogging the follicles and interfering with healthy hair growth. You can enhance the cleansing process of scalp massage and shampooing with olive oil. Follow a certain procedure of applying the olive oil to more effective cleansing and you can increase hair growth.

Hair loss is a distressing experience that harms a man’s self-esteem, so he can’t wait to see any progress when it comes to regaining his hair. You need to realize though that natural hair growth is a process that takes time. Getting frustrated at the slow process won’t help. Instead, go for a medical checkup to determine the best course of action. Then eat right, manage your stress, massage your scalp and follow the other fast hair growth tips describe in here. Keep at these simple changes and the result may surprise you in a few months.