Hair Loss Remedy Tips

After trying all sorts of remedies or miracle hair growth formula, most people start contemplating drugs as their thinning hair treatment. One of this prescription drug said to be able to alleviate your problem is a drug known as Finasteride, better known commercially as Propecia. But is this the ultimate thinning hair treatment you are looking for?

Propecia works by inhibiting the production of DHT (dihydrotestorone) throughout the entire body. It works by preventing free testosterone from converting to DHT. DHT is responsible for destroying the scalp by shrinking the hair follicle and prevents hair growth. This drug is taken orally and once treatment began, you will see noticeable difference within 5 to 6 months. Clinical testing proven that this drug is particularly effective thinning hair treatment at the crown area and hairline.

Propecia however is very effective in curing male pattern baldness and totally useless if used by female. This drug has also been implicated in causing severe birth defects in male fetuses and not prescribed to women.

The use of propecia in thinning hair treatment means that the drugs has to be taken everyday and you will only see appreciable difference within 5 to 6 months of using the drug. However, once you stop taking the drugs, you will start losing hairs again. What this means is that you are becoming drug dependent. This is not the only negative side effect you will get from using propecia.

Side Effects Of Propecia

These are known side effects of using Propecia. Bear in mid that these side effects are only observed on 2% of Propecia users.

- Decrease sexual drive
- Decrease in volume ejaculate
- Impotence
- Breast Tenderness / Enlargement
- Blackheads
- Increased face skin oil
- Acne problems

In most cases stopping the medication will resolve the issues.

When you are contemplating using drugs as you thinning hair treatment, do some research or better, go see your doctor and ask for their advice. Even though only 2% of propecia users are affected, do you want to take chances?

Are you one of the millions of people who have noticed thinning hair, a receding hair line, or bald patches? Have you considered that the reasons for your hair loss may actually be a medical condition? If so, then perhaps your hair loss is reversible, and future loss preventable.

There are many causes of medically related hair loss. For example, high fever, severe or prolonged illness, a hormonal imbalance, pregnancy and childbirth, or extreme stress can all cause hair loss. Protecting the remaining strands from further damage is essential to preventing future loss.

Many medications can cause hair loss, such as diuretics, blood pressure medications, birth control, skin and anti-fungal medications. These may cause thinning hair or bald spots. And of course, chemotherapy is a very well-known treatment that causes hair loss.

Estrogen is a hormone that protects against hair loss, and as women age estrogen levels naturally decrease. The hormone dihydrotestosterone causes hair follicles to shrink and makes existing hairs thin and fragile. Disorders of the thyroid gland can cause thinning hair or hair loss, as well.

Poor diet or malnutrition is another medical reason for hair loss. This cause can become combined with other medical causes, because serious illnesses can lead to malnutrition due to inability to eat properly. Vitamin supplements are recommended for anyone, especially those who are already experiencing hair loss.

As with any condition, diagnosing the cause is the first step in treatment. Hair loss is often a symptom of a medical condition, and understanding the cause will help reverse the problem and prevent future hair loss.

1. Vitamin A

Vitamin A has a big part in producing sebum. Without it you’ll have dry hair, dandruff and a thick scalp. All of those symptoms could potentially cause you hair loss. First and second hand smoke along with aspirin and some prescription drugs could prevent Vitamin A absorption.

On the other end of the spectrum having too much sebum blocks hair follicles. So overdosing on Vitamin A could actually cause you even more hair loss.

Fortunately it’s impossible to over dose on Vitamin A when you get it from food sources. Mango, Oranges, Carrots, Sweet potato and Squash are all good sources of Vitamin A.

2. Vitamin B

The B Vitamins are also a very important part of having healthy hair. All of the B Vitamins help with with hemoglobin which helps the scalp get the oxygen it needs for healthy hair growth. The main B vitamins that you need to focus on for hair growth are Vitamin B-6 and Folic Acid.

Vitamin B-6 is often found in protein rich foods. This kills 2 birds with one stone because both Vitamin B-6 and protein is needed to prevent hair loss. Potatoes, ready to eat cereals, Bananas, Garbanzo beans, Chicken breast, Oatmeal, Pork Loin, and roast beef contain Vitamin B-6.

Folic Acid is found in cooked lentils, collard greens, chickpeas, medium papaya, frozen peas, and boiled asparagus.

3. Vitamin E

Vitamin E helps provide good blood circulation to the scalp by increasing the absorption of oxygen. Ready made cereals, Almonds, Safflower Oil, Corn Oil, Soybean Oil, Turnip greens.

You probably don’t have a Vitamin E deficiency but if you do it’s most likely caused by an inability to absorb oils and fats. In this case taking a Vitamin E supplement is recommended.

4. Vitamin C

Vitamin C is responsible for the healthy development of collagen which is necessary for strong hair. Vitamin C can be found in Kiwi fruit, Guava, Red sweet peppers and Oranges.

Options In Hair Loss Treatments: How to Choose the Best Treatment for You Hair loss or alopecia if you prefer can occur in both men and women for a variety of reasons. Genetics, hormones and some medications can all contribute to this particular condition. If you are suddenly noticing bald patches or that your hair is thinning and coming off in clumps, it may be time to start to consider your options in hair loss treatments. The good news for this is that there are many ways to combat it. There are topical solutions, medications and some surgical procedures that can be done to help your alopecia. If you are considering to pursue a hair loss treatment, the first thing you need to do is to visit your doctor and get an examination and guidance as to which of the many hair loss treatments is the best for you.

There are lots of hair loss treatments available, there are the ones such as Rogaine and Nourkrin to name just two. Rogaine contains minoxidil in either a two or a five percent solution. Minoxidil can be rubbed into the scalp to stop any current hair loss, and in some cases can actually regrow the hair. This type of treatment only works when it is used consistently, which means that once product use has ceased hair loss will again resume. Nourkrin is a natural treatment that is backed by celebrities and is FDA approved, making it the leading brand for hair loss.

Medications

Medications such as Finasteride, which is also known as Procerin is an oral medication that is used as a hair loss treatment for men only. This product works by inhibiting the hormone DHT, which is known to shrink the hair follicles by turning testosterone into the hormone DHT. This medication has to be taken continuously, as ceasing taking this will result in the process of hair loss resuming. Procerin has not approved for women and can actually be dangerous for the unborn child of a pregnant woman.

Surgery Hair Loss Treatments

There are two main types of surgery hair loss treatments, and these include hair transplants and scalp reduction. A combination of these two treatments is often done to maximize the results. Surgery hair loss treatments can be a painful process that have some risks associated with them. The decision of surgery should be thought of very carefully. If you are concerned about the thinning of the hair, talk to your doctor today and find out about the appropriate hair loss treatments available to you.

There is now a product on the market that can be used at home that doesn’t cost a fortune like the laser treatments that are available. This is the Laser Comb, which is also FDA approved and has been proven to help many people achieve thickening of the hair and some hair growth.

Laser Hair Loss Treatment is another treatment that is very effective but it can also be very costly. Don’t forget you are paying for some of the best surgeons on their field for their time. But there are other ways to use this technology for a 1/3 of the price. To find out more click here: Laser Hair Loss Treatment

Hair loss is a problem that people have been dealing with for a very long time. Medical researchers have tried to formulate products that can make existing hair healthier and try to help reverse the process of hair loss. One of the ingredients that was found to be helpful is aloe vera.

Aloe vera is a succulent plant that belongs to the Asphodelaceae family. In its raw form, Native Americans, Indians, and many people from the Caribbean apply the extracts on their hair to make it healthy and prevent hair loss. In consumer products, aloe vera extracts are common ingredients for shampoo or medical gels.

Aloe Vera products have many benefits to the overall health of the hair. It helps heal any damage on the scalp, balance the pH level, cleans the pores, prevents excessive hair loss, relieves scaly or itchy scalp, oily hair, dandruff, renew cycle within the follicles, regulate sebaceous function, and maintain proper physiological balance in the scalp. And one of the biggest benefit of aloe vera is it helps reduce seborrhoea.

Seborrhoea is a condition wherein the sebaceous secretion combines with dirt and forms scales on the skin of the head that prevents the proper nutrition for hair. The cause is linked to stress, hormonal changes, fatigue, genetic factors, and pollution. Severe cases of seborrhoea may lead to infection and damage to the follicles, resulting in partial baldness.

Treatment of hair loss with aloe vera or aloe vera products should be applied twice a day over a three month period, preferably on clean, dry hair. The medication should be applied all the way to the root of the hair. After three months of regular usage, using it once a day would be enough for it to take maximum effects.

For thinning of the hair, an application 2 or 3 times a week is enough.

You’ve all heard the old saying Prevention is better than cure. To a certain extent this is also true of stopping hairloss. Preventing hairloss isn’t as straightforward as, say, preventing a cold. Preventing hairloss takes more than just healthy living and lots of vitamin c - hairloss isn’t something you catch from somebody else so in a sense is impossible to avoid. That being said there are several steps you can take to drastically reduce your hairloss.

Panic is the first issue people need to deal with. Both men and women have a tendency to go into a panic spiral if they think, even for a moment, that they’re starting to lose their hair. This panic can lead to stress which, ironically, can then lead directly to visible hairloss. The first and most important step is diagnosis - make sure you actually are suffering from some type of hairloss. The human head sheds several hundred hairs per day - this is quite healthy, normal and natural. Don’t freak out over it.

Let’s assume that you have a diagnosed form of hairloss. What steps could you take to lessen the impact of the hairloss itself?

1. If you’re a smoker then quit right now. It’s bad for your body in general and in particular robs your blood of oxygen needed by the rest of the body. Smoking also affects the condition and quality of your hair.

2. Cut out junk food - it’s incredibly bad for you. Eat more fruit and drink plenty of water.

3. Exercise. Going to the gym won’t regrow hair but overall body health is very important.

4. Use the mildest shampoo possible and avoid the shampoo/conditioner two-in-one products. Baby shampoos are ideal.

5. Take a good multi-vitamin supplement. Codliver oil and evening primrose oil capsules are also recommended.

6. Consider aromatherapy, acupuncture or other alternative treatments to relieve any stress in your body.

7. If necessary then start using Rogaine and Propecia. The use of these products (especially Propecia) can visibly reduce and even stop (in some cases) the progress of hairloss. DO NOT begin using these products without having seen a doctor or trichologist.

Drastically slowing down and even preventing hairloss is possible. The sooner you start your prevention steps the better.

Hair loss will affect approximately 50% of men and 40% of women at some point in life. Treatments range from non surgical hair replacement to surgical hair restoration. Before you can decide on a treatment, however, you must understand the various types of hair loss and which one is affecting you.

Alopecia is the medical term for loss of hair. The alopecic area is the bald portion of the scalp. These very general terms simply define the overall condition. More specific terminology is then used to define the type and pattern of hair loss.

The most common cause of hair loss is male pattern baldness, or its counterpart, female pattern baldness. This disorder is usually hereditary and develops slowly over time. Male pattern baldness usually begins with a receding hairline. Gradually more hair is lost until eventually only a ring of hair around the crown and sides of the head remains. Female pattern baldness is generally more diffused, with thinning occurring more evenly all over the head. Normally women will not experience the receding hairline.

Male pattern baldness is normally treated with FDA approved non surgical hair replacement medications. Propecia is available only by prescription and consists of orally ingested pills. Rogaine is a topical treatment that is available without a prescription. Female pattern baldness is treated with a special formulation of Rogaine, while Propecia is not approved for use in women. For severe baldness, surgical hair restoration may be the best choice for both men and women.

FDA approved non surgical hair replacement medications are normally used to treat both male and female pattern baldness. Propecia, an orally ingested pill, is approved only for use in men, and is available only with a prescription. Rogaine, a topical formula, is sold over the counter and is available in both men’s and women’s formulations. Severe male or female pattern baldness may require surgical hair restoration.

Normally both male and female pattern baldness are treated with non surgical hair replacement medications. Rogaine is a topical formula that is sold over the counter. It is available in both men’s and women’s formulations. Propecia is a pill that requires a prescription and is not currently FDA approved for women. Severe male or female pattern baldness may be treated by surgical hair restoration.

Another cause of hair loss is a medical condition known as alopecia areata, which causes erratic hair loss all over the body as well as on the scalp. The alopecic area may occur anywhere on the head or body. In this autoimmune skin disorder, the body’s immune system attacks the hair follicles. The disorder is not considered dangerous, but may lead to total hair loss. Treatment includes such non surgical hair replacement options as cortisone injections, topical treatments (Rogaine), Anthralin cream, and even topical immunotherapy. It is important to understand that there is no cure, although the disease may go into spontaneous remission.

Traction alopecia is caused by improper styling such as excessive brushing, too tight ponytails or corn rows, or improper bleaching or dyeing. The alopecic area depends on where the damage has occurred. This type of hair loss can eventually become permanent if the hair follicles are severely damaged. Non surgical hair replacement or even surgical hair restoration may be necessary to restore hair growth at that point.

Stress alopecia is temporary and generally reversible. This condition occurs in reaction to extreme stressors. The condition normally reverses itself when the stress is relieved.

Certain illnesses can lead to hair loss. Folliculitis, eczema and ringworm are skin conditions that can cause irritation and inflammation of the scalp, leading to hair loss. More serious illnesses, particularly chronic illness, can also cause hair loss. Treating the underlying condition will often restore hair growth, but in some cases, surgical hair restoration may be required.

Hormonal changes and iron deficiency can also cause hair loss. Balancing the body’s systems will usually reverse the condition. However, like chronic illness, untreated deficiencies may eventually lead to more permanent loss of hair.

Hair loss can be caused by a variety of factors which are best sorted out by your doctor, so be sure to report any unusual hair loss. Some conditions can be treated with over the counter products, while others may require surgical hair replacement. Your doctor will diagnose your condition and help you to select the appropriate treatment.

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

Although hair transplant and surgery can be expensive, there are some clinics that actually charge less than most. The key is to be a proactive consumer - we are talking about your hair after all. Keep in mind that you are paying good money, money that you worked hard for. You do not have to pay up to ten dollars per graft if you can find a clinic that offers three to four dollars per graft. You should seriously consider which clinic and surgeon to choose.

You might find that clinics that have only one center (usually not to be found in the state you live in) charge less than more popular clinics with satellite branches all over the country. First of all, they have less overhead costs, and usually, to compensate for the inconvenience their location presents, they charge an absolute price per graft as compared to most clinics who give you the illusion that the more grafts you buy, the more you save.

For example, you might encounter clinics that offer discounts if you buy in bulk, meaning you pay $7 per graft for a total of 750 grafts and only $6 per graft for 1000. In the first place, if you can afford that many grafts, why won’t you? It is not right to be penalized for not being able to purchase as much, especially when there are clinics that can perform the services for as low as $3 per graft no matter how many you need. Clinics that provide hair transplant usually will give you free consultation and quotations so you will have an idea how much you need to spend.

Do not grab the first clinic that offers you a seemingly good deal. It is always good to compare and shop around as you would for the perfect pair of jeans.

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