Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Good news for men suffering from hair loss

Surgical Hair Transplants Are Not Just for Men

The Hair Transplant Center, located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is seeing a dramatic increase in the number of women who are choosing surgical hair transplants as a permanent solution to hair loss. Recently the popular television show, "Dateline NBC" aired an investigative report on surgical hair replacement that concluded surgical hair transplants to be the only truly effective and permanent procedure for restoring hair loss.

(PRWEB) August 30, 2005 -- Studies have shown that more and more women are turning to http://www.hairtransplantcenter.com [surgical hair transplants __title__ hair transplant surgery] to replace thinning hair. The Hair Transplant Center, a Tulsa-based surgical hair replacement clinic, has seen a dramatic increase in the number of women choosing http://www.hairtransplantcenter.com [surgical hair transplants __title__ hair transplant] as a permanent solution to lost or thinning hair.

"Women lose hair differently from men," said Dr. J. Scott Frayser, M.D., director of the Hair Transplant Center surgical team. "Where men have bald spots in the back or front of their heads, women tend more toward diffuse thinning. More effective procedures have made http://www.hairtransplantcenter.com [hair transplant __title__ restore hair]s an attractive option for women as well as men."

The Hair Transplant Center offers several incentives to men and women seeking surgical hair replacement, including:
* Follicular Unit Hair Grafts for $3 per graft (about half the average price)
* A travel allowance of up to $600 for patients from all over the United States and many foreign countries
* A new state-of-the-art medical clinic dedicated exclusively to http://www.hairtransplantcenter.com [surgical hair transplants]

For a http://www.hairtransplantcenter.com [free hair transplant] surgery evaluation and further information about the surgical hair replacement services at the Hair Transplant Center, visit www.HairTransplantCenter.com, or call toll-free 1-800-510-3386 to schedule a consultation. International callers may call 918-499-3993.

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

New site offers overview of hair loss

i-hairloss.com Provides an Overview of Hair Loss

Added: (Mon Aug 29 2005)

According to i-hairloss.com, those affected by hair loss become aware of how important hair is in our social lives quickly. That is why hair loss provokes not only feelings of cosmetic concern, but also may provoke a loss of self-esteem and even identity problems.

According to i-hairloss.com, hair loss, also referred to as balding, is caused by a variety of factors, the most important being heredity. Hair loss runs in the family and is not curable though someday, gene manipulation may lead scientists to a cure. Men with a genetic predisposition to hair loss have areas on their scalp that are especially sensitive to male sex hormones. As men age, these areas and the hair follicles that reside there suffer from a biological imbalance caused by a male hormone called DHT. Slowly, over a period of years, follicles wither and hair becomes thinner and shorter until it can't be seen at all.

Though not curable yet, hair loss in the form of androgenetic alopecia (male and female pattern baldness described above) can be treated in various surgical and non-surgical ways. Shampoos like Rogaine work by stimulating the growth of hair, thus counteracting the effects of excessive hair loss.

Monday, August 29, 2005

Hair loss affects job prospects says doc

Is bald beautiful? Hardly, says renowned homeopath Dr Batra

Vashi2Panvel.com: Navi Mumbai: Aug 29: No other treatment in modern times has aroused as much passion and controversy as hair treatment. A lot of men as well as women are nowadays coming into our clinics with hair loss problems.

One reason for this is the emotional distress hair loss causes to its patients. Hair loss is universally regarded as a negative trait with a poor image of a bald man or woman. History shows how monks to live a life of celibacy, would shave off their heads to express penitence, and to make themselves less attractive to the opposite sex.

In the animal kingdom healthy hair / fur plays an important role in selection of mate. Similarly having good hair is considered a sign of beauty and power. The overall impression is that hair, and lots of it, is good. And the loss of it on the other hand is interpreted a sign of weakness, immorality and most importantly, as aging.

Studies have been done which show that bald people are less favoured when interviewed for jobs. Secretaries have been told their baldness does not gel with the corporate image and people with hair loss have reported losing their jobs. A recent German study showed that when applying for jobs 41% of men with full heads of hair were selected for job interviews, while only 27% of balding men were selected.

At Dr Batra’s SM we have noticed that bald people are less favored at jobs:
a) Sales & marketing: 20 – 25%
b) Customer service: 20 – 25 %

Hair loss article source

Saturday, August 27, 2005

Get to the root of hair loss

By ANTHEA DE LIMA

Knowledge about the hair and scalp can alleviate hair loss, a problem which can seriously dent a person’s self-esteem, trichologist Mark Birch tells ANTHEA DE LIMA. WE may care about the state of our crowning glory but trichologist Mark Birch believes that the average person’s knowledge of hair matters is not as extensive as that of the skin.

“We know so much about our skin and take pains to care for it but when it comes to our hair, we are content to pick out the most attractive shampoo and conditioner bottles without considering whether they are suitable for our hair and scalp type,” said the Dubai-based Birch, who is director of the Asian Society of Trichologists, during a recent visit to the country.

He said hair loss was a big concern amongst people today.

“There are 46 reasons why men lose their hair but it is no longer a problem confined to men. Statistics indicate that one in three men will go bald while 10 per cent of women will face the same problem,” he said, adding that more women were facing hair loss issues because of their changing lifestyles.

“Women are now in higher positions in the workplace and this results in the production of higher levels of male hormones. The additional stress that they face also contributes to hair loss,” he said, adding that other factors leading to hair loss include a lack of iron in our diet, crash dieting, unbalanced meals and poor blood circulation.

Birch said the average person loses about 80 strands of hair a day. “The situation becomes critical if hair growth is slower than the amount of hair that is lost,” he said.

He also said that men and women who suffer from hair loss could face psychological problems. “It makes a difference to your self-confidence, for instance. Surveys indicate that if there were two people going for a job interview and one was facing hair loss, the job would go to the person with hair.”

Independent surveys, he added, also showed that women preferred men with hair over bald men.

One of the best ways to counter the problem is to determine what hair and scalp type you have.

“It may be simple enough to tell your hair type but it is harder to diagnose your scalp. I think it is important, at least once in your lifetime, to visit a hair specialist to determine what category you fall into,” he said.

Another important factor in caring for the hair and scalp is to choose the right haircare products. “You shouldn’t be deceived by attractive shampoo bottles. Choose a shampoo that suits your hair and scalp condition,” he said.

Birch recommended daily washing of the hair. “When you think about it, it makes perfect sense. We wash our face at least two or three times a day. Why should our hair be any different when the oil glands on our scalp are three times the size of the glands on our face,” he said.

When selecting a shampoo, he said it was best to choose a type that contained active ingredients that would take care of the scalp and hair.

“Most of the products in the market contain waste material and fragrances that do nothing for the hair. Bear in mind that the skin on your scalp is as sensitive as facial skin. Why should your hair be made to suffer harsh ingredients when you wouldn’t do that to your face,” he said.

Birch, who was in the country in conjunction with haircare specialist Svenson’s latest anti-hair loss treatment DHT Inhibitor, said that while there were numerous products to choose from, specialist products were generally kinder to the hair and scalp than other items in the market.

“Specialist products may be more costly but that is because they contain ingredients that care for the hair and scalp. It would have taken years of research to determine the efficacy of these ingredients – hence their cost,” he said.

While genetics and even extensive use of chemicals in hair treatments can lead to hair loss, he said the condition can be avoided with proper care.

“Chemical processes in hair colouring and straightening, for instance, can be damaging to hair structure. If you are interested in such treatments, you should ensure that your hair is in good condition before you opt for them,” he said. Proper after-care products were also crucial to maintain hair health.

He said people in a thriving society like in Malaysia would have greater hair loss problems.

“People work harder, do not have a proper diet and work under tremendous stress. This aggravates the situation. It is fair to say that your hair will be healthy if you are healthy,” he said.

Friday, August 26, 2005

Image consultant helps hair loss patients look their best

The serious side of looking good
Image consultant helps cancer patients look their best

By KATHERINE VOLIN
Aug. 26, 2005

Hair has long been a hallmark of female attractiveness.

In medieval Europe, married women were required to veil their hair, but unmarried ladies could let their locks swing freely in hopes of catching an available man.

Muslim women who reveal their hair are sometimes considered immodest for so flagrantly displaying their beauty.

Some women refuse to leave the house if their hair is unmanageable. Some dread humid days like others dread the dentist.

For female cancer patients, hair loss can represent a demoralizing side effect of treatment.

“The main concern for women sometimes is the brow loss,” says cosmetologist Sonia Agosto, an image consultant who helps cancer patients who’ve lost their hair as a result of medical treatments.

Agosto recently became the Virginia state trainer for “Look Good … Feel Better,” a volunteer-driven program sponsored by the American Cancer Society. In this role, she teaches female cancer patients beauty techniques if their appearance changes.

Agosto and other cosmetologists also educate women about the potential dangers that razors, manicures and some cosmetics can pose to their vulnerable immune systems.

But, she notes, “the physical beginning of the hair loss has got to be the most alarming and the hardest problem to deal with.”

At the same time, she says, everyone’s fears are different and everyone’s concerns are different.

Agosto’s partner of 21 years, L.A., was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2003.

L.A., who asked that her full name not be used, lost her hair after chemotherapy and radiation treatments. She also underwent a mastectomy after discovering a lump in her left breast and insisting that her doctor conduct a more thorough examination, though an initial mammogram showed there was nothing to worry about.

The couple shaved L.A.’s head before the treatments beat them to the punch.

“We had a very wonderful shaving session,” said L.A., who is in her early 50s. “We cried, and then we laughed and then we shaved it off.”

L.A. has been cancer-free for 31 months.

“She’s still under a five-year umbrella, so every day is a gift for us,” Agosto says, referring to the time period before medical practitioners will officially consider her partner cancer-free.

“Look Good … Feel Better” was founded in 1989 after a physician asked Ed Kavanaugh, president of the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association Foundation, a D.C.-based trade association, to do a makeover for a cancer patient who had become so depressed over her appearance that she refused to leave her room.

The makeover transformed the woman’s attitude. Kavanaugh quickly realized other women with cancer probably had similar concerns about their physical appearance.

The Atlanta-based American Cancer Society and the National Cosmetology Association pitched in to help develop the “Look Good … Feel Better” program, which has helped more than 430,000 women since1989.

Agosto says the program restores a sense of normalcy for women, many of whom have to continue their jobs despite a cancer diagnosis or hair loss.

“Their lives really don’t stop just because they’re now presented with this challenge,” she explains.

Agosto started her volunteer work for cancer patients when she worked as creative director at the NuYu Salon & Spa Shoppe, in Alexandria, Va., at 4907 Brenman Park Drive. That business takes part in the HopeCuts’ benefit, sponsored by the City of Hope National Medical Center and Beckman Research Institute in Los Angeles.

The benefit involves staff members at salons nationwide working on their day off to provide customers with various discount services, from $25 haircuts that normally cost $50 to $12 manicures that usually go for $22. All the money raised that day will be donated to the City of Hope, a research and treatment center for patients with cancer and other diseases, including diabetes and HIV/AIDS.

This year’s HopeCuts benefit takes place from noon to 4 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 28. Visit www.hopecuts.org for a list of salons in metropolitan Washington, D.C., that are planning to participate.

Agosto and Cameron Perks Coffeehouse in Alexandria, Va., are planning a silent auction fund-raiser Sunday from noon-4 p.m., in conjunction with the benefit.

Agosto now works as an independent image consultant, which leaves her time to volunteer for the “Look Good … Feel Better” program.

“Were I in a different scenario, then I would not be able to volunteer as much,” she says.

“It’s a wonderful way for me to share what it is that I’ve done for over 20 years, which is to help people with their image — help them feel good about themselves,” she says.

Hair loss article source

Thursday, August 25, 2005

Expert tips on hair loss treatment

Nettle tea washes and zinc may help you get some of your follicles back - if you're lucky

By ELIZABETH BROMSTEIN

Throughout history, hair on both women and men has symbolized strength and beauty in art and literature. See Sampson, Lady Godiva, Rapunzel, Venus Rising, Cousin Itt, etc.

If you're a man, however, you should probably come to terms with the fact that you might lose yours. Fact is, two-thirds of men experience hair loss at some point. The good news: you really don't have to worry about it. Let the hair go. A shiny bald head is a stunning fashion statement.

Male-pattern baldness is caused by high levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone responsible for the formation and development of male sex characteristics. Simply put, the balding man could argue he's just plain more of a man than his well-tressed peer. Sampson, Shmampson.

Other causes of baldness can be more problematic, especially for women. The culprits may be hormone fluctuations – like after childbirth – thyroid malfunction, stress, autoimmune disease, dietary deficiency, prescription drugs, fungal infections and more. Same for men, except for the childbirth thing. You really do need to see someone to determine the cause. Could be serious.

What the experts say

"For women, one of the side effects of birth control pills can be hair loss. There are some herbal teas you can apply to your hair topically, like burdock root , nettle or birch . There may be some signs of regrowth, but these don't result in a thick, lustrous head of hair. A combination of zinc and copper supplements can also be taken internally. A study showed results with this after six months."

JONAH LUSIS , naturopath, Toronto

"Women can inherit a genetic predisposition to hair loss just as men do. They don't get a receding hairline – just a widening part or [thinness] on the crown of the head. Another cause in women is telogen effluvium, which is a shedding problem. Stress could trigger it, but you really have to look for other causes. A lot of people have stress but don't shed. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease. You get little bald patches. Extreme dieting can also cause hair loss. Vegetarians have to get enough protein. Biotin and zinc are good vitamins. Rogaine absolutely works – better in women than men. Diane-35 is a birth control pill that can help with certain types of hair loss. If you're shedding, don't wear a tight hairstyle. Black women have to be careful with extensions and weaves, which can permanently damage the hair follicles."

DR. PAUL COHEN , dermatologist, Toronto

"What the issue is will help determine your approach. Stimulating blood flow to the area can be done topically and internally. You can take things inside to heat you up such as cayenne and ginger, and you can apply them topically. Rosemary has always been used as a remedy for women's hair loss. You can drink it as a tea or eat it or make a hair wash with it. It's one of those general tonic herbs, so it may wind up addressing the underlying cause of hair loss. If someone discovered something to make hair grow back, he or she would make a mint."

DANETTE STEELE , registered medical herbalist, Toronto

"Rogaine works fairly well – I won't say greatly – for women. There are side effects such as itchiness and very dry scalp. Unfortunately, you're really not getting to the root of the problem, and once you stop using it you will see excessive shedding. If a woman is using Rogaine, she really should be using a scalp treatment in order to correct the side effects. Another option is a hair transplant if she qualifies. The recovery is long and painful. It may traumatize the existing follicles around the transplant. Transplants are excellent for men, however. If a woman's hair is receding, I would send her for a transplant to get more of a hairline and then move to a non-surgical solution. We use a very fine membrane that has hair tied to it and integrates with existing hair. A woman can swim, sleep and shower with it on. It's the most non-invasive solution."

AMALIA RUGGIERO , Truly You Wigs and Hair Replacement, Mississauga

"In traditional Chinese medicine, the essence of energy comes from the kidney, so a kidney deficiency would cause hair loss. Start by getting nutrients to the kidneys. [You might have to] use something that increases the yin or the yang. There are shampoos you can get from a Chinese herbalist with things like ginger and shuwu to stimulate the scalp. Teatree oil does the same thing."

BRUCE ALLY , PhD, traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, Toronto

Source: http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/2005-08-25/goods_health.php

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Nevada Woman Uses Head to Raise Money for Children With Hair Loss

GoldenPalace.com, the online casino famous for turning eBay into the
ultimate advertising vehicle by acquiring several outrageous items is at it
again. It has paid $18,000 to shave a woman's head and permanently tattoo
"GoldenPalacePoker.com", the website of the online poker room, on her bare
cranium.

The eBay seller, Molly Demers, will be wearing the casino's brand on the
top and back of her bald head for one year.

Molly is donating the hair that will be shaved to Locks Of Love, a
non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged
children suffering from long-term medical hair loss.

Setting the standard in marketing creativity, GoldenPalace.com has devised
many unusual advertising campaigns in the past few years. Recently, items
such as the Virgin Mary Grilled Cheese Sandwich, Britney Spears' Pregnancy
Test, and Pope Benedict XVI's previously owned VW Golf have garnered extensive
worldwide media attention for the casino.

Monday, August 22, 2005

Links for Locks Golf Tournament For Hair Loss Treatment

NASHVILLE, Tenn./EWORLDWIRE/Aug. 22, 2005 --- There is hair loss and then there is Alopecia Areata. When a Nashville couple first noticed that their two-year old daughter Hannah began to lose small patches of hair, the parents suspected ringworm. Hair growth initially returned after injections. However, over the next few weeks, the small patches turned to massive amounts of devastating hair loss. Hannah was diagnosed with Alopecia Areata. The disease continued to take its course, leaving her without eyelashes, eyebrows and body hair.

Hannah is not alone. Alopecia Areata is an often hereditary, autoimmune hair loss disorder affecting over four million people in the United States. People often lose their hair in patches, a process that troubles patients and families alike. Being a parent of a child with alopecia can be overwhelming and challenging at times, especially in a society that puts a tremendous amount of value on physical appearance. Though there is no cure, the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF) works to support those with Alopecia Areata and their families, raise national awareness, increase research funding, and run conferences for patients and their families.

The NAAF-Nashville Support Group today announced that it is hosting its first annual Links for Locks Golf Tournament, benefiting the National Alopecia Areata Foundation. The tournament will be held September 12, 2005 at the Ravenwood Country Club in Hermitage, Tenn. The golf tournament is a way to bring attention to Nashville as a place where folks can get support and to give golfers a chance to play for a purpose. Tee off will begin at 8 a.m. with a shotgun start, complimentary breakfast and lunch, and a variety of prizes. Golfers who make a hole-in-one on the second hole will win a Fish and Ski Boat.

Sunday, August 21, 2005

Wigs as a form of hair loss treatment

Hair show touts wigs as latest style statement

> By A. SCOTT WALTON
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
> Published on: 08/20/05

Wigs are like dentures: People don't freely admit to wearing them.

That would defeat the point.

But among the estimated 60,000 stylists, cosmetologists and hair treatment vendors in town today through Monday for the 58th annual Bronner Bros. International Hair Show, there's much talk about ways to profit from the unspeakable.

Hype Hair! editor-in-chief, Adrienne Moore, said the demand for new wig styles won't diminish any time soon because women — particularly celebrities — embrace them as "the easiest way to change your entire look."

While unwilling to name names, Moore said certain stars on the R&B/hip-hop music scene are leading the charge toward wig counters, and the women who admire them are following suit.

"[Celebrities] see it as a smart way to change their hairstyles quickly and protect their own hair at the same time," she said. "If you're constantly torturing your hair with curling and pressing irons, or coloring it on a frequent basis, it can get damaged real fast. People who are in the limelight and have to change their looks all the time are using wigs as tools."

At the Bronner Bros. show — one of the largest trade shows for ethnic hair care products — experts will discuss ways to make the most of the trend.

"I'm a stylist now, but my goal is to make wigs full time," said Tarsha Woods, owner of Trendy Illusions, a full-service salon in Washington, D.C.

For the past four years, Woods has made customized, human hair wigs that she sells for $175 and up. She'll also teach a two-day sales seminar on how to quickly handcraft customized wigs to a client's specifications.

Hair Zone, founded in 1989, markets wigs and hairpieces in various colors, lengths and texture combinations under the brand Sensationnel. Singer and former "Moesha" star Brandy, the company's spokesmodel, will appear on Sunday to promote Hair Zone's latest innovation: Pro-10 faux hair pieces made of all-natural proteins, which resemble human hair in terms of texture and resilience.

"We're still growing because more and more women have gotten informed about what's available and how reasonable the cost is," said Joseph Cho, marketing director for Hair Zone.

Nearly $480 million worth of human, synthetic and animal hair was shipped the United States in 2004, according to Department of Commerce's Office of Trade and Industry Information.

Michael Kleinman, executive vice president for Kansas City, Mo.-based HairUWear, points to three factors driving the market: The stigma is fading, thanks to the number of celebrities sporting hair alternatives; wigs ranging from $49 to as much as $10,000 are readily available online; and baby boomers are aging and facing hair loss that many want to conceal.

The company's latest coup — providing hair extensions for Jessica Simpson to wear in "The Dukes of Hazzard," and her video for "These Boots were made for Walkin'" — underscores widespread appeal for hair alternatives.

At Bernadette's Salon and Wig Gallery in Buckhead, a custom human hair wig costs $1,500-$2,500. Gina Sanchez, the wig consultant at Bernadette's, said the bulk of her clients come in due to hair loss from chemotherapy. However, she said, there's been "a jump" in the number of clients who are merely seeking a made-over appearance.

"I've got clients from the real estate field who are out showing homes all day long and get tired of having their hair ruined by the humidity," Sanchez said. "I've got others who want different styles for different occassions, or who just want to please their husbands by showing them an entirely different look."


Find this article at:
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/living/0805/20wigs.html

Saturday, August 20, 2005

New Multimedia Hair Transplant Network Helps Hair Loss Sufferers Choose the Best Hair Transplant Surgeons

August 18, 2005 -- The new multimedia Hair Transplant Network at www.hairtransplantnetwork.com is published by and for hair loss sufferers to help each other find the very best hair transplant physicians. Today most hair loss sufferers can restore their hair for a lifetime with hair transplant surgery. But the skill, experience, and talent of hair transplant surgeons vary widely, as do the end results. Given that the results will last a lifetime, it is vital that patients choose their hair transplant physician very carefully.

This Hair Transplant Network encourages potential patients to consider the following issues when researching a hair transplant physician:

* Does the hair transplant physician take a holistic approach to hair restoration? Your physician should help you evaluate all your options, surgical and non surgical.

* Have they made the investment in time and resources to do large sessions of micro follicular unit hair transplantation? Doing outstanding work requires a staff dedicated and trained to use high-powered magnification with the capability of producing more than 2,000 carefully trimmed grafts per surgical session.
Choose a hair restoration clinic that is patient focused rather than commercially focused. Some clinics emphasize revenue, speed and volume rather than dedicating the time and individual care needed to produce optimal results. These commercial operations typically rely on heavy advertising rather than satisfied patient or doctor referrals.

* Is hair restoration the primary focus of their practice? Outstanding results require a physician and a full staff who perform hair transplant surgery on a regular basis. Doing hair restoration as a sideline, along with other cosmetic procedures, may hinder their ability to do large sessions of highly refined follicular unit transplantation.

* How many patients has this physician produced excellent results for? Like any skill, experience over time is critical to acquiring the skill and judgment required to produce excellent results.

* Can the hair transplant physician provide at least a dozen sets of detailed patient before and after photographs? Do they also have patients who are willing to speak with you and meet with you in person?

In addition to in-depth written content the Hair Transplant Network also provides educational animations, videos and a very active hair restoration discussion forum.

Many patients participate in this discussion forum and post their experiences and photos. Potential hair transplant patients can use this discussion forum to check out a physician's reputation by searching for posts about a particular surgeon. To research a particular hair transplant surgeon, visitors simply click on the "Find" button and enter the doctor's last name. They will then get all posts about this particular hair transplant physician going back over four years.

In addition to the Hair Transplant Network at www.hairtransplantnetwork.com there are two other excellent hair restoration Web communities that help patients find prescreened quality hair transplant surgeons. These include the Hair Loss Learning Center at www.HairLossLearningCenter.org and the Hair Restoration Network at www.hairrestorationnetwork.com.

Friday, August 19, 2005

Good news for children with hair loss problem

Fifth-grader makes cut, donates hair for cancer victims
By: Deborah Rowe , contributing writer

Harley Wilson has more than a strand of goodness in her heart.

Wilson, 10, who starts her fifth-grade year at Cryar Intermediate School today, donated more than 10 inches of her hair to Locks of Love Sunday. Locks of Love is a nonprofit organization that provides real hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children 18 years old and under, who suffer from long-term medical hair loss.

Wilson had her hair cut by Christy Williams at Fantastic Sam's in Conroe, which participates in the Locks of Love hair donation program.

After watching her relatives endure cancer and lose their hair from chemotherapy, Wilson decided at the age of 7 that she wanted to help others by growing out her hair for Locks of Love to provide a wig for someone suffering from severe hair loss.

"I didn't cut my hair for three years," she said. "I didn't let people braid it, or put it up in a ponytail either, because that can damage the hair. I didn't get it highlighted or anything. I wanted my hair to be in the best shape it could be in for the wig."

Ellen Garcia, Wilson's legal guardian and grandmother who lives in Conroe, said the Locks of Love idea was solely her granddaughter's.

"It was a big decision for her to make, not to touch her hair for three years and then cut it all off," she said. "I called around, and the only local place I could find who cuts hair for Locks of Love is Fantastic Sam's."

Garcia said everybody in the hair salon was impressed, including herself.

"I am very proud of her," Garcia said. "She did this from the kindness of her heart."
Wilson said her hair is shorter than it ever has been, but she is glad she did it.
"I especially am glad to help kids that have cancer and had to go through chemotherapy," she said.

Williams, 28, said she is very proud of the people who donate their hair to Locks of Love.

"Believe it or not, quite a few of the people that I have cut hair for the Locks of Love program have been children," she said. "Children helping children is a wonderful concept. I am glad I cut Harley's hair."

Williams said Fantastic Sam's has been cutting hair for Locks of Love for approximately six months.

To donate hair to Locks of Love, hair must be free of coloring, perms and in good health. It must be long as well, "because we need at least 10 inches to cut off for the wig," Wilson said. "After we cut the hair, we send it to our corporate office in Houston, who then sends it off to various organizations."

According to Locks of Love, the process of providing a child a hair prosthesis (hairpiece) takes four to six months. The process begins when a parent, nurse, friend or doctor nominates a child who is suffering from long-term or permanent medical hair loss.

The application requires two letters of recommendation, a diagnosis, a photo and a copy of the parent's most recent tax returns. Applications are usually turned around in one to three days of receipt.

According to Locks of Love, the hairpiece retails between $3,500 and $6,000. Even though the organization provides donated hair for the prostheses, Locks of Love must pay for the manufacturing costs of each prosthesis. Between the ages of 6 and 18, a child can reapply every 18 months for a total of up to five hairpieces.

For more information about donating hair at Fantastic Sam's in Conroe, call (936) 760-2800 or visit Locks of Love at www.locksoflove.org.

Monday, August 15, 2005

Hair extension for women experiencing hair loss

Losing your hair isn't funny

Alopecia is a miserable condition for women, but at last help is available on the NHS. Bryony Gordon reports for Telegraph.co.uk

The news, last week, that hair extensions are now available on the NHS for women suffering from hair loss has left many in a spin. Ann Widdecombe has compared it to a scheme in which ill patients are offered dogs to make them feel better. And an unnamed doctor told reporters: "I worry this will end up with women who simply want nicer hair claiming they're experiencing emotional trauma. After all, we already have people getting boob jobs on the health service."

Sadly, the truth is not quite as simple. I know because, when I was 18, half my hair disappeared. And it's been coming and going ever since. Alopecia (or balding) is a condition that is traditionally associated with middle-aged men. Yet, increasingly, it is affecting women - an estimated 2,250 have alopecia in Britain - double the number of a decade ago.

It is thought that female alopecia is the result of the immune system attacking the hair follicles - though why it does this is not known. Stress is thought to be a contributing factor, and thyroid conditions, iron deficiency and polycystic ovaries have been linked, too. Whatever the cause, one thing is for sure: the effect of losing your crowning glory - on which European women spend £1 billion a year - can be devastating.

It may seem vain. I have always felt guilty for getting a bit down when another smooth, circular bald patch pops up somewhere in the midst of my dyed blonde hair. There are, it's true, more serious medical conditions that one could get upset about.

Currently, I have two patches, one of which is slap bang in the middle of my scalp, making me look like Friar Tuck. It has got so big that people have now stopped saying they don't notice it (they do). And, however silly it may seem, it bothers me - although not as much as when it first flared up, seven years ago.

For middle-aged men, going bald is an accepted irritant. For an 18-year-old girl, about to start university, it's mortifying. I'd try to make jokes about it, but it wasn't fun. I went to my GP, who spoke to me in a way that said: "I have a waiting room full of sick people and you're bothering me with this?" She prescribed some steroids to rub into my balding head, but that just made the patches move around, in a frustrating game of cat and mouse; just as one would go, another two would pop up somewhere else.

Then, one day, I read about Lucinda Ellery. Ellery has had alopecia since the age of 10; she is now 50. Fed up with wearing wigs, she devised a hair-extension system that would cover bald patches. The result was the Volumiser, a set of nets and hair extensions that hide the affected areas. It is her system that is now available on the NHS.

And I'm glad it is. Because, having had the hair extensions - and having met other women who have used the system to disguise much worse hair loss than mine - I can tell you that it makes a huge difference. "You can swim, shower and swing from the chandelier in these hair extensions," Ellery says, "and no one is the wiser."

Not having to worry about your hair - or lack of it - every morning, is a huge help. Within six months, mine had all grown back. Now, when I get the odd patch, I go to Ellery for a lotion called Calosol. Made from plant extracts, it encourages regrowth and is, in my opinion, more effective than steroids - the only other available treatment.

Unfortunately, it has taken Ellery eight years to persuade the powers that be to make her system available on the NHS, and, even now, only a handful of people a year, who have been vetted by psychologists, will be eligible. "This isn't about girls with fine hair wanting gorgeous, flowing locks," says Ellery, whose staff of 40 see as many patients every day. "It's about women with substantial hair loss. I have customers who have become recluses because they are so embarrassed. People trivialise alopecia because it's not life threatening, but anyone who has suffered from it will tell you that it can threaten your way of life."

Sunday, August 14, 2005

Panacea Biotec to develop hair loss cure

Hair loss is a growing problem all over the world.

In order to tap the lucrative hair-loss cure market, Panacea Biotec has entered into an in-licensing agreement with the National Institute of Health (NIH), US, whereby the Indian company will complete the development of NIH's technology and commercialise the product worldwide based on the technology. The patent-protected technology for actin-binding peptide/poly peptide from NIH stimulates hair growth and regenerates lost hair follicles.

Under the in-licensing agreement, Panacea Biotec will undertake further development of the technology. It will initiate the pre-clinical toxicology studies for which the appropriate formulation has already been prepared.

After receiving the necessary regulatory approvals for the toxicology data that will be generated, the company will undertake human clinical trials for the product.

Speaking to Business Line, Rajesh Jain, Joint Managing Director, Panacea Biotec said, "We are working with top global institutions to develop novel technology-based products. In 2001, the market for products curing hair loss was estimated to be at around $50 billion worldwide and was growing at 20 per cent. We expect the growth rates to have gone up even more in recent years."

He hoped that the company would be able to launch the product in three-four years.

Thursday, August 11, 2005

GBIC releasing five new hair loss products by year's end

According to a recent press release, GBIC is launching five new hair loss products by end of the year.

Here is the full press release:

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 11, 2005--Gulf BioMedical Corporation (OTC: GBIC) is pleased to announce they are working towards the introduction of five new all-natural, herbal products with no known side-effects by the end of the year.

The announcement follows the "phenomenal success" experienced with Gulf BioMedical's first product, HairMagic(TM), a hair restoration treatment for hair loss. The product was successful in re-growing hair in 100% of 70 test cases, and is now awaiting scientific "double blind" trials in medical clinic in Houston.

President Don West stated "We anticipate our second product, LoveMagic(TM) to hit the market in mid September. This all-natural erectile dysfunction pill has no known side-effects and comprises herbal supplements. We also have four additional herbal formulas in development through established medical consultants. These formulas will be used to improve the lives of those experiencing anti-depression and weight loss."

Management predicts all six low cost herbal products will be highly marketable through the airwaves, call centers and internet.

"An estimated 80 million American men and women are losing or have already lost their hair", said West. "Most of them would give anything to have it back. People do ridiculous things to look like they have hair when they really don't. Funny? Sure, if you have a full head of hair. If you don't, you would probably pay any amount for something that could actually grow hair on your head."

"That's what the experts call a "market!" said West.

Now, finally, there's a hair-growing product that actually grows hair, and HairMagic(TM) guarantees to start doing so in 8 weeks or less, or give you a 100% refund.

How To Choose Hair Loss Treatments

Here's an article on choosing the best hair loss treatments.

It’s Hard To Determine Which Hair Growth Treatments Are The Best
by Peter Crump

There are so many hair growth treatments on the market that you have many to choose from if you are starting to see that you are losing your hair. Some people swear by certain treatments while others do not find them any good. For example, you can buy a comb that is supposed to help hair growth. This comb has a low-level cold laser beam that you plug in and run through your hair for 10-15 minutes three times a week. Other advertised hair growth treatments are in the form of shampoos and conditioners designed to spur your hair follicles to produce new hair growth.

Whether or not these products actually do work depends on who you ask. Doctors advise that you should search for the underlying causes of hair loss before you spend any money on hair growth treatments.

The recommended hair loss treatment for men is often different from that recommended for women because of hair growth. When evaluating any treatments for hair growth, you should make sure that the FDA has approved them. This agency tests the treatments to make sure they are safe to use, but it doesn’t make a recommendation of whether or not they work. That is up to you to decide.

You shouldn’t really expect to see substantial new hair growth if you use topical solutions as hair growth treatments, even with those prescribed by the doctor. In some cases men have seen a 50% new hair growth, but the usual percentage is much less than that.

Proscar and Rogaine are the hair loss treatments for men that doctors will prescribe and Minoxodil is suitable for both men and women. With these hair growth products you cannot just go into a pharmacy and select them off the shelves as you can with shampoos. These products are carefully controlled and are available only with a prescription. This is because they do have side effects and you should be under a doctor’s care when using them.

One of the common hair growth treatments involves hair transplants. Although this is regarded as a hair loss treatment for men, it is also available for women. Women are better candidates as well because they often have healthier swatches of hair remaining to make hair grafts. However, if this is the hair loss treatment that you want to use, you’d better have a fat wallet, because it is expensive.

There are many hair growth treatments, not all work well. Be discriminating.

About the Author

For a website totally devoted to hair replacement visit Peter's Website The Hair Replacement Guide, and find out about HairLoss as well as Male Pattern Baldness and more, including Female Hair Loss and Hair Transplants.

http://www.the-hair-replacement-guide.com/sitemap_1.html

Tuesday, August 09, 2005

Teen Donates Hair To Children with Hair Loss Problem

In a recent report, a Lookingglass teen donates her hair to make wigs for sick children.

Here's an excerpt of the report:

Thirteen-year-old Megan Smith of Lookingglass sat cringing in a chair at West Side Salon Friday, waiting for the stylist to take scissors to her waist-length, honey-colored hair.

"I'll probably have to close my eyes," she said in anticipation.

Moments later, Sue Bailey, who owns the salon, began laboring through Smith's inch-wide ponytail.

"That is a lot of hair," said Smith's mother, Jane Smith, who looked on with a tinge of angst across her face.

Though Smith had been growing her hair out since the third grade, the soon-to-be eighth-grader at Winston Middle School knows her loss will be someone else's gain.

She's donating more than 10 inches of her hair to Locks of Love, a nonprofit organization that makes hair prosthetics for financially disadvantaged children with diseases that lead to long-term hair loss.

Smith has had high hopes for her hair since she started reading stories about children with cancer in the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" books over the past couple years. The thought of children feeling out of place because of their hair loss saddened her.

"I wanted them just to feel normal like everyone else," she said.

Visit the link to read the full report.
http://www.newsreview.info/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050807/NEWS/108080020&template=printart

Monday, August 08, 2005

PK Walsh offers hair loss solutions for women with fine or thin hair.

According to a report from 7 News Boston, hair loss is a problem for many women, but they're too embarrassed to talk about it so they suffer in silence. It's hair loss, and now more and more women you'd least expect are losing their locks.

"It's a shock for women to all of the sudden see hair in the drain, and start seeing more and more hair coming out," Nicole Walsh said.

But one in four women are seeing that happen.

"We've seen that stress in the workplace, at home, being multi-taskers, trying to be superwomen is causing numerous amounts of stress on our clients," Walsh said.

Julie Perron of Peterborough, New Hampshire knows all too well that stress can have that effect.

"And then on top of everything that was happening I noticed my hair was falling out," Perron said.

She's been coping with hair loss for years because of it.

"It doesn't just affect your confidence and your professional life, it affects your relationships," Perron said.

So Perron came to PK Walsh in Needham for help.

"We provide hair solutions for women with fine or thin hair, or in the early stages of hair loss," Walsh said.

Julie has laser light hair rejuvenation therapy once a week at PK Walsh.

"Which stimulates the red blood cells in the scalp, the diameter of the hair swells and the hair appears to be thicker and fuller," Walsh said. "It also maintains the hair that you have so we can prevent any more hair loss."

The treatments run about $1,500 for 3 months. Julie also wears a hair addition which can run from $900-$2100 depending on the individual's need.

"We also do hair extensions which can add some volume and thickness to the hair," Walsh said.

And thanks to improving technology, the hair treatments are virtually undetectable.

"Hair additions used to be really bulky and you wouldn't be able to get really good human hair," Walsh said.

Nicole completely understands what her patients are dealing with.

"I'm one of the under the 40 that has high stress from work," Walsh said.

Because those solutions also work for her.

"I actually had very good results from the laser, I actually have bangs again and it filled in some of my hair lines that was starting to get a little fine," Walsh said.

So if you are losing your locks…

"Don't be embarrassed because you're not alone," Walsh said. "Treatment can change your life."

"I probably wouldn't be as successful because I wouldn't have had that level of confidence that I do now," Perron said.

Results can be seen from the laser light rejuvenation therapy in about three to four weeks.

For further information:

* http://www.pkwalsh.com

Source: http://www2.whdh.com/features/articles/specialreport/BOS3394/

Sunday, August 07, 2005

New Hair Loss Treatment For Women

According to a report on Telegraph.co.uk, Hairline International, a society for alopecia sufferers, is now offering hair extensions to women with hair loss problems.

Here's the report:

NHS offers balding women hair extensions
By Elizabeth Day

The stress of modern life has led to an alarming increase in the number of younger women going bald.

Thirty thousand women a year in Europe - an estimated 2,250 of them in Britain, double the number of a decade ago - suffer from alopecia, or premature baldness, and those suffering significant hair loss runs into millions.

Although the exact cause of alopecia is unknown, the growing number of cases is thought to be due to increased levels of stress among women attempting to juggle family and professional responsibilities.

Elizabeth Steel, the director of Hairline International, a society for alopecia sufferers, said that hectic lifestyles and crash dieting were among the likely causes. "There is no single cause, but one reason some women develop the condition is through an iron deficiency," she said. "This can be caused by crash or yo-yo dieting, and a lifestyle that is becoming common in 30-something women: working long hours, not eating properly and leading stressful lives, which runs the body down."

Alopecia can also be triggered by certain birth control pills or an over active immune system.

Princess Caroline of Monaco famously shaved her head in 1995 after suffering hair loss, possibly from the stress of losing her husband in a speedboat accident.

Now the NHS has registered its first hair extensions therapist to tackle the problem. Unlike wigs, the hair extensions can be woven into a gauze mesh fixed to the scalp and can be brushed and styled as if they were the patient's real hair. The extensions need to be replaced every three months.

Lucinda Ellery, a hair loss treatment studio in Hammersmith, west London, receives funding and support from a number of primary care trusts throughout the UK, enabling GPs to refer patients who might be experiencing emotional trauma from their hair loss for free hair extensions.

Miss Ellery, 50, who lost two thirds of her hair after her father died when she was 10, said that she treats approximately one NHS patient a week with extensions that can cost anything from £320 to £500.

"It means that women who might not have the money can at last be treated properly," she said. "Many women who come to me have had doctors ignore them or have spent years trying to hide their alopecia. There is a great deal of ignorance and trivialisation. A woman's hair is her crowning glory, a symbol of fertility and health. Without it, you can feel quite pathetic."

Lucinda Ellery is also able to treat cancer patients who have lost their hair through chemotherapy and women who suffer from impulsive hair pulling, or trichotillomania.

Earlier this year, the pop singer Victoria Beckham was believed to be suffering from trichotillomania and had hair extensions put in.

Catherine Wallace, a 40-year-old therapist from Scarborough, North Yorkshire, was referred to Lucinda Ellery by her doctor after losing much of her hair over 20 years.

"It started when I was 18 after my uncle Michael died," she said. "It was a gradual thinning made worse by several dietary allergies. A friend noticed that my hair was getting thinner and advised I see a doctor who told me that I had alopecia. I remember walking out of the surgery and feeling like a freak.

"I was always very conscious of it and used to backcomb my hair to try and disguise it. I went to see Lucinda three years ago and it transformed me. I now live a normal life and every six weeks I go down to have the adjustments done. It's essential that this treatment exists on the NHS because there are so many girls out there living half a life. Your hair is part of your sexuality and your glamour and without it you can feel like your whole word has come apart. It is a very isolating experience."

However, one doctor, who refused to be named, said that getting hair extensions on the NHS was "the thin end of the wedge".

"I don't object to women getting treated for a genuine illness, but I do worry that this will end up with women who simply want to have nicer hair claiming they're experiencing emotional trauma. After all, we already have people getting boob jobs on the health service."

Hair Loss Treatment Article

How To Nip The Problem In The Bud... Prevent Hair Loss
by Rachel Stepsen

Hair loss is universal problem and millions of people
worldwide are suffering from some degree of hair loss.
There are several cures for hair loss.

However, they do not work on all. Some types of hair loss
or baldness do not respond to the treatments. Nevertheless,
hair loss is preventable and good care and regular
maintenance of hair can go a long way in preventing hair
loss. Here are some tips to take care of your mane -

#1 Keep it Clean

Dirt and excess oil in the scalp can clog the pores, making
it difficult for the hair root to receive nutrition and
grow. This is a major reason for hair loss. Frequently
shampoo your hair and use clean combs. Trimming of split
ends is essential to prevent major hair damage.

#2 Take Care Of Diet

Ultimately, the hair, like any other body part, requires
nutrition to stay healthy and grow. Malnutrition and
imbalanced diet can be a major reason for hair loss.
Include vitamins and minerals like calcium, magnesium,
chromium, iodine, potassium, zinc and Vitamin A in your
diet.

There is no need to take mega doses because they can at
times be counterproductive. Evidence suggests that excess
of Vitamins A and E can actually contribute to hair loss.

#3 Do Not Overdo It

Excessive exposure to heat and chemicals such as hair
colors, styling products, hot iron and blow dryers can
cause damage to hair and result in severe hair loss. You
should use these products sparingly.

Instead of blow dryers, make time to allow your hair to dry
naturally. Get your hair styled in a manner that does not
require any of the above-mentioned procedures.

#4 Give Yourself A Head Massage

A gentle head massage with a hair oil helps to improve
blood circulation to the hair roots and prevent hair loss.
Aromatherapy recommends creating hair oil using equivalent
parts of thyme, rosemary, lavender and cedar wood.

#5 Avoid Stress

Stress is damaging for the hair. Get adequate sleep and
follow stress reduction techniques to prevent hair loss.

#6 Be Careful Of Medication

Certain medications such as anti-depressants, some drugs
taken for epilepsy, cancer have hair loss as a side effect.
Consult with your doctor before taking medication to
prevent hair loss.

#7 Hormone Tests

Thyroid disorders can cause hair loss. Get hormone tests
for thyroid on a regular basis.

It is rightly said that prevention is better than cure. By
adopting the above-mentioned methods, you can prevent hair
loss and maintain good health of your hair.
===========================================================
Find out what causes hair loss, and discover latest
techniques and ideas for effective hair loss treatment.
For lots of valuable information and articles, click
http://www.hair-loss-treatment-101.com/

About the Author

Rachel Stepsen suffered hair loss from her mid-20's. In an
effort to find treatment, Rachel learned all there is to
know about hair. She's written a series of articles to
help others learn about hair, and how they can most
effectively reduce their own hair loss with the right
treatment.