Hair Loss Wigs

Burly men with shiny, slick domes? Who are they? They are the Brotherhood of Bald People! It’s a group of men in the Twin Cities who celebrate baldness.

It started a couple years ago as a website with forums, blogs and pictures celebrating baldness. The founder from Ham Lake, MN, has transformed it into an online support group and a company offering T-shirts, hats and other products sporting messages such as “Hair is so Overrated” and “If you want to rub it, please ask first.” The brotherhood even hosted a “Take Me Out to the Bald Game” night at the Saints game last week.

No matter who you are, you go thought the same thing when you start losing your hair- you think it’s the end of the world. After venting on the website about the difficulties of losing hair, and the negative perceptions about baldness; the founder quickly realized that children, especially young girls with cancer and illnesses that result in hair loss, should be included in the group. So, while it’s pretty much exclusive to men they embrace women and girls who don’t want to wear hats or wigs during their cancer treatments.

With the inclusion of young girls, came a line of T-shirts with the character Princess Jewel, a crown adorning her bald head. These were delivered to Children’s Hospitals and Clinics in Minnesota. The leaders of the site also donate 10% of the proceeds from merchandise sales to charity.

To date, there are about 680 registered users on the site from all over the world. The founder says, “We like to think of ourselves as the anti-Hair Club for Men. I look at the guys that try the com-over or hang on to the last bit of hair and I just want to give them a hug and say, ‘Hey man, let it go’.

The founder says he wanted to create a place where people all over the world could come to share stories. He says his favorite is comparing Benjamin Franklin, who had the guts to go natural, to George Washington who, also bald, was dodging bullets on the battlefield while straightening his wig.

When founder Mike’s hair started receding in his 20’s, his parents tried to get him to do the “comb over”. When his son Tyris was dealing with the same thing, Mike encouraged him to shave his head. Tyris “went under the razor” at the Saints game!

A represetative at Children’s Hospital said the brotherhood T-shirts help the children with cancer feel accepted. People are concerned when they see a child with no hair, but, it they’re wearing a T-shirt that says “I know I’m bald, but you don’t have too worry.”

The brotherhood donated the T-shirts to Children’s Hospital but wants to find a company that will sponsor the line so the shirts can be given out to children all over the country. While the brotherhood may not have hair, there is one thing they have and that is really big hearts!

Obviously hair loss is unpleasant, for anyone, male or female. We focus on female hair loss because we are confronted with it daily but we also deal with men’s hair loss at Fantasia. We have Hair Replacement Specialist who deal with both male and female hair loss.

With men, typically the hair at the temples begins to recede and the crown area begins to thin. Eventually, a horse shoe pattern around the sides of the head appears.

Moderate to extensive hair loss occurs, particularly on the crown of the head. Along with that, the hairline begins to recede. Approximately 95% of hair loss in men is attributed to androgenic alopecia, also known as male pattern baldness. There are three factors contributing to this condition: the male hormone testosterone; heredity; and age.

With men, there is generally a progression to their hair loss: the hair becomes thinner, does not grow very long and the bald spot at the crown widens.

Finally, the thinning crown and the receding points may meet, forming the horse shoe pattern mentioned above, with hair growing only around the sides of the head.

Men’s hair loss can begin as early as age 20 and becomes more noticable from the ages of 35-40. For some men, they take it in stride. Others are very self-consious and probably need to do something about their hair loss as it affects their quality of life.

There are non-surgical options hair replacement options for men as well as the women. MicroPoint links are popular with both male and female because they allow people to go on living life as normal. Hair Support System is also important to condition the scalp and take care of the hair you have. Integrations are another option popular with the men.

If you or a loved one have hair loss or thinning hair, talk to a Hair Replacement Specialist at Fantasia and find out more about your options. I’ve read about something refered to as the Northwood Scale; which allows you to map out the various stages of male pattern baldness. There are eight stages, the eighth is the last and the most severe.

So men, you have a decision to make. Will you keep everything as is is or will you call to find out about your options? If self confidence is an issue, just know that there are good solutions for you.

Perhaps you suffer with diffuse hair loss and have tried wigs, wiglets, extensions and any number of other remedies with no success. Have you ever heard of integrations?

A hair integration is not a wig, hairpiece or extension. It requires no surgery. A hair integration blends an individual’s hair with an integration hair system to create fullness, volume and length. It is for individuals with thinning hair or hair loss who want to make the most of their natural hair. An integration system is designed with a cabling system what provides durability and security while providing a comfortable fit. Best of all, integrations are easy to put on, are secure and versatile. And, they stand up to a busy, active lifestyle and are completely undetectable.

Typically integrations have a feeling of life and realness you have never encountered before in any tpe of hair replacement. The color is matched to your own or whatever shade you feel is most flattering. The styles in which you can wear your hair are almost unlimited.

To put it simply, hair integration can make you look as if you never started losing your hair in the first place! Many clients feel as though they never had a hair loss problem to begin with!

How does it work? The integration is created by sewing strands of the finest human (or synthetic) hair precisely matched to the color, texture and length of your own hair, onto a sheer nylon or polyester web-like cap. Using a tail-comb, your own hair is then drawn through the web to blend in with the added hair for a full, even hairstyle.

If this is a new concept for you, and you like the sound of it, call today and schedule a consultation with one of the Hair Solutions Specialist at Fantasia. If you are looking for something so light you will never know it’s there, and something which will make you feel like it truely is “your hair”, this might be the perfect solution for you!

Who told us that it is normal to lose 100 hairs per day? In every book I’ve read on the subject, that’s what they say. And, some say normal hair loss is 100-150 hairs per day. Because that’s what I have read, I have never questioned it and have repeated it many times. I must tell you, no matter how much I have read it and re-written it myself, I have always thought that I must not be normal because I am certain I do not lose 100-150 hairs per day.

It seems like, the number 100 for normal hair loss was picked out of the air. Maybe it came from the assumption that the average head has 100,000 hairs, 10% of which are in the telogen, or resting phase. This means they are no longer growing and are getting ready to fall out. But, they are going to take about 100 days before they hit the shower floor, curl up in the sink drain or wrap themselves around the bristles of your brush. So, 10% of 100,000 is 10,000. Divide that by 100 days and, you get a loss of 100 hairs per day, the magic number.

All of this math is based on…..nothing. First of all, it’s never been proven that we even have 100,000 hairs. The number has just been passed down with no one ever questioning it. So, a professor of dermatology at Penn State College of Medicine, came up with a quick and reliable way to figure out if you are experiencing abnormal hair loss. He and his colleagues studied hair loss in 60 men, half age 20-40 and half age 40-60. All of the men studied had healthy heads of hair and no signs of going bald.

They were given identical combs and told to shampoo every day for three days. On day four, before shampooing, they each combed their hair forward over a pillow case for 60 seconds. Then, they counted the hairs on the pillow case.

The average number was almost identical for both age groups: 10.2 hairs on the pillow case for the younger men and 10.3 hairs for the older group. And, when the same men repeated the drill six months later, the counts remained the same, indicating they were in no immediate danger of balding.

It doesn’t matter what kind of comb or brush you use as log as you use the same one, says the professor. And, make sure it’s clean when you start. The range of hair loss in the study was 0-78 hairs for the younger men and 0-48 among the older men, though most lost about 10 hairs in the 60 seconds of combing.

The number of hairs on your pillow matters less than that the number remains consistent. Do this exercise three days per month, and track it for six months. If the numbers of hairs shed remain consistent with each 60-second comb-out, you’re probably not “over shedding”. But, if there is a big increase, you might want to consult a dermatologist for an evaluation. As we have discussed, there can be many factors for hair-loss including thyroid issues, low iron levels and elevated stress levels.

So, I may have to re-think things before writing again that normal hair loss is 100 hairs per day!

If you are a practicing Jewish person, you probably know what a shaitel is. For those outside the Jewish faith, I thought you might finding learning about a shaitel somewhat interesting.

For Jewish women, the uncovered head from the earliest of times was considered immodest. Married women covered their heads to as not to draw the attention of other men. By covering her hair with a wig, the married woman makes a statement: “I am not available, you can see me but I am not open to the public. Even my hair, the most obvious and visible part of me, is not for your eyes to see.”

The hair-covering has a profound effect on the wearer. It creates a psychological barrier, a cognitive distance between her and strangers. Her beauty becomes visible but inconspicuous, yes she is attractive but she is unavailable.

The wig, or shaitel, achieves the desired effect exactly, because a wig allows a woman to cover all of her hair while maintaining her attractive appearance. She can be proud of the way she looks with out compromising her privacy. And, even if her wig looks so real as to be mistaken for natural hair, she knows that no one is looking at her real hair. She has created a private space and only she decides to let into that space.

The word sheitel, is Yiddish for wig or half-worn wig.

So, if you ever hear the word sheitel, you know what it means! And if you have ever been curious as to why some Jewish women wear wigs, now you know!

When the heat is on, which wig would be the most comfortable to wear? A synthetic wig, a natural human hair wig, or a combination of both synthetic and natural?

What’s the answer? It all depends on personal preference. Today with the open caps on wigs, it really come down to the appearance of the wig, the styling and shaping of the haircut. The trick is to shape and style the wig to frame the face so that it looks like real hair.

Synthetic wigs have a lot of positive attributes. They hold their style. The fibers don’t fade in the sun or turn colors and they are an affordable choice. So much so that you may want to buy two, one to wash and one to wear. If you feel really bold and daring, buy two different colors to have fun and totally confuse you friends and family!

While all wigs can be somewhat hot and itchy in the summer, there are lightweight synthetics available. There open-cap construction allows the head to breathe and heat to escape, so they are cooler to wear. Standard synthetics can be worn with a mesh wig liner that’s like a fishnet stocking. This type of liner helps keep your head cool.

Some women prefer the look and feel of human hair wigs. The hair in human hair wigs may be soft and silky or more coarse. Human hair is heavier than standard synthetic and often sewn on full lace caps which can become hot. The fibers are just like the hair on your head. So, in summer humidity, the wig may get flat or frizzy.

In time, human hair wigs can lose their luster and become a little dull looking. It’s because they lack the natural oils that usually sustain the human hair growing on your head.

Both type of wigs have Velcro adjustments to hold them on securely. You will probably sweat under these adjustments. For comfort, try a little cornstarch-based baby powder or a cotton liner.

Wig experts say to wash the wig (with suggested special shampoos) as often as you would wash your own hair. You can do this at home, or at select salons such as Fantasia, where the wigs are shampooed and styled in a private room, then fitted and blow-dried on the head.

On extremely hot days, you may want to go without your wig and opt for turbans or hats. Choose cotton scarves and turbans to absorb the sweat and keep you cool.

In the comfort of your own home, you may want to wear nothing on a hot day. Just remember, should you go outside, your scalp is not used to the sun and can burn easily. If you go outside with nothing on your head, be sure to use sunblock or your head, ears and face.

Most of all, no matter what your choice, enjoy your summer!

I’m not saying or suggesting you would ever want to do this but, if you did want to look unique like Amy Winehouse, you could do it with the help of a fancy dress wig.

Wigs can be worn for fun and fashion, not just for necessity. Typically you can find inexpensive wigs at the mall in the novelty shops or in some salons. You should probably know because they are synthetic they can be hot, depending on the amount of hair.

Wigs can be a fun way to change your persona. There are always 60’s and 70’s parties going on where a wig would come in handy. You can go all out and be the life of the party. The last 50’s party I went to I wore a bee hive wig in addition to white  glasses which had major wings on the sides, a pink prom dress and some chalky pink lipstick and, ta dah, it was back to the 50’s!   It was a hoot. One of the guys had on an Elvis type wig with very extreme side burns.  He also doused himself with English Leather cologne which was a tad nauseating! But, a great time was had by all!
Wigs are still a hot item. Wigs for fashion, wigs for parties, wigs for hair loss or wigs simply for a great change of style - instantly! Wigs for holidays such as Halloween, Christmas or other occasions. And you don’t have to spend a fortune on them which is why they continue to be so popular.

Today, the younger set who frequent the clubs are having fun with Afro wigs, red, pink, purple and blue party wigs, 70’s wigs, beehive wigs, mullet wigs, Cher and Abba wigs just to name a few.

So, when you are in the mood to show your alter ego, be it Amy, Cher or whomever, do it with a wig!

I’ve written before about Amy Gibson, of Amy’s Presence Wig fame. I’ve learned more about her and thought it would be fun to share her story.

Amy has an impressive resume as an actress. She had a long stint as private dectective Collette Francois on the long-running ABC soap “General Hospital.”

As a teenager, Amy was diagnosed with alopecia areata totalis; an auto- immune disease which caused all of the hair on her head to fall out. Amy understands how women feel when they lose their hair, that’s why she created Amy’s Presence Wigs.

These days, you will find Amy in Palm Desert with a makeup artist and stylist offering makeovers to women suffering from hair loss. She also travels introducing her wig designed for women who just want to look like themselves again.

Amy started her acting career at age 13 on a soap opera “Love of Life”. It was a hair stylist on one of those shows who first noticed an unusual bald spot. Shortly there after, Amy was diagnosed with alopecia areata totalis. She was shocked. At the time of her diagnosis, the only treatment was cortisone shots. She endured these shots for 15 years.

When Amy was cast on “General Hospital”, after having been on “The Young and The Restless”, her condition went from bad to worse. She had a negative reaction to the cortisone and stopped taking it, with devastating results. Within three weeks she lost all of her hair.

As a result, she was forced to consider wigs. She approached the producers of her show with a novel idea. Since she played an undercover private investigator, why not have her continually look different by changing wigs? The producers loved the idea but there was one problem. Imagine performing a love scene and the actor you are playing against raises his hand to touch your hair….Amy had to figure out a way to tell them that she was wearing a wig without freaking them out!

Today, Amy is expanding. She plans to open new studios in other cities such as New York. She also works with a Los Angeles area hospital to provide wigs to women undergoing chemotherapy. Because Amy’s company is small, she provides a couple of wigs each month. Amy says she’s hoping to finding an angel who will help finance her work with cancer patients.

“I’m here to give women back their freedom to be themselves,” Amy says. A woman’s hair is her crowning glory. When it’s lost to illness or other natural causes, Amy wants to help.

We all know by now that smoking is a bad thing. It causes cancer, heart disease, increased respiratory illness and a whole host of other health problems. And yet, many still smoke. If you can’t quit for your health’s sake, what about for vanities sake?

Perhaps we need to focus on the hair rather than the health? Scientists have thought for some time that cigarette smoke might accelerate hair loss and premature graying. The connection was largely attributed to toxins in smoke that can harm the hair follicles and damage hormones. (remember, hormonal problems can cause hair loss) According to epidemiological studies, that appears to be the case. A report in the journal BMJ looked at more than 600 men and women, half of them smokers. After controlling for variables, the researchers found a “significant” and “consistent” link between smoking and early graying.

Last year, another team studied the link in a group of 740 men in Taiwan, aged 40-91 years. This is important because Asian men generally have low rates for hereditary baldness. After controlling for age and family histories, the researchers found a greater rate of hair loss among the smokers, a risk that grew with increasing smoking.

The question then, is the link a result of tobacco toxins directly affecting the scalp, or is the smoking causing disease which speeds aging? There are now several studies suggesting that smoking can lead to premature graying and hair loss.

Smoking is more than a smelly, bad habit. Again, if you can’t quit for health’s sake, how about for vanities sake?

Hair serves a purpose far greater than it’s biological function of keeping the head protected and warm. It’s about who we are; it makes a statement and allows us to express our personality. We can have fun with it, and knowing our hair looks good allows us to feel good about ourselves.

Women in particular enjoy their hair! They can change it by coloring it, and cutting and styling it differently from time to time. If a woman’s mood changes, she can simply change her hair. If a woman’s self esteem is in the tank, she can head to the salon, get a new “do” and feel ready to conquer the world! Let’s face it, having great hair just makes you feel great!

Hair styles can be mesmerizing. Whether it’s long, short and spiky, bouncy, dark and sleek, blond, each can be beautiful hair. It’s not simply hair, it’s art and expression. Celebrities such as Cher, Madonna, and Jennifer Anniston know this. Their hairstyles helped to make and keep them stars. Even sports figures impress us with with their hairstyles. Remember the “Dorthy Hamil” look? Dorthy was an Olympic figure skater in the 1970’s who made the “wedge” hair style very popular.

Worldwide, women realize the effect of hair. Hair is not just an accessory; it’s a working tool for women. No other accessory says so much about who we are. Our hair must look good for us to “feel” good. Women have a need to know that we have a tool that can be our best in every situation.

What is is about beautiful hair that drives women into salons? What do we notice about hair? It’s shine-healthy hair gleams when the light catches it. Color, and not just one color, but many colors blended together to create a beautiful head of hair- exciting colors such as reds, blonds, rich brunettes and others. The texture of the hair encompassing the the movement, body and density is something we notice that speaks of beautiful hair. Is the hair straight, wavy, curly or kinky? Hair runs the gamut which is probably just one more reason we are so enamored with it.

Hair frames the face and when properly cut and styled, complements bone structure and features. Coloring the hair can totally transform ones appearance. Trained professionals can help enhance the facial features by employing different color techniques. A hair style is most effective when it does not take over the beauty it surrounds, the face.

Healthy, beautiful hair is due to many things. Good genes, good circulation which delivers the nutrients to the scalp, a healthy diet providing the building blocks and a hair care regimen that incorporates good products, tools and techniques. A good hair professional does so much more than simply cut and style hair as they realize it’s a very complex issue and affects a woman’s total self image.

In many cases, our hair stylist is our best friend. When someone tells us how great we look and our hair is wonderful, we have only our best friend to thank!