Fantasia Salon / Spa and Wig Specialists

I’ve written about Amy Gibson before but since Fantasia carries Cyberhair and Amy’s Presence Wigs, and since Amy’s been in the news again, I thought it might be fun to talk about her again. As you may or may not know, Amy lost her hair at 14 which is what motivated her to design a line of wigs for women.

When Amy lost her hair at 14 she blamed God. She had no other explanation for why her hair fell out in clumps with every brushing. Within one year she was bald.

At this time Amy was already an actress on General Hospital and she kept her hair loss a secret from most of her colleagues on the daytime soap opera.

In Amy’s words “I thought I had leprosy at first, at the time, no one knew about baldness in women and I didn’t want to be that bald freak”. Amy was diagnosed with alopecia. Over the next 17 years, she received monthly cortisone shots to stimulate her hair growth. But the shots did little to spur permanent growth and wigs became a mode of survival.

Amy mastered the art of walking in the wind with her forehead slightly angled so her wig would not blow off. She concealed it from boyfriends fearing they wouldn’t find her attractive. Says Amy, “hair loss is such a sensitive issue for women. It affects your self-esteem in ways no one can really describe. You begin to feel that you are less than a woman.”

Eventually, Amy started making hairpieces for women. She launched a line, the Color Beautiful Collection in 2006.

Amy, who is now 48, is promoting her wigs, which are made with a high-quality synthetic fiber called Cyberhair. They look and feel like the real thing. While they can be removed for washing and styling, they are secured with a strong adhesive that allows the wearers to swim, sky-dive, water-ski and walk in strong winds or other extreme conditions with fear of losing them. Amy’s wigs cost anywhere from $1500-2500 and can be worn for up to a year.

According to the National Hairloss Association, 40 percent of hair-loss sufferers in the US are women. The causes are varied and can be genetic, related to stress, pregnancy and certain medications including oral contraceptives.

Amy says half of her clients have alopecia and others have undergone chemotherapy. Her goal is to provide them with stylish options. According to Amy, many women who wear wigs pick the wrong color, length and style for their face and lifestyle. “I was a mess for years. I never realized losing my hair was the biggest gift. We can’t undo what has happened to us but I have a solution. You are not alone”.

If you would like information regarding Amy’s Presence Wigs, you can go to Amy’s website: www.amyspresence.com or you can contact Fantasia and speak with one of our Hair Replacement Specialists who would be happy to help you.

Thinning hair and hair loss in women can be attributed to many factors as well as a combination of factors. Here are a few:

• Chemical damage (many times self inflicted due to incorrect chemical processes such as perms, coloring, foiling, etc.)
• Genetic predisposition (a family history of hair loss)
• Stress or trauma (constriction of blood supply; poor vitamin/mineral assimilation
• Nutrition and Diet
• Health issues (thyroid imbalance)
• Medications (chemotherapy)
• Environment (pseudo-estrogens and androgens)

In addition to these, there are several forms of Alopecia and Propecia. (Cheerleading propecia happens to persistent ponytail wearers, especially those who wear them tightly and with bands that pull the individual hairs. Over time these ponytails cause breakage and hair loss near the hairline and over the ears.)

Hair loss and thinning hair can be caused by hormonal shifts, damage from anesthesia as well as endocrine and metabolic changes. Menopause can be a cause of hair loss. One of the more stressful side effects of menopause is Alopecia. Estrogen deficiency Alopecia typically starts near the onset of menopause and in fact, may be the first sign of menopause in some women. This is a time of life when a woman has decreased levels of estrogen. Estrogen plays an important role in healthy hair. It helps the hair by lengthening the hair cycle so that each hair stays longer on the head, thus resulting in thicker hair.

Experts have varying opinions as to which factors are the most prevalent. Some feel hair loss due to genetic predisposition is the most common cause. However, hair loss specialists today are taking a more serious look at diet and nutrition than ever before. For instance, a diet too low in fat can result in hair loss and thinning hair and a diet too high in fat can result in thinning hair. There are specific vitamins which promote healthy hair growth for both men and women.

When visiting a professional hair replacement specialist, don’t be surprised when they talk to you about health and nutrition, and ask about your diet.