Fantasia Salon / Spa and Wig Specialists

We’ve talked many times about outside factors which might cause hair loss in women such as medications, surgery, trauma, illness, childbirth and various diseases. Exposure to elements and chemicals might contribute to the problem but these are rare cases and are normally easy to diagnose right away.

Obviously, some hair loss is perfectly normal. Hair grows for between two and six years, so, one hair might grow continuously and then fall out. The natural cause of hair loss in women is at the end of this cycle when the strands fall out. Normally, the follicles then grow another strand to continue the cycle. Each strand has a different growth cycle which is why we lose strands of hair every day and never lose a lot of hair in any given day.

There are some women who prefer a particular hairstyle which could be responsible for their hair loss. I personally know of one, who always has her hair pulled back in a ponytail. Wearing your hair in a tight ponytail with a rubber band, can irritate the hair follicles by continually pulling on the hair. This makes the hair follicle die out and release the hair. Cornrows are another style which can do the same thing. The solution for this type of hair loss is to simply choose a different style and wear the hair loose. If you are presently wearing or considering extensions, make sure they are good ones and are applied by a professional as they too, can damage the hair causing traction alopecia. Sometimes this is reversible, sometimes not.

Childbirth is another natural cause of female hair loss, one I have previously written about. In many cases, being pregnant releases hormones that can enhance the woman’s skin and hair. after childbirth, the loss of these hormones is the cause of female hair loss. some women may experience losing several strands of hair at a time while, for others, the hair loss is minimal and they may not even notice it.

Nobody gives a second thought to a balding male. But, as rude as it may be, people will stare at females with sparse or patchy hair. The reason is because as prevalent as it is becoming in our society, it is still considered by some to be very unusual. The truth is that more women suffer from female hair loss than you can imagine.

But, that said, there are so many non-surgical solutions today for women suffering with thinning hair or hair loss. It is not as it once was where you were forced to endure it and perhaps change your life because of it. If you’d like more information about this, call Fantasia, we are here to help.

One of the most traumatic experiences a woman could endure in her life would be baldness. I read somewhere recently that it’s because women are more vain than men. I don’t think that’s it at all. Quite frankly, I know some pretty vain men. Women are supposed to have hair, plain and simple. Total baldness for a female can be completely heart breaking. To see one’s hair fall out in clumps and be able to do nothing about it is something no woman ever contemplates.

Society may mock men suffering from baldness but at least it’s tolerated. A woman suffering from baldness is just not acceptable by society. We live in a culture where we judge each other by looks and until people are ready to accept one another as they are, bald women will continue to be treated as outcasts. Hair for a woman is regarded as a symbol of beauty and desirability. Without hair, some women feel completely like failures and the effects for them can be disastrous. Hair loss can be seen to some women as losing their femininity.

Many people assume it is only men who suffer from hair loss but nothing could be further from the truth. Millions of women the world over suffer from some form of hair loss and the numbers are rising each year.

Hair loss is not painful and it’s not dangerous in and of itself. But, for six out of ten women who will suffer from it at some point in their lives, it can be a devastating blow to their self confidence, and, cause a whole host of issues including marital breakups, career problems, social isolation and even suicide has been known to follow in its wake.

If you think I’m exaggerating, think again. At Fantasia, because we specialize in hair loss solutions for women (as well as men and children), these are the issues we talk with women about everyday. We understand the devastation of the problem and are constantly striving to make our salon an even better environment so healing can begin to take place for those afflicted. If you or someone you love is in need of a solution for their hair loss problem, please have them call and schedule an appointment with one of Fantasia’s trained Hair Loss Specialist. They are compassionate, caring professionals who are thrilled to help people get their life back and would love the opportunity to work with you.

I’ll bet you didn’t know that the US market for anti aging will hit $72 million dollars in 2009? This information comes from Nutraceuticals International, a trade publication. The baby boomers are on a quest for immortality and are fueling this current boom.

Scientists are unlocking several key factors in the aging process, generating headlines about how it might be slowed or reversed. For example, in studying metabolism, researchers have zeroed in on proteins called sirtuins, which apparently control age-related illnesses in other organisms. Resveratrol, a substance found in small amounts in red-grape skins and red wine, is believed by some scientists to boost sirtuins in humans. Of course this has triggered excitement about its potential benefits.

Other researchers are exploring the effects of the enzyme telomerase, which could thwart the natural tendency of chromosomes to break apart as cells age. Stem cells hold out the promise that doctors might someday be able to regenerate body tissue or even grow new replacement organs.

However, you should know that no drug, nutritional supplement or medical regimen has been proven to extend the human life span. Vitamin B-12 shots have a fairly miraculous energizing effect on individuals who are B-12 deficient but little to no effect on those who aren’t. To date, there are no double-blind, controlled studies on healthy human beings showing any particular substance leading to greater longevity.

A decade ago, you had to be a big-league or Olympic athelete to have your own chemical guru. Hollywood stars and hip-hop artist picked up on the trend of personalized supplements and steroid regimens. Thousands of anti-aging clinics have now opened across the country offering those with extra cash the chance to look and feel younger.

Anti-aging is definitely the buzz word for the new millenum. In 1933, Time magazine reported the secret to long life as given by an aged Chinese man named Li Ching Yuen. Li supposedly lived to the age of 256. What was his secret? “Keep a quiet heart, sit like a tortoise, walk sprightly like a piegon and sleep like a dog.” Doesn’t sound like anything money can buy!

Because Fantasia specializes in hair loss solutions for women (and men and children), we obviously discuss hair loss a lot. In this post, let’s define the different terms used for various forms of hair loss as there are several.

Diffuse hair loss: This is a gradual thinning of the hair as opposed to bald patches and is the most common form of hair loss in women. The replacement of old hairs by new hairs is slowed down so that the hair becomes sparse and the scalp can be seen clearly through the hair. Causes for diffuse hair loss can be numerous and can include stress, restriction of the blood supply, a poor nervous system and hormonal influences.

Androgenetic alopecia, also referred to as female pattern baldness: This is often linked to hormonal changes with the hair loss following events such as menopause, childbirth or as a result of stopping or starting oral contraceptive pills. The hair loss is generally more uniform over the scalp than in the male counterpart. If you remember our discussions on DHT being the hair loss culprit, that is the cause for this type of hair loss. The hair follicles are genetically predisposed to be over sensitive to DHT and become smaller and smaller over time, leading to eventual hair loss.

Telogen effulvium: This occurs when the growing phase of the hair is interrupted prematurely causing the hair follicles to enter the telogen (resting) phase of the hair cycle earlier than normal. Two to four months later, following the normal cyclic pattern, diffuse shedding of the hair begins. When this happens there are not enough hairs left in the anagen, or growing phase and the result is diffuse thinning of the hair.

Pregnancy: Hormone levels increase as pregnancy begins and slows down the hair growth cycle. Hair that should stop growing continues to grow beyond the usual life cycle. Often this means that the hair appears to grow thicker as more hairs are present than normal. After the birth, hormone levels change very quickly, the hairs that were growing beyond their normal life span enter the telogen or resting phase and begin falling out. This can sometimes appear to happen all at once and cause concern to the new mom.

Late onset thinning: This is diffuse hair loss across the scalp as density is reduced gradually. This is due to age-related hormonal changes as the natural reduction of oestrogen/progesterone production results in the hair follicles becoming smaller and smaller. These follicles then produce finer and finer hair until there is a general reduction of over all density.

Alopecia areata: This loss is very common and will affect 1-2% of the population at some point in their lives. Typically the hair loss is patchy and most sufferers are children and young adults (less than 40 years of age), though, it can affect people of all ages. The hair loss is usually sudden and manifests itself in small, smooth-skinned patches that are likely to gradually widen with time. It can also affect the sufferer’s nails, giving them a pitted, ridges or brittle appearance. The exact cause is unknown, although current theories are that it is an auto-immune disease, stress or that it has a genetic basis. If the hair loss progresses until all the scalp hair is lost, it is known as alopecia totalis or- alopecia universalis if all body hair is lost.

Psuedopelade: is characterised by the development of small, smooth patches without any clinical changes other than transient erythema (redness.) The initial patch is usually on the crown of the head, but can occur anywhere on the scalp. It’s generally regarded as a clinical syndrome, which may be the end result of any one of a number of different pathological processes due to a weakened immune system.

Hopefully, if you hear these phrases or terms discussed by a doctor, health professional or anyone; you will now have a better understanding as to what they are talking about. Should you or a loved one suffer with hair loss for any reason, Fantasia Salon is here to help you find the best solution for your situation.

Imagine your concerns if your hair is your trademark and you find you are losing it because you are pregnant. That is where celebrity Ashlee Simpson finds herself these days. She’s pregnant and becoming very concerned about her hair loss. It’s certainly not all that uncommon as postpartum hair loss affects 40-50 percent of women. Other celebrities have gone public with their struggles with postpartum hair loss. Debra Messing, Cate Blanchette aned Gwyneth Paltrow have all discussed this. But, unlike the average, everyday woman, who does not have a team of hair stylists to mask the effects, this can be a very upsetting situation.

While hair can be at it’s best during pregnancy, the stress and delivery of a child and the tremendous hormone fluctuations associated with the process may cause significant hair loss. The rise in hormones during pregnancy helps keep a woman from losing her hair. But, after delivery, the normal hair loss which was delayed during pregnancy occurs in a short period of time. Postpartum hair loss is called telogen effluvium and is a temporary condition that normally spans 3-4 months. Once hormones stabilize, new mothers can expect their hair to re-grow over another span of 3-4 months.

Telogen effluvium does not cause permanent hair loss. If, however, a woman has female pattern hair loss, often once the hair grows back, the overall hair density is less than it was before pregnancy. Many women report that they first noticed their hair becoming thin after their first child was born. The good news is that today there are non-chemical, non surgical solutions for postpartum hair loss.

New mothers experiencing postpartum hair loss suffer added psychological stress during an already stressful situation. The most effective treatments for telogen effluvium are time and emotional support. When it comes to pregnancy, it doesn’t matter if a woman is a celebrity or not. Every new mom needs the support of loved ones to get through this blessed and stressful time of her life!

Just knowing there are good solutions out there for postpartum hair loss can perhaps eliminate some of the stress!

The most common type of hair loss seen in women is female pattern baldness otherwise known as androgenetic alopecia. While alopecia means baldness; it does not mean complete hair loss. Typically, it is seen as thinning hair, predominately over the top and front of the head. This type of hair loss affects more than one third of the female population and is most commonly seen after menopause.

Usually the hair is gradually thinning rather than excess loss all at once. In female pattern baldness, when the affected hair is shed, a root grows in its place that is shorter. Eventually it becomes invisible like “peach fuzz”. Genetically, hair loss can come from either side of the family. No matter how quickly it comes or why it comes, it can be devastating to a woman’s confidence and self image.

Female pattern hair loss can begin as early as puberty. This is usually a sign of a hormone imbalance. Other signs would be excessive facial hair or body hair. There are medical solutions to help with this once it has been diagnosed.

Many women are unaware that hair loss can occur after pregnancy or after the discontinuation of birth control pills. Physical and psychological stresses to the body can also cause female pattern hair loss. The scientific name for this type of hair loss is Telogen Effuvium and the good news is that it is usually temporary.

There are non-surgical and non-chemical treatments for female pattern baldness. Fantasia offers several types of solutions for this including micro point links, accents, and top of the head hair replacement systems. We have discussed each one of these options in detail. If you or a loved one are dealing with thinning hair or hair loss, we’d like to help you. We would begin by bringing you in for a consultation with one of the professional hair replacement technicians at Fantasia. Then, in a private consultation room, they will discuss with you all of the hair loss solutions and help you decide what the best option would be for you. Don’t let thinning hair or hair loss affect your life anymore. Call us so we can help you get your life back!

To say that female hair loss can be devastating is a severe understatement. Particularly if the woman has always had “nice” hair. For a woman, her hair truly is her growning glory. Unfortunately, today’s statistics are that one in four women will experience thinning hair or hair loss.

The causes of thinning hair and hair loss in women can be many; from hormonal (birth control, pregnancy, menopause) to medical (taking anti-depressants, hyperthyroidism, chemotherapy, etc.) The discomfort and social factors make hair loss for a woman far more difficult than for a man. It’s one thing for a man to lose his hair, this is socially acceptable. Today, a lot of males experiencing hair loss simply shave their head and sport the total bald look with pride. But, for a woman the bald look is not socially acceptable and; confusion, anxiety and fear set in along with feelings of helplessness loss of self esteem.

Usually, there is a “good” reason as to why women lose their hair. The key is to find out the cause if possible, and move forward from there. Sometimes medical intervention is necessary. However, in some cases it could be as simple as using Hair Support System to clean up the scalp and stimulate hair regrowth. If you are not familiar with Hair Support System, call Fantasia salon and one of our professionals will discuss this with you. Or, better yet, make an appointment to come in for a free consultation. Fantasia is one only a couple salons in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area carrying this product.

Nearly 40% of women by age 60 will experience some type of hair loss. But, today there is hope as there are many hair loss solutions and hair loss treatments for women. And, the good news is that a large part of women’s hair loss is reversible and certainly treatable.

For those not wanting to take drugs, there are non-medical alternatives.  A professional salon such as Fantasia, would begin with Hair Support System, as mentioned above. From there, we would evaluate your situation and make recommendations. In the past, pretty much the only salon alternative would have been to suggest a wig or hair piece. Today, the solutions are many, ranging from micro point links, extensions, to integrations, etc. Your professional consultant will discuss all of the possibilities available to you, as well as the care, maintenance and on-going treatments.

There are many myths about hair loss and options for treating it. Why not call or see a professional and get the facts? You can come to Fantasia in confidence and receive the help you need.  Call us today, we’d love to help.