Chic Geek by Nikki B.
“Helping with Hair Loss for Today’s Ageless Woman”
Women today want to look vibrant and healthy at any age and hair loss just doesn’t work in that equation. Age-related hair loss, or any hair loss, can be very scary leaving today’s busy woman wondering what is causing it and mostly how to make it stop. As stylists we need to be informed and help our guests but without taking on the role as doctors. Let’s break it down…
The follicle effect: Hair loss often creeps up on someone slowly over time until it becomes starkly noticeable. There are 3 stages of hair growth within the hair follicle; Anagen (growing) Stage in which the hair is actively growing out of the follicle, Catagen (intermediate) Stage where the hair is still growing but not as actively, and Telogen (resting or shedding) Stage where the hair has stopped growing and is residing in the follicle until it naturally sheds or is easily pulled away during any type of hair manipulation such as brushing.
This is a very normal process where hair grows, dies off and is then replaced by new hair growth. However, when someone has an age-related hair loss issue this process can be sped up and often no new growth takes the old hair’s place. The follicle can also start to shrink with age, making hair grow out thinner and thinner until the follicle no longer produces hair. And if the follicle is left dormant too long, it becomes harder to sometimes impossible to stimulate new growth therefore making it critical to treat hair loss in its early stages.
Causing factors: There are many factors that can be the cause of age-related hair loss and these do require the input, possible testing and prescriptions from a doctor. Heredity and general health both play a role in contributing to hair loss, both of which should be discussed with someone’s general practitioner. Nothing can be stop genetic factors, but someone might have a treatable hair loss related condition that could be contributing to this. Changes in hormone levels, such as caused by menopause, also greatly affect the loss of hair. Testing can sometimes show a hormonal imbalance, but this is something that should be discussed with a gynecologist. This possibly can be resolved via hormone replacement but again this should only be recommended and approved by a doctor.
Nutrition can also play a big role with hair loss or growth. Poor nutrition, lack of protein or the proper nutrients can all be contributing factors that should be explored with a doctor or a certified nutritionist. Vitamin supplements can also possibly help improve hair growth. These are generally not certified by the FDA but can sometimes prove to help in the overall health and strength of the hair as well as stimulating hair growth or helping to eliminate what many sources are writing about today, stress induced inflammation in the body that contributes to an increase in cortisol (stress hormone) levels that could result in hair loss. This is a “hit or miss” possible source of help but again should be discussed with a doctor.
Light Therapy is also now a booming business and often a source of help for hair loss. Products such as hair helmets and hair headbands offer follicle stimulation via various types of exposure to light produced by these electronic apparatuses. Generally, they are to be placed on the head several times a week to have the light help stimulate growing follicles. These machines can be investigated via one’s dermatologist.
Topical medicinal products can also be a source of possible help. Over the counter Rogaine (5% Minoxidil) as well as a prescription strength 15% Minoxidil can be recommended and possibly prescribed by a dermatologist. Please note that everything we have discussed so far are good things to be aware of, but all need to be referred to a physician and NEVER recommended by a stylist.
What we can do: The products someone chooses to use on their scalp/hair makes a big difference to the health of the scalp and the strength of the hair. And although nothing has been proven to regrow hair except Minoxidil, keeping the scalp in the healthy state, clean, free from debris and buildup plus strengthening new-growth hair can have a big impact to the volume and look of the hair.
Zero Buildup: Every Philip Pelusi product is water and shampoo soluble while most products on the market are not. Philip chooses only the very best grade of ingredients when he creates his shampoos, conditioners and styling products, never any lesser grade ingredients such as cheap polymers, resins or silicones. The scalp can breathe and is left clean after every shampoo.
Specific P2 Shampoos: Next, we can recommend 4 shampoo products from Philip Pelusi to help create a clean and healthier scalp. P2 Clarify (to remove product buildup), P2 Exfoliate (to remove dead skin cell build up a.k.a. dandruff plus product buildup), P2 Roots for Men (which operates almost exactly as P2 Exfoliate with added scalp enhancing ingredients), and P2 DeTox (which removes dirt, oil, product buildup plus the follicle poisoning toxin called DHT; officially known as Dihydrotestosterone (pronounced dye-high-dro-testosterone).
DHT is a toxic bi-product from scalp-produced testosterone that is thought to be the primary cause of thinning hair. DHT is toxic to the hair follicle and has been shown to reduce the size of follicles resulting in finer, thinner, weaker hair strands. All of these P2 shampoos are color safe and leave the hair shiny, healthy and full of body. But remember, if a guest is still using a buildup causing conditioner or styling product from a different product line, these shampoos will have little effect.
Tela Life Force: We can also recommend the Tela Beauty Organics by Philip Pelusi Life Force Collection, in its entirety or on a select basis along with any P2 or Tela product system. Tela Life Force works on the principle that we need a healthy balance of good bacteria (microflora) to create a healthy scalp environment. Without it, the scalp cannot function at its optimal level of performance and prematurely ages the scalp. Tela Life Force contains probiotics to help the scalp rebalance its microflora helping it to flourish, helping provide a healthy scalp environment for hair growth.
Strengthen weak hair: And last, the very best product that can be used on the hair for strength is a daily application of P2 DailyHaiRx Xtreme Liquid Hair Repair Treatment after every shampoo topped with any Philip Pelusi P2 or Tela Conditioner. Whether the hair is weak from aging or if the hair is a new sprout of grow, that strand of hair desperately needs support. P2 Xtreme fills that weak hair strand with Gluten Free Wheat, Corn and Soy Proteins to help it withstand heat, mechanical and chemical damage, helping it resist breakage helping to keep it on the head longer as it grows.
Cosmetic illusions: We can help our guests with the proper length and style of hair to best camouflage hair loss such as bangs to help disguise frontline hair loss, changing their part side, or giving them a somewhat shorter (collarbone, chin or ear length) layered style for added lift and volume to overall thinning hair. Also recommending mid-level hair color tones with dimensional highlights can create the illusion of thicker hair. Proper styling products, plus volumizing styling techniques will arm this guest with the best styling process to get the best look. Also, be sure to alert your Philip Pelusi supervisor for any broken skin or rashes present on the scalp before doing any hair service in the salon. This is best for guest’s protection so reach out for guidance if needed.
No single solution: Unfortunately, there is no single solution to hair loss and every person’s anatomy will respond differently to every treatment and combination of treatment. A big part of finding what works is really a lot of trial and error by each individual but we can be a big support in the overall process.