What is Diversion?

Diversion: How it Hurts Local Salons and Stylists

Is your salon your happy spot?  Do you trust and take to heart the products your stylist recommends after yet another great cut?  Do you remember how happy you were the first time you found Redken products on the shelves at Target?

Yeah, so was I, until recently.

I always knew that there was some ‘no-no’ published somewhere about professional hair products being sold at big box stores or online retailers, but did not realize it was supporting a grey market or had such an adverse effect on salons and stylists until I decided to research it.

Diverted Bumble & Bumble Products…
sold at major mark-up. YIKES!

What exactly is diversion you ask? Diversion is when professional hair products that are exclusively licensed to be sold at salons are sold at major retailers instead.  While this may be more convenient, it comes with a plethora of problems in addition to the most obvious one, which is that buying diverted products from major retailers takes away sales and support from our beloved salons and stylists.  Besides taking away support from salons, you also run the risk of buying expired or counterfeit products.

Yes, many of us think we are saving money by purchasing professional hair products at our favorite local retailer, but the truth is you may actually be spending more.  Investigations on diverted products have shown that professional products may actually be marked up at outside retailers.  Salons also typically offer great bundle deals or rewards systems for being a loyal customer, which will also save you money.  Lastly, you do not have the benefit of having a great new product that works great with your hair type being recommended to you at a big box store or online.  And when was the last time you weren’t completely satisfied with a product that your stylist recommended to you?

While it is not illegal to sell diverted products, the methods in which retailers acquire the products most likely is, so by purchasing diverted products, you are supporting dishonest business.  So do yourself, your salon, your stylist, and most importantly your hair a major favor and only purchase your tried and true professional hair products from your salon.

For the honest love of hair visit www.crowningglorystudios.com

Aderans Buys Hair Club

Aderans Acquires Hair Club, Expanding Services in US Hair Replacement Market

July 16, 2012 06:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time 

TOKYO & BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aderans Co., Ltd. (“Aderans”) (8170.T) announced today that it has entered into an agreement to purchase Hair Club, a leader in hair replacement services in North America, for US$163.5 million. Under the terms of the transaction, Aderans will purchase all of the outstanding common stock of HC (USA), Inc. from Regis Corporation (NYSE:RGS).

“We are delighted to welcome Hair Club into the Aderans family of businesses”

“We are delighted to welcome Hair Club into the Aderans family of businesses,” said Nobuo Nemoto, Representative Director and Founder of Aderans. “Acquiring Hair Club is an important step in our previously announced strategic shift away from focusing on business reorganization to emphasizing global revenue and profit expansion.”
Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Aderans is a global provider of hair replacement and restoration products and services, owning internationally-recognized brands ADERANS for men, FONTAINE for women, and BOSLEY, a provider of hair loss solutions and medical hair restoration.
“As a result of this acquisition, we will be able to offer the most comprehensive set of hair replacement and hair restoration services in the North American marketplace and provide consumers with a full array of hair loss solutions through our complementary businesses,” said Joshua Schechter, Chairman of Aderans America Holdings, Inc. “We look forward to providing world-class products and service to Hair Club customers and to working with Hair Club franchisees and employees to expand the brand and grow the business.”
Bryan Cave LLP is acting as legal advisor to Aderans in connection with the transaction. The transaction is subject to satisfaction of regulatory requirements and other closing conditions.
About Aderans
Founded in 1969, Aderans is a global provider of hair replacement and restoration products and services, whose internationally-recognized brands include ADERANS custom-made wigs, hair products and services for men, FONTAINE custom-made and ready-to-wear wigs, products and services for women, and BOSLEY, providing hair loss solutions and medical hair restoration.

Contacts

International:
Sitrick And Company
Jason Booth, 1-310-788-2850
Jason_Booth@Sitrick.com

The Top 10 Foods for Your Hair

10 Best Foods for Your Hair

Load up on protein, bananas, and dark green veggies—your locks will thank you

Move that shampoo and conditioner aside. The pursuit of luscious, shiny locks starts with fish, beans, bananas, and lentils. Indeed, a healthy diet is as good for the 150,000 hair follicles on your head as it is for your body. "Having a balanced diet, while putting a little extra emphasis on things like protein and iron, gives your hair a boost," says Neil Sadick, a clinical professor in the department of dermatology at the Weill Cornell Medical College.


Protein, for example, is the building block of hair. If you don't get enough, your mane will grow more slowly, and strands will be weaker. "Pump up the protein," says registered dietician Dawn Jackson Blatner, author of The Flexitarian Diet. "Include a small dose at each meal and with each snack, and you'll keep your hair follicles strong." Safe bets include poultry, lean beef, fish, beans, and nuts.
If you start a hair-healthy diet today, you'll likely see improvements within six months to a year, depending on how fast your hair grows.

Try these 10 foods for your tresses:

Lean red meat. Too little iron can cause baldness, according to research conducted at the Cleveland Clinic. Treating iron deficiency may help regrow hair. "People who have problems with hair loss or hair growth tend to be iron deficient—especially women," says dermatologist Paradi Mirmirani, who practices in Vallejo, Calif. Other iron-rich options include turkey, egg yolks, whole grains, dried fruit, and dried beans (soaked and cooked, of course).

Eggs. They're full of biotin, a B vitamin that promotes hair growth and overall scalp health. A deficiency can cause brittle hair. Other high-biotin foods include peanuts, almonds, wheat bran, salmon, low-fat cheese, and avocados.

Bananas, beer, oats, and raisins. These contain the mineral silica, which is thought to improve hair thickness, Jackson Blatner says. Emphasizing foods rich this mineral helps make hair stronger and more durable. (Though beer contains a good dose of silica, it's wise to stick to a moderate amount—one drink a day for women and two for men.)

Dark green veggies. Load up on spinach, broccoli, and Swiss chard. They're packed with vitamins A and C, which help produce sebum—a scalp oil that works as a natural hair conditioner.

Oysters. Opt for these to get plenty of zinc, a mineral that helps regulate the production of androgens. These are hormones that, in low levels, are associated with hair loss. People with low levels of androgens can also suffer from slow hair growth and dandruff. Adjusting your diet—and emphasizing zinc-rich choices like oysters, along with crab, clams, liver, lean beef, and wheat germ—will help stave off hair loss and keep your mane shiny and healthy.

Sweet potatoes. These are packed with beta-carotene, which your body converts to vitamin A, a nourishing agent for your hair and skin. Vitamin A protects against dull hair and dry skin, a leading cause of dandruff. Other smart choices to get glowing hair and skin include carrots, kale, butternut squash, asparagus, and pumpkin.

Beans. Legumes like kidney beans and lentils are great sources of iron-rich protein. Lentils, in particular, play a role in hair maintenance and support.


Fruits and veggies. They're full of vitamin C, which helps your body absorb iron. Getting too little C makes hair dry and weak. The best sources? Broccoli, leafy greens, green peppers, citrus fruit, and strawberries.

Omega-3 fatty acids. They support scalp health; a deficiency can lead to dry scalp and dull hair. Good sources include salmon, sardines, herring, mackerel, flaxseeds, and walnuts.

Vegetable oil. No one wants dry, lackluster hair. But if your diet is too low in fat, that's what could happen. Healthy oils like olive, peanut, safflower, and sunflower can restore the shine. About a teaspoon a day will do the trick.

Eczema or Psoriasis - What's the difference?

Problems with the skin are some of the most frustrating symptoms to treat on the body because they could be caused by almost anything.  Certain skin conditions are easier to identify such as the marks of chicken pox, the blisters of shingles, or the dark coloring of a mole.  What happens if your symptoms are more general. How do you treat that?

Eczema is a very common skin complaint that affects millions of people. It is known as atopic dermatitis which means "inflammation of the outer layer of the skin."  Many people recognize eczema as it usually occurs in patches anywhere on the body and is characterized by red, dry, flaking areas of skin that typically itch. Severe eczema can crack and bleed especially when scratched over and over worsening the inflammation.

Eczema is typically caused by environmental influences such as things you touch, lotions, shampoos, fragrance, soaps, hand sanitizers, plants such as poison ivy, chemicals, cleaning products, outdoor allergens like pollen, animal dander and such.

There is a large genetic component to eczema and many afflicted can trace it back into their parents, grandparents and siblings. Eczema can also worsen with stress and food allergies or food intolerances.

As there is no true test for eczema, health care providers typically identify it by sight and get a detailed history to see if there are things in your life, work or hobbies that may be triggers.
Treatment typically involves using fragrance-free body and household products and evaluating items you may be exposed to on a daily basis as a cause.  Topically, steroid creams are very helpful at eliminating the symptom however the condition commonly returns when you stop applying it. Be aware that long-term cortisone use is discouraged as it thins skin.  Hypoallergenic lotions keep the skin hydrated, vitamin E oil and jojoba oil can also help with the healing process.

Consider eliminating the most common food allergies such as wheat, dairy products, eggs, corn, sugar, and nuts to see if you notice a difference. Keep in mind that you must do this for at least six weeks before reintroducing the food one at a time.

Psoriasis on the other hand is a completely different skin condition from eczema as it has a strong immune system link with many calling it an autoimmune disease.

The cells of the skin receive a mixed signal to speed up their growth cycle leading to the most common form of psoriasis where the skin develops plaques of thickened scaling skin that is either red, silvery white or both.

It is most commonly seen on the elbows and knees but can develop patches in other places such as the hands, buttocks, scalp, feet and legs.  Some people also develop psoriasis in their finger and toenails such that they appear pitted, thickened or with lines, and others develop arthritis which is known as psoriatic arthritis. This arthritis is much different from the typical "getting older" arthritis as it is autoimmune.

Diagnosis is similar to eczema however some health care providers choose to biopsy the lesion(s) to make certain. Treatment is much different from eczema because of the immune system involvement.
Topical steroid creams may be helpful at reducing symptoms but come with their own set of side effects. There are several medications on the market aimed at suppressing the immune system in order to shrink or eliminate the psoriasis plaques and ease the arthritis symptoms. However they too come with a set of side effects and warnings.

Vitamin D supplementation, fish oil at higher doses (typically 2000mg – 3000mg of good quality oil with high levels of EPA and DHA), and a gluten-free diet have been shown helpful in research along with stopping smoking, working on stress reduction, and eating healthy foods in general.
Many with psoriasis have also found UV treatments successful, however it is important that you talk with your health care provider before starting any of the above.

iPhone Microscope for Hair Loss Diagnosis

COMING SOON TO CROWNING GLORY STUDIOS!

HairCam iPhone Microscope for Hair Loss Diagnosis and Tracking

"iPhone-ography" or perhaps "iPhone-oscopy...?" It seems like everyone these days is talking about what their iPhone can do and "hair doctors" are no different... Video scalp microscopy just got easier with HairCam™. At the time of your in-office consultation or follow-up appointment, Crowning Glory Studios may use the HairCam™ to look at your hair and scalp using 30-80x magnification combined with a dual-polarized light source. The quality and quantity of hair growing from a given area of scalp can easily be evaluated within minutes. Using the iPhone's on-board eight megapixel camera, high-resolution images can be obtained and transferred to your electronic medical record. At a future date, repeat high-resolution photos can be obtained from the same area of the scalp using a stereotactic scalp-mapping tool.

Can HairCam™ predict hair loss?
No doctor or machine can predict hair loss with absolute certainty. However, in a person who has not begun any hair growth treatment, a high degree of miniaturized hairs in a given area of scalp could mean that hair density is at risk and the progression of hair loss is highly likely.

Can HairCam™ tell if my hair growth treatment is working?
By comparing images taken in the same area of scalp over time, density and hair caliber can be evaluated. When this information is correlated with other information such as Global Photography and HairCheck™ measurements, scientific conclusions can be drawn.

How to Choose The RIGHT Hair Salon

Common Issues When Choosing a Hair Salon

Layering, coloring, trimming and change of style could show to be really expensive. In a really scenario, getting hair treatments for a fraction of the cost is indeed a smart thing to do.

For someone who has lost sight of their workout goals, it's hard to just jump back to the health-bandwagon, especially with the day-to-day struggles of succeed, family, and life in general.

Here's your possibility to launch into your new body while using the 21 day rapid loss boot camp to get back into your slim jeans and feel stronger too!
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It can be tough finding a salon that you really like. With hair studios going up on every corner, how can you know who is a wonderful hair stylist for people? Some people make their choice influenced by location, price, and what the studio seems like inside. Unfortunately, these are not good reasons, and acquiring a bad haircut can get horrible. There are a number of ways that you can avoid picking a hair salon that just isn't right for you. By avoiding a lot of these few key issues, yow will discover a salon that you may afford and get an awesome haircut.

You can see that some professional salons will give you a guarantee on almost any haircut. If you enter a new salon, and refuse to offer people this, you should very likely consider walking out. If you're unhappy with the haircut that there is had, a good salon will make an effort to fix whatever they can and soon you are pleased. This are going to be done at no additional cost to you. You might find that some places will refuse we could your cash back, or try to charge you to fix it. If this is the outcome, you are not going to an honest professional position.

A common mistake is to go to a place because health of their cheap prices. Salons today are extremely expensive, and finding an affordable one seems wonderful. Don't go for the following idea alone. Count on acquiring a cut that is worth the cost. It is going to be vital you are getting the best value possible. If you need to great stylists, beautiful salon chairs, and nice hair salon furniture , it will not be cheap.

Many people try out a new hair stylist without bothering to look at their work. This can be a pretty major mistake to make. Many salons will have books with photos health of their hair styles. This gives you a great idea of what kind of work in all probability, and all the things they have to offer. Ask other shoppers for opinions and comparisons. Don't be shy. An experienced professional hair place will have always photographs and books available for you.

Get plenty of information by doing research before you end up picking a hair salon. Don't make these normal mistakes and get a terrible haircut or even hair color. Take your time and efforts, and speak to stylists with what they can do, what you are looking, and what will look ideal for your hair. By overtly speaking, you will save yourself a lot of time and expense.

Catching Female Pattern Baldness Early

The good news is that female pattern baldness can be successfully treated if you catch it early enough.

Overview of female pattern baldness

While natural hair loss in women is generally referred to as female pattern baldness, (or androgenetic alopecia ) women’s hair loss is rarely classified as true baldness, nor does it often resemble the patterns of hair loss so often seen in men. With diffused thinning of the hair all over the head, hair loss, for women, can have a devastating affect on self-esteem. After all, a woman’s hair isn’t supposed to fall out. That problem belongs to men. Right? Well, not exactly. In fact statistics say that by the age of 80, some 57% of women will experience some level of female pattern baldness.

Causes of female pattern baldness

• Hormone imbalance -- Scientists have still not reached a consensus about the genetic and hormonal mechanisms that trigger hair loss, but DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) an androgen (male) hormone, is one of the main culprits in hair loss. In women, hormone imbalance often comes with age. Menopause might be the trigger for this extra dose of male hormone that causes hair to thin on the scalp and grow coarser on the face because the body begins to produce less estrogen.
• Genetics -- Heredity can play a part as well, though scientists are only now identifying the genes responsible. Tendencies for female pattern baldness are inherited through your maternal line.  If your mother lost her hair, there’s a good chance you will, too.
• Pregnancy -- Women have often experienced some hair loss at some point in their lives because of hormonal imbalance, such as after a pregnancy. Hair grows thicker because of the extra estrogen, but sheds after childbirth. Still, that lost hair usually grows back normally after a few months. With androgen linked hair loss, the thinning of a woman’s hair can go unnoticed for a time. She can attribute her hair loss to stress or diet or even health before the real reason becomes clear. By the time she becomes truly concerned, she’s seeing white scalp through her hair.
• Medical issues -- Women experiencing hair loss should check with their doctor to make sure there are no medical reasons for their hair loss. Eliminate illness such as diabetes, thyroid conditions, stress induced alopecia, or prescription medication as the cause.
• External causes -- Female pattern baldness can also be confused with tension alopecia from over-styling or wearing too tight braids or extensions. Some women have even found certain IUD’s to be suspect in their sudden hair loss.

The life cycle of hair

To understand the process of hair loss, it’s important to understand how our hair reproduces in the first place.  Hair grows from tiny hair follicles or living roots. The first phase of hair growth can last anywhere from two to six years. Those with a longer phase can grow long hair, those with a short growth phase can never grow hair past their shoulders before it falls out and starts over. The next phase is a resting phase. The hair stops growing as a new hair begins to replace it in the follicle and push its way up. When that new hair reaches the top of the root, the old, long hair will fall out or shed.
For reasons not fully understood, DHT chokes off the supply of blood and oxygen to the follicle.

500mg antibiotic levaquin levofloxacin

So when a new hair sprouts, it is weaker, thinner, and unhealthier than its predecessor. This process is called miniaturization and it happens over and over until those miniaturized hairs can no longer reproduce themselves. Then the follicle dies. You have less hair regrowing, thus, thinner and thinner hair. Suddenly, you have female pattern baldness.

Take action against female pattern baldness now

Once you have determined that your hair loss is has no medical origin, it’s time to address the problem. Give yourself a kick out of the depression that’s settled in and realize that you must take action. Once hair follicles die, they’ll never produce another hair for you. So the faster you try to stop your hair loss, the better your results will be.

Treatment options for female pattern baldness

First, there are DHT inhibitor over-the-counter products that might help stop the shedding and revitalize your strangling hair follicles. Results vary, but like Propecia for men, products like Provillus for women show promise in stopping shedding, regrowing and thickening hair.
Another recent development in female hair loss has been low light laser hair therapy. Laser therapy, applied in thirty minute sessions, stimulates blood circulation around the root and nourishes those dying follicles. Studies show nearly 90% of clients trying laser hair therapy showed visible improvement. With any of these methods, patience is a virtue. You won’t see results immediately because, remember, the hair growth cycle has its own rhythms. Expect anywhere between four and ten months before you see a real difference.
Another option, a more expensive, but permanent one, is follicular transplantation. Hair is harvested from a donor site on the back of the head and implanted where the hair has thinned. The harvested hair is taken from an area not prone to female pattern baldness and will not be subject to the same genetic hair loss triggers as the original hair was. And the hair that regrows will be your own, living hair. Results are excellent with this new follicular technology.

Female pattern baldness: A summary

If you are experiencing female pattern baldness, don’t give up. You owe it to yourself to explore all the possibilities. Make an appointment with a reputable hair restoration clinic and let them help you find your best options. As you try new methods, be patient and allow treatments a chance to work and keep expectations realistic. Along the way, you may just find yourself again.

Heartfelt client stories!

We sometimes get the most incredible and encouraging stories from clients:  Here is this weeks story!

Our client "KJ" wears a synthetic wig due to her thinning and fine hair.  KJ, purchased a wig from another location, not us.  She was at work in the ladies restroom.  Her work location is quite large and there were several stalls in the restroom, all of which were being used.  KJ, was patiently waiting her turn, when an older woman approached her to tell her "How much she LOVES her wig."

KJ was completely mortified!  She left the restroom, because the last thing that any hair wearer wants is to have their hair be completely noticeable as not real.

You don't need to wear a bad wig!

KJ has since made an appointment with us and we have updated her look and style.  After seeing us, KJ was in the grocery store, when a woman approached her to ask her a "question!"

KJ was waiting for the dreaded wig comment and was bracing herself emotionally, when the lady told her "You have the most beautiful hair I have seen, may I ask who does your hair because I have recently moved here and I am looking for someone new!"

With great relief she gladly told her who does her hair (Crowning Glory Studios) and was so happy that the woman, did not know it was a wig.

There are some very realistic options for you as there were for KJ!  If you are self conscience about the current hair you are wearing, maybe it is the wrong hair.  Give us a call for a free consultation.

100% Remy Hair - The Real Truth

What is 100% Remy Hair?

Remy is one of those terms that have changed with the progression of the hair extension and hair replacement market. Once upon a time, remy hair just meant that the roots were together at the top of the bundle and the cuticles are running in the same direction to avoid tangling. If you have the cuticle scales facing different directions then the hair tangles severely. Since tangling is an obvious bad situation for the hair it carries the connotation of poor quality.

Remy hair soon became a term to describe the quality of the hair and not necessarily the true state in which the hair was kept. It did not take long for the term remy to progress into a type of brand descriptor. If the label states “100% Remy” then the customer was assured of its good quality and the best hair on the market. Unfortunately, since most did not really understand what the term meant, except it was supposed to mean the best quality of hair, many distributors and manufacturers abused the term. Today if you want real hair extensions then you know to look for 100% Remy hair. The fact is that this is very true. You do want 100% Remy hair because it behaves like normal scalp hair and does not require washing in acid to strip non-remy hair. Unfortunately though, not very many companies truly sell 100% Remy hair because it is not only very expensive raw hair but very expensive to manufacture. Real human hair or real hair extensions that are properly kept in the Remy state are also very expensive for the consumer and cannot be purchased in a beauty supply for 50 dollars. If the hair is truly 100% remy, it is a worthwhile investment.

Stem Cell Research - Exciting News

Stem Cell Research Is Promising As a Hair Loss Treatment

With stem cell research, researchers study cellular regeneration therapy using a patient’s own platelet-rich plasma on the basis of wound-healing principals to treat hair loss.

Those with alopecia areata are first to see success

“We are about 40 patients into the study, but one of our patients was so thrilled that his hair started growing in after about 2 months that he alerted the local media -- and then we had to tell our story!” says Dr. John Satino, clinic director for The Hair and Scalp Clinics in Clearwater, Fla. Satino and partner and medical director Dr. Michael Markou, a primary investigator for the Merck Pharmaceutical clinical research on Propecia, have run and administered some interesting tests and documented success with alopecia areata patients in regrowing hair in a patient’s bald patches. Currently they are taking on test patients and beginning to document and test the long-term effects of this treatment to test its viability as a long-term solution for hair loss. “The advantage is that we are seeing hair growth in bald areas. The disadvantage so far is that if a pattern of baldness exists down the road, the new growth can be affected by that. So far we are seeing the greatest benefit in young people suffering from alopecia areata.”

How the stem cell study procedure works

The term "stem cells" is used loosely. According to the National Institutes of Health Web site information on stem cell research, an adult stem cell is a type of cell found in many organs that can transform itself into a specialized tissue or organ cell when necessary. The primary role of adult stem cells in a living organism is to maintain and repair the tissue in which they are found. Scientists have found adult stem cells in many more tissues than they once thought possible, and that has led researchers and clinicians to ask whether adult stem cells could be used for transplants like the adult blood-forming stem cells from bone marrow that have been used in transplants for 40 years. Scientists now have evidence that stem cells exist in the brain and the heart. If the differentiation of adult stem cells can be controlled in the laboratory, these cells may become the basis of transplantation-based therapies. But the isolation and identification of these stem cells throughout the human body is still in its infancy.

What this study procedure is using is actually platelet-rich plasma (PRP) isolated from the patient’s own blood, explains Satino, not only the clinic director but also a biomedical engineer who has demonstrated and performed many studies, including those of Propecia and Rogaine. “The idea of this way of stimulating follicle regeneration is based on the principals of wound healing … a sort of cellular regeneration therapy.” Satino explains that when an area like the scalp is disturbed slightly, such as by abrading it gently with a laser, it shocks the body into healing mode, and when combined with the person’s own growth factors in PRP drawn from his or her own blood, it can stimulate the faulty follicles into an anagen phase of growth and give them the support they need to grow. “First we draw patient’s blood to separate out the small amount of PRP which contains platelet-derived growth factors, including three proteins that act in cell adhesion. These three -- called fibrin, fibronectin and vitronectin – create a matrix for cells to build upon, while the growth factors signal the epidermis and the follicle to interact with the dermal sheath. We then irritate the scalp with a laser, which moves the follicle toward an anagen phase as it tries to heal, and we inject the growth factors in the PRP, which migrate into the follicles to start the whole process. This promotes angiogenesis and mitogenesis … a sort of jump start for the follicles. We know that adult stem cells only are useful wherever there is an injury and that they are not specialized. We are also testing the topical application of the person’s PRP in addition to the effects of low-light laser therapy, Rogaine and Propecia in conjunction with this new treatment to find the most effective treatment protocols.”

The outlook of stem cell research as a hair loss treatment

So far, hair in all 40 patients has grown back in patients with alopecia areata. “It seems this procedure has the best results for the younger patient. The youngest we have treated is 15 so far, but the most important thing is to test the long-term results.” Satino adds that they have also begun soaking hair transplants in PRP and injecting into transplant incisions and have gotten faster healing and thicker, faster hair regrowth in transplant patients. “But again,” cautions Satino, “we don’t know how the balding pattern may affect this procedure. For example, in a transplant patient, if the hairline recedes further, he will be required to get additional transplants to cover the new balding area. We have definitely found our new procedure to be most effective on bald patches in the crown and back of a patient’s head. A patient may still need to supplement results with Minoxidil, Propecia or laser hair therapy.”

Proving the result, getting FDA approval

So far, the procedure is approved by the FDA as a soft-tissue injection for wound healing in hair transplants, not for hair regrowth. “In the meantime, we are taking on new patients to test the procedure at about one-quarter the price of a typical transplant procedure,” Satino states. “We are documenting all the results with a cast, and we mark the spot and count the hairs in one square centimeter. We test and measure hair strength and diameter and we do a recount in three months, six months and one year along with photos to document results.” He adds, “We plan to publish results in some peer-reviewed dermatology, hair transplant and laser journals in the coming year. We have refrained from performing the double-blind placebo tests and the independent review boards until we have the funding and the basis to do so to gain FDA approval as a long-term hair loss solution.

Nightmare on Hair Street

One Woman's Horror Hair Story Regarding Extensions

MY NAME IS LINDSEY HENDRICKSON and I have always experienced fine thin hair. Some days there was nothing I could do with my hair at all. I learned ways to hide the thinness by styling it a certain way. A good friend of mine, who is a licensed stylist, suggested that I get hair exten- sions. I was excited thinking I would finally get the chance to have this thick, beautiful hair.

I went to a stylist and as she applied the hair ex- tensions, I noticed she was using glue. My first application was great, I could curl them and treat them just like it was my own hair. After a few days, after the newness had worn off, they felt very heavy and gave me extreme head- aches. I had a hard time blending them as they always looked stringy. Trying to brush my hair was difficult even with a special loop brush. I had my extension for about two months and struggled with them everyday. I went back to the salon and it took three hours to remove them.

The stylist convinced me there was no damage and I could do it again. The second application of extensions was worse. They were more of a struggle than the first. I had already lost some hair from the weight of the extensions, breakage, the glue, and chemicals used. When I had them removed the second time, the stylist did not want me to come to the salon to do it. We went to her home, I thought it was odd but I was desperate to get them out. My hair was completely damaged and broken. The dreadlocks could not be combed out, they needed to be cut out. I was at a point where I did not know what to do. I sought out advice from an extension expert.

According to her I had no choice but to put them back in my hair to hide the areas that had been thinned out even more. The new “hair extension expert” proceeded to apply extensions to the little hair that was left. Neither of these stylists informed me of any risks associated with hair extensions. There was no maintenance contract given to me, nor did they discuss the pros and cons with me. I assumed, like many others, that thousand’s of people get extensions so they know what they are doing. After all they are “licensed stylists.” Wrong! Six months into this and I did not know what to do. I was desperate and my hair was a mess.

I finally went to a hair restoration specialist, who in fact cringed when she saw my hair. She could not believe the damage that had occurred in only six months. I am thankful everyday that I made the decision to go see the hair restoration specialist. She managed to save my self esteem as a woman.


From Our Hair Restoration Specialist:
This story is not uncommon. On average this happens to about 80% of hair extension clients. One of the biggest misconceptions is that hair extensions are the only option to fix fine thin hair. In fact, there are hundreds of options from products, pieces, units and basic hair maintenance. It may even be determined that hair extensions are not the answer for you. There are pros and cons to each type of hair extensions. Information that should be discussed during your consultation include: hair and extension maintenance, application and removal frequency, any chemicals, glues or products used, hair type and your lifestyle. Lack of information and improper care are the biggest reasons people often have a bad experience. Hair extension baldness is the most common problem that results from improper application and removal of hair extensions. There are many times that the damage will be irreparable. If you notice any type of breakage, dreadlocks or your stylist does not allow you to see the back of your hair, you probably need some help. There is no easy solution in fixing the damage that extensions can cause.

Creating the best and healthiest environment is the your hair and scalp. A hair restoration specialist can recommend the right products and services that can, over time, restore your hair and repair the damage. Be sure to ask the proper questions, review all of your options and consult with more than one person. Also, ask the stylist if you can contact and see other clients with extensions. Do not be afraid to be told that you cannot have them. It may be a blessing in disguise. Do not go with the cheapest stylist and product either, they can cost you a lot more in damage and repair later. Do your research and educate yourself. It pays off in the long run.

For more information on Hair Extension Options...visit our Hair Extension Page on our Website!

This article was published In Northwest Womans Magazine in 2008! If you would like a copy of the article, please email info@crowningglorystudios.com

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Medications and Hair Loss

If you are experiencing sudden hair loss, thinning or shedding, consider whether any medication you are taking could be causing this.

“Hair loss can be caused by so many different reasons, but one common cause is that it could be a side effect of a medication you have just begun or have been taking regularly,” says Dr. Eric Schweiger, a New York City dermatologist and hair transplant surgeon. “So when patients come to us with hair loss or thinning, one of the first questions we’ll ask is about medications they are currently taking.”

How do medications cause hair loss?

Schweiger explains that there are two ways medications can cause hair loss. One way is from telogen effluvium, where hair follicles get shocked by a drug and moved away from the regular growth phase into a resting phase, which pushes hairs out and causes diffuse (widely spread) and noticeable fall-out. Anagen effluvium happens when a strong drug or medication, such as chemotherapy, attacks hair follicles and other rapidly dividing cells in the body, causing all hair to fall out suddenly and completely. “Either way, the results can be quite shocking, or you may just notice a little bit of hair fall-out or shedding when you first start taking the drug,” says Schweiger. “You owe it to yourself to work with your physician to determine if your medications are the cause of your hair loss.”

Is this hair loss side effect of my medication permanent?

“It depends on the person,” says Schweiger, who further explains that no one drug will affect everybody’s hair follicles or other body systems in exactly the same way. Sometimes the body adjusts to the ingestion of the drug on a regular basis and the hair grows back eventually, and sometimes hair continues to fall out and does not grow back as long as you continue taking the medication. “One option is to keep taking the medication, if necessary, to see if the hair loss condition improves and your hair grows back, and your other option is to discontinue the medication if possible,” he advises.

The five most common medications that cause hair loss

As a dermatologist and hair loss specialist, Dr. Schweiger explains that the following commonly prescribed medications are most often associated with side effects that include hair loss, diffuse thinning, shedding and fall-out, in varying degrees depending on the person:

• Beta-blockers (blood pressure medications)
• Oral birth control pills
• Accutane
• Antidepressants (serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SRIs)
• Cholesterol-lowering drugs

But why do these common medications cause hair loss? Dr. Schweiger explains, “It’s just not black and white … It’s more personal and how the medication affects you. We just don’t have any good clinical studies that prove that any medication will definitely cause hair loss in someone or why it doesn’t cause hair loss in someone else. We also don’t know whether patients’ regular hair growth will resume eventually if they continue taking any particular medication. One thing we do know,” he concludes: “None of these medications cause scarring permanent hair loss, and usually hair growth resumes when the offending medication is discontinued.”