Caring for Your Hair: 10 Steps to Washing Your Hair

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Posted on 28th November 2011 by shearpointe in hair care products |hair replacement systems |thinning hair |wigs

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Some people wash their hair every day whereas others wash it only a few times per month. Regardless of how frequently you wash your hair, or whether or not you wear a hair replacement system, it is important to know how to wash it in a way that helps your hair stay healthy and unbroken. Below are 10 easy steps to hair washing that will help your hair stay healthy and you stay happy.

1. Choose a shampoo. Choosing a shampoo is not as easy as walking into the store and grabbing the bottle with the snazziest design. When choosing a shampoo you should first identify the type and needs of your hair. If you have curly, processed, or damaged hair, look for rich, creamy shampoos that will moisturize as much as it will clean. If you have limp, oily hair, it may be best to seek a high quality volumizing shampoo.

2. Choose a conditioner. Choosing a conditioner is an important but often neglected part of hair care. If you have curly, processed, or damaged hair, look for a conditioner that will give some extra hydration. If you have oily or limp hair, you’ll want a lighter conditioner. You may also forgo conditioner altogether if you can brush your hair through without it.

3. Comb your dry hair. Experts from TotalBeauty recommend brushing your hair before you jump in the shower. This is a quick tip that you can use to make the washing and conditioning process easier. Brushing before washing loosens dead skin and dirt from your scalp to make the cleaning process easier. Also, brushing your hair after you’ve showered is easier because you’ve taken out most of the tangles beforehand.

4. Wet your hair. Make sure you wet all areas of your hair thoroughly. Use cool or lukewarm water.

5. Shampoo and rinse. Shampoo your hair by squeezing a dollop of shampoo into the palm of your hand. You should be sure to shampoo the scalp thoroughly by gently massaging your scalp. Make sure you rinse until the water runs clear.

6. Re-shampoo and rinse. If you want especially clean hair, you can re-shampoo. If you choose to re-shampoo, do not do this process frequently. It can dry out your hair. Make sure you rinse until the water runs clear.

7. Condition and rinse. Place a quarter size amount of conditioner onto your hands. Rub the conditioner onto the ends of your hair and avoid the hair roots. Allow the conditioner to sit for at approximately 10 minutes. Rinse until the water runs clear.

8. Towel dry your hair. Writers from BionicBeauty suggest using a towel to gently dry your hair. Make sure not to rub your hair. Simply pat it dry to ensure that none breaks with the friction of the towel.

9. Condition your comb. Place a small amount of conditioner on the bristles of your comb. (An excellent spray-on conditioner is readily available through Transitions hair loss providers). After your hair has dried significantly, gently comb small sections of your hair.

10. Blow dry your hair. If you must blow dry your hair, wait as long as you can. When your hair is mostly dry, blow-dry your locks until they are dry. Hold the dryer as far away from your hair as possible and use cool or medium heat.

Even though it takes a little bit longer to wash your hair thoroughly, try not to take any shortcuts. Washing your hair using the above steps is something completely in your control that helps to keep your hair healthy, manageable and looking great.

Want some recommendations for hair care products for your own naturally growing hair as well as your hair addition or wig? Give us a call. Our hair loss specialists can help you find just the right product for your hair and hair replacement system.

Menopause and Hair Loss: What can be Done?

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Posted on 8th November 2011 by shearpointe in hair extensions |hair loss |hair replacement systems

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Women experience a variety of symptoms associated with menopause. However, some are discussed more frequently than others. Hair loss is one of the most distressing yet infrequently discussed symptoms of menopause.  As women enter menopause, reports of changes in hair thickness and integrity are common. The North American Menopause Society credits hair loss during menopause to the change in amounts of androgen and estrogen in the body as well as to genetic predisposition. Certain types of therapy, namely androgen and progestogen, may also result in hair loss and/or thinning.

If you are a woman struggling with hair loss during menopause, it is important to know that there are viable hair replacement solutions available to you for the particular type of hair loss you are experiencing. In this posting, I want to highlight two non-surgical hair replacement procedures that are commonly used by women struggling with hair loss during menopause.

Hair Additions

Simply defined, a hair addition is a nonsurgical hair loss solution that adds human and/or synthetic hair to a person’s existing hair or scalp. Hair additions may include but are not limited to: hair weaves, hair extensions, hair fusions, hair pieces, hair prostheses, and wigs. Hair additions are not simply a “pull it off the shelf and stick on your head” cosmetic accessory. Women should meet with an trained hair loss expert and decide exactly what type of hair addition, color, texture, and style is right for them.

Hair additions are suitable for people who have temporary or permanent hair loss due to genetic or medical causes. Additionally, hair additions are appropriate for women who are uncertain about or unable to undergo hair transplant surgery.  Hair Additions are a perfect solution for people who want long, beautiful, thick hair and who want full control over the color, thickness, length, and style of their hair.

Hair Augmentation

Hair augmentation as a procedure that adds hair to areas where hair is thinning or the scalp is bald. A hair graft is bonded to the scalp or to the natural hair to compensate for hair loss and/or thinning. Depending on the degree of hair loss in a particular area, the overall hair density can be adjusted as well as being designed to cover the precise area of hair loss. Hair augmentation is highly individualized and tailored to meet your specific and individual needs.

Menopause and Hair Loss

Menopause is difficult enough without worrying about the emotional and psychological effects of female hair loss. If you are experiencing the early signs of hair thinning and you are trying to decide what to do, remember that you have many options. If you are in the throes of moderate to severe hair loss and aren’t sure how to proceed, you don’t have to make any decisions today. Be patient with yourself and keep gathering information. Explore the options available to you, seek out a hair loss professional you feel you can trust, and ask questions.

Alopecia Areata Questions and Answers

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Posted on 18th June 2011 by shearpointe in alopecia |Alopecia Areata |hair replacement systems |human hair wigs |wigs

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Perhaps you noticed a small, round bald spot on the back of your head while you were washing your hair. Or, as you were preparing to shave your legs, you saw a patch of smooth, hairless skin on your calf. Both scenarios and many others could be the first signs of alopecia areata. If you or someone you love has unexplained hair loss, it could be alopecia areata. There is a lot of misinformation online and elsewhere about alopecia areata, which can increase anxiety for the people affected by this disease. Keeping yourself informed is a critical component to self-care, especially in the early stages.

What is alopecia areata and who gets it? Alopecia areata is an autoimmune skin disease that results in hair loss anywhere on the body. The National Alopecia Areata Foundation reports that 2% of the population, approximately 4.5 million people, will be affected by alopecia areata at some point in their lives. For some, alopecia areata presents as a small bald spot on the scalp and nothing else. Others experience complete scalp hair loss (alopecia totalis). Some report complete body hair loss (alopecia universalis). The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) reports that men and women of all races and ethnicities are susceptible to alopecia areata. However, individuals who have a family member with alopecia areata have a greater chance of being affected by the disease with first onset usually occurring sometime during childhood.

What causes alopecia areata? According to NIAMS, hair loss from alopecia areata is believed to be caused by a person’s autoimmune system, specifically the white blood cells, attacking his or her hair follicles. The autoimmune system is designed to protect the body from viruses and other harmful bacteria. However, in the case of alopecia areata, the white blood cells mistakenly attack a healthy part of the body. When the hair follicles are attacked, they become smaller and reduce in production, which manifests as baldness or slow hair growth. Hair re-growth is possible in most cases since white blood cells usually fail to attack the cells that provide the hair follicle with new stems.

The National Alopecia Areata Foundation explains that alopecia areata is not a nervous disorder. While reducing stress may help to improve overall mood, science demonstrates that it will not impact the course of alopecia areata.

How is alopecia areata treated? There is currently no cure for alopecia areata. According to Dr. Draelos, hair will re-grow and the symptoms of alopecia areata will disappear temporarily or forever in approximately 50% of cases. When hair fails to re-grow, men and women may consider undergoing one or more of the many available treatments. Treatments range in effectiveness from person to person. The National Alopecia Areata Foundation reports that treatment is primarily based upon the age of the person and the type of alopecia with which he/she presents. As is the case with chronic medical conditions, treatments vary widely and are often prescribed in combination. Steroid injections, creams, and shampoos are often prescribed.

When hair loss is more severe, a wig or hair replacement system may be a solution.  Wigs have received a bad reputation.  And in many cases they deserved it, not having been designed, manufactured, or styled to the highest standards. Unfortunately, the hair replacement business is one in which you only notice bad workmanship.  Quality craftsmanship is never seen, because it looks so natural. Fine quality human hair wigs and hair prostheses will look and feel totally natural and allow the alopecia sufferer to resume a full, normal social life without the emotional stress and self-consciousness associated with Alopecia. 

Alopecia Areata: It’s Up to You.

If you are coping with the impact of alopecia areata, remember that you are not alone. Alopecia areata is not life threatening and is not linked to any life threatening diseases. Men, women and children with alopecia areata live fulfilling, productive lives every day even when hair loss is total and permanent.

A Great Looking Head of Hair in Less Than 60 Minutes

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Posted on 9th September 2010 by shearpointe in female hair loss |hair loss |hair replacement systems |male hair loss

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We were on FOX2 TV recently to announce our new product line: Virtual Reality Hair Replacement & Restoration for male and female hair loss and thinning hair.  The TV segment features Lance Centofanti – innovator of the Virtual Reality & Virtuesse Women’s Hair Replacement process, who flew into Detroit especially to appear on this segment.

Depending upon your lifestyle, you may or may not be a candidate for Virtual Reality.  For anyone who is experiencing hair loss or severe thinning and is looking into hair replacement options, full and extensive research should be carried out to ensure that the hair replacement option they chose is the most suited to them, their lifestyle and their needs.