Hair loss is a sore and difficult subject and experience for anyone, but it can be handled and cared for in the skilled hands of a barber like myself!
We have talked about hair loss and alopecia before in past blogs, and how I can help you take care of it and deal with it on a day to day basis. But in this blog, I wanted to switch focus and talk about my female customers. I don’t just work with men, I work with women too! I offer many services for my female client’s including:
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Women’s cut, texturizer, and color
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Women’s Full cut
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Women’s Line Up
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Eyebrow Arch
One of the main things I wanted to focus on for my female clients in this blog is female pattern baldness. It is something that many women suffer from and is nothing you should be ashamed about. I know it’s a difficult topic to deal with and to talk about, but I am here to offer you support and options on how to deal with it. In this blog, I want to discuss a little bit about what female pattern baldness is, what causes it, and how I, as your barber, can help you with it.
Female Pattern Baldness is also known as Androgenetic Alopecia and is hair loss that only affects women. It is similar to male pattern baldness, but women can and usually do lose their hair in many different patterns than men. The first thing I want to point out is that hair loss is NORMAL, especially as you age. Up to 75% of women will experience hair loss after menopause and less than half of all women will make it past 65 with a full head of hair. This type of hair loss is hereditary, and since it is more common to happen after menopause, hormones are the most probable cause of female pattern baldness.
The moment you start to notice that you’re losing your hair, take a trip to your doctor or your dermatologist. If you catch your hair loss quickly, the faster you can stop or slow down the loss. You might have the possibility to save as much hair as possible and grow some back. Seeing hair as often as I do and knowing the signs of female pattern baldness, I more often than not will notice it before you do. In these situations, I will bring it to your attention and will be more than happy to discuss what the next best steps are and who you need to go talk to about it.
When you do start showing signs of female pattern baldness, your hair’s growing phase has started to slow down. It will take longer for new hair to grow, and your hair follicles start to shrink. Hair that continues to grow during this period will become thinner and finer. Hair will become fragile and start to break easily. It is normal for Women to lose about 50 to 100 hairs a day, but if you are noticing more of a loss than this, it might be time to start considering that something serious has started. As I mentioned before, female pattern baldness is similar to male pattern baldness. But, while men start losing their hair at the front of their heads to the back, women will lose their hair all over. It usually starts around the part line and at the temples.
There are three different stages of Female Pattern Baldness that I would like to bring to your attention and want you to be aware of, so as a woman you can understand exactly what is happening to your hair.
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Stage One: A small amount of thinning that has started around your part.
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Stage Two: This involves a widening of your part, and more thinning around it.
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Stage Three: This is a thinning throughout the scalp, with a see-through area at the top of your scalp.
Hair loss is passed down from parent to child with hormones as the main cause of loss. It is also generally caused by an endocrine condition. But other factors could lead to Female Pattern Baldness.
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Smoking can lead to a higher risk.
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May be caused by a condition that affects the production of the androgen hormone.
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Tumors of the pituitary glands or ovaries can lead to hair loss.
As far as treatment goes, there are options out there available to you.
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A good haircut from me and my hair treatments.
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Iron Supplements
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Anti-Androgens
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Laser Treatment
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Hair transplant
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Minoxidil, a topical medication
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Spironolactone, an oral medication.
You can also help prevent hair loss if you come from a family that experiences male and female pattern baldness by following some basic ideas.
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Limit getting perms or not getting them at all.
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Avoiding straightening your hair with flat irons.
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Avoid hair extensions.
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Make sure you have a protein-rich diet, full of vitamins, especially iron to help with the growth and health of your hair follicles.
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Protect your hair from sun damage. Wear a hat or head covering of some kind if you’re going to be spending long amounts of time outside under the sun.
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Avoid brushing your hair when it’s wet use a comb or your fingers instead.
Once you’ve been diagnosed, and you’ve taken the first steps with your doctor and in your habits to help your hair, that is where I come in!
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I can offer and give you hair cuts that promote healthful growth, hide signs of female pattern baldness, and help heal hair damage. These haircuts can also help give you some self-confidence back, and help you heal from this traumatic experience.
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I offer a safe place to discuss the issue and in a judgment-free zone. I am here to sympathize and not just to point out what’s happening with your hair. I can help you find the proper doctor and dermatologist to start your care, and I can help you find the best hair products to nourish and care for your hair during this process.
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I understand hair loss. It takes years to understand it, but with my years of experience, I know how to help care for you and your hair.
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If you need or want advice for hairpieces, wigs, or about my hair replacement services, I can advise you on where to get the best options and to talk you through what I offer and how it can benefit you.
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Hair loss can be devastating, but I will always be a constant source of support.
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I see different stages of hair loss every day, and I understand what you’re going through on an emotional and actual level.
Hair loss can be devastating, but it doesn’t have to stop or ruin your life. I am here to help you understand the process, help you through the process, and to give you a sense of pride back in your hair. If you think you are experiencing the signs of Female Pattern Baldness or have been trapped behind it for years, please don’t hesitate to come and see me. I am here to help you, and I know I can.
