Women’s Frustrations with Their Own Hair

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Women's FrustrationsIf you sometimes find yourself reaching for a beanie not to warm your head or be on trend but simply to hide your hair, you may suffer from a common female frustration: hair hatred. Why is it that so many women covet the hair they do not have? Those with straight hair envy their curly haired counterparts. Those with curly hair spend hours per week flat ironing their locks only to end up with a frizzy hybrid by day’s end. Life would be so much simpler if we could learn to love our locks!

Surprising Stats

The folks at Dove surveyed women and discovered that hair profoundly affects the way women see and feel about themselves. Specifically, 90 percent of the women surveyed agreed that women judge one another based on their hair, more than half admitted to having “hair envy” and only 11 percent said they loved everything about their hair.

Another survey of more than 1,000 women conducted by Consumer Reports’ “ShopSmart” magazine found that a bad hair day often becomes a bad day, period. Nearly half of women reported that their mood and self-esteem are affected on bad hair days. Sadly, hair hatred begins early. Also according to Dove, only four out of 10 girls with curly hair think their hair is beautiful.

Embrace It or Change It!

Dove has launched a campaign encouraging women to love their natural hair. That’s wonderful, in theory. It’s not always realistic, though. Fortunately for those who simply cannot be swayed to embrace their natural hair, there are options. Women with thinning or fine hair who covet voluminous locks increasingly are turning to hair extensions, which provide insane versatility and are incredibly natural looking. Curly haired women who desire sleek hairstyles can now head to blowout bars whose sole purpose is to fight frizz and tame tresses. Straight-haired women can head to any retailer that sells beauty products and find a wide selection of curling irons and hair rollers in just about any diameter they desire.

Whether you covet curls or cannot stand yours, perhaps you’ll be comforted by the knowledge that you are most definitely not alone. Don’t let your bad hair day get the best of you. It, too, shall pass.

No matter how we feel about our hair losing it can be devastating. If you’re suffering from thinning hair or hair loss, Van Scoy Hair Clinics will help you find the hair loss solution that’s right for you. To schedule a free consultation call us at (419) 289-6665 or to contact us via email click here.

Photo Credit: Ann_Sarkisyan Via Flickr Creative Commons

 

 

Sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou7CyPtkpng

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeJVNum2zwY

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-04-12-bad-hair_N.htm

http://www.today.com/video/how-to-love-your-hair-share-how-you-embrace-the-color-texture-more-670699075906

http://www.goodyardhairblog.com/why-are-hair-extensions-so-popular-nowadays.html

 

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Mother’s Day Spa Day: A Hair Treatment Celebration for Your Mother With Thinning Hair

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Every day’s a good day to celebrate your mother, but Mother’s Day is a particularly great time to show the maternal figure in your life just how much she means to you. One of the best ways to show your mom gratitude on Mother’s Day is by pampering her — and treating her to her very own spa day! If your mother suffers from thinning hair, which is common in postmenopausal women, you can throw her a spa celebration that is both relaxing, but also healthy for her hair. Check out some great DIY spa activities for Mother’s Day that can help make for a fun, rejuvenating celebration of motherhood.

Start With a Scalp Treatment

One of the best ways to boost head and scalp health is by using a Jojoba Oil treatment. To make the treatment for your mother, combine 4 ounces of Jojoba oil with 10 drops of rosemary oil and lavender oil, 5 drops of basil oil, and 2 drops of Thyme and Cedarwood essential oil. Then, massage the tonic into her scalp. The tonic should soak into the scalp for about an hour. You can offer your mother a shoulder massage while she waits! Scalp tonics can help stimulate blood flow to the scalp and ensure your mother’s head is properly moisturized.

Shampoo With a Sulfate-Free Shampoo

Once the scalp treatment is completed, you can rinse your mother’s hair out in the sink using a healthy shampoo. Choose a shampoo that is free of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (a common ingredient in many shampoos), since sulfates are known to be harsh on locks — particularly those that have already started thinning. Then, gently massage the shampoo into a lather. Rinse it out with warm water in order to ensure all of the shampoo and tonic have been removed. Your mother’s hair should now be moisturized and clean — and smell delightful, too!

Sip Cucumber Water

No spa day would be complete with a healthy, refreshing glass of cucumber water. An added benefit of cucumber water is that cucumber is traditionally believed to boost hair health. Make the cucumber water the night before by slicing one cucumber, placing the slices at the bottom of a pitcher, and filling the pitcher with water. Refrigerate overnight. Then, when you’re wrapping up your spa day, you can take advantage of the delicious crisp taste, as well as the healthy benefits.

The benefits of throwing a spa day for your mother who is experiencing hair loss is threefold. You can make her feel rested and refreshed, you can help boost the health of her thinning hair, and you can spend some quality time getting closer to someone who deserves to be celebrated!

We all want the best for our moms and if your mom is suffering from hair loss Van Scoy Hair Clinics can help her restore her hair. To schedule a private consultation today call us at (419) 289-6665 or to contact us via email click here.
Photo Credit: Unique Hotels Via Flickr Creative Commons

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October 1 Begins Trichotillomania Awareness Week

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Trichotillomania is a prime example of the type of hair loss disorder that can benefit tremendously from an awareness week. Despite notable prevalence in the United States (2-4% of the population), Trichotillomania remains under the radar for most individuals, including many quality stylists and medical professionals. This lack of awareness fuels misunderstanding and shame while simultaneously impeding personal progress and community support. So let’s spread the awareness!

First, what is Trichotillomania?

  • Well, this mouthful of a disorder is pronounced trick-oh-till-oh-MAY-nee-ah, but most people shorten it to simply trich or TTM. What a relief, right?
  • Trich involves the BFRB (body-focused repetitive behavior) of chronic, compulsive hair pulling. It can include hairs on the scalp, face, arms, legs, and pubic area and can feel like anything from a strong, distracting urge to an entirely unnoticed action. There is a lot of variation in its manifestation.
  • People of all ages have been diagnosed with Trichotillomania. It impacts both males and females, but by adulthood, prevalence is much higher in women. Trich is found in happy, well adjusted individuals as well as those whose pulling began as a result of high levels of anxiety or stress. According to the Trichotillomania Learning Center (TLC), “preliminary evidence indicates TTM is a nuero-biological disorder and that genetics may play a role in its development.”
  • Treatments and solutions vary from coping mechanisms and resource support to therapies and medication applications. A definitive cure does not yet exist.

How can you participate in Trichotillomania Awareness Week?

  • Understand the need for awareness. Like the TLC, we want to “envision a world where BFRBs are not a source of shame, and treatment that works is accessible to everyone.” The more we talk about trich, the more it becomes part of a norm rather than an embarrassment or affliction to hide, paving the way for those suffering from Trichotillomania to find a support system and resources for improvement.
  • Share a video. How about this one (shown below) from last year’s campaign?
  • Tell one person a day what you have learned. Set a goal to do your part in spreading awareness about trich by telling one person about the disorder each day during Trichotillomania Awareness Week, starting a week from tomorrow, October 1 – 7. It can be a friend, a family member, or a coworker and is as easy as opening with, “Hey, I read that today is the first day of Trichotillomania Awareness Week. Are you familiar with the condition?”
  • Print and post these cards. The TLC created small cards that can be printed and shared on public bulletin boards at your place of work, church, gym, or community center.

For more ideas on how you can get involved, visit the TLC’s website at trich.org. If you or someone you know is struggling with Trichotillomania, there is help available. Reach out and open the lines of communication today.

Restore Your Hair. Restore Your Life!

With more than 40 years experience, Van Scoy Hair Clinics has offered the latest advances in hair restoration for men and women in our state-of-the-art facilities in Cleveland, Columbus and Ashland, Ohio. Schedule a FREE hair loss and scalp analysis today.

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Three Men’s Hair Styles for Fall 2014

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Fall is upon us, and with the change of seasons comes a change of styles. Yes, green leaves are turning orange, hot summer days are cooling into enjoyable autumn ones, and short-sleeved shirts are being covered by sweaters. Why not go with the flow of the shifting seasons and their sweeping transformations this year and opt for a new do to usher in the autumn months? Today we highlight three trendy men’s styles to consider for this coming fall. If you are struggling with hair thinning or loss and are seeking a way to keep your look current, schedule a free consultation with one of our specialists today.

Go for Lift

The pompadour has been popular all year (and worldwide, as we noted during this summer’s Cup), and the style is still going strong as we swing into fall. Consider an undercut of any variety, which allows for whatever combination of lift and length you prefer. This prohibition cut featured on Behind the Chair is a slick look for the working man while the looser version shown on Men’s Hair Style Trends can be perfect for a relaxed evening. Already rocking an undercut? Try pairing it with a beard as the months get cooler.

A Caesar with Bangs

If a typical Caesar is your go to style, make the jump from average to awesome this autumn by simply allowing a bit more length in front. This small shift can make a man look stylish without much styling, and your hairdresser can work the change in over time by allowing for more drama every time you come in for your next cut. Perhaps you will decide you are happy with just a little bit of additional length, or maybe by the time winter rolls in you will be sporting a cool side swept look like this GQ style or something more rock-n-roll like this D’Marge favorite.

Alright, we get that this is a stretch for most men, but for those who do have long manes, fall is the time to let the ponytail down and feel the wind in your hair. As Esquire says in this Game of Thrones based hair guide, “It’s hard to pull off long hair, but if you can, it’s perfect for fall, adding a rich, hearty element to your overall style.” If you go this route though, “keeping it clean, without letting it get dry and brittle is a must”. Guys who are especially focused on styling their locks can take some notes from Schwarzkopf here. For everyone else, at least make sure you take care of any damage or thinning you have been able to hide by pulling it back all summer!

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Another Alopecia Areata Drug Breakthrough

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Top 10 Ways July is More Fun with Hair

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It’s summer and it’s hot, but you’re avoiding the pool. You worry about what sweat and wind will do to your thinning hair while out at barbeques. Getting caught in the rain would be tragic. It is no surprise that July would be more fun with hair. Here we have selected the top ten ways that the month would be more enjoyable after restoration.

1. Swimming

The typical avoidance of wet locks in public by those with thinning hair or bald spots puts the kibosh on classic summer fun in the pool. Whether you swim for exercise, to cool off, or just for the fun and games, being comfortable diving into the water is a wonderfully positive attribute for anyone’s summer.

2. After Swimming

Swimming isn’t the only fun part of taking a dip though. Jumping out of the water and doing a quick self-dry with a flip of the mane or a full head shake inspires a youthful energy that should grace every summer.

3. Summer Rains

Spontaneous showers and summer thunderstorms can spell tragedy for an individual with thinning hair. Jumping in puddles or spur-of-the-moment rain dances are things of the past. With a full head of hair though, getting caught in the rain can be a laughable inconvenience at worst and movie-esque romantic at best.

4. Going Hat-Free

From beach bonnets to baseball caps, there are some really great summer hats out there. Having to wear one for the entire duration of the hot bright months though is a total drag. Next July, make hats an option rather than a crutch.

5. Fewer Scalp Burns

Maybe you’ve already said goodbye to the everyday cap. Instead, you rely on your sunscreen and suffer through the scalp burns when it fails to properly protect your bald spots. Hair restoration certainly gives the scalp a bit of relief in hot, sunny months like July.

6. Outdoor Activities

July is a great time for outdoor activities with the kids during their break from school. Hiking, exploring a nearby creek, camping, and bonfires are all summer highlights for nature lovers that need not be weighed down, avoided, or less fun due to worries or anxieties about the number the elements are going to do on an already struggling head of hair.

7. Looking Good at Summer BBQs

Even if you don’t intend to be the most fashion forward attendee at your next barbeque, you definitely have more fun when you feel good, and you feel good when you look good. Even more importantly, you feel good when you feel like yourself!

8. Natural Highlights

For a full head of hair, July comes bearing gifts. In addition to seemingly intolerable heat, the sun’s rays offer lovely natural highlights that take an individual’s base color and give it a sun-kissed summer glow.

9. Changing Style with Summer

New Do, New You! Those with thinning hair or hair loss are usually constrained to a single hair style that works for them to best adapt to their weakening locks. After hair restoration, the chance to try a new style with the changing seasons becomes an option. A fun option!

10. Ponytails

Sure, this one is not for everyone. But for those with longer locks, winning the battle against thinning strands or receding hairlines means being able to pull hair back in the summer. Whether it’s a ponytail through the back of baseball cap or a cute half-up do, July is a nice time to be able to pull your hair back out of your face.

Don’t wait until next summer. Choose to make a change now! Visit your local hair restoration specialist for a free consultation and prepare to have way more fun in July in these top ten ways and more.

 

Photo credit: Schjelderup via Flickr Creative Commons

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Finding Your Solution: Micro Point Extensions for Thinning Hair

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There are a number of solutions available for specific types of hair loss and styling needs, and speaking with a specialist is the best way to decide which hair restoration avenue is the best for you. Today, Van Scoy takes a look at Micro Point Extensions for Thinning Hair.

The use of extensions for fullness and length can actually seem a bit counterintuitive once you start doing some research. Not surprisingly, glue and other chemicals used to attach older types of extensions can cause damage to both your follicles and your scalp. Heavy extensions, regardless of application style, can pull on and weigh down natural hairs that are more lightweight than the added pieces, causing strain, stress, and breakages. Of course, a less-than-excellent stylist can add to the issues too by causing hair and scalp damage with careless application and removal, not to mention the extra tension from the additional styling that follows in an attempt cover up the shoddy work. Putting already weak hair into a damaging system in an attempt to make it thicker is kind of illogical, right?

Right. Fortunately, glue and chemicals, heavy strands, and inexperienced stylists aren’t requirements for modern extensions. In fact, breakthroughs in synthetic hair technology and contemporary application practices actually make certain extensions, such as Micro Point Solutions®, into healthy, successful, and recommended hair restoration options instead. Micro Point Solutions® is a practically invisible solution to thinning or fine hair. It is a non-surgical procedure that utilizes micro-mini extensions to create a fuller head of hair without causing damage. No damaging glues or solvents are used and the system as a whole doesn’t cause any additional hair loss or breakages. This is more like it!

Micro Point Solutions® is offered by and made with CyberHair®, a top choice for non-surgical hair restoration. CyberHair®, which uses state-of-the-art technology to mimic human hair, succeeds impressively in looking, feeling, and behaving like human hair. It even absorbs water, reflects light, and holds style while being two times stronger but lighter in weight than human hair! That means that the problem of heavy extensions is gone and so is any worry about the Micro Point Solutions® looking less than natural. Many individuals with thinning hair avoid situations in which their locks will get wet, forcing them to miss out on what could have been fantastic memories or even unexpected opportunities. With CyberHair® extensions from Micro Point, one can run in the rain, answer the door before their hair is styled, and even go for a swim every single day.

It is still imperative that a highly-trained, experienced, and talented stylist applies the extensions and tailors them to the needs of the individual. With Micro Point Solutions®, only certified studios can apply or refresh extensions. In Ohio, the Van Scoy Hair Clinics in Ashland, Cleveland, and Columbus are all certified studios that employ the finest hair replacement and wig stylists in Ohio. Get in touch today for a free consultation to learn more about Micro Point Solutions® and if CyberHair® extensions are a good fit for you.

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A Fantastic Women’s Hair Loss Seminar!

One week ago, we hosted a beautiful group of women for a successful and moving National Women’s Hair Loss Seminar at our Cleveland clinic, and we are still feeling the inspiration of the evening today! The event, which featured speakers including Kayla Martell, 2010 Miss Delaware who lives with alopecia areata, Flora Fuentes, industry senior out of NYC, and Rhonda McCarthy, nationally recognized hair restoration expert from Ft. Lauderdale, FL, connected area women with information, answers, and resources as experts who brought their tour to Ohio with the specific goal of helping women find trustworthy and reliable access to education and assistance about their hair thinning and loss. As they discussed last Wednesday, there is an overwhelming amount of information about hair loss out there – some good, some bad – and for a woman who is facing this kind of physical and emotional struggle, it is hugely important for her to know that she is not alone and can feel confident in her ability to get the help she needs through proper, trustworthy hair restoration outlets.

Such conversations and gatherings of individuals with shared personal concerns can be emotional and uplifting, and last week’s seminar was definitely an inspiration. In addition to Kayla’s story and expert educational presentations, women enjoyed one-on-one interaction with recommended resource professionals, chats with the guest speakers over refreshments, and perhaps most importantly, free, personal, private consultations. It was a fantastic evening, and we thank everyone in attendance for being a part of it.

If you missed the seminar, but are interested in the complimentary hair and scalp analysis, you can still contact us for a free, no obligation, private consultation. Click here for more information.

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Free Women’s Hair Loss Seminar: Meet the Guest Speakers

Just one week from today the free National Women’s Hair Loss Seminar is coming to Cleveland! The response and registrations from area women has been remarkable, and we couldn’t be more excited. Today, we take a closer look at three of the featured guest speakers on the seminar tour who have dedicated their time to traveling around the United States and helping women to gain access to educational information, connect with local resources, and learn that they are not alone. Registrations are still being accepted, but space is limited, so claim your spot NOW!

Kayla Martell

Kayla Martell – 2010 Miss Delaware and 2011 Miss America finalist – began losing her hair when she was just 11 years old. It was a scary and challenging time for both her and her family as they struggled to understand the cause of the hair loss while also dealing with the social barriers of being a 6th grade girl who was balding. Even after they received the diagnosis of alopecia areata, Kayla was hard-pressed to find a solution that worked for her. Eventually, she simply embraced her baldness.

Fast forward to her third failed attempt at winning the Miss Delaware crown when a judge told her that if she wanted to win, she was going to need hair. That would be a tough blow for anyone, and Kayla was confident without her hair! She wanted to quit, to stop trying for the crown she had worked so hard for. A small voice from a young fan (who also has alopecia) convinced her otherwise though, and so she decided to revisit her options and give it another go. This time around, Kayla found resources and possibilities that worked for her, her active lifestyle, and her impatience with itchy wigs. She found that she could embrace her hair loss and also rock beautiful, comfortable locks when she wanted to. She learned about quality options and she worked those beautiful solutions straight to a crown and a spot as a Miss America finalist! We love these features on ABC News and CBS News from pageant time.

Today, Kayla offers her experience, understanding, and warmth to women around the country of all ages, backgrounds, and levels of hair thinning or loss who are also struggling.

Rhonda McCarthy

Rhonda McCarthy, a nationally recognized expert in women’s hair replacement with more than 20 years of experience, will travel to the Cleveland seminar from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to offer insights into the causes and stages of hair loss. After seeing thousands of women withdraw socially to suffer in silence and realizing that a common theme was their utter frustration with lack of information and places to turn, Rhonda developed the free National Women’s Hair Loss Seminar tour to connect women with reputable resources in their areas. “So many women feel there is nowhere to turn, but they do think about their hair loss challenges,” she says. “During the new National Women’s Hair Loss Seminar tour, women will now have the opportunity to talk openly about their hair loss, become educated on hair loss options, and to meet other women experiencing the same challenges.” Earlier this year, Rhonda and her team hosted hair professionals from around the world at a very successful two-day conference designed to offer continuing education to specialized resource and hair care providers as part of her ongoing effort to create a network of support for individuals struggling with hair loss.

Flora Fuentes

Flora Fuentes has been with MHN Hair Restoration Studio in New York City for 24 years, and as an expert on hair loss, she now travels around the United States with the National Women’s Hair Loss Seminar tour providing detailed information on various up-to-date solutions that are currently available as options for women with assorted causes and levels of hair loss. “We want women everywhere who are experiencing thinning hair or any level of hair loss to know that no matter what their level of hair loss – there is a solution. You can have your hair back, beautifully and naturally!” Last year, Flora and Kayla were featured on CBS New York’s the Couch on the morning of a local seminar; check it out here for a teaser of the wealth of information Flora will bring to Cleveland next Wednesday, April 30th from 6:30-8:30PM.

Make your reservation for the free National Women’s Hair Loss Seminar in Cleveland now by calling 216-739-2290 or clicking here to register online.

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Finding Your Solution: Laser Treatments

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There are a number of solutions available for specific types of hair loss and styling needs, and speaking with a specialist is the best way to decide which hair restoration avenue is the best for you. Today, Van Scoy takes a look at 4 common questions associated with laser treatments.

“I thought laser treatments were for hair removal! How can they serve both purposes?”

Good question! Lasers can indeed work for both hair removal and restoration and have been used for removal for decades while their approved application for restoration is relatively recent. There are various types and levels of lasers though, and those disparities along with the way in which they are applied produce different results. Laser hair removal, for example, involves purposeful, targeted damaging of follicles at a specific wavelength. Laser hair treatments for restoration, on the other hand, use low level, therapeutic, soft, “cold” lasers to deliver light energy to the scalp and generate blood flow rather than damage. In fact, similar lasers have been used for wound healing for a long time.

“Will there be any cutting or burns?”

No. Laser treatments are non-invasive, non-surgical, non-burning, and non-painful.

“What can I expect my overall treatment experience to look like?”

Laser Treatments

Your hair restoration specialist will work with you to set a regular schedule for office visits. Each person is different, but this often means 2-3 sessions of 10-20 minutes per week for 3-12 months. During the treatments, you can simply relax, read a magazine, and take a small break from the day. If you are unable to make regular appointments, at-home treatments are also available. Van Scoy Hair Clinics recommends that laser hair therapy be approached as a 3-step treatment program, which means ongoing attentiveness to thickening hair and a combination of methods that provides the best results possible and enhances the progress of the laser treatments.

“Are there any products that I should use along with the laser treatments?”

Yes! As part of the 3-step treatment program, Van Scoy Hair Clinics recommends professional administration of pharmaceutical-grade products for hair growth. Specifically, the dht Sensor program, which we discussed on the blog in February, has proven especially effective when coupled with laser treatments to gain the maximum effect.

Have additional questions? Drop us a line today!

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