If you feel you’re losing an inordinate amount of hair, see your doctor, who may order a blood test or even a scalp biopsy, which involves only a small section of skin. Your doctor may also refer you to a specialist. Dermatologists treat scalp conditions; endocrinologists treat hormonal issues.
Catering to people experiencing hair loss is a big business. Some approaches may work; others might not.
• Supplements and vitamins. Kirchdoerffer upped her vitamin intake and now has a healthy head of hair. Some people swear by biotin, a popular supplement that reportedly strengthens nails and hair. Many vitamin stores also sell hair, skin and nail formulations.
• Specialty hair care products. Salon Pasca in the Wawaset area of Wilmington sells Davines Natural Tech collection, which includes the Energizing line, designed to combat hair loss. “You use it a few times a week at first and then take time off,” explains Jade Lockett, a Davines educator at the salon and a stylist. “You can also take products home to use.” The line includes a shampoo, lotion and gel.
In the drugstore, you’ll find a host of other shampoos and products to address thinning locks. Many promise to improve circulation and reduce sebum, an excess of which is attributed to hair loss.
You’ll also see shampoos and conditioners that add volume. Essentially, these products don’t weigh your hair down, says Tom Archino, owner of Thomas David Salon in Milton. With any hair product, ask your hairdresser how to use them to get the best results, he adds.
• Rogaine and Propecia. A topical treatment, Rogaine is offered in formulations for men and women. Propecia is a male-only prescription that targets male-pattern baldness.
• Wigs and extensions. Salon Pasca can create custom wigs and hairpieces if you prefer coverage. Like many salons, it also offers extensions, which add length and volume. “A good many of the clients who get extensions have thinning hair,” Lockett says. But choose the right type of extensions, Archino cautions. He’s seen women with adhesive extensions suffer hair breakage at the root. He prefers clip-in products.
• Lash volumizers. Hair thinning can also involve lashes. Latisse, a drug applied to the lashes, reportedly increases volume. Aesthetician Gina Marsilii is a fan. “My lashes grew so long, I had to trim them,” says Marsilii, who works at Currie Hair Skin Nails on the Wilmington Riverfront. While some say Latisse also works on thinning brows, another sign of age, Marsilii had no luck when she tried it. She recommends permanent makeup, which is basically tattooing. No more pencil or powders. “You can shower, swim and you still have brows,” she says.
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