The Norwood Scale
The image shown here is known as the norwood scale, the best way to determine your hair loss pattern and to be able to communicate via email or telephone to a hair loss consultant.
How to Evaluate Hair Loss Treatments
Many hair loss sufferers come to our hair restoration forum seeking hair loss help asking questions about the various treatments for hair loss and rightfully so. We all want to regrow hair however, the problem is there are so many hair loss treatments on the market, it’s virtually impossible to know which one’s work and which one’s don’t. Can we really trust the commercialized advertisements we hear on the radio and see on the television? The truth is, marketing at best overemphasizes the truth in order to sell a particular product whether related to hair loss or something entirely different. So hair loss sufferers must extend their research far beyond commercials if they are going to understand how a hair loss remedy actually works, if at all.
So which hair loss products actually work to regrow hair?
To date, there are only two FDA approved hair loss medications on the market: finasteride (marketed as Propecia) and minoxodil (marketed as Rogaine). Both hair loss medications work differently however, both have been clinically studied and have proven both to help combat future hair loss and occasionally regrow hair. Another promising hair loss treatment is ketoconazole found in shampoos such as Nizoral and Revita. Ketoconazole is said to be a weak inhibitor of Dihydrotestosterone or DHT (the hormone responsible for genetic hair loss).
But what about hair loss products? And how can I evaluate hair loss treatments that come out in the future? Is there a way to determine the efficacy of these hair loss remedies?
I want to take the time to present the criteria I use in order to draw a conclusion as to which hair loss products work and which don’t. Keep in mind that this is not a perfect methodology, but it can act as a guide for you as you are evaluating new treatments for hair loss.
I often make decisions about a hair loss product based on a combination of three things:
- Scientfic evidence (Is there scientific evidence that the product may be of some benefit to fight against hair loss?)
- Public evidence (What are other hair loss sufferers saying?).
- Personal experience (Products I’ve tried before)
The combination of the above will help a hair loss sufferer determine whether or not a hair loss product has any level of efficacy. Clearly however, one should be driven to try a product (personal experience) based on the available scientific and public evidence available. All three don’t have to exist in order to conclude whether a hair loss treatment works. The combination of scientific and public evidence might just be enough to conclude a hair loss product has some level of efficacy but until it’s tried personally, a decision can’t be made as to whether or not it will work for the individual losing hair. Let’s take a look at all three below.
Scientific Evidence:
What do the research studies say? Are there clinical studies out there? What were the test scenerios like? Are the results convincing? Are the clinical studies performed by companies that have a financial interest in the product? The answer to this last question should lead a hair loss sufferer to do additional research. The answers to all of these questions should lead us to consider the public evidence.
Public Evidence
Please note that I’m not talking about commercialized claims to success. I’m also not talking about public testimonies on commercial websites. But what are real hair loss sufferers saying about this product? For example, you may want to search for a hair loss product on our hair restoration discussion forum to see what our members are saying.
Be careful, however, not to believe everything you read. Spammers and solicitors alike can meander around public hair restoration disucssion forums looking for any opportunity to promote their hair loss scam “miracle cure” product. Instead, be sure to evaluate the evidence before you. Did the member post photos of their progress? Is this a well respected member of the online hair loss community?
Remember: If there is CONVINCING evidence out there that a hair loss product works for some…it might just work for you!
Personal Experience:
Let’s face it…most of us have been duped before and have tried a number of hair loss miracle cure products. Whether or not a product works for the balding individual is the most important factor. One must be careful however, not to conclude that a hair loss product won’t work for anyone just because it doesn’t work for them however, if there is scientific and public evidence out there that it works for some, and it doesn’t work for you, then what good is it to you?
Putting it all together:
In order to determine whether a hair loss treatment has any merit, I’d say that public and scientific evidence should be considered the highest. This is what will ultimately help you to consider trying it. Based on personal experience alone, one can only conclude whether or not a given hair loss product works for the one who tried it. A positive personal experience, however, would overrule the other two criteria whereas a negative experience doesn’t necessarily discount the other two.
The goal is for personal experience to eventually become public evidence so that hair loss consumers can be aware of which hair restoration treatments work and which one’s have no merit.
Green Tea for Hair Loss?
“Green tea hair loss:” these are four words that seem incongruous when placed together; but apparently, scientists are making a connection between drinking or ingesting green tea products and the slowing down of the hair loss process. It should be noted here that there are no claims that green tea will replace all other products for hair loss treatment. This is not a one-shot, miracle cure for the balding scalp or anything of that kind. However, there are recent findings that indicate that consuming enough green tea on a daily basis will help slow down the oxidation process, which may be responsible for the onset of thinning hair.
Make no mistake about it: hair loss may be brought on by a number of things, including heredity, the onset of diseases, vitamin deficiency, strong medical treatments like chemotherapy, too much hair styling, etc. The person’s overall health and present environmental conditions also affect hair growth, or the lack of. However, the most common reason for hair loss is simply aging. As we grow older and reach that certain milestone in our life, our cells do not regenerate enough to afford us that healthy head of hair we had when we were younger. In fact, this is a problematic area concerning our entire physique. When we age, we tend to develop more wrinkles; we tend to develop more bodily aches; we tend to get sick easier.Good question. The answer lies in the healthful benefits now being discovered with the regular intake of green tea, particularly its ability to raise antioxidant compounds in the blood. Antioxidants are actually protein compounds that help slow down the oxidation process (hence, the name.) Oxidation brings about cell decay, which is necessary for human existence. Old cells must “die” in order for new cells to develop. When we were younger and assumingly at the peak of our health; our cells decay and regenerate almost at the same. This is the reason why we hardly notice or pay them any heed whatsoever.
However, as we grow older, our cell regeneration abilities become slower. Consequently, this shift in balance means that our cells decay at a faster rate. This causes our skins to become more wrinkled or less elastic; our joints more prone to creaking and aches; and our hair to lose both its natural color and more of them end up on the floor than on our heads. We all know the fact that humans shed about 100 hairs a day, right? Unfortunately, when we grow older, our bodies can no longer regenerate enough new cells to compensate for the hair loss.
There are potent compounds found in green tea that contain high levels of antioxidants. These antioxidants are important tools in slowing down cell decay, letting new cells play catch-up by regenerating into new ones. This means that by consuming enough green tea on a daily basis, the process of hair thinning may be slowed down somewhat. Once it does, then new hairs can grow back.
By: Audrey Lynn
Learn everything you need to know about Green Tea before you decide if you should take it or not. Visit Benefits of Green Tea.
American Hair Growth Centers provide Green Tea as a dietary supplement to clients for maximum hair growth results. Lean more about Green Tea Dietary Supplement at Quantum Hair Sciences.
Health Tip: Why People Lose Their Hair?
Hair loss isn’t confined to men. Women and even children can lose their hair, the American Academy of Family Physicians says.
Here’s the academy’s list of possible causes of hair loss:
- Stress caused by an illness or major surgery. This type of hair loss often is temporary.
- Changes in hormone levels, such as those caused by pregnancy or a thyroid disorder.
- Use of certain medications, such as blood thinners, antidepressants, oral contraceptives, heart medications, gout treatments or vitamin A.
- A fungal infection of the scalp.
- An underlying disease, such as diabetes or lupus.
Hair Loss And Grey Hair Prevention With A Healthy Diet
If you knew that a healthy diet could prevent grey hair, would you change your eating habits? We keep being told that lifestyle and food intake are key factors in staying healthy and looking younger, but many of us just buy the food we like without analysing the contents to make sure we are consuming the right balance of vitamins and minerals. Greying hair often begins at age 35, and continues as we get older. By the age of 50, around half of the population has significant loss of colour.
Male baldness is a common problem and can start in the late twenties. The first stage is a receding hairline, then thinning on top of the head and the temples. Women can also suffer hair loss or thinning hair as they get older, or during pregnancy. Other causes may be anemia and stress, but whatever the cause, the results can be distressing and lead to a loss of self confidence.
Aside from hereditary factors, it is the quality of the body’s blood which affects the thickness and colour of hair. So we should look at what we can do to maintain healthy blood, which will both benefit our health, and also help to maintain our looks.
Too much salt can damage the blood and raise your blood pressure, so avoid adding extra salt when cooking or at the dinner table. Crisps, snacks and processed foods generally contain high levels of salt. The guideline daily amount for salt is only 6g, so do look at labels on packaging to ensure you do not exceed this safe level.
The kidneys act as a filter to remove waste products from the blood, and also produce hormones which control blood pressure. Blood quality can be maintained by eating foods containing Iron, Folic acid, vitamins B12 and C. Seaweed, vegetables, grains, seeds (especially sunflower and pumpkin), and nuts are naturally rich in these elements, and you can also take vitamin supplements.
If you do go gray prematurely and decide to use a colour, it is best to choose one closest to your original shade, as this will suit your skin tone and look the most natural. By the age of 60, many women prefer to let nature take its course, revealing a full head of silver or white. This can look extremely glamorous with a good cut to suit the shape of the face, and removes the need to worry about frequent trips to the salon to touch up those roots!
By: Lin Parker from Article Directory.
Author Lin Parker researches and reviews anti aging beauty treatments and skin care products.
Women Thinning Hair Cures
It would appear that Rapunzel was just so lucky to have a head full of gloriously luxuriant hair. However, many women these days aren’t just as lucky as she because their hair is thinning and they fear that they would end up being bald for the rest of their lives. And while Rapunzel only had to deal with the mean witch, women today have to take care of a whole zoo of personalities that are the cause her many illness and stress, known contributing factors to hair loss.
So what is the modern day Rapunzel has to do to stop her hair from thinning? She gets up in the morning and sees hair on her pillow. She brushes her hair only to end up pulling more hair from her head. Thinning hair has always been traditionally associated with men so most treatments were for them. Unfortunately, many of those treatments do not address the particular needs of women. Although hair loss affects both men and women, there is a lot of difference between hair loss patterns in males and females so it is important to consider treatments specifically formulated for women only.
Many women try to style their hair differently in order to hide the affected parts. They try to tease it, use shampoo that’s supposed to add volume to their hair but nothing seems to work. It seems that they are on their inevitable way to baldness. But now we know that this is not true. There are treatments that can now stop thinning hair in women.
The cure for female thinning hair depends on what is really causing the problem. A woman can begin to lose her hair because of genetics or what is now known as Female Pattern Baldness, hormonal problems, autoimmune diseases, childbirth, anemia, thyroid problems, crash dieting and as mentioned above, stress. But you must realize that only a doctor can actually diagnose and determine the exact cause in your case and from there, recommend the best possible treatment available.
For thinning hair due to FPB, the best treatment currently available is the Provillus Hair Growth System. It is a complete hair loss treatment using a combination of a liquid topical solution and a dietary supplement both formulated to help your hair regain it strength and vigorous growth fast by rejuvenating your hair follicles and stimulating growth of new hair. If you act fast, you won’t have to go through embarrassing moments when people discover your thinning hair. Provillus contains proven ingredients that can regrow your thinning hair.
How to Prevent Hair Loss – Tips to Keep Your Hair Healthy
What is your initial reaction when you see a man with pattern baldness? Most of the time, baldness is associated with aging so chances are you will think that the man is already old. What about if you see a woman who has baldness in some areas? You will probably think that the woman is sick of something. Other people would probably even think that the woman is undergoing chemotherapy to cure cancer. But thinning hair does not only happens when a man is old already or when a woman is sick or undergoing major medical procedures. It happens because of a lot of reasons. If you are concerned about your hair here are some tips on how to prevent hair loss.
The first key in preventing hair loss is to improve your diet. There are certain nutrients that you need to prevent excessive hair fall. You need a good amount of proteins for healthier growth of cells so you need to eat foods like chicken, egg and fish. You also need to have enough iron in your body because iron deficiency anemia leads to hair loss. Eat lean red meat and tofu.
Having B vitamins is also an important way on how to prevent hair loss. You can drink vitamin B complex supplements to help you but you have to make sure that you are taking the right amounts only.
Aside from improving your diet, another tip on how to prevent hair loss is to go easy on your daily hair care routines. Be gentle on your hair when you comb or brush it. Though this is not really the major cause of thinning hair, doing gentle brushing or coming techniques can help prevent the problem. Remember that regular exposure of hair to sunlight, pollution, dust and strong chemicals found in some shampoos and styling products can make the hair brittle so combing it harshly will lead to hair breakage.
Also go easy on hair treatments. Some hair treatment procedures use harsh chemicals that can make hair strands weak. You need to give time for your hair to rest and heal before you do another treatment.
As much as you can, air-dry your hair instead of using hair dryer. Some might say that the idea that blow-drying causes hair loss is a myth. But heat does affect a lot of things including hair strength. So it is better if you go natural in drying your hair. If there is really a need for you to blow-dry your hair for faster results, use low temperature as much as possible.
These are simple ways on how to prevent hair loss. If you do them, you reduce the possibility of people talking about you and your hair loss problems. Instead, they will talk about how healthy and beautiful your hair is.
Laser Hair Regrowth Device Now Has FDA Clearance
It may seem strange to hear about a laser being used for hair regrowth, but this type of treatment has been around for some time and was discovered accidentally by a scientist testing the effects laser radiation on mice. It was in 1967 soon after the first working laser was invented that Dr Endre Mester at Semmelweis, university in Hungary was carrying our research to see if laser radiation cased cancer in mice. No cancers were found, but what surprised him was that hair grew back much more quickly on a shaved test area of the mice than on the mice in an untreated group. This effect called low level laser therapy (LLLT) also known as laser biostimulation, photobiomodulation and cold laser therapy is now used for the treatment of hair regrowth.
Possibly due to the then high cost of laser technology, very little research was carried out over the two decades after the first experiments were conducted. During the 1980s LLLT started becoming available as an expensive treatment through a number of exclusive hair clinics. The lasers used were large complicated fixed devices where patients had to sit under a hood similar to a salon hair dryer. Treatments were performed as frequently as 2-3 times per week, this was often inconvenient for individuals who might have to travel many miles to the nearest clinic or salon. However the results achieved were very good and soon, many salons all over the Europe, Asia and later in the US began offering treatments.
This laser hair regrowth treatment has now been backed up as an effective hair loss treatment by many scientific studies. In 1982 Trelles, M., and Mayayo, E, published “The Growth of Hair Under Laser Influence of the HE-NE Beam”. In this study, patients with alopecia areata responded with positive results after only 6 to 8 twice weekly treatments. Later studies in the 1990’s tested lasers working at different wavelengths and pulsing the laser to find the most effective laser configuration for treating hair loss. Most therapeutic lasers now operate at a wavelength in the range 600-1000nm where the wavelength is related to how far the light penetrates the scalp. The best wavelength to use is still argued over but it should be sufficient to penetrate at least 5-6mm depth to target the hair bulbs. Many current LLLT devices operate using visible red light at a wavelength of 660nm which can penetrate down to a depth of about 8-10mm. Higher wavelength lasers at 800-900nm are also used these can penetrate to a depth of about 30-40mm but these are mainly used for treating joints and muscle related problems.
More recent LLLT laser hair regrowth studies have started to reveal the reasons why and how laser light therapy helps stimulate hair regrowth. These studies have shown that laser light increases the levels of a chemical compound called adenosine triphosphate (ATP) which is known to stimulate living cells including the hair follicles. LLLT also has the effect of increasing the circulation of blood to the hair root which delivers the nutrients to cells that make up the hair follicle. The increased blood flow is also thought to help flush away the damaging waste products that may affect the hair growth cycle. This helps to improve the scalp environment to help stop thinning hair and promote new hair growth.
Over the last few years laser technology has advanced to a stage where a laser devices can now be manufactured to a size smaller than your small finger nail and at very low cost. In 2000 a company developed and patented the first miniature LLLT laser hair regrowth device using the new laser technology. This made possible for the first time an effective LLLT hair loss treatment that was cheap and small enough be used in your own home without having to go to an expensive hair clinic. The new device comes in the form of a hair comb/brush that needs only be used for 10-15 minutes three times per week. The manufacturers claim that while users experience will vary, 45% of users will see positive results after 8 weeks of treatment with another 45% seeing benefits from 10-16 weeks onward.
In February 2007 the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) cleared the laser comb device for use in the treatment of hair regrowth. The laser comb is now one of only three treatments cleared by the FDA for use in hair regrowth the others being Finasteride and Minoxidil. The laser hair regrowth device now brings new hope to the many men and women suffering from premature hair loss.
COURT RULES IN FAVOR OF NATURAL HAIR GROWTH INSTITUTE AND STEVE BENNIS AFTER THREE-HOUR COURT TRIAL WITH DISGRUNTLED CLIENT
COURT RULES IN FAVOR OF NATURAL HAIR GROWTH INSTITUTE AND STEVE BENNIS AFTER THREE-HOUR COURT TRIAL WITH DISGRUNTLED CLIENT
Chicago, Illinois – March 17, 2010 Some skeptics feel that hair loss can’t be reversed, but a judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County in Chicago feels that the regrowth of hair can and did occur for a laser hair loss client named Shelley Lindsay. After carefully weighing the evidence in a three-hour trial, the court ruled against the complaints of a disgruntled hair treatment client, plaintiff Shelley Lindsay, and in favor of the defendant, the Natural Hair Growth Institute, LTD. (NHGI) and its owner, Steve Bennis. Reference Case Number: 2008-M1-196925
Lindsay had enrolled in NHGI’s six-month laser hair treatment program on September 4, 2007. As with all new clients, “before photos” were taken of Lindsay’s hair. She began her treatment plan that same day, and went through a series of steps which involved laser therapy, special shampoos/conditioners, cleanser and vitamins.
After six months, Lindsay graduated from NHGI’s hair growth program and was happy with the results. The program had been a success for Lindsay, and photos were taken to show her positive results – newly grown hair. She seemed to be very pleased with the results. But unfortunately, things turned ugly in a hurry. Lindsay went to the local media, Better Business Bureau and the Attorney General and complained that the program did not bring results for her. Lindsay felt her money should be refunded in full according to the money back guarantee offered by NHGI.
Steve Bennis, owner of NHGI, knew the positive results Lindsay had enjoyed (with a new, full head of hair, healthy and shiny), and could not justify giving her a refund. An article was published in the Chicago Tribune in April 2008 by author Jon Yates about Lindsay’s alleged “negative” experience with NHGI. This article did harm to Bennis’ business and reputation. But fortunately on February 16, 2010, a court of law ruled in favor of Bennis and his company.
According to Bennis, “The judge, Daniel T. Gillespie, also dismissed all counts against me (Steve Bennis) and Natural Hair Growth Institute. The judge found that there was no fraud and no deceptive practices. By the end of the trial that lasted three hours, the judge was convinced that hair regrowth is possible and that Steve Bennis’ hair growth programs are a success.”
Court Findings:
A. The Court FINDS that:
1.) Defendant Natural Hair Growth Institute, Ltd.’s (“NHGI”) Client Agreement (the “Contract”) was valid and enforceable under Illinois law;
2.) Defendant Steve A. Bennis, through his own life experience, research and experimentation with various combinations of available products, vitamins, massage, diet, exercise, and Low Level Laser Lights cleared for the consumer market and use without prescription by the FDA, crafted a customized “7 step” program that re-grows hair from existing hair follicles on a persons scalp;
3.) The Contract is for this program, and not an agreement involving the unlicensed practice of medicine;
4.) Defendants delivered to Plaintiff what was promised under the Contract;
5.) During the 6-month NHGI program specified in the Contract, NHGI stopped the Plaintiff’s hair loss and re-grew thicker, stronger and healthier hair from her existing hair follicles;
6.) Plaintiff received what was bargained for under the Contract.
7.) Defendants’ promise to stop hair loss and re-grow hair from existing follicles or provide a 100% money back guarantee if there is no progress shown after completing the 6-month program, is not a common law fraud, a deceptive practice nor otherwise a violation of the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Practices Act;
8.) This is a contract dispute on a valid contract, and therefore there is no basis for unjust enrichment or promissory estoppels claims.
9.) Judgment is entered in favor of the Defendants on all Counts of the Complaint.
More information about the Natural Hair Growth Institute and Steve Bennis is available at the Web address below: