In a society used to chemical fixes and instant gratification, your first response to falling hair may be to search the drugstore shelves for a tonic that will replace lost hair — or at least preserve what you still have. You want to believe that these tonics will do the job and restore your head to its former glory. There are medications that can help save your hair, but you may not want to resort to medication, at least not just yet.Later we will give you a wealth of information on taking care of your hair because, although good hair care by itself can’t help you fight genetic hair loss, it will keep your hair looking good while you still have it. In cases where hair loss results from disease or mechanical damage, good hair care can help you keep your hair as well as keep it looking good.In post 8, we introduce some of the products that can work with the hair you have left to give the illusion of fuller hair. It’s not quite as simple as spraying silly string on the top of your head or using a can of paint to color your bald spot, but today’s spray-on or powdery products can definitely improve your hair’s appearance for some time without looking weird.
Wearing a wig
When we say “wig,” we don’t mean the powdered version commonly worn in the 1700s — although if that’s your style, who’s to stop you? In this book, we use the terms “wig” or “hair replacement system” (hair systems for short) when we are referring to a hairpiece as a hair replacement option for men or women (usually wigs for women and toupees for men, but the terminology is flexible).
Wigs have improved tremendously over the last few decades, and a good one is virtually undetectable. (Your hair stylist will know, but he or she may be the only one.)
A wig can be a quick fix for temporary hair loss, such as the hair loss from chemotherapy treatments, or it can be your lifetime solution to lost hair. Many women have several wigs and can change from “Gee, you need a haircut” to a freshly trimmed look overnight. Men may have many hair systems to wear in various settings or situations.You can buy an inexpensive wig for less than $100, but if you want it to be foolproof, you probably have to spend more than that. A
good wig (or wigs) can easily run into the thousands, and it’s possible for the maintenance fees to rival those of your car or condo.Turn to Part III for all the details on buying and caring for hair replacement systems of all sorts.
Pharmaceutical, laser, and topical treatments
If hair loss looks like it’s going to be a permanent part of your life, you may be ready to turn to prescription medications or treatments to minimize your losses. The good news is that treatments are available to help slow hair loss caused by inherited male pattern baldness. (See post 9 for a rundown of prescription medications, Chapter 10 for a list of herbs that some people
swear by, as well as dietary recommendations for maintaining a healthy scalp.)
For many women, hair loss may also respond to medication, or, if a specific disease process is causing the loss, by addressing the health issue. Anyone can have healthier hair by modifying their diets, but giving you hair through medication is a bit more selective. Medications
have limitations and may only work on certain types of hair loss.They can be used in addition to surgical procedures, such as hair transplant, to help slow continuing hair loss (yes, you still lose h
after a transplant — not the transplanted hair, but hair in balding areas) or to help you keep your hair as long as possible.Zapping your head with lasers to help your hair grow may sound
like science fiction, but some laser treatments can do just that.post 11 has information on which laser treatments may help and which ones will part you from your money without adding a
hair to your head.
Considering hair restoration surgery
Hair transplants were an option out of reach for many men until fairly recently. With new advances in technology and better access to well-trained surgeons who work with modern techniques, the option of transplant is more accessible — and more men are taking
advantage of it. Around 100,000 American men have hair transplants every year,
and the results are truly remarkable. What’s most impressive is that these men look so natural that not even their hairdresser will know for sure!
The difficulties of transplants in the past — the pluggy look have been largely overcome with better technologies and well-trained surgeons. The main objection to a hair transplant is the
cost, which is why it’s vitally important that you pick a hair trans-plant surgeon who will give you the most for your money in terms of positive, long-lasting results.Although the cost of a hair transplant can sound exorbitant at first glance, it may not be as far out of your reach as you think. The fact is that a hair transplant costs less than five years’ worth of buying
and maintaining one decent quality wig! We devote post 13 to advising you on how to choose a hair transplant surgeon (price should never be your main consideration!), take you through the transplant process, and go home with you and your new hair in Chapter 14 to look at how life will be after your transplant.
