3 Important Things You Must Do When Diagnosed With Hair Loss!

Hair loss has been a subject of taboo in the beauty industry for many years. It’s almost treated like a contagious disease of sorts. Hair loss can be debilitating, it can affect women not only from a physical aspect but also psychologically. Yet, only hair loss’ physical complications are recognized and treated. If we were to look a little deeper and listen to the stories of those with the hair loss experience, we would know that many of the issues they face are social, emotional and mental. There are deeply ingrained scars left behind in circumstances where there is permanent hair loss.

People with cancer go through treatment and have first hand knowledge of the devastating toll the treatments have on their body. It’s a well-known fact that most women will lose their hair during chemo and radiation treatments. There’s one stark difference in outcomes of hair loss due to cancer treatment and hair loss due to other medical conditions. Events such as Alopecia and Lupus many times cause hair loss and in some cases, the does not grow back.

What are the consequences? Based on the conversations and consultations I’ve had with many of my hair loss clients, the diagnosis of permanent hair loss has devastating re. In fact, there are many after effects of hair loss such as depression, anxiety, social withdrawal, low self-esteem and more. More often than not, these women suffer in silence not even confiding to their hair stylist about their hair loss condition. They put on a brave face and mask their secret from the world. In their mind, there’s not much that can be done and this leaves one feeling vulnerable and alone.

Ladies! You are not alone! There are hundreds of thousands of women who suffer with hair loss and experience some of the same symptoms. The worst thing you can do is isolate yourself! People say all the time that we are more than our hair, but I say that our hair is very much a part of who we are and that should be acknowledged.

There are 3 important things you must remember if you are diagnosed with a disease or scalp condition which causes hair loss.

1) Refrain from isolating yourself from others. People who love and support you will want to help you the best way that they know how. With the love and support of those who genuinely care for you, you’ll be more likely to seek treatment and assistance in order to maintain a greater quality of care.

2) Don’t underestimate the impacts on your social and emotional health.  Seek help from doctors, counselors and life coaches to help you find coping strategies. Seek consulting services  with a hairstylist to help you come up with ideas to maintain your image and beauty standards.

3) Encourage others who are in your situation! The power of healing lies in the ability to help someone else along their healing process while you are healing. This will help take your mind off of your circumstances and allows you to focus on the greater good. There’s a great sense of satisfaction when you help someone else feel better.

With acceptance comes healing. The sooner you face your situation head on, without judging yourself, the better off you’ll be.

3 Things You’re Doing To Cause Hair Loss and How To Stop It!

Hair loss has always been a serious concern for women.  Research shows 1 in 3 women will suffer from hair loss or thinning. There are many causes and no two symptoms for hair loss are the same. Causes of hair loss range from genetics to chemical reactions. As humans, there are hormonal imbalances which can trigger responses from the body in the form of hair loss and thinning. We also need to keep in mind that stress is also a huge culprit to hair loss as well as iron deficiency and thyroid issues.

It’s important that as individuals we pay close attention and listen to our bodies. You should always give attention to the subtle signs indicating there is something wrong. Typically, you will begin to see an increased amount of hair shedding or breakage. If you have not had any major lifestyle or health changes, this is a clear indication that something may be wrong.

Have you noticed any hair loss or thinning?

1) If you’ve been placing an increased amount of tension on your hair by wearing extensions or braids, you could be at increased risk for hair loss.

You will want to keep an eye on your hair and be sure to moisturize your natural hair daily. The hair strand can be very fragile, but it is especially fragile if it becomes too dry. If you are wearing hair extensions, wigs or braids, it is vitally important that you moisturize the exposed hair and scalp daily!! If not, the hair will become so weak that it cannot support or survive the weight of the extensions.

2) What are your putting in your body??? Garbage in equals garbage out….literally!

The most important thing to remember is the role your diet plays in growing and maintaining healthy hair! Our diets play the most significant role in managing hair loss because the hair grows from underneath the scalp. The hair follicle is nourished from the blood flow, which carries nutrients from what you ingest. Drinking enough water, exercising and eating foods rich in iron and other minerals is the key to strong, healthy hair.

3) When was your last trim or hair cut? Do you remember? If you cannot recall the last time that you had a cut or trim, it may be costing you your hair!

When a stylist recommends a trim, it’s not because they just want to cut all of your hair off!!!….it’s because they’ve noticed the ends of your hair is damaged. Broken, damaged hair strands will only continue to split and break all the way up the strand to the scalp. If left unattended, damaged ends will eventually cost you the entire hair strand. It is recommended that you have a trim at least every six to eight weeks. Following a regimen such as visiting your hair stylist regularly, eating a healthy, balanced diet and ensuring you protect your hair from high-tension hair styles can help your mane remain as illustrious as possible!