Hair loss is common as we age. Additionally, many have genetic conditions that will lead to hair loss. Putting too much tension on your hair can pull it out faster than it can regrow. Finally, stress can make your hair fall out.
Consider A Short Cut
If you’ve always had long hair and are noticing thinning or a receding hairline, consider a short cut to allow the stressed hairline to fill in again. Be aware that this regrowth may take some time; be ready to live with short hair for quite a while as it comes back. For those who are also seeing grey hairs crop up, you may notice a new texture in this growth.
Hair that was dark and smooth may be white and curly. Understand that new grey or white hair will be more fragile and be ready to change your style goals.
Stimulate Existing Follicles
If you have genetic indicators for baldness, it’s important that you get in front of dihydrotestosterone, or DHT. While losing some hair each month is perfectly normal, it’s high levels of DHT that get in the way of producing new, healthy hair. Once these follicles go dormant, getting them to produce again can be a challenge. There are medications that you can use to promote hair growth, or you can use laser caps to ramp up the hair regrowth process.
Surgical Options
If your hairline has receded far enough to show more forehead than you like, you can get surgery done at the hairline to both raise the forehead and lower that front hairline. This surgery is often done in combination with a brow lift or an eyelid lift. Others who get their hairline done choose to have Botox treatments to their forehead.
The process of getting your hairline pulled forward carries all the risks of any surgery. You will be required to meet with your plastic surgeon to discuss your expectations and to carefully review your personal habits to make sure you’re a good candidate for the surgery. Your current medications will need to be discussed and you may be required to make dietary or lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, prior to the surgery.
Plugs
Hair replacement plugs pull small clumps or plugs of healthy follicles from the back of the head and put them in the scalp, generally across the top of the head. Many who undergo this treatment are also then encouraged to use a laser cap to keep the transplanted follicles healthy and growing.
There are many skilled practitioners doing hair plugs safely. However, while this procedure is done on an outpatient basis, it is critical that anyone seeking this therapy
- Work with a licensed cosmetic surgeon to make sure they’re a good candidate
- Follow all pre-op and post-op instructions
- Follow-up with their physician
It’s never a good idea to look for the best bargain for any procedure that will break the skin. While the person doing your hair plug transfer may not be a physician, they should be under the guidance of a physician and be fully certified and well-trained. Also, make sure that you schedule in some downtime so you can rest, heal and avoid infection.
Managing Stress
Stress can take a toll on your body, your mind, and your face. It can also be really hard on your scalp. If you’re under a great deal of emotional stress and don’t have an outlet, you can suffer from telogen effluvium or stress-related hair loss.
The good news about this condition is that reducing the stress with the help of a therapist can allow hair to come back. However, as hair is so closely tied to our appearance and our appearance is critically important to our self-esteem, rapid hair loss can only add to our already unmanageable stress level. Monitor your hair drain. Losing strands of hair is normal, but if you see clumps, discuss your concerns with your physician.
To maintain your hair, take the pressure off, both mentally and physically. If you’ve already lost hair, do your best to get follicles producing again with DHT blocking shampoo and laser therapy. If your follicles are completely dormant, consider plugs.
