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Even people with thinning hair dream of having lush, thick and healthy locks to set off their complete look. For most people with thinning hair, though, all of their styling endeavors are met with frustration and a resulting style that falls short of the image that they had envisioned.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Thinning hair does not sentence you to a life of dull and unstylish tresses. In fact, there are several things that you can do to make your thinning hair look stunning. And the best part is that these thinning hair options won’t take a great deal of your time or money either.

The first thing that you need to do to make your thinning hair look fabulous is to find the right stylist. Search for a stylist who has other clients with thinning hair and is fluent in all of the right styles and techniques to both protect thinning hair and make it look thicker than it really is. You can do this by asking for referrals from friends who also have thinning hair but always seem to look like they have just left the salon.

Once you have found the right stylist, together you can begin to examine your options for making your thinning hair appear thick again. Since there are many different ways to thicken up your locks, it is very important for you and your stylist to talk about each thinning hair option together so that you pick the right techniques that are perfect for you and your thinning hair.

Here are just a few of the ways that you can make your thinning hair appear lush and thick:

• Cut and texture. One of the best ways to conceal your thinning hair is to find a cut that adds a lot of texture and movement to your style while at the same time makes your hair appear thicker. Since long hair tends to draw the eye to the reality of thinning hair, shorter hairstyles are often your better bet. Choose styles with a lot of layers and textures ends that will create movement and interest to your thinning hair style. Adding texture through soft curl can also be a great way to make your thinning hair look its best.
• Color. Not only does color add more body and thickness to your thinning hair, it can also be used to draw the eye away from particularly thin spots. Using a combination of low-lights, high-lights and color accents, your stylist can do wonders for your thinning hair with a color brush.
• Products. There are a wide variety of products on the market that can be used to conceal thinning hair. Products such as thickening shampoos and conditioners can do a lot for thinning hair. Also be conscious of what types of styling products that you use on your thinning hair. Use lighter products such as mousses and pomades over heavy products like gel and spritzs.

As you can see, none of these thinning hair remedies are complicated or expensive. Simply by learning how to best style your thinning hair and learning to use the right products can do a great deal to make your hair look like it is both chic and thick.

Michael Barrows’ website gives great advice for good hair. Get your free ebook packed with hair style and hair care tips and advice, visit great-hairstyles.com.

There is perhaps never a better time when you can pull off the very trendy and funky hair styles as when you are a teenager. The teen hair style, while always evolving and reflecting the tastes of the generation, always tends to be a trendy hair style that is hard for older people to imitate and still look great. From a ton of texture to funky and fresh color techniques, the teen hair style is always at the cutting edge of fashion.

The funky teen hair style always looks like it has been taken straight off the runway. Infused with rich, trendy color, the teen hair style does a lot to capture an era of style completely. Just think about all of the famous teen hair styles, of the past. Complete generations have been defined by the trendy hair styles worn by the teenagers of that time.

Today, top teen hair styles are trendier than ever and cover a wide range of styles, lengths and textures. Perhaps for the first time, the teen hair style is a reflection of the person within instead of the popular teen hair styles without. I mean just think of how many popular teen hair styles there are to choose from. We are no longer like the cookie-cutter generations that came before.

While there are a great deal of teen hair styles to choose from and numerous variations of each, it can be hard to find the perfect teen hair style to reflect your personality and tastes. So, here are a few ideas for your next teen hair style.

The short teen hair style

The teen hair style has never been shorter. In fact, many teenage girls are now wearing their hair shorter than the boys. But one thing is always sure; the short teen hair style is always a trendy hair style. Full of texture and interest, the short teen hair style is never dull.

Probably the most popular short teen hair style of today is a variation on the pixie cut. Only about 1″ to 1 ½” in length throughout, this teen hair style is heavily textured and can be worn in several different ways. From rigid spikes and soft funk to close-to-the-head tresses, this teen hair style accommodates a wide range of tastes.

The textured teen hair style

No matter what length your locks are, texture is needed to pull off a trendy hair style. This texture can be created through cutting and razoring techniques, it can be natural as in the case of natural curl, and it can be created chemically through perms and relaxers or thermal styling tools.

As mentioned before, today’s teen hair style is never boring. Not only does texture liven up your teen hair style, it can also take a popular style and make it uniquely your own. Take for instance a simple layered teen hair style. Falling about shoulder length, this teen hair style would be dull if left to hang straight. But if you take the same cut and add pomade to texturize the ends or add spiral curl to this teen hair style with tube rollers, you could really have a different teen hair style each and every day.

The teen hair style and color

Every trendy hair style needs color, and the same is true for the teen hair style. Adding color can be as simple as a few highlights or lowlights or it can come in the form of dramatic changes such as dark colors for the Gothic look. Color for the teen hair style can also be a statement of itself. Just look at the colors worn by Pink and Christina Aguilera. Their most popular teen hair style cuts were not really anything that unique, it was their color that set their teen hair style apart from others.

When choosing color for your teen hair style do not be afraid to try something funky and unique. This may be the only time in your life that you can get by with blue highlights. Also, do not become wrapped up in choosing the same color for your teen hair style that you have seen worn by other people. Stay unique, venture out, be brave and you will always have a teen hair style worthy of envy.

Michael Barrows’ website gives great advice for good hair. Get your free ebook packed with hair style and hair care tips and advice, visit great-hairstyles.com.

The quest for beautiful skin and hair is prevalent among women. You can make inexpensive, natural beauty and hair treatments from ingredients you have in your home that will perform just as well or better than products you purchase in the store.

If you only have one natural beauty remedy in your pantry, make it Olive Oil. It’s extremely versatile and can be used on every part of your body.

Olive oil is excellent for removing mascara. It’s much better than petroleum jelly or baby oil and is beneficial to the skin around your eyes.

Use a few drops of olive oil in warm water for a wonderful at-home manicure. Apply your favorite lotion afterwards to lock in the moisture.

Beeswax and olive oil melted and poured into a small tin makes wonderful lip balm that will keep your lips soft and smooth.

Dry feet can be healed after one night of this treatment. Before bed, rub olive oil into your dry, cracked feet. Do not rinse. Then, put a cozy pair of socks on and go to sleep. Your feet will drink in the moisture and feel much better by morning.

Add a few drops of olive oil to your bath water for the best skin softener you can imagine. And, if you’re feeling extra decadent, then add a few drops of essential oil for a natural aromatherapy bath.

A very small amount of olive oil applied to dry hair will condition and get rid of frizz. This is a great leave-in conditioner.

Olive oil can also work as a shaving cream for men with sensitive skin.

Don’t buy those expensive Sea Salt Scrubs. Make your own. Just add sea salt to olive oil and you’ve got a sea salt scrub that will feel like heaven. Add a drop of essential oils if you’d like your scrub scented.

Please use caution when using olive oil in your bathtub as it will get quite slippery and you don’t want to fall.

It is not necessary to pay a lot of money for beauty treatment products. The things you have in your very own kitchen can often be the best beauty products available.

Melissa B. Rayn loves to experiment with different homemade bath and body recipes. Her passion for creating beauty and spa recipes inspired her to share them with others at her website mybeautyrecipes.com.

At first sight the answer seems very obvious – they are cheaper. And of course that is true. But in fact Eastern European hair is not that much more expensive – the amount necessary to make a good wig is about 30-50 USD in Poland or Czech Republic. That is not a fortune if you are going to spend a few hundred dollars on a wig. So what is the catch?

The problem is on the supply side. There are over 2 billion people in Asia and only 200 million in Eastern Europe. Most of people in Eastern Europe have no need to sell their hair for economic reasons. Moreover, I don’t have to emphasize how rare it is in rich Western European countries to sell one’s hair. That is what makes European hair rare and explains why local wig-makers purchase only the amount necessary for their own production. Outside of Eastern Europe, due to its rarity, the price of the best European hair (so called “raw virgin hair”) is skyrocketing.

Hence 99% of human hair wigs are made of Asian hair. This hair is marked by such trade names as “human hair” or “remy hair”. If the producer or a sales person does not state directly that the hair is exclusively European, you can be 100% sure that you are dealing with Asian hair.

Asian hair is by nature very dark (black), very straight and thicker than European hair. Subject to a complicated process of a pigmentation removal, the hair looses its natural shine and resilience. Before it finally gets to you it will be dyed several times using synthetic chemical products, which no one would use to dye their own hair. Such a hair has a tendency to show a ting of a dark or red color. This is why it has to be dyed several times and go through a bleaching process. That way any color can be obtained, but hair structure gets damaged during the process. It is not pleasant to the touch anymore and even after as little as twenty weeks it will loose its shine and become dull.

Another issue concerns the manner in which the hair is obtained. It is not planned from the start with the thought of creating wigs. Hair is cut in random hair salons. Part of the hair also comes from ritual ceremonies of cutting of the hair as a sign of entering into adulthood. Such hair in the fervor of the ceremony falls to the floor and is gathered from there and placed in a great pile. In the process the hair is turned against and opposite to each of its strands and not layered in the same direction. Although it may not seem so at first, this does change the fundamental significance in the quality of your wig.

Every strand of hair has a coarse cuticle, which clings to the cuticle of the neighboring hair if they are layered in the opposite direction. In effect hair is twisting and intertwining into a hair clump so difficult to comb out. The only method for solving this problem is to completely remove the natural cuticle, which is then replaced with a silicon one that gives the hair its shine. It is a brutal and destructive process – such a wig will maintain its sheen no longer than for a period of 4 to 12 weeks. After that time hair becomes dull and unattractive.

The best Asian hair comes from India and Pakistan. In reality, it is not much better than hair described above. The advantage is that this hair is less stiff and may have a natural tendency to from slight waves. For that reason, many producers claim that it has the same qualities as European hair, which is not true.

If only there were more Eastern Europeans, life of wig-makers and their clients would be simpler, heh?

Franek Migaszewski is co-founder and manager of wiggywigs.com site, the first wig vendor from Eastern Europe selling human hair wigs directly to the western markets on the Internet.

Medical hair restoration in the literal sense includes the hair loss treatment which depends upon the use of medicines. Unusual hair loss both in men and women is caused by the alterations in the androgen metabolism. The metabolism of androgen involves an enzyme called 5 alpha reductase which combines with the hormone androgen (testosterone) to form the DHT (Dihydro-testosterone). DHT is a natural metabolite of our body which is the root cause of hair loss.

DHT gets into the hair follicles and roots (dermal papilla), it prevents necessary proteins, vitamins and minerals from providing nourishment for hair follicles. This shortens their growing stage (anagen phase) and lengthens their resting stage (telogen phase) of the follicle. DHT is responsible for 95% of hair loss.

Some individuals both men and women are genetically pre-disposed to produce more DHT than the normal individuals. DHT also creates a wax-like substance around the hair roots. DHT accumulation inside the hair follicles and roots is one of the primary causes of male and female pattern hair loss.

Blocking the synthesis of DHT at molecular level forms the basis for the treatment of MPHL (male pattern hair loss) and FPHL (female pattern hair loss). There are many natural DHT blockers and a number of drugs which are used for medical hair restoration. Let’s see.

Minoxidil

Minoxidil has the distinction of the first drug being used for promoting the hair restoration. Minoxidil was then approved as medical hair restoration treatment drug for men by the FDA, USA in 1988 as a 2% solution, followed by 5% solution in 1997. For women, the 2% solution was approved in 1991. Though 5% solution is not approved for women, it is used as a medical hair restoration treatment by many dermatologists worldwide.

Mechanism of action

Minoxidil is thought to have a direct mitogenic effect on epidermal cells. Calcium normally enhances epidermal growth factors to inhibit hair growth. Minoxidil by getting converted to minoxidil sulfate enhances potassium ion permeability to prevent calcium ions from entering into cells. It takes about few months time for the results to be evident since it is the time which is necessary for restoring the normal growth cycle of hair fibers.

Though minoxidil does not have any effect on blood pressure, it should be used with caution in patient with cardiovascular diseases. It is also contraindicated in pregnant and nursing mothers.

Finasteride

The drug finasteride was earlier used as treatment for prostate enlargement, under the medical name Proscar. But in 1998, it was approved by FDA for the Medical hair loss restoration in MPHL.

Mechanism of Action

Medical hair restoration treatments with Finasteride depends upon its specific action as an inhibitor of type II 5α-reductase, the intracellular enzyme that converts male hormone androgen into DHT (Dihydro Testosterone). Its action results in significant decrease in serum and tissue DHT levels in even in concentration as low as 0.2mg. Finasteride stabilizes hair loss in 80% of patient with Vertex hair loss and in 70% of patients with frontal hair loss. The peculiar thing about Propecia is that its effect is more pronounced in crown area than in the front.

Many hair restoration surgeons find Propecia (finasteride) to act as an excellent adjunct to the surgical hair restoration.

Combination Therapy

There are reports which say that use of finasteride and topical minoxidil combination therapy as a Medical hair restoration treatment is of more advantage in cases of mild to moderate MPHL. Many hair restoration doctors have already started the use of combination therapy in order to obtain better hair growth.

Anti Androgen Therapy

For women with hyperandrogonism(with increased levels of androgen) who do not respond well to minoxidil, antiandrogen therapy is another option of medical hair restoration. In UK the most commonly used anti-androgen for women is CPA (cyproterone acetate), which is used in combination with ethinyl-estradiol.

In United States CPA is not available, the aldosterone antagonist spironolactone is the alternative choice of hair restoration doctors.

Flutamide

Medical hair restoration with flutamide has shown improvement as hair loss restoration treatment in women with hirsutism. For hyperandrogenic premenopausal women, flutamide is a better medical hair restoration agent than both the CPA or finestride.

Hair loss restoration management is a structured process. For more details on the topic you can refer to section medical hair restoration or article on male pattern hair loss or female pattern hair loss at our site hairtransplantadvice.com.

The author Steve Harris is an expert in female pattern hair loss and medical hair restoration. Please visit hairtransplantadvice.com.

One of the great things about hair products is that they constantly evolve and the Sedu hair iron is a great example of a hair product benefiting from Tourmaline. In fact Tourmaline has been used for many years in water filters and it’s only been in recent years that the benefits of Tourmaline could be harnessed for the hair industry. This article was written to try and explain exactly what Tourmaline is and why it’s used on hair straighteners.

Firstly, Tourmaline is a precious stone, whose colors include blue, green, pink, red, yellow, brown, black, bi-colored, tri-colored, and colorless. Tourmaline may be found in Brazil, Russia, Burma, Afghanistan, Malagasy Republic, Maine, California.

According to Egyptian legend the beautiful colors are the result of the Tourmaline travelling along a rainbow from the centre of the Earth up towards the sun. And on its way up it collected all the colours of the rainbow. This is why nowadays it is also called the “Rainbow gemstone”.

The name “Tourmaline” is derived from the Singhalese expression “tura mali”, which translates as “stone of mixed colours.” Ooohhh, now I’m intrigued. The very name already refers to the unique spectrum of colours displayed by this gemstone and no Tourmaline stone resembles another one. Tourmaline shows many faces and is thus excellently suited to match all moods and tempers. It does not come as a surprise, then, that ever since ancient days it has been attributed with magical powers. Tourmaline is supposed to be an especially powerful influence on love and friendship, lending them permanence and stability. I think it’s about time I gave a Sedu Tourmaline hair straightener to my boyfriend!

Tourmaline has been used for sometime now in specialist water filters but only recently has it’s benefits been used in the hair industry.

Why is Tourmaline used on hair straighteners?

It’s all very well and good that Tourmaline is a beautiful gemstone but I’m sure I’ve never seen any sparkling gems on my Sedu tourmaline hair straightener so why is it used. I’m going to get a bit technical here: Tourmaline plates on your straightener generate negative ions and far infrared (FIR) rays. The FIR help to lock in moisture in your hair and also remove static which causes your hair to Frizz.

Due to the concentration of these negative ions hair-straightening time is cut in half and your hair is left feeling much softer and shinier.

Main benefits

• Micro-porous technology (locks in moisture)
• Ion field technology (seals in natural oils)
• Tourmaline Negative ion technology (removes static)
• Tourmaline Infrared heat for deep, long lasting straightness

It just goes to show that even precious stones have many more applications than sitting on your finger or around your neck. Although I think I still prefer a big diamond ring any day.

A self confessed hair straightener fan Andrea Simpson has a website, http://www.a1-hair-straighteners.com/review.shtml, devoted to hair straighteners covering such products as the Sedu, Solia & Global Beauty Hair Straighteners.

First off, this isn’t that thing you studied in physics class relating to anodes and cathodes and some guy called Faraday. Here, electrolysis means one of the most popular and effective ways to permanently remove unwanted hair. Electrolysis has an outstanding track record of success and over a century of tested safety and effectiveness.

The reason that it’s so popular is that it’s fundamental. A hair-thin metal probe is inserted into the hair follicle and an electrical charge is delivered. This damages the follicle and inhibits its ability to produce hairs.

Supervised by a professional (the process is very tricky and there’s some pretty serious training involved) electrolysis is almost always successful, and the vast majority of consumers experience permanent results.

However (there’s always a however, right?), there are certain disadvantages, and a good deal of myth flying around when it comes to this kind of hair removal. First up, it’s not painless. Some customers manage without pain killers, others definitely do not. It’s no picnic for your bank balance, either. A simple session can cost $150, and for the more advanced processes, there could be a bill of between $2000 and $20000.

Regulations for electrologists vary by state, so it can be tricky tracking down the right one for the job. Be sure you’re confident, because poor application can result in partial-to-full re-growth, a spread of infection, even lasting skin damage. Done properly, electrolysis shouldn’t even puncture the skin.

Beyond this, the process can be mind-numbingly tedious, and in some cases, completely ineffective. A large area of hair is tough to treat, and since there are so many variables relating to your personal follicle characteristics and the amount of epilation (hair removal) you seek, accurate re-growth rates are almost impossible to determine. It’s true that the vast majority of consumers are happy with their results, but published studies show that around 8% are not satisfied. There’s nothing official to guarantee 0% re-growth, so don’t trust anyone who claims it.

It’s probably worth mentioning that home electrolysis kits, the ones that look like mechanical pencils with a 9-volt battery, are almost never recommended. Put simply, the chances of success are much less, while all the risks are increased. So, while you’re searching for a registered, state-licensed hair removal professional, how about a bit of science?

There are actually three types of energy used in electrolysis. Galvanic alters the salt and water in the skin around the probe to produce sodium hydroxide, or lye, which, if there’s enough, can damage the cells that cause re-growth. Thermolysis works by vibrating the water in your skin, and heating it until the cell is damaged. Blend is a kind of hybrid of these, which heats the lye to make it more caustic. This is probably the most effective method, and therefore the most deserving of the right professional application.

The bottom line? Electrolysis works, but you have to use your head. St. Louis ophthalmologist Charles Michel was practicing it back in 1875, so it shouldn’t be too scary. Take your time, do your research, and check out the big guys:

• AEA (American Electrology Association)
• IGPE (International Guild of Professional Electrologists)
• SCME (Society of Clinical and Medical Electrologists)
• ESNE (Electrolysis Society of the Northeast)
• IBE (International Board of Electrologists)
• COPE (Canadian Organization of Professional Electrologists)

Tamra Cantar is a freelance writer on topics of interest and has a website dedicated to providing the visitor with useful information and resources for hair removal. Visit http://electrolysis-hair-removal.gohairremoval.com for more information on electrolysis and other hair removal procedures.

For decades in this country men and women alike have been in search of the best way to remove hair and keep it off. A smooth, hairless body seems to be a trend that is here to stay as people are discovering its benefits and how easy it can really be to maintain such a look. Whether suffering from the excessive hair growth of hirsutism or simply looking to keep unwanted hair off, there are many methods, but none quite as long lasting and easy as laser hair removal New Jersey.

How Laser Hair Removal Works

Laser hair removal can be as specific and targeted as the few stray hairs on the eyebrows. At the same time it can remove hair from large areas such as the back and legs. The specific, targeted beam of light can zoom in on the roots of hair anywhere. This light then deadens the root causing the hair to fall out and not grow back.

Laser hair removal treatments are generally done in ½ hour to 45 minute sessions. Sometimes it takes 3 or more sessions to completely kill the roots of the whole area where hair removal is wanted.

After a laser treatment session, the skin may be a little red or irritated, but this usually goes away within a short time. The process is so non-evasive that you can return back to work. It makes going on your lunch hour or before work a viable option.

The Benefits of Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal is permanent as soon as the individual hair root is deadened. This makes the process one of the most desirable hair removal systems for many people who don’t ever want the hair to grow back.

Laser hair removal is also able to complete this task over large areas of the skin. Men often want a hairless chest or back and women often remove hair from their legs – - both large areas and often too painstaking for waxing, tweezing, or removing with an epilator.

The laser technology associated with this form of hair removal is safe and effective for unwanted hair anywhere. It can be used to remove female pubic hair in place of bikini waxing, sugaring, or crème hair removers. It works on armpits, eyebrows or individual stray hairs that may form on the face, breasts, and abdomen.

Caring for Skin After Laser Removal

Skin may be slightly red and a little sensitive following the laser removal procedure. This will go away quickly and painlessly.

Laser removal of hair does not affect tanning. You will still get the same quality of suntan as before being exposed to a laser, although you should not tan immediately following the procedure since skin will be highly sensitive to sunlight for a short time after laser treatment.

Apply cosmetics will be save also after a laser treatment. Laser hair removal doesn’t usually dry skin, but you may want to choose a cosmetic with a moisturizer just to keep skin radiant and healthy looking.

Ciara McNamara publishes for the information source at http://www.laser-hair-removal-tips.com. The writer is publishing on issues like laser hair removal New Jersey.

Choosing a good hair restoration clinic is no doubt the most difficult task for any one deciding to go for a hair transplant. With thousands of hair transplant centers and hair transplant clinics mushrooming all over USA it is in fact quite confusing to track down a good hair transplant center.

The following article provides you with a good lead on how to go about choosing the right hair transplant center with a well regarded hair transplant surgeon performing the hair restoration surgery and with affordable hair replacement.

Questions to consider when choosing your prospective hair transplant surgeon and clinic

Before and during your contact with your prospective hair transplant surgeon and clinic, you need to look for signs and signals that this surgeon and clinic is capable of providing you with a quality result – a natural looking hair transplant. Unfortunately there are a number of clinics and surgeons out there that do poor quality work. Before, during and after the clinic interview there are some questions to ask yourself privately to try and reduce the risk of getting a hair transplant from a cowboy surgeon.

How did you find out about the clinic and the surgeon? In the yellow pages or by personal recommendation? A personal recommendation by someone who has already had a transplant from the clinic / surgeon you are considering is best. If you don’t have a friend or colleague who can give you a recommendation, it’s okay to start with an advertisement or even the yellow pages, but you need to do more footwork to find out whether the surgeon / clinic is good.

• How long has the clinic / surgeon been in business? If the clinic / surgeon has been around for a few years it suggests they must have a regular stream of (presumably satisfied) customers to stay in business.
• What reputation does the surgeon / clinic have? These days with the availability of powerful search engines on the internet it is fairly easy to find out other peoples’ opinions of the clinic / surgeon involved. Just type in their name and see what comes up.
• What reputation does the clinic / surgeon have in the business and legal arena? You could check with the better business bureau or equivalent in your area and check for any lawsuits brought against the clinic / surgeon. Often this can be done online. Contact your state medical board to see if any complaints have been filed against your hair transplant doctor or hair transplant clinic.
• What qualifications does the surgeon have? Is he/she a member of a professional organization specifically for the hair transplant profession? There are a few professional organizations (eg. In North America – The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgeons (ISHRS)) that attempt to improve hair transplant standards and ensure members do quality work. Membership of these organizations is not a guarantee that the surgeon is good, but it helps.
• In your contact with the clinic what is your general impression? Is the clinic in its own physical location or is it run from the back office of a general practice? Many hair transplant and cosmetic surgery clinics are in standalone buildings, others may be attached to larger dermatology clinics, each of which is valid. But some “clinics” are run by renting time in a surgery to do the operation and the only physical location may be a rented office not connected to a medical establishment. These small operations with a limited or no permanent location give cause for concern. They are harder to monitor and more difficult to contact if things go wrong.
• What is your impression in the interview? Does the surgeon sounds like he / she knows what they are talking about? Do they show pictures of their own work? Do they explain the risks as well as the benefits of hair transplantation?
• Do you feel some personal compatibility with the surgeon? You will be having a relatively intimate, albeit professional, relationship with this individual over a period of time if you have multiple hair transplant sessions. You need to feel comfortable with who you are dealing with.
• How pressured do you feel to sign up for the hair transplant? If you feel unduly pressured it is better to walk away. Give yourself time to think about it. You can always sign up later or find a different clinic. Clinics and surgeons that push hard to get you to sign up may be losing sight of their professional conduct requirements – to put the patient before profit.
• Prior to the surgery, did you actually meet with the surgeon who will oversee the transplant? Or did you just interview with a representative consultant, a nurse, or a technician? You should expect to see the surgeon at least once prior to the actual surgery. If you don’t see the surgeon before the procedure, or get only limited information, walk away from this clinic.
• Who will actually conduct the surgical procedure? It is not necessarily going to be the surgeon who will conduct the procedure form start to finish. Hair transplants usually involve quite a lot of people. If the surgeon is not going to be present and the procedure is to be done entirely by nurses or technicians, this is cause for concern.
• Is your hair transplant surgeon’s practice dedicated solely to surgical hair restoration? And if not, what percentage of his/her practice is? How many hair transplant operations does the surgeon conduct in a week/month/year? Some clinics and surgeons are exclusively focused on hair transplantation, they do nothing else. This is another indicator that the clinic and surgeon have extensive experience in hair transplantation.

Steve Harris specializes in various topics like hair transplant centers and affordable hair replacement. He has also authored a book on surgical hair restoration. Please visit http://www.hairrestorationadvice.com/.

Today’s article is all about hair loss and home remedies. While there are a LOT of products on the market today that claim to slow, stop, prevent or reverse hair loss, there are many other ways to attack hair loss that don’t include using strong chemicals or prescription drugs. Granted, some are effective and some are not, but the only way to know for sure (just like using Propecia) is to try them for yourself. I’m going to list a few possible ways to treat hair loss and let you make up your own mind on their effectiveness. Just to remind you all…I am not advocating any type of hair loss treatment, simply because every person is different and what might work for you might not work for someone else!

Okay, the first type of home remedy can be categorized as “herbal”. Many folks, including myself, have begun using certain herbs to combat all sorts of problems…anything from aging skin to a lack of energy to, you guessed it, hair loss. Here are some of the more popular herbs pertaining to hair loss…

Stinging nettle: Also known as Urtica Diocia, this herb has the ability to block the conversion of testosterone into DHT (DHT is often the cause of male hair loss). An optimum dose of 50-100mg per day in capsule form is recommended.

Ginkyo biloba: this herb is thought to improve blood circulation to the brain and skin. It is believed that the increased flow of blood to the brain area delivers more nutrients to the hair follicle thus promoting hair regrowth. A recommended dose is 120-160mg of dry extract each day spread over three doses.

He Shou Wu: Also known as Polygonum Multiflorum, this herb has traditionally been used to reduce hair loss and can be taken in capsule form or as a tea.

Pygeum Africanum: This herb is derived from the bark of the evergreen tree and it works like green tea. It is used to treat male pattern baldness. You should take 60-500mg per day in pill or capsule form.

Saw Palmetto: Also known as Seranoa Repens, this is a favorite choice for many men due to its ability to slow hair loss and encourage hair regrowth. Many commercially prepared hair loss treatments use this herb as a base but it can easily be found in its pure form. A dose of 160mg twice each day is recommended, but be sure the ingredients are made from the berry extract not the dried berries themselves.

The second type of home remedy for attacking hair loss are external preparations that are applied to the hair and scalp directly. Some of these may sound odd, but you never know until you try, right?

Safflower Oil: Also known as Carthamus Tinctorious, safflower oil applied to the scalp acts as a vasolidator that dilates blood vessels. This allows more blood to deliver nutrients to the hair follicle thus creating an environment conducive to hair regrowth.

Aloe Vera: You can rub Aloe Vera into your scalp each night. It’s believed that the herb activates the production of nitric oxide and contains an enzyme called superoxide dismutane. These two substances combined may stimulate hair regrowth in those suffering from male pattern baldness.

Red Pepper: Also know as Capiscum, you can apply Red Pepper to the scalp as a poultice. It irritates the scalp and stimulates blood flow to the base of the hair, which may encourage renewed hair growth.

Onion: Yes, onions. Some believe that rubbing the scalp with an onion before shampooing may actually stimulate hair growth…your mileage may vary!

There are many more home remedies that may aid in hair growth or regrowth. I will talk about these in future articles. Thanks for reading and take care!

Dave McCloskey is a long-time hair stylist who wants to share some of his knowledge with folks on the web. For more information on male hair loss: www.computtel.com/haircareblog.