Hair Restoration |
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The world’s most respected authority on hair and scalp health, trichologist, Philip Kinglsey, has been tending the tresses of stars and royalty for over 50 years. One of his first clients was Audrey Hepburn, she has since been followed by A-listers like John Travolta, Sir Laurence Olivier, Kate Winslet, Renee Zellweger, Sigourney Weaver and Lucy Liu. With clinics in London and New York, the hair guru who famously coined the phrase ‘bad hair day’, agreed to answer some of the most common questions on hair loss.
This distressing problem can affect men and women at any stage in their lives and has many different causes. “Hair is the single most important part of the anatomy affecting our psyche. We can wear the most fashionable clothes, the most expensive jewellery, our skin can be flawless but if our hair isn’t right, we don’t feel good. The reverse is also true”, explains Philip. Hair loss or thinning hair in women can begin at puberty, when pregnant, after childbirth, menopause, with taking oral contraceptives or HRT. The common factor in all of these is a change in hormones – oestrogens and androgens. Philip says, “Not a day goes by in my practice without a distraught woman in despair because of her thinning hair.” PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) is a hormonal condition that whilst not dangerous for a woman can be a common cause for thinning or loss of hair. This is due to the high percentage of women that suffer with the condition. Men’s receding hair lines dates back to around 4000 years ago. During the Roman Empire men pushed their hair forward, like Julius Caesar, to hide their thinning hair lines. Unfortunately, most Caucasian men will notice a decrease in the volume of their hair as they age. “A degree of hair loss probably occurs in 100 per cent of Caucasian males. This can vary between a slightly receding hair line, a thinning crown, an overall reduction in thickness and total baldness,” explains Philip. Whilst there doesn’t appear to be a direct cure for hair loss, pinning down your personal causes with a correct diagnosis is the best way to begin to treat the problem. Here Philip explains what you can do … Ask Philip…Q: What is the first thing you should do if you start to notice hair loss? A: “Seek professional advice via your doctor, dermatologist or trichologist.” (To find a qualified trichologist in your area check out The Institute of Trichologists at www.trichologists.org.uk). Hairdressers are not necessarily qualified to diagnose hair loss and thinning problems. Q: What are the main causes of hair loss? A: “There are many reasons for hair loss, such as low iron levels, thyroid anomalies, hormonal changes, nutritional aspects, general health, stress and some scalp conditions. Most of these problems can be detected by blood tests.” Q: Is hair loss different in men and women? A: “Yes and no. All the above possibilities remain, however, men tend to lose more hair because they produce more androgens (male hormones). But hair loss in women is grossly underestimated, there are as many women with hair loss as men. The main difference is that women do not (or rarely) go bald.” Q: Are there any effective remedies available to help restore hair? A: “Strictly speaking there are no over the counter remedies that can effectively stop hair loss. The point is to find the cause(s) and then counteract them.” Q: Can changing your diet help? A: “Diet can help. For example, low protein diets, particularly at breakfast and lunch can cause extra fall. A person with low levels of vitamin B12 similarly can experience hair problems.” Q: Can hair extensions make your hair fall out? A: “The biggest potential problem is ‘traction’ hair loss and breakage because of the pulling involved. Freshly done it can look wonderful and completely change your appearance but it’s not a good idea to leave them in for too long. Many women get carried away, getting used to having longer, thicker hair. By the time they panic and end up in my office the hair can be in a really difficult state.” Q: I’ve heard that fiddling with your hair can make it thinner, is that true? A: “Twiddling with hair is normally a benign and pleasant habit, but something triggers it to become serious, leading to ‘trichotillomania’. Not only is it more common in women, but it occurs mostly around puberty or menopause. This self-inflicted hair loss occurs when the twiddling gradually reaches the pulling stage. Psychological therapy can help as can wearing thick gloves at night when the habit is worse, cutting hair short, covering hair with a slippery cream or wearing a scarf.” Q: How can you make thin hair look and feel thicker? A: “There are many products available, including my own range, that can give the appearance and feel of thicker hair.” Visit www.philipkingsley.com to view hair helpers such as PK4Hair Vegetarian Protein Capsules, £18 for 120 capsules and Body Building Shampoo and Conditioner, from £4.95 each. Q: What are the effects of hair loss on a person’s wellbeing and how should they be treated? A: “Hair is deeply psychological and it can have a devastating effect on morale, which can lead to depression and even to being suicidal. The way to counteract this is to find a serious and committed professional to help you. There are also many books available that explain all this, including my own ‘The Hair Bible’ (Aurum Press Ltd, £9.95).” Q: Are there any natural alternative remedies that can help, for instance, acupuncture or herbal treatment? A: “They have not been proven to help.” Q: When should a person resort to a hair transplant and where should they look to find a reputable doctor/surgeon? A: “The timing of having a transplant is personal and psychological. It’s not a good idea to wait until you have a bald area, though. There are many “cowboys” regarding transplants and it is best to have a personal recommendation. At my clinic, we would give the names of those we consider the best (call 0207 629 4004). When done correctly and carefully, transplants can be very effective and they don’t fall out.” Philip Kinglsey has a wide range of hair products to also help with scalp problems, frizzy, fine and flyaway and chemically processed hair. His two books, including ‘Happy Hair Days’, £5.99, which gives 50 tips for healthy hair, and products are available from www.philipkingsley.com. |
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