Are you using the right hair care products?
There are presently hundreds of hair care products on the market. Unfortunately, most don’t
work very well. In fact, there are only 2 treatments that are actually FDA approved for the
indication of treating hereditary alopecia. It is important to choose treatments that are effective,
economical and easy to use on a daily basis.we will help you select the right hair care products for your personal treatment regimen.
Choosing the Right Hair Products
Determining our specific hair type is a crucial step in selecting the shampoos and conditioners
that are best suited to meet our individual needs.
For instance, if your hair is dry, look for shampoos, conditioners, and other hair styling products
that are designed to manage “dry, frizzy hair.” If you have thin or oily hair, find a product that is
formulated “for weak, oily hair.” For additional help on how to determine your own individual
hair type, consult the bullet-points below:
• Normal hair
◦ Holds style without the use of too much styling products
◦ Neither greasy nor dry
◦ Not permed or colored
• Fine hair
◦ Becomes greasy
◦ Tends to be limp (flat), difficult to manage
• Dry hair
◦ Frizzy, rough
◦ Easily tangles
◦ Dull-looking
◦ Treated with perms and other hair colouring products
Now that you are more familiar with the most common hair classifications, take a good look at
your hair and see which type it most closely resembles. Select your shampoo, conditioner and
styling products accordingly. Using a product specially formulated for your specific hair type
will maximize the results you hope to achieve.
Washing and Drying Your Hair
Believe it or not, there is a correct way to wash your hair. Incessant rubbing and aggressive
towel-drying will only exacerbate the hair loss problems that you are already experiencing. There
is a much better approach.
These directions will help you wash and dry your hair properly:
1. Wash your hair every day. Contrary to popular suspicion, washing your hair every day
does not cause hair to dry out. As long as you use hair products that are suitable for your
hair type, it is perfectly safe to wash every day. In fact, it is preferable to shampoo daily
since it will clean dirt, oil and sebum that routinely build up on the scalp.
2. Always wash your hair with warm water. Warm water can dissolve dirt and help hair
follicles breathe freely. But be careful! If the water is too hot, it might damage and burn
your scalp. This deprives your hair of its natural oils, leading to a dry, brittle appearance.
3. Squeeze a considerable amount shampoo onto your palm and work a healthy lather into
your scalp and hair. Gently massage the shampoo on your scalp using your fingertips
(NOT your fingernails). While massaging, periodically comb your hair using your fingers
to avoid tangles.
4. Let your hair hang while thoroughly rinsing off shampoo.
5. If you are not using a 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner, use a conditioner separately.
Unlike shampoo (which is meant to concentrate on the scalp), conditioner is designed for
the ends of your hair. Let conditioner settle for several minutes before gently rinsing it off
with warm water. Conditioner followed after shampoo can be effective for men with
either short or long hair.
6. Standing under running water to rinse hair is recommended over dipping it in bath water.
Adequate water pressure is necessary for proper rinsing.
7. When towel-drying, gently pat your hair with a towel. Do not rub your hair too briskly
and do not blow dry your hair when it is still soaking wet.
8. Comb your hair with a wide-toothed plastic comb. This will make de-tangling easier and
will not put excess strain on hair follicles.
9. Ideally hair should be dried naturally, but should you need to use a blow-dryer, use it
inches away from your hair and stop while the hair is still a little damp. This will avoid
over-drying your hair, which can lead to brittleness and split ends.
10. If you are using hair products such as gels, mousse or hair wax, apply them while your
hair is still slightly damp.
How Hair Dyes Work
People dye their hair for a multitude reasons: to look good, to conceal thinning hair patches, to
cover up greying strands, etc.
There are two kinds of hair dyes:
• Semi-permanent – may last for only 1 to 6 weeks, but may wash out more easily with
frequent hair washing. You can also wash this type of dye out with tea, beer or lemon
juice if you are not happy with the colour.
• Permanent – can be applied as highlights, streaks or the entire head. Possible hair damage
may occur if, prior to application, hair has not been washed out with hydrogen peroxide
to remove previous or existing colour.
Both forms of hair dye are popular and can be used at home. Still, it is always important to take
the time to read the packaging and follow the instructions carefully. Hair dyes can make hair
look good, but if used improperly, they can also cause considerable damage.
Effects of Gels, Mousses and Dyes on Hair
Hair styling products such as gels, mousse and hair dyes are part of a man's “hygienic routine.”
Many men get their hair dyed (either by themselves or by professionals) every other month and
apply hair gels, wax or mousse every day after taking a shower. The purpose of these products is
to help style hair in an effective manner that conceals hair loss and flatters facial features. Other
important effects of styling products include:
• Thickening hair - styling gels and mousses provide “volume” to limp, dull-looking hair,
making it appear thicker and fuller.
• Reshaping hair - this can be done by using a blow dryer and a round brush. Water-based
hair sprays, mousses, gels and waxes are used to set the hair in attractive, uniform
patterns.
It may be necessary to try several products before deciding on which gel, mousse or dye works
best with your unique hair type.
How to Avoid Hair Damage
Every day we do cruel things to our hair without even knowing it. Here are some helpful ways to
avoid hair damage:
... avoid blow drying, curling or iron-straightening your hair using extremely hot temperatures.
Our hair contains air pockets that hold in moisture. Excessive heat breaks down these air
pockets, damaging hair strands and drying out our hair. Always use the lowest heat setting
possible and air-dry your hair whenever possible.
...stop aggressively rubbing your hair. After showering, gently pat hair dry instead of rubbing it
vigorously. Too much friction can damage hair shafts and contribute to hair shedding and fallout.
... avoid back-brushing, using metal combs or brushing too much. It is recommended to use a
plastic wide-toothed comb, especially on wet hair. Plastic combs create less friction when
compared to metal combs, and easily de-tangle hair without tugging or breaking hair strands.
... stop perming and using harsh hair chemicals (e.g. hair dyes, bleaches, hair sprays). Perming
and using strong, chemically-derived hair products can damage the hair cuticle and have adverse
effects on the moisture of your hair. This can make hair shafts look weak, wiry and brittle.
Realistically speaking, this might be hard for many working professionals that rely on hair sprays
and chemical treatments for styling. Still, cutting down on the usage and frequency of these
techniques can yield positive changes with regard to hair health.
... avoid too much sun exposure. Similar to blow drying, the direct heat from the sun can cause
hair damage, breakage and aggravation.
... do not style hair too tightly. Applying too much pressure on the hair and the scalp can directly
contribute to another form of hair loss known as traction alopecia.
Maintain a Healthy Scalp
When hereditary hair loss starts to manifest, the blood supply to the scalp diminishes. This
reduction occurs because blood is not needed where there is no hair. Interesting proof of this
occurs after hair transplantation surgery. Blood circulation improves when there are once again
living follicles at the top of the head that need nourishment.
Scalp condition and blood circulation can be directly or indirectly affected by the following
factors:
• Smoking – many doctors believe that there is a connection between smoking and hair
loss, but there is no scientific proof that corroborates this theory. Smoking does, however,
reduce scalp circulation, but this in itself will not cause hair loss.
• Sun exposure – repeated sunburn adversely affects the scalp by shrinking hair-producing
cells. Exposure to intense ultraviolet light can speed up the balding process in those
already affected by genetic hair loss.
• Skin cancer – there are 3 different types of cancer and 2 of them can be deadly if they
spread throughout the body. These 2 are malignant melanomas and squamous cell
cancers, and they almost always appear in skin that is exposed to the sun. The hair gives
the scalp protection from direct sun exposure and produces shade that lessens the risk of
developing skin cancer.
When balding starts, the scalp often becomes exposed to ultraviolet light from the sun
and skin can change from a smooth, uniform color to having dark spots and discoloration.
• Dermatological conditions – there are several different conditions that affect the skin and
scalp (discussed in Chapter 3).
• Folliculitis – an infection of the hair follicles where red and white bumps or acne develop
on the scalp. This can be treated by antibiotics, soaks or minor surgical incisions. The
affected area should not be scratched or picked as this may cause scarring and spread the
infection to other areas of the scalp that were not initially affected.
Folliculitis rarely causes permanent hair loss, but can cause hair to prematurely enter the
telogen (resting) phase.
• Chlorine and salt water – shampooing and conditioning the hair after swimming in a
chlorinated pool or salt water is a must. Chlorine and salt water exposure can dehydrate
the scalp and hair, causing considerable damage.
There are presently hundreds of hair care products on the market. Unfortunately, most don’t
work very well. In fact, there are only 2 treatments that are actually FDA approved for the
indication of treating hereditary alopecia. It is important to choose treatments that are effective,
economical and easy to use on a daily basis.we will help you select the right hair care products for your personal treatment regimen.
Choosing the Right Hair Products
Determining our specific hair type is a crucial step in selecting the shampoos and conditioners
that are best suited to meet our individual needs.
For instance, if your hair is dry, look for shampoos, conditioners, and other hair styling products
that are designed to manage “dry, frizzy hair.” If you have thin or oily hair, find a product that is
formulated “for weak, oily hair.” For additional help on how to determine your own individual
hair type, consult the bullet-points below:
• Normal hair
◦ Holds style without the use of too much styling products
◦ Neither greasy nor dry
◦ Not permed or colored
• Fine hair
◦ Becomes greasy
◦ Tends to be limp (flat), difficult to manage
• Dry hair
◦ Frizzy, rough
◦ Easily tangles
◦ Dull-looking
◦ Treated with perms and other hair colouring products
Now that you are more familiar with the most common hair classifications, take a good look at
your hair and see which type it most closely resembles. Select your shampoo, conditioner and
styling products accordingly. Using a product specially formulated for your specific hair type
will maximize the results you hope to achieve.
Washing and Drying Your Hair
Believe it or not, there is a correct way to wash your hair. Incessant rubbing and aggressive
towel-drying will only exacerbate the hair loss problems that you are already experiencing. There
is a much better approach.
These directions will help you wash and dry your hair properly:
1. Wash your hair every day. Contrary to popular suspicion, washing your hair every day
does not cause hair to dry out. As long as you use hair products that are suitable for your
hair type, it is perfectly safe to wash every day. In fact, it is preferable to shampoo daily
since it will clean dirt, oil and sebum that routinely build up on the scalp.
2. Always wash your hair with warm water. Warm water can dissolve dirt and help hair
follicles breathe freely. But be careful! If the water is too hot, it might damage and burn
your scalp. This deprives your hair of its natural oils, leading to a dry, brittle appearance.
3. Squeeze a considerable amount shampoo onto your palm and work a healthy lather into
your scalp and hair. Gently massage the shampoo on your scalp using your fingertips
(NOT your fingernails). While massaging, periodically comb your hair using your fingers
to avoid tangles.
4. Let your hair hang while thoroughly rinsing off shampoo.
5. If you are not using a 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner, use a conditioner separately.
Unlike shampoo (which is meant to concentrate on the scalp), conditioner is designed for
the ends of your hair. Let conditioner settle for several minutes before gently rinsing it off
with warm water. Conditioner followed after shampoo can be effective for men with
either short or long hair.
6. Standing under running water to rinse hair is recommended over dipping it in bath water.
Adequate water pressure is necessary for proper rinsing.
7. When towel-drying, gently pat your hair with a towel. Do not rub your hair too briskly
and do not blow dry your hair when it is still soaking wet.
8. Comb your hair with a wide-toothed plastic comb. This will make de-tangling easier and
will not put excess strain on hair follicles.
9. Ideally hair should be dried naturally, but should you need to use a blow-dryer, use it
inches away from your hair and stop while the hair is still a little damp. This will avoid
over-drying your hair, which can lead to brittleness and split ends.
10. If you are using hair products such as gels, mousse or hair wax, apply them while your
hair is still slightly damp.
How Hair Dyes Work
cover up greying strands, etc.
There are two kinds of hair dyes:
• Semi-permanent – may last for only 1 to 6 weeks, but may wash out more easily with
frequent hair washing. You can also wash this type of dye out with tea, beer or lemon
juice if you are not happy with the colour.
• Permanent – can be applied as highlights, streaks or the entire head. Possible hair damage
may occur if, prior to application, hair has not been washed out with hydrogen peroxide
to remove previous or existing colour.
Both forms of hair dye are popular and can be used at home. Still, it is always important to take
the time to read the packaging and follow the instructions carefully. Hair dyes can make hair
look good, but if used improperly, they can also cause considerable damage.
Effects of Gels, Mousses and Dyes on Hair
Hair styling products such as gels, mousse and hair dyes are part of a man's “hygienic routine.”
Many men get their hair dyed (either by themselves or by professionals) every other month and
apply hair gels, wax or mousse every day after taking a shower. The purpose of these products is
to help style hair in an effective manner that conceals hair loss and flatters facial features. Other
important effects of styling products include:
• Thickening hair - styling gels and mousses provide “volume” to limp, dull-looking hair,
making it appear thicker and fuller.
• Reshaping hair - this can be done by using a blow dryer and a round brush. Water-based
hair sprays, mousses, gels and waxes are used to set the hair in attractive, uniform
patterns.
It may be necessary to try several products before deciding on which gel, mousse or dye works
best with your unique hair type.
How to Avoid Hair Damage
Every day we do cruel things to our hair without even knowing it. Here are some helpful ways to
avoid hair damage:
... avoid blow drying, curling or iron-straightening your hair using extremely hot temperatures.
Our hair contains air pockets that hold in moisture. Excessive heat breaks down these air
pockets, damaging hair strands and drying out our hair. Always use the lowest heat setting
possible and air-dry your hair whenever possible.
...stop aggressively rubbing your hair. After showering, gently pat hair dry instead of rubbing it
vigorously. Too much friction can damage hair shafts and contribute to hair shedding and fallout.
... avoid back-brushing, using metal combs or brushing too much. It is recommended to use a
plastic wide-toothed comb, especially on wet hair. Plastic combs create less friction when
compared to metal combs, and easily de-tangle hair without tugging or breaking hair strands.
... stop perming and using harsh hair chemicals (e.g. hair dyes, bleaches, hair sprays). Perming
and using strong, chemically-derived hair products can damage the hair cuticle and have adverse
effects on the moisture of your hair. This can make hair shafts look weak, wiry and brittle.
Realistically speaking, this might be hard for many working professionals that rely on hair sprays
and chemical treatments for styling. Still, cutting down on the usage and frequency of these
techniques can yield positive changes with regard to hair health.
... avoid too much sun exposure. Similar to blow drying, the direct heat from the sun can cause
hair damage, breakage and aggravation.
... do not style hair too tightly. Applying too much pressure on the hair and the scalp can directly
contribute to another form of hair loss known as traction alopecia.
Maintain a Healthy Scalp
When hereditary hair loss starts to manifest, the blood supply to the scalp diminishes. This
reduction occurs because blood is not needed where there is no hair. Interesting proof of this
occurs after hair transplantation surgery. Blood circulation improves when there are once again
living follicles at the top of the head that need nourishment.
Scalp condition and blood circulation can be directly or indirectly affected by the following
factors:
• Smoking – many doctors believe that there is a connection between smoking and hair
loss, but there is no scientific proof that corroborates this theory. Smoking does, however,
reduce scalp circulation, but this in itself will not cause hair loss.
• Sun exposure – repeated sunburn adversely affects the scalp by shrinking hair-producing
cells. Exposure to intense ultraviolet light can speed up the balding process in those
already affected by genetic hair loss.
• Skin cancer – there are 3 different types of cancer and 2 of them can be deadly if they
spread throughout the body. These 2 are malignant melanomas and squamous cell
cancers, and they almost always appear in skin that is exposed to the sun. The hair gives
the scalp protection from direct sun exposure and produces shade that lessens the risk of
developing skin cancer.
When balding starts, the scalp often becomes exposed to ultraviolet light from the sun
and skin can change from a smooth, uniform color to having dark spots and discoloration.
• Dermatological conditions – there are several different conditions that affect the skin and
scalp (discussed in Chapter 3).
• Folliculitis – an infection of the hair follicles where red and white bumps or acne develop
on the scalp. This can be treated by antibiotics, soaks or minor surgical incisions. The
affected area should not be scratched or picked as this may cause scarring and spread the
infection to other areas of the scalp that were not initially affected.
Folliculitis rarely causes permanent hair loss, but can cause hair to prematurely enter the
telogen (resting) phase.
• Chlorine and salt water – shampooing and conditioning the hair after swimming in a
chlorinated pool or salt water is a must. Chlorine and salt water exposure can dehydrate
the scalp and hair, causing considerable damage.
