Female Hair Loss and Male Pattern Hair Loss are the most common causes of hair loss. The development of genetic hair loss is associated with the shortening of the anagen (growing) phase of the hair cycle and consequently with an increase in the proportion of telogen (resting) hairs. There is a reduction in the size of the affected follicles, which results in a reduction in the diameter of the hairs that they produce. This is an essential feature of this type of hair loss, which accounts for the thinning of the hair and the widening of the partings.

Female Hair Loss
Female genetic hair loss affects over 30% of women. The hair loss is typically diffuse (evenly spread over the scalp) and affects the frontal and vertex (crown) areas with similar severity. Often a band of slightly denser hair is retained along the frontal hairline. Also, women can exhibit a normal amount of hair in the front area of their scalp, which gradually thins out as you look farther back near their crown. Called a “Christmas-tree” look, this is also indicative of a genetic condition.

Male Pattern Hair Loss
The onset of male genetic hair loss is linearly related to age; that is, 20% of men experience some hair loss by age twenty; 30% of men experience some hair loss by age thirty, and so on. The hair begins to recede at the temples and thin in the vertex (crown) area. Eventually, the entire fronto-vertex (between the hairline and crown) area of the scalp can be involved.

Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areata is characterized by patchy scalp hair loss which occasionally affects every hair follicle on the scalp (alopecia totalis), or body (alopecia universalis).  Alopecia Areata has a rapid onset but tends to spontaneously reverse.

Trichotillomania
Trichotillomania is the loss or damage of scalp hair through repeated pulling or twisting due to irresistible compulsive impulses.

Telogen Effluvium
This hair loss condition, which occurs mainly in women, is usually caused by a temporary disturbance to the hair cycle causing the growing (anagen) hairs to prematurely enter the resting (telogen) phase of the hair cycle.  Stress, illness, medication, anemia, and weight loss are the most common causes, however, many other factors can also influence this condition.

Cicatricial Alopecia
Cicatricial alopecia is hair loss which occurs with the destruction of the hair follicles.  It can be caused by a disease affecting the follicles themselves, or by some process external to them. The follicles may be absent as a result of trauma such a burn or a blow or cut to the head or they may have been destroyed by a specific infection.

Traction Alopecia
Traction alopecia is the breaking of the hair by friction or tension due to vigorous brushing, blow drying, and/or chemical overprocessing.


Traction Alopecia: The hairstyles which can cause hair loss
Traction alopecia is the hair loss that occurs after persistent gentle pulling on the roots over several hours or days. 

Unlike a hair pluck which is painful, persistent gentle pulling may go unnoticed until bald spots or alopecia starts to appear. 

In these times when large numbers of women are having hair extensions, wefts, braids and clip-ins, including the recent trends of the man bun and the man braid, dermatologists are starting to see more women with traction alopecia.  

Click here to read more

Achieve that just-from-the-salon look without an appointment.
By Kari Molvar

What to do when you need smooth, shiny hair, and there’s ‘nary a blow-dry bar in sight? Fire up your tools and take your strands into your own hands. Here, we got insider tips and pro pointers from stylist Gregory Patterson of Blow, the New York Blow Dry Bar, to help you achieve that just-from-the-salon look without an appointment.
 
“A great blow-out actually starts in the shower,” says Patterson. “Many women don’t wash out their conditioner enough. But that residue will ruin your blow-dry. So I shampoo, condition and then shampoo again to really get the hair clean. And to help ensure hair doesn’t get singed, make sure you get a blowdryer that comes with a nozzle attachment to keep some distance between your hair and the heat.”
 
“After the shower, try patting hair with a shammy rather than terry towel to absorb excess water without putting stress on delicate strands. Then apply a heat protective spray to detangle and add shine. My favorite is Blowpro The Heat Is On—it’s like vitamin water for your hair with aloe vera to calm a sensitive scalp.”

“Divide your hair into eight sections around the head—the key is to work in small zones and to use a round or oval brush that will allow you to create enough tension to give hair a smooth and polished look.”
 
“If you have really thick hair that takes a long time to dry, mist on a product that speeds up your blow-dry. I like Blowpro Ready, Set, Blow since it pushes water off the hair so you can do less passes with the dryer.”

“A lot of women start their blow-out in the back of the head, but we start at the front. That’s the area you see first and really want to smooth while it’s still wet and you have more control. Once you’ve gotten the top party completely dry, pop in two Velcro rollers—it’ll add body while your hair cools and sets.”

“Next blow-dry the sides, holding your brush vertically and twirling it away from your face for a soft effect. Always keep the nozzle pointed down to prevent frizz. Once that area is dry, wrap hair into loose curls with your fingers and secure with duckbill clips. This keeps a soft bend in the hair without creating kinks.”

“Finish the back sections of your head, holding the brush horizontally and curling the hair toward your face now. Work your way through from left to right, making sure that no wet hair sits on top of dry hair as you’re going along. Drape sections over your shoulder to cool and set. To seal everything, flip your head over and mist on a flexible hairspray.”

​“To preserve your blow-out, it’s all about the dry shampoo. Work it into your roots to absorb excess oil, especially if you’re hitting the gym and will be sweating. At night, it does help to sleep on silk or satin sheets to minimize friction that can cause tangles or frizz. Otherwise, wrapping your hair in a silk scarf also does the trick.”

If your hair is highlighted, your hair stylist may have recommended that you try a purple toning shampoo to keep your highlights bright.  Purple toning shampoo helps keep highlights or colored hair from turning yellow or brassy. It works by depositing purple pigment onto highlighted hair. The purple pigment tones out the yellow or brassiness leaving your hair a more desired neutral tone.

It's important to note that purple toning shampoos shouldn't be used daily or even with every shampoo. Only use a purple toning shampoo 3-4 times per month, or when you notice that your hair is starting to get brassy. Over use of purple toning shampoo can result in blue, purple, or gray highlights. Although, these days that just might be your thing.

Shampoos with high levels of pigment are great for medium blonde to black hair, while lighter pigmented shampoos are better for medium blonde to platinum blonde hair. If a shampoo has too much pigment for hair color, I like to cut it with a traditional shampoo using a 50/50 ratio.

Pro tip: use a highly pigmented purple shampoo on brown and black hair to increase shine and depth.  Also great for gray (#grannyhair) or white hair that loses its luster. It's not just for blonde hair.

Click here for a list of purple toning shampoos that come highly recommended.

Banish dry, frizzy hair for good with these 10 easy hacks for hair happiness.
 
In my quest for #hairgoals, that is shiny and soft hair, I’ve had my battles. Frizz is always getting in the way of a good style and dry hair can dull my day.
 
But luckily I have the tricks to turn those bad hair days around and I’m going to share them with you.

Head massages
Head massages are my favorite part of the salon experience, and they are an effective hair treatment too. Your head is one of the easiest parts of your body to massage, and doing so stimulates the blood flow to your hair follicles. This can help your hair to grow faster and look healthier. It also distributes the oil from your scalp and feels amazing. Do it tonight while you’re watching TV.
 
Weekly treatments
My hair is so happy when I do a treatment. My naturally curly hair can be so dry and it drinks up moisture masks. I love a quick weekly treatment.  If you have fine hair, switch your conditioner for a treatment to help hydrate your hair and control your frizz.
 
The extra conditioning step
Frizz happens to good hair that’s feeling a bit dry. Keep up your hair’s hydration so frizz can’t take hold. Leave in-conditioners are my secret weapon to keeping my hair from looking dry and frizzy.

Lock in hydration
Control frizz before it forms by applying products to wet hair. I lock in the moisture to my hair with a water-based cream. Then once my hair is dry I use a serum to add shine.

Save time with a cocktail
I mix my own hair care cocktail to get the perfect blend of product treatment for my hair.  Mixing your own products saves application time, which means I can get ready faster too.
 
Turn down the heat
Your hairdryer can do too good of a job on your hair and dry it out more than you want. Drop the heat for a gentler experience and skip it where possible so you can let your hair air dry.

Style when wet
So if you can’t dry your hair, what are you supposed to do? Style it wet of course! There’s an added bonus of styling wet hair: heatless curls! Braids in wet hair leave gorgeous waves behind once your hair dries. Even a simple top knot can create loose waves as it dries.

My Mason Pearson brush
A splurge, but one that’s totally worth it. A pure bristle brush like the Mason Pearson brush is an investment in shiny hair. If you have curly hair, this isn’t necessary for you, but if you have straight or wavy hair, then you can instantly see the difference this brush makes. It distributes the oil from your scalp to the ends of your hair so they’re soft and shiny.

Dry shampoo
I could do a top 10 hair hacks just about dry shampoo!  It is one of my fave products and I use it almost daily. It makes clean hair easy to style and refreshes dirty hair too. It adds volume, creates texture and saves you time – dream hair right there!

Invisible hold for flyaways
Now, even if you follow all my hair hacks, you could still have some frizz or flyaways in your hair (I blame the weather). Now it’s time to put those rebel hairs back in their place. Spraying hairspray directly on to your hair can leave a thick layer of product. Instead, spray a strong hairspray on your hands or a blush brush so you can smooth those flyaways down with a fine, invisible layer of product.

These easy hair hacks have made a huge difference to my hair. I’m already seeing a difference in my naturally dry hair. It’s feeling softer and I have less frizz and breakage too.

It’s like a hair miracle, and that brings me so much hair happiness.

By Hair Romance