Womens grooming tips for thinning hair and hair loss

From Celebrity Stylist Thom Priano

Sept 2010

Celebrity stylist and grooming expert, Thom Priano of The GARREN New York Salon has worked with the world’s top photographers, fashion companies and magazines to create the most stylish looks for male and female celebrities from the worlds of Hollywood, sports, music and fashion.

“I see hair loss in my salon every day,” says Priano. “When a woman first starts to notice hair loss, the experience is incredibly emotional. Hair is a woman’s crowning glory -- but unlike men, women don’t expect to lose their hair,” says Priano.

“The first thing I tell the client is that she’s not alone. In fact, one in four women experience hereditary hair loss -- and by age 40, 40% of women show some degree of thinning hair,” he adds.

An expert in women’s styling and treating thinning hair, Priano offers the following advice to his female clients with thinning hair / hair loss:

Facts About Thinning Hair

Normally we lose between 50 to 100 hairs a day -- but a consistent loss of 150 plus hairs is considered significant hair loss. Since women’s hair loss is more diffuse than men’s, they tend not to notice just one spot.

By the time most women notice thinning hair, they have already lost at least 50% of their hair. “It’s important to seek treatment as soon as you notice the first signs of hair loss, such as more hair on your brush, pillowcase, or in the bathroom drain.”

It’s important to note the difference between Female Pattern Hair Loss and cosmetic loss. If you notice hair falling out with the bulb attached, this is considered true hair loss, which is different from the cosmetic loss that results from shedding split ends.

Female Pattern Hair Loss is, by far, the most common and permanent form of hair loss, accounting for 95% of all hair loss in women. Women’s ROGAINE® is the ONLY FDA approved treatment clinically proven to help stop Female Pattern Hair Loss.

Other factors such as hormones from pregnancy or a thyroid condition, crash dieting, and certain medications have been shown to cause temporary hair loss (Telogen Effluvium). However, if you have hereditary hair loss in your family, your hair may not grow back as thick as it was before the temporary loss.

Choosing The Right Products:

“For my clients with hair loss, I suggest Women’s ROGAINE®,” says Priano. It’s the ONLY brand FDA-approved to regrow hair in women.

“If you have thinning hair, there are many hair care and styling products that really help make hair appear thicker. Look for anything with a "V" that adds VOLUME to the hair (shampoo, conditioner, gel, mousse, cream, or spray),” says Priano. “However, Women’s ROGAINE® is the only product that is FDA-approved to regrow hair.”

When choosing a brush or comb for thinning hair, look for a wide tooth comb or plastic brush with rounded tips (despite popular belief, plastic with rounded tips is more gentle than sharp bristles.)

Choosing The Right Cut:

“There are different ways to cut and style your hair to help it appear thicker,” says Priano.

Layered cuts can add volume to your hair -- whether it’s curly, wavy or straight. Stick with minimal layers, rather than heavy ones that can look flat.

Consider cutting deep bangs to help mask thinning hair on the top of the head.

Try a zig-zag part and a “messy” style.

Remember, everyone’s hair is different, so work closely with your stylist for a look that fits you best.

Hair Color Helps:

“Hair color can also play a big part in masking hair loss,” says Priano. “Darker shades play up the contrast between hair and scalp, while lighter shades that are closer to your skin tone can actually help camouflage thinning hair,” adds Priano, who recommends highlights. “Coloring your mane also expands the hair shaft which makes hair appear thicker,” says Priano.

Women’s ROGAINE® can be used on color treated or permed hair. “The only thing I suggest is not to use ROGAINE® on the day you have the actual treatment, if you are worried about scalp irritation.”

Style and Care for Thinning Hair

You can blow dry thinning hair but don’t over blow dry, and try to use a medium to low setting.

If you are thinning on top, try not to blow dry hair away from the root. A diffuser can also help give shape to thinning hair.

For the best result, Priano recommends letting hair dry naturally so it lays closer to the scalp.

“Fine, thinning hair is already fragile and can be further damaged by over washing, over brushing or over combing,” says Priano. Try these surefire tips to keep the hair you have healthy and strong:

Gently wash hair with a gentle, volumizing shampoo and follow with a lightweight conditioner.

Avoid tangling which roughs up the hair cuticle.

Did you know? The cuticles on damaged or thinning hair are like shingles on a rooftop. If you don't use conditioner, they rub back and forth creating more damage, which could lead to more hair loss from breakage. Conditioner smoothes them down to protect hair against further damage. Just choose a lightweight conditioner that won’t weigh hair down.

Towel dry hair (do NOT wrap hair up in a towel turban, which causes damage.)

When brushing fine or thinning hair, NEVER pull or tug and ALWAYS use a wide tooth comb -- especially on the lower half of the hair which is already damaged. Also, brushing or combing wet hair actually does more damage than brushing or combing dry hair.

Protect your hair and scalp from the sun. Exposure to UV makes hair more brittle, so look for UV protectant styling products and wear a hat or scarf when you are in the direct sun. This will protect your scalp from burning as well.

“A healthy diet and vitamin supplements can help too,” says Priano. “Eat a balanced diet and take a good multi-vitamin every day.” Look for foods that are high in protein (like fish, eggs, beans and yogurt).

Tips for Everyday ROGAINE® Use

“Women’s ROGAINE® can be an easy and simple part of your daily routine,” says Priano.

"When using Women's ROGAINE®, to maintain the look of clean, healthy hair, use only the recommended dose. It's best to divide hair into sections and apply the solution directly to the scalp -- not to the hair -- and massage it in with your fingertips,” Priano says. “Allow the product to dry completely and finish with a volumizing styling product to make the most of your thinning hair.”

MORE FACTS ABOUT WOMEN’S ROGAINE®

Must be used twice a day, every day; most women experience hair regrowth in about four to six months.

Women’s ROGAINE® quickly penetrates into the scalp with gentle massaging action to reactivate hair follicles that have become dormant and stimulate growth.

PRICE & AVAILABILITY

ROGAINE® is available nationwide at food, drug and mass retailers, or online at www.rogaine.com

Suggested Retail Price: $ 29.99 for a one month supply and $ 49.99 for a three month supply

Save up to 42% on www.rogaine.com by registering for automatic shipments of ROGAINE® delivered to your door for just $15/month (less than 50 cents a day!)

To learn more about ROGAINE® and hair loss, go to www.rogaine.com.