Our image is how we think others see us. Our hair is part of that image. When we look in a mirror, we identify with what we see.  Even without a mirror we have an idea of how we want our hair to look like.

As a man or woman begins to lose hair, the image in the mirror no longer matches the internal self-image developed over many years.  This can cause anxiety since we feel much the same as before the hair loss. Hair Loss does not affect our physical health but can make us look older. When we see our reflection in the mirror, a different image confronts us.

Our hair is one of the most defining aspects of our appearance. A healthy head of hair makes us look attractive, youthful, and desirable. Our appearance directly affects our own self-image, and most of us want to maintain a self-image that is youthful and healthy looking.  Our appearance attributes to how we feel about ourselves and affects our we interact with others. It affects our self-confidence, our mental health and our relationships.  Having a full head of hair can improve the quality of our life, our success in business relationships, and our success in romance.

But despite the fact that losing hair, and even going bald, is part of the normal process of aging, we often don’t accept it. At age forty, most people feel simlar as they did at age thirty, or even age twenty. Facing hair loss, people may begin to feel foreign to themselves and somewhat disoriented. This discomfort results in a desire to return to the former, more youthful appearance. There are many cosmetic, medical, and surgical options for people who really want to do something about hair loss.The media especially television and film industry place emphasis on models and actors with long luscious hair. This portrays a feeling of hair being important to look great.

For some people, hair loss can be permanent or temporary.  A wig can give us the image we want to see in the mirror.  A wig can restore that self confidence and quality of life that we all strive for.  If we look better then we feel better and no one has to know that we are wearing a wig.

These days there s a huge variety of wigs, hairpieces and extensions that can be very easy and comfortable to wear.

Our self Image is not just about vanity, it is important for our wellbeing, soul and mind. People want to look the way they feel. A man or woman at age forty doesn’t really expect to look twenty again, but increasingly more and more people want to keep a youthful appearance. Our hair frames our face, which powerfully gains our attention.

When we see a man with a few wispy strands of hair combed over in an attempt to cover the hair loss, it directs everyone’s attention to their hair loss. This makes the person feel very self conscious.

Our society tends to emphasis a need for youthful and attractive looks.  The desire to look better and have a more pleasing appearance is also a normal human attitude. Undeniably, hair loss adds years to a person’s appearance. Hair loss represents to men what wrinkles do to women. And hair loss for women is even worse than wrinkles.

While men will argue that they are not worried about hair loss they would still wish for a little magic that would give them a full set of hair. In 1995, Sean Connery stated in an interview, “I don’t understand men who want hair transplants.” That same month, he was photographed going to a social event wearing a hairpiece.

The media, especially television and movies, continue to place enormous emphasis on models, actors, and actresses with hair.

Women portrayed in the media, and in advertisements for almost any product, generally have full heads of hair. Entire industries are dedicated to women’s hair care products and hair care styling services, all with the goal of helping women make the most of the hair they have. And for women that have hair, there is an emphasis for their hair to look its best.  This is why hair extensions have become very popular for women who have some hair but would like longer more luscious looking hair. Men’s magazines rarely display a man with thinning hair, and almost never one who is bald. When the media displays an image of a desirable macho man, he is shown with a full head of hair.

Hair extensions, a hairpiece or wigs give men or women a confidence that that makes them look great and feel fantastic.

Normal healthy hair growth is helpful for us to understand the cause of hair loss. The way our hair grows or sheds can be evidence of problems that we need to be aware of. The many causes of hair loss and various treatments become less mysterious after gaining a basic understanding of the normal cycle of hair growth.

Each strand of hair is a complex weaving of lifeless protein produced by a teardrop-shaped hair follicle. The hair follicles are made of living cells that receive nourishment entirely from the blood supply under the skin. The hair itself is actually made up of dead cells that cannot be revived to give you that luscious look that some hair product companies lead us to believe.

There are millions hair follicles in the skin covering almost every part of the body. Some hair follicles produce fine almost colorless hairs, and others produce coarser pigmented hair shafts. Each hair follicle is a miniature organ that grows a single hair during a phase of growth. That single hair can last for several months or several years, depending on how the follicle has been genetically programmed. Scalp hair follicles tend to have a longer growth phase than eyelash hair follicles, for example.

There are three main growth phases of hair.  They are the Anagen Phase, The Catagen phase and the Telogen phase. The Anagen phase is the growing phase where a follicle will grow back to full size and penetrate deeper into our skin.  A bulb is formed at the base of a hair follicle and inside that bulb a new hair shaft will form.  Scalp hairs will grow about one half inch per month for four to six years.The Catagen phase follows on from the Anagem phase where the hair ceases to grow and will in fact start to shrink.  During this phase the lower part of the hair follicle slowly disintegrates, and the hair follicle requires less nourishment from the blood supply. Part of this normal phase of the hair growth, hairs will start to shed.  This phase will continue for two to three weeks.The Telogen phase is where the hair has ceased shrinking and the hair will rest for another three months or so.  Normal everyday occurrences like brushing your hair, dressing  and resting ion bed will naturally shed hair. Some hair loss each day is normal.  Once they finish the Telogen period the hair will start over again with the Anagem phase.

On average, young people with a full head of dark-colored hair have about 100,000 hair follicles on their scalp. Redheads often have slightly more than 100,000 scalp hair follicles, while blondes typically have fewer hair follicles.

It is Important to remember that we are all individuals and the rate and degree of hair loss will vary from person to person.

Most people shed between 50 and 100 strands of hair each day and although this may sound like a large amount it is not enough to cause any noticeable difference as on average we have around 100,000 strands of hair on our scalp.  In brief each strand of our hair has growth and rest cycles and it is the length of each cycle as well as the quality of the growth that will determine the rate of hair loss.  The Growth cycle (anagen phase) varies between individuals but on average can last 2 – 3 years, while the rest cycle (telogen phase) usually lasts only 2 – 3 months.

As we loose hair the scalp naturally replaces the old discarded hair with new strands, however when the new hair is not replaced as quickly as it is lost then a noticeable amount of hair loss can be seen over time.  Reasons for the new hair not being replaced or the old hair being shed faster can be varied although most can be attributed to hormonal changes.  These changes can be simply due changes associated with age as well as changes bought on by pregnancy, illness and the like.

Causes of Hair Loss.

Alopecia

There are several forms of alopecia which all have differing degrees of hair loss.  Below is a list of the different forms of hair loss (alopecia).  It is worth noting that most forms of hair loss can be traced back to medical conditions that stress the immune system e.g. Lupus, or stress specific organs of the body (i.e. Coronary disease, diabetics, hormonal changes, scalp infections etc…)

Alopecia Androgenetic (Pattern Baldness)

Pattern Baldness in both males and females is defined by the length of our hairs growth cycle as well as the quality of the new hair being grown.  Hence as the growth cycle slows down and the resting/loss cycle becomes more accelerated hair loss begins to outweigh hair growth and pattern baldness becomes more apparent.  The quality of the new growth plays a large part because as the quality declines so does the strength of the roots which in turn adds to the rate of hair loss.  For this reason many treatments focus on strengthening or improving the quality of our re growth as not only attempting to stimulate new growth.  Often pattern baldness is Hereditary and it is the heredity factors that will determine the degree, rate and onset age of pattern baldness.

Alopecia Areata.

This is the most common form of alopecia and as with all alopecia sufferers is attributable to some form of autoimmune disease e.g. Lupus.  The hair loss is usually in several places on the scalp and presents as localized round patched differing in size.

Alopecia Areata Totalis.

As suggested by the name this form of alopecia causes total hair loss on the scalp and can occur either slowly over time or very quickly in no time at all.  The speed of hair loss varies between individuals and it is not known as to what factors contribute to the speed of loss.

Alopecaia Areata Unversalis.

This is the rarest form of alopecia and as results in total hair loss not only on the scalp but all over the body such as facial hair, eyebrows etc…

Trichotillomania (hair pulling)

Trichotillomania is a disorder where the sufferer has a compulsive behavior of pulling out his or her own hair.  They can pull hair from any part of the body, however it is pulling of scalp hair that is obviously most noticeable.  This compulsion far exceeds the normal level of a behavior that we perceive as a habit.

The cause of this compulsion will vary between individuals, however it is often attributed to anxiety from stressful situations in the persons life.  Trichotillomania has been described in these cases as a self-soothing mechanism used by the person to cope with the stress or anxiety that they are enduring.

It is believed that genetics can play a part in this disorder with some people being more genetically disposed to becoming a sufferer.