There are a number of methods for managing hair loss and many cases a wig is not the best solution. Even in cases where someone has experienced total hair loss, there are alternatives. For example, the Intralace system.
What are the advantages of the Intralace system?
First of all, the Intralace system offers greater flexibility than a wig. For people suffering only partial hair loss, the Intralace system can be integrated with your natural hair.
It is also the case that, unlike with wigs, you only need one Intralace system. No spare is required because it is possible to attend the hair loss clinic when necessary if anything needs to be done. It lasts for two to three years and offers much greater freedom than a wig. It also offers a natural hairline, which means greater realism.
If you use the Intralace system, you can highlight and colour your hair when you visit the clinic and treat your hair completely as normal. You can do activities and play sports and can even swim with it in place. Maintenance is only required about once every six weeks.
Losing your hair to any degree can have quite profound psychological effects. It can reduce your self confidence and give rise to anxiety and depression. Different people will respond in different ways and a lot will depend on the extent to which that person is losing hair.
Different degrees of hair loss also require different management options. Slight, patchy hair loss can often be camouflaged using scalp make-up for example or even by styling the hair in a certain way. However, when hair loss becomes greater, you need to look to other treatments. There are several options and what you choose will probably depend on how much hair you have lost.
A consultation is advisable to discuss different hair management options. Here are three recommendations:
• Medi Connections – this treatment is ideal for hair that is thinning or for milder cases of alopecia areata. Medi Connections are essentially an ultra fine version of hair extensions.
• Intralace System – this can be used for greater hair loss, such as that resulting from trichotillomania. It can be integrated with existing hair.
• Intralace Freewear – this is used for alopecia totalis (total hair loss).
Choosing a wig is an extremely difficult process. You need to find one that suits you perfectly. One thing that has a major impact on how your wig looks is how it is fitted. If you have a wig custom made, monthly fitting and maintenance will often be included as well.
A wig will appear more natural if correctly fitted. This might involve foundation alterations and cutting and styling according to the individual. Also, if you are getting a wig due to chemotherapy, it will appear more realistic if it is a shade lighter than your natural hair colour. This is because your skin tone is likely to change during treatment.
Another option, other than a wig, is the Intralace system. It can function as a wig, but then, as your hair starts to grow back, you can integrate it with your new hair. You can use it until you have enough hair for a short hairstyle or hair extensions.
The Intralace does not prevent hair growth and in fact, keeping your head warm may encourage growth to a degree.
A well-known effect of undergoing chemotherapy is that a person loses hair. It may be that they only experience a thinning of their hair, or it could be that they experience alopecia totalis, which is total hair loss.
In the majority of cases, the hair will regrow after the course of treatment, but it will take a while to do so and in the meantime the person in question may want to manage their condition. It may also be the case that hair transplantation is required to fully restore hair, although full regrowth will normally occur.
Different treatments affect a person in different ways. Some drugs lead to hair loss more frequently than others and it also depends on the person being treated.
If you have undergone chemotherapy and lost some or all of your hair, you have a number of options in terms of how you deal with this. The Intralace system is popular as a full head of hair can be created using only an inch and a half of regrowth. Intralace is integrated with a person’s hair and can be looked after as if it is the person’s actual hair.
Scientific studies have shown that hair loss in women produces greater levels of psychological trauma for the sufferer than for men. Whilst losing such an intrinsic part of your physical appearance can be distressing for both sexes, hair has much more significance for women.
What do women feel when they lose their hair?
Many women experience a massive drop in self-confidence when they lose their hair, as thick healthy hair is so often linked with beauty, youth and sexuality in today’s image-conscious society. Women pick up on this very easily, and it can be hard to shake off.
Some women worry about their attractiveness, whilst others – such as alopecia areata sufferers – feel frustrated that they can’t do anything to stop their hair falling out.
Social expectations
The other problem with female hair loss is the reactions of the people around the sufferer. Unlike male pattern baldness, hair loss in women is not seen as ‘normal’ and there is not such a strong support system in place for it.
Treatment
Female hair loss sufferers need not struggle alone with their condition. Thanks to increased awareness, there are now clinics which offer new and advanced treatments specially designed to help women manage or overcome their hair loss symptoms.
Many people believe the myths and old wives’ tales surrounding cures for female hair loss, which mainly include home remedies and ways to increase the circulation to your scalp. Unfortunately, improved circulation will not help with hair regrowth if you are suffering from alopecia or pattern baldness.
Female hair loss can be a debilitating condition, causing no end of emotional stress and issues with low self-esteem, so it is no wonder that many women go to incredible lengths to try and get their hair to grow back. They try creams and ointments, standing on their head or washing with ice cold water, and many unusual diets.
This is not the right way to cope with female hair loss. What you need to do is to see your GP and then a hair loss treatment specialist. You need a formal diagnosis so that you can perhaps uncover the cause of your hair loss, and subsequently find the right treatment for it.
There may not always be a cure for your condition, however, which is why there are many hair loss management solutions out there. You can try human hair wigs or even more sophisticated techniques such as the Intralace system, all whilst getting the expert advice and support you need.
The Intralace system can be used in two distinct ways. Firstly, it can be used in conjunction with existing hair or secondly, it can be used as a human hair wig. It does not treat hair loss but offers a high quality way of concealing bald patches or complete hair loss.
The system involves the use of a breathable mesh bearing human hair. It even features what is known as an Intralace Parting, which is added at the crown to give a natural looking parting.
With the Intralace system you can live your life completely normally. Activities and sports aren’t out of bounds and you can even swim with the Intralace system in place. The hair can also be washed, brushed and styled completely as normal.
The Intralace system does require maintenance roughly once every six weeks, so you will need regular follow-up appointments. However, one of the great benefits is that hair will continue growing while you are using the Intralace system, so this is great to use in the meantime for those recovering from hair loss. When the hair has grown back, the Intralace system can simply be removed.
For women suffering from problems with hair loss, the first place you will always need to turn is your GP. It is very important to get a formal and accurate diagnosis, as each condition is likely to have different methods of treatment even if the symptoms are the same.
Many women then consider hair replacement and hair loss treatment options offered at a few specialist clinics. These offer a different service from your doctor, as they focus on helping you manage your condition rather than providing a medical cure.
This said, it is very important to find the right clinic for you. Female hair loss is an extremely sensitive subject, as it can have a debilitating effect on the sufferers’ confidence, self-esteem and even their personal relationships.
Therefore, you ideally need to seek out a clinic specialising in the particulars of female hair loss, one which offers you the sort of realistic hair loss management options you were looking for, but in a reassuring and supportive environment.
In this sort of clinic, you will have the comfort of knowing that other women being treated are experiencing the same emotions, fears and concerns as you. Also important is clinic staff who understand what you are going through and are able to help you find a personally tailored solution.
Lucinda Ellery are opening a new Branch in the heart of Manchester next Friday 29th January. The new studio will be offering Hair extensions for clients that want to change the volume or length of their hair and consultations to discuss each clients individual needs are now being booked at our new Studio in King Street Manchester.
Lucinda Ellery Manchester will also be looking after clients with hair thinning or hair loss problems. The Intralace System is a hair integration system that is suitable for clients with hair loss from Chemotherapy, Trichotillomania, Alopecia, Female Pattern hair loss and other hair problems that result in thinning hair or patchy hair loss. Our London Studio looks after clients with many hair loss types and we are excited to bring this service to the North of England.
We are looking forward to meeting many new clients in Manchester. To book your consultation please contact us on 0844 5678899.
This months Saga magazine has an article about female hair loss. It states that approx 50% of women experience some form of hair thinning after the menopause.
The article mentions thickening hair products – there are a number of hair thickening products on the market which are a good way to help with mild thinning. These products (sometimes known as coloured hair thickner or scalp makeup) can be applied to the hair to cover the parts of the scalp that is on show. They are not suitable for areas where the thinning is severe or if there are any patches of hair loss. These products are generally easy to apply and will wash out when you next wash your hair.
The article in Saga Magazine also includes the journalist’s experience of her visit to Lucinda Ellery. For a large number of ladies who experience a reduction in volume of their hair then Medi Connections or the Intralace System are the most effective ways of disguising the hair loss areas. Although hair thickening products can be effective, clients who use them will often report that they would like something that lasts longer and something that does not need to be applied so frequently. Using either Medi Connections or the Intralace System will give you natural looking volume and a head of hair that will feel like your own.
There are lots of ladies who are fortunate to have a full head of hair all their life but for those who are not so lucky then there are great techniques available to replace the hair that is missing.
