Hair is a
fashion statement, its style and adornment can express a persons mood,
attitude or outlook. We pass judgment within seconds of meeting someone, and
hair or lack of it is an important factor in our decision on whether we like
them or not.
Hair Loss and Confidence
With every pass of the comb, it seems your hairline recedes a little
farther. Your physical appearance plays a large role in your self-image and
personal confidence, a self-image and confidence that are needed in order to
succeed.
There are literally dozens of reasons that cause hair loss in men and women,
and even more reasons for you to want to do something about it.
Everyone says that "looks are not important" and that it's what's "inside
that counts", however the reality is that we are judged every day on how we
look. Whether it's at a job interview, a first date, or a client meeting,
your first impression is the foundation for the future.
Often as the hairline goes, so often does one's self confidence in both
social and business situations. That's because a receding hair line doesn't
just make someone look bald, but prematurely old as well, which is something
most people fear.
Baldness is not always inevitable, and the amount and rate of loss can often
be diminished with the correct treatment. Different treatments work for some
people but not for others, all of which we will be looking at in greater
detail in later pages..
First Impressions
That age old saying that we always hear "You never get a second chance to
make a first impression" always seems to spring to mind when people are
worried about hair loss.
While it may not seem right that people should be judged on their looks, our
society still does not accept people as they are but how they look or rather
how we perceive the way they should look.
If someone is at all self conscious about their hair before meeting people,
then inevitably they will lose confidence and probably cause embarrassment
to themselves by worrying unduly. Unfortunately it is difficult to persuade
people not to worry needlessly about such things, however much we try.
Baldness and Virility
Hair and its beauty have long been associated with youth, virility, strength
and sensuality and has always been considered a sexual object by both sexes.
A common, but rather sadly misleading statement is that bald men are more
virile and make better lovers, thus compensating for the lack of hair. The
truth is that hair loss will not make a man more virile, it is just a myth
put about by bald men to try and make up for their loss of hair.
Hair loss is definitely not a sign of virility despite the rumours to the
contrary. Although for a lot of people it would be wonderful if it were
true.
It is often commented that bald men can be extremely attractive, but the
only person who seems to be named is actually Sean Connery. This seems
pretty contradictory as in most of the movies that he has ever made he is
usually wearing a wig or hair piece of some description, it is very seldom
that he actually ever appears as a bald headed hunk.
If Sean Connery were not a super star and household name then the chances
are that he could walk down the street unnoticed, and would probably not be
considered a sex symbol.
Apart from Sean Connery, virtually all the other male sex symbols have fine
manes of hair, which would suggest that public opinion is that, for a man to
be sexy, he should appear with a full head of hair, and unfortunately public
opinion is what sets the fashion trends in our society.
Hair and the Body
The whole body is actually covered with hair except our lips, the soles of
the feet and the palms of our hands. Body hair is called vellous hair and is
a fine and downy hair type, particularly on a female.
Amongst animals hair is a protector from the cold and rain. Whilst hair is
not so physically vital to survival for humans, the psychological effects of
an attractive head of hair are immense.
We have a head of hair for a variety of reasons, just as eyelashes keep dirt
and grit out of our eyes and eyebrows also prevent perspiration entering the
eyes, so to a head of hair protects the scalp from the sun, prevents direct
knocks on the head and helps to retain body heat.
About half of our body heat is lost through the scalp and wearing a hat can
help this loss dramatically, particularly in very cold spells. So a full
head of hair on our head is not just for vanity but is extremely useful to
our bodies.
Hair and Fashion
Hair is a fashion statement, it's colour and adornment can say all sorts of
things about a person be it their mood, attitude or outlook. Hair styles and
cuts can also express a great deal about someone.
Baldness prevents such a statement being emphasised by the individual
concerned. Everyone likes being pampered and the visit to your local
hairdresser can be a moral booster and improve one's self confidence. Most
hairdressers nowadays are sympathetic about hair loss.
If your one is not, change immediately, they should give encouraging advice
and not criticism. Besides which, a good hairdresser helps you catch up on
all the latest gossip. !!
Hair Loss and Health
The condition of hair is usually a very good indication of the general state
of your health. Some doctors can tell a great deal about someone just by a
quick look at the hair. Hair analysis has for a long time been big business
in America where you can send a sample of hair to a laboratory to be
examined for the lack of minerals and protein.
You will then be given a detailed report telling you which vitamins you are
deficient in. This service of course makes the companies vast amounts of
money, but in reality your doctor could tell you the same thing by a quick
examination. Now there are a few clinics in this country which have started
the same service. It costs around seventy pounds to have the hair analysed
to ascertain how the body is operating internally, the vitamin and mineral
levels, bowel toxicity and general dietary efficiency.
How much this will tell you about stopping your hair loss is open to
question, and is probably not worth the paper it is written on.
Hair analysis is very open to debate as often a similar sample of hair can
get totally different results depending on who is carrying out the tests.
These clinics then usually want to sell you the vitamins or minerals that
you are apparently deficient off.
Be very wary of the usefulness of this type of analysis as it is only going
to cost you money and will not really tell you anything.
Hair and Style
Most men, when they first notice hair loss on the crown of the head, try to
disguise the fact by sweeping their hair across their scalp to cover the
bald patch, everyone has heard the expression about having a "Bobby
Charlton" style.
This gives them a slight covering on their crown, but the problem this
causes when the wind blows revealing a bald head underneath can be extremely
humiliating. There are much better ways to have the hair styled.
When men lose their hair they always retain a band of hair round the back
and sides of their head, this is known as the "monks fringe". This is so
called from the days of the early Christian order of monks when they all had
their heads shaved in that style to make every monk appear less sexual, even
in these ancient times, hair was regarded as a sexual object.
Once there was only one course of action to disguise baldness, wear a wig
and stick it over the bald patch. Now there are a number of choices, all
claiming to give a full head of natural or natural looking hair. The success
of these can be extremely varied from the spectacular to the downright
pathetic.
There are transplants, fibre implants, hair weaves, hair bonding, hair
thickening sprays and rub on lotions and potions to promote hair growth,
some which work well, others not so, and many not at all.
Hair thickening sprays can be used, giving very good results but eventually
there is not enough hair to hold it and ultimately the spray is applied
directly to the scalp. This effect looks pitiful but it appears to give some
people a touch of reassurance that at least they are doing something about
the problem.
One of the most humiliating experiences a man can suffer is when his friends
or so called friends begin to make fun of his unfortunate circumstances.
Many men can put up with leg pulling but eventually the joke wears a bit
thin. Someone can only put up with being called "baldy", "slaphead" or
"chrome dome" for so long. Sooner, rather than later this type of ridicule
will get anyone down. Baldness can be funny but only to other people. Always
consider before commenting on hair loss.
If everyone tried to consider other peoples feelings before they make such
comments, society would be less critical about hair loss in general.
Everyone is probably guilty about commenting on peoples hair. Meeting
someone you haven't seen for a while, the comment is normally "your looking
a bit thin on top nowadays" or "I see you have a touch of grey appearing".
If we could all try to think before coming out with such remarks we could
all help make the world that little bit better.
Most men would love to shop around and find out what the various treatments
could do for them and what they would cost, unfortunately the vast majority
of men are too shy or embarrassed to do anything about it and most of the
Consultants can be very intimidating and are very well trained in high
pressure sales tactics.
There is Hope
There is hope however, and hair loss can certainly be slowed down and in
some cases even halted. There is no instant cure though. Anyone suffering
hair loss must be patient.
The regrowth period for hair is about two years with a three month resting
phase. Hair grows at the rate of about half an inch a month so it takes
about a year for six inches to grow and that can seem like a very long time
if you are waiting for a head of hair to appear.
However most of us are, understandably, in too much of a hurry these days
and unfortunately anyone with advancing hair loss is even in more so.
Such people can be the targets for unscrupulous clinics and hairdressers who
make outrageous claims offering all manner of cures to the problem.
These offers nearly always cost financially and even more so emotionally,
when the advertised claims are not achieved.
Have patience and always look on the positive side of your dilemma and you
will be rewarded.
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