One of my favorite things about blogging and sharing what inspires and excites me is the connection I get with all of you guys. The readers who come to see what I’m up to on the daily and have the curiosity to reply to my blog and social posts. I always appreciate all of the great questions and comments you guys send my way.
My partnership with
Rogaine was most exciting to me because I knew so many of you guys would connect with the brand and together we’d be able to break down the stigma of hair loss.
As I mentioned in my previous Rogaine post, the sooner you catch signs of hair loss the more likely you will be able to stop and resolve the issue. With
Rogaine’s ability to activate hair follicles, seeing the signs and acting quickly to treat it you’ll be able to feel more confident of your appearance and most importantly your hair game!
Rogaine penetrates deep into the scalp so that new hair can grow with a key ingredient called Minoxidil.
So many of you guys had some great questions about the topics I touched on in my last post and with August being ‘Hair Loss Awareness Month’, I definitely wanted to take this chance to answer some of those for you. I’ve had the pleasure of working with NYC dermatologist Dr. Dhaval Bhanusali and celebrity groomer Benjamin Thigpen over the last few weeks to get all of the answers from the professionals.
Answers from Dermatologist, Dr. Dhaval Bhanusali
What age should I start checking for thinning? I’m only 17 but my Dad is definitely balding but he doesn’t remember how old he was when he started losing hair.
Unfortunately, thinning hair can start as young as your teenage years. I’ve certainly had some patients come in as early as 15-16 with noticeable thinning. While starting treatment is a personal choice, it’s much easier to maintain than it is to regrow hair once it is lost. Many people have turned to minoxidil-containing products like Rogaine and started to use it as a preventative measure (and with success!).
Both my Grandfather and my Father have full hair but my Mom has had thinning hair (she is 58). Am I prone to thinning from my Mom’s side?
There have been lots of contradictory results in hair studies looking at familial inheritance. The last popular idea was that hair genes are passed from the mother’s side. The truth is that you inherited hair characteristics from both sides and loss is somewhat random. For instance, in twins, one can have early thinning whereas the other does not.
What if my hair is dyed? Can I still use Rogaine? Also, is dying my hair making my thinning worse?
Absolutely, it can be used in all hair types and even after hair is dyed. We do caution patients not to use the same day as any chemical treatment. That being said, any kind of chemical (dying) or mechanical (using a straightener) can cause damage to hair follicles and have been linked with hair loss. IF it’s something that the patient insists on, moderation is key.
I use Head and Shoulders for dry scalp but I feel like there’s chemicals in dandruff shampoo that probably isn’t healthy for hair. Any ideas? Or is there a natural way to treat dandruff? I don’t want to slow the Rogaine treatment.
Many anti-dandruff shampoos use something called zinc pyithione that has been proven to help with dandruff. If you are looking for alternatives, there has been some research showing that both tea tree and coconut oil may be beneficial
Answers from Celebrity Groomer, Benjamin Thigpen
Are there hair products I should avoid when treating my thinning? I use gel but it dries weird where my hair is thinning.
Gel could possibly be the worst thing to use if you are thinning! Think about it this way…when you get out of the shower you most likely look like you are thinning a lot more than when your hair is dry (your scalp/thinning areas are exposed), therefore, you shouldn’t use a product that gives you a wet/sheen appearance. It’s important to give the illusion that you have thicker fuller hair. To do so, you should use a volumizing mousse and a mattifying/texturizing pomade or paste! Don’t be nervous to apply the mousse and product and use a blow dryer! Avoid heavy based products at all costs.
Keep the questions coming as you guys use the product for yourself, as these are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to hair loss treatment. Many of these questions I had too so don’t be shy. When it comes to hair care, education is key!
