Hair Growth for Her

Men have many ways to prevent and restore hair loss. But for women it’s a different story.

Women experience hair loss later in life, and their hair disappears over a wider range of the head.

Men are supposed to go bald, but not women, right? A woman’s hair is like a divine right, the source of her female strength and beauty, a weapon and a shield. As Ivana Trump has said, “Gorgeous hair is the best revenge.”

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The distressing truth is that nearly 40 percent of all those who suffer hair loss are women. That’s some 30 million Americans. It is not the same kind of hair loss as men — not the patterned baldness that leaves a shiny roof behind. Instead, it is usually an overall thinning. But it can be far more emotionally damaging to a woman’s self esteem.

As Ivana Trump has said, “Gorgeous hair is the best revenge.”

The American Academy of Dermatology says that about half of hair loss in women is genetic. The other half is caused by something else — an emotional trauma, thyroid disease, hormonal imbalances, prescription drugs, or even pregnancy.

The first thing to do about it is see a doctor to rule out a temporary cause that can be corrected.

If you are among the unlucky half with hereditary issues, the only good news is that, in most cases, it doesn’t occur until you reach your 50s or 60s. That’s really no consolation if you happen to be in that age range, of course. The better news is that science is coming up with solutions to slow down or reverse baldness in women.

Related: Forever Young

Laser Light
Because women tend to go thin across their scalp, transplants are not as effective as they are for men. What women need is an overall approach to the problem.

One is the FDA-approved laser comb or laser cap. Since hair follicles grow weak and wispy before they fall out, laser light applied three times a week for 10 or 15 minutes stimulates these wimpy follicles and brings them back to life, thickening the hair.

Studies show a 20 percent average increase in hair thickness, but the downside is that results take six months.

Cost is another factor. The laser comb can cost as little as a few hundred dollars, but the top-of-the-line cordless laser cap costs $3,000. It is designed to go under a baseball cap and deliver light from 224 diodes.

But what is price compared to a thicker head of hair, at least for some people?

“For me, it turned out to be worth it,” said a 48-year-old blond who declined to be named. “I’ve been getting the laser treatment two or three times a week, and while I can’t tell much of a difference, my hairdresser has shown me how a lot of little hairs have been sprouting up all over my head. Farah Fawcett I’ll never be, but if I can avoid the Sinead O’Conner look, I’m good.”

She goes to Cure Concierge in Malibu, California, which invested in the Sunetics laser technology.  For patients, costs range from $99 for an individual session up to $4K for yearly package.

Related: Gold Karat Health Care

“You sit in a comfy chair and they lower the laser onto your head. It’s a red light panel that looks a little like the spaceship from ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind.'”

The Sunetics laser lowers onto your head, like the ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ spaceship making a landing.

PRP Treatment
Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, is another treatment for weak, wispy and nearly invisible hair follicles. Platelets are growth factors found in your blood. When your blood is centrifuged, it spins down a layer of platelets that can  be injected into the scalp.

This is a good treatment for women, since it brings diffuse thinning hairs back to life. It also lasts for a year or two. The downside is that most doctors still don’t use local anesthesia, says Dr. Alan Bauman, who does hair restoration in Boca Raton, Florida. Be prepared for an “ouch” factor in  most cases.

Topical Treatments
Another systemic approach for women is minoxidil. Known commonly by its brand name Rogaine, it’s the first drug approved by the FDA to treat baldness. While results vary from person to person, minoxidil has been shown to slow the progression of hair loss and in some case to regrow hair. Plus, it ‘s now available in a generic, so the cost has gone way down.

Stop your daily applications and within months you can say goodbye to any hair you saved or grew.

For women, Bauman recommends a less greasy variation called Formula 82. It is more expensive, but it “blows Rogaine out of the water,” he said.

The downside is that it requires continuous use. Stop your daily applications and within months you can say goodbye to any hair you saved or grew.

The makers of Revitalash, which, like Latisse, has been shown effective for thickening eyelashes, have a product for overall scalp hair thickening called Hair by Revitalash. It retails at around $95 for 1.57 ounces. At such a hefty price tag, many women prefer to stick to Rogaine.

“I’ve used both,” said the 48-year-old mentioned earlier. “My best bang-for-the-buck is actually using the Rogaine for Men. Yes, they tell you not to, but I get my hormones tested, and frankly, I’m willing to take the risk for better results.”

There are other short cuts for women seeking a more luscious head of hair — extensions, weaves, teasing, falls, or wigs. But these can put extra stress on already stressed out hair follicles and fragile strands.

There is no magic bullet for female hair loss, alas, but by trial and error, usually a combination of methods in conjunction with healthy lifestyle choices can work to slow the thinning process.

Much like aging, there’s no stopping, or reversing, the march of time. But armed with information, women willing to make the investment to manage hair loss have a better shot a looking as young as they feel.