Anagen Effluvium: When Hair Salons Turn Healthy Hair into Hair Horrors

An Auckland woman has been left with bald patches and straw-like hair after a beauty treatment went horribly wrong.

Kirstine Morris, 32, paid $100 to have her curly hair chemically straightened at a salon in West Auckland’s LynnMall shopping centre.

Her hair was covered with a straightening product mixed with a thickener, before being left under a heat lamp for about 20 minutes.

‘My head was burning. I’ve had colours in the past, and you do get sensations. But this was intense’, said the mother of three.

‘[The hairdresser] said, “That’s okay, it’s the chemicals”. Then when it was time to take me out of the lamp, my head was banging’.

Despite the initial pain, Ms. Morris was happy with the results until she washed her hair for the first time seven days later, as advised.

She said her hair matted like glue under the water, and fell out in clumps when she brushed it afterwards.

More has fallen out each day since, and she has collected it in marked bags as evidence. ‘I’ve got patches. It’s almost like it’s gone from the top of my head, in the middle of my forehead, I’ve got a wide strip going straight down to the nape of my neck’.

She has since gone to another salon in LynnMall for treatment, and the manager there told her it was the worst damage she had seen.

She actually said it made her ‘physically sick. It’s ruined. A lot of my hair is not alive. It’s limp, and has no movement now’.

Liz Jungwirth, the director of the salon that caused the hair damage, conceded that the chemical straightening treatment had damaged Ms. Morris’ hair.

‘I’m feeling really bad, but it’s something that’s happened’.

But she believed accounts of Ms. Morris’ damaged hair were exaggerated and confrontational. Asked what went wrong, Ms. Jungwirth said any number of factors could have contributed to the damage, including stress or medications.

‘There’s an element in the equation we don’t understand. We would have to have the hair tested in a laboratory to find out what it really was’.

Ms. Jungwirth said the salon had treated thousands of other women the same way, without any problems.

Ria Bond, the president of the New Zealand Association of Registered Hairdressers, had recently heard of a similar chemical straightening incident at another salon. She said accidents did happen in hairdressing, but there were also varying degrees of professionalism and care within the industry.

Some hairdressers did a hair strand test before using chemicals, but it came down to what instructions were given by manufacturers for products, of which there were ‘hundreds’.

But she said the adding of a thickener to a straightening product was ‘odd’.

‘The only accepted additive would be corn flour. But if they are providing a straightening service, it does not pay to add anything else to it’.

Ms. Morris was covered by the Consumer Guarantees Act and was entitled to contact the Department of Labour if her injuries were serious, Ms. Bond said.

Ms. Morris said the manner in which the salon dealt with her initial complaint had forced her to take a hard line.

What Makes an Effective Hair Growth Shampoo?

It seems like anyone and everyone suffering from hair loss or slowed hair growth is on the market for the best shampoo for hair growth. In choosing a hair growth shampoo or other hair-growing product, it is important to understand exactly why and how these products work in order to find the one that will work best for you.

The best hair growth shampoo for you should definitely contain amino acids. Your hair is made of protein and protein is made of amino acids. You will also want to find a shampoo that contains antioxidants, plant botanicals, and vitamins. All of these ingredients will contribute to the health of your hair and scalp.

High-quality hair growth shampoo and conditioner products should contain natural ingredients. A natural shampoo for hair growth won’t only stimulate the hair follicles but will help the body repair damage caused by the harsh chemicals found in most other hair care products.

The allure of natural ingredients in a hair growth shampoo might be popular amongst those suffering from hair loss but they’re also intriguing amongst those looking to simply revitalize their damaged hair. Hair growth shampoos with natural ingredients are recommended for those looking to simply enhance their appearance. Those who don’t really need a hair growth shampoo should be encouraged to stay away from those containing chemicals that their bodies don’t really need.

Unfortunately, natural products won’t be effective for everyone who tries them. Men who suffer from premature pattern balding, for example, will want to find a shampoo for faster hair growth that has been formulated to treat their specific conditions. Some of these ingredients have been specially designed and cannot be derived from natural sources.

The study of hair growth and the prevention of hair loss is a science. Scientists have developed a myriad of specialty shampoos designed to stimulate the scalp and promote hair growth. These specialty products have relieved the stress of thousands of balding men and women.

When searching for a hair growth shampoo, remember that the best shampoo for hair growth will include chemicals designed to work against the natural causes of hair loss. Some will fight against your body’s testosterone to prevent male pattern balding. Others are designed to stimulate the hair follicles and promote new hair growth. The type of chemical you need will be determined by the reason you’re losing your hair. If a chemical shampoo is not the answer, you may need to explore other hair growth options such as laser treatments or massage therapy.

How Effective Is Finasteride?

Finasteride is a prescription hair loss treatment medication that has been designed for the treatment of male pattern hair loss. The action of finasteride helps in the reduction of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels in the scalp, a substance that is primarily responsible for hair loss.

Finasteride is an oral treatment solution for hair loss. It is an active ingredient known to be a type II 5-alpha reductase inhibitor. Finasteride inhibits the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone, bringing down the levels of DHT and inhibiting hair loss. It is specifically used to treat male pattern hair loss, a common condition characterized by losing hair from the top of the head and the middle front of the head. For best results, it’s suggested that this medication be taken regularly for a year.

Action and Dosage

Dihydrotestosterone or DHT shortens the growth phase that all hair follicles go through. The action of DHT makes them shrink to a stage where very few visible hairs are left on your scalp. The intake of finasteride starts a process wherein it works to restrict the formation of DHT on your scalp. This in turn interrupts the development of male pattern hair loss, eventually leading to its treatment. Continued use of finasteride will help reduce hair loss and facilitate the regrowth of visible hair.

Each finasteride tablet comes in 1mg strength; one tablet must be taken orally, daily. Finasteride can either be taken with or without food. It’s important to understand that if you miss taking a dose of finasteride, you must not take an extra tablet. Just continue your regular dosage. An increase in finasteride dosage is not going to make for faster results.

Why Choose Finasteride?

There are various hair loss treatment options available, so why choose finasteride? One of the reasons for this is that it is one of the most convenient ways of treating hair loss. All you need to do is pop a pill regularly and experience its benefits. Another important benefit is that its efficacy has been guaranteed through various clinical studies.  A 5-year clinical study conducted on finasteride demonstrated and proved its efficacy. Doctors pronounced an improvement in the majority of men who were given this medication. Finasteride has displayed proven results in restricting the expansion of the balding spot in men. If you are willing to take finasteride for a year, there is no doubt that the medication will be effective for you.

Online Availability

Finasteride, like many other drugs, is now available online. Numerous online pharmacies stock this medication; making it easily available for all those who have been prescribed finasteride. It’s important to choose the right online pharmacy to do business with, as there are many pharmacies that sell nefarious drugs. Only buy finasteride from a reputed online pharmacy that makes prescriptions mandatory. Ask your physicians, friends and family members for the names of respected online pharmacies. Do your own research and find out the one that best suits your needs and requirements.

Trade-Off

Although the effectiveness of finasteride has been backed up by clinical studies, its drawbacks are also reported by users of the drug. Strictly prescribed for men, finasteride has been reported to cause harmful side effects in line with sexual dysfunction, that is, testicular pains, impotence, and decreased sex drive.