TRESS RELIEF

A Guide To Thinning Hair

By Ann Grenier

Hair, as we know it, highlights our style, acts as a security blanket, and boosts confidence. When hair looks good, you want to show it off. But for the millions suffering from hair loss, there may be more bad hair days than good.

Thanks to cutting-edge products, devices, and procedures, this doesn’t have to be the case. While hair loss is common in men, the conversation has now started to include women, too. Factors like lifestyle and stress can lead to follicle fallout. But before you go on a self-diagnosing Google bender and freak yourself out, let’s all take a deep breath and get the facts straight.

SOLUTIONS TO HAIR LOSS
There are many reasons why you may be losing hair—genetics, nutrition, stress—and any number of solutions to accompany them. New York Lifestyles recently met with Angelo David, owner and creative director of Angelo David Salon, who has seen it all. Whether your hair loss is acute or long-term, Angelo has developed solutions to help women and men obtain the hair they used to have, or the hair they have always wanted. Through 25 years of experience and hands-on research, he has developed a variety of cutting-edge products and techniques that have allowed his clients to maintain healthy hair at every stage of life.

Located on Madison Avenue, the salon boasts a team of highly trained staff members who are dedicated to making each client feel welcome and appreciated. Renowned for Couture Hair Extensions and Couture Wigs, Angelo David Salon also offers a full range of services and includes seven private VIP Hair Suites. The full-service salon offers— in addition to thinning hair solutions—the best in cut, color, color correction, and styling. Angelo’s vast experience with hair, hair health, and hair growth led him to realize that hair health issues often begin inside the body, not on the surface.

Here, Angelo’s top tips to prevent and address those facing hair loss.

Proper Hair Care One major tip Angelo advises is to brush your hair before you get in the shower. “Hair is weakest when it’s wet,” says Angelo, “When you brush it dry, you won’t see as much hair in your brush afterward, or as much breakage. Use a gentle detangling brush like The Flex Brush, which I helped design to work with the contours of your scalp. Start from the ends and work your way up, in small sections at a time.”

Proper Nutrition If your hair is thinning, look at your plate. Perhaps it’s lacking vital nutrients including biotin. Natural sources of this vitamin are in foods like eggs, liver and other meats, almonds, and salmon. Vegetarians and vegans may need to supplement due to the lack of biotin and other essential proteins that are the building blocks of healthy hair. Angelo’s hair supplement for men and women is called Hair Detox, which gently detoxifies the body, helps minimize nutritional deficiencies, addresses hormonal imbalances, and supports healthy hair growth from within.

Be Mindful Of Stress All forms of stress—mental and physiological—lead to inflammation in the body. “When the body is stressed, it pushes your hair follicles into a “resting phase,” so they do not produce new hair strands,” says Angelo. “Daily activities like driving, environmental stressors, demanding jobs, and poor diet can all contribute to stress, so it’s important to incorporate mindfulness and relaxation every day.”

Avoid Over-Styling Though the sleek, high ponytails are in style and look great, pulling back your hair can contribute to hair loss and severe damage. “Pulling your hair into a tight ponytail is like cutting off circulation. Especially if your hair is thin or falling out, you want to nourish your scalp and be gentle to your hair.” Before blow-drying, Angelo advises to always use a heat protectant product. If you insist on wearing your hair in this style, use a soft scrunchie. Before bed, use your fingers and massage your scalp, and leave your hair down while you sleep. “You want to increase blood flow to the scalp as much as possible so that the hair follicles can be healthy and strong,” says Angelo.

Seek A Pro If you are dealing with severe hair loss, seek out a salon that specializes in thinning hair solutions. Investing in a good quality wig or hairpiece can do wonders for your self-confidence. “Losing your hair can be a very emotionally traumatic experience,” Angelo notes. “By creating custom wigs for my clients, it looks natural. A high-quality hairpiece can instantly transform someone. It is not uncommon for my clients to cry tears of joy when they see their wig on them for the first time.”

For more information on the Angelo David Salon, visit angelodavid.com.