Battle Against Bald | A Battle Against Hair Loss Through Hair Restoration

The Flair Hair Toupee Visor!

Summer is here, so it's time to get creative with your head coverings the keep from burning. We know wearing a hat with a wig is a risky maneuver (and get get hot on those warm days), but not with the Flair Hair Toupee Visor!

Ok, we have to be honest... You're probably better off letting your head get some sun. Not only does the Flair Hair Toupee Visor look like a cheap rug, it's framed with a very out-of-style hat. Plus, the combo looks rather uncomfortable. Instead, here are some other warm weather options for your head:

Wear your favorite hat — You can stay stylish and covered from the sun, without the discomfort of a wig.

Wear a bandana — Keeps you protected from getting burned, blocks the sweat from rolling down your face, and keeps you head cool.

Go "el natural" — Now is the time to even out that tan above your brow line. Let that bald head shine! But first, don't forget the sunscreen.

Hair Loss Concoctions Around the World

We found an interesting article about hair loss remedies from around the world, ranging from Ancient Egypt to modern times. It's interesting to learn how the epic battle against hairlessness has raged on for eras, employing all sorts of tactics, from magic to modern science. Read it for yourself:

Greece - Hippocrates taught us that a mixture of nettles, horseradish, cumin and pigeon dropping could cure hair loss. Hippocrates was not a dermatologist.

Africa & Southern Asia -A mixture chiefly composed of rancid rhino fat and powdered rosemary was used. This fusion or amalgamation needs to be massaged every night by a virgin’s hand.

Northern & Western Europe - Another weird concoction, brought to us by the medieval merchants, includes the combination of boar’s grease, a lot of ashes (from bees and southern wood), oil of almonds, and other liquids or essence obtained from a flower or a root of some sort. Pound it all together until a paste-like consistency is formed then apply daily on hair to promote hair growth.

Egypt - It was said that approximately 1500 BC, the ancient Egyptians possess the cure for hair loss. The cure requires one to chant some incantation towards Ra, the sun god, then gulps a tonic, which contains onions, iron, lead, alabaster and honey. (Bottoms up!) Forward a couple centuries, Egyptians are still in the pursuit of the cure for baldness. Here enters another mix including various animal fat/grease and rubbing the same into the scalp. A few of the more famous animal fats used are those coming from lions, serpents, and crocodiles. The first two obviously proved fruitless because they still brewed quite a few remedies that involved dog toes, donkey’s hooves, and scrapes of dates.

Russia - Would you drink vodka with onion juices and honey? Of course not! But will you apply it in your head if it claims that your hair will grow back? How about ingesting a kidney tonic? This is one of the cures our Chinese brothers formulated to address hair loss.

Japan - Japanese researchers came up with a pair of headsets that carry out electrodes to produce currents that will stimulate the scalp and enhances blood flow directed towards the hair follicles.

Image compliments of AntiquePrints.com

The cure for... too much hair?

Not to insult any of you struggling to restore your hairlines, but there are people in the world who suffer the exact opposite condition as you - hypertrichosis, or "werewolf syndrome" - a condition that causes them to grow hair on every inch of their bodies but their palms and soles of their feet. Doctors studying hair loss and hair restoration believe they may have stumbled upon the cure for this rare disease.

Dermatologist Angela Cristiano and her team at Columbia University have been studying hair restoration and have been using testosterone injections to stem hair growth. Oddly enough, her interests in restoring hair loss led to her interests in finding a cure for the exact opposite. The group is now working to develop a cure for hypertrichosis - the rare disorder that affects fewer than 50 people worldwide.

Eleven-year-old Pruthviraj Patil is the first to beging receiving treatment (we're still unsure as to WHAT exactly this treatment is). Researchers say it's too early to tell what the long term affects will be.

Image courtesy of FOXNews.com

White Hair No More?

No, we're not talking about a fantastic hair dye or some gimmicky new product. According to DailyMail.co.uk, scientists have discovered a treatment to turn white hair back to its original color - all it takes is one tiny pill.

The drug, K(D)PT (they should probably change the name), triggers the production of pigmentation and restores hair to its original form. Unfortunately, the drug is only being used in labs and is not yet ready for use on patients.

Tips to Hide Your Bald Spots

Found some wonderful tips on hiding bald spots. The author is a guy named Darren, an online medical researcher (whatever that means) and webmaster of Hair Loss Treatment.

First Tip:

Cut it short and neat. Long hair with patches is an eye sore. You may choose to use clippers and do it yourself, or you can visit your local barbershop and let the expert do what he does best.

Second Tip:

Comb-over or sweeping strands of hair in an attempt to cover the balding area. Some people may think that this is not an alternative worth mentioning. Deny it all you want, but some men do prefer this option. Ever seen Donald Trump? Yeah, he personifies this particular look. He was even caught saying that if he is going bald, he is going bald swinging. Talk about confidence!

Third Tip:

Wigs and toupees. If you are going to use these accessories, invest in a good one, a wig or toupee that looks natural (not one that looks like a dead possum). If you purchased one that tends to look fake ( majority of the wigs and toupees do look fake), you are drawing more attention to the fact that you are shedding.

Fourth Tip:

Shaving one’s head. For some this is rather liberating but for others this may be a tad bit radical. Think of it this way, if smoking is your problem then you should get rid of the cigarette. Same applies with balding and hair loss. If you are having difficulties hiding your head patches, why not let yourself be bald? Letting go is genuinely hard, but it is better than forever living in fear of being bald.

It has been said that bald men are sexy. Actually, it is not the hair loss or the lack of hair that is sexy, it is the confidence being exuded by the individual. A person who is comfortable in his own skin and one who is not afraid of what others may think or say is rather appealing. Bear in mind that personality trumps any hairstyle hands down. If you are confident, the hairstyle is just an enhancement to the whole package. And any apprehension you have about hair loss will be a thing of the past.

Battle of the Bald

Beldar Conehead or Jack Nicholson? Who's the baddest of these baldies?

More on Hair Loss Confidential

While perusing YouTube, I came across this 5-minute version of what I will assume is the first episode of Hair Loss Confidential. Dana secretly shares her friend Eric's big, bald secret and gets him some help. Check it out:

Hair Loss Confidential

A new reality television show is in the works, and it targets folks like you and I. Hair Loss Confidential will transform many bald heads around America. Here's a synopsis from the press release:

Hair Loss Confidential will catch people facing hair loss unaware - those who insist the comb-over is working for them, people who think the hairpiece they bought in 1985 still looks like their own hair and individuals who insist a baseball cap can be worn with a tux or ball gown.  Additionally, Hair Loss Confidential is looking for men, women and children suffering from hair loss due to heredity, alopecia or chemotherapy where their hair loss crisis has affected their lifestyle and livelihood.

People will be selected by friends and family to be featured on the show. They will be given the opportunity to tell their story and share their hair loss experience. Then, they'll be offered a hair restoration procedure, on the producer's dime.

Know anyone who may be perfect for the show? Nominate your friends and family at www.hairlossconfidential.tv.

Brotherhood of Bald People Worldwide

Some of us are always seeking a cure. A return to our youth, when the last thing we had to worry about was how noticeable our bald spot was becoming. We use creams, pills and lotions to try and conjure some sort of follicular insurrection on our scalps. Hair restoration surgery, wigs, and on and on. Others, like Mike Ubl, accept and celebrate their baldness, and want to see others like him do the same.

Mike is the Mission Director of the Brotherhood of Bald People Worldwide, an organization devoted to changing public image of baldness and building self-confidence in the bald community. Mike suffered from male pattern baldness in his twenties, and traveled a path of denial until he reached acceptance. He then took a hard left toward appreciation. He appreciates his hair loss. In November of 2006, he started the Brotherhood to share his wisdom that he gained through his own experience. The organization's website has a wealth of knowledge, including articles, advice, entertainment, benefits to members, as well as an online store.

The moral of the story is, one cure for hair loss is acceptance, and eventually appreciation. Hair restoration isn't for everyone — what's important is do what makes you happy.

Manipulating hair growth in the near future?

Science might be able to change the kind of hair that we have in the near future. Geneticist Angela Christiano and her team have been studying the genetics of hair, specifically the mutation that causes "woolly hair." Their research has led to the belief that a topical drug may be the answer to manipulate hair one way or another (whether you have too much hair or too little). But it doesn't end there. Christiano foresees a future where people can switch from curly to straight hair.