Getting to the “Root” of Hair Loss

(Family Features) - It’s a fact that men have a 50 percent chance of experiencing hereditary hair loss by age 50, and more than 40 percent of men show some degree of hair loss by their 35th birthday.  Many first notice it in their 20s. With percentages like that, it’s no wonder men (and women) spend more than $1.5 billion a year on hair restoration and regrowth products. 
Despite the old wives’ tale that hair loss is passed down from the maternal side of the family, it’s not fair to blame it all on Mom.  In fact, hereditary hair loss can be inherited from your mother or father.  Called “androgenic alopecia,” this type of hair loss is characterized by a receding hairline and hair loss on top of the head.  A combination of heredity, hormones, and age shrinks scalp follicles, prompting a shorter hair growing cycle.  Follicles normally grow for two to six years and then rest for two to three months. Over time, the resting phase extends and follicles grow fewer and finer hairs.  Eventually, there may be no growth at all.
Dr. Jeffrey Miller, associate professor and vice chair for the department of dermatology at the Hershey Medical Center of Penn State University , notes, “Fifty million men in the United States experience male pattern baldness, but many avoid treating the condition because current options are often too cumbersome and time consuming.”  Miller collaborated with “Saturday Night Live” stylist Colleen Liddy to develop easy and effective grooming tips for guys with thinning hair:

1. A shorter cut makes hair look thicker – Try slightly longer hair on the top, shorter on the sides.  Of course, shorter cuts need to be trimmed often, because hair typically grows a half inch to one inch each month.
2. Use a mild shampoo daily – Washing more than once a day will strip hair of the natural oils that give hair thickness and shine.  
3. Use volumizing shampoos and conditioners – They add thickness to thinning hair and help strengthen and condition hair for maximum volume and vitality.
4. Avoid thick gel – Light gel adds body and volume to hair.  Thick gel weighs hair down.
5. Less is more – Go easy on styling aids like mousses, pomades, and hairsprays so hair still appears full.
6. Layer for a fuller look – Have the stylist cut the under layers of hair a bit shorter than the top to give the top layers of hair a boost.
7. Regrowhair – Can you regrow hair?  A variety of products, from herbal to high tech, claim you can.  Search “hair growth products” on the web and you’ll find hundreds of solutions.  One that has been proven is the well-known brand name Rogaine.  Although not everyone responds to this product, you might find it’s a solution for you.  If you wish to find out more, log onto www.Rogaine.com.