Emerson Salon – Capitol Hill Seattle

My clients often ask me about potential hair loss when they notice their hair shedding. To worry or not? Hair responds to three things; genetics, diet, and hormones.

Hair Loss
The average person loses 50-125 hairs per day, including eyebrow and eyelash hairs. These hairs are replaced very quickly, and there is no concern. When you lose more than that there may be a problem. If your drain is clogged with hair, and you have long hair, the drain will get clogged. Otherwise, and if the hairs aren’t being replaced, you might end up with thinning hair or some hair loss. Androgenenetic alopecia is the term for hair loss; it can happen to any gender, and is the cause of most hair loss. Androgens, the hormones that cause masculine sex characteristics, are the cause.

Hormones
Typically, as a man ages, he produces less testosterone, which can create dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a natural by-product. If one is genetically predisposed for this to take place, the drop-off of male androgens tells the hair follicles to release called 5 alpha reductase (5ar) Type 2, a compound that precedes DHT. Women are also susceptible to this process, but usually, estrogen offers some protection against the DHT. Rogaine and Propecia both may help and they are approved by the FDA, yet each have undesirable side effects over the long haul and yes, hair restoring products have to be used continually to combat DHT.

Nutrition
Again, nutrition can help out. In countries where vegetables are primary in the diet, hair loss is rarely seen. B vitamins in particular are helpful with scalp sebum and new cell generation, necessary for healthy hair growth. Some minerals work with others to ramp up antioxidant activity and block bad enzymes. A balanced diet of whole foods is key.

Alterna
At Emerson Salon, we carry Alterna’s Life Restore Solutions, which combine eastern extracts with ‘Enzymetherapy- The Science of Skincare for Hair (TM)’, which bring your hair and scalp into complete balance. Specifically, Alterna’s Life Restore Scalp & Follicle Serum, an effective leave-in treatment containing the exclusive Nutrozyme Complex, stimulates the hair follicles, increasing microcirculation, providing more effective scalp penetration. Contains azelaic acid combined zinc and Vitamin B, which studies have shown can inhibit DHT by up to 98 percent. Taurine plumps up the hair shaft for added volume and body.