Is it bad to shampoo every day?

First thing first – people had told me that washing my hair every day was ‘bad’, so I wanted to clear that up.

“It’s fine to wash and condition your hair every day, as long as you are using a gentle daily use shampoo,” Trichologist Kate Dawes told Mamamia.

“Be aware that by removing the natural oils (known as sebum), your sebaceous glands will naturally produce more. Always look for shampoos that are SLS and paraben free, as well as pH balanced.”

Read the full article here.

Foli Sim Launches in Melbourne

It's official! Foli Sim Scalp Micropigmentation has landed in the middle of Melbourne within the grand building, Bank House!

This is our first base on the East coast, so we're super excited that we're growing and can offer men and women on the other side of Australia flawless scalp micropigmentation results with outstanding customer service.

Foli Sim is a family owned hair loss clinic specialising in scalp micropigmentation and feather touch microblading. This boutique clinic evolved from Medical Hair Restoration Australia and prides itself on having highly qualified practitioners, modern equipment and producing outstanding customer results.

Scalp micropigmentation (SMP) is a natural looking, non-invasive treatment for men and women affected with hair loss. SMP can give you the appearance of greater thickness and natural looking density by using specially designed equipment to apply tiny dots of pigment to the scalp.

When delivered by a skilled practitioner, these tiny dots of pigments replicate the natural hair follicles making SMP a great way to restore receded hairlines, cover thinning / bald patches and camouflage scalp scars.

Foli Sim has clinics in Melbourne and Perth. To find out more call 1300 668 490 or complete an online enquiry. Consultations are free of charge and there is no obligation.

The sun; your hair’s dream friend or its worst nightmare?

The sunscreen will be coming out in thick waves this summer, what are you doing to protect your hair?

We’ve had a pretty hot past couple of weeks here in Perth (and by pretty hot, we’re talking over 30 degrees). Since this is only spring, we’re gulping at the thought of the UV rays that will be beating down on us come summer, and of the damage it could do to our hair. 

Obviously the best way to protect your hair is with a hat. However, we also understand that some days your fabulously floppy hat just won’t do, or your hair is looking so darn fine it would be a shame to cover it up. So lets get clued up on how to protect your hair this summer…

How does the sun damage hair?

Let’s start with what a big dose of UV does to the hair. According to WA leading Trichologist Kate Dawes, it ruins our precious keratin cells. “The sun damages the cuticle layer of the hair, which consists of layers of scale-like keratin cells. These scales lift up, causing that dry, brittle feeling.” If that wasn’t bad enough, it will also play havoc with those highlights you just spent a fortune on. “Sunshine will also strip out artificial colour and lighten natural coloured hair,” says Kate.

Healthy cuticle

Damaged cuticle

Pictures courtesy of http://www.naturallycurly.com

Vitamin D = Hair growth

You’ve probably heard that the sun’s Vitamin D is good for hair as it makes it grow, right? Well according to Kate it does, but in an indirect way. “Vitamin D receptors play an important role in a healthy hair growth cycle. Vitamin D activates the cells within the hair shaft that produce hair, so those with a deficiency often experience hair loss. Therefore, the sun can make your hair grow!”

But before you make a break for the great outdoors, remember that direct sunlight onto the hair will damage the structure. “Hair itself does not synthesize Vitamin D from the sun, this only occurs in the skin. So getting sunshine onto the hair will only lighten your hair colour and cause damage to the hair shaft. You need moderate exposure on your skin to produce the required vitamin D,” says Kate. But always use sunscreen and be careful when leaving your head unprotected, as extreme sunburn on your scalp can damage your follicles.

Stay away from…

There are many products out there that can be found in hair “protectors”, but Kate warns that if they contain any of the following, leave them on the shelf…

•    Oxybenzone - this can be absorbed into the blood stream and acts like oestrogen within the body.

•    Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A palmitate) has a reaction when exposed to sunlight and has been linked to the increase in the spread of malignant cells. Eek!

•    Fragrance – any product with a “Fragrance” in it should be avoided. They contain Parabens (hormone disruptors) and phthalates (very carcinogenic - aka cancer causing!) This doesn’t just stand for your hair, they’re in nearly every perfume on the market!

The best protection…

So what’s the best product to use? “Slick it back into a ponytail using organic coconut oil. This is a natural sunscreen that not only protects your hair, but conditions it at the same time!” says Kate. 

Ok summer, bring it on!

For more information about hair care go to www.helphair.com.au 

How Help Hair Protein can help

Help Hair Whey Protein is an all-natural, vitamin rich protein drink designed to provide all the essential amino-acids, vitamins and proteins that make up the nutritional support for fuller, thicker and healthier hair.

Please avoid the following Anabolic supplements to maximize the effects of Help Hair Protein Shake: 

1) Whey Protein Isolate
2) Creatine especially Arginine or Orthonine
3) Growth Hormone
4) Testosterone patches, gel or injection
5) DHEA
6) Andro-prohormone
7) Steroids
8) Energy drinks which contain arginine and high amounts of sugar and caffeine
9) Glutamine
10) Avoid all protein drinks while taking Help Hair Shake including egg, casein, soy, hemp protein
11) Avoid all soy products and do not mix the shake with soy milk
12) HCG
13) Bio-indenticals Tell tell your doctor if you are taking any herbs or supplements not discussed such as Bromelain which may degrade the protein.

Do's and Dont's for taking Help Hair Protein:

1) Avoid taking extra hair vitamins such as biotin. This will slow regrowth.
2) Please take the shake daily. Proper nutrition is important to the hair follicle. If a constant supply of nutrition is not maintained or interrupted during regeneration this will slow the process.
3) Do not heat the shake. It will denature the protein.
4) If you have a change in health; uncontrolled diabetes, high blood pressure, anemia, irregular menses, endocrine problems contact your doctor as this will affect the regrowth using the shake.
5) Multivitamins, fish oil, vitamin C and E will not interfere with the shake
6) Spicy foods such as curcumin (turmeric) or chili-peppers will actually enhance the effects of the shake
7) Caffeine of 200 MG daily(1-2 cups of coffee) will also enhance the shake.
8) Do not exceed 5 MG a day of biotin

Dosage: Weight in lbs; 125-250 lbs one scoop 2 x a day taken 12 hrs apart. More than 2 scoops a day is anabolic. For women 95-114 lbs one scoop daily and 1 Help Hair vitamin 12 hrs later. If you are unable to take 1 scoop 2 x daily then the second best is 1 scoop and 1 Help Hair vitamin (8-10 hrs apart).

Help Hair Protein Shake is a whey protein and is 99% lactose free and if you are lactose intolerant just add the shake to orange or grape juice and let sit for 15-20 minutes and the acidity will dissolve the extra small amount of milk sugar. Drinking the shake an hour or two after a meal also helps. Check all warnings on the label for a full list. But do not use the shake if taking sulfonamides , blood thinners, pregnancy , lactating , excessive alcohol or liver disease, sensitive to niacin or allergic to iodine.

Recipes: Mix Help Hair Protein Shake with ice, milk, skim milk, almond milk, water, orange or grape juice but never Soy Milk. Smoothies are tasty with fruit and filling. Adding instant coffee to chocolate flavor makes for a mocha frappé and studies have shown caffeine is good for hair regrowth but not excessive amounts. You can add the shake with oatmeal but be careful to not heat the whey since you may denature the protein.

Weight Loss: Help Hair Shake can be used for weight loss by replacing either one meal a day (breakfast or lunch) or using it as a snack replacement. You can drink it before lunch and dinner to replace an evening snack.

The shake can be used for working out. Adding milk, yogurt or even peanut butter will increase the protein per dose to 16-20 gms per serving.

Eating protein such as steak, chicken, fish daily is fine. Large amounts of egg whites can reduce your body of biotin.

For more information go to www.mhra.com.au

Joanna's story as shown on Channel 7's Today Tonight

Former model, actress and songwriter Joanna Fergusson recalls that hair loss has been a concern for her since her primary school days. 

When looking at school photos Joanna was always aware of her ‘exceptionally high hairline’, a feature inherited from her maternal grandmother. 

But like many women, Joanna, now 35, was extremely creative in finding ways to conceal her hair loss and forged ahead with a career that often put her in front of the camera. 

“I became very fond of baseball caps and in Year 12 I set my sights on becoming a hairdresser. It was purely so that I could develop ways to disguise my thinning hair,” Joanna says. 

“Hairdressing wasn’t for me, so I trained as a makeup artist and this supplemented income earned from modelling, acting and song writing.   

“Prior to having children a big portion of my earnings were spent on solutions for camouflaging my thinning hair.” 

Joanna says some of the solutions she chose included expensive hair extensions and treatments and combing her hair in a strict style to conceal thinning areas on her scalp. 

After her two sons were born, Joanna’s hair loss became more pronounced and increasingly difficult to conceal. 

But as a single mother investing in ongoing solutions for concealing her hair loss became increasingly unaffordable. 

Joanna says she gained encouragement when a friend told her how the latest techniques in scalp micro pigmentation (SMP) are providing an affordable aesthetic semi permanent solution for concealing hair loss.    

SMP, which involves applying micro organic pigment into the epidermis layer of the skin, creates the illusion of greater hair density.  

The pigment appears as hair follicles, thereby creating the appearance of a fuller head of hair.   

Matched to the patient’s existing hair colour and skin tone, the non-invasive procedure, which involves no down time or scarring, lasts up to five years.  

After a consultation with trichologist Kate Dawes of Medical Hair Restoration Australia (MHRA) in Nedlands, Joanna decided to proceed with the treatment. 

“I didn’t think twice about having SMP and I most certainly will have it done again when it starts to wear off in five years time,” Joanna says.  

“Life is short so if something bothers you and you are in a position to do something about it, then do.”  

Joanna says hair loss can be devastating for women, particularly given that women link the appearance of their hair to their overall attractiveness. 

“Any woman will tell you they don’t feel right when their hair isn’t right,” Joanna says.

“It’s pretty hard to feel good when one looks in the mirror and sees evidence of balding.” 

Trichologist Kate Dawes says demand is rising among both men and women for SMP treatment. 

Kate says SMP provides an ideal alternative for people who can’t afford hair transplant surgery or who aren’t ready to commit to a completely permanent solution. 

Her clinic’s staff have been trained to utilise the latest equipment developed by German and Spanish company, Goldeneye,  

“Patients are delighted with the results achieved with SMP,” Kate says. 

“Medical Hair Restoration Australia only use the highest standard quality pigments available and procedures are completed at our modern, hygienic and sterilised clinic in Nedlands.” 

For more information about SMP visit: http://www.mhra.com.au/services/scalp-micropigmentation

Genetic hair loss in Women

Characterised by thinning of the hair in the front and top area of the scalp, genetic hair loss is understood to be inherited from both parents. While a daughter may inherit the condition from her parent's gene pool, it is still possible for both parents to have thick hair.

Genetic hair loss in women is sometimes associated with oily skin, excessive facial hair and sensitive or 'burning' scalp.

Estrogens (female hormones) are “good” for the hair. Androgens (male hormones) are “bad” for the hair. Women and men produce both types of hormones. In women with genetic thinning, their levels of androgens are usually quite normal.

In younger women, genetic thinning can be triggered by particular oral contraceptives. Progestogens that are not considered to have an adverse effect on the hair include desorgestrol, gestodene and cyproterone acetate (androcur). Androcur is contained in the oral contraceptive Diane 35 ED (see below)

If a sex hormonal imbalance is suspected, blood tests can be run that establish whether the ovaries or adrenal glands are at fault. Once the problem can be pinpointed, corrective action can be taken. Relevant blood tests include SHBG. Total testosterone, free testosterone, DHEAS, FSH, LH and Prolactin.

Inflammation / swelling around the hair follicles are indicative of the stem cells of the hair follicles being attacked by a group of white blood cells. The oral intake of tyrosine usually reduces this inflammation quite quickly. Tyrosine reduces the production of noradrenaline from the sympathetic nerves in the skin. In turn, this reduces the white blood cells.

TREATMENTS FOR GENETIC THINNING IN WOMEN

Such oral contraceptives as Diane 35 ED (Brenda, Estelle, Juliet) or Yasmin or Yaz. The possible side – effects of the therapy include weight gain, nausea, headaches and decreased libido.

The diuretic Aldactone also called spironolactone. Possible side-effects include hyperkalaemia, mood swings, disturbed cycles, and tenderness of the breasts. Because of the hyperkalaemia, patients on spironolactone should not take potassium supplements.

The topical application of Minoxidil 5% (Rogaine etc.)

Finasteride (Propecia or Prosar), 1 to 2.5 mg daily. There have now been several medical studies undertaken with Finasteride which show positive results for women. You or your doctor can review the studies at PubMed on the internet: http://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/ Type in 'androgenetic alopecia in females and Finasteride'.

Herbally, phytoestrogens such as Dong Quai, red clover or Black Cohosh can sometimes stabilise or reverse genetic thinning. Phytoestrogens probably work by blocking androgen – receptor sites. Saw palmetto may also be of benefit.

If treatment helps, it has to be continued for life. It can take at least 6 months before improvement becomes apparent.

Kate Dawes I.A.T Trichologist

Female hair loss no longer on fringe

A woman losing her hair was once considered a shameful experience, but Perth – based trichologist Kate Dawes is turning that perception on its head. 

Mrs Dawes said trichology involved studying microscopic photos of hair follicles to find the cause and treatment of hair loss, shaft breakage and scalp conditions.

“Even though more than 50 per cent of women experience hair loss in their lives, today’s market is focused on male patterns baldness so a lot of women are suffering in silence”, she said.

“For me, it’s very satisfying to help people recover and to see that improvement in their hair and confidence. “When my clients first come in they’re usually in tears, they are embarrassed and devastated by what is happening to the hair.

Mrs Dawes, director of Medical Hair Restoration Australia, said her interest in trichology began after she was diagnosed with Graves Disease, now in remission. “I wanted to find a better way of healing, so I became very interested in nutrition and the link with a lot of diseases and hair and skin conditions,” she said.

For more information about trichology and hair loss visit www.mhra.com.au