We know antioxidants are good for our bodies. But are they good for our hair too? To understand the role antioxidants play in hair growth, we must first understand what they are and how they work.
What are antioxidants?
Antioxidants fight free radicals which are created as the body turns food into energy. Free radicals are dangerous due to their potential to damage human cells and in particular, genes.
There are many forms of antioxidants. The most common are found in food and are vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, selenium, and magnesium.
Some scientific studies suggest that antioxidants found and consumed naturally through food may promote hair growth. This is believed to be because of antioxidants’ natural nutrient properties that are necessary for healthy body functioning. When the body is healthy and functioning properly, hair follicles are able to flourish and grow healthy, strong hair.
Below is a list of the best natural food sources of antioxidants.
Vitamin A – beef, chicken, eggs, dairy
Vitamin C – cantaloupe, orange, grapefruit, kiwi, papaya, mango, berries, watermelon, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, green and red peppers, sweet potatoes, white potatoes, cabbage, turnips, spinach
Vitamin E – vegetable oil, almonds, peanuts, hazelnuts, sunflower seeds, leafy green veggies, fortified breakfast cereals
Beta-carotene – leafy green veggies, sweet potatoes, carrots, peaches, pumpkin
Selenium – butter, liver, shellfish, tuna, halibut, sunflower seeds, whole grains, brazil nuts, wheat germ, brewer’s yeast
Magnesium – leafy green veggies, bananas, avocados, dried apricots, almonds, cashews, peas, beans, seeds, whole grains
Incorporating more antioxidants into your diet through natural food sources will likely improve your overall health. When bodies are happy, healthy, and getting all the nutrients they need, they are able to nourish and promote secondary functions like soft skin and hair growth.
If you’d like to learn more about medical ways to grow your hair, give us a call today. Here at Modena, we specialize in alternative methods of hair growth as well as hair transplant procedures.
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Does aromatherapy really work?
Essential oils have been all the hype recently. Fans of the treatment claim the fragrances eliminate toxins and reduce stress. But does aromatherapy actually work?
Fragrances and plant extracts have been used for thousands of years as part of a natural or homeopathic way to relieve common ailments such as anxiety, depression, stress, colds, and allergies. While aromatherapy has ancient tradition origins, there may be some modern supportive science behind the therapy.
Aromatherapy works via inhaling aromas through the nose. The aromas stimulate smell receptors which are linked directly to the brain’s emotional center. The aromas are meant to stimulate positive and calm emotions. Aromas can be distributed via diffusers, oils, massage, and vapor.
While pleasant smells may improve one’s mood, do they really calm anxiety and reduce stress? Research has been inconclusive thus far, showing benefits in some studies and not in others.
One particular study examined graduate nursing students who inhaled lavender during exams. The lavender proved to reduce stress and anxiety in these students. Another study looked at dental patients with upcoming dental procedures who inhaled lavender. The lavender showed little positive effect. This is believed to be due to immediate stress (exams) versus long term stress (fear of the dentist’s office).
The take home: aromatherapy doesn’t hurt. In fact, it’s been shown to have mood-boosting effects. While the therapy’s long-term mental and physiological ailment-curing abilities aren’t proven, it has been shown to have calming and mood-boosting effects, particularly in time of high immediate stress.
Give aromatherapy a try and let us know how it works for you!
The best foods for preventing hair loss
Most of us desire to have thick, healthy, strong, lustrous hair. While there’s plenty of hair care products that claim to do this, and some even do a great job, you can’t beat treating from the inside out.
Nutrients and vitamins found in everyday foods can be super hair savers. These foods naturally contain ingredients often added to shampoos, serums, and over the counter treatments meant to help hair and prevent hair loss.
The foods below are nutrient-dense and have been shown to positively impact hair health and prevent hair loss over time.
Spinach – mineral deficiencies can sometimes be the cause of hair loss. Spinach is rich in iron, omega-3 acids, magnesium, potassium, and calcium. All great for hair health and overall health.
Greek yogurt – this thick, protein-rich yogurt is rich in vitamin B5. Vitamin B5 helps with blood flow throughout the body, which means more bloody supply to the scalp and hair follicles.
Salmon – salmon is full of omega-3’s which are inflammation fighters. In some cases of hair loss, inflammation can be the culprit.
Cinnamon – another anti-inflammatory which also improves circulation. Improved circulation means more oxygen and nutrients reaching your hair follicles.
Oatmeal – this breakfast-favorite is rich in iron, fiber, zinc, and omega-3’s. These nutrients are great for growing hair and improving its health.
Guava – did you know guava contains as much as 5 times more vitamin C than oranges? Vitamin C was proven in a recent double-blind study to help women with thinning hair improve thickness as well as hair growth.
Eggs – eggs are full of biotin which you may recognize from the vitamin aisle. Biotin is great for growing hair as well as strengthening fingernails and softening skin.
If you have been experiencing hair loss for some time, you may need a consultation with hair restoration surgeon to best explore your options. Give us a call today.
Is sweat harmful to your hair?
Sweating is a common human experience we all go through. While some of us sweat more than others naturally, everyone can relate to sweating at one point or another.
Through work outs, heat, anxiety, or illness, our bodies sweat. Sweating is a natural body process that often occurs when our core body temperature rises to above normal levels. Sweating is a mechanism our bodies use to cool us and rid our body of toxins. It can also occur during times of heightened emotion because sweat glands are effected by emotions.
For those that sweat a lot, due to nature or their love for working out or working hard, sweaty hair is par for the course. Many sweaty-hair individuals may be wondering if sweat is bad for their hair.
Some harmful effects of sweat are due to irritation and sebum. Sweat on the scalp can cause irritation and itchiness. Sebum build-up can cause hair loss overtime, as well as the ‘shiny head’ syndrome.
The most harmful effect of sweat has to do with DHT. It turns out the sweat contains DHT. DHT is converted testosterone that binds to hair follicles and prevents hair growth. In other words, DHT causes hair loss. While DHT is found primarily in our blood, it can also be found in sebum and sweat.
Because of the damage caused by DHT, its believed to be best to limit the amount of time DHT is on the scalp and hair follicles, in hopes of preventing the DHT from bonding with the hair follicles and causing hair loss.
This is why its important to wash hair regularly, particularly after a sweaty session. Washing hair will cleanse the scalp of sweat and sebum, leaving the scalp healthy and DHT free. You can read more on hair washing here.
If you are experiencing hair loss and believe it may be in part due to DHT-containing sweat or sebum, give us a call today for a consultation.
Should you use a 2-in-1 combination shampoo conditioner in your hair?
2-in-1 shampoos sound like a good deal. Not only do you get two hair products for the price of one, you also save time applying the products and save space in the shower.
But, many men and women wonder: does a 2-in-1 shampoo conditioner really work? How effective is it at both cleaning the hair and moisturizing it? By using a 2-in-1 shampoo conditioner are you compromising how clean and moisturized your hair is?
We’ve done the research for you and found answers to the questions you’ve been asking.
2-in-1 shampoos became popular in the 80’s. Hair care brands discovered that individuals were not conditioning their hair as often as they should, so they decided to included conditioning ingredients in their shampoos, hence the 2-in-1 concept.
The question of efficacy of a 2-in-1 shampoo soon followed the trend by chemists who didn’t think it was possible to properly condition the hair when it was combined with a cleaning agent (the cleaning agent would negate the efficacy of the conditioner).
It turns out, hair care manufacturers were able to use a particular conditioning ingredient that isn’t effected or negated by the cleaning agent. Making the 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner an effective product at both cleaning and moisturizing the hair.
But how effective is it? There’s only so much a 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner can do. Since the shampoo ingredients and conditioner ingredients clash by nature (read: positive vs. negative ion charges) you’re never going to get as good of a conditioning in a 2-in-1 as you would with a separate shampoo and conditioner.
The take-home? If you have the time, money, and space, opt for the separate shampoo and conditioner. Your hair will be able to reap the full benefits of the shampoo and conditioner alike.
If time, money, space, or just convenience is priority, you’ll be fine with a 2-in-1. They get the job done efficiently enough for most.
Case Study – FUT Hair transplant 6 months post-op
Patient presented with severe receded hairline, front hairline balding, temple balding, and crown balding. Although the patient was only 28 at the time of consultation, his hair loss made him look much older.
The patient’s hair goals were to restore the receded hair line, restore the front hairline to a more youthful level, fill in temples, and fill in the crown. The patient had a healthy donor area, with good hair density and overall healthy, strong hair follicles.
Dr. Yazdan performed an FUT hair transplantation with approximately 3600 grafts. Video and pictures are 6 months post-op.
Hair transplant surgery as an investment
Here at Modena, we consider hair transplant surgery a personal investment. And it’s not just because we love what we do.
Hair transplant surgeries involve extracting hair follicles from a ‘donor area,’ (usually the back of the head) and transplanting them into the areas effected by hair loss, also known as the ‘recipient area.’
These transplanted follicles have a very unique trait: they’re permanent. Yep, you heard that right. These transplanted grafts are not subject to the same hair loss the previous recipient zone was. This is because the hair follicles are native to the healthy ‘donor area’ that is not effected by the hair loss.
One thing we’re always sure to explain to our patients is that there is no cure for hair loss. If you’ve been experiencing hair loss thus far in your life, your more than likely to continue experiencing it throughout your life.
This means that while your hair transplant results are permanent, you may see continued hair loss in the native surrounding hairs. For these individuals, multiple hair transplants may be necessary over time to maintain the desired look of the hair.
While we can’t count on our native hair to stick around, we can count on our transplanted hair to. We love to give our patient’s one less thing to worry about. When considering a hair transplant surgery, you don’t have to worry about throwing your money down the drain. Your hair transplant surgery will be an investment that will keep the youthful, healthy appearance of your hair throughout your life.
If you would like to make a personal investment in your hair, give us a call today. We specialize in multiple methods of hair transplant procedures and hair restoration methods.
*Please note that all individual hair transplant results vary case by case. Results are not guaranteed. Schedule a consultation with a hair restoration surgeon to get an idea of your potential results.
Should you condition your hair prior to shampooing it?
A new trend called ‘reverse hair washing’ instructs hair washers to mix up their hair washing routine by reversing it. The trend claims to revolutionize the appearance of your hair by giving you the look of a volumizing blow-out but without any of the work, costs, or products.
How does it work?
Those who follow the trend and boast of its success claim the success of the washing method is based on how much of your conditioner is left in your hair after rinsing it out.
The theory is that no matter how well you attempt to rinse your hair after conditioning, there is always some conditioner residue left behind. This residue weighs your hair down and can give the appearance of flat, dull hair.
Reversing the way in which you wash and condition your hair allows you to reap all the benefits of conditioned hair, such as moisturized, detangled, glossy hair, without the residue-leaving side effects.
How do you do it?
Simple. Apparently, just condition. Then shampoo.
We read the reviews and reports from triers of the method, complete with before and after pictures.
So, what did they have to say? Time and time again, the reverse hair washing method was a success. Individuals reported fuller, shinier, healthier looking hair.
They styled as normal, even towel drying, blow drying and brushing, and found hair to feel softer, thicker, and best of all, less frizzy.
Now it’s your turn. Give the reverse hair washing method a try and let us know what you think!
How important is water intake in overall health?
You’ve heard it before – healthy individuals should drink 8 glasses of water a day. But we have questions. Why 8 glasses? How important is water in a healthy diet? And what are the actual benefits of consuming water?
We’ve done the research and found the answers to these questions.
Why 8 glasses of water?
So, is 8 glasses a magic number? Its turns out no. In fact, a new report found that the old adage was just a suggestion and not founded on any actual research.
So what does the research say? Researchers suggest a more technical approach to water intake. According to the Mayo Clinic, there’s a simple formula to calculating your individualized water intake.
Step 1. Divide your weight (in lbs) by 2.2
Step 2. Multiply that number by your age.
Step 3. Divide that number by 28.3
Step 4. Your total is how many ounces of water you should drink per day.
If you don’t feel like doing any math, the numbers come out to 13 cups on average for men and 9 cups on average for women.
How important is water in a healthy diet?
Water is essential to maintaining a healthy diet. It is considered a necessary nutrient for proper body functioning.
We lose water daily through sweat, evaporation, breathing and urination. Consuming water replaces lost water and maintains healthy levels.
This delicate balance is what keeps us hydrated. When dehydration occurs, we can feel ill, faint, have stomach upset, painful urination, and even require hospitalization.
What are the benefits of consuming water?
Maintains balance of bodily fluids. Water helps us stay hydrated and feeling good. Additionally, it helps pass food, aiding in digestion.
Controls calorie intake. Water is the healthier option over calorie-filled drinks. It can also help in feeling full, which could lead to consuming less calories through food.
Keeps skin looking and feeling healthy. Your skin contains lots of water in its cells. When you’re dehydrated, skin can appear more dry and wrinkly. Increasing water intake allows your skin cells to absorb more water improving the appearance and feel.
Helps energize muscles. Water helps ward off muscle fatigue which means more stamina during physical activity.
Future cure for baldness and graying – studying the KROX20 protein
Researchers in the UK stumbled upon a possible cure for baldness and graying during cancer research.
While trying to understand the way tumors form and interact with nerve cells, they discovered a protein called KROX20. The protein is commonly associated with nerve development and is present in skin cells that are programmed to become hair follicles and hair shafts.
These pre-hair follicle cells produce a stem cell factor (SCF) essential for hair growth and pigmentation. In mice studies, deleting this stem cell gene turned mice’ hair white. Deleting the KROX20 protein resulted in an absence of hair growth and eventually, bald mice.
While scientists were aware that KROX20 and SCF were factors in hair growth and pigmentation, they were not fully aware to what extent and the degree of importance.
The newly discovered connections are promising news in the hair loss community, as there is currently no cure for this ailment that effects over 80% of the US men and 50% of US women throughout their lifespan.
Future research will continue and hopefully answer questions regarding the effects of KROX20 and SCF in humans. Further, scientists are hopeful that down the road, the research will offer implications and insight into human aging as a whole.
While the potential KROX20 and SCF cure for baldness and graying is still a ways-away, there are some current scientifically-proven options for those experiencing hair loss. Stem cells have been helpful in reversing recent hair loss and preventing future hair loss through PRP (platelet rich plasma therapy). And laser-light therapy has shown great results in male and female patients alike.
If you’d like to learn more about your up-to-date scientific hair loss options, give us a call for a medical management of hair loss consultation.
Carry a little extra weight around the hips and thighs? This study says that may be a good thing.
Individuals who are in a normal weight range and have extra weight around their hips and thighs may be healthier than their leaner counterparts. New research published in the Journal of Cell Metabolism has shown that just because you’re lean doesn’t mean you’re healthy.
A recent study compared those in a normal weight range with extra weight around their hips and thighs to those with a normal weight range but who carry extra weight on other areas of their body as well as to those considered ‘lean.’
The study found that those with extra fat around their hips and thighs were at a lower risk of heart disease and diabetes compared to those in the other two groups.
The researchers believe this is due to the way in which individuals carry excess fat. Excess fat around the midsection has long been known to be the most dangerous area to store fat. It is linked to higher risk of obesity-related illnesses as well as other diseases.
Although these lean individuals who are storing excess fat in the midsection are considered in a healthy BMI (body mass index) range, they are not in healthy metabolic range.
These individuals are considered ‘metabolically unhealthy’ and are at a higher risk of early death. In fact, they are 300% more likely to develop heart problems and early death. Obese individuals are only at a 25% higher risk comparatively.
The take home:
Just because an individual is lean, does NOT mean they’re healthy. As this study shows, lean individuals are at a considerably higher risk for disease and death.
Make your health a priority despite your body composition. When it comes to overall health, its what’s on the inside that counts. Prioritize a healthy diet and physical activity.
How important is physical activity in overall health?
You’ve heard it before: physical activity is a key factor in our overall health and well-being. But just how important is it? Is it still possible to be ‘healthy’ without it? We explore the relationship between physical activity and health below.
There has been extensive research done on the benefits of physical activity. Time and time again, we see that physical activity is directly linked to lower occurrence of illness. In fact, individuals who partake in the recommended levels of physical activity reduce their risk of premature death by 25%.
Benefits of physical activity
Feel good about yourself. Exercise not only releases endorphins which help you feel happier, it also changes your body composition. The natural mood-booster improves self-esteem and self-confidence.
Reduces the risk of serious illnesses like heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and osteoporosis. Physical activity has shown to be directly linked to these serious illnesses. Even adding a small amount of exercise to your routine greatly reduces your risk of disease.
Prevent and reduce weight gain. Exercise helps you lose weight and prevents weigh gain. This is great news because obesity is directly correlated to a plethora of serious diseases. Stay active – stay healthy.
Control stress levels. Getting physical is a great way to control stress and anxiety. Focus on overall health not just for your physical body but your mind as well.
How much physical activity should you aim for?
Doctors recommend 30 minutes of physical activity, 5 days a week, at minimum. There should be a combination of heart-healthy cardio as well as muscle-strengthening sessions.
If you’re getting active with weight loss goals in mind, you may want to double the gym time. Experts suggest 1 hour per day, 5 days a week to aid in weight loss.
What exactly constitutes as physical activity?
Physical activity is any activity that involves you moving your body. Some people consider ‘breaking a sweat’ or an increased heart rate as the minimum requirement for activity to be considered purposeful physical activity.
Walking, cycling, housework, gardening, dancing, and playing are all considered physical activity. And of course, any cardio or strength-training activities in or outside of the gym.
Smoking and hair loss
A new study claims that smoking can cause hair loss. While many have heard of the health dangers of smoking, many may not know about the link between smoking and hair loss.
Serious diseases and medical conditions such as cancer and heart disease are shown to be caused by tobacco use. New studies reported in the BMJ Journal have shown you can add hair loss to that list.
The many toxins in cigarettes are believed to be partly to blame. These toxins harm follicles, cause premature graying, and accelerate hair loss. This exact cause is believed to be due to the toxins’ damaging effect on hormones key to the production and health of your hair.
The reduction in healthy blood circulation is also to blame. Blood carries all of the nutrients your body needs. It transports nutrients to extremities and organs. When you smoke, your blood does not circulate as efficiently. This means extremities and organs don’t get the full nutrients they need. Scalp and hair follicles included.
While more research needs to be done, it’s clear that smoking isn’t good for your hair. In a study which evaluated hair health in smokers and nonsmokers, smokers reported having more thinning, graying, and hair loss than the nonsmokers did.
If you didn’t have enough reasons to put down the smokes, consider doing it for the health of your hair. For both men and women, healthy hair means higher self-confidence and a more youthful appearance.
If you’re wondering if smoking may be causing your hair loss, you should meet with an experienced and certified hair restoration surgeon. They can help you determine the cause of your hair loss through a comprehensive scalp analysis and biopsy.
The most important take-away: you have options. Give us a call today for a hair loss consultation.
Men: here’s the secret to confidence and youthfulness
Self-esteem plays a huge role in our overall happiness and well-being. As we age, we can often feel insecure which brings our confidence down.
While both men and women suffer from self-esteem issues, women seem to have a lot more opportunities to regain their confidence. Whether it’s through clothes, cosmetic procedures, or a new haircut, there’s a huge market aimed towards helping women feel their best as they age.
Men, on the other hand, don’t have a lot of options for maintaining their youth and confidence. But what we do know, is that men’s hair plays a huge role in their view of themselves.
In a survey, the majority of men reported hair loss as a “major concern.” Even noting that they believed their hair loss was a “major concern” for the women in their life as well.
This same study found that men are extremely concerned with losing their hair. They reported it was directly tied to their self-esteem. In fact, the men stated that hair loss was more of a concern for them then losing their sanity.
It seems clear that men’s hair is the key to their confidence. This is not surprise, seeing as how the appearance of our hair drastically changes our appearance. Think: no hair versus a full head of hair, a receding hair line versus a lower one.
The health and fullness of your hair is directly correlated to how youthful you look. Men with more hair and a healthy hair line look younger, whereas lack of hair and a receding hairline instantly age you.
If you’re experiencing hair loss and suffering from lowered self-esteem, give us a call today. We can help you regain your hair, confidence, and youthfulness.
Post-hair transplant surgery shock hair loss
Sometimes, after a hair transplant surgery, a condition known as shock loss occurs. Shock loss is when your natural pre-existing (aka native) hairs fall out. This can occur in the recipient as well as the donor zones. This hair loss causes new areas of baldness that were not there previous to the hair transplant.
Shock loss occurs due to the stress of surgery and the body’s response to that stress. Anytime we have a surgical procedure, we are putting the body through a type of stress. Stress responses differ from person to person.
In hair transplant surgeries, we sometimes see shock loss as a stress response. This happens because the surrounding follicles near the extracted or implanted grafts because traumatized or “shocked” by the procedure.
The good news is that shock loss is often a temporary condition. The hairs usually return during the next hair growth cycle (2-6 months). In cases where the hair loss is permanent, the hairs that were effected by shock loss were likely weak follicles. This means that they were on their way to dying off and becoming bald areas soon.
There are ways to avoid shock loss prior to and during hair transplant surgery. Avoiding mega-sessions, being informed about the hair loss and growth process, and choosing a surgeon that utilizes a precise hand technique as opposed to robotic all play a role in shock loss.
Post-surgery shock loss and graft-shedding are sometimes mistaken for each other. To clarify, shock loss refers to your native hairs falling out near where grafts were extracted or placed. Shedding refers to the newly transplanted grafts cycling through the natural hair growth cycle. Graft-shedding is natural part of the hair transplant process.
If you would like to learn more about hair transplant surgery and what it entails, give us a call for consultation.
What is the right age for hair transplant surgery?
Hair loss can affect those of all ages. Men in particular, commonly see hair loss symptoms as early as their early 20’s. Women on the other hand commonly see hair loss symptoms as early as their late 20’s.
Even though the 20’s seem to be a common age to start seeing hair loss symptoms, we sometimes see patients as early as their late teens.
Those who experience hair loss at a young age are often devastated about their symptoms. While most people accept that hair loss comes with aging, it is not as easy to accept when it comes early and unexpectedly.
Younger patients are often able to notice their hair loss symptoms earlier than older patients. This is good news because catching hair loss early on is the best way to prevent it from continuing.
While there is no age cut-off for hair transplant surgery, it is usually not recommended as a first solution for those who are early in their hair loss progression. This is because it is very likely that the hair loss will continue progressing as the patient ages and hair transplant surgery doesn’t prevent future hair loss.
The only way to prevent future hair loss and maintain the current hair is to utilize medical management. Medical management is an ideal first step for younger patients just beginning to lose hair. They can maintain their current hair, possibly reverse the hair loss they have experienced, and prevent future hair loss. All the while planning for their hair transplant surgery later on down the road.
No matter your age, if you’re experiencing hair loss you should schedule a consult with an experienced hair restoration surgeon as soon as possible. They can address the cause of the hair loss and work with you to find a solution that’s right for you. Give us a call today.
Problem skin? This may be the secret to perfect skin.
Skin problems such as eczema, psoriasis, dry skin, and rashes are extremely common among both men and women.
While genetics, lifestyle, and diet play a big role in our skin’s composition, it’s possible there may be something else causing your problem skin.
The skin-care industry is booming and successful. New products and high demand keep store shelves stocked. To make products more efficiently, chemicals and other additives may be added. While these chemicals may preserve your products, they could be wreaking havoc on your skin.
Chemical damage
Chemicals added to skin-care products, such as parabens and sulfates work to preserve and clean. While they’re extremely effective at preserving and cleaning, they may not be the best option for your health.
These chemicals have been found to cause rashes, skin irritation, allergic-like reactions, digestive issues, and even certain cancers in some individuals.
These harmful chemicals trade preservation and cleaning-ability for your health. The extent of consuming these chemicals is not yet fully known.
Do you have dry or oily skin? Our bodies like to be at a level of homeostasis. If you’re over or under moisturizing your skin, it’s possible your body may be under or over producing oil to compensate. This can cause acne, flaky patches, and irritation.
Going organic
Luckily, there is a growing organic demand in the skin-care market. Organic refers to products being free of unnecessary additives, harsh chemicals, parabens, sulfates, and pesticides.
While the product may be slightly more expensive and may not have as long of a shelf-life, organic products are better for your skin and health.
The lack of harsh chemicals allows your skin to remain calm and breathe. Additionally, organic products are better absorbed by our bodies. This means more nutrients and less compensation.
Try going organic to solve your problem skin. Here’s a product we love and recommend.
What is the Norwood Scale?
If you’ve been researching hair transplants you’ve likely heard of the Norwood scale.
The Norwood scale is a tool that was developed to help diagnose the progression of hair loss. It was developed in the 1950’s and has been revised several times since.
The scale has approximately 8-12 stages depending on the version of the scale used. While there are many different variants of hair loss (much more than 12), the Norwood scale illustrates the most common ones.
Over time, as hair loss progresses, an individual may move to a different number on the scale. Similarly, a hair transplant changes the individual’s number on the scale as well.
Knowing your number on the scale allows you to keep track of your hair loss over time. This is particularly useful for those utilizing medical management. Medical management helps to maintain your current hair and prevent continued and future hair loss.
This tool not only helps you diagnose the progression of your hair loss but also helps in communicating with physicians and surgeons. Having an agreed upon scale allows everyone to be on the same page. This is particularly important when having a hair transplant surgery.
How to determine your level on the Norwood Scale
The 8 level Norwood scale follows the hair loss progression below:
Type I. Minimal hair loss.
Type II. Insignificant hair loss at temples.
Type III. The first stage that requires treatment.
Type III Vertex. Receding hairline and thinning hair on vertex.
Type IV. Bigger pattern on the vertex and hairline.
Type V. Patterns at both sites are bigger but a thin division line is still present.
Type VI. The bridge is gone but several strands of short fine hair may remain.
Type VII. The most severe form of hair loss. Little hair on the front or top of the head.
To determine your exact degree of baldness utilizing the scale, you should meet with a certified hair restoration surgeon. They will analyze your hair and give you a level and quote during a consultation.
If you’d like to determine your Norwood level, give us a call for a consultation today.
