Laser Hair Therapy Benefits

Laser Hair Therapy Benefits

Episode 42

Laser Hair Therapy Benefits

Laser Hair Therapy Dr. Phipps

Laser therapy for hair loss isn’t new. In this episode, I meet with Dr. Phipps to talk about the science behind laser or low-level light therapy (LLLT) and what makes a great candidate for it. We also discussed whether there have been any adverse health effects noticed in people who have used laser therapy for years.

Low-Level Light Therapy for Hair Loss

What is laser therapy for hair loss, and how does it work? Laser therapy, also known as low-level light therapy (LLLT), uses a specific wavelength of light to stimulate the cells of hair follicles. Different delivery methods are available, including caps, helmets, and combs. The light therapy doesn’t cause any discomfort or sensation, which causes some users to think the light isn’t working. Dr. Phipps gives the example of the sun; the sun’s UV rays are able to penetrate the skin and stimulate cells to cause a tan because of the wavelength of those rays. Similarly, a laser device must use specific wavelengths of light to stimulate the skin cells. Typically, cheaper versions of these devices are sold online, so finding a reputable supplier is critical.

How to Use Laser Therapy for Hair Loss

Is laser therapy right for you? Laser therapy works by gently stimulating hair follicle cells, so in situations of relatively recent hair loss or thinning, laser therapy can keep the follicles healthy to produce strong, healthy strands. Each treatment is approximately 8 minutes per day, and much like the sun in the example above, it must be done every day, or the effects will wane (just as your tan will wane if you stop going out in the sun). Stopping laser therapy will cause hair loss to resume at the rate it was happening before LLLT was started.

Are You a Candidate for Laser Therapy?

Hair follicles can die, and once they have died, laser therapy will not bring them back or create new follicles. That’s why it’s important to consult with a hair loss professional to determine if laser therapy will be effective for your type of hair loss or thinning. As mentioned before, it also requires consistent use, so take that into consideration as you weigh your options. Laser therapy devices can be purchased for home use, as they are safe, durable, and easy to apply. Quality laser therapy devices can last a long time – Dr. Phipps shares that her father has been using the same laser cap for ten years.

Empowering Resources
As the episode draws to a close, HairPod extends a generous offer of a complimentary hair loss consultation, providing a tangible step towards reclaiming confidence and control over one’s appearance.
Book a free consultation with HairClub Today! Thanks for listening to HairPod. We hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did, please leave us a rating or review wherever you get your podcasts. If you’d like to connect with us on social media to share your story, check us out on Instagram @HairClub. HairPod is a production of TSE Studios. Our theme music is from SoundStripe.

Episode.42 Transcript

Dr. Angie Phipps [00:00:02]:

I would recommend if you have a family history of hair loss, and you know this may be coming down the pike, go ahead and get on it. Anybody over the age of 40 is gonna have age-related hair shaft diameter thinning that I would recommend stimulating those cells with the light, but it’s gonna be most beneficial from a cosmetic standpoint for individuals who are in the early phases of hair loss who have generalized diffuse thinning, because if you’ve already developed a bald spot, the bald spot is not gonna go away with light therapy.


Kevin Rolston [00:00:45]: Welcome to HairPod, the podcast where you get to hear real people talk about their hair journeys. I’m your host Kevin Rolston, and each week I get to interview people from different walks of life whose lives have been touched by hair loss in some form or fashion. Many of our guests have experienced hair loss themselves and found a way to get their confidence and their hair back.


Today we’re gonna be diving into a topic that may have come across while scrolling social media or maybe you’ve just seen it when searching for effective ways of getting your hair back. This week we’re gonna be talking about laser hair therapy for hair loss, also known as low-level light therapy. It’s been making waves in the hair restoration world for years, and today we’re gonna get into the science behind it to learn whether it works, why it works, and who it works best on.


Picture this, a device that looks like a high-tech cap or a sleek handheld comb, emitting gentle red light that penetrates your scalp. There’s no pain, no heat, just light. This cutting-edge technology uses safe, low-intensity lasers to stimulate hair follicles, which can improve your hair health and growth.


You may be wondering, does it really work? Or is this just another flashy trend? And who better to help us answer those questions than hair transplant surgeon and star of TLC’s Bad Hair Day, Dr. Angie Phipps. She’s back on HairPod today to help us break all of this down.


Dr. Angie Phipps [00:02:17]: I’m glad to be talking about this topic because it’s in the forefront of all things TikTok, Instagram, and all that. So we need to educate people about it.


Kevin Rolston [00:02:28]:

I see so many posts on social media about these things, and of course they make them look absolutely amazing. And having been through it myself, when I don’t share the same experiences that you see on Instagram and TikTok, it really makes me skeptical. Now my question for people that don’t know and maybe haven’t seen the ads that are on Instagram and TikTok and the social media sites, what exactly is a laser therapy and how does it work at a scientific level?


Dr. Angie Phipps [00:02:56]: So it’s actually what I like to call low-level light therapy. So light wavelengths can penetrate different depths of tissues. And so they use blue light for certain skin conditions, there’s green light, there’s purple lights, and the red light that we use in the either LED or in what they call laser therapy is a particular wavelength that will penetrate the skin to reach the level of where the hair follicle root or cells are located.


And what it does is that photobiochemically stimulates those hair follicle cells to function at a higher energy capacity. And if your hair follicle cells are functioning at a higher energy capacity, number one, they live longer, which we want to fight the effects of aging. So I highly recommend it for anybody over the age of 40 really just to help prevent the hair follicle width or diameter from shrinking at the current aging rate that it is.


And then number two, it helps to allow the cells to produce a hair shaft that can be as thick as possible. And a thicker hair shaft covers more scalp surface area than a skinny hair shaft. Now this light therapy is not magic.


It’s not going to regrow a new hair follicle that you don’t have. So a lot of times on these social media websites or on the internet or on TV, they make people think or consumers think that they’re going to buy this magic helmet, hat, comb device, and it’s going to grow back all their hair. And that’s misleading because what it does is it can only stimulate the hair follicle cells that are currently in your head.


Now, where they can get away with saying it can stimulate or generate regrowth is sometimes you have hair follicle cells that are in follicles that are alive. They’re just so weak that they can’t make a hair that is actually strong enough to exit the skin of the scalp. So with this photo biomodulation with the light therapy, it can maybe strengthen those cells so that the hair that is still capable of producing can actually exit the scalp so that you can now see it.


So you do see regrowth of hair shafts, but it’s not growing a brand new hair follicle. And if that hair follicle is dead and gone and the cells are dead, you can’t re-alive it with light therapy or with any therapy actually.


Kevin Rolston [00:05:14]: So when it’s gone, it’s gone.


Dr. Angie Phipps [00:05:16]:

When it’s gone, it’s gone. And a lot of people think light therapy is hocus pocus because when you apply these devices to your scalp, it’s not hot, it’s not cold, it doesn’t jiggle, it doesn’t wiggle, it’s not, doesn’t hurt, it doesn’t feel good. And you just think I’m just sitting here with this light on my head and it’s not doing anything.


But that’s not true. It is doing something. If it’s at the right wavelength, it is penetrating the skin and stimulating the cells.


And I explain it to my patients like this. If you go out into the sun, the wavelength of the UV rays of the sun will penetrate your skin and stimulate melanocytes or pigment producing cells in the skin and you’ll get a tan or it produce color. Did you feel it?


No. Did it happen? Yes.


And then if you want to keep that stimulation to continue to produce the pigment, you go back out into the sun every day to re-stimulate those pigment producing cells with the UV rays of the sun and you keep your tan. If you stop going back out into the sun, the pigment producing cells stop producing the pigment and the tan goes away. So the same thing with a low level light therapy.


This needs to be used on a daily basis to keep the hair follicle cells stimulated, to keep them at the energy capacity that allows them to have their longest life and produce the thickest hairs possible. So it is a daily therapy and it does do what it’s supposed to do, but it’s not going to be something that’s going to grow a full head of hair, but it is going to be part of a maintenance therapy that will in the long run help your hair follicle cells immensely.


Kevin Rolston [00:06:38]:

How long would you need to do this every single day?


Dr. Angie Phipps [00:06:40]: Usually eight minutes a day. And you’re going to do something for eight minutes a day. My family members, you know, before we go to bed, we watch a TV show.


So, you know, when ESPN comes on, the hat goes on. Or when Real Housewives from Beverly Hills comes on, my hat goes on. Or if you’re going to scroll through TikTok or Instagram or Facebook or whatever, just put your hat on and be done with it.


Kevin Rolston [00:07:06] Dr. Phipps shared some great insights into the science behind laser therapy and the importance of consistency. Doing it every day really does make a difference. The steady commitment is the key to achieving visible results over time.


When you know how it works, it can help you set the right kinds of expectations if this is a treatment that you’re interested in pursuing. Yes, laser therapy can help regrow your hair. But if you’re hoping for dramatic results after one or two treatments, you’re probably going to feel disappointed.


The key to laser therapy is consistency. It’s got me wondering what kinds of tools are out there for laser therapy and whether they’re all created equal.


Dr. Angie Phipps [00:07:50]:

There’s different devices that use different forms of it. So it can be a baseball helmet hat, you know, that you wear. It’s real comfortable.


It’s just like a baseball hat. There are some combs that you can use to comb your hair with the light. There are some bands that you can wear.


There are some massage devices that have rotating heads on them and you can actually massage the scalp while the light’s there to stimulate blood flow and just feels good on your scalp. So there’s different vehicles to emit the light. But as long as it’s the right wavelength.


Now, that’s the key, because if you don’t get the device that has the right wavelength, it’s no more beneficial than you sitting underneath your, you know, your the lamp that’s on your bedside table, because that’s not the right wavelength of light that has the capacity to penetrate the skin and reach the hair follicle cells. So it needs to be in the wavelength, you know, pretty much between six and 700 nanometers of wavelength or six to 900 nanometers. So when you’re buying these things off of, you know, if you’re getting them off of Timu or some of those Aliexpress or Alibaba or some of those cheap discount websites, you have to make sure that in the description of the device, it actually tells you what the nanometer wavelength of light is, because if you’re not getting it in the right wavelength, it’s not going to do anything.


Kevin Rolston [00:09:08]:

Oh, wow.


Dr. Angie Phipps [00:09:09] And so usually when you buy your devices from a reputable medical company that specializes in hair loss, they’re going to make sure that the devices that they’re selling are the right nanometer wavelength that it’s going to actually do what it’s supposed to do.


Kevin Rolston [00:09:21]:

Are there a lot of places that are not legitimate that are trying to sell these that you’ve heard of?


Dr. Angie Phipps [00:09:26]: Devices, not places. So if you’re going to a place, a med spa, a doctor’s office, a hair loss clinic, usually those are reputable places that have the right wavelengths. Now, it’s the ones that you get on Amazon or TikTok shop or Facebook or, you know, marketplace or someplace that, you know, they may not disclose what the nanometer wavelength of light is.


And if that’s the case, then don’t buy it because you can’t guarantee that it’s going to have any effectiveness.


Kevin Rolston [00:09:53]: I don’t know if you’ve seen some of the ads. Some of the ones I’ve seen, the hair improvement is quite dramatic. Is that accurate?


Or have you seen some of these ads and you yourself can see and kind of spot the B.S. meter going off saying there’s no way about it?


Dr. Angie Phipps [00:10:07]: It’s the big B.S. meter. Those results, if you go from having no hair or extremely thin hair to having no scalp visibility, that is magic. And that’s not what the device can do.


Anything that looks too good to be true is usually too good to be true. And so as long as you know and have appropriate expectations for what this device can do, it can help stimulate the cells, make them as strong as possible, allowing them to make the thickest hair shaft that you can genetically make, which is going to be different from one person to the next and help your hair follicle cells live longer and maybe stimulate follicles that aren’t producing hairs that are exiting the skin of the scalp to now be able to produce hair strong enough to do that. You do get visual improvement, but not the wow, dramatic things that you see on the computer or internet.


Those are either internet generated, what do they call it? Photos?


Kevin Rolston [00:10:57]:

Yeah, or AI.


Dr. Angie Phipps [00:10:59]: Or they’ve used hair makeup or other things to help conceal the scalp in combination with the light therapy.


Kevin Rolston [00:11:10]:

Thank goodness for Dr. Phipps helping to deliver some nuance back into the conversation. So yes, low level light therapy does work in that it helps improve the health of your hair follicles. And if you’ve listened to the show before, you know how important scalp health is for hair growth.


So if your goal is to support your natural hair growth and see improvement, laser therapy might be a great option for you. But as with any hair loss solution, there are people who it works for and others who should pursue different options. So I asked Dr. Phipps who the best candidates for laser therapy are.


Dr. Angie Phipps [00:11:51]:

Ideally, I would start light therapy before you notice you’re losing your hair, because by the time you physically notice that you’re losing your hair and you see thinning, 50% of your hair density is already gone and there ain’t no getting it back. So I would recommend if you have a family history of hair loss and you know, this may be coming down the pike, go ahead and get on it. Anybody over the age of 40 is going to have age related hair shaft diameter thinning that I would recommend stimulating those cells with the light, but it’s going to be most beneficial from a cosmetic standpoint for individuals who are in the early phases of hair loss, who have generalized diffuse thinning, because if you’ve already developed a bald spot, the bald spot is not going to go away with light therapy.


Kevin Rolston [00:12:34]: Oh, wow. Okay. All right.


Now, where would you rank the laser therapy comparing it to other forms of hair loss treatments?


Dr. Angie Phipps [00:12:42]: I would put it second or third, you know? I mean, yeah, I consider the oral medical therapy number one. Number two, I like the minoxidil topical therapy, but I’m equally liking the light therapy in the same realm of my minoxidil users.


So I like combining the minoxidil and the light therapy together to give that cellular stimulation and increased blood flow because they work by two different mechanisms of action. So you put them together, you get a compound and synergistic effect because it’s not the same as just using one or the other and you get the same effect.


Kevin Rolston [00:13:20]: Now, is it possible that that could be what your lifelong treatment is? Just laser therapy and maybe some minoxidil?


Dr. Angie Phipps [00:13:25]:

Not if you have androgenetic hair loss, because neither one of those two therapies though block the DHT hormone that is the genetic cause of why people have male or female pattern hair loss because it’s hormone related. So none of those, either of those two devices affect the hormones. So the number one therapy is some sort of hormonal medication to help block the hormones that are affecting the cells.


And then the number two therapy in my opinion is then targeting the cells themselves to make them stronger. And that’s with minoxidil and low level light therapy.


Kevin Rolston [00:13:56]:

How do you know if you have that kind of hair loss? Is there a DNA marker test that you can take that will show that it’s in your system?


Dr. Angie Phipps [00:14:03]: You can look at your family history. Number one, if your family history is there, cause it’s an inherited condition where you inherit hair follicle cells that have the genetic sensitivity to hormones that the male and female body produces. And then there’s no specific test that you can go and find out if you have it.


But if you think you’re having hair loss and you might, and you want to find out for sure what the cause is, cause there are other medical causes of hair loss other than just genetics, you need to see, you know, your physician or a specifically a hair loss physician specialist to let them evaluate your scalp, take a look at the pattern of loss that you’re having. What does the skin look like and make sure that you’re having the classic symptoms of androgenetic hair loss versus something else that might require a biopsy to prove and then other medical therapies to treat.


Kevin Rolston [00:14:49]: Right. Are there any kind of side effects, any downsides of using the laser therapy for hair loss?


Dr. Angie Phipps [00:14:55]:

There is no downside or side effects that I have seen in my personal use, the use of my family members or my patients for using the low level light therapy. It’s not going to cause brain cancer. It’s not going to penetrate to the level of the brain.


It’s not going to hurt your brain. It’s not going to hurt your memory. And people have a lot of hesitation sometimes putting something on their head that’s so close to their either their eyes or their brain to think they’re going to cause long-term damage.


This is not a microwave. There’s going to be no radioactive signals that are going to be penetrating your brain or causing any damage. The wavelength of light only penetrates to the level that it can penetrate.


And the wavelength of light from the laser therapy or LED light therapy devices only penetrate to the level in the skin where the hair follicle is located and does not go any deeper.


Kevin Rolston [00:15:40]:

Now, are there going to be improvements in laser therapy that you’ve seen, or is it just when it first came out, it is what it is. And it always will be what it is. Or is this a technology that is improving and advancing?


Dr. Angie Phipps [00:15:52]: I think it’s been where it’s been for a long, long time. But I think, you know, with technology of any sort, you know, they’re going to find maybe be able to hone in on even smaller degrees of wavelength light that might be more beneficial for certain cells. So I’m not ruling out the possibility that it could get better, but where we’ve been right now is the same place we’ve been for a long time.


So I wouldn’t be holding out on waiting to get a light therapy device over the next one or two years, thinking that, you know, I don’t want to spend a whole bunch of money on this device. And then in two years, it’s going to be obsolete. You know, my father’s been using his same light therapy device, you know, for over 10 years that he’s been using.


So, and the technology really hasn’t changed.


Kevin Rolston [00:16:36]:

And what are you looking at for a cost? You mentioned different devices too. So if I want to go cheapest to the Cadillacs, what kind of stuff am I looking at spending to get into laser hair therapy?


Dr. Angie Phipps [00:16:46]: You know, for the cheapest you’re spending in the 700s potentially. And then for the most expensive that has the most amount of light diodes in the devices up to 3000 potentially. So it is an investment, but it’s an investment that you only have to purchase one time.


And then it lasts as long as the device will mechanically last and it’s worth the money. Now, here’s what I tell my patients. I don’t ever let you spend your money on devices that I haven’t already spent my own money on.


And I purchased two of these. So if I’m going to spend my money on it, I know it works because I’m the hair doctor. And if I’m going to spend my money on it, I’m going to let you spend your money on it because I know it works.


As long as your understanding of what work means, is it going to regrow all your hair and make you have invisibility of your scalp? No. Is it going to stimulate your hair follicle cells, making them stronger, making the hairs that are being produced thicker, letting the cells live longer so that from an anti-aging standpoint, it’s going to do all those things.


It’s going to increase blood flow to the scalp. It’s going to help the cells of the skin of the scalp be healthy. And there’s no downside to it other than your pocketbook.


Kevin Rolston [00:17:51]:

Okay. And you said that your dad’s lasted for 10 years?


Dr. Angie Phipps [00:17:54]: Yeah. So as long as the mechanical components of the equipment last, that’s how long it’ll last. So it’s a, it’s a good investment.


Kevin Rolston [00:18:06]:

Thank you to the incredible Dr. Phipps for sharing this in-depth knowledge with us and taking us through everything somebody would need to know before deciding if low light therapy is for them. From the science behind it to setting the right kinds of expectations. I’m glad we could share all of this with you so that you can make your own informed decisions about what hair restoration technology you’d like to invest in.


If you’re really interested in this kind of therapy, but you’re not sure if your hair loss is compatible with laser therapy, or if you’d like to pursue laser therapy in tandem with other treatments so you can achieve a healthier scalp and get the look you really want. We always recommend talking to a professional to see what your options are. If you’re interested in a free consultation with a company that offers laser therapy and many other options, check out the link in our show notes to talk to a specialist at HairClub.


And if you know someone who might be interested in laser therapy, we hope that you’ll share this episode with them. For more educational deep dives into all things hair loss with trusted experts, make sure to subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast app. Thanks for listening to another episode of HairPod.


Check us out at HairClub on Instagram or search HairPod on Facebook to continue the conversation. If you know someone who could benefit from hearing this episode, we’d love it if you’d share it with them. If you’re enjoying the show, consider leaving us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.


We also have a website. Check it out by going to podcast.hairclub.com. We’re here to build people up and share real stories so people experiencing hair loss feel a little bit less alone.


And when you share, review, and subscribe, it helps us do just that. So thank you. Until next time.

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Which Hair Solutions Work Best?

Which Hair Solutions Work Best?

Episode 41

Which Hair Solutions Work Best?

Which Hair Solutions Work Best? Dan Medeiros

Hair loss solutions come in many shapes and sizes. The good news is, there’s something out there for everyone. But how do you figure out what’s going to work best for you? In this week’s episode of HairPod, I sit down with friend-of-the-pod Dan Medeiros to hear how he uses two hair loss solutions in tandem to improve his scalp health, encourage hair growth, and get the look he wants in the meantime.

Psoriasis and Hair Loss

Hair loss began for Dan in his late teens and early twenties. He was diagnosed with a rare form of psoriasis that flared up when he was under stress and caused significant hair loss on his scalp. His high-stress job caused him to go from a full head of hair to significant thinning in a short time, leaving him feeling gutted. One of the keys to his hair regrowth was healing his scalp, and he was able to do that using HairClub’s EXT program.

EXT for Scalp Health and Hair Regrowth

Regrowing hair after hair loss is possible, depending on the circumstances. Programs like EXT help regrow hair by taking a holistic, multifaceted approach to regrowth. For Dan, this started with scalp health. Through regular cleansing treatments, he was able to get his scalp health back on track to support the hair follicles. The next part of the EXT treatment helps the hair grow back strong and thick with a topical minoxidil treatment. Dan stuck to the regimen very consistently and found that it didn’t add much extra time to his typical personal care routine.

Diet Changes for Hair Regrowth

Dietary issues cause hair loss when we aren’t getting proper nutrition. When Dan was under stress due to his high-intensity work life, he fell into a habit of eating fast food and drinking a lot of energy drinks. When he began prioritizing his health, sleep, and nutrition, he noticed his hair starting to come back. It’s important to keep in mind that a holistic approach to regrowth is ideal.

Hair Systems as a Hair Solution

Dan uses XTrands+ to cover parts of his head that have not regrown hair yet. He has been on the show to talk about when he first got his system on for the first time, and how he styles his system in a variety of ways. This time, Dan discussed why he uses his hair system along with EXT. The EXT helps regrow his natural hair by healing the scalp and supporting overall wellness, while the hair system gives him the look he wants in the meantime.

Empowering Resources
As the episode draws to a close, HairPod extends a generous offer of a complimentary hair loss consultation, providing a tangible step towards reclaiming confidence and control over one’s appearance.
Book a free consultation with HairClub Today!Thanks for listening to HairPod. We hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did, please leave us a rating or review wherever you get your podcasts. If you’d like to connect with us on social media to share your story, check us out on Instagram @HairClub. HairPod is a production of TSE Studios. Our theme music is from SoundStripe.

Episode.41 Transcript

Dan Medeiros [00:00:03]:
Whatever options are out there for you to help regrow, clean your scalp, you should really jump on it. You know, it’s the minoxidil, finasteride, the laser comb, taking the vitamins, whatever you can get your hands on to help boost that, go for it. Honestly, it’s only gonna help.

Kevin Rolston [00:00:35]:
Welcome to HairPod, the podcast where you get to hear real people talk about their hair journeys. I’m your host, Kevin Rolston, and each week, I get to interview people from different walks of life, whose lives have been touched by hair loss in some form or fashion. Many of our guests have experienced hair loss themselves and found a way to get their confidence and their hair back.

There are many different reasons why people experience hair loss, and we’ve covered quite a few of them in depth on this show. From male or female pattern hair loss to trichotillomania, the causes of hair loss can be incredibly diverse, and different solutions work for each unique scenario. Today’s guest found a combination of things that has gotten his hair back to show how he wants it.

Today’s guest has found a combination of things that has gotten his hair back to how he wants it, no compromises. If you’re a regular listener, you probably have already heard him come on the show to talk about his experience. It’s time for another episode with Dan Medeiros for you.

Today, we’re gonna talk about the magic combo that has worked out with specialists over at HairClub, and we’re gonna start all the way back at the beginning when Dan first started to notice his hair loss.

Dan Medeiros [00:01:51]
It started off gradually. After high school, going into college, I have a sort of a rare form of psoriasis on my scalp, and my stress is what causes a lot of things to come out physically on me, which primarily on my scalp. So as the stress of life got worse and I started getting older, it started rearing its ugly head, and quite literally, no pun intended, but it devastated me really badly.

And then I got into working a very high-stress job, a working logistics, transportation dispatch, a job where I saw many coworkers break down crying in the office and go away on stress leave for like six months. So it did its damage to me very physically on my head. I lost hair very fast.

I went from a full head of hair to almost half that, and it looked like a war zone on my head. So it hit really hard, really fast in my early 20s, and from there, it was just suddenly trying to figure out, okay, what do I do, where can I go? Try different solutions, everything and anything you can think of, and then made my way to HairClub.

And with HairClub, they got me on track with the EXT program. EXT, it wasn’t just to bring my hair back, but to fix my scalp, and that was the first thing, getting on the regimen, making sure I stuck to the plan, and I had my routine, and I stuck to the routine, cleaning my scalp and making it healthy again. And it eventually, it started to clear up, and as it started to clear up, I started regrowing hair again.

My hair started getting thicker, stronger, and where some people would get clusters of maybe one, two, maybe three strands coming out of a single spot on their head, I started getting six or seven. And so I became a very good EXT client right off the bat, and it was between your shampoos, a scalp cleanser, and then conditioners, and then using minoxidil, and then taking the vitamins to help boost that. So a mix of everything helped a lot.

Changing my diet was a huge part of that too. Honestly, diet is literally half, I’d say half, at the very least, of what is going to help regrow your hair and just make it stronger and healthier. Diet is everything, it really is.

Kevin Rolston [00:04:20]:
I believe in that. Now Dan, I got a couple questions here. One, tell me, what was the severity of the hair loss?

If we’re talking about 100% of the scalp area where you would have hair growing, how much, what percentage would you say that you saw hair loss, and to what level was it? Was it patchy, was it thinning, or was it complete baldness? What did you experience?

Dan Medeiros [00:04:42]:
It was a lot of, it was thinning. Incredibly thinning, especially around the front.

I went from thick, luscious hair in the front to all of a sudden it was just so thin that you could see right through to the scalp. God forbid I was under any sort of lights or anything like that, and I loved having my hair up and messy and spiked up, and I couldn’t do that anymore. Because it started getting noticed, and comments were made, and then I couldn’t look in the mirror anymore, and then from there it just proceeded, and it just got worse and worse, and then it was a matter of trying to find ways to cover that up, changing my hairstyle, all sorts of things.

It was just, thinking back on it, it’s crazy, it’s just crazy how bad it can change.

Kevin Rolston [00:05:30]:
The first thing you talked about too was scalp health. Now, is that considered to be EXT? Is that what EXT is, is caring for the scalp and trying to get it so that it can, the way I’m thinking of it is almost like a farmer would have a field that has great dirt, and they take care of it and make sure that it’s fertile and put fertilizer in it so that it can grow something.

Is that almost the same thing of what you’re talking about?

Dan Medeiros [00:05:55]:
That is probably one of the best ways to kind of describe that. It really is, in order to grow the hair, you need to have a scalp that is healthy, that is energized, it needs to produce the healthy oils, and it needs, and there’s, DHT is the main factor that causes your hair to lose. When you’re starting to produce a lot of DHT, it’ll, it’ll take, it’ll.

Kevin Rolston [00:06:21]
The hormone, right? The hormone that kind of just chokes off the follicle and squeezes out the hair and makes you start going bald?

Dan Medeiros [00:06:30]
Yeah, and that’s when you start seeing, instead of seeing all those spots on your head where you’d see hair growth out of it, it’s the best that you see that smooth, that smooth baldness because there’s no follicle anymore. It’s essentially, the skin’s grown over and nothing happens, it’s just barren land.

Kevin Rolston [00:06:45]
And DHT’s done that, basically.

Dan Medeiros [00:06:46]:
Yeah, and I started producing a lot of it, and I said, my scalp was a nightmare. It looked like a war zone. It was like a minefield that went off.

Imagine your head, it’s feeling like your scalp’s on fire and not being able to touch it or scratch it. Like, you wanna scratch it so bad, but it’s only gonna make it worse. It was, I tried going to doctors, dermatologists, and no one could really do much of anything for it.

It was finally going to HairClub, getting on a proper regimen. The shampoos, the stuff you do in the shower every night, that is what cleans the scalp, and it starts to re, you’re almost retraining your scalp to do the normal things again. And it, as I said, once you’ve gotten the scalp clean and healthy, then it starts producing the proper things it needs to actually regrow hair.

Then your scalp can actually properly do it. So that’s when I started seeing that, and like I said, instead of growing thin hairs that would just fall out, I was growing thick hairs that would stay and continue to grow. So all of a sudden, I was, and then the minoxidil, you throw that in, and that’s what helps the actual growth.

So you clean it, and then you grow. You clean it, you grow. And with that pattern and sticking to that and changing my diet, getting active again, I started playing hockey, I was running, I was being active and sweating out all those bad chemicals.

And then I was able to actually start growing my hair long again. I was actually starting to go out again, and it was, it’s, yeah, it’s just crazy. The whole journey, it’s amazing.

I think back on it now, and I’m going on 15 years with HairClub, and I just, I think back on everything, and it’s still such a trip to see where I’m at right now.

Kevin Rolston [00:08:29]:
Now my question about EXT, is it a package that puts minoxidil and the shampoos and everything together basically in one box that you get? So if you go to HairClub and you ask for EXT, that’s what you get. It’s getting the field ready to grow the hair.

Is that what EXT is?

Dan Medeiros [00:08:47]:
Exactly, yeah, it’s the whole process, the program. So there’s your shampoo, your scalp cleaner, which you use before you put on your conditioner, and then you put on the conditioner, you wash it all out, and then afterwards, while your pores are open, after the shower, then you put in the minoxidil, and then it gets right in there. You let it sit, you stay, especially it’s perfect overnight.

You shower before you go to bed, and then I would wake up in the morning, if I showered, I’d put it on again and have it sitting throughout the day. I get very OCD, so when I get on a regimen, a pattern, I stick with it, and I’m very, very detail-oriented when it comes to that, because I so badly want that to work. And missing a day and not having that consistency, that breaks up the consistency of your growth, of your scalp health, so that’s why I’m so very adamant I’m reminding people, you have to stick to the plan.

If you kind of jump on it, and then you step away from it, jump on it, step away, you’re not, it’s not gonna work the way you want it to, and then you’ll get frustrated.

Kevin Rolston [00:09:52]:
And I feel that’s- How hard is this plan? That’s my question. How much time are you talking?

It sounds like you’re very disciplined, and what if you’re a not-disciplined person? How much time am I taking in the morning, at night, to do EXT?

Dan Medeiros [00:10:04]:
And that’s the thing, it’s not. It’s so, it’s just part of your regular day, your regular routine. You know, you just, it was honestly, just like nothing but a second thought.

I start my day, I shower, I do my shampoo, conditioner, and then I put Minoxidil in. Minoxidil was essentially almost like the only other step I had to add into my day, and it was something I did after my showers, so.

Kevin Rolston [00:10:26]:
What is that like, when you put in Minoxidil? It’s been years since I, I think it was Rogaine, way back in the day. Oh gosh.

You know, I was doing it. But I remember it was, it was wet, and you know, it would mess with the consistency, so how does that work? Do you have to let it dry when you put it in?

Does it mess with the hair if you’re trying to style it? What is it like putting in Minoxidil?

Dan Medeiros [00:10:49]:
You know, with the longer, I’d say, the longer hair, yeah, it’s, you know, it, it can, if your consistency of the hair, like it can almost kinda add a bit of an oiliness to it, so that’s why I said my favorite, it was using it at the end of the, you know, at night. So I get home, you know, I’m done for the night, I shower, I put it in, and then you just, you massage it into the scalp. You know, you don’t just put it on, let it sit, or else it’ll just look like you have a scalp full of, you know, oil.

You really have to massage it in until you’re not feeling that oiliness anymore. And that’s what helps it really get into the pores and really get into your scalp. And then, you know, it sits, it dries, you know, you can do your thing, you can style your hair, and you’re perfectly good to go.

There’s just, yeah, you know, I went through all of the doing things wrong, doing things right, because it’s a bit of a learning curve, but it’s honestly, it’s very easy, very easy. And that’s why we do things like this. We help educate people, and we help them understand the process.

And that’s why I love doing, again, that’s why I love doing this.

Kevin Rolston [00:11:52]:
Dan’s experience shows that even though starting something new can be a little bit daunting, it’s important to just try it and see how it goes. Being committed to the process and changes to his life and routine helped Dan reach his hair goals. Using EXT played a major role in healing his scalp so that his hair could grow in healthy and strong, and the treatments rolled naturally into his own personal care regimen.

But that’s not all he mentioned. Dan’s diet also played a significant role in his hair loss, and changing things up helped him get his hair back.

Dan Medeiros [00:12:30]:
With the stress, which leads, you know, stress, depression, and all that stuff, I fell into the void of fast food and energy drinks. It was awful, so I gained a lot of weight. And with that, you know, the hair loss continued with it, you know, trying to cope with the depression of everything, of losing my hair and everything, and all the stress in life.

I found a crutch with fast food and energy drinks. And that was, oh God, it was devastating. I think back on it now, I’m like, I can’t believe I did that to myself.

But it’s not hard to fall into. And it took me a while to finally snap my way out of it. I was over, I gained, oh gosh, I was over 260 pounds, 265 pounds, when I finally realized, oh my gosh, what am I doing to myself?

Kevin Rolston [00:13:19]:
And- What was that moment? How did you, because we usually have that one wake-up call. What was it for you?

Do you remember that moment where you just said, what am I doing? I gotta stop this routine that I’m on.

Dan Medeiros [00:13:29]:
You know, I saw a picture of myself from high school, and I looked at myself, and I’m like, man, I was skinny back then. And then I remembered what my weight was back then. I’m like, man, I was like 170, 175 pounds at that point.

And I’m like, oh my gosh, I’m like almost 265. Like that, for some reason, that never, like I would see my weight and I’d go that, you know, that’s, there’s nothing wrong with that. Two I am, right, two I am.

And then it just, I realized, wow, that is not good. And it was a complete just, a change. I immediately just went full force into completely turning everything over, stopping the energy drinks, no more fast food.

I was, you know, my diet changed when I would eat dinner and what I was eating. You know, I had a rule, no, trying to eat dinner no less than four hours before I went to bed. You know, you don’t wanna go to sleep with food in your stomach because it’ll still be there in the morning.

And then, you know, my biggest meal, my best meal of the day was breakfast, first thing after I woke up, and jumping on water, you know, eating good meals, going for walks every day, starting to play hockey. And it’s, everything changed along with that. My hair changed along with it, my attitude.

Kevin Rolston [00:14:39]:
Yeah, your hair ties into the overall picture of wellness that you have.

Dan Medeiros [00:14:43]:
Yeah, your body, your entire body is a machine and you need the proper, you know, your machine can only run if you put the proper things in it to make it run. You know, as you start throwing things that don’t work properly, then obviously your machine’s not gonna work properly. So it’s, it made a huge difference.

And I can’t, again, that’s why I can’t stress that enough. And it’s such a hard thing to do. It’s all, but once you find it, once you stick to it, it will work so well, everything will change.

Your attitude, your outlook. I found myself again. I was able to start looking in the mirror again.

I was able to smile again. I was able to look at people in the eyes. You know, instead of looking down, it changed everything.

Kevin Rolston [00:15:32]:
It really does. The one thing I would guess too, you’re talking about the energy drinks and people may not consider when it comes to hair health, sleep, and when you have energy drinks, it messes up your circadian rhythms, the way you sleep and getting a good night of sleep. Again, like you’re saying, it’s all tied together.

So if you’re depriving yourself of sleep, you’re going to jeopardize your hair health.

Dan Medeiros [00:15:46]:
Yeah, I mean, when you sleep, that’s when your body recharges. You know, that’s when all the repairs start happening. So if you don’t give your body, your scalp, your head, everything that time to recharge and repair, you know, you’re just, you’re running on fumes.

Kevin Rolston [00:16:00]:
Right, yeah. Dan, tell me a little bit about Xtrands+. We have now unpacked.

I’ve got a great understanding of what EXT is. What does Xtrands+ do and how’s that contribute now to the great head of hair that you have?

Dan Medeiros [00:16:13]:
Well, I mean, as you can see, this is what I’m wearing. I mean, you can quite literally see right through. The hair looks like it’s all coming right out of my scalp.

Kevin Rolston [00:16:24]:
Yeah, that’s the thing that is really perplexing to me because I’m trying to figure out where any kind of treatment is beginning. What is the real you and what is the assistance? Because there’s nothing that you can notice.

With an extreme closeup, you’ve got hair coming out of your scalp. And so I’m really confused as to what this is and what it’s contributing to this look I’m seeing.

Dan Medeiros [00:16:45]:
Yeah, so like when I’m not, like when I’m not, you know, wearing the hair, I have everything buzzed down. So it’s actually, for me, it’s easier to, you know, when I have it all off, I can actually massage the minoxidil into the scalp. I use a laser hair comb as well.

That’s another huge boost. Between the minoxidil and the laser hair comb, it’s almost like a one-two punch. I would highly recommend getting one of those or they also have the caps.

They have all different forms of the laser hair combs, but, you know, it really helps get to the scalp, gets to the roots. I mean, you can grow it longer, you can do the same thing. I just find it easier this way.

Plus, I mean, I love this style. It’s quite easy to just throw it all over to one side and I can get up in the morning and go about my day. But yeah, like I actually just put my hair on today.

My wonderful wife helped me, which is fantastic because it’s not always the easiest on my own. But yeah, so we put it on quick and got it all. And it’s just, I’m able to go about my day.

I can go on stage and perform. I can go to work. I can go hang out with people.

I went and played hockey earlier today as well. So, you know, I was able to play hockey, put a helmet on, shower afterwards, and it’s unaffected. And then when- No concerns, yeah.

Yeah, no concerns. It doesn’t lift when I’m ready to take it off. And I take it off and then I do my work underneath.

And then when I want to put it back on again, I can put it back on again.

Kevin Rolston [00:18:16]:
So not only does Dan use EXT to care for his scalp and maintain his natural hair, he’s also using a hair system in tandem with it. Between the two solutions he has, you would never know that Dan has any sort of hair assistance. The blending of the hair system into his own natural hair looks so seamless that it’s impossible to tell the difference between what’s growing out of his scalp and the system itself.

So I want to know specifically how he brings the two of those things together to get that completely flawless look.

Dan Medeiros [00:18:53]:
I usually, I’ll have my hair on, you know, for a good, almost kind of like an extended long weekend. So I’ll usually, I go in for my appointments usually on Fridays or Thursdays, and then I’ll wear it till about Tuesday. Then I’ll take it off and I’ll spend those days in between when I have it off, just working on my scalp and then really focusing on using the Minoxidil on top of where I usually have my hair on.

So it’s all just on the top, all the sides and the back. That’s all natural.

Kevin Rolston [00:19:21]:
Yeah, you have one, the left side of your head is shaved up to the hairline and then the hair flips over. People aren’t able to visualize this right now, but it’s long, it’s thick, there’s no indication of any kind of hair issues whatsoever.

Dan Medeiros [00:19:34]:
No, and that’s the thing, and it’s just so simple and it’s such an easy process. Like I was able to get my hair on today completely, you know, all done within no more than half an hour. It was so quick, so easy.

And then I said in between that, I do all the EXT stuff. And even while I’m wearing my hair, I mean, I still have access to the sides and the back. And I mean, so I still massage the Minoxidil into the scalp here because when I just started wearing the hair and I wasn’t using EXT, you know, all of this was on the sides and the back.

It was thinning out as well, it wasn’t as thick anymore. So what if I started to grow it out, you know, you can still see through to the scalp. Now I do, I work with a group in Iowa called the Iowa League of Heroes.

We dress up as superheroes, we go visit the kids in the sick kids’ hospitals, we do all sorts of events. And I dress up as Superman and, you know, so I grow it out, you know, and it can’t, Superman can’t have patchy, thin hair. So I started noticing it was getting thin, so I’m like, I really need to get back on the EXT again.

So I got back on the EXT program and all of a sudden I started growing, it started growing all thick again. So I was able to grow it out and then it was like, oh my gosh, you know, now it’s, I can actually have this longer and it’s consistent from the top to the sides. I don’t wanna have thick hair up top here and then thin hair here on the back.

I don’t wanna have my system to continue, you know, to have my system be made longer and, you know, I don’t wanna be wearing hair that completely takes all of my scalp. I want my own hair as well. Wearing this helps take care of what I can’t fully grow out yet.

And then the EXT is helping to rebuild what I have underneath here as well as the sides and the back. So being able to grow my own hair out and also get the thick, luscious hair that is me, which this is me, this is, I’m able to have both. So I don’t want to, I don’t want my system, my X-Strands to, you know, again, to go from just this to all of this as well.

I don’t wanna wear a whole head system. That’s, and so the EXT helps mitigate that and it helps me actually regrow my hair. And with today’s technologies, and it’s getting even better, I mean, there’s Finasteride and all these other new combinations with Minoxidil, which HairClub’s gonna be jumping into very, very, very shortly.

Finasteride is almost like that second piece of the puzzle that Minoxidil needs to really, to almost double if not triple the growth and the speed at which you see growth.

Kevin Rolston [00:22:07]:
Yeah, Finasteride is an amazing product and really what that does is, you know, you were talking earlier about the DHT and how that hormone chokes off the hair follicle and Finasteride, it really just blocks that so you don’t have that issue. And if you’re intense, 10% of people still need something else and there’s Dutasteride. Dutasteride, and that’s another one too.

Right, that I’ve learned that is, you know, look, Finasteride’s not effective and that’s what happened to me where I, you have a different approach than me because I’m an Xtrands+ or the hair system kind of person and I love the fact that you are still pursuing really good scalp health and the fact that you’re using EXT and I’ve given up on the Finasteride because I thought, well, you know what, I’m gonna be Xtrands+, that’s just gonna be it. But now that I found out about Dutasteride, I know about EXT, I myself am considering saying, okay, well let’s just see if I can’t maybe kickstart the old scalp health and go back at it.

So by doing this HairPod, I’ve learned a lot about my own hair health and where I might go. So you’re kind of an inspiration to me and I would assume for you, the goal would be to try to work on your own scalp health and use the EXT and things like Finasteride, Dutasteride, and maybe who knows, that one day you would be able to go without a hair system or Xtrands+ and just have great scalp health because of HairClub.

Dan Medeiros [00:23:32]:
Exactly, exactly, you know, I would love to have that eventually and rediscovering my own scalp and my own hair is huge and as with time, the technologies are only gonna get better, the advancements and everything. So as I get older, I would love to eventually not have to wear hair and just be sporting my own. That is the end goal but in the meantime, I mean, I get to see myself every day, I get to present myself properly every single day while at the same time, I’m working on me and with my scalp issue that I do have, I mean, that’s for life.

Unfortunately, it’s for life so I have to keep up with that. As I get stressed out, you know, it starts to rear its, again, rears its ugly head again. So I have to continue to work on that, I have to continue to work on my diet and yeah, I just, I feel like, you know, it wasn’t, just wearing hair wasn’t enough and we started doing it at my center and then as more clients started to see the results, my results, all of a sudden they were like, oh my gosh, and just like yourself, you’re like, this is amazing, I should do this too, I would love to see what I can do as well and we’ve got so many clients now at my center who are on it, there’s clients all across, you know, the US that are jumping on this too, more centers are jumping on the doing both and I think it, I hope it continues to grow, I hope more and more people start to understand this, I hope this podcast helps a lot people realize, you know, you can do both, you can find success in both and this is what I’m trying to promote, so, you know, whatever options are out there for you to help regrow, clean your scalp, you should really jump on it, you know, it’s the Minoxidil, Finasteride, the laser comb, you know, taking the vitamins, whatever you can get your hands on to help boost that, go for it, honestly, it’s only gonna help.

Kevin Rolston [00:25:59]:
Talking to Dan is always inspiring, his overall focus is on his wellness, his scalp health, maintaining a great diet and keeping his stress levels down to combat his psoriasis and I think it’s great that Dan is sharing his story so that more people know that they can take their hair and scalp health seriously while still having the look that they want in the meantime, like Dan does with his own hair system.

He’s the first guest we’ve talked to on this show to use both EXT and Xtrands+ and maybe that’s because most people wouldn’t even know that it’s possible to use both of them at the same time. We wanna thank Dan as always for being an incredible guest and sharing his journey with the world so that more people can get the help and the hair that they want. For more inspirational stories and words of wisdom from people who’ve been through hair loss, make sure to subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast app.

Thanks for listening to another episode of HairPod. Check us out at HairClub on Instagram or search HairPod on Facebook to continue the conversation. If you know someone that could benefit from hearing this episode, we would love it if you’d share it with them.

If you’re enjoying the show, consider leaving us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app. We also have a website. Just check it out by going to podcast.hairclub.com.

We’re here to build people up and share real stories so people experiencing hair loss feel a little bit less alone. And when you share, review and subscribe, it helps us do just that. So thank you.

Until next time.

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Thankful for Effective Hair Loss Solutions

Thankful for Effective Hair Loss Solutions

Episode 40

Thankful for Effective Hair Loss Solutions

Thankful for Effective Hair Loss Solutions With Kevin Rolston

In this episode of HairPod, we’re celebrating the season of gratitude with five inspiring stories about hair loss. Hair loss can happen for many reasons, but the important thing to remember is that there is always a way forward—that’s right, there’s a solution out there for everyone. 

Trying a Hair Loss Solution

Hair systems are a widespread solution for hair loss, but not everyone knows exactly how they work. Tyler was one guest who wasn’t sure a hair system was right for him until his mom gave him a gentle nudge to give it a shot. After all, what did he have to lose? After receiving his system and wearing it home for the first time, Tyler knew this was his path forward. It’s worth noting, however, that not all systems are created equal! Tyler got his system from HairClub, where he worked with an experienced stylist to get a style and material that looked and felt great and worked with his active lifestyle. To hear more of Tyler’s story, check out his full episode!

Childhood Hair Loss 

Hair loss isn’t easy for anyone, least of all children. Abby’s rare condition created a large scar on her scalp, and a large percentage of her hair never grew in. Growing up without hair wasn’t easy; Abby’s parents tried hats and wigs, but they didn’t allow Abby to live a normal life and fit in with the other kids. When Abby’s mom discovered HairClub, the team worked with Abby’s unique situation to help her find the perfect solution that allowed Abby to play, swim, and dance, just like any other girl. Now that Abby is 24 years old, she is a 20-year client of HairClub and exudes nothing but confidence. She shares her story openly and hopes she can help kids and parents who are going through a similar situation. For more from Abby, check out her full episode!

New Technologies for Hair Loss

Technology for hair loss solutions have come a long way in the last few decades. Christopher came on the show to share his experience losing his hair starting in his 20s. He tried multiple solutions but wasn’t getting the results he was after, and part of the problem was he wasn’t aware of all of the options available to him (at first). Christopher is an expert in the beauty industry, and he shares how men aren’t encouraged by society to make changes to their appearance, even if they want to. But, according to him, that is starting to change. The younger generations are more comfortable seeking out different hair loss solutions, and it doesn’t hurt that the technology has improved, too. For more insights from Christopher, check out his full episode!

Chemotherapy and Hair Loss

After recovering from her cancer, Carol had a new challenge to face – the hair loss caused by her chemotherapy treatments. Hair loss made Carol, an extrovert, want to hide from others. All she wanted was to return to her normal life, but her loss of confidence kept that from happening. Carol tells the story of the first day that she wore her new hair from HairClub. This was the moment when she finally felt like herself again and her life resumed. To hear more of Carol’s inspiring story, check out her full episode!

How Getting Your Hair Loss Helps Confidence

Our last story came from Jeff ElZenny. He began losing his hair in high school, and that meant feeling awkward in his prom pictures and at graduation. He felt like he looked so much older than he actually was, and he became a recluse. When he finally got his hair back, he felt like his outgoing, fun-loving personality came back with it. This confidence boost allowed him to enjoy his 20s to the fullest, never worrying about his appearance. To hear more of Jeff’s journey from HairClub client to part of the team, listen to his full episode!

Empowering Resources
As the episode draws to a close, HairPod extends a generous offer of a complimentary hair loss consultation, providing a tangible step towards reclaiming confidence and control over one’s appearance.
Book a free consultation with HairClub Today!

Thanks for listening to HairPod. We hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did, please leave us a rating or review wherever you get your podcasts. If you’d like to connect with us on social media to share your story, check us out on Instagram @HairClub. HairPod is a production of TSE Studios. Our theme music is from SoundStripe.

Episode.40 Transcript
Christopher Erstner [00:00:02]:
So, like, I think that's part of the issues that men have is, like, I want to be attractive, and I want people attracted to me. And then, you know, we make the world go round, right? But in terms of, like, society changing their ideas about that, it really hasn't changed, because at least from my perspective, men were just. They kind of have the world on a string, right? I'd like to look a certain way. The world completely changed in a different way, and people are just like, you know what? I'm just gonna live life the way I want to live. And if that means that I have to admit to one or two things, I am going to seek help for hair loss. Or I'm not. It's one or the other. I gotta be me.

Tyler Morehead [00:00:56]:
Welcome to HairPod, the podcast where you get to hear real people talk about their hair journeys. I'm your host, Kevin Rolston, and each week I get to interview people from different walks of life whose lives have been touched by hair loss in some form or fashion. Many of our guests have experienced hair loss themselves and found a way to get their confidence and their hair back. This week, we are feeling the holiday spirit for those of us in the United States. Hopefully, we are all taking the time to think about gratitude for the things in life that bring us joy. I'm very happy for my hair, my family, my kids, football, you know, the things that really matter. And I'm thankful that I get to host the HairPod. Not only do I feel like I get to help people out who are looking for hair solutions like I have always been my entire life, but I'm learning a lot about hair loss myself, and I'm starting to apply some of the things I've learned right here on the HairPod.

Tyler Morehead [00:01:52]:
And I'm thankful that you're listening. Thank you so much. As we enter into the season of gratitude, we want to revisit some of our most inspiring conversations with guests who have shared their stories with us, from the challenges they experienced to the joy that they felt when they finally got their hair back. If you've been watching your hair get thinner and you're feeling a little bit down about it, we hope these amazing guests can show you that there are options out there. And, hey, maybe someday you're going to be sharing your own hair journey with others and helping them out too. Our first clip is from Tyler Morehead. Yeah, great name for a guy losing your hair. Tyler is a filmmaker and an outdoor enthusiast.

Kevin Rolston [00:02:34]:
He came on the show to share his story with us. Starting all the way Back when he first began to notice a little extra hair coming out in the shower.

Tyler Morehead [00:02:46]:
I think I kind of started noticing somewhere around, it was early 20s, say maybe somewhere around 23, 24. I was living in New York at the time, in New York City, and I just started noticing hair on the bottom of the shower when I got done, you know, showering. And at first I didn't really think that much of it, but it seemed like it was just getting more and more. So it took a little while for me to physically notice that was happening. But yeah, it just kind of crept in one night and that's, that's what it was.

Kevin Rolston [00:03:14]:
What age were you when you finally tried to do something about it? What were the first steps you took?

Tyler Morehead [00:03:20]:
Let's see, what would I have been about 30? I was in my mid-30s at that point and you know, I lived in, worked in, in la. I was. Filmmaking is really was what I wanted to do. And so I'd go on these sets and I had hair and makeup artists that would always say, oh, you should try this stuff. And there's all kinds of little things you can put in your hair to make it look a little thicker. And I was doing them all, you know, I was trying them all. But I think by the time I hit my mid-30s, I kind of started getting tired of doing that and it just seemed to be getting a little bit harder and harder to do that too. And you know, I have to credit my mom on that one.

Tyler Morehead [00:03:53]:
One day she said, hey, you know, why don't you check out no hair club?

Kevin Rolston [00:04:00]:
Like many people, Tyler had reservations about trying a new hair loss solution. He wasn't sure what to expect. And even when he went in for his consultation, he wasn't sure which direction to go. He didn't want to pursue a surgical option and he wasn't sure how the non surgical options would look. Thankfully, his biggest cheerleader, his mom, convinced him to give it a try. After all, if he wasn't happy with the result, after all, if he wasn't happy with the result, he could always go back to the way things were. So he had really nothing to lose. After Tyler tried a hair system for the very first time, his decision was made.

Tyler Morehead [00:04:42]:
You know, I, it sounds so cliche, but I really remember that, that moment vividly actually, because initially, you know, they, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I saved the picture. They took a picture of me before and one right after. But I'll never forget, they didn't let me look in the mirror until it was done. They said, don't do it. Just let us do what we need to do. You look at it when you're done, and if you want to keep it, you're good. Well, when they wheeled me around in the chair, they swung it around, and I saw myself in the mirror. I made the joke to myself, and this is a farm kid thing.

Tyler Morehead [00:05:15]:
Like, we don't speak up too much about much. But I remember thinking to myself, oh, there's that guy. I haven't seen him in forever. And it was just a really great feeling. And when I left there, I'll never forget, too, I had a big dog at the time. I had an Akita. She had been in the house all day long. So I.

Tyler Morehead [00:05:33]:
When I got done at Hair Club that day, I went home to walk her, to let her out and let her do her thing. And I remember walking her, you know, around the area where I live, and it just felt great. I didn't have to wear a hat. I didn't have to worry about all the hair junk in my hair. I mean, it was just one of the most amazing things. I just. To this day, I still remember how it feels.

Kevin Rolston [00:05:53]:
You used to do some modeling too, is that right?

Tyler Morehead [00:05:55]:
I did. That was back in my younger years when I still had my good looks or whatever looks I did have.

Kevin Rolston [00:06:02]:
So when you see yourself, you're in an industry where, you know, everything is your image and your appearance. Did you feel a little bit of that same kind of confidence you used to have as the younger model, Tyler?

Tyler Morehead [00:06:15]:
Honestly, yeah, I had it all. I mean, I had all that confidence back. I mean, it was pretty wild, you know, and at the same time, there was always a little bit of trepidation, too, because I knew what I had done, and I always wondered how many other people knew. And, you know, I think going back to what you said earlier, fewer people, I think, have recognized it or seen it or even asked me about it.

Kevin Rolston [00:06:36]:
Yeah.

Tyler Morehead [00:06:36]:
Than I thought would.

Kevin Rolston [00:06:42]:
Tyler's experience is a great reminder that the first and most important thing you need to consider when choosing a hair loss solution is to focus on how it makes you feel. Tyler felt his confidence come back, and he saw that guy in the mirror that he hadn't seen in a while. And this is the experience of so many guests that we talk to here on the HairPod. Hair loss can be an emotional thing. It can cause a lot of discomfort or anxiety. For many people, hair is tied to their sense of self identity and maybe most importantly, their confidence. And Tyler was no exception. Our next guest story is unique in that she was born with a rare condition that caused her hair loss at birth.

Kevin Rolston [00:07:23]:
Abby Jensen was diagnosed with amniotic band syndrome. This condition caused scarring on her scalp, and a lot of her hair never came in. Things could have gone very differently for her if her mother hadn't found Hair Club for Kids when Abby was just 4 years old.

Abby Jensen [00:07:47]:
I was 4 years old when I started a hair club. So my mom was very on the ball of, like, I don't want her to go to school without hair. So we started with. I forget the organization, but there was one that wouldn't help me because I didn't have cancer. And then my mom found Hair Club for Men, because back then it was just called For Men. There was really nothing else. And I would have to ask my mom who the directors or the people in charge were, but she found them, and they kind of were like, okay, let's meet with her. Let's see what we can do.

Abby Jensen [00:08:16]:
So they met with me and my parents, and I've been a client now for 20 years, and they.

Kevin Rolston [00:08:20]:
Wow.

Abby Jensen [00:08:21]:
Yeah.

Kevin Rolston [00:08:22]:
20 years.

Abby Jensen [00:08:23]:
20 years.

Kevin Rolston [00:08:25]:
That is crazy.

Kevin Rolston [00:08:26]:
Tell me a little bit about your journey.

Kevin Rolston [00:08:28]:
You started when you were four with Hair. You talked about, you know, the different.

Kevin Rolston [00:08:32]:
Wigs that they have, and they have an amazing. I mean, the. The technology and the advancement of wigs. And you can speak to this more than I can. Have you seen just the technology and how it's changed from when you were four until what you can see now?

Abby Jensen [00:08:45]:
Oh, yeah. So I remember my first wig was one I could put on and take off. So my parents had, like, a little head that we would put my hair on. We would go out in public, and then I'd go home and they would take it off and I'd be without it. And then my mom slowly realized that this was not sustainable for, I mean, a kid, like, running around, like, swimming and dancing and stuff. So we got into. They came up. Well, I'm.

Abby Jensen [00:09:07]:
I'm sure I was not the first person to do this, but they had me start using a hair piece that I could glue onto my head. So they used, like, a poly fuse kind of solution in the back of my head because it's less sensitive. So I tape in the front and glue in the back for a long time. And they. I was able to swim, I could dance, I could run, I could shower, I could straighten it if I wanted to, like, add heat products and stuff. So that was, I mean, huge. It allowed me to be normal, like my Friends and, like, my parents and everyone else I knew. So that was.

Abby Jensen [00:09:38]:
I mean, just huge in itself to be able to have the hairpiece. I mean, it just. It saved me, honestly. Like, I can be normal. I can look normal. And you wouldn't know that I wear a wig unless you asked. And I used to be so hidden about it.

Christopher Erstner [00:09:52]:
I.

Abby Jensen [00:09:52]:
Like, if people would tell me, oh, like, I heard this, I. Whatever. And I was just like, no, like, that's not true. Like, my hair is real. I used to hide it. Actually, I'm 24 now, so I've gotten to the point where I can share it. I tell my friends. I mean, I've only just recently started taking my hair off every so often, so I can kind of get used to washing my head on my own, because that was something I could never do to be able to share with my friends and family.

Abby Jensen [00:10:15]:
It was a. I mean, a big thing for. I even come to work now with a scarf on, and that's pretty big, too.

Kevin Rolston [00:10:20]:
So what are the reactions you get?

Kevin Rolston [00:10:21]:
What do people say?

Abby Jensen [00:10:23]:
And, well, now they love it. I mean, yeah, I tell people now and they're like, wow, Like, I can't believe. Like, I mean, you go through that. I can't believe you deal with this. I can't believe you can talk about it so freely. I mean, that's. It's huge to be able to say to people like, oh, this is what I deal with. This is what I have.

Abby Jensen [00:10:39]:
And to show people. I think it's. When I was younger, I wanted someone to look up to, and I didn't have that. I didn't have somebody that looked like me or that, like, had something similar to me. So it was. It was hard. I mean, honestly, it was very tough. But now I can be like, this is who I am.

Abby Jensen [00:10:54]:
It's not going anywhere. I can't change it. I can just embrace it. And I think that's kind of where I'm at is too. I can show my friends, I can show my family. I can be open to strangers about, like, my hair situation and everything. So I think it's a big growth mindset, but also just like an acceptance factor is it's okay to be different. It's okay to have something different than other people.

Abby Jensen [00:11:16]:
And that's the biggest lesson I've learned.

Kevin Rolston [00:11:22]:
Thanks to the efforts of her mom when she was little, Abby got to have a normal childhood and do everything she wanted to do without feeling singled out. Her incredible confidence and openness have brought her to the point where she now can be a role model to kids who are going through what she went through as a kid, and that is a testament to her growth and strength. She's not the only one who's experienced some growth when it comes to being open about their hair loss. Our society as a whole is starting to change and treat hair loss differently. Part of HairPod's mission is to talk openly about hair loss journeys of all kinds, and to share the challenges and the triumphs that touch everybody's life at some point or another. One of our most popular episodes of all time featured an interview with Christopher Erstner, a beauty expert and the founder of a cosmetics brand. We talked about his experience with hair loss and the changes he sees in society when it comes to men and the options that we have for changing our appearance.

Christopher Erstner [00:12:28]:
I think the first thing I did was, like, I didn't want to be that guy that was like, bozo, honestly, where it was just like, hair, and then so I just shaved it off. And then I got really comfortable with wearing hats. Yeah.

Kevin Rolston [00:12:40]:
Okay, so you had. You went with no hair at all, then you decided to take the whole thing off?

Christopher Erstner [00:12:45]:
Yeah, absolutely. I figured that if I wasn't going to be able to do it right or look right, I was just going to get rid of it. And so I own probably every single coach hat that they've ever made. And I just kind of went along with that. Yeah.

Kevin Rolston [00:12:59]:
How do you think that made you feel? Because I was almost there. That was the last step before I walked into hair club and got my system was I thought I was going to shave the whole thing, but then I started to realize, to me, I look 15 to 20 years older when I don't have hair. How do you feel like you looked without hair?

Christopher Erstner [00:13:17]:
Same. I mean, of course, you keep it together with the hat. Right. So you want to try to keep it cool and fun with the hat, but there's only so much you could do. Like my sister's wedding. I'm not going to wear a hat walking her down the aisle. But I'm not going to lie. I would have totally done so if she would have let me, I sincerely would have done it.

Christopher Erstner [00:13:36]:
She wasn't, you know, she wasn't about that life. But, you know, you do what you got to do, you know? And enough about men do not have that space in the beauty world to have the ability to say, I don't like this, and I'd like to change it without having some type of, like, Joan Rivers complex, like, you know, with, like, the plastic Surgery. Well, maybe she went a little too far, but that's what she did for herself. We should let people alone. Men are just. And even she gets let off the hook and let you know, you got Kenny Rogers situation where it's like, oh my God, it's a little too much. And then you get talked about forever. And your legacy is to be an amp, you know what I mean? So you kind of have to be cognizant of that.

Christopher Erstner [00:14:17]:
But I think that it's getting better, obviously, social media, and there's so many forms of social media now that you really can't get away from the algorithm. And so at some point you're going to come across it if it's something that you're looking for.

Kevin Rolston [00:14:32]:
I think, yeah, tell me a little bit about. Because, you know, I think that is a big hang up for a lot of guys. It seems like in our society it's much more acceptable, or at least it was, that women would go out and seek beauty type treatments. But men, we take whatever life gives us and we don't really do that kind of stuff. And you talk about your own struggles with that because I think it is. You have to come to a place where you get comfortable. And now I have no problem talking about anything that I've done with hair Club. Very open about it, but it probably was something that either happened in society or my age.

Kevin Rolston [00:15:07]:
What do you think it was for you? Is it something that you get more comfortable with as you get older? Or do you think that societal perceptions about men and hair loss and the treatments that they have are different?

Christopher Erstner [00:15:17]:
I don't think that the society has changed on hair loss in regards to like the sexual capability or compatibility really of what men are to women. Right. So like, I think that's part of the issues that men have is like, I want to be, you know, attractive and I want people attracted to me. And then, you know, we make the world go round. Right. But in terms of like society changing their ideas about that, it really hasn't changed because at least from my perspective, you have, you know, our parents and then their parents, men were just, they kind of have the world on a string, right? And women were meant, were supposed to be like very well kept and you gotta wait for your husband to come home. So you have that very chauvinistic kind of attitude that they didn't realize was chauvinistic until years later. But.

Christopher Erstner [00:16:08]:
And those things have changed since, you know, the women's movement in the 70s and then the 80s were just like, you Know, one big party and then, you know, the 90s is, I think, what people started understanding. Like, I'd like to look a certain way and given the room to do so. And then you got to 2000s where things are just not the same anymore. And then pre Covid or post Covid now I think that the world completely changed in a different way, and people are just like, you know what? I'm just going to live life the way I want to live. And if that means that I have to admit to one or two things, I am going to seek help for hair loss. Or I'm not. It's one or the other. I gotta be me.

Christopher Erstner [00:16:47]:
And I think that more younger men are certainly happier with the options than I think that we were when we were kids, for sure.

Kevin Rolston [00:16:59]:
It's amazing how as our society changes and technology improves, there are happy endings in sight for more and more people who are looking to get their hair back. Nowadays, no matter why you lost your hair, there is an option out there that will work for you and give you the results that you want. The hard part could be finding the perfect match for you. Our next guest, Carol, found her perfect match after her cancer diagnosis and intense rounds of chemotherapy that took her hair from her. Thankfully, her cancer went into remission, and she was able to return to her life and career with a clean bill of health. But she still had to deal with the fact that her hair didn't come back in and she didn't feel like herself without him. She lost her extroverted personality and she began turning down opportunities at work. That was before a woman at a survivor support group told her about hair.

Carol Combs [00:17:57]:
I'll never forget the day. It was May 25, 1995, and I had a big retirement party that I had put on for somebody who had worked for the company for 40, and there were going to be over 300 people there, so. And I went with. With my new hair, and I was like my old self. I just. Nobody looked at me differently. People were like, oh, did you get a perm? Your hair looks so great. And I mean, in that moment, I just was so much joy.

Carol Combs [00:18:29]:
I mean, I thought, wow.

Abby Jensen [00:18:32]:
Look what.

Carol Combs [00:18:33]:
Hair club has done for me.

Kevin Rolston [00:18:36]:
It's. It's life changing. That's amazing to feel like that, to.

Kevin Rolston [00:18:39]:
Feel like yourself again. Did you feel like this was kind of the moment where you felt the victory over cancer? You felt like the old Carol was back and that you had nothing but life to live?

Carol Combs [00:18:50]:
Absolutely. I mean, I was done with treatments at that point and wasn't real sure, you know, how was it going to navigate back into my social life and all that and meeting that girl and going to hair club, seeing that it's all now possible, that was huge.

Kevin Rolston [00:19:13]:
Journeys like Carol's show, the incredible power of investing in yourself and doing whatever it it takes to get your life back. And I think the beautiful thing about these stories, as diverse as they are, they all come down to that. It's about listening to yourself and looking for the solution that is right for you. I was a person who realized at the age of 25 that I was starting to lose my hair. And looking back at the genetics of my family through my dad, my maternal grandfather, I knew I was probably doomed to have the same hairline that they did, which was pretty much non existent except for the sides. So at that age, I sought out help and treatment and I did some things that really slowed down my hair loss. But 15 to 20 years later, those measures just weren't as effective as they had been. And I knew I had to take a different step.

Kevin Rolston [00:20:04]:
I was getting to the point where it looked like I was really faking it. I'm getting like comb over guy kind of syndrome or just patchy baldness. It looked like I had some form of mange. It just wasn't how I wanted to look. I knew I had to do something. So I had two options. I thought, either you can go on ahead and just shave it all off, or you can go with a place like Hair Club. But like a lot of people that had seen the TV commercials, I was skeptical.

Kevin Rolston [00:20:27]:
Plus, for me, there was a stigma that I just kind of grew up with as a child. In the 80s, we're getting a different kind of hair, a toupee, whatever you want to call it, just really wasn't trendy and it's not where I wanted to go. But a problem for me, unlike a lot of guys, I do not look good without hair. So I set up an appointment to go to the Hair Club. And you know what, I didn't go. I thought, you know, no, no, no, this is not for me. Then I took another look in the mirror. I got off the clippers and I got close.

Kevin Rolston [00:20:55]:
But I said, you know what, just go sit down with Hair Club and see what they have to say. What they told me about a hair system blew my mind. I was going to have real human hair on my head. It was going to look natural. Strangers could run their hair through it and they wouldn't know that I had anything but my own natural hair. I Could be active in it. I could go swimming, bungee jumping, canoeing, whatever, and I was going to be okay. So I took the leap, and the results were absolutely amazing.

Kevin Rolston [00:21:24]:
And now, for over seven years now, I have been a member of the hair club. And let me tell you, it has changed my life dramatically. I look 15 years younger. I look a lot more attractive than I would without hair. I know, and my wife loves it, and that's really what matters. Plus, being in the public eye like I am, I was able to maintain my confidence. And for anybody, even if you're not in the media, it's a pretty big deal. That's why I want people to know about hair cloth, because I want you to have the same kind of great feelings that I do.

Kevin Rolston [00:21:54]:
Okay, we got one last clip for you today, and it comes from Jeff Elzeni. He's been working for Hair Club for many years now, and he truly believes in the product, not just because he knows it can make a difference, but because he uses it himself. Jeff's story, like the others that you've heard today, is one of triumph. Finding your confidence in living the life that you really want to live.

Jeff ElZenny [00:22:21]:
So I started losing my hair when I was a junior in high school. And, you know, the problem with that was I looked so much older than I was, you know, 17 years old. Looked like I was going on 30 at that point. It was crazy. By the time I graduated high school, I looked like I was in my late 30s, almost 40, you know, so it was a major, major hit to the ego. You know, you know me as this outgoing guy, and, you know, I'm always out and talkative and, you know, really just kind of living my best life. Right. When I went through that, I became a recluse.

Jeff ElZenny [00:22:51]:
I didn't want the attention. I didn't want people to call me out on it. So I figured it would just be easier for me to not be in those environments, so I stayed away from it. That's really where the story started. At 21 years old, I was dating a hairdresser, and we had a conversation, and she said, hey, there's this guy that comes into my place, and he's a member, and he looks really good, and maybe you should look into that. So at that point, I did ended up becoming a member not too long after, you know, and getting my hair back. And, man, you know, like I said earlier, it was a life changer. Not only did it make me look younger, feel better, it gave me me back.

Jeff ElZenny [00:23:26]:
It gave me my life back. You know.

Kevin Rolston [00:23:28]:
Yeah.

Jeff ElZenny [00:23:29]:
So, you know, all of that stuff, and then in the future, obviously, you know, she wasn't the one. So dating and being out there again and being single and living, you know, living that life, it was a game changer because you have your confidence. I wasn't worried about, you know, I looked older than I felt and all that stuff. I felt younger. You know, I had a cool hairstyle. I able to, you know, working out and all that stuff. So it was. It was a big change, you know, and then for me, about a year and a half into it, you know, I became an employee.

Jeff ElZenny [00:23:55]:
So I started working with a company, and really meeting with people was a. It was a mission of mine to be able to help people make the changes that I made. But that was really important to me. And, you know, I won't take anything away from what I did in my prior years, but a lot of people, you know, whenever I'm, I'm told to, like, say, tell me something that nobody knows about you. Well, I'm a licensed electrician, so that's what I went to school to be. Yeah, that's what I did before I got involved in. Yeah, man. So, you know, one of the jokes that I tell my friends that are like, why do you do what you do? It's, you know, it's just a crazy field to be in.

Jeff ElZenny [00:24:25]:
Well, my joke is nobody remembers who put the light switch in your house. Right. But everybody remembers who helped them get their hair back and who helped them change their life. Right. So it's. To me, it was more of a meaningful move because I know what it did for me personally, and I wanted to be able to help other people go through that themselves.

Kevin Rolston [00:24:46]:
We want to thank all of our incredible guests for coming on the show and opening up about their hair loss. If you're going through hair loss right now, you might know how hard it is to do. And if you're someone who is currently supporting a friend or family member who is losing their hair, you probably see it, too. HairPod would not be possible without people who are willing to share their stories in hopes that their experiences can help others. And we want to thank you for listening to this. You are helping us break the stigma surrounding hair loss by educating yourself and sharing with others one story at a time. For more inspirational stories and words of wisdom from people who have been through hair loss, make sure to subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast app. Thanks for listening to another episode of hairpod.

Kevin Rolston [00:25:33]:
Check us out at Hair Club on Instagram or Search Hairpod on Facebook to continue the conversation. If you know someone who could benefit from hearing this episode, we would love it if you would share it with them. If you're enjoying the show, consider leaving us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app. We also have a website. Check it out by going to podcasts.hairclub.com we're here to build people up and share real stories so people experiencing hair loss feel a little bit less alone. And when you share, review and subscribe, it helps us do just that. So thank you. Until next time.

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Is Stress Causing Your Hair Loss?

Is Stress Causing Your Hair Loss?

Episode 39

Is Stress Causing Your Hair Loss?

Is Stress Causing Your Hair Loss? with Dr. Phipps

If your hair is thinning but you’re not sure why, it’s time to take a look at your stress levels. It’s important to understand the relationship between stress and hair loss if you want any hope of stopping the thinning or even growing your hair back. In this episode of HairPod, I sat down with Dr. Angie Phipps, a renowned hair transplant surgeon and expert in hair loss, to explore the external factors that contribute to hair thinning and loss.

Stress-related Hair Loss and Cortisol Levels

Stress-induced hair loss is more common than you might think. Dr. Phipps explains that elevated cortisol levels, the hormone produced during stress, can cause hair follicles to shut down. “Your hair follicle cells are so sensitive to changes in hormones,” she says. This condition, known as telogen effluvium, leads to increased shedding but is usually temporary. If you can manage your stress levels, your hair will often grow back unless the stress itself is kickstarting someone’s natural male or female pattern hair loss.

Illness and Hair Loss: The Hidden Connection

The impact of illness on hair loss often goes unnoticed. Serious illnesses, especially those causing chronic inflammation like autoimmune disorders, can lead to significant hair shedding. Dr. Phipps notes, “Your hair follicle cells don’t like your body having inflammation; it scares them.” Even viral infections like COVID-19 have been linked to hair loss due to prolonged internal inflammation affecting hair follicle health.

Diet, Nutrient Deficiencies, and Hair Thinning

Diet plays a pivotal role in maintaining healthy hair. Nutrient deficiencies can weaken hair follicles, making them more susceptible to shedding. Rapid weight loss from crash diets or medications like Ozempic can cause metabolic stress, leading to hair thinning. Ensuring you get the recommended daily allowances of vitamins and minerals is key to preventing diet-related hair loss.

Exploring Hair Restoration Options

When it comes to hair restoration, one size doesn’t fit all. Dr. Phipps discusses how treatments vary based on individual needs.  Alternatives like Hair Club’s Xtrands and Xtrands+ offer non-surgical solutions for anyone who is looking to make their hair appear more voluminous and full. Consulting with a hair loss specialist can help determine the best course of action tailored to your specific condition.

Empowering Resources
As the episode draws to a close, HairPod extends a generous offer of a complimentary hair loss consultation, providing a tangible step towards reclaiming confidence and control over one’s appearance.

Book a free consultation with HairClub Today!

Check out Episode 034: Male and Female Pattern Hair Loss with Dr. Phipps

Thanks for listening to HairPod. We hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did, please leave us a rating or review wherever you get your podcasts. If you’d like to connect with us on social media to share your story, check us out on Instagram @HairClub. HairPod is a production of TSE Studios. Our theme music is from SoundStripe.

Episode.39 Transcript
Dr. Angela Phipps [00:00:02]:
The trichotillomania does cause chronic hair loss and chronic inflammation, but it doesn't cause a scarring form of hair loss. Once you get them under control and they're no longer pulling, then the inflammation will go away from that chronic pulling and everything will settle down and the environment of the scalp will return to normal and healthy. And you can transplant into those patients as long as they're under psychological behavioral treatment to make sure, because you don't want them to start pulling out the transplanted hairs as well.

Kevin Rolston [00:00:44]:
Welcome to HairPod, the podcast where you get to hear real people talk about their hair journeys. I'm your host, Kevin Rolston, and each week I get to interview people from different walks of life whose lives have been touched by hair loss in some form or fashion. Many of our guests have experienced hair loss themselves and found a way to get their confidence and their hair back. In this episode of HairPod, I'm going to be talking with one of our favorite guests of all time, Dr. Angie Phipps. Dr. Phipps is a hair transplant surgeon who is an expert in all things hair loss. Last time we had her on the show, we had an in depth conversation about male and female pattern thinning and how our hormones and genetics interact to determine whether that's something you'll experience.

Kevin Rolston [00:01:29]:
It was an enlightening conversation, and if you want to check it out, we linked to episode 34 in our show notes. So we all know we can't change our genetics as far as hair loss is concerned. But I wanted to go into more depth with Dr. Phipps about what kinds of things we can control when it comes to hair loss and what those external factors are.

Dr. Angela Phipps [00:01:53]:
The biggest one is stress. It's funny though, because stress comes back to producing a hormone. So when you're under stress, you produce a hormone called cortisol. So cortisol is another hormone and it rises. And your hair follicle cells are so sensitive to changes in hormones, they detect that changing cortisol level systemically through your body when you're under stress. And it scares them that these cortisol levels are high. So they think they need to protect themselves from this bad hormone, cortisol, and it will cause the cells to shut down and go and prematurely go in or jump into the dormant or resting phase of the hair follicle life cycle. And when that happens, then the hair that's growing will then stop growing and fall out.

Dr. Angela Phipps [00:02:39]:
So stress can cause hair loss. Now, what I tell patients, though, is that stress does not cause permanent hair loss, meaning that the Cortisol hormone does not kill the hair follicle like the testosterone DHT hormone does. So it just causes it to shock and shut down and the hair loss falls out. But the stress has to get back to a normal level where the cortisol levels are normal so that the hair follicle cells don't recognize them anymore so that they can recover from their resting phase and go back into their growth phase and produce the hair again. So you got to get the stress under control. But if you're under constant stress, you're going to have constant hair loss and shedding. But it's not necessarily permanent unless that stress is a activator or kind of like a kick in the pants. For the male pattern hair loss, it accelerates it, it's an accelerant.

Dr. Angela Phipps [00:03:34]:
So the stress can be an accelerant for male pattern hair loss. And so then it can accelerate the male pattern hair loss and you can eventually see permanent hair loss from stress because it was the accelerant or the inducer for the male pattern hair loss to kind of take off and pick up or female hair loss at a faster rate than it would if the stress wasn't there. Because I tell patients, look, if stress caused permanent hair loss, I would be bald. Every mother in America would be bald. Right? And we're not. And so it can cause hair loss. It's not permanent hair loss, but it takes six to nine months for your hair follicle cells to recover from stress hair loss because it's got to go through the dormant phase of the resting phase before it can go back into the active phase. But it can be a trigger or an accelerant for male pattern hair loss.

Kevin Rolston [00:04:20]:
Now do you have any idea? Because we all have stress. If you have a job, if you have kids, if you have in laws, you know, you have stress. If you're married in a relationship, there are going to be stressors. But then there are things that are more extreme stress. I've heard about, for instance, going through a divorce and that is a high stress level and the effects that that has on the body. Have you noticed through studies that different forms of stress like divorce or things like that rank higher than somebody who just has a challenging job or challenging children?

Dr. Angela Phipps [00:04:50]:
Yes. It's not just everyday stress that causes that type of hair loss. It's major traumatic events like a divorce, a death in the family, undergoing, you know, a major surgical procedure, undergoing bariatric surgery. That's a huge stress on the body where hormones and all kinds of things are being manipulated. You lose a lot of weight, all kinds of things are shifting. So it's the major metabolic stressors to the body and major psychological stressors to the body that cause that hair loss, just not your day in and day out stress. So when patients come in and they're, they're talking about their hair loss and you know, usually when patients say, you know, I've lost this hair gradually over the last five to 10 years, that's pretty typical for the story of male or female pattern thinning. When they say the past, you know, I've lost all this hair over the last six months.

Dr. Angela Phipps [00:05:44]:
A year ago my hair was fine. And I say, okay, let's backtrack six months. What's going on? Or like, nothing. I'm like, six months ago, what happened? And they're like, oh, I had, you know, my favorite aunt died, or I broke up with my boyfriend, or, you know, if you trace the story back six months to nine months or so, you can almost always identify some sort of major stressor potentially that then happened and then the hair loss ensued over the, over the, quickly over the next several months. That's an indicator of the stress. Hair loss. It's called stress telogen, effluvium. So the, the medical term for that hair loss is called telogen because that's the resting phase of the hair follicle.

Dr. Angela Phipps [00:06:23]:
Effluvium means shedding out.

Kevin Rolston [00:06:26]:
Okay, now, when you have stressful situations too, sometimes you may not be eating or doing things like that. So how much do periods in your life where you're just so stressed you can't eat, or you're so sad you can't eat and you're not getting the nutrients in your body that you need. How much of an effect would that also have to play with the stress in you shedding the hair?

Dr. Angela Phipps [00:06:49]:
Yeah, your diet is a huge component to healthy hair, just like your diet's a huge component to having healthy skin and, you know, just healthy organs and healthy everything. Your hair, you know, recognizes whenever it's in a vitamin or mineral or protein deficiency and will react accordingly by being scared and shut down and fall out. You see lots of pictures with, you know, young girls who have eating disorders and their hair is usually always very thin, brittle, easily damaged. And it's because they're not getting the nutrients to maintain strong hair follicle cells to produce strong hair shafts. So in crash dieting, women are just prone to wanting to be thinner sometimes and will do drastic measures to try and lose weight quickly for a reunion or for a Holiday. And that is not good for the body and it's definitely not good for the hair.

Kevin Rolston [00:07:41]:
Have you noticed any kind of correlation or connection with women or men either way, who are on any of these newer diet drugs that are out there? The Ozempics, semaglutides and hair loss, are those connected in any way?

Dr. Angela Phipps [00:07:53]:
I have seen Ozempic. We're calling it Ozempic hair loss and they call it Ozempic face or Ozempic tush. You know, seeing Ozempic hair because they're losing weight so quickly that there's a shift in your metabolics. And the GLP1 medications are changing the metabolism, which is good for fat know, loss. But when you do it that quickly and not over a steady state, the hair follicle cells respond to that drama, the drastic change, and they start to shut down and have shedding.

Kevin Rolston [00:08:26]:
Wow. Okay. Yeah, that's. Well, what, what an experience where you're losing the weight, but you're also losing the hair.

Dr. Angela Phipps [00:08:32]:
Yeah. And we have, you know, when Covid was so rampant, I mean, I saw hundreds of patients with COVID hair loss because they were having that major viral load in their body that was wreaking havoc and it was, you know, causing internal inflammation. And your hair follicle cells recognize internal metabolic changes and inflammation and they respond accordingly by going into protective mode. And that means shutting down, going dormant, and that causes the shedding of the hair shaft.

Kevin Rolston [00:09:06]:
Stress comes in a variety of forms, and they're not always immediately recognizable as something that could cause hair loss. Whether it's a major event like the loss of a loved one or rapid weight loss, these things can cause strain on the body, and it's important to be aware of that. Hair health can be almost like an indicator for what your body might be going through. So it's important to pay attention to those thinning patches, especially if you've gone through any major life changes. This got me thinking about how illness can affect the body and whether something like the flu or Covid could cause hair loss.

Dr. Angela Phipps [00:09:46]:
Usually the flu is so short lived that it doesn't necessarily cause that, but, you know, because what we found with the COVID is that is, even though the symptoms may have only lasted a particular length of time, the inflammation that was caused from that virus was staying in the system a lot longer and causing persistent internal effects on the lungs and other organs that you wasn't necessarily manifesting outside physical symptoms anymore. Like, you know, but internally it was still having a chronic effect. But yeah, chronic medical conditions can cause hair Loss and people who are had chronic, especially chronic inflammatory illnesses like lupus and autoimmune disorders because the autoimmune disorders produce inflammation and your hair follicle cells don't like your body having inflammation, it scares them and so they shut down and have shedding. So a lot of times people, patients who have chronic medical conditions, even if it's not an inflammatory medical condition, though they're taking medications. And chronic use of certain medications has even been shown in studies to potentially have a deleterious effect to the hair follicles because of the chronic medication use by the mechanism of action that the medications are having on the body.

Kevin Rolston [00:11:04]:
Well, talking about how important nutrients are to your body, what foods have you noticed that either add to hair loss or can help prevent hair loss? Are there certain foods? How should your diet look if this is the goal that you have to slow down your hair loss?

Dr. Angela Phipps [00:11:18]:
Yeah. So you don't need. No specific food's going to make your hair grow or I'd be eating it every day. But you need a well balanced diet. You need, you know, the recommended daily allowances of all your vitamins and your minerals and your, you know, your nutrients. You need to be eating your fruits, you need to be eating your vegetables. And so just eating a well balanced diet, you don't want to be too high in protein or too low in protein or no carbs and no sugar. You know, it's all about balance and making sure that you're.

Dr. Angela Phipps [00:11:49]:
Because your hair follicles need the nutrition just like your body does. And in order for your body to stay in homeostasis or balance, you need a well balanced meal.

Kevin Rolston [00:11:59]:
Have you noticed any correlation with over processed, overly processed foods or maybe some of the sodas that we consume? Has there ever been any kind of correlation to that with hair thinning or hair loss?

Dr. Angela Phipps [00:12:10]:
Nothing documented study wise that I can recall. Again, it's just a, you know, a balance of limiting your, you know, processed foods. Absolutely. Because it has a high salt and that's just not good for, you know, you know, good for your heart, good for your body, good for anything.

Kevin Rolston [00:12:24]:
Right.

Dr. Angela Phipps [00:12:24]:
Okay. And just watching the, you know, the diet sodas because of the aspartame and the end of, you know, the different sweeteners that they use is just not good. But as far as being having a direct correlation to any hair loss. No.

Kevin Rolston [00:12:35]:
Now there might be other things that are not necessarily due to what you're doing with your body and the food you're consuming. Maybe something that would be a hormonal Imbalance, like a hypothyroidism or something like that. How do you know if maybe that's what is causing it? How do you get something like that diagnosed?

Dr. Angela Phipps [00:12:52]:
Yeah, so when patients come in, I go through a full medical history, you know, asking them about all the body systems and the endocrine system is, you know, one of the major ones that can be off kilter that can have a contributory effect to hair loss. Thyroid is one of the hormones that, when it's off your hair follicle cells, you know, respond to. And so I'll ask my female patients and my male patients, you know, have you been to the doctor in the last year and had a metabolic workup to see if your thyroid is functioning normally or to make sure you're not anemic? So. And there can be medical causes of hair loss other than the genetics of the male or female pattern. And the two most common medical conditions that cause hair loss are thyroid abnormalities and anemia. So those are usually the two blood tests that I recommend patients to go have checked at their family practice doctor if they haven't had anything done to do a workup for their hair loss, because they may have male or female pattern hair loss, but they may also have thyroid or anemia that's compounding the male or female pattern hair loss. So you want to get rid of any medical cause of hair loss that you can and get that treated, and then we can, you know, work on the, you know, the genetic component.

Kevin Rolston [00:14:03]:
So are there different types of these autoimmune diseases? I assume, you know, you could look into something like Hashimoto's disease or something along those lines, and an expert would be able to identify that pretty quickly what you have.

Dr. Angela Phipps [00:14:15]:
So when you go to the doctor, they'll test your, you know, your thyroid, and based upon what those hormone levels are, it'll. It'll direct them into a way of whether you have low thyroid or high thyroid and, you know, can get you on the proper medications. The other autoimmune, you know, disorders that produce chronic inflammation are more along the lines of like lupus, sarcoid and some of those inflammatory conditions like that. But those are, you know, two things that can cause hair loss. Those are common, but not real common. The real common medical causes are, you know, usually thyroid anemia and poor diet.

Kevin Rolston [00:14:53]:
What would you say is the hardest thing to treat when it comes to it? You got anything from just your standard genetic hair loss. You've got your stresses, you've got your autoimmune diseases. What do you find to be the most threatening to a good head of hair.

Dr. Angela Phipps [00:15:07]:
Yeah. So the autoimmune, or what we call scarring, forms of hair loss are the most hard because what's happening is underneath the surface of the scalp skin, your body is producing inflammation chronically. But it's what we call subclinical inflammation, meaning that you don't feel it and you don't see it, even so you don't know that it's there. So it's there for years, just ruminating underneath the surface of the skin. And that inflammation is causing pressure on the roots of the hair follicles over time and just pressing and pressing and pressing, and eventually it'll kill the hair follicle cell from just being there for so long. So it's super important for both men and women to get an appropriate specialty evaluation by a hair loss physician in the early times of hair loss, so that if it looks suspicious or the history of it just doesn't seem like male or female pattern hair loss, that we can get you to potentially a dermatologist and get a biopsy of that scalp skin to find out what's going on at the cellular level underneath the surface of the skin, so that we can treat the pathological condition that's causing the hair loss, so that it we can either hopefully restore those hair follicle cells back to functioning capability and regrow hair, or at least get rid of the inflammation or tame or control the inflammation so that the hair loss doesn't get worse. Because once it's gone. In scarring forms of hair loss, you can't even transplant into those areas, because if you take a transplanted hair and put it into that area, the cause of the reason of why the hair fell out the first time will cause the transplanted hair to fall out.

Dr. Angela Phipps [00:16:46]:
So you need to detect early detection for those scarring forms of hair loss so that it doesn't get to the point of there actually being a bald spot. Because sometimes then we can't even do anything from a surgical standpoint. However, the saving grace of that is we have hair club who can use their expertise to be able to give hair to those patients.

Kevin Rolston [00:17:09]:
This is an absolute masterclass and just how our bodies respond to stress in so many different forms. Dr. Phipps gave so many good reminders of medical conditions and viruses that can cause hair loss. Hopefully, if you're sitting at home and wondering why your hair is falling out, maybe this is a sign to check in with your doctor to see whether or not your hormone levels a nutrient Deficiency or even a chronic illness could be the reason. The human body is incredibly complex and it's critical to have professional help. In a lot of these cases, not only could it reverse or reduce your hair loss, that could just be the tip of the iceberg as far as your healing is concerned. But physical health issues aren't the only cause of hair loss. Mental health disorders like trichotillomania can cause a person to compulsively pull their own hair out.

Kevin Rolston [00:18:00]:
I was curious as to whether or not this could cause scarring like some of the inflammatory illnesses we were talking about.

Dr. Angela Phipps [00:18:13]:
The trichotillomania does cause, you know, chronic hair loss and chronic inflammation, but it doesn't cause a scarring form of hair loss. And on the TV show Bad Hair Day, I actually did two transplants on two patients that had trichotillomania. Once you get them under control and they're no longer pulling, then the scalp will, the inflammation will go away from that chronic pulling and everything will settle down and the environment of the scalp will return to normal and healthy. And you can transplant into those patients as long as they're under psychological, behavioral treatment to make sure, because you don't want them to start pulling out the transplanted hairs as well. So they have to be under medical care for the trichotillomania. I did a scalp transplant on a female who had trichotillomania, and we did two surgeries on her, very successful. And I did an eyebrow transplant on a patient who pulled out all her eyebrows. And we just did one, you know, one treatment to her and it was successful.

Kevin Rolston [00:19:08]:
Now, you working with Bosley, understanding what hair club does, how do you determine when somebody is best with a surgical procedure or whether best going to a hair club and getting a hair system or something along those lines. Can you look and how do you determine who you send where for something like that?

Dr. Angela Phipps [00:19:27]:
Yeah, so you have to, number one, you got to talk to the patient and find out what are your goals, what are you looking to achieve, you know, and then you have to look at supply and demand. If a patient comes in and they're totally bald on top, and they've only got that 2 or 3 inch rim of hair around the back of the head, and they want a full head of hair, that's never going to be accomplished with a transplant. And so that's going to be a patient who, if they want a full head of hair or even want, you know, a little bit of hair, sometimes a transplant isn't an option. And that's the you know, that's definitely a patient that I'm referring to Hair Club. And so you have to have the donor hair to be able to move into the area of hair loss, to be able to accomplish the result of having, you know, less scalp visibility. And there is a limit to how thick a transplant can look because there has to be a little bit of spacing in between the hair grafts because they're living little organs that require a blood supply. And so the density that can be achieved safely, surgically in one procedure is usually not the result of being able to take somebody and give them a full head of hair with no scalp visibility in one procedure. And if that's the patient's goal and that's the budget that they have, and they can't potentially do what's necessary to get that result from a hair transplant, we'll send those patients to Hair Club.

Dr. Angela Phipps [00:20:42]:
And women are very difficult from a transplant standpoint because sometimes the donor hair, which is the hair in the back of the head that is typically not affected by the hormones and doesn't thin, can sometimes be affected in women the way it is is not in men. And they are not even a transplant candidate. And so for them, I send them to Hair Club to look at the product called X strands, which can give a really voluminous look of hair, or the X strands plus, which can give them, you know, a complete hair. You know, system just depends upon what their goals are. And a lot of times I see patients that come in and they don't have female pattern hair loss. They've just got really fine, thin hair. And they think, if I get a transplant, it's going to give me a full head of hair again. And that's not what a transplant can accomplish.

Dr. Angela Phipps [00:21:32]:
And so patients who come in with fine, thin hair, I absolutely refer them to Hair Club for the X strands because they're going to be able to provide them with the hair strands attached to their existing hair that's just going to give them a huge voluminous amount of hair that's going to give them the result that they're looking for that they thought a transplant would give, but it can't. So again, it's about seeing, you know, a specialist who can tell you what treatments will work, what treatments won't work, and whether you're a good candidate. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should do it unless you're a good candidate for something. And so I really pride myself on patient, you know, on my ethics and morals of when a Patient comes in. There's lots of patients I could do transplants on that. I don't because I know what their overall goal is going to be. I know what the result from a surgical transplant that I'm going to be able to give them. And when I know that's not going to match, I don't let them go through with the procedure.

Dr. Angela Phipps [00:22:22]:
I say, look, hair club is the option for you that's going to give you what you want. I know you thought you wanted a transplant, but this isn't something that I can accomplish through these means. I'm going to send you to Hair Club. I'm taking money out of my own, my own pocket. But I'm going to, you know, I'm doing it because I'm your advocate. I tell patients I want your money, but I don't need your money. I need you to be happy. I need you to get what you are paying for.

Dr. Angela Phipps [00:22:44]:
And if I'm not the answer to that, I gladly send them to somebody who is. And that's always haircut.

Kevin Rolston [00:22:54]:
As we wrap up today's insightful discussion with Dr. Phipps, it's clear that stress and illness can profoundly affect not just our minds, but our bodies as well, even leading to hair loss. But remember, understanding these connections is a powerful first step towards healing. There is hope and help available, and you're not alone in this journey. By acknowledging the impact of stress and seeking support, we can all take meaningful steps towards better health and well being. Thanks for listening to another episode of hairpod. Check us out at Hair Club on Instagram or search HairPod on Facebook to continue the conversation. If you know someone who could benefit from hearing this episode, we would love it if you share it with them.

Kevin Rolston [00:23:37]:
If you're enjoying the show, consider leaving us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app. We also have a website. Check it out by going to podcast.hairclub.com we're here to build people up and share real stories so people experiencing hair loss feel a little bit less alone. And when you share, review and subscribe, it helps us do just that. So thank you until next time. This.

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Hair Loss, Confidence & Racing With Frankie Muniz

Hair Loss, Confidence & Racing With Frankie Muniz

Episode 38

Hair Loss, Confidence & Racing with Frankie Muniz

Hair Loss, Confidence, and Racing with Frankie Muniz

This week on HairPod, we welcomed one of our favorite guests back to the show, Frankie Muniz. We talked about his experience as an actor dealing with hair loss, and how things have changed since he got his hair back. Listen in to hear how finding his confidence again is impacting his career as a NASCAR driver.

Hair Loss in the Public Eye

As an actor and race car driver, Frankie Muniz understands the impact of hair loss on public perception and personal confidence. In the entertainment industry, most “leading men” have a full head of hair, and in his early 20’s, Frankie found his hair thinning. Frankie recounts how this affected his acting opportunities, making him appear older than he truly was. His decision to use a hair system has led to a more youthful appearance and a positive change in his overall presence. 

Hair Systems and Confidence

Frankie Muniz shares his transformative experience with hair systems at HairClub, highlighting how regaining his hair significantly boosted his confidence. For Frankie, visiting HairClub is more than a regular errand; it’s his “me time” where he enjoys a head massage and a fresh haircut. Frankie ensures his look remains fresh and natural-looking with trips to a HairClub center every two weeks. Not only does he experience a boost to his self-esteem with his hair system, he also compares it to the self-care that many women get from going to a spa.

HairClub: Tailored Solutions for Every Lifestyle

While hair systems are growing in popularity, many people still don’t know much about how they work or where to get a high-quality one. Frankie wasn’t sure what to expect when he first looked into getting his hair system, and he wondered if it would be able to withstand his active, fast-paced career. He was pleasantly surprised to learn that HairClub caters to individuals of all ages and lifestyles, including active professionals like himself. 

Maintaining a Hair System 

Hair systems, in Frankie’s experience, require similar maintenance to having natural hair. He uses shampoo and conditioner to keep it clean just like he would with his natural hair and goes into a HairClub Center every two weeks for a professional touch-up. This ease of maintenance allows Frankie to focus on his demanding career as a NASCAR driver without worrying about his hair and knowing it will look great every time he takes off his helmet post-race.

Empowering Resources
As the episode draws to a close, HairPod extends a generous offer of a complimentary hair loss consultation, providing a tangible step towards reclaiming confidence and control over one’s appearance. Book a free consultation with HairClub Today!

Thanks for listening to HairPod. We hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did, please leave us a rating or review wherever you get your podcasts. If you’d like to connect with us on social media to share your story, check us out on Instagram @HairClub. HairPod is a production of TSE Studios. Our theme music is from SoundStripe.

Episode.38 Transcript
Frankie Muniz [00:00:02]:
When I go to Hair Club, it's like a very relaxing, like, me time. You know what I mean? That hour that I'm in the chair, get my head massage, I get my hair cut, it feels good. So, like, I go once every two weeks to the center, and I probably get a new system once every two months. But, you know, obviously I want it to be as fresh as it can be, so they take really good care of me there, and that would be the only additional time.

Kevin Rolston [00:00:44]:
Welcome to HairPod, the podcast where you get to hear real people talk about their hair journeys. I'm your host, Kevin Rolston, and each week I get to interview people from different walks of life whose lives have been touched by hair loss in some form or fashion. Many of our guests have experienced hair loss themselves and found a way to get their confidence and their hair back. Today, we're thrilled to have a guest whose story highlights the importance of confidence both in front of the camera and behind the wheel. Last time he came on the show, he talked about his hair loss journey and the various solutions he tried before going with the hair system, which finally gave him the results he was after. This week, we're going to be digging a little bit deeper into how his hair loss impacted him as an actor and whether having a full head of hair really makes a difference on the racetrack. That's right. We've got another interview with Frankie Muniz.

Kevin Rolston [00:01:40]:
We recorded this episode a while ago, but its message is timeless. No matter what you do, confidence is key. We started the interview by talking about hair loss affected Frankie as an actor, not just in the terms of the kinds of roles that he would get, but also how he thought of himself as well.

Frankie Muniz [00:02:01]:
As a actor, as a, let's call it a leading man. If you think about it, there's not many lead actors in films or TV that are, like, balding, unless they're the awkward, funny, balding friend. You know what I mean? So I know that there were things that I had been up for they were really highly considering me for. And I ended up meeting with the producers, and I remember specifically one saying that they just thought that I looked a lot older than they thought I was going to. And I think it was because my hair was just really, really thin. It's one of those things as well. Like, I knew it was thinning, but when you live your life every day, like, you don't see it, like, go from having full hair to zero. Right? It's a gradual thing, and I think you really notice it now.

Frankie Muniz [00:02:49]:
Like, if I See any picture, Any. Even a film. Like, I was watching something the other day and one of my movies came on from something I filmed in maybe 2011, 2012. And I couldn't believe how bad my hair looked. And I say that because, like, I remember thinking when we filmed it that they did a really good job of filling it in and making it look good. I remember thinking, like, wow, they did so good on that movie. And I watched it and I was like, wow, I'm shocked. So you really notice it.

Frankie Muniz [00:03:20]:
I think now, because I'm used to this. I'm used to seeing a full head of hair. I'm used to having the confidence and all that. But as far as. Yeah, I mean, I wouldn't say that it didn't hurt me. I don't have specific examples, but I know how I feel if I'm filming something now or I'm on camera now. Compared to how I did those years where I was in that. In between, trying to figure out kind of a solution other than wearing a hat, you know?

Kevin Rolston [00:03:46]:
Yeah, right.

Frankie Muniz [00:03:47]:
Didn't work very good.

Kevin Rolston [00:03:49]:
What really surprised me about our last conversation was. And I've seen so many actors in Hollywood, John Travolta has clearly been doing some things when it comes to this, that I figured something like a hair club or hair systems would be prevalent throughout the industry. Because to your point, you don't really see leading men with any kind of hair issues whatsoever. It's like there's just a magical thing when it comes to Hollywood that there's no hair. So I thought it probably was something that was prevalent and everybody referred everybody else and you all knew about hair systems and we were the last to find out. But that doesn't seem to be the case.

Frankie Muniz [00:04:22]:
Here's the crazy thing. I went through all those other options or attempts at solutions because I didn't know that a hair system was an option. I really had no idea about it. And then even Hair Club, again, I'd heard of Hair Club, but I didn't really know what maybe Hair Club did. Like, I. I also maybe thought it was. Even though I was balding and thinning and all that, Like, I thought it was for older people. I didn't realize that they worked with people of all ages, kids, women, you know, just everyone they have solutions for.

Frankie Muniz [00:04:56]:
I didn't know that. So it really took me going in. And maybe that's my fault for not kind of looking into Hair Club a little more. Initially. I would kind of. I would talk to whoever I talked to, and they were like, oh, here's a solution. Oh, try this. Or I did this.

Frankie Muniz [00:05:09]:
Or I had a friend who had a hair transplant. He said, go to this doctor. They were so. And I just kind of was like, sure. I didn't really. I was maybe so desperate that I didn't do the research that I needed to do. And yeah, it was interesting.

Kevin Rolston [00:05:26]:
Frankie brings up an interesting notion here. The idea that you can be desperate for a solution but feel overwhelmed in the face of all the options that are out there. When we interviewed him before on episode 26, he talked about all the things he tried to get his hair back. So definitely check out our show notes for a link to that episode if you want to hear more of the specifics. When it came to hair systems, Frankie didn't know much about him before he started with Hair Club.

Frankie Muniz [00:05:59]:
I had seen some of these social media posts of systems being put on, but even that, I remember having so many questions of being like, well, a, where do they do that? How do they do that? How long does it last? Is it uncomfortable? Like, you know, a bunch of things I was like, I don't know, like, I live a very active lifestyle, especially with the racing now, right. I've got a helmet on, I'm sweating, it's 170 degrees in the car. I'm working out, you know, two, three hours a day. Like, I'm very, very hard on my hair. And I wasn't sure that if a system could keep up with me, if that makes sense. And absolutely one of the most eye opening things or, you know, I think I'm the perfect test subject or whatever you want to call it that. Like, it doesn't matter what you do for a living or how, you know, hard you are on your hair. Like I was in the ocean the whole last week on vacation and swimming.

Frankie Muniz [00:06:53]:
And you, like, you can literally do anything and everything with your hair system. And I think that was a question I have a lot of people actually ask me, like in person and they go, like, what can you not do with it? Like, how do you take care of it? And really, it's my hair. Like, I just do the same thing I normally would have done, right? I wash it the same way, I condition it the same way. I, I do whatever I wanted I want to do and I don't let it hold me back at all. And it doesn't hold me back at all.

Kevin Rolston [00:07:20]:
You come out of the ocean, do you towel dry it? How do you dry it when it's been wet and you've been active? What do you do for that?

Frankie Muniz [00:07:26]:
I just dry it normal. I don't know. I don't have any restrictions or think like, oh, I've got to be careful. I've got to do this. I've got to do that. Like, it's. It's my hair. And, you know, I think that's a testament to everyone at Hair Club, right? They have a lot of different options when it comes to adhesives or ways that they apply it or systems.

Frankie Muniz [00:07:47]:
So, you know, there's full lace systems, there's skin systems, there's these hybrid systems. So I have some hybrid systems, which is skin in the front, lace in the back, so it helps breathe a little more with my helmet.

Kevin Rolston [00:07:57]:
Oh, wow.

Frankie Muniz [00:07:58]:
And we've, you know, that's one thing with Hair Club is they'll work with you to try to figure out what solution will work the best for you. And I think we found that now to where, you know, there's a little period of trial and error of, like, what works better with your skin and all that kind of stuff. And once we figure that we've got our system down and. And I have full confidence that I never have to worry about it at all.

Kevin Rolston [00:08:21]:
So you'll be in a race car which is 30 degrees plus hotter than it is even outside. You're sweating, you're hot, you take your helmet off. There's never even a concern when you're in front of people saying, okay, is my hair still on or did it come off in the helmet?

Frankie Muniz [00:08:35]:
Never a concern. Never a concern. You know, initially, I won't lie, like, yeah, I was like, is it going to. What's it going to do? Like, yeah. Do I need to hide when I take my helmet off? No. That was just kind of the. Me getting kind of over that fear as someone who just didn't know, you know what I mean? And. But no, I have no fear that that's going to be an issue at all.

Frankie Muniz [00:08:55]:
And the cool thing, though, as well is with Hair Club, and I don't want to sound like I'm just, like, pushing it, but, like, I travel all around the country. Hair Club has locations throughout the country. You know what I mean? So I. I've gone into places. I'm in racing in Daytona. I went into Orlando and got a new system put on right before the race. So.

Kevin Rolston [00:09:15]:
Wow.

Frankie Muniz [00:09:15]:
Okay. That's been a really great aspect of being a Hair Club member for me is it's not just where I live. You know, I'm on the road all the time, and I've been able to go to a bunch of different locations throughout the country, and everyone's been awesome to help me out.

Kevin Rolston [00:09:30]:
And then they take your hair system and they give you the exact style that you want. They blend it in perfectly. And you can do that anywhere, anytime, wherever you might travel.

Frankie Muniz [00:09:40]:
Yeah. And I've started wanting to play around with it a little too. That's the fun thing too, is I can. You can kind of do whatever you want, right? You can, yeah. You can have it long. You can change the color. You can kind of do more fun, experimental things. And it's not as permanent, if that makes sense.

Kevin Rolston [00:10:01]:
It's amazing to see how things change from Frankie's hair being the source of his insecurities to now that he's at a point where with his hair system, he wants to change up his look and even experiment with it. It takes courage to come back from a place of insecurity. And for Frankie, a hair system was the boost he needed to get there. I wanted to know whether his hair system has the same impact on the track because it takes a lot of determination, confidence and attitude to drive one of those stock cars across the finish line and really go for the.

Frankie Muniz [00:10:39]:
I actually started racing in 2004, 2005. I was still doing Malcolm, but I got to do the pro celebrity race that they put on at the Long Beach Grand Prix for years, and I ended up winning that. And that feeling of crossing the finish line first was like, truly magical. And like, once you've experienced that, like, you want that feeling all the time. Right. So as a competitive person, but even then, I didn't know, like, how do you become a professional race car driver? I didn't realize that most people start racing when they're 5, 6, 7 years old in carts and kind of work their way up. And, you know, by time they're 16, 17, 18. They've already been racing for 10, 12 years and have tons of experience.

Frankie Muniz [00:11:19]:
I started at 18, 19, so I was already old, you know, as far as that age.

Kevin Rolston [00:11:24]:
Yeah. For that profession. Yeah.

Frankie Muniz [00:11:26]:
And. But I kind of got thrown off the deep end. I got approached by a pro team after I won that pro celebrity race, and they offered me a test just for fun. And it ended up that I was really, really fast. And they signed me to a two year development deal. And, like, my next race was like, a month later, I was racing in the Formula BMW championship against current Formula One drivers. Daniel Ricardo, Sebastian Vettel, you know, IndyCar drivers, Joseph Newgarden, you know, so I really kind of Threw myself off the deep end. But I've always kind of felt if you wanted to do something like, sure, you have to have the natural ability, you have to have the talent.

Frankie Muniz [00:12:03]:
But if you want to be the best, you've got to compete against the best. But you have to feel racing is so mental. There's so much mental preparation that goes into it. And like most sports, right, if you're a basketball player and you feel like you can't shoot the ball, you're probably not going to make it. You know what I mean?

Kevin Rolston [00:12:19]:
Yeah, yeah. You get a mental block, right?

Frankie Muniz [00:12:21]:
Yeah. And do it. So I've kind of always done that. When I went in 2009, I got pretty badly hurt and that kind of stopped my racing career for a while as I was healing. So I didn't race anything from 2009 until 2021, 22. And my first pro season back was last season in the Arkham Menard series. But I decided let me go NASCAR racing. Completely different world from what I raced before.

Frankie Muniz [00:12:44]:
I race open wheel cars, like Indy cars. It's like saying Olympic diving and Olympic swimming are the same sport. They're not two different athletes, two different disciplines. Like, sure, it's racing, but just the way you have to do it, just different. You know, going back into it after such a long period off, I also was now like the oldest guy in the series, you know, old man. I was racing with 16, 17, 18 year olds. As a 38 year old, their parents would come up to me and be like, oh, I grew up watching you. We're the same age.

Frankie Muniz [00:13:14]:
Or you're older than me. I'm like, how am I older than the parents of the kids that I'm racing? You know what I mean? So going back to what you were saying about like confidence, I didn't want to like show up and feel like the old man, you know what I mean? I didn't want to feel like the old guy, you know, having hair and the confidence to like take my helmet off or take my hat off and know that it's going to look good. Like it means so much more than you can imagine. Like as I hate, I don't know, like I don't think that people would understand like that the confidence that I have for my hair helps me in and out of the race car. Like it just does. It's a weird, it's hard to explain.

Kevin Rolston [00:13:50]:
Well, you talk about mental blocks and look, it is something that when you're self conscious about your hair, it is just something that it's like a thorn in the back of your brain that it's, it's always there and it's when you can remove that thorn, it just allows you to think freely and clearly and with the confidence of being the best version of yourself.

Frankie Muniz [00:14:08]:
Here's an interesting tidbit that maybe not a lot of people know and I don't know if they'll even want me to say this. So Hair Club recently just did their an infomercial new infomercial and they had my wife and I kind of hosting the infomercial. And I came up with the idea of for three months removing my hair system, letting my hair grow it back in so we can get like a proper before and after, right? Like a problem like this is actually what my hair looks like and this is the after. Because you know, before I was really a part like an ambassador, like someone who publicly spoke about Hairclub. I was a hair club member. So we weren't really getting those photos. We weren't really trying to, you know, tell the story as much as we want to Now. I cannot tell you how painful those three months were because it'll be that bad.

Frankie Muniz [00:15:00]:
It's not that bad. I couldn't believe it. I was in absolute shock and I truly feel like it did affect my confidence so much even from. That's why I say like working out because like I'd be in the gym like working out like training like crazy. I look in the mirror and I just felt like defeated because how thin my hair was. So like getting the system put back on for the infomercial and getting to, you know, have the true before and after. It was almost as if I did it for the first time again. You know what I mean? It was truly eye opening of again of saying like, wow, this changes the way I feel as a human.

Frankie Muniz [00:15:35]:
And I hope if anyone is out there that feels self conscious or feels or finds themselves looking in the mirror, I'm telling you it's worth it, it's worth the time, it's worth the go in for the free consultation. Just go in for that. If you don't like it, you can stop. You go immediately back to where you were, that's fine. But I'm telling you it's going to change your life because it definitely changed mine. And I know people who I've sent there and now they come up to me like, dude, thank you so much. Like I know exactly what you're talking about because just game changer.

Kevin Rolston [00:16:08]:
What is the maintenance like for having a hair system and how does that differ from having real human hair? How much more times it takes, you know, you look at what you're doing, you're a busy professional, you're a dad, you are a husband, you've got a lot of things going on in your life. Does it take a lot of time to have your hair look as good as it does?

Frankie Muniz [00:16:26]:
No. I mean, I would say the only time that's added is the times that I go to hair club, but I almost consider it, like, women go to a spa or, I don't know, they get their nails done. Whatever it is, when I go to hair club, it's like a very relaxing, like, me time. You should be that hour that I'm in the chair, get my head massage, I get my hair cut, it feels good. So, like, I go, but I wouldn't say fairly often. I go once every two weeks to the center, and I probably get a new system once every two months. But, you know, obviously I want it to be as fresh as it can be. So they take really good care of me there.

Frankie Muniz [00:17:06]:
And so I go in once every two weeks. That would be the only additional time. But that small time investment, that hour, okay, with travel, you know, I mean, driving there the two hours every two weeks that it takes me to kind of make sure that my system is, is the way it needs to be, is worth the way I feel every other moment during those days, during those weeks. So I don't think it's a huge time commitment. You know, I know hair club offers different kind of levels of how often people come in. Some people come in twice a week, once a week. You know, like, you can come in once a month. It really kind of depends on what you're looking for and all that.

Frankie Muniz [00:17:41]:
But I would say that I don't need to go in as often as I do. It's not that I go in because I have to. It's the truth is, like, as a hair club spokesperson, like, you know, I. I want to make sure it's the best it can possibly be at all times. Just because, you know, I think people are looking more than if I wasn't.

Kevin Rolston [00:17:58]:
So where are you going? Because you are a dancer, a drummer, a driver, an actor. Where are your next projects going to be? Taking Frankie Muniz.

Frankie Muniz [00:18:10]:
Yeah, I mean, I will say that it. I've lived a very full life. That's the way I like it. I like to feel like I'm not wasting any time, you know, Granted, I found myself for the first time in a while realizing that maybe I'm trying to do too much at once. Right. If you want to be really successful as a race car driver and you're competing against the top race car drivers in the world, well, they're just focused on being the best race car driver in the world. Same with being an actor, same with being an entrepreneur. Whatever it may be.

Frankie Muniz [00:18:39]:
If you want to be successful, you really got to put in the time to make those things work. So right now, my focus is the racing. I'm only racing part time this year. I've got a few more races left for the season, but then I've already got my deal signed for next year. I'll be full time next year again. So it'll be very, very busy as a race car driver. That said, in the off season, I know that there's some acting stuff and some entertainment stuff planned, but, you know, it won't hinder my racing career at all. And that's kind of how I'm trying to make decisions.

Frankie Muniz [00:19:10]:
I mean, even actually this morning, before I got on this call, I got a call from my manager. I got offered a movie. It's filming September through October. The movie is really funny. I would love to do it, but it doesn't. It's going to put a lot of stress and strain on me, my family and the racing and, you know, I don't want to let down everybody else. Right. There's a lot of people involved in my life, in my career.

Frankie Muniz [00:19:33]:
You know, I want to do the best job I can in whatever it is I'm doing and not, you know, just kind of do it halfway.

Kevin Rolston [00:19:44]:
We over here at AirPod just want to say thanks to Frankie for coming on the show and sharing this powerful message that when you feel confident, it becomes so much easier to live your life the way you want to live it. And Frankie has that confidence recently, making the bold move to say, you know what? I'm going all in stock car racing is what I'm going to do now. He's not totally abandoned acting. He may get back to it, but it's a bold choice to walk away from something that has been your entire life. And now Frankie's living a new life in a new place. It's the same kind of confidence we would all love to have to be bold in our decisions, to take chances and not be afraid to try on new things. Don't forget to check out episode 26 with Frankie if you want to hear more about how his hair journey went before he found his hair system and how he figured out it was the right option for him. For more inspirational stories and words of wisdom from people who've been through hair loss, make sure to subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast app.

Kevin Rolston [00:20:44]:
Thanks for listening to another episode of Hairpod. Check us out at Hairclub on Instagram or search HairPod on Facebook to continue the conversation. If you know someone who could benefit from hearing this episode, we would love it if you would share it with us them. If you're enjoying the show, consider leaving us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app. We also have a website. Check it out by going to podcast.hairclub.com.

Kevin Rolston [00:21:09]:
We'Re here to build people up and.

Kevin Rolston [00:21:11]:
To share real stories so people experiencing hair loss feel a little bit less alone. And when you share, review and subscribe, it helps us do just that. So thank you. Until next time.

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Halloween Tips on Styling a Hair System

Halloween Tips on Styling a Hair System

Episode 36

Halloween Tips on Styling a Hair System

Halloween Tips on Styling a Hair System Dan Medeiros

In this episode of HairPod,  I sat down with Dan Medeiros to talk about how he styles his costume wigs for comic cons. Dan has been doing comic cons for years, and he has used both costume wigs and his hair system to put together his amazing, professional-looking costumes. Whether you’re getting ready for Halloween or you’re just curious about buying a costume wig for fun, check out the episode!

Styling Costume Wigs

Synthetic costume wigs are an option for people who want to dress up or change their look temporarily but don’t want to spend a lot of money. They don’t look or move exactly like real hair, but they can be styled to fit your costume needs (to a certain extent). One important thing Dan shares is NEVER to use heat tools on a synthetic wig – because the hairs are made from thin plastic fibers, heat tools will melt the hairs together. Instead, look for a wig that is already close to the shape and texture you want, then put it on a dummy head and style with a combination of pins so you can shape it and hairspray for hold.

Human Hair vs. Costume Wigs

Human hair wigs have a more realistic look than costume wigs, but they tend to cost quite a bit. Rather than investing in human hair wigs, Dan opts to make use of his hair system in many of his costumes. He has a few different lengths of hair systems, which can be switched out to match which costume he plans to wear. When he does wear costume wigs, he will often wear them over the hair system (so that when he removes the wig, he doesn’t have to reapply the system). Even though it gets quite hot under a synthetic wig, his hair system never moves or gets dislodged.

Hair System Maintenance

Hair systems may seem complex or time consuming, but that has not been Dan’s experience. He works with HairClub to determine a maintenance schedule that works for him, as he stays very busy. For Dan, stopping by a HairClub center weekly helps him achieve the look and results he wants. In between appointments, he cares for and styles his hair system just like anyone would do with their regular hair, which helps him save time during the week.

Empowering Resources
As the episode draws to a close, HairPod extends a generous offer of a complimentary hair loss consultation, providing a tangible step towards reclaiming confidence and control over one’s appearance. Book a Free consultation with HairClub Today!

Thanks for listening to HairPod. We hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did, please leave us a rating or review wherever you get your podcasts. If you’d like to connect with us on social media to share your story, check us out on Instagram @HairClub. HairPod is a production of TSE Studios. Our theme music is from SoundStripe.

Episode.36 Transcript
Dan Medeiros [00:00:02]:
And that's another thing I love about HairClub and the systems is that it's so easy to manage. You know, the taking it on and off and putting, you know, dealing with that stuff that's, you know, that comes with time. Just like anything. I wasn't able to do that myself. You learn it, but everything else, it's so simple. And HairClub takes care of you. The maintenance is simple. It's just like your own hair.

Dan Medeiros [00:00:22]:
You just, you manage it, you style it. You don't have to worry about light shining through. You don't have to worry about losing it. It's always there.

Kevin Rolston [00:00:45]:
Welcome to HairPod, the podcast where you get to hear real people talk about their hair journeys. I'm your host, Kevin Rolston, and each week I get to interview people from different walks of life whose lives have been touched by hair loss in some form or fashion. Many of our guests have experienced hair loss themselves and found a way to get their confidence and their hair back. This week, we're welcoming friend of the pod, Dan Medeiros, back to the show. He's come on the HairPod before to talk about the vicious cycle of his anxiety and his hair loss when he was younger and how he found a way to get his hair back. These days, Dan spends a lot of time in the public eye. He's a performer, actor, model, and professional rock star. But in what little free time he has, he cosplays a variety of characters at comic Cons.

Kevin Rolston [00:01:36]:
And for anyone who doesn't know what cosplay is, it's not too different from dressing up as your favorite TV or video game character on Halloween. Cosplayers can have incredibly intricate costumes that are totally custom made from head to toe. For today's episode, we're going to focus on how Dan styles the wigs he uses for his costumes and how his costume wigs affect his hair system. Now, tell me about this, because I.

Kevin Rolston [00:02:06]:
Am a novice when it comes to wigs. To me, I've always just thought when you get a wig, the way the wig looks is what you're going to get.

Kevin Rolston [00:02:14]:
But you can actually get wigs and.

Kevin Rolston [00:02:15]:
You can style them yourself.

Dan Medeiros [00:02:18]:
Yeah. And I mean, to an extent there, some of them are a lot harder than others because, I mean, a lot of the wigs, you know, they're not real hair, so you have to, like, really, really work with them and kind of force them into learning the direction you want it to go. So, like, for this past weekend, we went to Galaxy Con, which is part of Animate Iowa. So it's like half anime comic con and then horror movie comic con thing. So I did, I had to wear a wig for Nandor from the show. What we do in the shadows. I don't know if you watch that show.

Kevin Rolston [00:02:51]:
Okay, that's cool.

Dan Medeiros [00:02:52]:
Yeah, my wife and I did Nandor and Nadja. The full blown makeup accents everything. It was wonderful. So we go all out and you know, the wig, it was something I just got off Amazon, but it was like the length I was looking for. The, you know, the, it was close enough to the texture and cheap enough. So, you know, just kind of attaching it to like one of those foam heads and, and then just really going to it with the brush. You know, if you have to pin things back to kind of get it again to take that shape so you can really mold them and do what you want with them. I mean, I'm no hairstylist expert.

Dan Medeiros [00:03:28]:
I've got friends who are hairstylists and do cosplay and stuff like that. So they're, they're really good at working with wigs and. But yeah, there's so much you can do with it. And it's kind of funny, you know, just managing my own hair and then I'm wearing a wig on top of that. So it's, it's, you know, it can be a lot of hot under there, but it's worth, it's worth it when the costume comes together.

Kevin Rolston [00:03:51]:
So tell me, for somebody that might be looking for a wig for either cosplay for one of the comic cons or just even for Halloween, what are you looking to order? Where would you go to order it? Are there materials that the hair is made out of? The wigs are made out of that that you might want to look for. And then can you apply heat to any of these wigs? How does this work from your experience? What have you seen done?

Dan Medeiros [00:04:14]:
Yeah, and I mean, again, most of them you'll get aren't going to be real hair. They're artificial. And I mean, you can spend really good money and you can even get ones that are really close to human hair. I know a lot of them use like, you know, whether it's horse hair or whatever I've seen. But I tend to stick with what you can get in a lot of the costume stores. But you can get the stuff off Amazon as said. And no, you do do not want to apply heat to them like normal hair because they will melt the hair. The hair, the hair will fuse together and it will look awful.

Dan Medeiros [00:04:50]:
So you have to be kind of careful on how you, how you style it. So you have to do it. You got to do it dry, essentially. And then it's just forcing it into place. If you have to use pins, clips, you know, whatever it takes, that's how you get it to stay. And then you can throw in, you know, throw it. If you throw in good enough, strong enough hairspray and you've got it in that position, it can kind of lock it in. There's so many different little hacks you can find.

Dan Medeiros [00:05:14]:
I do kind of what everyone else does. I just go on YouTube and see what other people do and then take the best tips and which ones work.

Kevin Rolston [00:05:23]:
Now if I'm going for, let's say I want to put together a good costume, there's a costume contest or some money in it. It's pretty decent. What am I looking for to spend to get that kind of wig that is going to make a costume look good?

Dan Medeiros [00:05:36]:
Oh, you're probably going to. You'll want to go with the more realistic ones. So, I mean, and they range anywhere between 30 bucks up to, you know, 150, 200 bucks. You can get ones that are even more expensive than that. And if you want really authentic, real looking ones, you're going to spend a lot of money on them. So for the most part, I try to do characters that I can use with just the hair I've got going, you know, if I have to customize it, that's the nice thing with Hair Club, I'm able to customize my hair. So if I need something that's longer or shorter, I can just switch out. So I, you know, I have, I can switch to a shorter if I want if I need to.

Dan Medeiros [00:06:13]:
During the, during the colder months, I like to have it longer. During the warmer months, you know, I really like to have this buzz down and keep this shorter just so I. Especially performing, I don't like having hair in my face, in my eyes, and it's that extra sweat. I'm doing a lot of outside performing and it's awful when I can't see while I'm trying to sing. I don't want to fall off the stage.

Kevin Rolston [00:06:36]:
That's never good.

Dan Medeiros [00:06:37]:
No, no, no. So seeing where you're going is very important. So definitely think about that.

Kevin Rolston [00:06:47]:
One of the cool things about Dan is that he doesn't just use synthetic wigs for his costumes. He finds ways to incorporate his own hair system into his looks as well. As Dan mentioned, cosplay wigs can be made from a Lot of different types of materials, and the more realistic they look, the more they cost. Most people aren't going to buy a real human hair wig for a costume because they're just too expensive, but they deliver the most realistic look. So Dan uses his hair system when he can, even as a couple of different systems that allow him to create costumes with slightly varying hair lengths. Now, if you're a first time listener or you haven't heard of a hair system before, systems like Dan's are made from human hair and adhere to the scalp so they won't move around. Dan gets his hair system from Hair Club, where he talks to a stylist about his unique situation and then they tailor his program to fit his needs.

Dan Medeiros [00:07:48]:
It really depends on your plan and how often you come in. And I mean, the hair Club, the centers are always fantastic at working with you on, you know, what you need. You know, so if while I'm not performing or needing to be, you know, dressed up as Superman or whatever I'm doing that day, whoever I need to be that day, you know, I do like to have my hair like this on my own, but when I switch to Superman, you know, I like to go shorter. So I go in weekly for appointments. My system's usually every month, month and a bit, but that's just what my plan's on. So I always keep one like a backup at home. If I'm not wearing shorter hair, I'm wearing longer hair. But I like to be able to go back and forth, so.

Dan Medeiros [00:08:31]:
And I'm really good at doing stuff at home too. So if I need to on the fly, either just myself or my wife and myself were really good at taking off and reapplying and doing all the, all the custom work. And I learned a lot during 2020 when we couldn't go anywhere.

Kevin Rolston [00:08:46]:
Oh, right.

Dan Medeiros [00:08:46]:
So I had to do a lot of diy, a lot of learning to do things from home. I didn't have just the ability to just go to the center and have my stylist help me. It was all right, let's figure this out and never have to stress about this again.

Kevin Rolston [00:09:00]:
So now, do you almost have a seasonal schedule for your hair systems? It sounds like you have this time of the year. I have it long this time of year. It's. We're going short because Superman.

Dan Medeiros [00:09:11]:
Yeah. So like, I'm also a singer in the band and, you know, I need to have my goatee, but I like to have my beard. But when I do Superman, I have to shave my beard. So Literally, my hair and my facial hair have to change throughout the year based on what I'm doing or if I'm like doing, like I'm acting or doing a modeling gig. Well, we don't want a beard for this. We want longer hair. We want shorter hair. And I feel like my entire life is dictated on my hair and my hair on the head and the face regions.

Kevin Rolston [00:09:39]:
Right, right.

Dan Medeiros [00:09:40]:
It's exhausting, but it's fun and I like that I can do that. That's the amazing thing. You know, I'm not stuck with what little I had.

Kevin Rolston [00:09:49]:
Yeah.

Dan Medeiros [00:09:49]:
So it's for every single day. I'm so grateful that I am able to do this. I'm able to look the way I'm supposed to look. I'm able to look in the mirror. I'm able to talk to you right now, see myself in the corner of my screen and go, that's how I'm supposed to look.

Kevin Rolston [00:10:03]:
So I'm hearing somebody who is a musician, an actor into cosplay, always doing dress up. And let's just say I'm one of these people that that's not my world. And to me, I'm very busy. I don't have a lot of time. Everything you're talking about sounds like a time suck, and it sounds like it's very involved. And now I'm not so sure that this is for me. Tell me a little bit about your hair systems and how much time it takes. And if you're a business professional and you have kids and a busy lifestyle, are you telling them that you're just not going to have time for a hair system? What is the maintenance like on this?

Dan Medeiros [00:10:43]:
Oh, gosh, it's the complete opposite. And that's what another thing I love about Hair Club and the systems is that it's so easy to manage. And it may, you know, the taking it on and off and putting, you know, dealing with that stuff that's, you know, that comes with time just like anything. I wasn't able to do that myself. You learn it, but everything else, it's so simple. And Hair Club takes care of you. The maintenance is simple. It's just like your own hair.

Dan Medeiros [00:11:07]:
You just. You manage it, you style it. You don't have to worry about light shining through. You don't have to worry about losing it. It's always there. It's just, it's. I don't have time for a lot of maintenance because I am on the go so much. I need to be able to depend on waking up and going all right, my hair looks great because I got to go to work right now, and then after I get home from work, I go, go do this, and I got to go do that.

Dan Medeiros [00:11:34]:
I don't have time to stress over my hair, stress over how I look to look in the mirror and go, oh, I don't know if I can go out there today because I don't look right. I don't have that problem, and I don't have time for that problem. So low maintenance and just ease is my favorite thing. And that's what I love about hair club. And if you have any questions, any concerns, they will get you, and they will work with you, and they will make sure that it's as stress free as possible. And I need that. I've got enough stress and anxiety in my life. So the hair club, by knowing that they're always there to back me up.

Dan Medeiros [00:12:10]:
It's huge. Huge.

Kevin Rolston [00:12:17]:
I think this is the bottom line for all of our guests who have found a hair solution. They look in the mirror and they see themselves the way they feel they're supposed to look. I think it's easy to underestimate the impact of feeling awkward when you catch a glimpse of yourself in a store window or see a picture of yourself from a family gathering. A lot of people are going to.

Kevin Rolston [00:12:35]:
Brush off these little moments of discomfort.

Kevin Rolston [00:12:38]:
Rather than listen to their gut feeling that it's time to take action. And it's only when they finally take that step that they realize what they've been missing out on all along. Just like Dan, I'm a busy person, got a crazy job, a family, and I'm always on the go. I don't have time to fuss with my hair to try to get it to look the way I want, knowing I'm going to be confident when I get up every single morning and face the world, it makes all the difference. Dan's a busy guy, too. It's not uncommon for him to go from a Comic Con to another event. So I asked him if he ever wears his hair system underneath his. His wig just for the sake of convenience and if that ever leads to any issues.

Dan Medeiros [00:13:22]:
I have yet to run into any issue other than it being a little hot under there. But, no, I love it. I don't mind it. And honestly, sometimes if I don't have my hair on, I'll just. I'll just adhere the actual wig itself on top of, you know, just like I would any other hair. I've done that too. But when I. When I, you know, when I need to take it off and actually do something afterwards.

Dan Medeiros [00:13:44]:
It's much easier to just take off the wig and be like, all right, good to go.

Kevin Rolston [00:13:47]:
Yeah.

Dan Medeiros [00:13:48]:
So, like, then that's what I did this weekend. And yeah, it wasn't. It was not a problem at all, actually. What I did is because I had the longer hair, I actually just used clips and I clipped it back, so it was kind of slipped back, clipped down, and then I was able to just take the wig, place it over top, and easy peasy. I didn't even have to think about it. And as you said with, like, wearing my hair, I forget that I'm actually wearing hair because, again, it's like. It's like a second skin and it's. The hair is that you just forget that you are.

Dan Medeiros [00:14:19]:
So I'm never worrying about, you know, the excessive heat from wearing two things. I don't feel that. If anything, I just feel it a little bit extra weight because I'm wearing an extra hair on top of my.

Kevin Rolston [00:14:29]:
Head now to paint a more vivid picture for people that are trying to understand what it's like. Because you talk about you go to shorter, Superman type hair, and then you've got, you know, hair that you're going to be wearing that's a little bit longer. What does that look like? And are you stuck in certain styles? Do you have to pick out a style of longer hair or is the hair long? And then you pick the style and your hairdresser then puts it into that style.

Dan Medeiros [00:14:54]:
Yeah, all of my hairs that come in, they're usually roughly around 6 to 7 inches, usually around there in length. And then I can just dictate where I'm going from there. So as I said, during the colder months, and I want it longer, I'm just like, all right, you know, start off well, maybe cut it down to about 6 inches or 5 inches, and then kind of work away from there. And then every time I come in, I'm like, all right, let's just clean up the ends a bit more, make it a bit shorter or. And then when it comes down, I'm like, oh, I got to do Superman this weekend. So actually, let's cut it down even shorter and I'll get that Superman cut, and then I'll. I'll hang with that for a while. But I do like to keep backups at home.

Dan Medeiros [00:15:32]:
So if I. If I know if I have a shorter one, then what I'll do is when I go in for that appointment and I'm, you know, putting it back on Again, I just. I bring my shorter one and I have them put that on instead.

Kevin Rolston [00:15:46]:
The craziest thing about this isn't that Dan has this sort of magic wand. He can wave and change how his hair looks. It's how completely natural his hair system looks. When I interview our guests, I get to see them and their hair. Dan showed me his system close up, and I could not even tell where it ended and his natural hair began. It's a perfect match with his natural hair, and it's so breathable that he sometimes forgets he's even wearing it. It made me curious how his system holds up when he's performing on stage. And if it's the last thing that's on his mind.

Dan Medeiros [00:16:24]:
It'S 100%. I never even think about it. And trust me, I'm up there, like, running, jumping around. I'm a lead singer, guys, so I'm hopping up on stage, I sweating like crazy. And yeah, not once I've had my. I had professional photographers taking photos. So I see all the photos after the show and some really cool ones where my hair is quite literally doing a sweaty, wet, like, flip. And you can see the beads of sweat coming off of it.

Dan Medeiros [00:16:52]:
And it's just so people.

Kevin Rolston [00:16:53]:
So people understand you. You have sweat through your system. So it breathes enough that the sweat has left your own scalp. It's gone through the fibers that they have there. It's now into the hair, and that hair in your system is drenched with your own sweat. That's amazing.

Dan Medeiros [00:17:10]:
Yeah, that's amazing. It's absolutely incredible. Like, you know, things have changed with the technology so much since even when I first started back in 2010, you know, we were. I was wearing a dirt, an old technology, which is more of a lace. And then we used the strips of tape and stuff like that with. Now it's like this. As I said, it's so thin. It's like the second skin, but it's so durable and it.

Dan Medeiros [00:17:34]:
It just adheres completely to your head and then you just forget it's there.

Kevin Rolston [00:17:40]:
Yeah. Cause I would imagine if you had an old school toupee, what would happen if you were on stage?

Dan Medeiros [00:17:45]:
Oh, you've seen them in the movies and shows where it just goes flying. Lands on somebody's like, soup or something, right?

Kevin Rolston [00:17:51]:
It does.

Kevin Rolston [00:17:52]:
That's always the joke.

Kevin Rolston [00:17:53]:
But you would have a plastic film that the baby doll hair would be woven into, not even real human hair. And then you would be sweating, not through it, so the side of your hair would be wet. And then the top part would be dry because the sweat can't permeate through what they used to make those toupees out of. And it's a different feel now.

Dan Medeiros [00:18:13]:
Yeah. And that's why you can, like you see in the commercials, in the infomercials, you coming out of the pool, you're swimming, it's.

Kevin Rolston [00:18:19]:
Yeah, I love that too.

Dan Medeiros [00:18:20]:
I can go swimming and I don't have to worry about any of that. I say I went, you know, I was, the first time I went on an all inclusive vacation to Cancun, I was like, okay, all right. I'm in a whole other country. I've got, you know, I hope this is going to be all right. And honestly, it was fine. I was there for a week. I'm in the sun and the pool all day, every single day and in the heat and it wasn't a single issue. Did my own little touch ups as I needed.

Dan Medeiros [00:18:47]:
But when I went out for dinner and disco dancing afterwards, it was a good time.

Kevin Rolston [00:18:54]:
Yeah, I will tell people too. I always, when I had a full head hair, even as a kid I had thin, fine hair that was impossible to style. And now that I have a hair system, I actually have better hair now with the system than if I had, if I could choose, would you want to go back and have all your original hair or have the system? My hair looks better with the hair system than it did when I had my own natural hair, so.

Dan Medeiros [00:19:18]:
Exactly. And that's what you can do. You can have that. You don't have to, you know, you don't have to be that. You can actually look the way you should be the way you want to be.

Kevin Rolston [00:19:31]:
I want to thank Dan for coming.

Kevin Rolston [00:19:33]:
On the show once again. He's always got great advice for everyone who is looking to learn about hair loss and how they can come back from it. Whether you're getting ready to style your first costume wig or you're wondering how you can find a hair solution that matches your lifestyle, we got you covered here on the hairpod. Don't forget to check out our show notes if you want to hear more from Dan about his hair loss journey. And for more inspirational stories and words of wisdom from people who have actually been through hair loss, make sure to subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast app. Thanks for listening to another episode of hairpod. Check us out at Hair Club on Instagram or search HairPod on Facebook to continue the conversation. If you know someone who could benefit from hearing this episode, we would love it if you would share with them.

Kevin Rolston [00:20:20]:
If you're enjoying the show, consider leaving us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app. We also have a website. Check it out by going to podcast.hairclub.com we're here to build people up and share real stories so people experiencing hair loss feel a little bit less alone. And when you share, review and subscribe, it helps us do just that. So thank you until next time.

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Racing Through My Hair Loss Journey: Joey Logano

Racing Through My Hair Loss Journey: Joey Logano

Episode 35

Racing Through My Hair Loss Journey: Joey Logano

Racing Through My Hair Loss Journey: Joey Logano
Is there anything holding you back from the win? Joey Logano is back on HairPod to talk about the life of a NASCAR driver. Joey speaks about his career, the competitive world of NASCAR, and how he continues to race with the same passion and determination that has made him one of the sport’s biggest names. We also dig into his experience with hair loss, and how the other drivers reacted to his decision to start using a hair system.

NASCAR: Behind the Scenes

While most professional athletes may experience some ribbing or joking behind the scenes, NASCAR is a little bit different. Most teams see the same rival team once every few months, but during racing season, competing drivers see each other week after week. Conflicts do arise occasionally, but for the most part, Joey says the best thing to do have an awareness of those situations and avoid them when you can.

Hair Loss As a Pro Driver

Joey Logano has a hair system, and he has never been shy about letting people know that he deals with a condition called alopecia areata. He is also open about working with HairClub, and due to the stigma that surrounds hair loss and hair systems, one may think he has caught some flak from his competitors or even his own team. This has not been the case – if anything, other drivers have wanted to know how Joey solved his hair loss because they deal with similar issues.

Hair Systems and Finding Confidence

Joey has found that the best way to deal with detractors has been to embrace his situation. He feels most comfortable being completely open about his hair system and hair loss, even poking fun at his situation at times. While this may not be the way everyone handles their hair thinning or loss, it’s important to consider that even someone as transparent about hair loss as Joey does not experience many negative reactions. People are generally supportive, and in general, his hair system doesn’t come up in conversation at this point.

Long-term Hair System Use

Before making the decision to endorse HairClub as a product, Joey wanted to test it out. It was important to him to find out if it was something he could actually use and live with in the long term. He has found that having a hair system has been a great option for him in terms of how easy it is to care for and how well it stands up to the fast-paced lifestyle of a NASCAR driver.

Empowering Resources
As the episode draws to a close, HairPod extends a generous offer of a complimentary hair loss consultation, providing a tangible step towards reclaiming confidence and control over one’s appearance. Book a Free consultation with HairClub Today!

Thanks for listening to HairPod. We hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did, please leave us a rating or review wherever you get your podcasts. If you’d like to connect with us on social media to share your story, check us out on Instagram @HairClub. HairPod is a production of TSE Studios. Our theme music is from SoundStripe.

Episode.35 Transcript

Joey Logano [00:00:02]:
But I still enjoy going to the racetrack. I enjoy winning. So I know I got a handful of years at least left in me, and I think depends also just how life is. But if I can’t compete for wins, that’s probably going to be the sign for me to say I’m not going to just go to make laps and go around in circles. I enjoy racing, don’t get me wrong, but I do it to win. I don’t do it for fun. I don’t do it to race. I do it to win.

Joey Logano [00:00:25]:
And so I I’m still competitive. I still can win races. I’m going to continue doing it.

Kevin Rolston [00:00:42]:
Welcome to Hairpod, the podcast where we get to hear real people talk about their hair journeys.

Kevin Rolston [00:00:48]:
I’m your host, Kevin Rolston, and each.

Kevin Rolston [00:00:50]:
Week I get to interview people from different walks of life whose lives have been touched by hair loss in some form or fashion. Many of our guests have experienced hair loss themselves and found a way to get their confidence and their hair back. If you’re a NASCAR fan or a HairPod fan, you already know the name Joey Logano. Joey is a NASCAR champion who isn’t afraid to tell his hair story. He’s been on the podcast a couple of times already to talk in depth about his journey with an autoimmune condition called alopecia areata. With alopecia areata, the immune system mistakes a person’s own hair follicles as a threat and attacks them, causing hair loss that happens in round patches. If you look at Joey now, you’d never know that he has this condition.

Kevin Rolston [00:01:37]:
He’s got what appears to be a full head of hair, whether he’s in front of the press, smiling for a photo op, or just getting out of his stock car. I’m glad we got to talk to Joey again because I wanted to find out what it’s like having a hair loss condition and living that fast paced lifestyle of a NASCAR champ.

Kevin Rolston [00:01:59]:
Here we are again with Joey Logano to talk about NASCAR and hair. What an interesting combination and how we weave these two things together. What’s going on, Joey?

Joey Logano [00:02:09]:
I see what you did there. It’s pretty. It’s going well. How you doing?

Kevin Rolston [00:02:14]:
Yeah, doing good. I’ve got on a temporary face tattoo right now. Other than that, I’m doing fantastic, so.

Joey Logano [00:02:21]:
Well, I tell you what, everybody knows the name of your show. It’s written all over you. So that’s.

Kevin Rolston [00:02:25]:
Yep. That’s all over my face. It’s in henna. And you thought that maybe I lost a bet and I wanted to ask you, being in the world of NASCAR, do you guys ever get into silly, stupid bets with one another that you have to pay off on the track?

Joey Logano [00:02:39]:
No. Good. You’re smart.

Kevin Rolston [00:02:41]:
You’re smarter than I am.

Joey Logano [00:02:43]:
Yeah, I really don’t want to look like that.

Kevin Rolston [00:02:47]:
That’s terrible.

Joey Logano [00:02:49]:
It’s terrible.

Kevin Rolston [00:02:50]:
Yeah.

Joey Logano [00:02:51]:
Honestly, it’s funny. The drivers themselves, I mean, we all know each other and are around each other a lot, but I wouldn’t say there’s many of them that really hang out and do a whole bunch of things together or funny jokes like that.

Kevin Rolston [00:03:03]:
Yeah. I’m kind of curious when it comes to relationships on the tour, would you say, are there certain cliques and are people more friends or enemies? Because I’ve seen so many races where guys are duking it out right after they get out of their cars, and sometimes they have to stop to duke it out. So I think I’ve seen maybe more fights than I’ve seen pat on the backs. What is the relationships like in NASCAR?

Joey Logano [00:03:29]:
Well, I mean, yeah, I think it’s, it’s competition. And, you know, the people you hang out with the most at the racetrack is going to be your team. Right. And your teammates and the people that you’re around. So, you know, your competitors, it’s different than other sports because, you know, other sports, you have a. A team of, I don’t know, ten to 15 to 30 people right, on each side, depending on what sport you’re playing. And they play each other, and then maybe in four months, they might play each other again.

Kevin Rolston [00:03:57]:
Right.

Joey Logano [00:03:57]:
But you have a long period of time in between, and if there is a beef, you kind of forget about it a little bit and you gotta move on to the next thing. But for us, it’s the same 36 drivers you see every single week.

Kevin Rolston [00:04:10]:
Right.

Joey Logano [00:04:10]:
And eventually you’re going to have something happen, and guess what? You’re going to see them again next week and the next week and the next week. It just doesn’t go away. It doesn’t go away. Um, so it’s just a. A very unique sport for that reason.

Kevin Rolston [00:04:24]:
As a driver, do you know some of those interpersonal struggles and realize maybe I need to stay away from these two if they get together on the track because tempers might flare up, they might spin somebody out that might affect how I drive. So do you need to know and almost psychoanalyze the other drivers that are on the track with you?

Joey Logano [00:04:42]:
Well, it’s always important to know what situation people are in. Whether situation. Yeah. If they’re trying to get into the playoffs. I just went through one of these scenarios, you know, whether, whether trying to get in or if they have a history of someone else, and there’s two erasing right in front of you, the last thing you might do is get caught up and you know, their mess, right. And so you try to stay aware of the situations the best as possible, but sometimes there’s just nothing you can do about it, right. Like you’re. You’re just there and you happen to be racing for the win, and here you are.

Joey Logano [00:05:12]:
Right. Like, it just is what it is right now.

Kevin Rolston [00:05:14]:
Is it something where you find a weakness of another driver and you’ll often have a nickname for them? Are people like some sports, you know, football especially, they’ll be ribbing each other and they’ll be in each other’s head and they know that something gets under somebody’s skin. Does that happen in NASCAR with drivers? Is it to that level?

Joey Logano [00:05:33]:
I don’t see it to that level. You know, like, I mean, I think what the difference is is I think in other sports, whether it’s basketball or football, the adrenaline is at its peak right after a play, right. And you’re kind of feeling one way or the other, right. Whether it’s good or bad, and. And you’re going to draw to each other immediately. Right. Like in the heat of the battle for us, you know, the time we see each other is 2030 minutes before the race at driver intros. And then you’re strapped into a race car after that.

Joey Logano [00:06:04]:
So if someone makes a move on you or you’re mad at them or you want to, you know, talk a little game, you can’t. You’re stuck in a race car. Yeah.

Kevin Rolston [00:06:13]:
Right.

Joey Logano [00:06:13]:
So afterwards, sometimes drivers get out and express their feelings a little bit, but really, outside of that, there’s just not a whole bunch.

Kevin Rolston [00:06:24]:
Of, if you watch a lot of professional sports or even if you just played football in college, it’s pretty typical to see athletes have a little bit of fun at each other’s expense or even go one step further and try to get into a competitor’s head by calling out their weaknesses. That kind of exchange happens outside of pro sports. Too many people who go through hair loss don’t feel confident about it, and the last thing they want is for someone to bring it up and make some kind of snide comment. They may want a solution, but not one that calls attention to the problem itself. Kind of like the toupees used to see guys wear decades ago. Joey’s pretty public about his hair loss and has never really tried to hide the fact that he uses a hair system. So I want to know if the other drivers ever remarked on his hair loss in a negative way.

Kevin Rolston [00:07:16]:
I’m just kind of curious. In your field, how has you being a client of HairClub been accepted? What do other drivers say? Do they use it as a thing to rib you with, or do you feel like it’s starting to hit that nice level of acceptance throughout even NASCAR?

Joey Logano [00:07:34]:
Yeah, I’d say it’s the complete opposite, actually. I had a lot of them reach out to me, and for whatever reason, there’s a lot of race car drivers that suffer from hair loss for whatever reasons. I don’t know if it’s helmets or heat or. I don’t know. Lord knows. But I had a lot reach out to me saying, what did you do? Can I do, like, who’d you call? What do I do? Right. So as far as, you know, the. The drivers now, they don’t do that type of stuff.

Joey Logano [00:08:00]:
And to me, that’s probably below the belt a little bit, so probably be a good thing if they didn’t do that, right? It’s one thing to talk about someone’s driving skills or something like that, but I don’t think anyone ever, you know, talks about those type of things. Race fans are different. Race fans are going to be race fans, right? The ones that love you are going to love it. The ones that already don’t like you probably are going to not like you more. Like, I was just. It’s just life. That’s fine. But the other side of it, I mean, it’s.

Joey Logano [00:08:24]:
It’s, uh. Nobody really says anything.

Kevin Rolston [00:08:26]:
I remember as a kid, you always knew when somebody had a toupee or hair help. And now today, when I’m at HairClub and I see people that might be there, or I see people that are HairClub clients, people like yourself. I’m always so blown away because I never have any idea. So you work closely with the pit crew. You’ve got your whole team. Is everybody aware of what you do? What would you say is the awareness level of what you do with hair club? Do they just know you go to hair club, or how does that sit with the people that are closest to you?

Joey Logano [00:08:57]:
Well, they know I go to HairClub, obviously. Look at. I’m talking to you. I’m wearing a shirt. I don’t hide it.

Kevin Rolston [00:09:03]:
Yeah.

Joey Logano [00:09:03]:
I don’t know. I get a lot of questions about it, but honestly, dude, I’d live my life like, it’s a pretty normal, like, at this point, I’ve. I’ve had my hair for a couple years. You know, it’s been very easy, and I got the routine figured out and I live my life like anybody else, you know? And, yeah, I’m glad I did something about it. Right. I suffered from alopecia, so I decided that I wanted to do something. Found HairClub, saw that they have multiple solutions. I found the one that was right for me and I did something.

Joey Logano [00:09:31]:
And I hope everybody, if you have the opportunity to, why wouldn’t you these days, right, if there’s a technology there to, you know, make your appearance look better and you can do it, what’s stopping you? You know, don’t let someone’s stupid comment, you know, stop you from bettering yourself. Right. And if you could feel like you can do that, then, then go for it. And honestly, no one’s. I mean, I’ve never really had any backlash that bothered me. At least, you know, you’re going to get some jokes here and there. Honestly, I joke with them most of the time. I throw the jokes out before they do.

Kevin Rolston [00:10:06]:
That’s it. That’s it. There you go thing.

Joey Logano [00:10:08]:
Like, I’m very open about it. You know, not everybody is as open or wants to talk about it, but I really, yeah, I understand what I have. And nothing you can do about it, right. Whether it’s alopecia or just normal male pattern baldness. Like, what are you gonna do about it? Like, it’s not your fault. There’s nothing you can do about, you know, your genes, right? Like, that’s what you’re born with. And you know what? So I did something about it. Kiss my butt.

Joey Logano [00:10:32]:
I think it’s a great move.

Kevin Rolston [00:10:33]:
Well, I think the improvement in the technology is one of the biggest reasons, because how do you get on somebody that has a head of hair that looks 100% completely natural? I don’t even know where the joke is in something like that. And that’s really it. When I see the hair solutions that are out there now, you really have no idea. If somebody brings it up, it’s like, what are you going to say? Because they look better with it, they don’t look worse. So find the joke in this.

Joey Logano [00:10:56]:
Yeah. And it’s. If it’s the first time you met me, you would never know, right? I mean, people, you can’t. You can’t tell.

Kevin Rolston [00:11:01]:
No idea. Now I’m curious. Cause I’m sure people want to know about the durability. And I’m curious, too, because the temperatures that you have on the track in that car. You mentioned the helmet, which, I mean, those things are on pretty tight. I would imagine. I’d imagine getting them off, too. I know with football helmets, those things really grab.

Kevin Rolston [00:11:20]:
So do you have concerns with the hair that you have, that anything is going to get messed up, it’s going to become dislodged. Does the heat affect your hair?

Kevin Rolston [00:11:31]:
What.

Kevin Rolston [00:11:31]:
What are the concerns and conditions that you have?

Joey Logano [00:11:33]:
No, I just, like, honestly, I just had to figure out the right combination for me and the right routine. But outside of that, now I have zero concerns. When I go to the racetrack, I take my helmet off at the end of a race, jump in the pool, drive a jet ski 70 miles an hour across the lake.

Kevin Rolston [00:11:49]:
Okay, so you even go fast. You go fast on the lake, too.

Joey Logano [00:11:53]:
Well, I mean, I’m a race car driver. What do you think I do? I don’t go slow. I can tell you that much.

Kevin Rolston [00:12:01]:
Does it bother you if you ever get passed by another jet ski, or do you feel like you have to win even that race?

Joey Logano [00:12:06]:
Yeah. Yeah. Well, you know, I don’t think racing on the lake is probably the thing I should be promoting, but you’re right. We’ll back off that one. Most of the time, I like to go fast. Yeah.

Kevin Rolston [00:12:23]:
There are hair loss solutions for everybody out there. No matter what kind of hair loss or lifestyle you have, the most important thing you can do is talk to professionals and find out what your options are. I wanted to find out how that process went for Joey, because not only is he a hair club user, he also endorses the product. So when he went in for his consultation, he had to figure out if hair club was something he could stand behind. So I asked him how long it took to go from his first consultation to ending up with a product that he was satisfied with.

Joey Logano [00:13:00]:
Honestly, it’s pretty quick. You know, you can go to HairClub, and they’ll give you, you know, whatever options they have available quickly. What they do a lot of times is they have a consultation, they bring you in, okay, talk to you. What’s your struggles? Right? What’s your history? And there’s many, many fixes that they can present to you. So, like I said, what works for me may not be what works for you, but I think the ultimate outcome, the goal is what? To have hair again. And it’s different for everyone, right? Like, there’s hair transplants. There’s. There’s just things you can put on your hair.

Joey Logano [00:13:37]:
There’s certain kinds of shampoo, right? I mean, there’s different things. You can use that to try to, you know, and HairClub has all those things that allow you to do that all the way through. For me, with the alopecia stuff, I couldn’t do a lot of the options because it can trigger it to be a lot worse.

Kevin Rolston [00:13:53]:
Oh, wow. Okay.

Joey Logano [00:13:54]:
So it can kind of trigger a lot more underlying issues. So.

Kevin Rolston [00:13:58]:
So HairClub can work. Yeah, they can work around those kind of specific problems.

Joey Logano [00:14:02]:
Yeah, but it’s different for everybody depending on what you’re dealing with.

Kevin Rolston [00:14:05]:
Now, did you have a consultant when you went into HairClub, somebody that said, hey, here are the options, and here’s what I think would work for you?

Joey Logano [00:14:11]:
Yeah. Which was one of the cool parts. Before I partnered with him as someone that’s endorsing the product, I went there and said, hang on. I was very skeptical. If I’m going to endorse this, this is a pretty personal thing to be talking about. I want to make sure that, one, this is going to work before I tell anybody about it, and, two, that I can live my life with it, and it’s not just a complete pain in my butt that I’m like, it’s not worth it. Right. I want to make sure that I check those two boxes before I tell everyone, you should go do this.

Joey Logano [00:14:40]:
And I feel like once I got through that, I was like, all right, well, I feel comfortable talking to people about what’s going on and what I did to fix it and that, you know what? If you have a problem, go fix it. Right? Like, it’s like that in anything in life, right? If you have an issue, fix it. And if there’s an avenue to fix it, great. Hair club’s got it for you, so you might as well do it.

Kevin Rolston [00:14:58]:
What’s it like styling your hair time now compared to time that it used to take before you had your system?

Joey Logano [00:15:04]:
Well, it’s a little longer now because I actually have hair. When you got no hair, it takes no time, but it doesn’t take any longer than it did when I was a kid and I had hair. You know what I mean? Like, it was. It’s the same, right. I might get in the shower. I shampoo and condition just like anybody else would. You know, once a month, I get a haircut, and I keep on going. Like, it’s pretty simple for me.

Joey Logano [00:15:32]:
And I got the system figured out at this point. Like, it took me a few months to get to that point, but, yeah, now that I got it figured out, it’s cake.

Kevin Rolston [00:15:40]:
The thing I find amazing about hair club is that once you find hair club and you find your solution is they grow with you because as you age, you get older, you know, they can start bringing the hair back. If you want to look like you have more of a natural hairline for your age, they can do that if you’re getting some of the gray, like I got some gray in the beard. But you know what? They put some gray in my system so that it looks a lot more natural. And so, you know, once you find hair club, it is something that you can ride out for the rest of your life and have the hair that you want.

Joey Logano [00:16:09]:
Absolutely. Make adjustments. However you want to make adjustments. I mean, it’s literally, it’s up to you, right? I mean, I mean, a lot of it I leave up to the stylist because I’m like, yeah, you’re going to know a little bit more than me, I hope, and they do. But you can put your two cent and tell them what you want, tell them what’s comfortable, you know, what’s not. I went through a couple things that I was like, I don’t really like this that much, right. And we made an adjustment and changed that we wanted.

Kevin Rolston [00:16:34]:
Well, I got to tell you, Joey, I think you’ve got broadcasting hair. I think you have broadcasting abilities because I am in the field. How much longer before you’re in the booth and not the track? Any thoughts on that?

Joey Logano [00:16:46]:
Oh, man, I got no idea. I know I got some time when I feel certain about it, then I know it’s time. But I still enjoy going to the racetrack. I enjoy winning, you know, so I know I got a handful of years at least left in me. And I think depends also just how life is. But if I can’t compete for wins, that’s probably going to be the sign for me to say I’m not going to just go to make laps and go around in circles like, I enjoy racing, don’t get me wrong. But I do it to win. I don’t do it for fun.

Joey Logano [00:17:15]:
I don’t do it to race. I do it to win. And so if I can’t win, I’m not going to want to do it anymore. So I’m still competitive. I still can win races. I’m going to continue doing it.

Kevin Rolston [00:17:28]:
Sounds like Joey’s passion for competing and winning on the track hasn’t slowed down one bit. We wish Joey a fantastic end of this year’s racing season and can’t wait to see what’s next for him. I hope his drive for excellence inspires you to go out there to win at whatever you do. And as Joey said, if there’s something about your appearance that you’ve been wanting to change, do it for yourself. And don’t worry what other people are going to think. The people who matter most are going to be supportive. And you may even find that the people around you are dealing with similar issues. Who knows? By opening yourself up to change, you could be helping them more than you know.

Kevin Rolston [00:18:06]:
For more inspirational stories and words of wisdom from people who have been through hair loss, make sure to subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast app. Thanks for listening to another episode of Hairpot. Check us out at Hair Club on Instagram or search Hairpot on Facebook to continue the conversation. If you know someone who could benefit from hearing this episode, we would love it if you would share it with them. If you’re enjoying the show, consider leaving us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app. We also have a website. Check it out by going to podcast Dot hairclub.com. we’re here to build people up and share real stories so people experiencing hair loss feel a little bit less alone.

Kevin Rolston [00:18:49]:
And when you share, review, and subscribe, it helps us do just that. So thank you. Until next time.

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Dr. Phipps: Male vs Female Pattern Hair Loss

Dr. Phipps: Male vs Female Pattern Hair Loss

Episode 34

Dr. Phipps: Male vs Female Pattern Hair Loss

Dr. Phipps: Male vs Female Pattern Hair Loss
This week on HairPod, I sat down with an expert in all things hair loss, Dr. Angie Phipps. She is a hair transplant surgeon with over two decades of experience in the industry, and she was the star of the TLC reality series, Bad Hair Day. She joined us to shed some light on an important issue that affects over 100 million Americans: male and female pattern hair loss.

Female vs. Male Pattern Hair Loss

Female pattern hair loss is different from male pattern baldness in a few key ways. They are both caused by the impacts of hormones on different receptors throughout the body, and these hormones cause hair loss when those hormones affect our hair follicles in certain ways. In men, this type of hair loss centralizes on certain areas, like the forehead and top of the crown. Women can experience thinning in any zone, and it typically happens in a more diffuse way. For both men and women, the amount of hair loss you’ll experience due to this condition is genetic, and science doesn’t have a consistent way to shut down the gene or the receptors.

How Effective is Finasteride?

Male pattern hair loss happens due to one specific hormone, and science has found a way to block that hormone without any negative side effects. That treatment is called finasteride, and it helps many men stop their hair loss. Women, on the other hand, experience hair loss due to a combination of hormones, and there are negative effects to blocking them. This means that hormonal treatments are only really helpful for men at this time. For men who don’t experience great results with finasteride, Dr. Phipps typically prescribes dutasteride. In either case, the medications must be continued to block the hormone. If the medication is stopped, hair loss will resume.

Finasteride as a Preventative Measure

Genetic hair loss can skip generations, but if it’s somewhere in your family history, you may very well experience it. Dr. Phipps recommends starting the medication early so that you don’t experience extensive hair loss before stopping it. While there are always risks for medication to cause side effects, finasteride has been studied long-term and it has not had major long-term side effects on any internal processes or organs.

Is Finasteride Right for Me?

Regular hair shedding is normal, so how do you know if you’re experiencing hair loss? It’s normal to lose 100-150 hairs per day, so if you see a bit of hair in your comb every day, there’s no need to panic. But if you start to see an increasing amount of hair coming out in your brush or in the shower, there’s no harm in consulting with a professional. They have the tools and knowledge to determine whether you’re experiencing hair loss. If you think you’re experiencing hair loss and hair loss runs in your family, Dr. Phipps suggests starting preventative care early. But hair loss can be caused by other factors, and a hair loss specialist can give you an idea of what is causing the hair loss.

The Best Treatment for Hair Loss is Comprehensive

Hair loss can have a variety of causes. Rather than trying just one tactic, the greatest chance you have for success in reducing your hair loss is to take a multifaceted approach. Dr. Phipps works with clients to determine what combination of treatments will support the best possible results in her patients. When you work with professionals like her, you can benefit from their years of experience and work with them to find something that works for you and your budget. More is more!

Empowering Resources
As the episode draws to a close, HairPod extends a generous offer of a complimentary hair loss consultation, providing a tangible step towards reclaiming confidence and control over one’s appearance. Book a Free consultation with HairClub Today!

Thanks for listening to HairPod. We hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did, please leave us a rating or review wherever you get your podcasts. If you’d like to connect with us on social media to share your story, check us out on Instagram @HairClub. HairPod is a production of TSE Studios. Our theme music is from SoundStripe.

Episode.34 Transcript

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*Results may vary.
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† HairClub’s EXT Extreme Hair Therapy’s Program topical EXT® Regrowth Treatment with Minoxidil, an FDA-Approved ingredient that has been shown to regrow hair when used as directed.
†† Minoxidil is the only FDA-approved topical ingredient clinically proven to regrow hair and slow further loss. In a third-party observational study, more than 63% of male participants found Minoxidil to be effective or highly effective in hair regrowth.
‡ Laser devices are indicated to teat androgenetic alopecia and promote hair growth in males who have Norwood Hamilton classifications of LLA to V and females who have Ludwig (Savin) I-4, II-1, II-2, or frontal patterns of hair loss, who both have Fitzpatrick Skin Types I to IV. LaserBand and Laser Comb are FDA-cleared for men and women. LaserHelmet is FDA-cleared only for females with same indications. These devices are also cleared by Health Canada. Laser results provided by manufacturers of the devices. 1 Hairmax: 90% success rate. www.hairmax.com 2 Capillus: Over 95% of active clinical study participants had increases in hair counts within 17 weeks. www.capillus.com
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