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Laser Hair Therapy Benefits

Laser Hair Therapy Benefits

by | Dec 9, 2024 | Episode

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?

					
					
 by  | Dec 3, 2024 | Episode

				
				
				
				
				
				
				

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
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

					
					
 by  | Nov 26, 2024 | Episode

				
				
				
				
				
				
				

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
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?

					
					
 by  | Nov 19, 2024 | Episode

				
				
				
				
				
				
				

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
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

					
					
 by  | Nov 12, 2024 | Episode

				
				
				
				
				
				
				

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
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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								Combat Seasonal Hair Loss With a New Look							
					
															
Combat Seasonal Hair Loss With a New Look

					
					
 by  | Nov 7, 2024 | Episode

				
				
				
				
				
				
				

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
Episode 37


Combat Seasonal Hair Loss With a New Look

			

				
				
				
				
				Holiday Hair Hacks with Kevin Rolston
			

				
				
				
				
				

			

				
				
				
				
				
Fall has arrived, and with the changing seasons comes a great opportunity to change up your look. If you’ve been noticing some hair thinning around the crown of your head or up near your temples and you want to do something about it, I hope you’ll check this episode out. Today, we’re talking about all of the things I did to try to stop my hair loss, and what actually ended up working for me.


How My Hair Loss Started


Genetic hair loss happens to so many people, but no one wants it to happen to them. I was worried about losing my hair starting at the age of 8 when I realized that my grandfather was bald, and my mom said that would happen to me, too. When I was 28, I saw a picture of myself that showed the crown of my head, and there was a noticeable thinning spot, which really worried me. I didn’t want to lose my hair at such a young age, so I decided to take action.


The Hair Solutions I Tried First


Minoxidil and finasteride are both hair loss solutions that work on reducing the impact of the hormones that cause genetic hair loss (DHT). I started with the over-the-counter solutions and later got a prescription for finasteride. I had an excellent experience with finasteride, as it significantly slowed the rate at which my hair was thinning. I didn’t know then what I know now – that I am a part of the 10% of the population whose hair loss is only slowed by finasteride, not stopped completely. For those of us in that 10%, there is another solution called dutasteride, but I was not aware of it at the time. So I carried on my search.


Trying Laser Therapy for Hair Loss


I tried laser therapy for my hair loss, going from once per week to three treatments per week. The laser therapy wasn’t invasive, it didn’t take long to go through each treatment, and it’s also possible to purchase a laser cap to use at home, although that wasn’t the route I decided to take. I also sought a hair transplant from a surgeon, and we had great conversations about how it would look and what the financial burden would be, and my transplant was successful. However, I continued to lose hair, and kept looking for solutions.


My Hair System


Using a hair system ended up being the right option for me. I have a stylist that cuts it for me and blends it with my hair so it both looks and feels completely natural. It also uses real human hair, so it feels completely natural and doesn’t require any care outside of what I would normally do to take care of my hair. This was the perfect solution for me, but there are so many options out there and ultimately, it’s up to you to determine what’s right for you. I hope you can learn from my experience and it inspires you to seek out your own perfect solution.


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.37 Transcript

				
Kevin Rolston [00:00:02]:
That's why I completely recommend finding a specialist and somebody that walks you through all this. But as far as what I am doing right now with my hair, it is natural hair. It looks absolutely amazing. It blends in. I have a hair stylist that cuts it any way that I want. I go in every three weeks and it looks completely natural. You would have no idea that I have a hair system on at all. And that's, to me, why I love it.

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 this week we're bringing you an episode from the vault. You know, as the seasons start to change, so do our sensibilities, our wardrobe, the things that we do, how often we go outside, and also your look. This might be a good time of year to start thinking about the way you present yourself. Maybe something happened to you over the summer where you noticed that your hair was getting a bit thinner. Jumping into a pool will do that. You notice that, wow, I had a lot more hair this last summer. So what do you want to do about it? Because that sense of panic starts to settle in.

Kevin Rolston [00:01:28]:
I know I've had it myself. So how can you boost up your confidence with a new, fresh style? What I want to do is walk you through my own personal experience with hair loss and the solutions I've tried. And trust me, over the last 20 plus years, there's been a lot of attempts, a lot of things I tried, and a lot of money wasted. So I'm hoping this can save you some time and a ton of money. You know, everybody's journey is going to be unique, but I hope this can help you navigate finding the right solution that works just for you. Hello, my name is Kevin Raulston, and I am the host of the hairpod. And today, I want to take you through my own hair loss journey. Everybody's going to have their own story, and it's going to be completely different, but maybe something I say in my own hair loss journey can help you with the hair loss journey that you are going through as well.

Kevin Rolston [00:02:24]:
For me, I knew at a very young age that I likely was going to have to deal with hair loss. There was a portrait of my maternal grandfather that was hanging in the upstairs hallway, and I remember noticing just how much hair he was missing and having a conversation with my mom, and she may not even realize, but she flippantly just said, yeah, you know what they say that it comes from your maternal grandfather. That's probably what your hair is going to look like when you get older. And it freaked me out, it really did, because I didn't want to look like that. To me, that was the embodiment of old. I loved my hair. I always thought hair was absolutely gorgeous. So I had that dread at an early age, probably around the age of eight.

Kevin Rolston [00:03:04]:
So I continue on. I progress through high school and I get into college. Everything is still fine. Hair is okay, even though it is very fine and thin. I didn't have any hair loss that I noticed. Then it was finally, at the age of 26, I was doing an event where I was breaking a board for a taekwondo class. And I had to bend over to strike the board to break it. And as I did, somebody snapped a photo of me.

Kevin Rolston [00:03:33]:
And they said, hey, look at this photo. That was so cool that you did that. And the only thing I noticed was not me breaking the board. It was the fact that I had a noticeable bald spot right at the crown of my head. And it freaked me out. And I said, here it begins. And I knew that that photo that I had seen when I was 8 years old was now starting to begin. But the question is, how fast would the journey be? Because the portrait of my grandfather was him in his 70s.

Kevin Rolston [00:04:02]:
So was I going to be able to hold on to my hair until my 70s, or was it something that was going to rapidly start falling out? I didn't want to wait and find out. So I went out and I found somebody that could give me advice on what to do, because there are so many things that happen. And, yeah, you can start with your rogains. In fact, that was the first thing I did. I went out and I got some of the stuff that you can get at your regular pharmacy now. I started applying it and using it. I was impatient and I was concerned, but I stuck with it. I would say a good six months I was there and I kept doing it, kept using it, but I kept noticing hair coming out my hands as I would wash it.

Kevin Rolston [00:04:40]:
I noticed in the drain that there was more and more hair. And I just felt like I was still losing more than I was keeping. And so I thought that I needed to go to the next level. And there are so many levels. And that next level was talking to somebody that gave me some guidance. And I was very happy that they plugged me into something called finasteride. It was a pill that I would take that would basically blocked the dht, the testosterone created by my body that would start closing up my hair follicles. And making my hair fall out.

Kevin Rolston [00:05:12]:
And for me, it was really great. It really did slow down my hair loss. And from the age of 26 into my 30s, probably a good 10 years, it was all I needed. But look, I'm a person that's always been on that quest to have a perfect head of hair. And I'm very particular about it. And any kind of hair loss or just something looking like I'm losing it at all, it still bother me. And there were still some of those issues. So I continued my journey and I tried about everything because I wanted to see, hey, what was going to work best for me.

Kevin Rolston [00:05:44]:
And that's the one thing I found. That's why to me, every person's hair loss journey is different, because I think things work differently for people. And not to mention too, I was at a different budget at the age of 26 than when I was 36. So I had more options and there was more that I could do. And that's part of the conversation as well. So throughout my journey, there are other things that I went to. Lasers. That was something that's pretty interesting.

Kevin Rolston [00:06:11]:
I started off by doing a salon laser where I would have to sit in the chair and for 30 minutes a week I would have this blinky little light on top of my head. And so many people have talked about great experiences that they've had with that and the technology for it's really improved. And so many people just absolutely love using the laser caps. And that's all that they've needed. And the laser caps now can be done portably. You could have a laser cap, which I did after I went through the salon visits, I got my own. And it was something that I would wear. And I wanted to up my frequency too.

Kevin Rolston [00:06:49]:
I found that just one time a week wasn't enough. I wanted more because, hey, if it worked great one time a week, I heard that using it several times a week was even better. So I'm doing it three to four, maybe even five times a week, at least a minimum of three. And when you have your own laser cap, that's something you can do. And you can walk around. It can be portable. If you're on a road trip, you can actually put it on your head and drive around. And who cares what anybody else in traffic thinks about you? They don't even really notice.

Kevin Rolston [00:07:15]:
It was really amazing because it really looked like a ball cap. Fact, there's a ball cap that went over top of it. So it was pretty discreet. And the laser caps work really well. So that might be an option that you want to do. There are so many other options that I didn't even try outside of the ointments and the topicals that you could do. Even now, there's people that are doing the tattooing, and there's just interesting little X strands and stuff like that that you can use that I haven't really gotten into. And look, if you seek something like that out, there's just so many options.

Kevin Rolston [00:07:45]:
I even went the route of the hair transplant, and that was my next step because I wanted to fill in a few spaces, and I knew it was going to be more of a permanent solution. And my experience was honestly, really good with the hair transplant. It wasn't anything that was painful. They numb up your head. I was doing something where we had a show. We were walking people through the procedure, so mine took a little bit longer. I was down for about 10 hours. But a couple things that I would tell you about the hair transplant is, you know, you might want to look into the payment plans that they do, because I have one of those.

Kevin Rolston [00:08:19]:
And it became something that worked into my budget when I did that. And the other thing you might want to find out, too, is how many strands you're putting in, how they're putting them in. I had a really good transplant doctor that could make it look really natural. And that's, of course, what you're definitely going to want. And I think a lot of the transplant specialists out there today are going to be somebody that is going to do basically what I had with numbing of the scalp. I didn't feel anything at all. That wasn't any kind of issue, and I wasn't really out. You had to, you know, cover your hair up for, you know, a couple of weeks, because there's going to be some fallout, some shedding, and it's going to take a little bit of time.

Kevin Rolston [00:08:57]:
That's one thing to know, to really fully see that hair in that area come to fruition and be strong. Like, it's going to be six months to probably a year is about what it's going to take. But, boy, when it's in there, it's permanent, and it's pretty awesome. And you might also want to try to get an idea of just how much more hair you're going to lose because you get a hair transplant, it's possible you might need another hair transplant down the road, or you might need more than one to fill whatever space that you have. So, you know, those, to me, are good questions you need to ask when you go in if you are going to consider doing a hair transplant. And I love mine. And it maintained for probably another five to maybe even 10 years. I would say I wound up doing that.

Kevin Rolston [00:09:40]:
But as I continued to look, yeah, I continued to lose. I was heading down the path of where my grandfather was, and that's where I was going to go. And what I started noticing was some of the commercials that I would see on TV of people that were showing a little bit before and after and their stuff on social media. And it was pretty amazing because people who had the kind of hairline that my grandfather had and what I felt like I was heading to, even a Dr. Phil type of hairline, they were finding hair solutions with natural hair. I said, you know what? I think that's where I want to go. And again, it was something that I could do. And I started looking into the budgeting of it.

Kevin Rolston [00:10:18]:
I said, okay, this to me is my best fit. And going with that option really was fantastic. That was my hair solution to have that and look maintaining with the finasteride, I found a great deal because I got the generic where it was only a dollar a day for the pill. And that was something that I could work in. And that really does slow down the hair loss. And so you might want to have a combination of things that you want to do. So that's why I completely recommend finding a specialist and somebody that walks you through all this. But as far as what I am doing right now with my hair, it is natural hair.

Kevin Rolston [00:10:59]:
It looks absolutely amazing. It blends in. I have a hairstylist that cuts it any way that I want. I go in every three weeks and it looks completely natural. You would have no idea that I have a hair system on at all. And that's, to me, why I love it. You can change up your hairstyle, the way you look. They can gradually make it look like you haven't just all of a sudden gone from completely bald to having a full head of hair.

Kevin Rolston [00:11:28]:
They have strategies. They can start small, they can continue to improve it. You can do things like grow facial hair, take facial hair off, start wearing glasses, take glasses off so that people don't really understand the big change that you made. If being discreet is what you want to do. For me, I just wanted to have that kind of hair and I wanted it today. And I wasn't shy about it. I'm a very open individual. And so I was cool with telling people what I did because I want people to know.

Kevin Rolston [00:11:53]:
And that's why I host the hairpod because I want people to know what great solutions are out there. Because if you can get that confidence on day one, go for it. And for me, the biggest thing about having my hair system is how much younger it makes me look. I'm 50 years old now, and I'm not trying to toot my own horn. Most people say I look about 35. It really does. You take off my hair system and I look my age, it takes 10 to 15 years off of your appearance, I believe, at least for me. And that's why having a hair system is where I wanted to go.

Kevin Rolston [00:12:28]:
But doing this hair pod is all about these different solutions that are out there so that you hopefully find the one that is right for you. And that's why I recommend getting a hair expert in your corner. Finding out, is finasteride right for you? Is it a minoxidil type of solution that's going to be right for you? Is it a laser cap? It is a hair transplant? Is it one of the other many solutions that are out there? Having somebody that's in your corner and continuing to come to the hair pod to hear these great discussions is going to help you find your solution for the budget that's right for you. And make sure you get a hold of us too, because if you have any kind of questions, we would love to address them and correspond with you and maybe even do an episode that you suggest. So check us out on Instagram, you can at Hair Club or go to Facebook. We're there as well. I hope you find some great information in this episode and hopefully my hair journey is going to help you on yours.



			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
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								Halloween Tips on Styling a Hair System							
					
															
Halloween Tips on Styling a Hair System

					
					
 by  | Oct 29, 2024 | Episode

				
				
				
				
				
				
				

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
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

					
					
 by  | Oct 22, 2024 | Episode

				
				
				
				
				
				
				

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
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

					
					
 by  | Oct 15, 2024 | Episode

				
				
				
				
				
				
				

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
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.


When people think of hair loss, they often picture the receding hairlines of male pattern hair loss. However, women can also experience hair thinning. Female pattern hair loss can be equally upsetting, even if it looks different. If you’ve been wondering about male vs female pattern hair loss, we’re here to break it down.


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.


Understanding Androgenetic Alopecia


Once called androgenic alopecia, androgenetic alopecia is a hair loss condition that affects both men and women. The condition has a strong genetic link that’s tied to one key hormone group: androgens.


Androgens are specific sex hormones like testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is the hormone that has the strongest correlation with male and female pattern baldness.


Hair follicles have androgen receptors, and your genetics affect how sensitive your follicles’ receptors are. When your hair follicles over-respond to androgens, they end up with a shorter growth period. This leads them to shrink, changing long terminal hair into vellus hair—those short hairs known as peach fuzz.


As we age, the effects of androgenetic alopecia become more prevalent. By their 50s, about 50% of men get some degree of male pattern baldness. For women in their 50s, it’s about 25%—although that number rises after menopause. Women tend to see more of the effects of hormonal hair loss post-menopause when reduced estrogen leads to more androgen influence.


Androgens are the leading cause of female and male pattern hair loss, but other factors can lead to thin hair and baldness. The good news is that there are many solutions for hair loss. More on that later.


Common Signs and Symptoms


What do you look for in female pattern hair loss vs male pattern hair loss?  This common type of hair loss has specific signs and symptoms.


Receding Hairlines in Men


As men begin to experience androgenetic alopecia, they lose hair between the ears and forehead. Hair loss starts near the forehead and transitions into a receding hairline. An M or U is the classic shape. Next, the crown starts losing hair until it eventually connects with bald spots closer to the hairline. Men with this pattern of hair loss may also lose hair from the sides of the head.


Did you know: Men have more androgen receptors in the frontal hair follicles than women. That’s why male-pattern baldness starts at the front of the head.


Diffuse Hair Thinning in Women


In women, the most common early sign of androgenetic alopecia is hair thinning at the part. This hair loss can run from the front to the back of the head. Next, women start to see a noticeable hair volume loss and a wide part. Continuing symptoms lead to diffuse hair thinning across the top of the head. When you consider female vs male pattern hair loss, it’s more likely to create a see-through appearance in women. Women are also less likely to go bald than men.


Causes of Hair Loss


Before you assume the worst, let’s look at common causes of hair thinning. Some are reversible, and hair loss treatments like those from HairClub can provide solutions that lead to fuller hair.


Genetic Factors


Androgenetic alopecia is the most common genetic cause of lost hair. If you have a family history of male or female pattern hair loss, you’re more likely to develop it too. Even though AR gene mutations are the leading cause, there are other genes that also increase your risk.


Hormonal Changes


Different hormones can lead to hair loss. Androgens are the main contributor to androgenetic alopecia, so changes in these sex hormones affect your hair. Thyroid hormones also affect hair growth in men and women. If your thyroid produces too many or too few hormones, you’ll feel the effects with thinning hair.


For women, estrogen and progesterone cycle in different amounts depending on age, time of the month, health status, and other factors. Whether you’re pregnant, not pregnant, or are going through menopause, you can have hair loss due to these fluctuations.


Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, can also be a cause of female pattern hair loss because it increases androgen levels in women.


Aging


Getting older is a natural process, but it often comes with hair loss. Hair naturally gets thinner as you age because your hair follicles are aging too. They may have a shortened growth period, or their shedding may outpace the time it takes for new hairs to grow. New hairs may grow back finer because of follicle miniaturization and may have less pigment—one of the reasons your hair turns gray. Hair transplants or hair restoration procedures can help you regain confidence.


Medical Conditions


Sometimes, a medical condition can lead to your hair falling out. Cancer treatments can do this, but so can anemia, scalp infections, infectious diseases, or autoimmune disorders like lupus or alopecia areata.


Nutritional Deficiencies


Your body needs nutrients for optimal living, and that includes your scalp and hair. Without key vitamins and minerals, your hair follicles and hair texture can start to change.


Short- or long-term hair loss can happen from nutrient deficiencies in:


    

  • Vitamin D
    • 

  • Iron
    • 

  • Zinc
    • 



Other nutrients also help boost your scalp health:


    

  • Vitamin C
    • 

  • Vitamin B
    • 

  • Protein
    • 

  • Omega-3
    • 

  • Vitamin E
    • 



However, don’t get too much selenium and vitamin A. Your body definitely needs these nutrients, but excessively high doses can lead to hair loss.


Stress


Stress can also cause hair loss if your cortisol levels are too high. In cases of severe stress, you might get what’s called telogen effluvium. This is when your hair follicles prematurely change from the growing phase to the shedding phase because of stress. The condition is often temporary but results in more hair loss than normal.


Gender Differences in Treatment


There are differences between hair loss male vs female, so it makes sense that there are a few differences in medical treatment between women and men.


Hair Transplants


Women and men may both benefit from hair transplants like Follicular Unit Extraction and Follicular Unit Transplantation from HairClub. However, some women with more severe hair loss and diffuse hair thinning have fewer donor hairs available. This may make it harder to find good donor sites.


Medications


All genders can use topical treatments like Minoxidil to good effect. For oral treatments, only men should take Finasteride because it can affect women’s hormones and may also affect developing babies.


If you’re looking for another treatment to stop hair loss, you’ll have many options available. From low-level laser light therapy to customized hair systems and at-home products, HairClub can help you restore your head of hair.


>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!


Managing Hair Loss Effectively>


Losing hair can be difficult. Along with frustration, you may feel embarrassed and want to cover your head or change your daily activities. If you’re struggling with hair loss, speak to one of our hair loss experts to learn more about HairClub’s innovative products and how we can bring renewed confidence back into your life.


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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								Latino Culture and Hair Loss							
					
															
Latino Culture and Hair Loss

					
					
 by  | Oct 8, 2024 | Episode

				
				
				
				
				
				
				

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
Episode 33


Latino Culture and Hair Loss

			

				
				
				
				
				latino-hair-loss-Oscar-Camargo-033-blog
			

				
				
				
				
				

			

				
				
				
				
				
In this episode of HairPod, Kevin sits down with a member of the team who puts together HairPod every week, Oscar Camargo. He brings up a topic that we haven’t covered yet – the way that Oscar’s culture impacted his hair loss experience and his eventual decision to seek a hair loss solution.


Being Latino and Going Through Hair Loss


Hair loss can affect someone’s self-image, regardless of their culture. In Oscar’s case, he grew up in a Colombian family and was raised to care for his appearance and always leave the house putting his best foot forward. As a young man, this came easy, as Oscar had a full head of wavy hair. As he aged, he lost his hair just like his father had before him. It took years of dealing with the hair loss for Oscar to decide it was time to make a change.


Trying Different Hair Solutions: The Turning Point


Hair solutions come in many forms, and each person’s journey is unique. Oscar knew there might be some trial and error as he figured out what would work best for him, and he opted to try minoxidil first. While this option is satisfactory for many people, it didn’t give Oscar the instantaneous results he was after. When he first tried a hair system, he knew it would be a great fit. Oscar shares what it was like to show it to his family, especially at the moment when his biggest critic, his youngest daughter, finally saw and felt his brand new hair.


Gaining Confidence Through Hair Solutions


Losing your hair is often an emotional experience. Finding a way to restore your hair can be key to feeling the confidence you once had. Having a positive self-image and self-esteem can change the way you feel at work, with family, and during social interactions. Oscar talks about how great it felt once he was no longer worrying about where people’s eyes would go while they were talking or if they’d be looking at his thinning hairline. Now, Oscar says he can focus on other things he’d like to improve in his life – his hair looks and feels great.


Advice for Latino Men Facing Hair Loss


Dealing with hair loss is difficult for anyone, but Oscar wants to reach out and speak to men who understand his cultural perspective. Taking pride in one’s appearance and having an awareness of how others see you is a powerful value to be raised with, and one that helps prepare us for school, our jobs, and how we show up in social contexts. Feeling like you can’t take control of your appearance when it comes to hair loss can feel very isolating and caused Oscar to want to hide. He wants men to know that there are things they can do to get their hair back and feel confident in the way they look.


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.33 Transcript

				

			

				Download Transcript
			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
Featured Guests


Heather Brooke

Nick Wilkins

			

			

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
New Episodes Weekly


Available Every Tuesday @ 9am

			

			

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
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Come on the Show!

			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
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								What It Means to Live With Alopecia Areata							
					
															
What It Means to Live With Alopecia Areata

					
					
 by  | Jul 2, 2024 | Episode

				
				
				
				
				
				
				

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
Episode 19


Living with Alopecia Areata: What I Have Learned

			

				
				
				
				
				Ep. 17 Living with Alopecia with Claire Fullam
			

				
				
				
				
				

			

				
				
				
				
				
 


In this episode, we hear from returning guest Claire Fullam, who has lived with alopecia areata for over eight years. Through her personal experience with hair loss and work as a trichologist, Claire has found that while alopecia areata cannot be cured and is often unpredictable, there are still many ways to manage it and live a happy, fulfilling life. Claire stresses the importance of self-care, community, and professional guidance and shares her insights, tips, and resources.


 


Hair Loss, Autoimmune Conditions, & Stress


Hair loss can significantly impact our emotional well-being, and conversely, our emotional state can influence hair loss. Like many autoimmune conditions, alopecia areata can be triggered by stress. Claire’s journey with alopecia areata has taught her that managing this condition involves much more than just applying topical treatments or taking medications. She has learned to closely monitor her body’s signals, such as the appearance of bald patches, and to respond swiftly to these early warning signs.


Claire’s approach involves having a comprehensive plan for scalp and hair maintenance. This plan helps her feel more in control of her condition, allowing her to manage flare-ups more effectively. By taking prompt action when she notices the first signs of hair loss, Claire has been able to mitigate some of the unpredictability associated with alopecia areata.


 


Beyond Hair Loss Therapy: The Role of Self-Care and Stress Management


Alopecia areata affects more than just the physical body, and external treatments alone are not sufficient to address the condition. Living with alopecia requires a high level of stress management and self-care. Claire has observed that many people with this form of alopecia tend to have similar personality traits—they are often very giving, tend to internalize their feelings, and prioritize the needs of others over their own.


In managing her condition, Claire has learned valuable lessons about setting boundaries and managing stress. She emphasizes that understanding and addressing these personality traits are crucial for effectively managing alopecia areata. For Claire, this self-awareness has been a key factor in her ability to cope with her condition and maintain her overall well-being.


 


The Emotional Toll of Hair Loss & the Power of Community




Hair loss can be a devastating experience, affecting one’s self-confidence and emotional health. Claire talks about the serious emotional repercussions of hair loss, highlighting the profound impact it can have on an individual’s life. She underscores the importance of community support in dealing with these challenges.


Feeling isolated and terrified by hair loss is a common experience, regardless of age or gender. Claire encourages listeners to share their stories and emotions openly. She believes that educating oneself about alopecia areata and exploring different options for managing the condition can empower individuals to take control of their situation.


 


Building a Supportive Community


Finding a supportive community is crucial for those dealing with alopecia areata. Claire advises listeners to seek out groups and forums where they can connect with others who understand what they are going through. These communities can provide invaluable emotional support, practical advice, and a sense of belonging.


Claire’s own experience with community has been transformative. She shares that connecting with others who have similar experiences has helped her feel less alone and more understood. This sense of community has been a vital part of her journey, providing her with strength and resilience in the face of her condition.


 


Professional Guidance & Resources


In addition to community support, professional guidance is essential for managing alopecia areata. Claire emphasizes the importance of consulting with healthcare professionals who specialize in hair loss and autoimmune conditions. Trichologists, dermatologists, and other specialists can provide tailored advice and treatment plans that address the specific needs of individuals with alopecia areata.


Claire also highlights the importance of staying informed about the latest research and treatments. She encourages listeners to explore various resources, including books, articles, and online forums, to stay updated on new developments in the field. By staying informed, individuals can make more educated decisions about their care and treatment options.


 


Practical Tips for Managing Alopecia Areata


Claire shares several practical tips for managing alopecia areata and maintaining a positive outlook. One key strategy is to develop a consistent hair care routine that includes gentle cleansing, moisturizing, and scalp care. This routine can help maintain the health of the scalp and hair, potentially reducing the severity of flare-ups.


Another important aspect of managing alopecia areata is stress reduction. Claire recommends incorporating stress-relief techniques into daily life, such as mindfulness meditation, yoga, and deep-breathing exercises. These practices can help reduce overall stress levels, which may in turn help minimize hair loss.


Diet and nutrition also play a role in managing alopecia areata. Claire suggests adopting a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals that support hair health. Foods high in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and biotin can be particularly beneficial. In some cases, dietary supplements may be recommended to ensure adequate intake of these essential nutrients.


 


 


Embracing a Positive Mindset


Living with alopecia areata can be challenging, but Claire believes that maintaining a positive mindset is crucial. She encourages individuals to focus on the aspects of their lives that bring them joy and fulfillment, rather than dwelling on their hair loss. Engaging in hobbies, spending time with loved ones, and pursuing personal goals can help shift the focus away from alopecia and foster a more positive outlook.


Claire also advocates for self-compassion and acceptance. She reminds listeners that it is okay to have difficult days and that it is important to be kind to themselves. By practicing self-compassion, individuals can build resilience and better cope with the ups and downs of living with alopecia areata.




In summary, Claire Fullam’s insights and experiences provide valuable guidance for those living with alopecia areata. Her emphasis on self-care, community support, and professional guidance offers a holistic approach to managing the condition. By sharing her journey, Claire hopes to empower others to take control of their own health and well-being, and to find happiness and fulfillment despite the challenges of alopecia areata.


Listeners are encouraged to apply Claire’s tips and resources, seek out supportive communities, and maintain a positive mindset. While alopecia areata may be incurable and unpredictable, it is possible to manage the condition and lead a happy, fulfilling life.


 


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.19 Transcript

				
Claire Fullam [00:00:04]:

You really have to dig deep and really care about yourself again because there’s some parts of you who’s let that go along. That way, maybe you’re bottom of the pile. You’re not looking after yourself a little bit. This is a whisper from your body to you to try and get you back on track again. You are as entitled to be here with hair or no hair. So try and give yourself that to care about yourself enough, because if you stay down too long, it’s really, really hard to kick the bank of the river and kind of swim back up for breath.


Kevin Rolston [00:00:49]:

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, I spoke with returning guest Claire Fullam, who began her hair loss journey over eight years ago. Claire and I previously discussed how her struggle with hair loss had led to addiction recovery and self discovery, inspiring Claire to create her Internet Persona “Claire Balding”, and to pursue a career in trichology. Claire has returned to HairPod to share her insights on living with alopecia areata through her own personal experience with hair loss and work as a trichologist. Claire has discovered that alopecia areata cannot be resolved solely through external approaches, but must also be addressed on an emotional level. She emphasizes the importance of self-care, finding community, and seeking the support of a specialist.


Kevin Rolston [00:01:52]:

Claire encourages listeners to share their stories and avoid minimizing the emotional impact of hair loss.


Claire Fullam [00:02:03]:

I went to a dermatologist, a trichologist, loads of different doctors. I tried every, you know, thing that was out there at the time, every kind of treatment plan. But I stuck with the trichologist, and I was with her for about 20 weeks, and we did loads of, like, LLP therapy at the car. We did a lot of lotions and potions. We did a lot of, like, electrolysis work as well on the scalp. And to be honest, Kevin, now, knowing what I know now, and I’m a trichologist now, right? And I have a big patch of alopecia up here as well. Like, I always get patches. Like I had.


Claire Fullam [00:02:35]:

I have a big, full head of hair, still get patches all the time. It’s like the type of alopecia I have is alopecia areata. So it’s like, it’s an autoimmune condition. So it’s like a psoriasis. You know, somebody who has psoriasis, it will flare up and then it will disappear, and it will go through different bouts and all that kind of stuff. So that’s the type of alopecia I had. So I did loads of different treatments. But really, I think what was the making of me and the reason why I have hair today is because I spoke about it.


Claire Fullam [00:03:02]:

You know, I was such a person who used to internalize every slight worry that I had in my life. I used to never want to express myself because I didn’t want my mom to worry or my dad or my husband to worry. So I used to internalize. I was one of those, like a swan on the water, you know, like, I looked like I had it all together, but underneath I was panicking. And I think through my work now, like, I meet people with alopecia areata all day, every day. And it’s always the same type of personality. It’s always people who take on a lot from other people. They’re the friend of everybody.


Claire Fullam [00:03:37]:

You know, you’ll take your shirt off your back, like that kind of personality. And, you know, it’s funny how now I can see that, okay, the lotions and potions and the laser light therapy could have helped. Of course it does, because it will bring blood up to the follicle and that will encourage hair growth. But actually, what it was was taking that hour every week for myself. So every Wednesday, I used to go into the clinic. So I used to have to leave work half an hour early, and I used to get the bus in, and I used to listen to my music, and I used to go into the clinic, and then I used to come home, and it gave me that, like, sense of control. Does that make sense? It gave me this kind of. Right, okay, I have no hair now, but what am I going to do to try and help myself with that? So.


Claire Fullam [00:04:22]:

Or I washed my hair with the shampoo. They told me to. I did this, I did that. So it was a level of a plan. And the power of a plan is so, so important for people that are going through something which is so unpredictable. So I think, like, that was really, really important that I kind of had something to do. Does that make sense at all? Like, I had something to do every week, which I speak to my patients about all the time. You know, there’s so much.


Claire Fullam [00:04:46]:

And even, I mean, that was eight years ago. There’s so much more therapies out there that we know of now that we can help people with. But I really believe that no lotion or potion, no vitamin, no stress relieving therapy will stop an autoimmune condition. You have to learn how to work alongside that a little bit. And I always say now, like, when I get a patch, like, I have one up here now, there’s little hairs growing out of it. Thank God it’s there about eight, nine weeks now. It’s like a whisper from my body. It’s like a cleaner.


Claire Fullam [00:05:17]:

It’s like, be careful. It’s an autoimmune condition. So, like, you’ve got loads of different systems in your body, right? So the ones that we’re going to top on air, like your nervous system and your immune system. So your nervous system is the one that controls all of your emotions, okay? So when you are physically stressed or emotionally stressed, she’ll whack her sister, because that’s what sisters do. Okay? So your immune system then goes up and up and up and up. So she goes off on one. And all along this invisible ladder here, there will be different rungs, which some people with autoimmune conditions, that little switch will be kind of gone off, and it will keep going back there. So when I ever get stressed, one of the first things to go is my hair.


Claire Fullam [00:05:56]:

So it’s an autoimmune condition that I can slightly control, but not always control, you know, depending on what’s going on in my life. I know for me, it’s when I’m not really taking care of myself, when I’m bottom of the list, which happens as parents, doesn’t it? Right. And as a business owner, like, you’re always bottom up the list. I take on too much all the time, you know, and it’s a different type of stress now because I have so many people to provide for. You know, it’s not like it’s just me and the kids and my husband anymore, but other people’s families that I need to look after as well. So that different type of pressure and stress, I know that I wasn’t looking after myself about three months ago, and now this is the result of that.


Kevin Rolston [00:06:41]:

Alopecia areata doesn’t just go away. Stress management is key for living with any kind of autoimmune disorder, but it’s not a fix all at the same time. External treatments alone are not enough to prevent flare ups. Managing stress, scalp maintenance, and creating a plan for ongoing care can make a huge difference.


Claire Fullam [00:07:05]:

I think a lot of people, again, this is a common thread that I see through people with alopecia is that they don’t have very many boundaries, you know, they don’t have very many. They’re people yet. Yeah, no problem. No problem. Hair’s on the ground, you’re not going to wake.


Kevin Rolston [00:07:18]:

It’s such a personality type.


Claire Fullam [00:07:19]:

It sounds like such a personality type. And it really only happens to people as well that have a lot of hair. You would never see somebody rarely. Yeah, you’d rarely see somebody with an appeche areata who has fine hair. They have big, big, big hair. It’s like your body knows what to pick. Does that make sense that Claire can survive without this patch of hair? You know? But, yeah, like, I suppose what I do is I listen now and I get stuff off my chest because I used to kind of internalize a lot and I used to not speak about things. I will unfortunately ring my friend, ring my mom, talk to my husband, and I will say I need help right now, and I’ll dish out the jobs and I’ll delegate and all that kind of stuff.


Claire Fullam [00:08:01]:

I try as well to get more sleep again, your body will get stressed if you don’t sleep enough. So look at your diet as well. I could reduce sugar at times to try and manage inflammation, all that kind of stuff, but there’s not one single thing in that group, Kevin, that will stop my autoimmune condition. And I think sometimes alopecians have to forgive themselves sometimes, because again, we’re not very good at that. And I think that it’s not our fault that this happens to us. This is the way your body will commute, will kind of communicate stress to you. And some people will be like, well, you shouldn’t have ate that, or you shouldn’t have done this, or you should. It’s going to happen anyway.


Claire Fullam [00:08:36]:

You know, it’s going to happen anyway. So it’s about trying to manage that as much as you can and not beat yourself up too much about it. But, yeah, there’s loads of stuff you can do. There’s so many things that we should do all the time. But listen, sometimes we need a bit of a kick up.


Kevin Rolston [00:08:49]:

We all slide a little bit.


Claire Fullam [00:08:50]:

Yeah, yeah. Right.


Kevin Rolston [00:08:52]:

If somebody’s listening right now and they have alopecia, and let’s say that they are where you were when they are just noticing a little bit of hair missing in a spot, what do they need to do right now? Do they treat it right away? Do they wait? And if they do something right now, what is that thing?


Claire Fullam [00:09:10]:

I would say get into a good routine. Try and maybe look up a trichologist in your area or a dermatologist. I’m not always the biggest fan of going straight to medicine because I think that drugs have side effects. Like any drug will have a side effect. And a lot of alopecia, especially alopecia areata, is something temporary. So you don’t need drugs to try and get over that. I would say get into a simple scalp routine. You should be exfoliating your scalp, you should be washing your scalp regularly, and you should put something on the patches that would have some level of growth factor on them.


Claire Fullam [00:09:42]:

And some of the biggest brands in the world have growth factors within them. You know, stimulators.


Kevin Rolston [00:09:48]:

Would that be a minoxidil, a Rogaine, something like that? Is that what you’re referring to?


Claire Fullam [00:09:53]:

Yeah, not really. Minoxidil would be something that would be used for more of a chronic condition. So maybe like female pattern, male pattern hair loss, angiogenetic hair loss, and a piece of ariasa. It is a like, it can be temporary at times. If you go in with a minoxidil, you’ll become reliant on that minoxidil. And when you take minoxidil away, you could have a bit of a dread shed. So be careful of minoxidil. I would say things like there’s those of energizing potions and lotions out there, like ice nioxin.


Claire Fullam [00:10:20]:

I’m sure you have nioxin over in the states. All of those kind of big brands would have something stimulating within them. Caffeine, rosemary, all that kind of stuff. But I would say try and get some sound advice in terms of a process. As I said, that little plan, you don’t have to go somewhere every week, but if you had, okay, I’m going to exfoliate my scalp every single week. I’m going to wash my hair every second day, and I’m going to stick on something stimulating onto the patch to try and encourage while I work this out, while I contact a trichologist, while I go to the dermatologist. Steroid injections, like, if it was pretty bad or if it was just one big patch, a steroid injection, a cortisol injection from a dermatologist would be really, really stimulating to that kind of way. And that could help grow the hair back as well, I suppose, as well.


Claire Fullam [00:11:05]:

Like Kevin, like, what I would like to kind of get across is that it can get really dark, really quick hair loss, you know, and I think that a lot of people would understand that who have gone through it. And I think that it becomes very, very out of control. What I would say to people is, when I had no hair, people still loved me, I could still do my job, people still wanted to be around me. I was still exactly the same as I am now with loads of bloody hair, do you know, that kind of way? And I think that it’s really, really hard in those moments to see that, but I think that, and it’s a really hard lesson to learn, and I’ve had to learn it the hard way as well. And I’ve gone through so much over the past eight years to be where I am today. But you really have to dig deep and really care about yourself again because there’s some part of you who’s let that go along that way, maybe you’re bottom of the pile. You’re not looking after yourself a little bit. This is a whisper from your body to you to try and get you back on track again, you know, and you’re not here.


Claire Fullam [00:12:06]:

It’s an absolute miracle any of us are here, right? So you are as entitled to be here with hair or no hair. So try and give yourself that grace to care about yourself enough, because if you stay down too long, it’s really, really hard to kick the bank of the river and kind of swim back up for breath, you know, that kind of way. So, yeah, be annoyed, be upset, be angry, but you dont let it take over your life.


Kevin Rolston [00:12:37]:

Neglecting our own needs can have serious consequences on our physical health, hair loss or no hair loss. Im sure many of us share the experience of preparing for a big event or a presentation only to find ourselves sick from overexertion. Unfortunately, you dont recover from hair loss in a few days. For most of us, it’s something you must learn to live with for the rest of your life. Claire shares some tips on managing the flare ups that come with alopecia areata.


Claire Fullam [00:13:06]:

A lot of people with alopecia, particularly alopecia areata, have a lot of hair. So if you had like two patches at the back of your head, you go to the best hairdresser in town and make sure they’re going to be able to cover that up for you in the day. And I would like, don’t feel silly about it, like, I know you might be the bride, right, but go and get like a trial. So if it’s in six weeks time and those patches are annoying you three weeks beforehand, go and sit there and let’s discuss this. And they’ll be only delighted that you’re coming in and trialing this a little bit. There’s loads of temporary hair pieces as well. Kevin, of course, like, you don’t have to get a full blown wig. There’s so many systems out there that can be sewn in for a week, you know, can be glued on for two weeks, all that kind of stuff.


Claire Fullam [00:13:48]:

So I would try and investigate as much as possible in terms of what your options are. Just be careful. If it’s something like alopecia areata or something that has the ability to grow back anything that you put on there, it’s really difficult sometimes for that hair to grow underneath. Does that make sense? So, like, I always say to people, you know, when you’re out in the garden and you’ve got your little flower or your little watering can, and you put the watering can down on the grass and then you forget about it. So, like, two nights later, you come and you take the watering can off that patch of grass, right. And what that grass looks like. So just be careful in terms of if you have hair that you can save, don’t put that watery can down on it too long. Okay.


Claire Fullam [00:14:26]:

So go and investigate a little bit and understand what type of loss you have.


Kevin Rolston [00:14:31]:

Yeah. Some very valuable information. Is there anything else that you could tell somebody that is listening and saying, I want to plug into a community and I want to get more information. What are the top resources for that that you have found? You talked about getting a hold and trying to find a trichologist of your own in the area where you are. There’s obviously your social media account that people can check out. Is there any other places you would recommend for information or community?


Claire Fullam [00:14:54]:

Yeah, like, I think Alopecia UK, which is obviously Great Britain’s version of Alopecia UK, so we don’t actually have one here in Ireland, but Alopecia UK is an amazing resource, and of course, anyone from around the world can access that as a resource as well. But I’m sure in the states there’s an alopecia.com as well that will help. And I think, like, honestly, entering those communities, like any community, like, I know from getting sober, like, you need people, you know, you need people around you that understand what you’re going through, you know, because, like, that you will have people in your life that, like, it’s not that bad, or she loads of hair, like, and they’re trying to be kind, but they’re actually just making the whole thing worse. What they’re doing is they’re diminishing your pain that little bit more. Because then what starts to happen is you start to feel, oh, God, like, maybe I am being vain about this, or maybe this isn’t a big deal, and you start to diminish your pain a little bit, you know? So I think you do need to surround yourself with people 100%. Trua is, if I do say so myself, Kevin Trua is a great resource, you know, on instagram, in terms of just learning about how the scalp works, because, you know, I found that I remember asking, I’m so annoying. Like, I go into the dermatologist, like, but why? They’d be like, oh, go away. Just take this medicine.


Claire Fullam [00:16:10]:

I don’t want to see you again. I was so annoying. Or the trichologist, I’d have their heads wrecked. I’d be constantly asking them different questions and stuff. It’s so important for people to really understand their condition. I can’t tell you that enough. If someone has frontal fibrosis, alopecia, angiogenetic alopecia, they’re losing their hair during menopause, after baby male hair loss, DHT, if you understand those little bits right, it’s not going to take that away, but it’s actually going to make you go, okay, again, I’m driving. Again, I understand this.


Claire Fullam [00:16:44]:

Again, it’s more within my control and within my reach to help myself with that, you know, so I can’t recommend trying to really investigate that and get loads of different opinions on it, because unfortunately, with hair loss, doesn’t matter how much I study, right, or a dermatologist study or whatever else, there is only so much research out there because it’s not killing people. Okay? So, you know, I remember the doctor would say to me, I’ll tell your grandchild, off you go. But, like, it does kill people. I know people who haven’t left their homes in 1012 years. I know people who have taken their lives from hair loss.


Kevin Rolston [00:17:25]:

Hair loss shouldn’t be taken lightly, even if it is often overlooked in the realm of well funded research, the experience of hair loss can erode our self confidence and deeply affect our mental health. This becomes increasingly true in a culture where we are constantly bombarded with unrealistic beauty standards. Regardless of who you are, how old you are, or why youre losing your hair, its always a challenge. I was curious about what differences Claire had observed in men and women experiencing hair loss.


Claire Fullam [00:17:56]:

From speaking to hundreds of men and women in the same situation. It’s as emotionally, you know, that toiling on a man or a woman, I think that if you lose your hair, depending. It really is, you know, and there’s a lot of emotions that go with both, and it equally hurts them. But it’s easier because society allows a man to be bald so he can live his life. You might get a couple of comments from his colleagues or his brothers who are his friends, but eventually it will be okay. Whereas when I was bald, I could not leave the house without my hairpiece ever, because I would just be open to scrutiny. Open to, is she sick? What’s wrong with her? And all these questions, because that’s society, you know, and society, you know, will always, you know, in our lifetime, anyway, hold women to an unachievable beauty standards, you know, and I think that that’s a real issue. So it’s not that it’s easier on men.


Claire Fullam [00:18:55]:

I don’t think so. Personally. I think it’s the same, but it’s a society allows a man to live without her. And I really hope one day when I see bald women. I actually saw one yesterday. She was absolutely beautiful, walking along the beach in the south of France, living her best life with her bald head. She looked beautiful. I just get so much pride and so much joy that she hasn’t allowed that shape her life.


Claire Fullam [00:19:20]:

You know, she is living her best life because you can live a really gorgeous, successful, love, joy filled life with no hair. You just have to be brave enough to try and capture that. It’s not just the hair loss. It’s all the other stuff that people experience around that. People, women sleeping in hair pieces their husbands don’t even know, you know? Again, that’s more his problemo, to be honest. But I think that there’s so much more to it. I remember we did a survey two years ago, and we asked women who had lost 70% of their hair more. Describe how you feel.


Claire Fullam [00:19:57]:

And some of those words, Kevin, were like, you’d choke up reading them, you know? And three women wrote suicidal. And I had to ring them, and I rang them and said, I don’t even know what I can say to you, but I want to make sure you have someone to talk to. And they were so thrilled that we took the time to listen to them, you know, because I think this isn’t a frivolous vanity. It’s nothing to be ashamed about. Unfortunately, most of us will suffer with some form of hair loss in our lives. It’s the aging process. Ultimately, you know, some of us will go through more extreme than others, you know, and it will shape their lives, and it will change their lives. But all of us will go through a form of it, or someone close to you will too, you know, and I think that the more people have conversations with it and about it and around it, the better we are then helping others do that kind of way.


Claire Fullam [00:20:46]:

I think it’s so, so, so important.


Kevin Rolston [00:20:53]:

During our conversation, I felt a growing appreciation for the way Claire expressed the emotions of hair loss. It can be a devastating experience and is so often exacerbated by isolation. Alopecia areata can be especially unpredictable, but there are ways to work with it. Finding a community that truly understands what you’re going through firsthand and can share resources and encouragement can be life changing. We hope Claire’s insights have been helpful. If you’d like to hear more from her, make sure to subscribe to the show so you can check out our previous conversations with Claire on hair loss and mental health. Take a look at our show notes to find links for Claire’s social media and the resources she mentioned during the episode. Thanks for listening to another episode of Hairpod.


Kevin Rolston [00:21:37]:

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

			

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								Women’s Hormonal Hair Loss & What to Do							
					
															
Women’s Hormonal Hair Loss & What to Do

					
					
 by  | Jun 18, 2024 | Episode

				
				
				
				
				
				
				

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
Episode 17


Understanding Hormonal Hair Loss in Women

			

				
				
				
				
				EP17 Hormonal Hair Loss - Ft. Lisette Davila
			

				
				
				
				
				

			

				
				
				
				
				
Understanding Hormonal Hair Loss in Women: Causes and How To Treat It


Although it’s most commonly associated with men, hair loss can also impact women.


In fact, women may be more vulnerable to hair loss as they age, thanks to fluctuating hormones associated with pregnancy, menopause, and other hormonal shifts. At least 50% of women will experience hair loss at some point in their lifetime.


On this episode of HairPod, we explore Lisette Davila’s story with hair loss treatments and hormone replacement therapy. Learn more about hormonal hair loss in women through the lens of Lisette’s experiences — her challenges, the stigma she encountered, and the hope she found through her courageous pursuit of answers.


Types of Hormonal Hair Loss


Hormonal hair loss in women can happen for many reasons, but in Lisette’s case, the cause was a hormonal imbalance. Here are the three most common types of hair loss for women.


Female Pattern Baldness


The most common type of hormonal hair loss in women is female pattern hair loss (FPHL), also known as androgenetic alopecia or female pattern baldness. It affects about 30 million women in the U.S.


Over time, hair becomes finer and shorter and the volume gradually decreases. Unlike the distinctive receding hairline seen in male pattern baldness, female pattern baldness typically looks like thinning across the scalp, particularly at the crown and part line.


Telogen Effluvium


Telogen effluvium is a common type of hair loss that happens after experiencing severe stress. Hair loss and thinning tend to happen within two to three months after the stressor, but in most cases, it resolves itself after six months.


Traction Alopecia


Traction alopecia occurs when hair is subjected to constant tension and pulling. While it’s not linked to hormones, it’s most common in women who frequently wear tight hairstyles like ponytails, braids, or buns.


Over time, repeated tension on the hair follicles can lead to thinning hair or permanent hair loss, especially around the hairline or temples. If it’s caught early, traction alopecia can be reversed. But if the tension isn’t resolved, it can cause irreversible damage to the follicles.


Symptoms of Hormonal Hair Loss


It took years for Lisette to pinpoint the source of her noticeable hair loss: hormones. But looking back, there were many symptoms to suggest that hormones were a culprit.


Here are some of the hair loss symptoms that suggest hormones might be at the root of the issue:


    

  • The hair gradually thins out, especially along the crown and part line
    • 

  • The part becomes noticeably wider, exposing the scalp
    • 

  • Hair feels weaker, thinner, or more fragile
    • 

  • Hair grows back slower than before or not at all
    • 

  • Loss of moisture, shine, or texture in hair
    • 

  • An increase in facial hair growth due to excess androgens
    • 



Key Hormonal Factors Influencing Hair Loss


What hormone causes women’s hair loss? The answer is far more complex, as multiple hormonal factors affect hair health. Aging, pregnancy, menopause, and other hormonal imbalances can all lead to hair loss, depending on the person.


The expert team at HairClub helps clients like Lisette navigate these complex hormonal changes with tailored treatments for hair loss that address the root cause and promote long-lasting results.


There are plenty of myths and facts about hair loss that can make it difficult to identify the underlying cause, but understanding these hormonal factors is a key step toward finding the right treatment. Here are the most common hormonal factors that cause female hair loss.


Menopause


Menopause affects each woman differently, but hair loss and hair thinning are common side effects. As estrogen levels drop, blood vessels in the scalp constrict, which can reduce blood supply and restrict the flow of oxygen and nutrients.


Androgens


Other hormonal shifts, like the ones caused by polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), can cause an overproduction of androgens. Excess androgens — like testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) — can lead to androgenic alopecia. This can lead to a shorter growth period, resulting in slower growth and thinner strands.


Hormonal Imbalances


Hormones naturally fluctuate over time, from puberty to pregnancy to menopause. These imbalances can disrupt the natural hair growth cycle, even if the hormones themselves return to normal over time.


Some hormone fluctuations can happen at any time. For example, times of stress induce cortisol, which can also affect the cyclic regulation of the hair follicle and lead to hair loss.


Risk Factors for Hormonal Hair Loss


Hormonal hair loss in women can also be driven by a variety of factors that can increase the risk of developing thinning or shedding. From genetics to lifestyle choices, understanding these risk factors is key to identifying the cause and finding a solution.


Here are the underlying risk factors to address with a hair loss technician at HairClub to achieve lasting results.


Genetics


Just like with male hair loss, genetics often plays a key part in the development of female pattern hair loss. You can inherit these genes from one or both of your parents, increasing the likelihood of developing thinning or hair loss.


Medical Conditions


In some cases, the body reacts to illnesses or medications with hair loss. Illnesses like anemia, thyroid issues, PCOS, eating disorders, and more can all result in hair loss or thinning, especially when hormone levels are affected.


Some medications or medical treatments can cause hair loss, like the known side effect of chemotherapy, for example.


Stress and Lifestyle


Intense or chronic stress and other lifestyle factors can disrupt the body’s hormonal balance and hair growth cycle.


Can you prevent hair loss? While there’s no one way to completely prevent hair loss, the right lifestyle changes can lower your risk and promote healthy hair growth:


    

  • Get regular exercise.
    • 

  • Eat foods that contain nutrients for healthy hair, like iron, biotin, and zinc.
    • 

  • Limit smoking, vaping, and alcohol consumption.
    • 



HairClub’s expert team works closely with clients to assess all the potential causes, from stress to genetics, in order to promote long-term results. To get to the root of your hair loss, schedule a consultation today.


Confronting the Stigma: Hair Loss Treatments for Women


Lisette recounts the gradual onset of her hair loss, once boasting thick, spiral curls she was proud of. The subtle thinning eventually became an undeniable reality, which of course, prompted a cascade of self-consciousness and anxiety. She didn’t know why she was losing her hair.


Because of the stigma around female hair loss, she was left feeling isolated, confused, and frustrated. Lisette shares that she even received unsolicited comments from coworkers and friends that magnified her insecurities.


Hormone Replacement Therapy and Female Hair Loss Solutions


Lisette shares her experience with hormone replacement therapy. She had a hysterectomy in her early 30s, which coincided with the onset of her hair loss, but Lisette was initially unaware of the potential connection. Her doctor confirmed that hormonal imbalances could very well be contributing to her condition.


Lisette noticed significant improvements in her overall well-being within just two weeks of beginning her therapy. It addressed various symptoms associated with hormonal changes, including fatigue, insomnia, and issues with the skin and nails. However, Lisette’s hair loss persisted, prompting her to explore additional solutions such as HairClub’s offerings. She shares her experience with HairClub and the Trichoview hair analysis system.


Health, Hope, and Hair Restoration


Lisette emerged from her journey with renewed confidence. She extends a message of resilience and empowerment to others facing similar struggles. She encourages listeners to seek out professional guidance, see a hair specialist to help identify a suitable hair loss solution and a doctor to rule out any underlying health concerns. Lisette highlights the importance of having a plan and a community. Whether it’s hormone therapy, hair loss therapy, or some other balding solution, the right option is out there.


Her story is a testament to the transformative power of taking charge of your own hair journey. If you’re struggling with women’s hair loss due to hormones, don’t wait for things to get worse — reach out today to explore the treatments that could restore not just your hair, but also your confidence and sense of self. Schedule a consultation today to find the perfect solution for you.

			

				
				
				
				
				
Episode.17 Transcript

				
Lisette Davila [00:00:04]:


So I went in, and I was so nervous. I didn’t know what to expect when I went into this meeting with her. And when I came out, I was crying because it was tears of joy, because I felt, finally, somebody hears me, they get it. They know what’s going on, and they think they can fix it. I’ve never had anybody say they can. You know, they have a solution for this problem that I’m dealing with. And we put money in and invest in a home or a car or even a career. But now it’s like I need to invest in myself because it’s my health.


 


Lisette Davila [00:00:39]:


It’s part of my health.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:00:54]:


Welcome to HairPod, the podcast where you get to hear real people talk about their hair journeys. I’m your host, Kevin Ralston. 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. Hair loss can happen for many reasons, and in this episode, I spoke with Lisette Devila about her experience with hormonal hair loss. Hair loss in women is perceived very differently than it is in mental, and it’s not uncommon for a woman who is going through it to suffer the physical, social, and emotional effects in silence. Like many experiencing hair loss, it came as a shock and a blow to Lisette’s self-esteem. She once was a social butterfly, but when she began to lose her hair, she became self-conscious and retreated into her shell.


 


Lisette Davila [00:01:51]:


I used to have, like, really thick, curly hair, super curly, like, spiral curls, and it was really thick. I used to let it just go natural. I didn’t have to fuss with it too much and started noticing probably in my early thirties when my hair started thinning out in the top part, where I started seeing my scalp through my curls. I remember fixing my hair one day, getting ready for work, and the light in the bathroom just above the mirror was shining on my head. Like, I can actually see the reflection of my scalp. And I was like, what is that? And I’m looking in the mirror as I’m, you know, playing with my curls, and I noticed it was thinning just a little bit here at the top. And so when the light would hit it, I would see my scalp shining off. And I thought, wow, that’s new.


 


Lisette Davila [00:02:47]:


That’s different. Am I losing my hair like I thought I was, you know, way too young? I’m, you know, still in my early thirties, and that’s unheard of. You know, my mom and my dad both had their hair, and, you know, I didn’t think that that was normal, especially for me, because I’ve never experienced anything like that. So, yeah, I remember, you know, doing my hair up and noticing my scalp in the mirror. And from there on, people started bringing it up to my attention as if I didn’t know it was going on, you know? Yeah, I had co workers, you know, mentioning it, and some family members that did not hold back, you know, they were like, oh, are you losing your hair? Are you going bald? I’m like, what? You know, I felt so mortified. I felt so embarrassed. And that’s when the stigma started for me.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:03:42]:


Well, yeah, I could see why that is. It’s unbelievable what some people will go out and say to other people. That’s completely unreal. So it doesn’t sound like for you, you were that self conscious about it until it was really brought up to your attention.


 


Lisette Davila [00:03:56]:


Right. Because I thought I was able to hide it well, you know, because it wasn’t that bad in the beginning. And so I thought, I’ll just tease my hair here, you know, style it in a way where it’ll look more full and you can’t see my scalp as bad. But when people would bring it up to me on a, it started getting, like, daily. People that I would work with or friends, you know, people that were close to me were bringing it up daily. Whenever they would see me, there was always a comment at least once a day that people were noticing that my hair was thinning because I’ve always had such thick, curly hair where you didn’t see scalp, you know, unless you parted it. And even then it was a really thin part. So I was having trouble parting my hair at that point because the part was growing.


 


Lisette Davila [00:04:45]:


It was getting bigger.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:04:47]:


Yeah. So you, do you find yourself styling your hair in a different way then? Were you styling your hair in a different way?


 


Lisette Davila [00:04:54]:


Yeah. So I started styling my hair, like, parting it on the opposite side that I would normally do, or I would, like, brush my hair all the way back. You know, I would tease it and brush it back and just so you couldn’t see a part at all. But it was. It was starting to get to the point where it was getting very noticeable, like it needed to be addressed.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:05:16]:


How much time are we talking from when you first noticed that reflection going on in the mirror to when you were able to say, okay, I’m getting these comments on a daily basis. What is the timeframe we’re talking about here?


 


Lisette Davila [00:05:28]:


I would say probably about five years. I was dealing with it for about five years. Yeah.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:05:39]:


Like so many of us who experience hair loss, the early part of the journey can be the most challenging. Its all the more so when you dont have a clue as to why the hair loss is even happening. When youre young and healthy, its the last thing you thought youd be dealing with. Of course, hair loss is sometimes more predictable due to genetics or health conditions. Lisette, on the other hand, was caught completely off guard, and it was taking a toll on her emotions and her confidence.


 


Lisette Davila [00:06:07]:


I thought maybe it was just stress from, you know, like, everyday life and, you know, work, things like that. So I thought, well, this should probably be an easy fix because nobody in my family is suffering from this, you know, neither on my dad’s side or my mom’s side. So, you know, maybe I’ll just try some vitamins or some kind of, you know, supplements. Maybe I’m lacking in that. And I was trying different supplements, and it wasn’t getting any better. It was actually getting worse. And I remember my mom trying to bring, like, this old, traditional, latino, like, cure for it, which was just some kind of, like, liquid serum that you massage into your scalp. And it’s something that’s gone way back into, like, I don’t know, like, maybe the forties or fifties or something like that where men used to use it.


 


Lisette Davila [00:06:58]:


And she would tell me, use this. This is going to work for you if it works for me. This is how my hair is so thick. I thought, okay, well, if it works for her, it’s got to work for me. And I’m pouring the whole bottle in there, and I’m massaging and teasing and taking the vitamins and doing all the things, and it wasn’t working. Then I started getting really nervous, you know, I just started getting, like, you know, okay, there’s something seriously happening here that I need to address. Like, nothing seems to be working for me. I was at home one day, and I came across a hair club infomercial.


 


Lisette Davila [00:07:37]:


And that’s when I thought, man, is this like an omen? Because I’ve always watched these infomercials since I was a kid, you know, and it was always a man. It was hairclub for men at that time. And now it was just like, hair club, right? So I thought, maybe this is a sign. Maybe I need to call hair club and see if they can help me. And I was hesitant, you know, but I had it on the back of my brain, like, let me just keep trying other things and seeing if that will help. And use hair clip as a last resort. Right. So that was in the back of my head, but, you know, no pun intended.


 


Lisette Davila [00:08:18]:


My head just kept, you know, it just, I kept seeing my scalp growing. Like, my hair’s thinning out and my scalp is being really exposed. And I finally said, you know, what? What the heck? Let me just give them a call. It says it’s a free consultation. What else do I have to lose here at this point? And that’s when I finally made that call. And this was probably about five years after I first saw my hair thinning out.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:08:48]:


Yeah, it does take a while. It’s an odd thing. I think, that we want to try everything first. We want to be able to solve it on our own. And it’s an unknown, and that’s kind of a scary thing. And for women, too, it’s a stigma that’s out there that I think a lot of people thought, oh, well, losing hair is something that just happens to men. But the numbers on female hair loss, it’s staggeringly higher than you would ever suspect. And I feel like sometimes women may not have the same kind of community or feel like they have a place to connect.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:09:18]:


Were you able to talk with friends? Were you able to find somebody that could relate to your situation, that could give you some good advice and point you in the right direction?


 


Lisette Davila [00:09:27]:


No, I didn’t actually. There was no one. You know, I’m in my thirties, and all my friends are, you know, with their thick, full, lush hair, and I’m going thin and starting to feel like, you know, I’m getting, like, old. Like, am I getting old? Like, you know, what’s going on with me? It was getting to the point where I felt like a recluse. I didn’t want to go out and socialize with people because I was so embarrassed. I was ashamed, and I didn’t have anyone I can turn to that was a female that suffered or is suffering the same situation that I was.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:10:12]:


Unfortunately, I’m sure many listeners can relate to the difficult emotions that come with losing your hair. And as Lisette pointed out, hair loss for women comes with a social stigma that only makes an already scary situation so much worse. When you combine a lack of community, a lack of guidance, and the confusion of not knowing the underlying cause, its easy to see why isolation happens as it did in this case. And even when you make that leap and decide to address the issue, it can take a while to find the answers youre looking for. As Lisette continued to look for the cause of her hair loss, she was able to start piecing together what was really going on.


 


Lisette Davila [00:10:57]:


I had a hysterectomy. I was very young. I was in my thirties. I was like, 32, 33, somewhere around there when I had it. And it was after, when I started noticing the hair loss. Right. I didn’t put the two together for a while. I didn’t think that having that surgery was going to cause my hair loss.


 


Lisette Davila [00:11:20]:


And again, I didn’t have any, you know, females to turn to that were going through my same situation to advise me or tell me that, oh, it could possibly be that. Until I turned to my doctor and said, you know, I had this surgery, and since then I’ve noticed my hair thinning. Could the two be related?


 


Kevin Rolston [00:11:43]:


Oh, okay. So the hysterectomy happens well before the hair loss.


 


Lisette Davila [00:11:49]:


Right? So it was something that, like, maybe took some time after, like, after my recovery to the point where I didn’t even put the two together. So, yeah, I approached my doctor about it. She told me that is definitely a possibility that that could happen because of the change in hormones or loss of hormones.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:12:10]:


Oh, wow. Okay. So I’m wondering, when you get something like a hysterectomy, you’re losing your hair. Did you have other symptoms? Were there other things that were happening with your body at the same time that you were noticing?


 


Lisette Davila [00:12:22]:


Well, yeah, you know, you get, like, dry skin, and it’s mostly, like, stuff to do with your hair, skin and nails, actually. I mean, we. Okay, we all hear and know about changes, mood swings and whatever have you. But nobody really talked about the hair or the skin and the nails, which is all the same kind of organ. Right? Right.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:12:44]:


Yep.


 


Lisette Davila [00:12:45]:


So that is something that I had to do a lot of research on my own because at the time, there wasn’t a lot of information out there about it. I was online all the time looking up, you know, hair loss and hormones or the loss of hormones after hysterectomy. And so with that being said, I had found for my situation was hormone replacement therapy. And that’s something that a lot of women are doing today. And that has actually helped me with a lot of other issues that I was dealing with after my surgery. So that is a huge help for women who are dealing with hormones, whether it be, you know, if they had to have a hysterectomy or if they have a thyroid condition, which can also wreak havoc on your hair, too. Just going to your physician and getting some blood tests done it’s as simple as getting some blood tests done to see where your hormone levels are at and then work with your doctor to see where you can get them back on course.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:13:51]:


Talking to a doctor and a hair specialist is so important. I appreciate Lisette’s insight on signs to look out for. It’s also a good reminder that hair loss can be a sign of underlying health issues and is not something we should ignore, even though it can be hard to confront. Lisette shares more about her experience with hormone replacement therapy and what a dramatic difference it made for her.


 


Lisette Davila [00:14:20]:


I noticed within two weeks I started feeling better. I was really tired and sluggish, and I didn’t. Again, I’m not connecting all these symptoms with the fact that I had this hysterectomy. So feeling really sluggish, not having as much energy as I once did. And at the time, my kids were, you know, I have two children and they were young and I had to keep up with them in a full time career. And I was struggling with all of that with sleeping. You know, I ended up having insomnia and the hair loss was just getting out of control. So when I started my hormone therapy with my doctor, it took about two weeks for me to notice all those things started balancing and I was able to sleep better again.


 


Lisette Davila [00:15:08]:


And all the other things that I was suffering from started, you know, balancing out, and I was starting to feel back to normal, but I was still dealing with some thinning hair.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:15:19]:


Okay. Yeah, that was my next question. I was just curious what that did with the hair loss. So thats still an issue for you. So where did you go after you realized, okay, ive fixed some of the problems that I have with the hormone replacement therapy. What was left to fix? And then what did you do to fix those issues?


 


Lisette Davila [00:15:37]:


Yeah. So with the hair loss, like everything else, I was feeling pretty good. But im fixing my hair still for, you know, to get on with my day. And I’m noticing I’m having to tease it and do other things with it a little bit more than I had in the past. And I was very frustrated because now it’s taking me a longer time to get ready for something that was so simple as to just, you know, getting my day started. So that’s when I decided that moment when I saw the hair club commercial a few years, a couple of years before and put in the back burner, that’s when I said, okay, I’ve tried everything. I’ve tried everything. I’ve even gone to my doctor and we had a game plan, and it fixed some things, but not all right.


 


Lisette Davila [00:16:20]:


That’s when I picked up the phone and I called hair club and had that consultation done. It was a no brainer for me. After sitting down and having the conversation with the hair club specialist, she was able to pinpoint what was going on with my scalp because that was not a thing that I was looking into. I wasn’t really like, is it a scalp issue now? Because I, you know, you don’t think about scalp care too much, right? At least back then, there wasn’t a lot of talk about that either. So when I went in, she, you know, was able to do the Trico view, which is the little, like a microscopic, you know, exam where they put the tool on your scalp and you could see it on a big monitor. And I saw a lot of, like, my follicles. I saw a lot of them were gone. I was like, oh, my gosh.


 


Lisette Davila [00:17:14]:


And a lot of spacing in between. And as I’m looking at it, shocked that I’m emotional. She was so relaxed and calm, and it was actually calming for me because she. She. Obviously, this is what she does. She’s the expert. She’s like, you know, this is normal like this. I see this all the time.


 


Lisette Davila [00:17:36]:


We can fix this. And she actually, you know, explains, you know, the hair loss to me and what the treatment would be at that moment. It was like, under an hour. So I went in, and I was so nervous about. I didn’t know what to expect when I went into this meeting with her. And when I came out, I was crying because it was tears of joy, because I felt, finally, somebody hears me, they get it. They know what’s going on, and they say they can fix it. I’ve never had anybody say they can.


 


Lisette Davila [00:18:10]:


You know, they have a solution for this problem that I’m dealing with. And it was actually instantaneously for me, like, psychologically, I just felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. We put money in and invest in a home or a car or even a career, but now it’s like, I need to invest in myself because it’s my health. It’s part of my health.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:18:39]:


The stress that comes with hair loss can be a huge burden, and that’s because it’s more than just your appearance. It’s your mental and physical health. For so many of us, hair is tied to our identity. It can be such a relief to finally get answers and maybe more importantly, to have a plan and a community. Also, we learned from talking to Lisette hair loss can be an indicator of a hormone imbalance or other unseen health issues. So if you’re dealing with hair loss, it might be a good idea to reach out to a specialist so you can learn the root cause. I hope you find Lisette’s experience as enlightening as I did. If you enjoyed the show and are looking for more stories on hair loss from people who have been through it or experts in the field, subscribe to the show and be sure to check out the show notes for more resources.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:19:31]:


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


 


Kevin Rolston [00:20:09]:


Until next time.


 

			

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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.









			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
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								Breaking the Stigma of Hair Loss with Jordan Pryor							
					
															
Breaking the Stigma of Hair Loss with Jordan Pryor

					
					
 by  | Mar 26, 2024 | Episode

				
				
				
				
				
				
				

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
Episode 05


Breaking the Stigma of Hair Loss with Jordan Pryor

			

				
				
				
				
				Breaking the Stigma of Hair Loss with Jordan Pryor
			

				
				
				
				
				

			

				
				
				
				
				
Whether you know someone who has experienced hair loss or are going through it yourself, you’ve probably seen or experienced the stigma that comes with it. Thanks to people like Jordan, that stigma is starting to break down. Never one to shy away from the spotlight, Jordan has taken his hair journey in stride and shares it with others every step of the way.


Genetic Hair Loss


Many of Jordan’s male family members lost their hair in their early twenties, so Jordan knew he was genetically predisposed to losing his as well. Jordan was only 17 when he noticed his hair loss. He was a college student when he first started shaving his head. While he thought he looked good with a shaved head, he looked significantly older than his age. In his early twenties, he felt self-conscious about looking much older than his girlfriend.


Seeking Solutions


Early in his hair journey, he tried many solutions before getting his first hairpiece.

Jordan doesn’t shy away from the spotlight. When he got his first hairpiece, his TikTok followers commented about how great his hair looked, and he didn’t hesitate to show them that it was fake!


Many men worry about showing up one day with a full head of hair after being fully or partially bald. Jordan was able to take it in stride, but if you’re concerned about this, Jordan recommends starting the process of finding your hair solution early.


Impacts of Finding His Hair Solution


Jordan likes to cut his own hair and enjoys going to the barbershop for a fresh fade. His hair solution means these experiences are still a part of his life.


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!


Want more info on our guest? Follow Jordan Pryor on TikTok.


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.05 Transcript

				
Jordan Pryor [00:00:09]:

Definitely boosts my confidence. And, you know, I love also being able to cut my own hair on the sides, too. Like, I love fading my hair. And so, and even as a kid, like, there was no better feeling than coming home after the barber shop and, you know, you got a fresh fade going and all your friends are like, oh, dude, you look crispy. And so, yeah, it’s nice to still be able to do that and to still experience that’s.


Kevin Rolston [00:00:51]:

Welcome back to Hairpod, the podcast where you get to hear real people share stories about their hair loss and how they got their hair back. Each journey is as unique as the next. Some may find their hair thinning earlier than others, but it’s an experience that touches all of us eventually. Whether we experience hair loss ourselves or it happens to somebody close to us, to all our listeners out there grappling with hair loss, remember, you’re not alone. Hair loss can start at any age. And even when you can see it coming, it can still be a bit of a shock. Today’s guest is Jordan Pryor, a TikTok influencer who has been sharing his hair loss experience online for years. Jordan knew that he was definitely going to lose his hair at some point.


Kevin Rolston [00:01:31]:

Hair loss has affected many men in his family. What he didn’t know was he would be only 17 years old when it started thinning out.


Kevin Rolston [00:01:40]:

Um.


Jordan Pryor [00:01:45]:

Pretty much every man in my family is bald, and most of them started balding at a very young age, you know, early to mid twenty s. I don’t think that any man in my family has had their hair make it to 30. So definitely a genetics thing on my end.


Kevin Rolston [00:02:00]:

When was it that you started noticing that this was probably going to be something that you were going to have to face?


Jordan Pryor [00:02:05]:

So, unfortunately for me, I started really early. It was my senior year of high school. I was 17. Whenever I started to notice the corners of my hair starting to recede.


Kevin Rolston [00:02:15]:

Okay, and how bad was it and at what point did you feel like you need to step in and do something about it?


Jordan Pryor [00:02:22]:

For the most part, growing up, I always kept my hair super short, always had kind of like a buz cut. And so I was able to hold off for a couple of years, but probably around 20, it started getting really bad. And so for about a year after that, I started shaving my head, but I looked significantly older than I actually was because I had a clean, shaved head and then a beard. So I looked like I was in my early thirty s and not my early twenty s. And then probably around 22, I believe, was whenever I started looking at getting a men’s hair piece.


Kevin Rolston [00:02:54]:

Now, was there a certain moment that you started to realize that you were looking older with that? I believe you had somebody in your life that was about the same age as you, and they looked a little bit younger in comparison to you, you looked a little bit older, and that kind of made you self conscious.


Jordan Pryor [00:03:10]:

Yeah. So it was always whenever I was shaving my head, it was whenever I’d go out on dates with my wife because she has kind of a baby face. We both do. But whenever I was bald and was kind of rocking it that way, I thought it looked good, but we would get some weird looks because she was about 20, I was, like, 21, but I looked like I was 31, and she looked like she was 18. And so we’d get a lot of weird looks in public just because people were like, oh, my gosh, that age gap. And I’m like, we’re literally a year apart.


Kevin Rolston [00:03:42]:

Right. That’s a terrible feeling. So that was the point that really kind of drove you.


Kevin Rolston [00:03:47]:

Now, for a lot of people, too.


Kevin Rolston [00:03:49]:

That start to lose their hair. I was about the age of 25, and I saw a photo, and I noticed that I had a bald spot. I hated the look. It was something that made me very self conscious, but for me, I didn’t really know where to go, and it took quite some time before I was able to find hair club for you. Where did you turn when you started to lose this? Because it’s not typically something, especially when you were your age at 22, that you’re hanging out with your budies saying, hey, man, where do I go for hair loss? Where did you even start to look to try to resolve your problem?


Jordan Pryor [00:04:18]:

Yeah, that’s definitely not a conversation I was having with my friends at that time. It was more my friends giving me a hard time about looking like a grandpa, was their exact words. But early on, I tried some of the early remedy stuff. What is that? Finasteride, minoxidil. I did, you know, I tried everything early on to catch it before it got bad. And then I was scrolling on, I want to say, it was like Facebook, and I saw a video of a barber in my area who was doing men’s hair units. And so I reached out to him, got it done there a couple of times, and then shortly afterwards, I moved to Colorado. And it was once I was up in Colorado that I started going to hair club.


Jordan Pryor [00:04:59]:

And honestly, the quality even took up an extra step, and it was incredible.


Kevin Rolston [00:05:08]:

Now, one of the things I noticed immediately when I started talking to Jordan was how confident he is. There’s a stigma around hair loss in our culture, and because of people like Jordan, that stigma is starting to break down. More and more people are feeling comfortable talking about hair loss with their friends and with their family members, and people like Jordan are leading the way.


Jordan Pryor [00:05:33]:

I had a video that went viral on TikTok where I was doing, like, a q a thing, and someone had commented about how my hairline was super crispy and in the follow.


Kevin Rolston [00:05:44]:

Crispy?


Jordan Pryor [00:05:45]:

Yeah, super crispy. It was, like, nice and straight on the sides.


Kevin Rolston [00:05:49]:

Okay.


Jordan Pryor [00:05:50]:

My fate was a lot better than it is right now, and I flipped it up. Flipped up. The hairpiece was. You know, that’s funny that you say, like, it’s. I’ve never. I’ve never been one to shy away from making people laugh or anything. Like. Like, I don’t care that people know, know I don’t have real hair, so to speak.


Jordan Pryor [00:06:08]:

But then shortly after that, once it went viral, hair club reached out to me, and they’re like, hey, we love your vibe. We love your attitude. Would you like to come in and take a look at our product? And so I did, and I was just blown away.


Kevin Rolston [00:06:20]:

What was it that you noticed? I mean, what was the difference between stepping up, going to hair club as to what you had before?


Jordan Pryor [00:06:27]:

It was definitely the color matching. There’s a little bit of a reddish tint in my hair that I feel like a lot of the smaller barber shops didn’t quite have, whereas whenever I went into hair club, they have this system where they match your hair to a t. And so, especially, like, during the summer, my hair does get a little bit lighter, and so they were able to accommodate for that, which was really cool, and so it blended perfectly.


Kevin Rolston [00:06:56]:

Now, many guys I’ve talked to are pretty sensitive about their hair loss. Going from a completely shaped head to a full head of hair draws this attention that most people don’t want to talk about or they don’t want people to notice. Jordan’s ability to embrace the situation and his new look made that transition easy for him.


Jordan Pryor [00:07:17]:

Yeah. So, I mean, that was kind of the unfortunate route that I had to go, but there’s not a ton of bald pictures of me out there, thankfully.


Kevin Rolston [00:07:26]:

Okay.


Kevin Rolston [00:07:26]:

All right.


Jordan Pryor [00:07:27]:

But, yeah, I really did just show up one day and just had all of my hair back. And my friends were like, how? Because I didn’t tell them what I was doing, where I was going, they were just like. Because they’d given me such a hard time for years about it, and just like, one day they’re like, wow, your hair looks better than mine. I was like, yeah, it does. I do just want to say real quick with what you were talking about. Part of the reason why I think I’m so open with it is I do have an individual in my family who has had a too pay or a men’s hair piece, rather, since he was 25. And so it’s never really been a taboo thing in my family. But, yeah, for folks who might be listening, I would definitely suggest starting off young.


Jordan Pryor [00:08:09]:

And while you’re early into the hair loss process, if that’s the route that you’re wanting to go, because it is easier to show up, like you were saying, just a little bit more hair at a time versus what I did, going bald and then full out of hair.


Kevin Rolston [00:08:28]:

Jordan isn’t the kind of guy to let his hair loss slow him down. And wearing his hair system doesn’t stop him from living his life either.


Jordan Pryor [00:08:40]:

Honestly, I forget that I’m wearing it a lot of the time. It’s normally not until about because I do my own. Part of my TikTok channel is doing, like, my own maintenance at home, under the hood, so to speak. And really, until it’s time for me to do that, I don’t even notice that I’m wearing one, because, yeah, it breathes great. I work out very frequently. I’m currently in the process of doing p 90 x. Oh, no way.


Kevin Rolston [00:09:04]:

Okay, that’s a challenge.


Jordan Pryor [00:09:05]:

Yeah, it’s been a throwback. It’s weird seeing those old DVDs, but it’s been great. I dripping in sweat after these workouts, and my hair is still on top of my head. It’s not sliding off. It doesn’t fly off in the wind or anything like that. In May, we were at a pool party in New Mexico, and I jumped into the pool, like 30 times and was swimming around and splashing with people and everything. And there was never a moment where I thought that it was going to fall off. I mean, anytime you come out of the water, your hair is always all messed up, and you just shake it off, throw it to the side a little bit, and you’re good to go.


Kevin Rolston [00:09:43]:

For most of us, hair loss and finding a solution that works for us is about more than just hair. It’s a journey of self esteem and confidence. For Jordan, it’s also about the experiences that are still a part of his life.


Jordan Pryor [00:10:01]:

It definitely boosts my confidence, and I love also being able to cut my own hair on the sides, too. I love fading my hair. And even as a kid, there was no better feeling than coming home after the barbershop. You got a fresh fade going, and all your friends are like, oh, dude, you look crispy. So, yeah, it’s nice to still be able to do that and to still experience that. And I do a lot of presentations and stuff for work, and so I’m constantly in front of people and I oftentimes get compliments on how nice my hair is.


Kevin Rolston [00:10:32]:

Right?


Jordan Pryor [00:10:33]:

This makes me laugh whenever I hear it.


Kevin Rolston [00:10:36]:

It’s a great feeling, though, right?


Jordan Pryor [00:10:37]:

Oh, yeah, thousand percent.


Kevin Rolston [00:10:44]:

It was so great. Talking to Jordan about his experience with hair loss, his confidence and his willingness to share his story is helping to break down the stigma of how hair loss is treated in our society. I just hope that in the future, we’re all going to feel just as self assured as Jordan, tackling a difficult topic with our friends, families, and communities. Thanks for listening to another episode of Hairpod. If you think Jordan’s story would resonate with somebody you know, share this episode with them and check out our show notes if you’d like to connect with us or Jordan on social media video. Until next time.

			

				
				
				
				
				

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								Postpartum Hair Loss with Jessica-Marie Laurent							
					
															
Postpartum Hair Loss with Jessica-Marie Laurent

					
					
 by  | Mar 19, 2024 | Episode

				
				
				
				
				
				
				

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
Episode 04


Jessica-Marie Laurent: Postpartum Hair Loss

			

				
				
				
				
				Jessica-Marie Laurent - Postpartum Hair Loss
			

				
				
				
				
				

			

				
				
				
				
				
Postpartum hair loss is an issue that many mothers face, but few talk about openly. In this episode of HairPod, we sit down with Jessica-Marie Laurent, a professional in the hair replacement industry for over ten years and a mother who experienced postpartum hair loss. She shares not only her unique story but also some amazing information on how to maximize regrowth.


The Start of Postpartum Hair Loss


Most women who have children experience some postpartum hair loss. Jessica’s hair loss began after she stopped breastfeeding her son. She discovered her hair loss when she began to shed a lot of hair in the shower and it gave her a feeling of panic, even though her pediatrician had warned her it could happen! Jessica works in customer service, so her image is important to her. She found ways to conceal her hair loss, but it still affected her emotionally.


Coming to Terms With Postpartum Hair Loss


Even though she works in the hair solutions industry, it still took Jessica-Marie two months to decide to seek treatment. Acting quickly makes all the difference. To regain as much of her hair as possible, Jessica knew she had to start the process quickly and overcome her denial with postpartum hair loss.


Postpartum Hair Loss Regrowth


Regrowing hair due to postpartum hair loss has become part of her hair care routine. She shares how she bounced back and what helped get her hair back!


    

  • Clean and cleanse: shampoo and conditioner formulated to support her current situation helped her keep her scalp clean and healthy.
    • 

  • Low-level Laser Therapy: Infrared light penetrating the first few layers of skin at the hair follicle helps reduce stress on the follicle. This helps hair follicles grow new hairs.
    • 

  • Multivitamin: Just like people take pre-natal vitamins during their pregnancy, a “post-natal” vitamin is helpful in maintaining healthy hair, skin, and nails. Consult with your doctor before starting or ending a vitamin regimen!
    • 



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.04 Transcript

				
Jessica-Marie Laurent [00:00:09]:

The best thing that I can recommend for any female in any situation is do your research. So, of course, if you’re, you know, becoming pregnant or if you notice something is happening throughout or during your pregnancy, do a little bit of research. Make somebody aware, whether it be a hair loss expert or a doc actor, don’t sit in silence and think that you’re alone or that nobody else has ever experienced it, because you’re not alone.


Kevin Rolston [00:00:53]:

Welcome back to Hairpod, the podcast where you get to hear real people share stories about their hair journey. I’m your host, Kevin Ralston. Each journey is as unique as the next. Some may find their hair thinning earlier than others, but it’s a universal experience we all go through to all our listeners out there grappling with hair loss. Remember, you’ve got a community right here with you. And today we have a truly inspiring and informative story to share with you. Our guest, Jessica Marie Laurent, faced a common, but often emotionally challenging issue, postpartum hair loss. Today, we’re going to explore how this natural occurrence impacted her self confidence and more importantly, how she found confidence.


Kevin Rolston [00:01:36]:

Again, when it comes to the subject of hair loss, and especially postpartum hair loss, Jessica’s lived experience and knowledge about how the condition works helped me to understand this condition a little bit better. Postpartum hair loss affects many women, yet the impacts of it are not often discussed openly. Today, we’re going to be shining a light on this experience, and we want you to know that when you are as well informed as Jessica, a world of hope and transformation opens up for you. So without further ado, let’s dive right into Jessica’s story.


Jessica-Marie Laurent [00:02:15]:

For most women, I would say postpartum hair loss happens in the six to eight month range. But for females that breastfeed, this can happen later because you still have that good hormone, if you will, because of the breast milk being produced. So you have a little bit of a longer stretch before you experience that postpartum hair loss. So for me, it was probably about a year after I stopped BreAStFeedIng my son. After a year. And then after a year, I started to notice massive clumps of hair coming out while I was shampooing and conditioning. Yes.


Kevin Rolston [00:02:47]:

Now, when you say massive clumps, how would you put that in terms of size? What’s your definition of massive?


Jessica-Marie Laurent [00:02:53]:

If I had to put it in terms of size, because I have curly hair, I could say probably bigger than a golf ball.


Kevin Rolston [00:03:00]:

Oh, wow.


Jessica-Marie Laurent [00:03:01]:

It was quite a bit of Hair Loss. It was VeRY shocking and very hard to go through, because as a Female, the goal is to wash your hair as often as you need to, which is a couple of times a week. So a couple of times a week, I’m going through this thinking, should I just stop washing my Hair altogether? What should I do to mitigate this?


Kevin Rolston [00:03:21]:

Wow. That’s got to be, like, a panicked type feeling when you see something like this. Now, was this something you got a warning from, from your pediatrician that this could be a possibility? Or you just one day in the shower, holding onto clumps of your hair, not knowing what’s going on?


Jessica-Marie Laurent [00:03:35]:

You get warnings, Kevin, they tell you, and in doing research and going to prenatal and postnatal classes, they do advise you that it can happen. But I think the part that’s, like, the scariest, if you will, is you just don’t know when it’s going to happen. And when it starts to happen, it starts, and it kind of doesn’t stop until, I guess, either the hormone is completely out of the body or until the hair has done the cycle that it needs to do.


Kevin Rolston [00:04:00]:

So is This a permanent kind of Hair Loss?


Jessica-Marie Laurent [00:04:03]:

No, it’s not permaNent, KEvin. In a lot of cases, as long as we’re doing things to ensure that the Hair health is good, you can gain back almost all of the Hair that you’ve lost during postpartum. In SOMe CaSes, not EvERY FEmale is that LUCky.


Kevin Rolston [00:04:18]:

Now, how long would it take for you before you got back to exactly where you had been before?


Jessica-Marie Laurent [00:04:24]:

I’m still not back. My son is two years old. I went through postpartum hair loss for probably, let’s say, four to six months that I had that aggressive shedding in the shower. The aggressive shedding has stopped, but the growth is still happening. Like, I see that I’m getting back to where I was, but I’m still not 100% there. Six months later.


Kevin Rolston [00:04:47]:

As we continue exploring Jessica’s personal journey, it’s important to bring up the courage that it takes to discuss hair loss, especially for women. The stigma that surrounds hair loss can cause people to shy away from speaking out. Confidence can still be a big issue, even for people whose hair loss isn’t immediately obvious. Kind of like Jessica. How bad did it get?


Kevin Rolston [00:05:13]:

Was it noticeable, or is it something.


Jessica-Marie Laurent [00:05:14]:

That just, you noticed so not noticeable to friends and family? Like, friends and family? I don’t want to close friends and family that know me may have noticed because I got a few comments like, hey, Jess, did you cut your hair? And it’s like, no, I didn’t cut my hair, it’s actually just the density that’s not there. But, I mean, for close friends and family that know me very well, yes, it was noticeable. But for people on the outside looking in, nobody ever could tell that I had a hair loss issue. I think that I was also very good at concealing it so that I didn’t have those additional ass or that additional stress of people noticing it.


Kevin Rolston [00:05:49]:

What did your hair look like before the pregnancy and before the hair loss? How thick was it? Was it something that you took a lot of pride in your hair? How would you view yourself and your self esteem based on your hair that you.


Jessica-Marie Laurent [00:06:01]:

Kevin, you know, I work in customer service, so for me, my overall image is very important to me. Working at hair club, basically selling hair and recommending hair to people, it’s very important for me to look and feel the way that I want my clients to look and feel. Right. So I would have to say, honestly, how can I put it into words? My hair was so full and so voluminous and so curly and just moves in the wind the way that you want it to move. Not that it didn’t do that during my hair loss, but there was significantly less of it. Like, I’m just used to having a fuller head of hair. My clients are used to me having a fuller head of hair. So I did get the od question here and there.


Kevin Rolston [00:06:49]:

The postpartum period brings a roller coaster of emotions for new mothers. The emotional impact of Jessica’s hair loss was pretty significant, intertwining with the joys and challenges of motherhood. But one thing makes Jessica’s journey unique. She is a professional in the hair loss replacement industry. Armed with expert knowledge, she was able to take action soon after noticing her hair loss.


Jessica-Marie Laurent [00:07:16]:

It took me honestly, surprisingly, having worked in the hair restoration industry for over ten years now, it took me probably two months before I acted. Let me explain that now. Two months. The first month was, oh, my God, why me? And then the second month was again, oh, my God, why me? But, hey, Jess, if you don’t do something, you might not be able to get back all of the hair that you lost. So I literally heard myself almost having a consultation with myself, as I would with a client, letting myself know that there is something that can be done. But I need to act quickly in order to ensure that I get the volume and density that I had four months or five months before that. So one month of denial, the second month of coming to a realization, and as soon as I came to that realization, I acted extremely quickly, I started to do my laser, I started to take my vitamins, and I started to cleanse and clean on a regular basis to ensure maximum growth, maximum result, if you will.


Kevin Rolston [00:08:18]:

Okay, take some time and unpack everything that you just said there, because somebody who’s not an expert in the field is probably like, wait a minute, what’s the laser? What’s the vitamins? What’s the cleanse? Explain each and every single one of those steps clearly so somebody could understand that.


Jessica-Marie Laurent [00:08:32]:

All right, Kevin, so being an expert in the hair loss industry, being an expert in the field, if you will, the number one thing that we have to do in order to ensure that we have healthy growing hair is we need to clean and cleanse. The way that we clean and cleanse is by shampooing and conditioning. That sounds so simple. Just saying it, shampooing and conditioning. But it’s not that simple, Kevin. We need to find the correct shampoo and the correct conditioner that works for our current situation. So for me, my current situation was that I had weak, damaged, and fragile hair. So I had to find a product that worked for the weak, fragile, and damaged hair.


Jessica-Marie Laurent [00:09:06]:

That was step one.


Kevin Rolston [00:09:07]:

Are there different styles of shampoo, or is there really just kind of one style of shampoo?


Jessica-Marie Laurent [00:09:11]:

There’s different styles of shampoo. Shampoos are geared to do different things. So we have shampoos that are going to do deep cleaning. We have shampoos that can do a light clean. We have shampoos for dry dandruff scalp. There are various different products associated or out there, let’s say, if you will, on the market to help you with whatever it is that your hair needs are, whatever your scalp needs are.


Kevin Rolston [00:09:33]:

So you talk about you had to do the shampooing. That was one step. You threw the word laser in there, which a lot of people are probably like, what do you mean, laser? What is this all about?


Jessica-Marie Laurent [00:09:43]:

The average person knows about laser hair removal, but we are talking about low level laser therapy. Low level laser therapy is an infrared light that penetrates through a few levels and layers of your skin. It basically reduces inflammation at the hair follicle. So when women or men are losing hair, what generally will happen is we have inflammation underneath the scalp, at the follicle, which is causing the hair or the hair follicle to get less blood, less oxygen, and less nutrients. It’s stressed. So by reducing the stress at the hair follicle, which is what I did, by using my low level laser, I was able to reduce that inflammation, allowing my hair to stay in the growing stage for longer. So what happens is, again, in layman’s terms, our hair rests, sheds and grows. But when you’re going through massive shedding, postpartum hair loss, stress hair loss, hormonal hair loss, your hair stays in that shedding phase for a longer period of time.


Jessica-Marie Laurent [00:10:44]:

What the laser does is it basically shortens the shed phase and it increases the grow phase. That’s what I wanted to do.


Kevin Rolston [00:10:51]:

And how noticeable is using the laser treatment? How long does it take before you notice something? How frequently do you have to use it? What is it like? Is it something you can do at home? Do you have to go into a place to use it?


Jessica-Marie Laurent [00:11:02]:

So it is something that you do at home? Kevin, it’s low level laser therapy for 6 minutes a day, every single day is recommended. There are different level laser strengths so associated to like. So for example, if you use the base model, you’ll probably see results in six months to a year. If you use the mid grade model, you would see results probably anywhere from six months to nine months. And if you were to use the higher grade level, which is called an RX, the surgical, medical grade device, you would see results in as short as three to six months. So really, all of the lasers, there’s not one that’s better than the other. There are just different strengths. I started off with a lower grade laser because I didn’t have any prominent bald spots.


Jessica-Marie Laurent [00:11:45]:

I didn’t have any prominent visible loss, if you will, to the average person, but the loss was definitely there. So in order to stimulate those follicles, I started with a capillis 82 is what it’s called.


Kevin Rolston [00:11:57]:

Now. You talk about you had to do the right cleansing. You talked about having to do the laser thing.


Kevin Rolston [00:12:02]:

The thing I’m kind of curious about.


Kevin Rolston [00:12:03]:

Because you had talked earlier, I’m sure the hormones, and that’s what you were saying, was causing the hair loss. Is there anything you can do to get your hormones in check? Any kind of hormonal balances or anything that you did in regards to that, to try to help out hair loss?


Jessica-Marie Laurent [00:12:16]:

No, really, the only thing are vitamins. It’s a multivitamin. So during pregnancy, we take a prenatal vitamin that has a lot of folate in it, a lot of folic acid. And I think that that’s probably what helps promote and stimulate hair growth. So after you’re done taking your prenatal vitamin, if you continue on a hair, skin and nails vitamin that has either an equivalent or close to that amount of folate in it. I believe that that could really bridge the gap, if you will. And I think I just didn’t do that. I didn’t know enough about it at the time to do that, so I just didn’t.


Jessica-Marie Laurent [00:12:50]:

But definitely a recommendation for women that are either thinking about having children or already having children. Before you stop your prenatal vitamin, consult with a medical professional and absolutely replace that prenatal with something so that your body never goes without the booster, if you will.


Kevin Rolston [00:13:13]:

Jessica’s expertise in this field is undeniable. Her journey has not only been about finding solutions for herself, but also about empowering others facing similar challenges. So when it comes to offering advice to any women grappling with hair loss, Jessica speaks from a place of both professional authority and personal empathy.


Jessica-Marie Laurent [00:13:33]:

The best thing that I can recommend for any female in any situation is do your research. So, of course, if you’re becoming pregnant or if you notice something is happening throughout or during your pregnancy, do a little bit of research. Make somebody aware, whether it be a hair loss expert or a doctor. Don’t sit in silence and think that you’re alone or that nobody else has ever experienced it because you’re not alone. The likelihood is that one person in the millions of people in the world have experienced the problem that you’re going through. And there is always, in most cases, especially if we’re talking about hair loss, there is always a solution. There’s always something that can be done in order to bridge the gap.


Kevin Rolston [00:14:16]:

It was awesome getting to talk to Jessica. She’s got this amazing way of bringing positivity into her challenging situation while always being really down to earth. Focusing on solutions can help bring people who are facing similar struggles right here to the help they need. So if you or somebody you know is dealing with hair loss and you think some of Jessica’s knowledge might help them, please consider sharing with them this episode. And if you’d like to connect with Jessica Marie Laurent, just check out our show notes for her contact info. Thanks for listening to Hairpod. If you’d like to connect with us on social media to see Nick’s before and after pictures and hear about future episodes, just check us out at Hairclub on Instagram or visit our website w dot hairpodpodcast.com. Until next time.

			

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								Nick Wilkins: High School Hair Loss							
					
															
Nick Wilkins: High School Hair Loss

					
					
 by  | Mar 12, 2024 | Episode

				
				
				
				
				
				
				

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
Episode 03


Nick Wilkins:


High School Hair Loss

			

				
				
				
				
				Nick-Wilkins
			

				
				
				
				
				

			

				
				
				
				
				
High school hair loss is a reality for many young people. In this episode of HairPod, Nick Wilkins, a content creator and influencer, shares how hair loss affected his confidence, lifestyle, and career. His story highlights the emotional challenges of hair loss and the hope HairClub provides.


High School Hair Loss


    

  • Nick knew male pattern baldness ran in his family, but he didn’t expect it to start in high school.
    • 

  • During his senior year, he noticed significant hair thinning, causing his hairline to shift noticeably.
    • 

  • Initially in denial, Nick struggled to accept the changes to his appearance.
    • 



Early Hair Loss Struggles


    

  • Nick’s hair was a vital part of his self-image, and losing it affected his confidence deeply.
    • 

  • He tried hiding his thinning hair with headbands but eventually avoided creating content altogether.
    • 

  • The fear of judgment and comments about his appearance caused him to step back from his public persona.
    • 



Exploring Solutions


Nick wanted to find a solution and prove that hair loss didn’t have to define him. After talking to his hairdresser, who believed nothing could be done, Nick decided to explore other options. His first consultation at HairClub gave him hope, and he brought a trusted friend for support. HairClub’s personalized solutions led to visible regrowth and restored his confidence to return to content creation.


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 complimentary consultation with HairClub today!


Want more information on our guest? Follow Nick @n1ckwilkins on Instagram.


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.


Watch the Episode


For an in-depth look at Nick Wilkins’ journey, watch the full episode below:



			

				
				
				
				
				
Episode.03 Transcript

				
Nick Wilkins [00:00:09]: Man, I went through a lot this past year. Like, gosh, if you look at photos me just one year ago, that was like my worst time was around this time. So I’ve only been on this stuff for like a year and I’ve already seen all these changes and I think it’s because I hopped on it so fast. You.


Kevin Rolston [00:00:43]: Welcome back to Hairpod, the podcast where you get to hear real people share stories about their hair. Each journey is as unique as the next. Some may find their hair thinning easier than others, but it’s a universal experience we all go through at some point. And to all of our listeners out there grappling with their hair loss, remember, you’ve got a community right here with you. Can you imagine Navigating High school while your hairs decided to, well, graduate early, we’ve got Nick Wilkins joining us, a bright young guy in his 20s who’s been there, done that, and is now here to share his unique journey. When you look at him now, you’d never know that Nick had at one point lost a lot of his hair. So whether you’re holding on to every strand or simply curious about the human experience, stick around. We promise it’s a story worth hearing.


Nick Wilkins [00:01:36]: So when I started to hit my teenage year, like 1213, I started to focus on hair because I really liked my hair back then and I thought it was all cool and it was like super blonde. But I was looking at my dad and his brother and my grandpa, and there was just a lot of balding going on. I’m like, one day I might bald. It’s like, oh, man, I got to get a wife before that. I was like, thinking of all this stuff. I was like, overthinking it back then.


Kevin Rolston [00:02:02]: But yeah, you’re on a timetable.


Nick Wilkins [00:02:04]: Yeah, exactly. I was like, overthinking. I’m like, man, maybe when I’m 30 or something, it will start to happen. So I was like, dang, I got to get my life in check before then because, man, I was really afraid of it. It was like one of my biggest fears, which is funny, no doubt.


Kevin Rolston [00:02:19]: It’s legit.


Nick Wilkins [00:02:20]: Yeah.


Kevin Rolston [00:02:20]: So you have exactly what I was going through. I had that whole thing where I had this photo of my grandpa that was right there in the hallway every single day. And I do remember just like you, I was back in my teenage years. I was really worried about hair loss, and I started to see mine at about the age of 25. What was the first mark? What did you see and how early in your life did you notice that, okay, I am starting to lose my hair?


Nick Wilkins [00:02:45]: Yeah. So just like you, I would look at pictures of my dad when he was, like, starting to hit 20 and stuff, and he had still good hair. So I was like, all right, it’s not going to happen. When I’m 20 or 18. It’s not going to happen for a while. But when I started to hit 17, I started to look at photos of me that I was posting on my Instagram, and then I was comparing it to the year before. Then I was like, man, it looks a little bit more thin. It wasn’t like, crazy, but it just looks a little different. It’s harder to do, it’s harder to put up more. It was just like laying flat and kind of matted. But it wasn’t until I turned, like, 18 when it really all started just falling out. It was in my combs. It was on my collar of my shirt. There’s kids in my class saying, like, man, you got a lot of hair all over your shirt. Do you have a dog? And I’m like, no, this might be mine. But I was thrown off because they say you lose like, a hundred hairs a day.


Nick Wilkins [00:03:42]: So I was, Ah, this is just like my hundred hairs a day. That like it’s normal still. Yeah, but then it was starting to happen a lot more, and it was a lot more in the shower. My shower drain was getting clogged. It was all that stuff.


Kevin Rolston [00:03:56]: Now, Nick wasn’t just any kid struggling with a little shedding. He’s a full time content creator, and he started making videos long before his hair journey began. As his hairline shifted, so did his passion for the limelight, and he lost his creative drive.


Nick Wilkins [00:04:12]: I stopped posting. My whole job was to post online, and I just stopped. I couldn’t do it anymore because I was so afraid of people commenting about it. Because before then, they all compared me to all these famous people. They’re like, oh, you have such good hair. So it was part of my image was my hair. That was my top thing to be posting. That was kind of the reason why I was posting. I was excited to just put myself out there. But then it started to go, and I just completely stopped working and posting. I was like, Man, I got to get a different job. That’s where it was coming to. Yeah.


Kevin Rolston [00:04:43]: Now, did you try to do any. Kind of other cover up, wearing a hat or anything like that? Because that was one thing in my life where I would wear hats, but then you just get those certain social circumstances where a hat is just not going to cut it. Was there anything like you did with that? What was your process on trying to remedy your hair loss other than just dropping out of society?


Nick Wilkins [00:05:01]: I did this thing where I bought tons of hairbands, like hair bands, like workout hairbands, or just kind of like, I still have so many in my closet, but it was kind of like the style at my school. Like, a kid started wearing all these hairbands and everyone else was doing it. So I was like, okay, this is how I can cover it up. This is how I can do it. And I knew hats would also, I thought, hurt the hair even more. So I was trying to avoid wearing hats all the time. So hairbands was my big thing, and I would wear hats, but I never wasn’t wearing something on my head. I was always somehow covering it up, like Photos and everything. And I remember prom was, like, my worst day ever because I couldn’t wear a hat on prom, and there were so many photos of me everywhere. I hated being there. I wanted to go home. I couldn’t wear a hat. My hair was all sweaty. It wasn’t good.


Kevin Rolston [00:05:54]: Everyone who’s been through hair loss has moments like these etched into their minds. They happen to all of us at different times, and it can be tough if you feel like you’re going through it alone. And since none of Nick’s friends at the time were losing their hair, he really didn’t have anybody to confide in.


Nick Wilkins [00:06:10]: No, man, I was comparing myself to my friends all the time, like, they had such good hair. And I started to just watch a lot of YouTube videos, and I was doing a lot of searching just about hair loss, like, how it’s caused, and it gives you a million different answers. There was nothing that I could say, okay, this is me, because I was watching 30 to 40 year olds talking about it. I’m like, man, but I’m 18, so what am I going through right now? And I started to doubt that it was, like, genetics. I started to think it was like, maybe I was eating bad, maybe I was doing this or that. So I was trying to avoid the fact that I was just losing hair genetically. But, yeah, I was watching a lot of videos. And then it got to a point where my hair was just, like, dying. Like, the whole front of it, you could just tell I couldn’t cover it up anymore with my standing hair. And I went to, like, a hairdresser, and I remember talking to her about it. I’m like, do you know anything about hair loss? And she goes, no, she didn’t know too much. And she was like, everyone who I do hair for, they tell me that there’s no way to fix it. So I don’t think if you are going through hair loss, you can fix it. You can get different haircuts to help it out, to make it look more full. And I was like, man, you know what? I want to prove this wrong. I want to see if you actually can.


Nick Wilkins [00:07:22]: So, like, that day, I got home and I searched online, like, hair loss solution places, and the first link that came up was Hair Club. And I clicked it, and I signed the link, and I got on and, like, had my appointment the next week.


Kevin Rolston [00:07:42]: Stumbling upon a possible solution was the easy part. For many, including Nick, taking that leap to book and attend that initial appointment is a lot harder. I remember freezing up in the parking lot the very first time I tried to go in for a consultation. Yet for Nick, the nudge of a supportive friend was what he needed to step through those doors.


Nick Wilkins [00:08:03]: I had to bring my brother’s girlfriend with me. I had to bring someone with me. I couldn’t do it alone. I had to have someone come in with me because, man, I was embarrassed and I was just so scared because I didn’t know what was going to happen or what we were going to talk about. I compare it sometimes this sounds kind of weird, but I compare it to if you’re going to the doctors to find out that you have really bad cancer or something, you have to bring someone with you to come in for the appointment. It’s too hard to go by yourself, so you have to bring someone. So she came with me and that definitely helped. That pushed me to actually go.


Nick Wilkins [00:08:36]: I never backed out. Yeah. Glad.


Kevin Rolston [00:08:38]: That’s good. That’s awesome. Yeah. You’re braver than I am. Honestly, if I could just go back and if I could say one thing to myself, I’d be like, dude, just walk in the door. It’s a lot easier than you would think. I don’t know what I was expecting, why I thought it was going to be so traumatic.


Nick Wilkins [00:08:56]: I walked in, they set me up with someone who kind of told me what I’m possibly going through, and they gave me, like, two routes on what I could do to try to fix my hair. And it was so easy. I went home the next day and then I told them I want to do it. I thought about it for a little bit and then they got me in contact with another person and they signed me up for everything and they started sending me all the products. And it was like, I’d say, after, like, two months of doing it, I started to see changes already. It was just exciting to see, but it wasn’t, like, crazy yet. I was still going through a lot of shedding when I was starting everything, and it was still kind of like a lot of doubt, but I still had a little bit of hope coming in because I lost my hair really quickly. So I was like, maybe I could fix this.


Nick Wilkins [00:09:40]: But my one thing I wish I did was going in even earlier because there’s like, parts of my hair where I’m like, oh, man, if I went like two months earlier, stopped overthinking it, maybe I could have fixed that part of my hair, you know what I mean?


Kevin Rolston [00:09:56]: Now I hope your content is getting created and you’ve gotten back out into your social life and that you’re feeling confident. Because honestly, man, I look at you right now because I can see you. You got an amazing head of hair. And I would never, ever in my life suspect that you ever for 1 second doubted yourself and had any kind of hair issues.


Nick Wilkins [00:10:15]: Oh, thank you so much. That means so much. That’s like, one of the biggest compliments you can give me. But yeah, man, I went through a lot this past year. Like, gosh, if you look at Photos me just one year ago, that was like my worst time was around this time. So I’ve only been on this stuff for like a year, and I’ve already seen all these changes, and I think it’s because I hopped on it so fast.


Kevin Rolston [00:10:35]: Absolutely. And tell me about your confidence now compared to then and what a difference it is.


Nick Wilkins [00:10:41]: My life resumed once I got the hair back. The little gap where I had a lot of hair loss, that’s kind of a blur, and I kind of reconnected over it kind of like a mountain. Like, I reconnected it and it kind of resumed my life. So I’m posting now. It’s still my job. I don’t go to college because of my social media and stuff. So, yeah, it all worked out for me. I’m able to post and confidence is fully back.


Nick Wilkins [00:11:05]: And so that’s awesome, man.


Kevin Rolston [00:11:08]: Well, Nick, if you want people to find you and see what you’re producing, where would people be able to find and see what kind of content you’re creating?


Nick Wilkins [00:11:15]: I would say Instagram. Instagram is the best for me. My handle. It’s Nick Wilkins. But the I in the Nick is just the one, and that’s just Nick Wilkins on Instagram.


Kevin Rolston [00:11:25]: Very cool, man. Well, I am so happy that you were back in the game. You were living the life that you intended to live, and I’m glad Hair Club could be there for you, man. Thanks for taking the time, Nick.


Nick Wilkins [00:11:35]: Of course. Yeah. Thanks for having me. This was great.


Kevin Rolston [00:11:42]: You know, Nick’s story really resonated with me because I had my own issues with hair loss. It started with a photo and then a dome camera we had in our studio. And trust me, our audience noticed as well, and they would always make comments, and it really affected my confidence. And we’re so glad that Nick has gained back his confidence to be out there posting online again. It just goes to show that there is hope after hair loss. And if you know anyone who needs to hear this message, think about sending them this episode. Thanks for listening to Hairpod. If you’d like to connect with us on social media to see Nick’s before and after pictures and hear about future episodes, check us out at HairClub on Instagram or visit our website, podcast.hairclub.com.


Kevin Rolston [00:12:27]: Until next time.

			

				
				
				
				
				

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								Heather Brooke: Overcoming Trichotillomania							
					
															
Heather Brooke: Overcoming Trichotillomania

					
					
 by  | Mar 5, 2024 | Episode

				
				
				
				
				
				
				

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
Episode 02


Heather Brooke: Overcoming Trichotillomania

			

				
				
				
				
				
				

					
				

				
			

				
				
				
				
				

			

				
				
				
				
				
Trichotillomania is a hair loss problem that many face, most have never heard of. It may not be well-known but this hair loss issue transcends age and gender. It is a hair-pulling disorder, and involves frequent and irresistible urges to pull out hair from your scalp, eyebrows or other areas of your body. At just nine years old, our guest, Heather, began experiencing the overwhelming urge to pull out her hair.


Join host Kevin Rolston as he engages in an enlightening conversation with Heather Brooke – a licensed professional counselor, beauty pageant champion, and the mind behind the children’s book, “Where’s My Hair? A Trichotillomania Story for Children.”


Effects of Trichotillomania


After experiencing a traumatic event at 9, Heather’s coping mechanism manifested as pulling out hairs—starting from her eyelashes, moving to eyebrows, and eventually her scalp. Because she had naturally long eyelashes and voluminous hair, the impact remained concealed from her family for a while. When her family began to take notice, Heather hid the truth – that she was pulling her hair out. A discernible bald patch on Heather’s head was the turning point, prompting her family to explore possible remedies.


Opening Up About Trichotillomania


Unfazed by her hair loss challenges, Heather Brooke courageously participated in beauty pageants throughout her life, from childhood and into her adult years. As a young contestant, wigs and clip-in extensions became her trusted companions to help cover the bald areas. In 2017, Heather competed in the Ms. Woman Colorado United States pageant. Her association with HairClub provided her with optimal hair solutions and she ended up taking home the crown!


Looking for Trichotillomania Solutions


Throughout her life, Heather has explored various treatments. It is an ongoing process, as she still struggles with trichotillomania today. Not much research has been done on Trichotillomania, though it is a recognized mental health disorder. Her hair system from Hair Club covers the “trigger points” caused by her Trichotillomania which reduces her urge to pull her hair out.


Where is My Hair? A Trichotillomania Story for Children


Heather is now a licensed professional counselor and has worked with kids who also have Trichotillomania! One of her young clients inspired her to write a children’s book that could help them understand Trichotillomania better.


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!


Connect with Us


We appreciate your interest in this episode of HairPod. To stay updated on future episodes and share your stories, follow us on Instagram: @HairClub.


For more information on Heather Brooke and her work, visit her official website: Heather Brooke, LPC.


Watch the Episode


For a more in-depth understanding of Heather’s journey, watch the full episode below:




Want more information on our guest? Pick up a copy of Heather’s book, “Where Is My Hair? A Trichotillomania Story for Children” on Amazon


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.

			

				
				
				
				
				
Episode.02 Transcript

				
Heather [00:00:05]: When I was a kid. I was probably about five-years-old when I started competing in pageants. But when I was around nine- or ten-years-old, I was sexually abused by an older cousin. And it wasn’t long after that I started developing a disorder called trichotillomania. So the person who has the disorder actually pulls out their own hair. And the best way that I can describe it is as a coping mechanism for all the trauma that I was going through and experiencing.


Kevin Rolston [00:00:57]: Welcome back to HairPod, the podcast where we dive deep into the personal stories, the struggles and the ultimate transformations of those facing hair loss. I’m your host, Kevin Rolston, and we’re here to shed light on this experience so many people share and most importantly, the solutions that have brought confidence back into their lives. If you’re dealing with hair loss, remember, you’ve got a community right here. Follow us on Instagram, and if this is your first time listening, please subscribe to get notified whenever we have new, inspiring stories to share. Our guest for this episode is a beacon of hope for people facing hair loss due to trichotillomania, a disorder that causes individuals to pull out their own hair. Heather Brooke is a therapist, beauty pageant competitor, and children’s book author. So whether you’re going through your own hair loss journey or simply here to understand and support, we know you’re going to find Heather’s journey inspiring. Hello, Heather.


Heather [00:01:58]: Hi, how are you?


Kevin Rolston [00:02:00]: I am doing great. Tell me a little bit about your… Hair journey, because you’re started in a different place than what most people do. You were doing beauty pageants as a child and you started having hair loss issues. Why was that?


Heather [00:02:18]: Yeah, so actually, when I was a kid, I was probably about five-years-old when I started competing in pageants. But when I was around nine- or ten-years-old, I experienced some trauma. I was sexually abused by an older cousin, and it wasn’t long after that that I started developing a disorder called trichotillomania. So unlike a lot of people with hair issues, hair loss issues, theirs are usually natural or medical or something. Trichotillomania is actually a hair-pulling disorder. So the person who has the disorder actually pulls out their own hair. And the best way that I can describe it is as a coping mechanism for all the trauma that I was going through and experiencing.


Kevin Rolston [00:03:06]: What did that look like? How noticeable was it? How did your parents deal with this situation?


Heather [00:03:12]: Yeah, so my journey, it started out it wasn’t super noticeable, super quick. I could actually remember the first time that I pulled, and my trichotillomania began with my eyelashes, not from my head. And I was in the hallway at our house, and I had an eyelash that kept poking me in the eye. And I went to a mirror in our hall and was just trying to straighten out the lash and as I was pulling on it to try to straighten it out, it came out. And when it came out, there was like this release. I’m a therapist as well, and so the one thing that I can compare it to is for people who do self harming and cut. There’s that release that people get when that happens. And that was kind of what that felt like for me when I pulled that lash on accident.


Heather [00:04:06]: That wasn’t even intentional, but that sudden release that came, it was like, for a brief moment, all of the stress and anxiety that I had been holding inside was gone. And it almost creates, like, endorphins, like a high, but like any high, you have to continue the behavior to continue to get it. And so for me, that started with my lashes, and it took probably months before anybody ever noticed that. When that became noticeable, I moved to my eyebrows thinking, oh, if I pull from somewhere else, then maybe I’ll stop pulling from there. That didn’t work. So my parents thought that I was shaving my eyebrows. And it probably wasn’t until three or four years after I actually started pulling that I developed enough bald patches on my head, because at that point, I had started pulling from my head that I had developed enough bald patches that it was noticeable.


Kevin Rolston [00:05:04]: About what age were you at this time?


Heather [00:05:07]: 13 or 14.


Kevin Rolston [00:05:09]: And was it your parents that stepped in and said something? Did you hear anything from kids in your school? How was it that it really kind of first came to light to them?


Heather [00:05:18]: Yeah. So my grandmother, I believe, was actually the first person who noticed. I always had really long eyelashes, and I had, like, Brooke Shields eyebrows as a kid. And so when my grandmother was looking at me one day, and she was like, what happened to your eyelashes? And I didn’t know what I was doing. I didn’t know why I was doing it and why I couldn’t stop. So I was just like, oh, I was trying to curl them with one of those eyelash things. So I lied about what I was doing. And then when I moved to my eyebrows and my parents thought that I was shaving my eyebrows, I just allowed that to continue because I didn’t know what I was doing.


Heather [00:05:56]: I felt so weird that I was doing this, and I couldn’t stop, and I didn’t know why. And so it was when I was 13 or 14, I was up really late one night watching a, it was like an infomercial or something that was on television, and it was about wigs. And as I was sitting there watching this infomercial, there was a woman on there who started talking about pulling her hair, and then she started talking about these fake eyelashes and different things. But as she was talking, she said, trichotillomania. And a couple of days after that, my mom noticed a bald patch on my head in the pool. We had been swimming, and I wore at that point, I was wearing I had always had super thick hair, and I think that’s one of the reasons that other reasons that it took so long to notice. But I’d always had super thick hair, and so I just got to the point where I was always wearing my hair in a ponytail. But this one specific day, she was coming out of the pool behind me, and my ponytail had moved enough that she could see the bald spot.


Heather [00:07:09]: And so when she said something to me about it, I was like, okay, I saw this commercial. I think this is what I have. And I told her, and she said, okay. And so she scheduled an appointment with me to see the doctor that she worked for. And so I went in, he diagnosed me, and then he made a referral to a psychiatrist and put me on some medications, and that was kind of where the treatment for it started.


Kevin Rolston [00:07:41]: Even though the trichotillomania was causing some bald patches on Heather’s scalp, she never let that stop her from competing in beauty pageants.


Heather [00:07:50]: I competed off and on throughout high school, even with my trichotillomania. I competed some years with a wig, some years with glue-in extensions or clip-in extensions.


Kevin Rolston [00:08:05]: In between pageants and trying to be a normal kid, Heather started to receive different treatments for trichotillomania. Trichotillomania isn’t one of those things you treat once and just move on from. It’s a chronic issue that Heather still deals with to this day.


Heather [00:08:18]: Yeah, it was a lot. It’s still a lot because it’s still something that I struggle with, because there’s so little research done on trichotillomania, so there’s still a lot to be learned about it. And I’ve actually been part of a couple of different studies that are looking at how genetics can be involved, how other mental health issues can play into it, but there’s just so little known about it. So when I was diagnosed, I was put on an antidepressant that didn’t help, just made me sick. Then there was points where when I was under really high levels of stress, I would pull more. There would be times where I would pull subconsciously or unconsciously, like I would be pulling and not even be aware until after I had already been doing it, that I had done it. Sometimes it was conscious, so there was a mixture of those, but I tried everything that I could to hide it. By the time I was a junior in high school, I was almost completely bald.


Heather [00:09:12]: I had to wear a wig, I’m wearing a wig in my senior pictures. But by the Christmas of my senior year, I was able to let my hair grow out enough that I had this short, cute pixie cut. And it’s been more manageable since that point. I still struggle with it, it’s still something I struggle with on a daily basis. And I’ve tried covering it up, like I said, with ponytails, doing ponytails, doing wigs, wearing extensions, all different kinds of things. And when I got ready to compete for Ms. Woman Colorado, United States, I was looking for alternatives to help hide some of the spots that I had at the time. And I found HairClub.


Heather [00:09:53]: And HairClub was actually one of my sponsors, and so that kind of helped a lot with my journey.


Kevin Rolston [00:09:59]: Oh, wow, that’s so cool. Tell me a little bit about that. How did you exactly find them? Just the name popped up and you decided to go. And how did that all come about?


Heather [00:10:08]: I was just Googling hair salons that did extensions and looking for sponsors and HairClub popped up. At the time, I’d only heard of HairClub for Men, so I thought that it was just for men. But I did a little bit of research and found out that women used HairClub as well. And so I just emailed them. The manager at the Denver location messaged me back, emailed me back. We set up an appointment. I went in for a consultation, and then the next thing I knew, I was a HairClub client, and they were one of my pageant sponsors. And it was awesome because once I won the pageant, right, I was going to compete for Ms. Woman Colorado whenever I got HairClub as a sponsor. And when I actually won the title for the state, I jokingly, with my stylist, was like, I wish I could take you with me to nationals for you to do my hair at nationals. And so they were like, yeah, we’ll send her out there with you. So they actually sent her to Florida with me for nationals, and she did my hair for the competition.


Kevin Rolston [00:11:31]: Now tell me, with the Xtrands, how does that work with your trichotillomania that you still are trying to recover from? Do you pull out the Xtrands? Is there a desire to do that?


Heather [00:11:41]: Yeah. No, actually it’s really interesting because I have what I call trigger spots. So there’s specific areas that when I’m stressed or bored or not even paying attention, that I pull from. And so what Xtrands does is it covers the areas that are lacking hair, and then my own hair is still used in addition to that. So all of the edges I pull from the sides and the crown of my head. So all of the edges is my hair, and just the crown and the sides is a system that is glued to my scalp. And so I shave underneath the system so that the system fits snug on my scalp. That’s just a personal preference. Some people don’t do that, but I choose to do that. But it covers those trigger spots for me. So I don’t typically have the desire to pull anymore.


Kevin Rolston [00:12:38]: How about that? And tell me how do you feel with your system when you look in the mirror and you see that you’ve got a full head of hair and you don’t have those bald spots that you had had before? What is that like for you?


Heather [00:12:52]: It’s amazing. I wanted to cry when I saw myself in the mirror for the first time when they did the reveal, because it had been so long since I had seen myself with a full head of hair. Right. So when I look at myself, like, I don’t see the clips from the extensions, and I don’t see it’s really hard to tell where your hairline is at and where the Xtrands is at. And so it just gives me so much confidence to know that I can do whatever I want to with it. If I want to curl it, I can curl it. If I want to straighten it, I can straighten it. If I want to cut it, dye it, like, whatever I want to do to it, I have those options again. And I’m not just stuck with one hairstyle or fixing it just a certain way, because I have to worry about hiding the clips or the different things from the extensions. And so it really gave me back a lot of my confidence.


Kevin Rolston [00:14:02]: Listening to Heather today, it’s hard to imagine her lifelong battle with trichotillomania stemming from childhood trauma. Now, as a licensed professional counselor, Heather commits herself to assisting those grappling with mental health challenges. She’s even authored a children’s book on trichotillomania to help young clients facing the same struggle.


Heather [00:14:22]: Yeah. So I wrote, “Where’s my Hair? A Trichotillomania Story for Children” in 2018. And actually, I wrote it because where I was living at the time, people got to know me as a therapist who worked with people with trichotillomania because of my own personal experience. And so I would get a lot of kids. And so I had this young girl come in, she was 13 or 14, and she was on the autism spectrum, and she was nonverbal, and she started pulling her hair, and her stepmom brought her into me, and she said her occupational therapist says that she has trichotillomania. And she started giving me all of this information that the OT had given her about trichotillomania. And I looked at her, and I was like, the only thing that’s accurate about any of that is the name of the disorder.


Heather [00:15:18]: And so I use, with kids a lot, books, to help them understand what they’re going through, what they’re experiencing, that they’re not alone. And so I went online and started looking for a book that I could share with her in session, and I couldn’t find anything. There was stuff for professionals, there was stuff for adults, there was stuff for parents, but there was nothing specifically for children. So I sat down and wrote my book loosely based off of my own personal experience, and then I sent it to my mom and was like, I’m going to write a book. I’m writing this children’s book. Here it is. And my mom likes to draw. And so I was like, will you illustrate it for me? So my mom grabbed some pictures of my oldest daughter and some friends and she sat down and she illustrated the story for me.


Kevin Rolston [00:16:13]: Wow. That is so cool. What a great full circle story that you have to share with so many people. What an inspiration. And I really appreciate you taking the time to talk to us. If you had to talk to any other women out there for whatever reason, because hair loss, your story is unique. I don’t know how many other people are going to say that they have what you do, but hair loss is something that so many men and believe it or not, so many women are going through. And it’s hard to probably hear from another woman that’s got hair loss and is open about it. What would you say to them if they just feel kind of lost and they’re listening to this conversation saying, okay, what are my next steps? What do I do? How should I feel about this?


Heather [00:16:53]: Yeah, I would definitely say that you are not alone, first of all. We all experience hair loss in some form or fashion and are going to at some point, whether it’s from hormone issues, medical issues, mental health issues, medications, all of these different things that we experience and deal with in life can create hair loss at some point. Doesn’t mean that you won’t get it back. But we all struggle with something. And so the first thing would be that you’re not alone. The second thing would be that there is options and whether that is a treatment that HairClub has that will help your hair regrow or you’re doing something like I am with like Xtrands+. There are options out there and you just have to seek them out. 


Kevin Rolston [00:17:55]: We’re so lucky to have Heather on the show. Her resilience in the face of her own struggles and trauma and her commitment to supporting kids experiencing mental health issues is such an inspiring story for all of us here at HairPod. If you know a young person struggling with trichotillomania and you want to pick up a copy of Heather’s book, you can find a link to it in our show notes or search for “Where’s my Hair? A Trichotillomania Story for Children” on Amazon. Thanks so much for listening to Hairpod. If this episode made you think of someone you know who needs to hear this story, consider sharing it, for before and after photos of our guests and other announcements, check us out on Instagram. Until next time.



			

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Women’s Hormonal Hair Loss & What to Do

														

													
								Women’s Hormonal Hair Loss & What to Do							
											

				
					
Jun 18, 2024
Listen to this episode as we dive into the compelling narrative of Lissette Davila’s experience with hair loss and how it affected her confidence. Learn how hormonal imbalance caused her hair loss and how hormone replacement therapy helped her find her way.


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Growing Up with Trichotillomania

														

													
								Growing Up with Trichotillomania							
											

				
					
Jun 25, 2024
In this special release, Heather Brooke offers hope to those dealing with hair loss, whether from trichotillomania or other causes. For those feeling lost, her message is clear: there is hope, and effective solutions are available.


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								Joey Logano: Alopecia Doesn’t Slow Me Down							
					
															
Joey Logano: Alopecia Doesn’t Slow Me Down

					
					
 by  | Feb 27, 2024 | Episode

				
				
				
				
				
				
				

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
Episode 01


Joey Logano’s Journey with Alopecia

			

				
				
				
				
				
				

					
				

				
			

				
				
				
				
				

			

				
				
				
				
				
In the latest episode of HairPod, host Kevin Rolston engages in a candid conversation with Joey Logano, a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, about his personal battle with alopecia areata and hair loss. Joey shares his journey from initial diagnosis to finding a solution that restored his confidence.


Understanding Alopecia Areata


Joey’s experience with alopecia began unexpectedly. After a routine haircut, his wife noticed bald patches on the back of his head. A dermatologist visit confirmed it was alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks hair follicles, leading to hair loss. Despite trying treatments like steroid injections, Joey saw no improvement and sought alternative solutions.


Discovering HairClub


Frustrated with ineffective treatments, Joey turned to HairClub. During his initial consultation, he was impressed by the range of personalized solutions available for various hair loss conditions. The expertise and tailored approach provided by HairClub offered Joey a path forward.


Transformative Results


With HairClub’s assistance, Joey achieved a fuller head of hair, significantly boosting his self-esteem. As a public figure, the change was noticeable, and he received positive feedback from fans and the media. Joey emphasizes that solutions exist for everyone facing hair loss and encourages open discussions about the condition.


Life as a NASCAR Driver with Restored Hair


Joey also touches on how his hair restoration has impacted his life on and off the track. Despite the demanding environment of professional racing, including wearing helmets and exposure to high temperatures, his hair solution remains resilient and undetectable.


Giving Back: Supporting Children with Hair Loss


Beyond his personal journey, Joey is committed to helping others facing similar challenges. Through collaborations with organizations like HairClub, he aims to raise awareness and provide support for children dealing with hair loss, offering them hope and confidence.


 


Take Action Today


If you’re inspired by Joey’s story and want to explore hair restoration options, consider scheduling a complimentary hair loss consultation with HairClub. It’s the first step toward restoring confidence and control over your appearance. Book a Consultation with HairClub Today!


Stay Connected with HairPod™


Thank you for tuning in to HairPod! For more inspiring stories and expert advice, subscribe to the podcast and leave us a rating or review. To connect with us on social media or share your story, follow us on Instagram @HairClub.


Follow Joey on Instagram @joeylogano


Stay tuned for future episodes that celebrate hair restoration journeys and empower listeners to take charge of their hair loss story. HairPod is a production of TSE Studios. Our theme music comes from SoundStripe.

			

				
				
				
				
				
Episode.01 Transcript

				
Joey Logano [00:00:05]: Well, when the alopecia thing started up, that’s when they just did some, like, steroid shots. And for one, I didn’t really like the needles in my head for one thing. And it wasn’t working. That was the other thing that really wasn’t working. And I was like, okay, I need to, that’s when I drop back and punt here, there’s something. we’re not going down the right road here. I need to kind of find something better and different.


Kevin Rolston [00:00:59]: Welcome back to HairPod, the podcast where we dive into the personal stories, the struggles and the ultimate transformations of those facing hair loss. I’m your host, Kevin Rolston, and we’re here to shed light on this experience so many people share and most importantly, the solutions that have brought confidence back into their lives. If you’re dealing with hair loss, remember you have got a community right here. And if this is your first time listening, please subscribe to get notified whenever we have a new, inspiring story. Anyone who is a fan of NASCAR knows the name Joey Logano. Joey is a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and has made waves in the world of stock car racing with his achievements. But newer fans may not know that Joey has struggled with an autoimmune disorder called alopecia, which causes partial or total hair loss. Joey learned of his alopecia after a routine trip to the barber.


Joey Logano [00:01:55]: Well, it’s actually kind of mean, at this point, now it’s a funny story, but at the time I just went to get my haircut like I typically do at the local barber shop. And I got home and my wife goes, what did they do to the back of your head? I’m like, oh, what do you mean, what did they do babe? They gave me a haircut. She goes, they completely botched your haircut. I’m like, no way. And she shows me a picture and it’s just spots all over the back of my head. I’m like, well, it did botch my haircut. She’s pissed.


Joey Logano [00:02:22]: She’s like, this lady that cut your hair should not be working there. She’s going to screw up someone else’s haircut and then everyone’s going to look ridiculous like you look. And so she drives down there to tell this lady how she shouldn’t be cutting hair anymore. Well, fast forward a week or so and it’s not growing back. I’m like, hold on, I think there’s something wrong. I went to a dermatologist and they diagnosed me with alopecia. And I was like, okay, well, I don’t know what that means and what do I do? And the first thing I knew what it meant was that we need to drive back to the barbershop and apologize to the poor lady that cut my hair. That was the first thing we had to do.


Kevin Rolston [00:03:02]: Yeah, because I’m curious, alopecia, how many bald spots did you have? How prominent was it?


Joey Logano [00:03:10]: It comes in and out, honestly, it comes in and out sometimes in the back of my head, top of my head. Sometimes it shows up in my beard.


Kevin Rolston [00:03:18]: Oh, wow.


Joey Logano [00:03:19]: It’s different ways. It’s an autoimmune disorder, is what it is.


Kevin Rolston [00:03:23]: Okay.


Joey Logano [00:03:24]: There’s no rhyme or reason. They can’t really understand it. They say maybe stress, hereditary. They don’t know. On top of the alopecia, I was just going bald. Right? Like, that was the other piece.


Kevin Rolston [00:03:35]: Wait, do you ever come under any stress at all? What do you do that’s so stressful?


Joey Logano [00:03:40]: Yes. It just flared up here not too long ago. So it makes sense as the playoffs usually roll around, there’s a lot of stress that gets put on the plate. Yeah. Driving circles never fast enough is what it is, though. So always looking for more on that one.


Kevin Rolston [00:04:01]: It’s common for people who are losing their hair to try a few different solutions before they find one that works for them. Things such as reducing stress, changing their diet, taking supplements, essential oils, grandma’s remedies. Shoot, I got to admit, I have tried some crazy ideas myself. So you are like a lot of guys. You notice that you’ve got some hair loss issues, you’ve got a unique situation. And the reason why we’re doing the HairPod is because we’re trying to let people know that there are solutions out there. And it sounds like your first step was what a lot of guys’ first step is. And being in NASCAR like you are, you were able to wear a lot of hats.


Kevin Rolston [00:04:41]: But then tell me about the challenges with that, because I know being in the field that I’m in, where you do media is, you wind up with these social functions where a hat’s just not going to cut it. You kind of wound up with the same situation.


Joey Logano [00:04:55]: Yeah. And it happened whether, you know, you think about, for our stuff during the national anthem or the prayer before the race, you take your head off and then you see, like, pictures and stuff afterwards. You’re like, golly, I’m like, I’m bald, honey. You kind of don’t realize it because it happens so slow, you know what I mean? But then eventually it’s like, yeah, I should just do something about it. I can, so why wouldn’t I? What’s wrong with that? And a lot of people, it’s a little awkward what direction we’re supposed to go here? But honestly, it’s normal, right. So many people deal with it, and if you can do something about it, why wouldn’t you? There’s nothing wrong with that. And who’s going to judge you for that, for wanting to be better? Right. Why do you go to the gym and work out? To be better. Look good, feel good.


Joey Logano [00:05:38]: Right. That’s kind of the same situation, I think, with your hair. And if it bothers you and you can gain some confidence from having hair, the great thing is that there’s a lot of different ways of going about it that you can have hair again. And I think that part’s pretty neat.


Kevin Rolston [00:06:03]: But after pursuing other options, Joey connected with HairClub as a hair solution and a partner and even a sponsor. Was your very first attempt at trying to do something about your hair loss, was it going to HairClub or did you try something else before going to HairClub?


Joey Logano [00:06:22]: I wasn’t educated enough to even know which direction to go and I just went to my local dermatologist that I’ve gone to and they have a couple options there, but they weren’t, like, great ones. When the alopecia thing started up, that’s when they just did some steroid shots where the alopecia spots were. And for one, I didn’t really like the needles in my head, for one thing, and it wasn’t working. That was the other thing, that really wasn’t working. And I was like, okay, that’s when I drop back and punt here. There’s something…I’m not going down the right road here. I need to kind of find something better and different. And so then when I went to HairClub it’s like, whoa, there’s a lot of different things I can do here depending on my situation.


Joey Logano [00:07:11]: And I learned about all the things they have and like I said, it’s different for everybody. Your issues would be completely different than mine and there’s a fix for all of them. And I couldn’t believe how many different avenues there was when I got there. That is the part that blew my mind. And they all were pretty simple, right? It was all quick and easy, okay, you can do this, you can do that. Some were permanent, some you got to be around a little bit more often. It just kind of depends on what your situation was. And so I was like, cool.


Joey Logano [00:07:40]: I felt really comfortable after leaving HairClub the first time because I walked in there feeling awkward and uncomfortable. And I thought at the end I was like, okay, I’m usually not a quick decision maker. And I was like, okay, well, that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to do that. Sounds good, see you next week.


Kevin Rolston [00:08:06]: When most people find a solution with the new hair system, one of the natural concerns is what are my limits? Being a race car driver, Joey naturally has an extremely active lifestyle. Flying around the track at nearly 200 mph, your hair is the last thing you want to worry about. So I had to know if Joey ever got nervous about bringing his hair system into new situations.


Joey Logano [00:08:31]: Only in the beginning I was nervous. Now I’m not. I’m not now because I feel very confident in everything now. But at first when things are new, you’re like, I don’t know, I don’t know about this jet ski. You know what I mean? I don’t know where I’m at with stuff. But you honestly kind of figure out your way, your things go and everything, and you get confident and comfortable in what you got, and it’s fine. But I’m telling you, when I asked a lot of questions before to a lot of people, I’m like, that’s fine, and they look at you like, you’re an idiot. Yeah, you can live your normal life.


Joey Logano [00:09:10]: What are you talking about? And I’m like, okay, well, I just wanted to ask, I don’t know. I’m being honest. It took a month or so before you get used to, for one, seeing yourself with hair. Right. You look in the mirror and you’re like, oh, who’s that guy? It takes a second to get used to it, for one. And then also how to live with it, just the way you live your life. Right. Like, all that stuff, like, you’re concerned it’s going to change and do all stuff, but it’s really just not a big deal.


Kevin Rolston [00:09:48]: What is the temperature like for you, and how does the hair feel? Because you got a helmet on, you’re in a car. I mean, I know I’m in South Florida, so when you come to Miami, Homestead, the temperatures in that car have got to be absolutely insane. So how breathable is your hair, and what does it feel like when you’re in those extreme temperatures?


Joey Logano [00:10:10]: I wouldn’t even know.


Kevin Rolston [00:10:11]: Yeah.


Joey Logano [00:10:11]: Wouldn’t even really?


Kevin Rolston [00:10:12]: Okay.


Joey Logano [00:10:15]: Honestly, you think the conditions that I am in inside a race car, it’s 30 degrees warmer than the outside air temp. So when you have a 90 degree day, it’s 120 degrees in the car. We just raced in Texas. It was 100 degrees outside. It was over 130 in the car.


Kevin Rolston [00:10:33]: That’s insane. Wow. Nothing.


Joey Logano [00:10:34]: I get right out and walk away. I don’t think twice about it, I got other things to worry about when I’m in the race car. If hair was one of them, I don’t want that distraction. I wouldn’t want the distraction. It’s not worth it to me as a competitor, this is like I wouldn’t even know. You know what I mean? I get out and I walk out, right. All I do now is I fix my hair a little bit before I get out of the car, because I actually have it.


Joey Logano [00:10:58]: You know what I mean? That’s the only thing that’s different.


Kevin Rolston [00:11:01]: What about the reactions you get? Have you ever had another driver tease you about your hair? Has there been anybody that’s done anything that’s made you feel self-conscious about it? And tell me a little bit about the confidence that having the hair does for you.


Joey Logano [00:11:15]: Yeah, the shock factor is real. There’s no way around that. Like, you first show up and be like, whoa, what’s different? What happened? It took a little bit for people to just kind of get used to it. Now it’s never even really brought up, which is what you want to get to, I think. Right. You don’t really want it to be a topic of conversation everywhere you go. But for me, think about it, I’m in the public eye as much as a race car driver can be, at least.


Joey Logano [00:11:45]: And so you’re getting a lot of reactions the first few days especially because when I first started having it, we raced at the LA Coliseum and one of the big banners there was a HairClub banner and it said Ask Joey. I’m like everybody’s asking me about it because it says to ask me. Well, I don’t think I have the best experience there, most realistic experience for the normal customer. They were telling people to ask me about my hair. So it’s probably a lot different for the normal customer, that’s not advertising it as much as I am.


Kevin Rolston [00:12:29]: So then if you’re going to do an appearance, say you’re on an American Idol, you’re doing Sharknado Twelve or something like that. Are you confident with how you do the hair yourself? Because for some people they feel like they can never get the hair the way a hairdresser does and it’s hard to style. And that is one of the things when you do have hair, you have the potential to have to style it and there’s a little bit of work that goes into it.


Joey Logano [00:12:53]: Well, there’s an education that goes into it because I didn’t know what to do at first, because it took a few times to learn how to style your hair. Because I was like, man, it just doesn’t look right or it doesn’t look as good as when I left HairClub. And honestly, I got trained as a girl. Show me how you do it. Give me the comb. Let me do it. Let me put the stuff, give me the stuff I need and fix me up. Train me how to, I want to make it look as good, so I learned how to do it.


Joey Logano [00:13:28]: It’s kind of funny because before I just combed my hair to make it look like I had hair, whatever hairstyle made it look like I had the most hair, you know what I mean? I had the comb over going and now it’s like, I can do anything I want. What do I do? There’s too many options. I don’t know what to do. So I had to learn a little bit. I want to look good, right? I do a lot of things on TV and as a race car driver, not just driving the car, but I do a lot of TV broadcasts and stuff like that for the Xfinity series, which is one level down from the cup series, but I end up doing the broadcast a lot for them. So I want things to look fresh all the time, look good. So I’m probably more of a frequent customer than most, but the option is there to go either way for sure. I try to schedule everything so I do it when I’m at home, but I can.


Joey Logano [00:14:30]: And I have been to other locations but not for a haircut or anything like that or freshen up or whatever. I’ve always kind of stuck to what I do, and I try to be consistent as much as I can, but we all know sometimes stuff comes up and you’re like, I can’t do it this week, but I got to get in there before I leave for, because sometimes I’m gone from home for a week at a time. I got to get in there before I leave, and can you fit me in here? And then it’s like, hey, hang on a second. They kind of move things around. Boom. Okay, you get in there. I’m like, all right, cool, and try to work together on that stuff. But I tried to be consistent and say, okay, this is when I’m going to be there.


Joey Logano [00:15:08]: This is what I’m going to, but yeah I mean, things change at the blink of an eye a lot of times and in our life, for sure. Yeah.


Kevin Rolston [00:15:17]: Now, I know you’ve got three kids and they’ve got something called Hair Club for Kids. Can you tell me a little bit about the Hair Club for Kids, why it really strikes your heart and why you think it’s such an important charity that HairClub does?


Joey Logano [00:15:30]: There’s a few kids that I know that have gone through that piece for them. And one of my friends that was part of the JL Kids Crew, where we bring kids to the racetrack, they’re going through a life-altering situation one way or another, and we bring them to the racetrack, give them this great experience and all that. Well, one of them that became good friends of us, actually is one of their Hair Club for Kids as well. And you just help give them confidence. Right. There’s already something different already, right. And people, it’s tough for them. Think about it, like as a kid showing up, being different than everybody else.


Joey Logano [00:16:10]: As an adult, you can somewhat handle that because you’ve gone through more of life or you’re more confident in yourself, you know who you are, those type of things. But as a kid, man, it’s even harder because you don’t know. And now you’re the different kid. And like I said, kids that aren’t real nice are going to say things, and it’s horrible, and it’s not their fault, right. It just happens. So the fact that HairClub came up with a fix for them in a charitable way, right. That part’s really neat.


Kevin Rolston [00:16:52]: HairClub is the solution that works for Joey. For so many people experiencing hair loss, the idea of going in and getting a consultation is really what’s holding them back. It’s difficult. Some people feel embarrassed about the whole thing, and others just feel that’s not going to work. Having been in their shoes, Joey offered sound advice to help those hesitant to take the first step.


Joey Logano [00:17:15]: I would say just go get the consultation and get comfortable going there the first time. Don’t make a decision before you’ve walked into the place, yes or no. Just say, hey, I’ve noticed I’ve been losing my hair. I’ve noticed I have an issue with this, this or this. And is there anything you guys got here, and let them do their job. Let them go in there and say, okay, evaluate what’s going on and send you some options. That’s like, my regret is that I wish I did something like that first. I wish I did that years ago, instead of waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting. If you get ahead of it, it’s a little easier.


Joey Logano [00:17:57]: And you don’t have that shock factor as much either, right? If you get ahead of it a little bit, like when it’s starting. And it’s been really cool for me to see how many people reached out to me saying, what did you do? I want to do something. I just didn’t know where to go or what to do or who to talk to. And all of a sudden I became that guy. And I’m like, I got you. I got the hookup, bro. Don’t you worry. I send them in.


Joey Logano [00:18:23]: So I think that part to me has been a lot of fun because it’s an insecurity that a lot of people have. It’s something that people don’t feel comfortable a lot of times talking about. And why not? Why not talk about it? It is what it is. You can’t do anything about it, so do something about it. You’re one fix. You got one option here. So what’s it hurt to go talk to somebody? This is what they do. So it’s not awkward when you get there because this is what they’re used to.


Joey Logano [00:18:53]: They’re used to people that don’t have hair, right. And then they give you hair. That’s their job. So it’s not even awkward at all.


Kevin Rolston [00:18:59]: That’s amazing. Well, you have a fantastic hair story. I love how you’ve embraced it. Awesome talking with you. Thanks for sharing your story, Joey.


Joey Logano [00:19:07]: Absolutely. Thanks for doing this.


Kevin Rolston [00:19:23]: That was Joey Logano. Dealing with alopecia is a challenge and it’s great to hear how Joey’s overcome that challenge and gone on to thrive and feel confident in the public eye. And if you haven’t done so already, follow him on Instagram at Joey Logano. If somebody you know is battling alopecia, let them know there is hope. Share this episode with them. It would go a long way. Thanks for listening to HairPod. If you haven’t done so, subscribe and leave us a rating and a review.


Kevin Rolston [00:19:53]: It would mean a ton to see Joey’s before and after pictures. Stay up to date on upcoming episodes. Get excellent tips about your hair or just connect with us. Follow us on Instagram at HairClub. Until next time.

			

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								Jeff El Zenny: Hair Loss Expert							
					
															
Jeff El Zenny: Hair Loss Expert

					
					
 by  | Feb 20, 2024 | Episode

				
				
				
				
				
				
				

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
Episode 00


HairPod™: Inspiring Hair Loss Journeys and Expert Advice

			

				
				
				
				
				
				

					
				

				
			

				
				
				
				
				

			

				
				
				
				
				

			

				
				
				
				
				
			

				
				
				
				
				
Welcome to the debut episode of HairPod™, the podcast where real people share their powerful stories about overcoming hair loss and reclaiming their confidence. Hosted by the charismatic Kevin Rolston, HairPod brings together personal experiences and expert insights to break the stigma surrounding hair loss. In this episode, Kevin sits down with hair loss expert Jeff El Zenny to discuss their unique journeys, the transformative impact of restoring their hair, and the exciting mission of HairPod.


From Hair Loss to Hair Care Expert


Hair loss is a deeply personal journey, as Kevin and Jeff reveal. Kevin, who started losing his hair in his mid-twenties, felt unprepared for the emotional toll it took, even though he expected it due to his family history. For Jeff, hair loss started even earlier, during high school, making him self-conscious and more introverted. Their shared struggles make their stories relatable to anyone dealing with hair loss.


Regaining Confidence with Restored Hair


Jeff describes the experience of getting his hair back as nothing short of life-changing. It empowered him to return to the activities he loved, whether hitting the gym, dating, or spending time with friends. Similarly, Kevin’s restored hair gave him a renewed zest for life. He tested the resilience of his new hair with bold activities like off-road Jeep rides, high dives, and even a hurricane simulator! Their transformations underscore the confidence and freedom that come with reclaiming your appearance.


Shattering Myths About Hair Loss Solutions


One of Kevin’s biggest realizations was discovering the diverse range of modern hair restoration options. Far from outdated misconceptions, HairClub offers innovative solutions that look natural and fit seamlessly into your lifestyle. This episode highlights the importance of exploring your options and taking control of your hair loss journey.


Resources


As part of our mission to empower listeners, HairPod invites you to take advantage of a complimentary hair loss consultation with HairClub. This opportunity offers personalized guidance and actionable steps to help you achieve the look and confidence you deserve. Take the  first step today!


Stay Connected


Thank you for tuning in to the first episode of HairPod! If you enjoyed our show, we’d love for you to leave a rating or review on your favorite podcast platform—it helps others find us and join the conversation. Got a hair loss story you’d like to share? Connect with us on Instagram @HairClub and become part of our inspiring community.


HairPod™ is a production of TSE Studios. Stay tuned for more episodes, where we’ll continue to celebrate hair restoration journeys and empower listeners to take charge of their hair loss story. 

			

				
				
				
				
				
Episode 00 Transcript

				
Jeff El Zenny [00:00:07]: I started losing my hair, you know, early in high school, and it was just, you know, going through all of the motions of losing hair. Right. So, like, I wasn’t able to style it. You were able to see through the scalp. I became a recluse. I just didn’t want to be in the public eye. I didn’t want to go out and want people to have the chance to make comments about my hair. So if I had to go somewhere I couldn’t wear a hat, I didn’t want to be there’s.


Kevin Rolston [00:00:48]: Welcome to the very first episode of Hairpod, the show where we get real about hair loss and how everyday people like you and me are navigating life and getting their hair back. I’m your host, Kevin Ralston. I’m here to tell you all about the show, share a little bit about my journey, and give you a taste of how a typical episode will be. As my friend Jeff El Zenny and I talk openly about our experience when it comes to hair loss and how we made it through. When I first heard about HairPod, I was so excited, because it’s so much more than just a typical podcast. It’s a community and a movement where we celebrate diverse hair journeys and experiences. Many of us are impacted by hair loss. Maybe you’re seeing some thinning.


Kevin Rolston [00:01:32]: Perhaps you’ve experienced hair loss or you’ve got a family member or somebody close to you who has. But even though so many of us can relate, there’s still a huge stigma when it comes to hair loss for both men and women. Many of us are trying to hide it, ignore it, or cover it up. There are not many resources out there that are sharing true, authentic stories the way we aim to do it. We want to break that stigma and give you hope. Again, your average podcast about hair loss tends to be a combination of dry interviews and medical jargon. At Hairpod, we’re going to be taking you on a journey and immerse you into our guest experiences. I can’t wait for you to hear from all of our awesome guests.


Kevin Rolston [00:02:11]: I’m going to take you on a Minnesota with my friend Jeff El Zenny, a hair loss professional and expert in the industry. We open up a dialogue about the stigma surrounding hair loss and just how hair loss can change your life and hold you back.


Kevin Rolston [00:02:29]: Hey. Welcome to the Hairpod. If you are here, you probably are struggling with your hair loss. Well, the good news is you’ve got a couple people here that have already been down the path, and hopefully we can help you out. Jeff, how the heck are you?


Jeff El Zenny [00:02:43]: I’m doing good, Kevin. Thank you for having me on the show today. Couldn’t be more excited. I really want to be able to help tens of thousands of people get their hair back, know, really go through the steps that we went through. Man, it’s quite an amazing feeling to have your hair back, your confidence back know, really, it just helps in all aspects of life, I think.


Kevin Rolston [00:03:02]: No doubt. Absolutely. I mean, it is a life changer. And one of the big things that I love about it as well is it makes you look younger. And as you get into your thirty s, I don’t think anybody at that age or older wants to look older. And so, look, I’ve even talked to some people in some of these conversations who were in their early 20s that was dealing with significant hair loss, and they were looking like they were in their early to mid thirty s at the age of 20. That’s tough. I even talked to a kid that was in high school, and he was self conscious about his prom pictures. I was like, Dude, that’s crazy, man. So the stories I’ve heard have just opened my eyes, and I’ve talked to so many people with hair loss, and I know you’ve talked to even more. No matter what age you are, everybody’s dealing with it.


Jeff El Zenny [00:03:49]: Absolutely. And you just kind of ratted me out there, man. So I’m that guy. So the guy you were just talking of prom pictures, early 20s, high school graduation, all of the above. So I started losing my hair when I was a junior in high school. And the problem with that was I looked so much older than I was. I was 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. So it was a major hit to the ego. You know me as this outgoing guy, and I’m always out and talkative and really just kind of living my best life right when I went through that, I became a recluse. 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.


Kevin Rolston [00:04:41]: I didn’t know how much hair loss could affect somebody’s life until it started happening to me.  I started losing my hair in my mid twenties. I went to another place and I found out about Finasteride, which is a pill that will help slow down your hair loss. And I thought, okay, I’ll just see how long I can ride this thing out. And you know, for about maybe 15 so years, it was good enough where I could kind of fake it. You could tell I was losing my hair, but it wasn’t anything that was too extreme. And so I became ball cap guy after that because I knew it was just not good. And we had a dome camera in the radio studio where I was working, and it was always shining down on my head. And we have a lot live chat room on YouTube and people would it would be laughy faces and look at Kev’s bald spot and all that kind of stuff. And man, I was so self conscious of it. I hated to go anywhere where I couldn’t wear a hat.


Kevin Rolston [00:05:36]: A formal event, any kind of black tie affair. You’re trying to figure out what kind of hat you could wear if we had to do any kind of show photos, promo photos for the show. I hated all those kind of moments. And I was at the point where I’m like, you know what? I think I’m just going to have to shave it all off because I look like that guy that was trying too hard. And I don’t want to be that in between guy with the hair all around the sides and so much gone up at the top.


Jeff El Zenny [00:05:59]:  Absolutely. I had one of my best friends growing up. He didn’t ever do anything about his hair loss, but this guy was men’s health fit, right? But he wouldn’t go anywhere. He couldn’t wear a hat. He perfect body in the gym all the time, all this stuff. Cool guy. But he literally wouldn’t do anything that he had to do where he was not allowed to wear a hat. So that’s how bad it affects people. And I get it. I understand it because I lived it.


Kevin Rolston [00:06:26]: But the great thing about this show is that we’re not just talking about the bad experiences. We want to give you hope. There are so many ways that you can get your hair and your confidence back. The hardest part could be taking that first step. And the thing that I find with so many guys today and ladies that are out there, especially who I don’t think can be or feel they can be as open as a lot of guys talking about their hair loss is where do you even go? You’re kind of lost. And at that time, I didn’t know what hair club was, and you got into it a lot earlier than I did. But I want to talk to a lot of people out there about the misconceptions because so the perception in my head was this was something for dudes in their sixty s or seventy s that they would slap a rug on top of their head, and it would be black, and the sides of their hair would be gray. And then they would think that they looked better, but they didn’t really look better.


Jeff El Zenny [00:07:22]: 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 and getting my hair back. And man, like I said earlier, it was a life changer.


Kevin Rolston [00:07:45]: No two people are going to have the same hair loss journey. And I feel like I’m one of those people that I really went through it all, everything from the Rogaines and minoxidils and laser caps and finasterides and all that kind of stuff that is out there. That’s the one thing I did discover, is that there’s not going to be one solution that’s probably going to be awesome for everybody. You got to go and figure out, first of all, what is a great solution to get you to where you want to look, because not everybody wants their hair to look the same. And my first moment of skepticism when I got out and I said, okay, it looks great, but can I live my life with what I got going on? And I know you’re an active guy, so one of the first things we did just for fun, too, with the show that I do was we want to try this thing out. So I get into a jeep, we rip the top off of it. I stand up. They’re blaring this thing right down a fast street.  I’m hanging out of it. Hair is holding on. I’m going off the high dive. I’m at the pool, and I’m like, will this thing stay on and be cool if I go off the high dive? No problems. I then go into a hurricane simulator that they have at the local science center, and we crank that thing up to a category two hurricane. And I got video of me with this thing holding on my hair. Yeah, it’s getting tossled, but it is still there, and it’s fully intact. I know you’re an active guy. Tell me about just what it’s like with you and how it doesn’t slow down your life and how you’re still living life.


Jeff El Zenny [00:09:06]: Yeah, that’s a great question, Kev. And I am super active, right. So that’s something that many people commonly ask, can I do all the things? Can I be active? Can I work out? Yes, you can. You could do all of the above. Right. So I’m in the gym five days a week, saltwater pool at the house, avid boater down here in South Florida, where it is hot and humid all the right. So, like, people have those questions, like, can you live in that environment? Absolutely. I go in and get my hair cut every three to four weeks, keep me looking good, keep me fresh, keep my hair looking 100% natural. But I’m able, in between those appointments to do every single thing that I’ve done my entire life. It does not slow me down. The only thing that’s really cool about it is now I look a lot better when I’m doing those fun things.


Kevin Rolston [00:09:51]: Well, Jeff, you are kindred brother to me in that fact, and I’m so happy that you found great success. Having conversations like this really helps break the stigmas of the things and the perceptions that you and I grew up with. And that’s why I really love having these conversations is to open people’s eyes so they can truly see that there’s a solution for them out there. You don’t have to suffer from that lack of confidence. You can just jump and do what we did. Jeff, always good talking to you, bud.


Jeff El Zenny [00:10:18]: You too, man. Great talking to you.


Kevin Rolston [00:10:28]: At Hairpod, we’re telling the unseen, untold. Stories of hair loss. Join us as we break the stigma uplift each other, and most importantly, let you know that if you’re dealing with hair loss, you’re not alone in this. Whether you face your own hair loss struggles like I have, or you’re just interested in the human experience, our guests’ incredible stories will motivate and inspire you to reclaim your story and your confidence. Subscribe to HairPod today and tell somebody else about the movement we’re starting.

			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
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My Hair Loss Journey with Kevin Rolston

														

													
								My Hair Loss Journey with Kevin Rolston							
											

				
					
Jun 4, 2024
In this episode of HairPod, our host Kevin Rolston shares his own journey with hair loss, offering guidance for those facing the same challenges. Listen in to hear what he struggled with and how he found the right solution for him.


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