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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.


Female vs. Male Pattern Hair Loss


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


How Effective is Finasteride?


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


Finasteride as a Preventative Measure


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


Is Finasteride Right for Me?


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


The Best Treatment for Hair Loss is Comprehensive


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


Empowering Resources

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


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

			

				
				
				
				
				
Episode.34 Transcript

				

			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
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Heather Brooke

Nick Wilkins

			

			

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
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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

				

			

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Heather Brooke

Nick Wilkins

			

			

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
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								What is Trichotillomania							
					
															
What is Trichotillomania

					
					
 by  | Sep 30, 2024 | Episode

				
				
				
				
				
				
				

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
Episode 32


What is Trichotillomania?

			

				
				
				
				
				Heather-Brooke-032-blog
			

				
				
				
				
				

			

				
				
				
				
				
In this episode of HairPod, we shine a light on trichotillomania (also known as trich or TTM), a condition that causes people to compulsively pull out their hair. We are honored to have Heather Brooke, a licensed professional counselor and an individual with lived experience of TTM, join us to discuss this often misunderstood disorder. Heather shares her journey with TTM, which began in childhood, and provides valuable insight for both those living with the condition and their support networks.


This episode is an essential listen for anyone looking to better understand trichotillomania—whether you or someone you love is affected by this disorder, or you’re simply curious about it. Join us as we explore Heather’s personal story, her professional experience, and strategies for managing TTM.


What is Trichotillomania?


Trichotillomania is a hair-pulling disorder that leads individuals to uncontrollably (and sometimes unconsciously) pull out their hair. The disorder can manifest differently depending on the person—some may pull hair from their scalp, while others may focus on eyebrows, eyelashes, or other body hair. The intensity of the condition varies greatly; some individuals may experience mild episodes, while others may struggle with more severe, daily compulsions. There is also no single age of onset, though it often begins in childhood or adolescence.


The causes of trichotillomania are still not fully understood, and research into the condition is ongoing. However, many experts believe that a combination of factors—including genetics, trauma, anxiety, and stress—could contribute to its development. Heather Brooke believes that her own TTM was triggered by traumatic experiences in her early childhood. At just nine years old, Heather began pulling out her hair and relied on the adults in her life to notice and intervene. Unfortunately, due to a lack of awareness and understanding about the disorder at the time, Heather did not receive the therapeutic help she needed right away.


Despite years of therapy and now being a licensed professional counselor herself, Heather still deals with the effects of trichotillomania. Her personal journey underscores the challenges many face: living with TTM is a continuous process of managing symptoms rather than a quick fix. However, this also means that even though a cure may not be available, there are ways to cope and live a full life despite the condition.


Coping with Trichotillomania


Currently, there is no known cure for trichotillomania. However, there are numerous tools and strategies that can help reduce its impact and manage its symptoms.


For Heather, stress and anxiety are key factors that exacerbate her TTM. Like many people with the disorder, she has found that finding ways to release stress is crucial for managing her compulsions. Regular exercise is one of her primary outlets, and she finds that going to the gym is a powerful way to channel her energy. However, during particularly stressful times, even this form of stress relief might not be enough. It’s in these moments that having multiple coping strategies becomes essential.


In addition to exercise, Heather emphasizes the importance of therapy. Working with a licensed professional, especially one with experience in TTM, can be incredibly beneficial. A therapist can help individuals identify the triggers that lead to hair-pulling episodes and develop personalized techniques to address them. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness practices, and even medications may be recommended as part of a holistic approach to managing trichotillomania.


Heather also advocates for self-compassion and patience. The path to managing TTM is not linear, and setbacks are part of the process. For those living with the disorder, learning to forgive oneself and recognize that recovery is a journey is crucial.


Supporting Someone with Trichotillomania


One of the most important themes of Heather’s conversation is compassion. For friends, family members, or partners of someone with trichotillomania, understanding and empathy are essential. It can be easy to suggest to someone with TTM to “just stop pulling your hair,” but this kind of response can be damaging. Hair-pulling is not a conscious decision, and the compulsions are often driven by deep-seated psychological factors that require understanding, not criticism.


If you’re supporting someone with TTM, start by educating yourself about the condition. Ask questions and listen without judgment. Remember that the person struggling with trichotillomania likely feels a great deal of shame or embarrassment about their behavior, so it’s vital to create a safe and supportive environment for open communication. Rather than focusing on the physical symptoms (like hair loss), show concern for their emotional well-being.


For children with TTM, Heather has written a children’s book called “Where Is My Hair? A Trichotillomania Story For Children.” This book helps kids understand what they’re going through and introduces the idea that they are not alone in their struggles. Whether you are a parent, teacher, or friend, this resource can help foster empathy and understanding for young ones dealing with the condition.


Additionally, if trauma or emotional distress seems to be at the root of someone’s TTM, it may be helpful to gently recommend counseling. Healing from trauma can be a key step toward reducing compulsive behaviors. However, it’s important to approach these conversations with care and avoid pushing someone before they are ready to seek help.


Resources for Managing Trichotillomania


If you or someone you know is living with trichotillomania, there are a number of resources available to support you on your journey:


    

  • Therapy: Seeking out a licensed professional counselor who specializes in TTM or related disorders can be incredibly helpful. Therapists can offer individualized treatment plans, coping strategies, and emotional support.
    • 

  • Stress-Relief Strategies: Identifying healthy outlets for managing stress is key. Whether it’s exercise, mindfulness, or creative activities, finding what works for you can make a significant difference.
    • 

  • Support Networks: Connecting with others who have similar experiences can be a source of strength and validation. Consider joining a support group for people with TTM or participating in online forums to share your journey with others who understand.
    • 

  • Educational Materials: Books like “Where Is My Hair? A Trichotillomania Story For Children” by Heather Brooke provide an accessible way for younger audiences to understand the condition. It’s also a great tool for parents and caregivers to start conversations with children about their experience with TTM.
    • 



Conclusion


We hope this episode of HairPod has offered a meaningful and compassionate look at trichotillomania. While living with TTM can be challenging, hearing from people like Heather Brooke reminds us that we can navigate life with this disorder through self-awareness, therapy, and the support of those around us.



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.32 Transcript

				

			

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								Why I am A Hair Loss Stylist							
					
															
Why I am A Hair Loss Stylist

					
					
 by  | Sep 24, 2024 | Episode

				
				
				
				
				
				
				

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
Episode 31


Why I am a Hair Loss Stylist

			

				
				
				
				
				hair-loss-stylist-Rachel-Rivera-031-blog
			

				
				
				
				
				

			

				
				
				
				
				
When you’re going through hair loss, one of the hardest parts can be trusting someone to help you. What if they don’t get it? What if they make everything worse? Or worse – what if they laugh? Our guest today is here to help ease your fears. If you’ve ever wondered what a hair loss specialist does or wanted to hear why people get into that field, this episode is for you. We had the opportunity to talk to Rachel Rivera, Kevin’s personal hair loss stylist and ask her what it’s like to do her job, building trust with clients, and helping them feel their best.


From Salon Stylist to Hair Loss Specialist


Most hair loss stylists begin their careers working in regular salon and then eventually transition into hair restoration, and Rachel followed that path as well. When faced with some of the typical challenges of being a salon stylist, she started to wonder if there was something else out there for her. She saw a job posting for HairClub, and she decided to go in for an interview to get an idea of what working there might be like. The rest was history – she knew specializing in hair restoration would be a challenge, but Rachel’s love of learning inspired her to pursue styling hair for people with hair loss!


 How This Hair Loss Stylist Connects With Clients


 Building trust with people who have experienced hair loss can be more challenging than with people who haven’t. Some folks have tried every internet remedy and are skeptical that any hair loss solution can give them the results they’re after. Others are scared to even reach out to ask for help from a professional – the stigma that surrounds hair loss can be paralyzing. Rachel has compassion for her clients and builds trust by taking the time to get to know each client as an individual, and by communicating extensively with them about what results they want and how they can get there.


 Finding The RIght Hair Loss Stylist Matters


 Hair loss stylists aren’t always easy to find! Hair loss specialists have a lot of knowledge about the way hair follicles work and can help you determine what kinds of hair loss solutions might be right for you. The average hairstylist may not have that level of education, so it’s important to seek out someone who can give you accurate information as soon as you begin noticing your hair loss. But it’s also important to find someone who you can see yourself working with over the course of years – as your needs change or your hair loss progresses, a stylist that knows you well can help you achieve the look you want and even experiment with changing things up if that’s what you want to do. If you’re looking for a new hair loss stylist, we hope you find someone as compassionate and knowledgeable as Rach


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.31 Transcript

				

			

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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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just launched


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Listen to HairPod™ on various streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts. Subscribe and be the first to listen to new episodes.


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								My Hair System Routine							
					
															
My Hair System Routine

					
					
 by  | Sep 16, 2024 | Episode

				
				
				
				
				
				
				

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
Episode 30


My Hair System Routine

			

				
				
				
				
				Kyle-Weatherman-030-blog
			

				
				
				
				
				

			

				
				
				
				
				
Hair system care and the associated routines can feel overwhelming when you’re already losing your hair and don’t feel like you have time to add another thing to your busy schedule. Today’s guest proves that caring for a hair system takes no more time than his hair routine back before his hair loss started. This week, we sit down with NASCAR driver Kyle Weatherman to discuss his personal experience with genetic hair loss and his decision not to accept going bald. Beginning in his mid-twenties, Kyle faced the challenge of thinning hair head-on, deciding to take control with a solution that worked for him—a hair system. 


Hair System Care & Kyle’s Routine


How much maintenance does a hair system require? In Kyle’s experience, it doesn’t take much more than having hair grow out of your head. He lives a fast-paced lifestyle (pun intended), and he finds his hair system surprisingly low-maintenance. Since he travels for races every week during his busy season, he needed a solution that wouldn’t be too cumbersome. Kyle has a stylist he has worked with who cuts the system and blends it with his hair, giving him a polished, natural look. Together, these factors keep him feeling confident, even on race days. That’s right – Kyle’s system stays under his helmet in a stock car, where temperatures can climb to 130 degrees Fahrenheit.


Tailoring Your Hair System to Your Unique Needs


Everyone’s hair journey is different because no two humans have the exact same needs. We all have different skin types, hair textures, and hair loss patterns, meaning hair solutions must be tailored to the individual they’re meant for. Kyle, for example, sweats quite a bit. Luckily, the stylist he works with determined which adhesive would work for him and offered a breathable lace option for his hair system to keep him comfortable. Finding a solution tailored to you is crucial, and working with an expert hair loss professional can help get you there.


Hair Solutions and the Leap of Faith


Going bald wasn’t an option for Kyle, as he doesn’t feel like himself without hair. He is grateful to other NASCAR drivers who have been so open about their hair loss issues and how they fixed them. His wife has also experienced hair loss, and she was a supportive voice, encouraging him to seek options and do something like this for himself. For those who don’t have a support network like that, Kyle wants anyone out there dealing with hair loss to take that leap of faith and book a consultation just to see if it’s a possible fit. As Kyle’s story shows, there’s a solution out there for everyone, and sometimes, it just starts with a single step.



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.30 Transcript

				
Kyle Weatherman [00:00:04]:
I know this is easier said than done, but I’ve done it is just go and just do it. Whether it is just going in for the consultation at first, having them meet with you and seeing, you know, just what it’s about, what it’s like, going and meeting with them and you understanding how they’re there for you and they’re going to take care of you and they want you to make you feel good. That’s what it’s all about.


Kevin Rolston [00:00:38]:
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. Today on hairpod, we’re excited to welcome Kyle Weatherman, a rising star on the NASCAR circuit. His career has taken him from the high speed straightaways of the track to the twists and turns of a stock car drivers world, attending formal sponsored dinners, being photographed by the press, and living as an athlete who is often in the public eye. A few years ago, Kyle noticed his hairline starting to recede. And those of us who have genetic hair loss know that even if you can see it coming like Kyle, it doesnt necessarily make the emotions of losing your hair any easier. Luckily, he had competitors in the NASCAR community who were open about their hair loss and their chosen solutions.


Kevin Rolston [00:01:40]:
We already spoke to Joey Logano and Frankie Muniz about their hair journeys, and if youd like to check out what they had to say on the subject, were going to link you to their episodes in the show notes. For now, though, let’s dive into Kyle’s transition to using a hair system, his experiences on and off the track, and the care routine that keeps him looking and feeling his best.


Kyle Weatherman [00:02:06]:
I just turned 27 this past week, but it started probably 23 24. That’s whenever I really kind of started noticing it and just did something about it, you know, basically a year and a half ago. So, yeah, just, it started early. It started really early for me. And I think racing had a big part of that, wearing the helmet and stuff like that all the time, and then, you know, had the sponsor hat on and just always wearing a hat and genetics, right. I feel like just didn’t get, didn’t get the good gene for hair, right?


Kevin Rolston [00:02:37]:
Yeah, I had that awareness as well. I had a maternal grandfather, and I’d always heard that that was where it was going to come from, and there was a photo of him in my hall growing up. And so I always kind of looked at that and I thought, oh, man, I think that’s probably going to be me one day. So I was on it. It sounds like you did what I did. You jumped on your hair loss issues pretty quick. What did you do and how long did it take and what were the first remedies that you went for?


Kyle Weatherman [00:03:01]:
Gosh, it’s been so good. So there’s been actually a couple of drivers in the community that have jumped on hair club and just love it. The confidence that it brings back. First off, you know, you don’t have to go to the racetrack with a hat on anymore. These sponsor meetings and sponsor dinners that you go to, you know, you’re not.


Kyle Weatherman [00:03:18]:
You don’t wear a hat. So then, you know, you used to be embarrassed to show up and kind.


Kyle Weatherman [00:03:21]:
Of have such a receding hairline. So, yeah, I wasn’t terrible, but it was getting bad right, where it was receding back and, you know, just decided to do something about it, right. And I felt like, really, in anything in life, the faster you can, you.


Kyle Weatherman [00:03:37]:
Know, figure out that you might have.


Kyle Weatherman [00:03:39]:
A problem, something that you’re not confident with or just anything in life, the faster you jump on it and don’t dwell on it, the more confident you’re going to feel in every single area. And the more confident you are, just the better you’re going to be in life and strive to do something better every single day.


Kevin Rolston [00:03:55]:
Right.


Kyle Weatherman [00:03:55]:
So, yeah, I am so thankful that.


Kevin Rolston [00:03:58]:
There is and I’m blessed that there.


Kyle Weatherman [00:04:00]:
Is something like this that can provide something like this for someone like me that’s 28 or someone that’s 50, 60, whatever, it doesn’t matter the age group. I mean, you can even get younger than where I’m at if that’s something that, that you’re battling in. And honestly, I wish I’d done it earlier, you know?


Kevin Rolston [00:04:16]:
Right.


Kyle Weatherman [00:04:17]:
There’s that span of three, four, five years, you know, where I was, you know, getting in the shower and dreading it.


Kevin Rolston [00:04:24]:
Right.


Kyle Weatherman [00:04:24]:
Because, you know, when you’re washing your hair, you’re just gonna look at your hands and be depressed.


Kevin Rolston [00:04:30]:
Right.


Kyle Weatherman [00:04:30]:
You know, there’s. There’s that span of years that, heck, I wish I had just jumped on it earlier and took that leap of faith and did it earlier, but I’m glad I did it now.


Kevin Rolston [00:04:39]:
What was step one for you? Did you start with a Google search? Did you talk to somebody that you knew had gone through hair loss issues.


Kyle Weatherman [00:04:46]:
So I saw there was two drivers that did it before me, Frankie Muniz and Joey Logano. I saw that they kind of took that leap and saw that it looked.


Kevin Rolston [00:04:55]:
Great on both of them. I’m like, so why can’t I do that, right?


Kyle Weatherman [00:04:59]:
And just reached out and got with.


Kevin Rolston [00:05:02]:
The good group over here at hair.


Kyle Weatherman [00:05:03]:
Club and they took care of me. I’ve got my own personal stylist that I go to whenever I need it. Go up there in Winston Salem and her name’s Courtney, she takes care of me. She’s just amazing, right? And just brought the confidence back. And like I said, now I can go to these sponsor dinners, go to the racetrack, go on a date with my wife and feel confident and not have to worry about throwing on the 17 million hats that I have. I threw all those away.


Kevin Rolston [00:05:33]:
For Kyle, finding the right hair solution was a game changer. So much so that he felt like he didnt need to hide under a hat anymore. This might leave you wondering how much work is a hair system compared to the ease of just throwing on a hat before you leave the house or after, say, taking off your helmet after hours in a hot car. And I think thats such an important question. Nowadays. We are all short on time and no matter how badly you want to hear a solution like Kyle’s or otherwise, it may not seem feasible if it’s going to take up a lot of your time. I asked Kyle, a relatively new user of hair club, to give us all the details on his daily, weekly and monthly routines.


Kyle Weatherman [00:06:18]:
It hasn’t really changed. Besides that, I have hair, you know, in all honesty.


Kevin Rolston [00:06:24]:
Right.


Kyle Weatherman [00:06:24]:
So the routine is very similar to if you had real hair, right. You get in the shower, wash your hair, you know, you put shampoo in twice and just get it clean, lather it up with conditioner and that’s about it really. I mean, there’s different products that they recommend you do, you know, once or twice a month that kind of just strips everything, gets it clean, and then you can kind of just restart again. But other than that, the routine for me is super easy, you know, and yeah, the routine that it is going to appointments, I’ve got a whole list, I’ve actually got it on my fridge right here.


Kevin Rolston [00:06:59]:
A list of appointments that are already.


Kyle Weatherman [00:07:01]:
Set up with hairline. So they’ll peel the piece back, they’ll fix the hairline, that is once a month and then, no, that’s twice a month. And then at the end of every month, I’ll go and get it all the way taken off, you know, refresh it up underneath and then put back on. And it’s just. It’s incredible, right. You know, the piece itself is amazing, right? There’s very, very little lifting throughout the whole month span that it’s on for that full month. You’ll get it here and there. And like I said, I’m a little bit different as well because I’m in race cars that are, you know, 100, 3140 degrees inside those things with a helmet strapped on and sweating to death.


Kevin Rolston [00:07:39]:
Right.


Kyle Weatherman [00:07:39]:
So I’m not, I guess, a normal person in that state.


Kevin Rolston [00:07:43]:
Right?


Kyle Weatherman [00:07:43]:
And the product that I have and the piece that I have, you know, stands and with that type of duration.


Kevin Rolston [00:07:50]:
Right.


Kyle Weatherman [00:07:51]:
So it’s just incredible.


Kevin Rolston [00:07:52]:
And you have high confidence when you’re wearing it. You’re never worried about your system coming off in your helmet or anything along those lines.


Kyle Weatherman [00:07:59]:
I was initially.


Kevin Rolston [00:08:00]:
Right.


Kyle Weatherman [00:08:01]:
And as anyone would be, but, you know, just over time, I mean, it’s so reliable.


Kevin Rolston [00:08:06]:
Right.


Kyle Weatherman [00:08:06]:
And, yeah, no, I don’t have any.


Kevin Rolston [00:08:09]:
Doubt in my mind, right.


Kyle Weatherman [00:08:10]:
That when I’m taking the helmet off that it’s not going to not be there, you know? So I do have. And that’s the other thing, right? They set you up with this, like, little kit, right?


Kevin Rolston [00:08:19]:
And if something does start to lift or whatever, right.


Kyle Weatherman [00:08:22]:
And you’ll get areas towards the end.


Kevin Rolston [00:08:24]:
Of that month or whatever, it looks.


Kyle Weatherman [00:08:26]:
Like they’ll set you up, this kid, and you’ve got the exact materials that you’ll need to apply to that area that’ll make it go back down.


Kevin Rolston [00:08:33]:
Right.


Kyle Weatherman [00:08:33]:
So my wife’s got that with me.


Kevin Rolston [00:08:35]:
In her purse just in case something.


Kyle Weatherman [00:08:36]:
Were to happen, right. Whether it’s before the race, you know, we could fix it in the lounge or if it’s after the race or whatever, right. I’ve been a member for, I think, gosh, I don’t even know, probably. It’s almost close to a year now, and I honestly haven’t even. I haven’t even opened the kit.


Kevin Rolston [00:08:56]:
Having been with hair club for over a year, Kyle’s experience shows just how reliable and low maintenance a good hair system can be, even with a lifestyle as intense as his. But beyond reliability, choosing the right option can make all the difference in everyday comfort. The breathable lace base that he uses ensures that even in the heat of the moment, his hair system stays comfortable and natural looking. It’s all about finding the solution that works for your unique needs. And for Kyle, that’s exactly what he found.


Kyle Weatherman [00:09:33]:
The skin system, it can get a little bit hotter underneath. But the lace system that I have here. Incredible, right? You know, it lets the sweat through. It breathes. The skin system.


Kevin Rolston [00:09:43]:
Yes.


Kyle Weatherman [00:09:43]:
Is a little bit hotter.


Kevin Rolston [00:09:44]:
Right.


Kyle Weatherman [00:09:45]:
But it just. The hairline that it provides with the skin system is insane. But honestly, with the lace system here as well, that hair club provides, it’s. It is. It is right there with. With the skin system as well, in my opinion.


Kevin Rolston [00:09:57]:
Right.


Kyle Weatherman [00:09:57]:
So for me, I sweat a lot, and then obviously, what I do on the weekends.


Kevin Rolston [00:10:01]:
Right.


Kyle Weatherman [00:10:01]:
The lace system is definitely the way.


Kevin Rolston [00:10:04]:
To go for me.


Kyle Weatherman [00:10:05]:
Now, if I were to go do a photo shoot with you guys or any type of photo shoot that I would have towards the beginning of the year with sponsors and stuff like that, I would go with a skin system just for, you know, just an amazing hairline.


Kevin Rolston [00:10:17]:
Wow.


Kyle Weatherman [00:10:18]:
Okay. But this lace system here, you know, it provides, you know, very similar aspects and in a lot of areas. But to answer a few more of your questions, yeah, there’s. There’s no problem with. With heat or anything like that. There is a product that I apply, you know, once a week that’ll get rid of any type of itchiness sensation that you may have over a month span if you let it build up. But if you just take care of it weekly and just, uh, it’s called alive that they provide, it knocks it right out and you don’t even have to worry about it.


Kevin Rolston [00:10:47]:
Absolutely. No, it’s great. Yeah. So, I mean, that’s the thing to me, the options that are out there. And I’m, you know, curious how many roads you went down, because even with the hair systems that are offered, there’s varieties in that which I find to be absolutely amazing depending upon where you are, with what your needs are, what your budgets are, and the ability that hair club and various places have to work with you. Was there ever anything that you did before the hair system, or did you go right in and were you worth your hair loss to say, okay, it’s time to go right to a hair system?


Kyle Weatherman [00:11:17]:
Yeah.


Kevin Rolston [00:11:17]:
Hair system wise?


Kyle Weatherman [00:11:18]:
No, this is the first step that I took. I spent stupid money on other, like, whether it was pills or product that I could put in it to make it grow back. And you saw all these, you know, commercials that’s like, oh, your hair can come back.


Kevin Rolston [00:11:31]:
Right?


Kyle Weatherman [00:11:31]:
Yeah, it just didn’t work for me.


Kevin Rolston [00:11:33]:
Right.


Kyle Weatherman [00:11:33]:
And I. And I spent way too much money trying to do that. And once again, I wish I’d have just three or four years ago before where I took the leap here. I wish I’d just done it back then and I’d have saved money, not wasted my time there, and just got it fixed initially.


Kevin Rolston [00:11:46]:
Right.


Kyle Weatherman [00:11:46]:
And, you know, it. It was obviously. Yeah. Just. Just fighting for it.


Kevin Rolston [00:11:51]:
Right.


Kyle Weatherman [00:11:51]:
And trying to keep it there, but it just. It just wasn’t. Wasn’t in the genetics, wasn’t in the genes. And, you know, we did something about it, though.


Kevin Rolston [00:11:58]:
That’s the toughest thing that I hear. And I was right in your boat. I went a much longer time between, you know, finding the hair system and when I started having the hair loss. So I’ve been down that path and can speak to every possible solution that is out there. And, you know, look, I think they all have different levels of success for different people, and it also, too, depends upon where you go. The thing that I’m comfortable with, with hair club is not only is it just one call, one solution, and they can get you right in there and find what is best for you, but I. To me, it’s also having the confidence of a company that has been around for over four decades, that has had experience, that has every product that you would ever possibly want. And I’ve just talked to so many people now, I don’t know if you ever spend any time on Instagram or some social medias, but they’re always hitting you with different kinds of places that have hair loss remedies.


Kevin Rolston [00:12:44]:
And these are startups, a lot of them, and places that haven’t been around for that long. And so, to me, to have a place that you trust to know that you’re going in there and the money that you have is going to be well spent to an actual solution, rather than a hopeful promise that gets you back to nowhere. I imagine that’s probably frustrating for you when you spend a lot of money on something and you realize that it didn’t work at all.


Kyle Weatherman [00:13:05]:
Oh, for sure. And you’re exactly right. I mean, it’s just time wasted in a sense.


Kevin Rolston [00:13:10]:
Right.


Kyle Weatherman [00:13:10]:
And confidence lost and, you know, anxiety and depression that might arise when you’re.


Kevin Rolston [00:13:16]:
Dealing with those problems.


Kevin Rolston [00:13:18]:
Right.


Kyle Weatherman [00:13:18]:
And obviously, you want it fixed, and there’s an easy fix. And you actually said it right. I mean, this isn’t a startup company.


Kevin Rolston [00:13:25]:
That might have a solution or might.


Kyle Weatherman [00:13:27]:
Be able to get it fixed.


Kevin Rolston [00:13:28]:
You come in and they get it fixed, it’s a done deal.


Kyle Weatherman [00:13:31]:
And they’ve already worked through all the bugs and all the problems that might.


Kevin Rolston [00:13:35]:
Arise, and they have a solution for.


Kyle Weatherman [00:13:37]:
Anything that might occur.


Kevin Rolston [00:13:39]:
And every person is different.


Kyle Weatherman [00:13:41]:
And here’s the coolest part.


Kevin Rolston [00:13:43]:
And it took about two months for.


Kyle Weatherman [00:13:45]:
Them to figure out exactly what type.


Kevin Rolston [00:13:46]:
Of adhesive that they could use for.


Kyle Weatherman [00:13:48]:
My skin and my breakdown and stuff like that, you know, but even, even to that, right, with what’s what it is, it is adhesive or whatever that word is stuck to your head with. You know, they’ve got so many different type of materials that they work with for different people, and it just, they’ve got a solution for anybody that has that problem and they can get it handled.


Kevin Rolston [00:14:14]:
Hair club understands that everyone’s needs are different, whether its finding the right base material, matching a specific hair texture, or selecting an adhesive thats just right for each individual. Their stylists are true experts, trained to navigate these nuances and create a personalized experience for every client. For Kyle, having the same stylist every month means a consistent, reliable experience. But what if hes on the road? Hairclubs network allows him to drop into any location, ensuring he’s always covered, even while traveling. It’s that kind of flexibility and tailored care that keeps Kyle confident no matter where his journey takes him.


Kyle Weatherman [00:14:58]:
I’ve got a great routine set up, you know? So like I said, I go to Courtney in Winston Salem. She’s amazing. Trust her with everything. Right.


Kevin Rolston [00:15:06]:
That’s great. Okay.


Kyle Weatherman [00:15:07]:
The best part is, is I do travel a lot. Right. There’s places we can go anywhere, and all it takes is one phone call.


Kevin Rolston [00:15:16]:
If it’s an emergency, they can fit you in.


Kyle Weatherman [00:15:18]:
And they’ve said that so many times at so many different areas and locations have not had to use that just because I’m set up on a really good plan and feel confident with where I’m at.


Kevin Rolston [00:15:27]:
But to know that that’s there.


Kyle Weatherman [00:15:28]:
If I go to Sonoma, California, or whatever, it just got everywhere. Phoenix, Arizona. It doesn’t matter where you’re at that.


Kevin Rolston [00:15:37]:
They’Ve got a solution there if there’s a problem.


Kevin Rolston [00:15:39]:
Right.


Kyle Weatherman [00:15:39]:
And, you know, so just the confidence on, on my work where it’s, it does involve traveling and the heat that I deal with and the sweat that I produce.


Kevin Rolston [00:15:49]:
Right.


Kyle Weatherman [00:15:49]:
They’ve got a problem for, they’ve got a fix for all the problems that.


Kevin Rolston [00:15:53]:
That might occur and.


Kevin Rolston [00:15:54]:
Right.


Kyle Weatherman [00:15:54]:
It’s like you said, they’ve been in it for a while and just got it all figured out.


Kevin Rolston [00:15:58]:
Another massive advantage. Absolutely. Yeah. That’s really cool. So tell me a little bit about for you, the confidence that it gives. You talked about how before you’re wearing a lot of caps and you’re doing a lot of publicity. You’re always on camera. And I kind of had that as well with a camera that kind of pointed out we had a dome camera in our studios and the show that I do, and it was always showing the bald spot.


Kevin Rolston [00:16:22]:
And that was what really propelled me to do it. Was there that kind of moment of insecurity, was there something that you always saw a reflection or just whatever you’re doing that really kind of propelled you to first make that call?


Kyle Weatherman [00:16:34]:
Oh, for sure. I hated the way that I looked, in a sense of my receding hairline and hair loss that I was dealing with.


Kevin Rolston [00:16:41]:
Right.


Kyle Weatherman [00:16:41]:
So any type of pictures that I got, you know, I would do anything I can to get the perfect angle or, yeah, just wear a hat or.


Kevin Rolston [00:16:50]:
Whatever that looks like.


Kevin Rolston [00:16:51]:
Right.


Kyle Weatherman [00:16:52]:
And there’s multiple times where there’s situations.


Kevin Rolston [00:16:54]:
Where I can’t wear a hat. Right.


Kyle Weatherman [00:16:55]:
Whether it’s going to, you know, a fancy sponsored dinner or, you know, whatever.


Kevin Rolston [00:16:59]:
That may look like.


Kevin Rolston [00:17:00]:
Right.


Kyle Weatherman [00:17:01]:
I guess the biggest, another big thing.


Kevin Rolston [00:17:03]:
For us as drivers when we’re doing.


Kyle Weatherman [00:17:04]:
You know, prayer and the national anthem, you know, they always go around with, with tv cameras and stuff like that. And, you know, you’re praying your head’s down, so bam, you got that right there.


Kevin Rolston [00:17:14]:
You know, you’re, the hat has to come off and you have to show the crown of your head, the hat’s off.


Kevin Rolston [00:17:21]:
Right.


Kyle Weatherman [00:17:21]:
Yeah. You’re there, you’re praying and. Or national anthem.


Kevin Rolston [00:17:25]:
Right.


Kyle Weatherman [00:17:25]:
And they’ll get right in there on your face and you see the nice receding hairline. It’s just, yeah, it’s, it was, it was embarrassing and just loss of confidence very quickly. And look, any guy that, that says that they don’t lose confidence with a receding hairline unless you have an amazing.


Kevin Rolston [00:17:43]:
Bald head, which I don’t.


Kyle Weatherman [00:17:44]:
That wasn’t a decision that I was going to do either, is I don’t have a good bald head.


Kevin Rolston [00:17:49]:
I know, I know. I wish I could. On the same way I look terrible with a shaved head.


Kyle Weatherman [00:17:53]:
Yeah. Some people pull it off.


Kevin Rolston [00:17:54]:
I’m not that guy.


Kyle Weatherman [00:17:55]:
So other than, other than those guys, if you have a receding hairline and you’re trying to keep your hair and you say that you’re not losing confidence or don’t feel great about yourself in certain ways and aspects, then, you know, they’re probably not telling you the truth.


Kevin Rolston [00:18:09]:
You’re right. Yeah. It sounds like your wife is very supportive of you doing the hair system.


Kyle Weatherman [00:18:14]:
Yeah, she is. She is. From day one.


Kevin Rolston [00:18:16]:
Right.


Kyle Weatherman [00:18:16]:
And we actually both deal with similar aspects.


Kevin Rolston [00:18:20]:
Right.


Kyle Weatherman [00:18:20]:
She actually goes to hair club as well. She battles with trickle tilamania, you know, so it’s a genetic disorder that she deals with that causes her to pull her hair. And, you know, hair club has helped her as well. So we’re both in this together. I think this is so cool. We’re, we’re a great couple and in so many different areas and she’s my big support system. Yeah, she was all about it and at that time she had a different solution that she was using to help with what she had going on. But Hairclub stepped up as well and.


Kevin Rolston [00:18:47]:
Our help of both of us. And I know that she’s getting on.


Kyle Weatherman [00:18:50]:
Here pretty soon with the podcast with you guys as well. And I’m excited to see that and just see both sides.


Kevin Rolston [00:18:56]:
Yeah, absolutely. Got her coming up and you know, that’s one thing I think a lot of people don’t realize is that so many women and for various reasons are dealing with their own issues with hair loss. And, you know, too often it just seems like hair club is something or whatever your solution might be, is a problem that only men seem to have. And that’s definitely not true at all. So as your wife will tell us coming up here in another episode.


Kyle Weatherman [00:19:16]:
So, yeah, I mean, the biggest thing I would say is, and I get it, scary looking at it from the outside, looking in and what this would look like and what this would potentially do, I know this is easier said than done, but I’ve done it, is just go and just do it.


Kevin Rolston [00:19:31]:
Whether it is just going in for.


Kyle Weatherman [00:19:32]:
The consultation at first, having them meet with you and seeing, you know, just what it’s about, what it’s like going and meeting with them and you understanding how they’re there for you and they’re going to take care of you and they want you to make you feel good. That’s what it’s all about.


Kevin Rolston [00:19:45]:
Right.


Kyle Weatherman [00:19:45]:
And that would be the biggest thing that I would say is just take.


Kevin Rolston [00:19:48]:
The leap of faith at least to.


Kyle Weatherman [00:19:49]:
Go in and have the consultation, at least meet with them and understand how nice every single, you know, person there is and literally just wanting to help you.


Kevin Rolston [00:19:59]:
Right.


Kyle Weatherman [00:19:59]:
And that’s what I would say is, and I know it’s easier said than done, but coming for me, I’ve done it. Just, just go do it. Just go in there and see them.


Kevin Rolston [00:20:06]:
That’s right. Well, Kyle, I can’t wait to watch for you during the prayer and the national anthem. And I’m going to check out that amazing head of hair that you have and the pride that you got doing it.


Kevin Rolston [00:20:15]:
Yes, sir.


Kyle Weatherman [00:20:15]:
Yes, sir. No, I appreciate it. And it’s can’t thank everything that hair club has done for me and my wife as well. And, you know, it’ll be in the family. I’m sure our kids down the future will unfortunately have the amazing blessed jeans that I’m going to transfer over to them. So once that happens, they’re going straight to hair club as well.


Kevin Rolston [00:20:39]:
For Kyle, embracing hair loss wasnt just about finding a solution for himself. It was about feeling like himself. Kyles story is a testament to what is possible if the people in your life are open about their issue with hair loss and supportive of others on their own journeys. Kyle found support in other NASCAR drivers and his wife, who is also a proudhair club client. With their guidance, he found his way to a hair system that fits his needs within a couple of years after his hair started thinning. Deciding to do something about your hair loss is a deeply personal decision. And as Kyle suggests, sometimes it just takes that first step, a leap of faith, to explore what’s possible. As his story shows, there’s a solution out there for everyone.


Kevin Rolston [00:21:25]:
As his story shows, there’s a solution out there for everyone. 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. And thank you 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 it with them. If youre 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.


Kevin Rolston [00:22:05]:
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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								Life with Alopecia Universalis							
					
															
Life with Alopecia Universalis

					
					
 by  | Sep 10, 2024 | Episode

				
				
				
				
				
				
				

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
Episode 29


Life with Alopecia Universalis

			

				
				
				
				
				alopecia-universalis-Ariel-Rawlings-029-blog
			

				
				
				
				
				

			

				
				
				
				
				
In honor of Alopecia Awareness Month, we’re bringing you a beacon of hope through our conversation with Ariel Rawlings. She is a remarkable individual whose alopecia universalis has led her down a path of advocacy and self-actualization. She is also a professional in the hair replacement industry, helping her clients with the empathy and heart that comes from knowing exactly what they’re going through.


Alopecia Universalis: The Early Stages


It can feel isolating to go through this disease. Alopecia universalis is a condition that leads to complete loss of body hair. For Ariel, this journey has been about more than just coping with physical changes. It has been a path to understanding and embracing her identity. Aggressive hair loss can be a distressing experience, as it can sometimes indicate other health issues. While Ariel ruled out those issues by treating a hormonal thyroid problem, this helped move her closer to her diagnosis of alopecia. After her diagnosis, she still had to navigate presenting herself to the world in a way that felt authentic and natural to her. Ariel acknowledges that each person’s solution is as different as the next. Her story is a testament to her strength and the evolving nature of her self-acceptance.


Advocating for Yourself with Hair Loss


Hair loss affects many people for various reasons, and it’s important to rule out health problems early on. In the early stages of her diagnosis journey, Ariel had to advocate for herself with her doctor. Occasionally, medical professionals will not prioritize non-lethal issues like hair loss, and the responsibility falls on the person with alopecia (or their guardian) to be their advocate. By sharing her journey, Ariel hopes others can see what is possible when you become your own champion, working tirelessly to ensure you are heard, and your condition is taken seriously.


Alopecia Universalis Support


A community can make all the difference when you’re struggling with hair loss. Ariel was fortunate to have many supportive people in her circle – her family and husband helped her through the emotions of losing her hair to alopecia universalis. However, not everyone has a community, and even those who do may wish to seek advice from people experiencing the same things as them. While alopecia universalis is rare and there is no medical cure, people have found many different ways to thrive with this condition. It’s important to seek out people who empathize with your plight and validate your emotions.


Ariel is a professional in the hair replacement industry, empathizing with clients who are feeling the emotional burden of hair loss. Her journey remains an inspiring example of resilience and encourages those struggling with alopecia to embrace their true selves and find strength in the support of others. We’re honored to share her experiences on HairPod and hope her story resonates with you!


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.29 Transcript

				
Ariel Rawlings [00:00:04]:

It is genetic. So I had to have the genetic trait from both of my parents. And then since it’s autoimmune, you have to have an environmental trigger as well. The genetic from both my parents is weird because I had never heard of alopecia before in my life. Until my hair started falling out. I didn’t even know what it was. Nobody in my family has it, so it’s just like silently been passed down. Genetically, genetics are weird, but somehow both my parents had the alopecia trait, and I got both of that from them.


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 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. This week, were talking to Ariel Rawlings, who came on the show to share her experience living with alopecia universalis. For those who may not already know, alopecia universalis is a rare and severe form of alopecia areata that causes complete hair loss across the entire scalp and body, including eyebrows, eyelashes, and all other body hair. According to the National Institute of Health, this hair loss is caused by an autoimmune response where the immune system attacks hair follicles. While alopecia affects around 2% of people worldwide at some point in their lives, alopecia universalis is even less common.


Kevin Rolston [00:01:48]:

Ariel’s story is not just about the experience of losing the hair itself, but of finding a way to live that makes her feel comfortable and confident. And in doing so, finding a new life path, helping other women do the same, were starting back at the beginning when Ariel first noticed her hair loss. Like many women, she suffered from postpartum hair loss after her children were born. But after her second baby, something was different. Her hair wasnt growing back.


Ariel Rawlings [00:02:20]:

A lot of women experience hair loss after pregnancy, and I had that with my first, and it, you know, just postpartum hair loss with my second. It just, it started as what I thought was postpartum hair loss. And, you know, there was some thyroid issues going on that I thought corrected the hair loss. But it really, you know, a matter of months after I started the thyroid medication, it just all fell out, everything. And I think it was directly related to, you know, hormones are crazy after pregnancy. And then our baby was just one of those kids that cried all the time and never slept. So with autoimmune if you’re high stress like that can trigger it. So that was my trigger, I think, was just the stress of this little baby that never slept.


Kevin Rolston [00:03:12]:

Wow, that’s so tough because I know in those instances you may not be paying too much to yourself because you’ve got this new life that you’re giving all of your attention and focus to. So what was that like? Tell me about the thought process that went through it and how extreme did it get? Because im sure at first you might notice a little bit and think, okay, my body has gone through a lot here giving birth, and so this is just part of the process. When did the alarm bells start going off? How bad did it get?


Ariel Rawlings [00:03:40]:

Yeah, so like I said, at first I thought it was just postpartum hair loss because that happened with the previous child that I had. And, you know, it was a little bit worse than that. So I was able to get in and see my doctor, and she diagnosed me with low thyroid or whatever and then went about my way, like a couple months, you know, after that it started falling out again and we would find, like, wads of hair in the laundry or, you know, every time I took a shower, like, I’m like scraping all this hair out of my hands and, like, just, you know, vacuuming hair up all the time. Like, the vacuum was full of hair. Like, you would not believe how much hair you have until it starts falling out.


Kevin Rolston [00:04:23]:

Right.


Ariel Rawlings [00:04:23]:

And a lot of those, you know, alarming things started happening. And I am very much a person that’s like, just brush it off and, you know, it’ll get better. Don’t worry about it. But it’s kind of, like, hard to ignore when you can see my scalp and there’s spots of total hair loss. And so I also really had to advocate for myself with my physician because, you know, I was like, I think I need to come back in. I think it’s getting worse. It’s not getting better. And there was no urgency from my physician.


Ariel Rawlings [00:05:00]:

And then when I finally got in to see her, she was like, oh, you weren’t kidding.


Kevin Rolston [00:05:04]:

Wow.


Ariel Rawlings [00:05:05]:

No, I wasn’t kidding about that. And even to get an alopecia diagnosis, in my experience, I really did have to like, and, you know, the doctors just didn’t care as much as I cared about it. It felt like. So I really had to advocate for myself to get that diagnosis and get them to pay attention to what was going on. So I pretty much diagnosed myself before I finally got into the doctor and got a diagnosis. But the timeline really was, yeah, the timeline was, you know, about four months postpartum, I started experiencing postpartum hair loss, what I thought was postpartum hair loss. And, you know, it was really extreme. So maybe a couple months after that, I went in to see the physician, and they prescribed me with low thyroid.


Ariel Rawlings [00:05:47]:

I had blood, a ton of blood drawn through this whole experience.


Inquisitive Co-host [00:05:51]:

That sounds like fun.


Ariel Rawlings [00:05:52]:

Yeah. I got on, like, a thyroid supplement medication that, you know, at the time, which is funny looking back on, but that, like, being told that I needed to take this thyroid medication for the rest of my life was devastating because I do not take medication. Like, I pride myself in that. And there was maybe a little bit of, you know, obviously some pride in that, like, feeling like the world was ending a little bit there. But looking back, that was not a big deal at all. But, you know, in the moment, what my experience. But, you know, I started taking that thyroid medication, and the hair loss pretty much stopped, like, for a month or two after taking that, and then it just, like, rapidly fell out after that. So I don’t know if, like, so it.


Kevin Rolston [00:06:38]:

I don’t know why it stopped.


Kevin Rolston [00:06:40]:

And then all of a sudden, it picks up. But it’s more intense than it was before.


Ariel Rawlings [00:06:44]:

Yes, exactly. So it was, like, quite an emotional roller coaster.


Kevin Rolston [00:06:48]:

Oh, yeah. Like, wow, great.


Ariel Rawlings [00:06:50]:

You know, this is the answer. Everything’s gonna be fine. My hair is growing back. And then a few months later, like, this is all. So I had my baby in August, and then, so this is all happening around the holidays, too. And so, like, I. Thanksgiving to Christmas. Like, I went from, you know, being able to go out and people wouldn’t really notice.


Ariel Rawlings [00:07:12]:

It was more just me noticing it to having, like, hardly any hair at all. Whoa. So, yeah, it took, like, a month or so, and, like, all the hair on my head fell out, and then the month after that, like, eyebrows, eyelashes, like, everything. So.


Kevin Rolston [00:07:27]:

No, everywhere. Oh, my goodness.


Ariel Rawlings [00:07:30]:

Yeah. Yeah. Like, no arm hair?


Kevin Rolston [00:07:33]:

No. Wow.


Ariel Rawlings [00:07:36]:

Yeah. And then, so after I got the thyroid diagnosis, it took me until February to get an alopecia diagnosis.


Kevin Rolston [00:07:48]:

Ariel was going through so much, as if the stress of parenting both a child and a newborn while dealing with sudden, aggressive hair loss wasn’t enough, Ariel had to tirelessly advocate for herself while seeking a diagnosis with her physician. And its important that she did. Unlike a broken leg or a life threatening illness, hair loss is seen as an aesthetic or cosmetic issue. So it isnt always prioritized by doctors. But as anyone who has experienced hair loss knows, it can be so much more than that. Hair loss can sometimes indicate other health concerns, like hormonal issues or lack of nutrition. But even if someone who is experiencing hair loss is otherwise healthy, the emotional toll caused by hair loss in many cases shouldn’t be ignored. For many people, hair is an important part of how we see ourselves.


Kevin Rolston [00:08:38]:

It can even be a part of how we envision the future. Like it was for Ariel.


Ariel Rawlings [00:08:48]:

As a female, my hair was part of my identity, and, like, I didn’t realize it, but, like, I had pictured my future, like, with my daughter, like, playing with my hair or, like, giving eyelash kisses, you know, like, with my little kids.


Kevin Rolston [00:09:04]:

Like, you want to take photos, right? And part of taking a photo with your kid is you want your kid to look cute, but you also want to look good yourself in those photos.


Ariel Rawlings [00:09:13]:

Yeah. And my kids played a vital role in, like, my emotional state through it because I wanted to be a good example to my daughter. Washington two. And I had my baby boy, and so I wanted to show her that, you know, I am still me. You know, there’s more to me than my hair. So I challenged myself a lot, and I was lucky to have a supportive husband and supportive family around me, which was huge. But it didn’t take me too long to, like, embrace it in a way, which is. It’s a constant struggle to embrace it.


Ariel Rawlings [00:09:48]:

But I feel like I was able to adapt quickly. You know, I challenged myself to go out without hair. You know, I hadn’t really gotten into the world of wigs yet. You know, at the beginning, I had a wig that my mom bought me that was terrible.


Kevin Rolston [00:10:02]:

Thanks, mom.


Ariel Rawlings [00:10:02]:

I just didn’t know what options were out there. Yeah, thanks, mom. Really. But we just didn’t know. But, yeah, there was definitely a lot of tears. I think the hardest emotional thing, hurdle for me was my relationship with my husband.


Kevin Rolston [00:10:17]:

Yeah.


Ariel Rawlings [00:10:18]:

Because I felt like, in a way, I was letting him down. Like, we got married and, like, you know, we’ve been married for 13 years now, but I just, like, you married me, and I looked a certain way, and I know that I’m not going to look that way forever, but I just never pictured, like, being so drastically different than the woman that you married. And, like, over the years, just his reassurance has, you know, strengthened our relationship and shown me, like, goes both ways. Like, it’s not about, you know, it’s about who you are. Like, he always tells me, I have the same smile, I have the same eyes. Like, I’m still me. So there was a lot of tears, particularly to him. And, like, just, like, him convincing me that he was still.


Ariel Rawlings [00:10:58]:

Still loved me and was thought I was beautiful with or without hair. So that was the huge emotional hurdle. And, like, even today, I sometimes just wish I had hair. It would make things easier. So there’s still emotional days. I think that’s just the way it goes.


Kevin Rolston [00:11:13]:

But you are so fortunate that you had a great support team and something that really supported you. And I know you can’t take yourself to a place where you didn’t. But tell me a little bit about your self talk, because the way that we talk to ourselves is very important. And you’re going through this, and there’s somebody right now that’s listening that wishes they had the wonderful husband that you have, and they’re trying to figure out how to talk to themselves about how they feel about their hair loss. What would you say to them? Because what were the struggles you went with? And it sounds like you turned a corner at some point, but I imagine it took a little bit of time. How did you change your self talk to get to that point?


Ariel Rawlings [00:11:50]:

I think one of the biggest things that helped me just realize that I can still live a full life without hair was finding a community and getting to know other women that have gone through this. So, for me, this was right before COVID times. So Instagram was a big thing. There was a lot of people sharing their stories on Instagram at that time. I feel like. I don’t know if it’s still the same, but I was able to find a lot of a few women on Instagram that were sharing their alopecia stories, and that gave me strength just to see them, like, living their life without hair. And it’s fine, and, like, you know, I can still have joy in life without hair. Life goes on.


Ariel Rawlings [00:12:37]:

As far as self talk, I think I’m just a naturally positive person, and I think that helped a lot for my timeline of, you know, working through it and not constantly feeling devastated, but I think it just took time. I think I have learned, too, like, our process of dealing with alopecia, each individual person that goes through this, it’s a little bit different, and you shouldn’t compare your story to anyone else’s.


Kevin Rolston [00:13:04]:

Mm hmm.


Ariel Rawlings [00:13:05]:

I thought that I really needed to, like, to fully embrace who I was. I needed to, like, go out bald all the time and, like, just be unapologetically, like, you know, I thought that.


Kevin Rolston [00:13:15]:

Was, like, you had to own it. You wanted to be authentic in your authentic, true self.


Ariel Rawlings [00:13:19]:

Yeah. But I’ve learned over the years that if I’m more comfortable in a wig. That’s okay.


Kevin Rolston [00:13:24]:

Yeah, right?


Ariel Rawlings [00:13:25]:

Just wear the wig. It’s like, for me, it’s an accessory. Like, I have no problem telling people I wear wigs and I wear different styles and colors all the time. But, yeah, I, you know, other people stick to the same style. They don’t want people to know. And that doesn’t mean, like, I’m any farther along on this acceptance journey than you are. It just means we deal with it differently. And so I think that was a good thing to realize.


Ariel Rawlings [00:13:45]:

You know, I see these women just embracing it fully out and about bald, like, on social media, and I’m like, I need to be that, but I don’t.


Kevin Rolston [00:13:58]:

I loved hearing that Ariel’s support team, her family, her husband, and online community were supportive forces throughout this process. Finding people that will treat you with love and compassion while youre struggling to navigate the emotions of losing your hair can make the process so much easier. And to Ariels point, she was able to find her own unique path through her hair loss. There are many healthy ways to cope, and its up to each person to decide what theirs will be. And socially speaking, our culture is becoming more accepting and stigmatizing hair loss less. But it’s hard to say how things are changing in the medical field.


Ariel Rawlings [00:14:39]:

As far as, like, the medical world being more understanding of it. I think in general, our generation is more accepting of, like, the emotional toll of many things in life, you know, like anxiety and depression. And, you know, it’s a lot more talked about, like, going to counseling and therapy and, and I think we’re taking notice more of the emotional toll of whatever your life experiences are. But it’s hard to say, like, because I’m not talking to the medical field a lot about my alopecia anymore, because I’ve sort of decided to stop seeking medical help for it. I will say, I will speak to it a little bit, too. I’ve have, since I’ve lost my hair, I’ve had the opportunity to open a wig shop here in Round Rock, and I get to see women who are experiencing hair loss. And so it’s so rewarding because so many of them come in and they say, I’ve been to hairstylists, I’ve been to other places, I’ve been to even medical professionals asking for help with this. And nobody understands the emotional toll that it takes.


Ariel Rawlings [00:15:47]:

Like, I’ve had women and their husbands, like, give me hugs and, like, cry, because just having someone that knows the emotional toll that it takes is something they haven’t experienced before. So there’s, you know, it’s not perfect, the medical side of things. I think there’s still room for understanding, and maybe that’s why I share my story, is because maybe they just aren’t going to find that support and empathy from medical professionals. But it’s, there. There’s a great community of support for those dealing with struggling with hair loss. There’s Facebook pages that I’m a part of, some that are more local, some that are just people from all over the world. You can find them out there for sure. I find a lot on Instagram, too, just like, even on my Instagram account.


Ariel Rawlings [00:16:37]:

Like, I have women that message me and just for advice or support or, like, whatever. And I’m always happy to talk to people about it and my experience and how I’ve been able to get through it.


Kevin Rolston [00:16:53]:

I think one of the most inspiring, inspiring parts of Ariel’s story is knowing that she now uses her platform and her career to support others who are going through hair loss. She’s come so far since day one from realizing that something wasn’t quite right and her hair wasn’t quite growing back to now being able to speak openly about her hair journey and help others through theirs. I asked her if she could see growth over the course of her journey.


Ariel Rawlings [00:17:24]:

Yeah. I mean, mentally for sure, emotionally for sure. Even, like, just knowing how to put my eyebrows on and to do eyelashes, you know, like, I look at pictures and I’m like, just. I can just like.


Kevin Rolston [00:17:39]:

So it’s still everything you still have?


Ariel Rawlings [00:17:42]:

Yeah. I mean, nothing. Yeah. Alopecia universalis is the most extreme type of alopecia, and it rare for it to grow back. It can for some people. And when I first got alopecia, I dove deep into the inflammation and, like, autoimmune stuff, and I totally changed my diet and went vegan. And what caused all these natural things?


Kevin Rolston [00:18:05]:

What happened with pregnancy, too, that it was so different? Did they have a. Is it anything the doctors don’t really know?


Ariel Rawlings [00:18:12]:

Okay, well, it is genetic, so I had to have the genetic trait from both of my parents. And then since it’s autoimmune, you have to have an environmental trigger as well.


Kevin Rolston [00:18:22]:

Okay.


Ariel Rawlings [00:18:23]:

The genetic from both my parents is weird because I had never heard of alopecia before in my life. Until my hair started falling out. I didn’t even know what it was. Nobody in my family has it, so it’s just, like, silently been passed down genetically. Genetics are weird, but somehow both my parents had the alopecia trait and I got both of that from them.


Kevin Rolston [00:18:42]:

Oh, wow.


Ariel Rawlings [00:18:43]:

And then if I had an identical twin, she wouldn’t necessarily experience alopecia. You have to have an environmental trigger and the genetic traits from both parents in order to get alopecia.


Kevin Rolston [00:18:56]:

Was giving birth that environmental trigger, or was there something else?


Ariel Rawlings [00:18:59]:

I think it was the stress of postpartum, like not sleeping. This poor little boy cried all the time.


Kevin Rolston [00:19:07]:

Oh, boy.


Ariel Rawlings [00:19:10]:

Yeah, it’s hard when you’re not sleeping. And I had a lot of. I had pretty bad postpartum anxiety, probably from not sleeping. That just makes everything worse. So it was. And then I had a two year old at the same time. It was a very hard time in my life. Very stressful.


Ariel Rawlings [00:19:26]:

So that stress is a big trigger for autoimmune. And they say, like, if you can, you know, eliminate the stress and, like, clean your diet, like, you can kind of reverse it. I’ve tried. It didn’t work for me, and maybe some people are better luck with it, but.


Kevin Rolston [00:19:44]:

Right.


Ariel Rawlings [00:19:44]:

There’s also, like, the FDA’s approved recently a couple of drugs that treat it that actually work. There’s just weird side effects that you have to take into account. You know, you have to balance the value versus the risk. So it’s not a perfect answer.


Kevin Rolston [00:19:59]:

I thought I knew about everything when it came to hair loss. Ariel, talking to you today, I learned so much more. You were very educational and inspiring at the same time. And high five your husband for me because he is an awesome dude. And I’m so happy that you have that ingrown support team to be there with you and help you through this. Thank you so much for taking the time today.


Ariel Rawlings [00:20:21]:

Yes, thank you so much for having me. I love sharing my story because there’s hope after hair loss, and I want everybody to know that. I want people that are in the place that I was, where I was crying every night and didn’t know who I was when I looked in the mirror. Like, there’s life beyond that, and there’s joy and hope, and you can live your life to its fullest still.


Kevin Rolston [00:20:48]:

We want to thank Ariel for joining us today and sharing her story of hope. The experiences she shared are a powerful reminder that something as challenging as hair loss can be a catalyst for growth, community, and self discovery. To everyone out there who is dealing with any form of alopecia, we hope Ariel’s story has inspired you to advocate for yourself, to seek out the resources and support that you need, and to remember that you are not alone. Finding a strong support system, whether it’s friends, family or community of others who understand can make all the difference. No matter where you are in your journey, remember that there is always hope and there are people who care and want to help. Thanks for listening to another episode of Hairpot. If you’re looking for a community to connect with, you can always 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.


Kevin Rolston [00:21:47]:

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. 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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								Alopecia Awareness							
					
															
Alopecia Awareness

					
					
 by  | Sep 3, 2024 | Episode

				
				
				
				
				
				
				

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
Episode 28


Alopecia Awareness

			

				
				
				
				
				alopecia-awareness-Joey-Logano-028-blog
			

				
				
				
				
				

			

				
				
				
				
				
Alopecia affects millions of people worldwide, including well-known figures like NASCAR driver Joey Logano. This week on HairPod, I connected with Joey in honor of Alopecia Awareness Month. By speaking openly about his experience, Joey helps shine a light on the realities of living with alopecia.


Understanding Alopecia: More Than Just Hair Loss


Alopecia is more than a cosmetic issue; it can have a significant impact on a person’s self-esteem and mental health. Typically, the condition presents as round patches of hair loss on the scalp, but it can affect any area of the body where hair typically grows. For those like Joey, being in the public eye while dealing with such a visible condition adds an extra layer of challenge. Despite this, Joey has embraced his journey, sharing his story to help others understand that hair loss is just one part of who someone is, not the defining factor.


Alopecia Areata Awareness


Joey’s openness about alopecia is more than just a personal story—it’s a call to action. By talking about his experience and the use of a hair system, he encourages others facing similar challenges to feel less isolated and more empowered. Awareness is crucial because it helps dispel misconceptions, fosters understanding, and supports those affected. When public figures like Joey Logano use their platform to discuss alopecia, it encourages conversations that can change perceptions and build a more compassionate community.


If You or Someone You Know Has Alopecia…


Alopecia Awareness Month is an opportunity to educate and uplift. If you know someone affected by alopecia, sharing stories like Joey’s can offer much-needed encouragement and solidarity. Let’s celebrate those who face their challenges with grace and strength, reminding them that they are not alone. Together, we can build a world where we can experience confidence and community, even as we experience hair loss.



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.28 Transcript

				
Joey Logano [00:00:04]:
I always think that the first move is to call your family doctor, the doctor that you trust and that knows you and knows your family history. Go to that person first and they may send you to a specialist after that. And I would probably do that. And then after that, go look for what the best solution is for you.


Kevin Rolston [00:00:37]:
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. This week, we’re bringing you a story about alopecia areata in honor of Alopecia Awareness Month. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition that causes hair loss. It usually occurs as a round patch or patches of hair loss on the scalp, but it can affect hair on any part of the body. While the condition doesn’t cause any physical pain, losing your hair can have a significant emotional impact. It is estimated that about 2% of the worlds population has alopecia areata or will develop it at some point, which is why we want to raise awareness and shed light on this issue.


Kevin Rolston [00:01:36]:
And who better to talk about it with us than NASCAR champion Joey Logano? Hes back again on the podcast to speak about his experience with alopecia areata. Joey was diagnosed with alopecia after a routine haircut revealed a few bald patches on the back of his head. Now he uses his platform to speak openly about his experience with hair loss in hopes that he can help others going through it. Today, he’s going to take us all the way back to the beginning before his diagnosis, back to the moment when he first discovered his hair loss.


Joey Logano [00:02:12]:
It was definitely your first thing. You realize what’s going on? You’re like, huh? What is this? How dangerous is it? Am I what’s going on? For me, I just got a haircut and I got back home and my wife thought that the hairdresser just completely screwed up my haircut, is what she thought because there’s like spots all over the back of my head. Wow. Completely butchered your hair. And I’m like, I don’t know what you’re talking about.


Kevin Rolston [00:02:39]:
Wow. So you couldn’t see it yourself. It was in a place where you couldn’t even notice.


Joey Logano [00:02:43]:
It was a little longer at the time. So when I got a haircut, it really exposed, and then the spots kept kind of growing, you know, and then you kind of. You know, at that point, your first thing you do is call your doctor and say, hey, what’s going on? I went to the doctor, my family doctor, like, okay, we think we have alopecia. I’m like, all right, so what do I do? What is it about? And it’s an autoimmune disorder that, honestly, nobody really understands. From what I’ve learned about it, no one really knows where it comes from, how you got it, hereditary stress. It could be. There’s a lot of different things that can really.


Kevin Rolston [00:03:13]:
Okay. Wow.


Joey Logano [00:03:14]:
Yeah. And it’s different for everybody. Everyone’s got different things. It seems like some people lose all their hair sometimes. It’s all the time. Sometimes just a little bit here and there, which I just get flare ups every now and again. And. Yeah, so there are some different remedies that.


Joey Logano [00:03:26]:
That I looked into. I talked to a few friends that had a similar experience, and then, you know, eventually, you know, hooking up with hair club, that was the best fix. It was really the easiest fix.


Kevin Rolston [00:03:37]:
Yeah.


Joey Logano [00:03:37]:
And I don’t have to go through all the needles and stuff that they’re wanting to put in my head. I was like, hang on a second. Before you start injecting stuff into my. Into my skull here, I want to make sure we’re doing the right thing here. So hair club was definitely the correct fit for me. It’s worked out well.


Kevin Rolston [00:03:54]:
So with what you do for your.


Kevin Rolston [00:03:55]:
Solution that you got with hair club, does it present a problem when you’re traveling so much? Do you have to pack up a lot of stuff with you? Does it affect your routine at all, or is it pretty serious?


Joey Logano [00:04:05]:
Not really to be asked what you. I mean, once you get the system going or you kind of understand how things work, you get your routine, then it’s really smooth. It takes a couple months to figure out, okay, what works for me. How do I do this? And then over time, it’s like second nature, right. And get your hair cut once a month just like everybody else. Right. Like, it really isn’t that different, which is great. It’s worked out really smooth.


Joey Logano [00:04:29]:
And, you know, I still get the flare ups every now and again, but honestly, you can’t even tell. You don’t even know. It’s pretty impressive.


Kevin Rolston [00:04:35]:
Now, you talk about how you just after one haircut, your wife noticed that you had the spots. Tell me a little bit about how big the spots were, and it sounds like you found the diagnosis pretty quick. Did you google it? Did you already know about alopecia. How are you so fast to find out? What was the cause of your hair loss issues?


Joey Logano [00:04:54]:
Well, I mean, like I said, I called my doctor first. That was the first thing I did because I didn’t know. I didn’t know what it was. But, you know, just kind of looking at, there’s probably, I don’t know, ten or twelve small spots, you know, yay. Biggest, you know, maybe a half. Some were a half inch. Some were an inch, inch and a half big somewhere were pretty big, and they would kind of grow for a little bit. And it just.


Joey Logano [00:05:14]:
It’s just bald. It’s kind of. It’s interesting. There’s no hair, and then it grows back gray, and then eventually your color comes back. Yeah. So it’s just kind of a. That’s the, like you said, it’s different for everybody, right? I mean, I feel like I’m pretty lucky for this scenario. I have some people, you know, they lose their.


Joey Logano [00:05:33]:
Their eyebrows and you full, like, all your body hair, you know, hair in your arms, whatever. Whatever it may be. Yeah. But that’s, um. Doesn’t seem like that’s what I have, which is, you know, which is good. But like I said, the cool thing is there’s. We live in a day and age that it’s not that big of a deal, right? Like, I mean, it is, but there’s a. At least there’s a fix, right? And then you don’t have that.


Joey Logano [00:05:56]:
You think 20 something years ago there is no answer for it. And then you got to answer questions and people look at you funny. What’s going on? You know, you got to answer awkward questions, you know, where people just stare at you and you’re scared to ask a question, but, you know, it’s a distraction in the room. I didn’t like that. I wasn’t a big fan of that part of it. Like, I didn’t mind having it, and I didn’t mind someone asking me a question. I just don’t like people staring at me. Like, I turn around, like, what.


Kevin Rolston [00:06:24]:
They were looking. You just feel the eyes on you and looking at those.


Kevin Rolston [00:06:28]:
Yeah.


Joey Logano [00:06:28]:
You catch up, you know, you turn and be like, hey, I saw you.


Kevin Rolston [00:06:31]:
I got you. So how long did you go with having signs of alopecia before you found your solution to cover it up? Cause I assume now anytime you see Joey Logano, you’re not gonna be able to tell that you have any flare ups with alopecia.


Joey Logano [00:06:46]:
Yeah, I don’t think. You’ll probably, probably never know from now on. But, you know, I went probably, I don’t know, it was probably five months or so before I started to. I wanted to see everything that was out there first and understand, okay, what’s, what’s my options, what’s my risks, you know, and how do I want to handle it? Because for me, it’s, and this is kind of for everybody, right? Like, it’s a big adjustment in your lifestyle, right, doing something about it, but also, it’s a big appearance change for people, right. It’s kind of like a, oh, what happened to you, right? Like, so there’s kind of a, how do you want to handle it? How do you want to play that out? You kind of got to think through that stuff a little bit. But eventually I realized that it was kind of a no brainer thing to do. I wanted to do something, and I understood that. There is going to be some people making comments.


Joey Logano [00:07:39]:
The majority of them, almost all of them are positive. You got to know, for me, I’m a professional athlete, so not everybody loves me. There’s people that root for you, and there’s people that don’t root for you. So the people that don’t root for you are always going to have something to say, right? The people that knew me best, or even the people I didn’t know, they all think it’s great. And now I don’t think anyone thinks about it or realizes it, right? It’s just a normal thing now. It’s just how I look.


Kevin Rolston [00:08:10]:
Joey’s experience with alopecia while being in the public eye is a powerful testament to his confidence. While there is no cure for alopecia, Joey points out that there are things that can be done so that people with his condition can look and feel the way they want to. Joey found something that works for him, and now no one really ever thinks twice about his hair loss. They just see Joey as he is today. And because he was never shy about it, his transformation sparked curiosity among his friends and coworkers. People started to reach out, eager to find out how he managed to get his hair back.


Joey Logano [00:08:48]:
Oh, I got a lot of phone calls afterwards, like, hey, what’d you do? What? How do I do that? What’s. Like, what’s going on? Like, I got my phone ran off the hook there for a little bit, especially when I first got my hair. So it’s definitely, you know, it’s a. It, it gets everyone’s attention, but you’d be amazed how many people want to do something about it. Like, it was, I mean, literally 50 something text messages. You know, the day I just said, here’s what I did and is amazing how many people are like, oh, I want to do that. How do I do that? Where do I go? And, yeah, that just, that, to me, proved the point that somebody needed to be more open and talk about it and go out in the public and just accept what it was. Right.


Joey Logano [00:09:29]:
What I was dealing with. And that, yeah, I did something about it. You know what? And I’m happy I did. You know, and a lot of other people do, too.


Kevin Rolston [00:09:36]:
Now, for alopecia awareness month, there are a couple things that I’m curious about. First of all, do you have anyone else in your family that has alopecia?


Joey Logano [00:09:43]:
Not that I know of. And a lot of times, from what I’ve learned, this lives in your system for years, right? Like, it’s something you. It seems to be, from what I understand, maybe it’s hereditary. They don’t completely understand it, but there’s things that can trigger it. Right. So it’s there the whole time. And the way I look at it is, listen, if this is my autoimmune disorder and this is all it is, right. And I can fix it.


Kevin Rolston [00:10:08]:
Yeah.


Joey Logano [00:10:09]:
I feel like I got away with one. You did?


Kevin Rolston [00:10:11]:
Yeah. All the things you could have.


Joey Logano [00:10:14]:
Yeah, exactly. Like I said, because there’s a fix for it. But I understand that it’s also, you got to think, too, for. I think for a woman, you know, for women, that’s definitely a little bit more challenging than it is for men. You know, it’s. Because it’s just different. Any way you look at it, it’s just different for girls. But there’s fixes for that, too.


Joey Logano [00:10:32]:
Right? So that’s the good part. But it is an interesting experience when it first happens and you get, you get a little nervous, for sure, because you’re like, well, what’s the. What else can happen and how bad can it get? And you don’t really know. It was crazy. Every doctor I went to, they’re just like, we don’t really know. But, you know, we think if we do this for a little bit and, you know, you can give you some steroid injections into your, you know, your scalp and all this stuff. And I was like, hey, hang on a second. Like, right? I.


Joey Logano [00:10:59]:
I don’t know how far I wanna go with something like that. And it’s different for everybody.


Kevin Rolston [00:11:03]:
What about the ages that alopecia hits? Does it pick on a certain age or can kids get alopecia?


Joey Logano [00:11:10]:
Oh, kids, yeah. Kids can definitely get it. And that’s one of the cool things that hair club does is that they will, they work a lot with children, and as you know, not all kids are as well polished as adults are when it comes to being polite. And kids can sometimes just, they can just be nasty. Right. They don’t know better. Right. So you can’t get mad at them.


Joey Logano [00:11:31]:
They don’t know better. But put yourself in a, you know, eight or nine year old kid’s shoes, going to school with a bunch of spots on the back of your head or worse. Right.


Kevin Rolston [00:11:41]:
That’s tough, boy.


Joey Logano [00:11:43]:
That’s hard. Right. I can do that as a, as a full grown man, but, and know how to handle it correctly, but to put a kid in that situation, that’s hard. Yeah. And it’s cool. Haircut does that with cancer patients and kids and all that. Yeah. Donate a lot of hair.


Joey Logano [00:11:58]:
I think that’s one of the greatest things they do.


Kevin Rolston [00:12:00]:
Do you have any advice for anybody that is right at the beginning stages of saying, maybe I have alopecia? You contacted your doctor. Is that the best first move or what is the right process to figure out, do you actually have alopecia? And then how can you best treat it?


Joey Logano [00:12:18]:
Doctor Justin I always think that the first move is to call your family doctor, the doctor that you trust and that knows you and knows your family history. Go to that person first and they may send you to a specialist after that. And I would probably do that. And then after that, you know, go look for what the best solution is for you.


Kevin Rolston [00:12:42]:
As we wrap up today’s interview, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Joey Logano for taking the time out of his busy racing schedule to speak with us. When people like Joey have the confidence to speak openly about conditions like this, it helps to break down the stigma surrounding hair loss, showing that its not something to be ashamed of. It also helps to educate others who might not otherwise know how to react when they see someone with alopecia areata. To anyone out there living with alopecia, remember that you are not alone. Your journey is unique. And with the right support and community, you can face it with the same strength and resilience as Joey does. 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 [00:13:32]:
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 youre 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. were 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.


Kevin Rolston [00:14:06]:
So thank you. Until next time.

			

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								What is Hair Loss Awareness Month?							
					
															
What is Hair Loss Awareness Month?

					
					
 by  | Aug 27, 2024 | Episode

				
				
				
				
				
				
				

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
Episode 27


What is Hair Loss Awareness Month?

			

				
				
				
				
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In honor of Hair Loss Awareness Month, we put together an episode featuring some of the most impactful conversations we’ve had on the show so far. We wanted to share the insights we gained from this diverse group of guests, each bringing their unique perspective and experiences, but all united by the importance of finding the courage to talk about your hair loss. 


Thinning Hair in High School: Nick Wilkins


Influencer and vlogger Nick Wilkins opens the episode by sharing his journey of coming to terms with hair loss. He discusses the emotional challenges he faced when he first noticed his hair thinning in his high school years. Nick struggled on his journey alone for some time before he reached out for support from a hair loss professional. Nick highlights the importance of seeking support from the people around you, and how impactful that can be.


Hormonal Hair Loss: Lisette Davila


Next, we revisit a conversation with Lisette Davila, who lost her hair as a result of an undiagnosed hormone imbalance. Lisette’s insights are invaluable for anyone who is searching for answers to explain their hair loss. She emphasizes the importance of seeking professional advice, even when it seems like there’s no hope. Her courage in advocating for herself helped her physician determine the root cause of her hair loss so that she could be treated accordingly, which helped resolve other health issues she was struggling with as well.


Alopecia and Emotions: Claire Fullam


Claire Fullam’s segment offers a heartfelt look at living with alopecia. Claire shares her struggles with this autoimmune condition that causes hair loss and the emotional toll it took on her. But her story is also one of resilience, as she talks about how she learned to live confidently despite her condition. Claire’s experience highlights the importance of mental health support in managing hair loss and reminds us that there is always a path forward when we lean on those around us for support.


Confidence and Hair Loss: Jordan Pryor


Jordan brings a fresh perspective with his discussion on the various hair solutions he tried and his candid approach to sharing his hair loss journey on social media. Jordan began wearing a men’s hairpiece in his early 20s and quickly caught the attention of many of his social media followers. Never one to shy away from the spotlight, Jordan helped to educate his curious followers on his hair loss system. Stories like Jordan’s can provide hope to those who are still trying to gain their confidence back. Whether you’re ready to speak openly on hair loss or you’d prefer to be discreet, you’re not alone.


Don’t Let Hair Loss Define You: Steve Barth


Finally, the episode wraps up with insights from Steve Barth, one of the founding fathers of HairClub. Steve shares his experiences from the early days of the company and how the way we view hair loss has changed over the years. His reflections provide a historical context, showing how far we’ve come in addressing hair loss and offering hope for continued advancements in the future.


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.27 Transcript

				
Steve Barth [00:00:04]:
Losing hair has a very powerful emotional effect on our personality because we can control it, but yet we’re left with this real discontent or this real feeling of not looking our best, which means that we’re not always feeling our best. And it’s so important in today’s world that’s so competitive to have that level of confidence.


Kevin Rolston [00:00:40]:
Welcome to this special episode of Hairpot. This week were celebrating hair loss awareness month with you. Thats right. Were celebrating not the hair loss part, but the changing world of hair loss awareness. Even though hair loss affects millions of people, its not every day that you hear someone speak openly about how its impacted them. Listeners to the show know that we are changing that one story at a time. Hairpod has brought so many amazing voices together. So this week we’re sharing some of the most powerful moments from our past episodes.


Kevin Rolston [00:01:13]:
To emphasize one crucial message, it’s important to talk about hair loss. Silence and stigma only make the journey harder and people like our incredible guests are breaking those barriers down. By sharing our stories and experiences, we can find strength, support and solutions together. We’re going to start off by looking back to one of our earliest episodes where we talked to full time content creator Nick Wilkins about his hair loss. It began for him while he was still in high school, and because none of his peers were going through the same thing, he didn’t have anyone else to talk to. Luckily, he took action quickly and was able to see incredible results.


Nick Wilkins [00:01:59]:
But it wasn’t until I turned like 18 when it really all started just like falling out. It was in my combs, it was on my collar of my shirt. And 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 100 hairs a day. So I was like, ah, this is just like my hundred hairs a day that I’m losing. Like, it’s normal still. But then it was, like, starting to happen a lot more and it was a lot more in the shower. My shower drain was getting clogged.


Nick Wilkins [00:02:33]:
Oh, 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 like, about hair loss, like how it’s caused and it, like, it gives you a million different answers. There was nothing that I could say, okay, this is me. Because I was watching, like 30 to 40 year olds talking about it. I’m like, man, but I’m 18, so, like, what am I going through right now? And I started to, like, 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.


Nick Wilkins [00:03:03]:
So I was, like, trying to, like, avoid the fact that I was just losing hair, like, genetically. But, yeah, I was watching a lot of videos, and then it got to a point where my hair was just, like, it was, like, dying, like, the whole front of it. Like, you could just tell I couldn’t cover it up anymore, like, 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, nah, 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, like, 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.


Nick Wilkins [00:03:40]:
And I was like, man, you know what? I want to prove this wrong. I want to see if you actually can. 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, like, come in with me because, man, I was embarrassed, and I was just so scared because I didn’t know what was gonna happen or, like, what we were gonna talk about. It was like, I compare it sometimes it sounds kind of weird, but, like, I compare it to, like, if you’re going to the doctors to, like, find out that you have really bad, like, cancer or something, like, you have to bring someone with you to come in for the appointment. Like, it’s too hard to go, like, by yourself, so you have to bring someone.


Nick Wilkins [00:04:13]:
So she came with me, and that definitely helped. That pushed me to actually go. 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, like, to try to fix my hair. And it was just like, it was so easy. I went home the next day, and then I told them, I want to do it. Like, 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, like, changes already. It was just exciting to see, it wasn’t, like, crazy yet.


Nick Wilkins [00:04:48]:
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, like, 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. But my one thing I wish I did was going in even earlier. Cause there’s, like, parts of my hair where I’m like, oh, man, if I went in, like, two months earlier, stopped overthinking it, maybe I could have fixed that part of my hair.


Kevin Rolston [00:05:14]:
Even though Nick struggled in silence for some time, he still found the courage to take action and was able to regrow the hair that he had lost. Now, his hair loss was genetic, so he saw it coming, but it still took a lot of strength to reach out to someone and talk to them about what he was going through. The first step is so important, and our next clip is going to tell you why. Lissette began losing her hair in her mid thirties, and it got to the point where people around her were starting to notice. When she reached out to a professional, she discovered that her thinning hair was caused by a health problem that hadn’t yet been diagnosed.


Lisette Davila [00:05:58]:
Yeah, definitely. 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. 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.


Lisette Davila [00:06:37]:
You know, my mom and my dad both had their hair, and, you know, I didn’t think that that was normal. 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 I’m getting old. Like, am I getting old? Like, 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. I actually ended up having a surgery. I had a hysterectomy. I was very young.


Lisette Davila [00:07:25]:
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. So 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. And again, I didn’t have any 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? So, yeah, I approached my doctor about it, and she told me that is definitely a possibility that that could happen because of the change in hormones or loss of hormones.


Lisette Davila [00:08:20]:
I had found 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 if they had to have a hysterectomy or if they have a thyroid condition, which can also wreak havoc on your hair, too, is 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 [00:09:05]:
Lisette’s story reminds us that hair loss isn’t just about appearance. It’s also about health and well being. Next we hear from Claire Folum, who faced a deeply personal journey with alopecia. Claires openness about her struggles and the emotional rollercoaster of hair loss has helped so many people in her community understand hair loss better. But thats not all it did. Becoming a more open person and getting things off her chest helped reverse the effects of her alopecia.


Claire Fullam [00:09:38]:
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. 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.


Claire Fullam [00:10:14]:
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. 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 friends, ring my mom, talk to my husband, and I. I will say, I need help right now. 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.


Claire Fullam [00:10:52]:
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.


Claire Fullam [00:11:25]:
This is a whisper from your body to you to try and get you back on track again.


Kevin Rolston [00:11:36]:
Claire’s story is a powerful reminder of the emotional impact hair loss can have and the importance of both giving and receiving support. Her presence on social media has helped bring so much awareness to her journey with alopecia. It’s incredible just how much social media has given people a platform to share their lived experience with hair loss. One of our guests, Jordan Pryor, has been breaking the stigma of hair loss by being an open book. Not only does he share on social media, he’s open and honest with everyone in his life.


Jordan Pryor [00:12:14]:
So I had a video that went viral on TikTok where I was doing, like, a Q and a thing, and someone had commented about how my hairline was super crispy. You know, like, it was, like, nice and straight on the sides. My fade was a lot better than it is right now. And I flipped it up. Flipped up. The hairpiece was like, oh, well, you know, that’s funny that you say that like it’s fake, you know, because I’ve never been one to shy away from making people laugh or anything like that. Like, I don’t care that people know.


Nick Wilkins [00:12:41]:
That, you know, I don’t have real.


Jordan Pryor [00:12:43]:
Hair, so to speak. 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. I didn’t tell them what I was doing, where I was going. They were just like. Because, you know, they’d given me such a hard time for years about it. And then it was just like, one day they’re like, wow, your hair looks better than mine. I was like, yeah, it does.


Jordan Pryor [00:13:01]:
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 toupee since he. 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. And while it’s. 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 with, just like you were saying, just a little bit more hair at a time versus what I did, going bald and then full head of hair.


Kevin Rolston [00:13:36]:
Jordan’s story is a testament to the power of openness and community in overcoming the stigma of hair loss. Finally, we revisit a conversation with Steve Barth, one of the founding fathers of hair club. Steve’s journey began at a time when talking about hair loss was even more taboo than it is today. His story reminds us that while hair loss can be challenging, it doesn’t have to define you.


Steve Barth [00:14:07]:
It was 1976 that I actually found myself wandering into 185 Madison Avenue in New York City. And that was the only space in the entire city and the entire universe. That hair club existed. What drove me into that office was probably about two years earlier. I was starting to really become aware that I was losing my hair. Although, again, that shouldn’t be much of a surprise to anybody, because there’s just such a strong genetic predisposition for hair loss in my family. My mother’s father lost his hair. My father’s father lost his hair.


Steve Barth [00:14:39]:
My father had three brothers that lost their hair. So I guess in many ways, my cards were marked, and you know, 1976 was a crazy era in the seventies or the mid seventies, and the most popular show on Broadway was hair. So the ability as a young man getting out of college and getting started in life to be able to have the confidence to go forward, build a career, build self esteem while experiencing thinning hair was very different then, what, 22, 22 years old or 2021? I think today a lot of young guys that are getting into this are taking, you know, have a very different attitude, and they have a more progressive attitude. And I think they’re more liberated in many ways. Get me right, they still like transition to be comfortable and not necessarily drawing a lot of attention to that. They did something to the hair, just like if you did something with your skin or, you know, or you did something aesthetically. But I think that a lot of the guys today have liberated themselves from the shackles and the chains of being kept in the closet and concealed and afraid to confront their whole issue about hair loss, to get out of that closet and confront it. I think it’s a healthier attitude today.


Steve Barth [00:15:54]:
Losing hair has a very powerful emotional effect on our personality because we can control it, but yet we’re left with this real discontent or this real feeling of not looking our best, which means that we’re not always feeling our best. And it’s so important in today’s world that’s so competitive to have that level of confidence.


Kevin Rolston [00:16:20]:
Steve’s message is a powerful way to wrap up today’s episode. Hair loss may be a part of your story, but it doesnt have to be the whole story. Talking about it, seeking help, and finding community has helped so many of our guests reclaim their confidence, and we know it can help you, too. Thank you for joining us on this journey through Hair loss awareness. If todays episode resonated with you, please share it with others who might benefit from these stories. Lets continue to break down the stigma surrounding hair loss by talking openly and supporting one another. 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.


Kevin Rolston [00:17:05]:
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 us 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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								Frankie Muniz: My Hair Loss Journey							
					
															
Frankie Muniz: My Hair Loss Journey

					
					
 by  | Aug 20, 2024 | Episode

				
				
				
				
				
				
				

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
Episode 26


Frankie Muniz’s Hair Loss Journey

			

				
				
				
				
				frankie-muniz-hair-Frankie-Muniz-026-blog
			

				
				
				
				
				

			

				
				
				
				
				
Hair loss can happen to anyone, and it can deeply affect your confidence and self-image, even if you are a well-known actor like today’s guest. In this week’s episode of HairPod, I spoke with actor/stock car driver Frankie Muniz about his experience with thinning hair. While many fans might not be aware of his battle with hair loss, he came on the show to share his story in hopes that it can help others who are going through the same thing.


Frankie Muniz’s Hair Loss Story


Frankie Muniz recalls how, in his early 20s, he began to notice significant hair thinning even though he grew up with really thick hair. This unexpected change led him to try a variety of treatments, as so many do when they discover their hair loss. He acknowledges that these solutions are effective for many people, but he dealt with some of the rare side effects that the products can have, which left him feeling disheartened. He opted to shave his head for some time but still wasn’t happy with how he looked in the mirror.


Frankie’s Hair Transformation


Frankie’s journey changed completely when his wife encouraged him to make an appointment with HairClub. Despite his initial skepticism, he agreed to a consultation. The immediate results of his hair system left him emotional, as he finally saw a version of himself in the mirror that restored his confidence. “It was truly life-changing,” Frankie shares, noting how this newfound confidence positively impacted every aspect of his life, from his career to his personal relationships.


Hair Loss: Breaking the Silence


It’s important to understand the cause of your hair loss and the hair loss solutions available so you can make informed decisions about your treatment. From medical treatments to hair systems, the options are vast. HairClub offers comprehensive consultations to help find the best path for each individual. It’s essential to understand that the journey to regaining your confidence and hair is unique and personal. By seeking the right support and being persistent, you can achieve the best possible results. Understanding your options empowers you to take control of your hair loss journey.


Frankie Muniz’s hair loss story is unique in that he is willing to speak openly about it, unlike many public figures who prefer not to. In an industry where appearance is often everything, many choose to keep their struggles private. Frankie, however, wants to break that silence. By sharing his story, he hopes to empower others to seek solutions without shame. His transparency serves as a powerful reminder that no one has to face these challenges alone, and that finding the right solution can truly be life-changing.


By raising hair loss awareness, exploring advanced hair systems, and understanding the diverse solutions available, you can find the right path tailored to your needs and regain your confidence.

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.26 Transcript

				
Frankie Muniz [00:00:04]:


I have tons of people because I think I’ve been vocal, and they see my results, right? They see the before and after they saw it, and they go, what did you do? Like, I have to know. Like, it’s something I’m super self conscious about. So I love being able to just tell them, call HairClub. Go for the free consultation. They’ll show you the options, because they don’t have to go down the path that I did of trying. Like, if you think of all the solutions that there are for trying to combat hair loss, I did them. So the fact that I can just send people to HairClub and they can find a solution that works for them, I think is really cool.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:00:50]:


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 joined by somebody who has truly lived a life in the spotlight, Frankie Muniz. You might know him as the star of Malcolm in the Middle, Big Fat Liar, or Agent Cody Banks. Or maybe you follow his current stock car driving career. Frankie has experienced a remarkable journey.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:01:30]:


But what many people don’t know is that Frankie has faced his own challenges off camera, including hair loss. In this episode, we’re going to dive into his personal experience, how it impacted his life, and the steps he’s taken to navigate this journey with confidence.


 


Frankie Muniz [00:01:50]:


I remember actually really early, like, being 19 or 20 years old, when I always had thick hair. Like, I always had a lot of hair. Like, if you look at, like, the episodes of Malcolm in the Middle or you look at even movies, I did, you know, I’ll look back and I’ll go, how did I go from having so much hair and, like, three years later, I was really thin to where I started the journey of looking for solutions, right. I started taking the medications and doing topical creams and laser hats and kind of all the things that I could. And I remember it just kind of continued to get worse and worse and worse, and I really didn’t know what to do, almost to the point to where I kind of gave up on it. You know, I was tired of trying things that weren’t helping the situation and just made me more and more self conscious about my hair. And it’s not that I was self conscious for, like, what other people thought I know that might sound weird. It was like, for me, like, I found myself every time I was in front of a mirror, like, checking it out.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:02:48]:


Yeah.


 


Frankie Muniz [00:02:48]:


You know, looking down, like, seeing it, like, taking pictures, comparing pictures. So it’s definitely something that even though I try to say it didn’t really affect me that much. It definitely did, you know what I mean? And now that I found a solution with hair club, like, I can’t believe I waited as long as I did to go there to feel the way I do now.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:03:08]:


Yeah. Tell me where you were in life at this age. What are you doing career wise when you start to notice your hair loss?


 


Frankie Muniz [00:03:15]:


I mean, I was still, I think, on the last season of filming Malcolm in the Middle. It’s also when I initially started racing cars professionally, but I was always busy. I was always working. And I think maybe that’s why, I don’t know. Like, I don’t want to say it shocked me how I went from having hair to not having hair. Like, I didn’t really notice it, like, until I noticed it, but maybe I was just so busy, like, kind of doing things. I also, you know, when you’re on a movie set or you’re filming, you have hair and makeup people and they have little things that they might put in or they might make your hair look thicker in certain ways. And, you know, when you’re having your hair done every single day, like, you don’t really have to worry about it that much.


 


Frankie Muniz [00:03:50]:


It wasn’t until really, I think, yeah, Malcolm was just ending and I started having to actually comb my hair for the first time myself. As weird as that sounds, right?


 


Kevin Rolston [00:03:58]:


Yeah.


 


Frankie Muniz [00:03:58]:


And it definitely was, like, just a shock, you know, especially because I was young, you know, 1920 years old. Like, you just don’t expect it, you know? Yeah, I was in it big time.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:04:10]:


So when you’re in a world where you are doing acting and you have hair and makeup people, do you have somebody then that’s a consultant that can help you, that walks you through? Because I’m sure you’re not the only person in Hollywood. In fact, I’d imagine we’d be stunned if we knew all the people in Hollywood, film and TV that have hair loss issues and what they’ve done for it. So when you’re acting on a tv show, you’re doing movies and things like that, is there somebody there that walks you through to say, okay, here’s what you do with your hair loss? Or were you, like anyone else, you were googling your own searches and trying to find your own path.


 


Frankie Muniz [00:04:44]:


No, you know, really, I didn’t have anybody helping me, you know what I mean? I just kind of went down the path like I think most people do is like, what can I do? I think I went to a doctor. The doctor put me on. Is it finasteride?


 


Kevin Rolston [00:04:56]:


Yeah.


 


Frankie Muniz [00:04:57]:


Propecia. And to be honest, I actually had a really negative side effect to the medicine, so I couldn’t even be on it that long before, like, I realized I can’t take it. I was kind of one of those. I kept hearing, oh, if you do this, like, yeah, there could be side effects, but it happens in one in a million people. Well, every one of those things, like, happened to me. I always couldn’t, like, accept the side effects of what it was, whether it be the Propecia or even Rogaine. Right.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:05:26]:


Wow.


 


Frankie Muniz [00:05:26]:


I even did a hair transplant. I had one full hair transplant done, I think, in 2012, 2013, and I have like crazy shock loss. Like, I was like the worst-case scenario of like, what could go wrong during a hair transplant. Went through all that. So even like, my before photos that, like, I’ve shared online, those are all like, post every other treatment I had already done, right. That was me trying to do everything. Like, all the list of things that I thought were options, including having a hair transplant, you know, those are my before photos, if that makes sense. So that was, I feel like if I hadn’t even done those, my before photos would be even worse.


 


Frankie Muniz [00:06:10]:


But it’s shocking the difference of my before photos, which is post trying everything else, and then my afters, which is now as a hair club member.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:06:23]:


Studies show that the side effects of treatments like minoxidil, finasteride and hair transplants are very rare. And if you want some information on stuff about that, we will link a few specific scientific studies in our show notes. Unfortunately for Frankie, he was that lucky person that got hit with all the side effects, which had to be hard to deal with given how his hair loss was affecting his confidence. In Hollywood, theres an unspoken rule, nobody talks about it. Even when people find something that works for them, they dont usually broadcast it to the whole world. That’s why Frankie is so outspoken. He wants others to know it’s okay to talk about your hair loss and the path that you take to get your confidence back.


 


Frankie Muniz [00:07:12]:


You know, I think one thing, like, for some reason, maybe it was just me, like, in my world, I feel like people were like, afraid to talk about it. Like, it was almost not taboo, but like, didn’t really want to kind of, it had to be this big secret of, like, if you did have a hair transplant. I remember having one and, like, saying it out loud, someone and people on the side would be like, hey, I had one, too, but didn’t want anyone to know. Like, it was some kind of secret, which I guess I get, like, if you have a procedure done, like, maybe you don’t want to share that you had it. You just hope to show the benefits of maybe have had it. I don’t know. No, I really honestly don’t remember having many people to talk to about it. Like, maybe because I was also trying to be secretive.


 


Frankie Muniz [00:07:51]:


Not secretive, but kind of keep it to myself.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:07:53]:


I know what you’re saying, though, because people unfairly, really get brutalized for any kind of treatment that they’ve done in Hollywood. People run with it. The tabloids are all over it. It becomes a big conversation and it becomes what you’re known for. And people can’t get away from the fact that, okay, all you’re right. Yeah, Malcolm had a hair transplant. And that’s the whole narrative that people say it is.


 


Frankie Muniz [00:08:15]:


You know, I think it’s interesting because, you know, we live, especially now, in a time where most celebrities, most people that you see on social media have tons of work and they don’t hide it, but it’s still a touchy subject when it comes to men talking about their hair. And it’s such a. I think that’s an interesting thing because, like, it’s not something that you can help, right? If you’re losing your hair, if you have issues like that, it’s nothing like you did something wrong or you know what I mean? It’s genetics. It’s just kind of the hand that you were dealt. So I think that’s why I’m so willing and open and want to share my story, because I want people to know, like, hey, it’s okay to talk about it. I know how I feel. Post going to hairclub. Right, right.


 


Frankie Muniz [00:09:00]:


Like, I didn’t expect it. To be honest. My wife, you know, maybe you want to get into this later, but my wife forced me to go to hairclub and I was like, I don’t care anymore. I was shaving my head, like, bicking it. Like, looked all just easier.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:09:12]:


Wow, okay.


 


Frankie Muniz [00:09:14]:


Yeah, I kind of went to that level where I was like, it is what it is. Like, wear a hat, shave my head. It is what it is. But my wife really kind of forced me to go. And I remember thinking like, okay, they’re going to tell me stuff that I want to hear. And I had the free consultation, the initial consultation, and I went, all right, I’ll try it, I’ll try it. But I was so used to being kind of let down by the results of things that you spent a lot of money on, or you spent a lot of time or pain, like, physical pain. So I kind of didn’t have very high hopes.


 


Frankie Muniz [00:09:45]:


But I remember the moment that I got my system through hair club, and I looked in the mirror, and, like, it makes me emotional, even right now. Like, the immediate gratification and the way I felt and the confidence I felt that moment, it was truly life changing. And like I said, that’s a big reason why I want to talk about it, you know what I mean? Because I know what people are going through. Like, maybe they’re thinking with their hair, and the fact that they can do something like I did and maybe feel the way I do it changed every aspect of my life. It made me more confident in everything from a work standpoint, from a working out standpoint, everything, because I wasn’t caught looking in the mirror, like, thinking, like, oh, man, I felt good, and I wanted to, I don’t know, just be out there in the world.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:10:35]:


What really struck me about Frankie was the passion that he brings to helping others on their hair loss journeys. It’s so clear that even though he’s a celebrity, hair loss became an isolating experience for him. He struggled with how he looked in the mirror, and he stopped feeling like himself, which is an experience that so many of us have already been through. When Frankie talks about that first moment where he got his hair system on, you can hear exactly where his excitement comes from. He went into that experience unsure of what to expect and was absolutely blown away when he finally looked in the mirror with his new system on.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:11:14]:


So the first time that you got your hair system, it was just an unbelievable transformation for you that right away you fell in love. You loved the way that you looked, and it just. It stuck.


 


Frankie Muniz [00:11:25]:


Oh, yeah. I mean, I remember being, like, just so shocked by it, because, you know, the results are basically immediate. You know what I mean? You don’t have to wait for a long time. You know what I mean? Get it on. And there it is. Right? You have hair. And I remember just being so shocked. I did go through a small period where, like, it was just such a drastic change to me because I was so used to looking in the mirror and feeling like, oh, dang, what can I do? And then I was looking in the mirror going, like, who am I? Right? Like, I just felt like a different human.


 


Frankie Muniz [00:11:55]:


And I will say, like, I was not worried, but I was kind of curious what other people would think, right? People who knew me, my family, my friends. And I remember being a little nervous going to dinner for the first time because I went from being pretty bald to, like, having hair, and literally everyone was like, man, you look good. You’ve been working. Like, what are you doing? You’ve been working out to get a tan. Like, nobody could actually pinpoint it, because, you know, one thing I think people don’t realize is, like, when you fixate on something or you see something, you think everybody else might notice that thing, but, like, not everybody looks in the mirror or sees you every single day. Right?


 


Kevin Rolston [00:12:35]:


Right.


 


Frankie Muniz [00:12:36]:


Even my mom was like, wow, like, you look great. Like, what did you do? And when I told her, she couldn’t believe it. They were just shocked, you know, everybody. And I think that was kind of the coolest thing, too, is that I thought maybe it would be extremely obvious to outsiders. But they really, like I said, like, they couldn’t pinpoint what was different about me, just that they thought I looked improved.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:13:06]:


I love this point that the things that bother us about our own appearance may not be as obvious to somebody else. It drives home something Frankie mentioned before. He didn’t really care what other people thought about his hair. Choosing to get a hair system was something that he did for himself. And because he’s so open and talks about what he did so freely, people in his life feel comfortable asking him about what he did to achieve such great results.


 


Frankie Muniz [00:13:37]:


I have tons of people because I think I’ve been vocal, and they see my results, right? They see the before and after they saw it, and they go, what did you do? Like, I have to know. Like, it’s something I’m super self conscious about, so I love being able to just tell them, call HairClub. Go for the free consultation. They’ll show you the options, because they don’t have to go down the path that I did of trying. Like, if you think of all the solutions that there are for trying to combat hair loss, I did them. Every one. I don’t think there’s one I didn’t try. You know what I mean? And so the fact that I can just send people to hair club and they can find a solution that works for them, I think is really cool.


 


Frankie Muniz [00:14:15]:


I don’t know. I loved having people talk to me about it and ask me questions and see the disbelief on their faces when I tell them what I have or, like, what I did. You know what I mean? People just can’t believe that it’s not. I mean, it’s my hair, but you know what I mean? It’s not.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:14:31]:


Yeah.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:14:32]:


I gotta tell you, your energy about it is very contagious. And I’ve seen the videos that you’ve put out for hair club and you speaking about it, and I think it’s really amazing that you’re so bold and you’re so open because there really are people and how it affects people’s self esteem. You know, you’ve been on the other end of it that you think the whole world notices, and your self confidence does take a massive hit. And the way that you feel after you find your solution, whether it be a hair system or whether it be something else, it truly is life changing. And so I think that’s really awesome. I just want to talk to you today about your own personal journey. It’s interesting to hear how many failures you had on the path. And because you have a great wife, she didn’t let you give up, and she finally got you there across the finish line.


 


Frankie Muniz [00:15:15]:


She’s funny because she was always like, look, it doesn’t bother me that you have thin hair, balding, whatever, and she’s like, but I see how much it affects you. And like I said, I had given up. I tried one more solution or one more thing that I thought was going to work. It really didn’t. And I was like, look, I don’t care anymore. Shave my head. And she was talking about it with her hairstylist, who was like, set him up for a consultation at HairClub. And so my wife did it.


 


Frankie Muniz [00:15:43]:


And I remember her telling me, I was like, no. Like, I’m not wasting time. I’m not doing it. Like, I don’t care. You know what I mean? Like, they’re going to tell me the same stuff, that they can have this magic solution and. And we’re just going to be let down. And so I think I actually canceled the first consultation. She’s like, just go.


 


Frankie Muniz [00:15:59]:


She, like, drug me in there and. Best decision I ever made, you know what I mean? Like, I honestly, like, I know it might sound cliche, like, and I. It just. It really changed every aspect of the way I feel about everything. Like, it gave me the confidence to even, like, as dumb as it sounds, like I went back racing. It gave me the confidence to go back racing. As weird as that sounds. I don’t know, I just felt like I could do it.


 


Frankie Muniz [00:16:25]:


Like, I felt like, I don’t. I think I’d kind of just kind of crawled almost in a hole a little bit, you know what I mean? And kind of just stayed away from the acting stuff, stayed away from kind of like putting myself out there and I don’t know, like, I hate to admit that almost, but I didn’t realize it had such a big effect on me in a negative way, my hair, until I had the positive feeling after going to HairClub. Right. And having a solution, because every aspect of my life changed. So, yeah.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:16:59]:


Losing your hair is more than just a physical change. It’s an internal journey. It can make you want to hide, isolate yourself, and avoid the world. The emotional toll could be overwhelming, making you question how you see yourself and how you see others. We want to thank Frankie Muniz for showing us that there are options out there for everyone and encouraging anyone who has tried everything not to give up hope. Because its not just about getting your hair back, its about getting yourself back. When you feel good about the way you look, it can give you the strength that step out of the shadows and embrace life with a renewed sense of self. It’s about living your life with confidence, no matter what challenges you face.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:17:41]:


Frankie’s journey reminds us that while the road may be difficult, the destination is worth every step. 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. 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 podcast hairclub.com.com.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:18:26]:


we’re here to build people up and 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.




			

				Download Transcript
			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
Featured Guests


Heather Brooke

Nick Wilkins

			

			

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
New Episodes Weekly


Available Every Tuesday @ 9am

			

			

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
Want to Be a Guest?


Come on the Show!

			

			

				
				
				
				
			

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
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just launched


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								Why Hair Loss Awareness Matters							
					
															
Why Hair Loss Awareness Matters

					
					
 by  | Aug 13, 2024 | Episode

				
				
				
				
				
				
				

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
Episode 25


Why Hair Loss Awareness Matters

			

				
				
				
				
				hair-system-restoration-Dan-Medeiros-025-blog
			

				
				
				
				
				

			

				
				
				
				
				
Hair Loss Awareness Month is here! In this episode of HairPod, I sit down with friend-of-the-pod Dan Medeiros. Last time he was with us, he told us about how his hair loss got into a vicious cycle with his stress level. This week, he came back to help us celebrate Hair Loss Awareness Month and explain how he managed to get his confidence back after struggling with it for so long.


 


Hair Loss Awareness Month: Why It Matters


Hair loss affects many people worldwide and touches all of our lives at some point. Its emotional impact can be profound. According to studies by PubMed and Monpure, 88% of women and 62% of men report that hair loss affects their emotional health. These statistics emphasize the importance of raising awareness about hair loss and supporting those affected. Hair loss affects not only one’s appearance but also self-esteem and overall mental well-being. Embracing your hair loss journey is vital, and open conversations can help reduce the stigma surrounding this topic.


 


Hair Systems and Hair Restoration


Hair loss solutions should be as unique as the people who seek them. Dan uses a combination – he has a hair loss system and he uses hair restoration techniques. “Follow the instructions. Follow the path. It will work. Sometimes it takes longer than others,” says Dan. He emphasizes the importance of persistence and following the path. Since embracing his hair system, Dan has gained immense confidence and has been instrumental in inspiring others in the hair loss community. The transformative power of hair systems is not just about regaining hair, but about regaining hope and inspiration. Hair systems today offer natural, seamless solutions that blend perfectly with your existing hair, making them nearly impossible to detect.


 


Understanding Hair Loss Solutions


It’s important to understand the cause of your hair loss and the hair loss solutions available so you can make informed decisions about your treatment. From medical treatments to hair systems, the options are vast. HairClub offers comprehensive consultations to help find the best path for each individual. It’s essential to understand that the journey to regaining your confidence and hair is unique and personal. By seeking the right support and being persistent, you can achieve the best possible results. Understanding your options empowers you to take control of your hair loss journey.


 


By raising hair loss awareness, exploring advanced hair systems, and understanding the diverse solutions available, you can find the right path tailored to your needs and regain your confidence.




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.25 Transcript

				
Dan Medeiros [00:00:04]:


Follow the instructions. Follow the path. It will work. Sometimes it takes longer for others. Everybody’s different. Our genetic makeups are different and how we respond to what we’re on. It will be different for everybody. But just keep going. Persist. Follow the instructions every single day and you will get to where you want to be. If you have any concerns, questions, I mean, the HairClub staff will be there for you.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:00:43]:


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 celebrating hair loss awareness month by welcoming friend of the show Dan Medeiros back on the podcast. Dan has been a passionate, uplifting voice in the hair loss community, using his personal journey and public platform to inspire and support others. Since embracing his hair system, Dan has gained immense confidence and now speaks to many people about their hair loss experiences. He’s been a beacon of positivity and empowerment, helping others find their own paths to a more confident future. But things weren’t always so easy for Dan. He struggled with hair loss from a fairly young age, and as his hair fell, so did his self-esteem. And this is what so many people go through. According to studies by PubMed and Monpure, 88% of women and 62% of men report the emotional impact that hair loss has on them. And Dan and I both experienced that firsthand. Now, both of us have reached a point where we want to talk about our hair loss and how we gain confidence, both from figuring out how to handle our hair loss and how to navigate the messaging that we receive from society.


 


Dan Medeiros [00:02:15]:


I was born with an issue with my scalp, kind of like a rare form of psoriasis. And the older I got, stress ended up becoming a major factor on it, sort of activating and getting really bad. So it caused a lot of problems with my hair loss once I kind of reached the early parts of college and of high school and progressively got worse as moving further and further up into the workforce and stress becoming more of a factor in my life. So it was destructive, it was life-altering, and it completely just destroyed any sort of confidence I had in myself and in anything I did in life. So I found HairClub back in 2009. 2010, I became an official client in 2010, and they completely turned everything around for me. It’s been a process as it is, but it’s been a process that I’ve followed, and it’s done amazing things for me. It’s completely changed my life. It’s turned it around 360, and it’s essentially brought me to where I am right now. I’m going on, you know, 14 years with hair club, and I still have a lot more to do and a lot more stories to tell.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:03:29]:


The thing I really want to do, a deep dive on this episode, is a little bit about your own confidence and the stigmas that surround hair loss. You talked a little bit about the emotions that happened when you had the hair loss and what that was like, and there has been a stigma. And I, you know, I’m trying to process in my own mind how much society has changed and then just how much I have changed because I felt like you. Same way when I started losing my hair. I had a lot of self-confidence issues. Really bothered me. It was always top of mind. I hated looking in any kind of reflection in the mirror.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:04:07]:


And a studio we have, there was a dome camera always captured the bald spot, and I hated catching a glimpse of it. It was always there, and it.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:04:15]:


It was soul-crushing. It really was tough. I looked at the calendar. I looked for social events where I couldn’t wear a hat, and I dreaded it. And I wondered what I was going to do and how I was going to try to fix my hair and deal with those kind of issues. So when I didn’t have the hair, it was such a big thing for me. And I know that as I was growing up, I remember hearing a lot of teasing that would go on for older guys that would have hair pieces and had done something with their hair. People would mock them, they make fun of them, and it would be that two-tone ugly hair. And so what I try to think about is, is it the fact that I matured and it doesn’t bother me as much anymore? Or do you think that it’s become more normalized in society, or is it a match of both? From your own personal feelings about your own hair journey, tell me a little bit about the confidence and where you are with it. Now, if somebody came up and pointed out and asked you be like, hey, man, you that clearly that’s not your hair, and made something about, would you have a sinking feeling, or does it roll off of you like, it’s not a problem at all now?


 


Dan Medeiros [00:05:23]:


Well, geez, I just hearing you talk about that, it’s in your own experience, I mean, it’s. I. If I could reach out and give you a hug right now. I absolutely would, because I. My God, do I feel that. It’s like. It just. It’s. God, it’s so, so soul-crushing, as you said, you know, I went through it all myself. The exact same thing. And everybody does, and it’s. You’re scared. You have no idea what to do, how to react. It just. It alters your entire perception of who you are and what you’re doing in life and where you’re going in life. And, gosh, Stephen, just the whole thing looking in the mirror, that is probably one of the hardest things.


 


Dan Medeiros [00:06:04]:


Looking people in the eye, like, seeing their eyes look up rather than looking at you. It’s like, what are you looking at? You know? And it’s like it immediately just takes you right away from what you’re doing, where you’re at with the conversation you’re having. And then it just takes over your mind as to, well, is there something off? Like, what are they looking at? Is this so. And, you know, this goes all the way back, you know, funny. I’ve been watching a lot of Saturday Night Live, and I just happened to watch an episode where Kelsey Grammer was hosting, and from the early nineties, and they had the. The president of HairClub on at the time and Instagram were being bald. He walked out onto the stage wearing a wig because, you know, they were a lot of wigs. And then it was.


 


Dan Medeiros [00:06:45]:


It was kind of played on that way, and it just kind of reminded me again just how. How far. How different things are now. And back to your question. You know, whether it’s us maturing and understanding more, or if it’s, you know, how the social look of things, I think it’s a good mix of both. The world we live in is very different. And the perception of bettering yourself, whether, you know, it’s something to do with your skin, something to do with your hair, something to do with your teeth. Like, regardless of what it is, the stigma, at least these days, is so much different.


 


Dan Medeiros [00:07:18]:


And it’s very minimal compared to what it used to be. Gosh, I remember growing up and seeing people. Bald people. And the jokes. It was always the butt of jokes. Even before I moved from Canada, I remember being in the office, and a lot of a. A lot of us were either losing hair or had gone bald and shaved their heads. And, you know, it’s, everyone cracks jokes about it, and, you know, you don’t really think of it, but, you know, even though I hadn’t gone fully bald, I, you know, I hadn’t gone bald, but I thinned out incredibly due to my job. It, you know, I’d hear it and I’d see it and, you know, kind of chuckle along with it, but on the inside, it’s just absolutely just, oh, my gosh, my world is overdevelop.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:07:58]:


Yeah. I think part of it that I have noticed. Think about when you were growing up and the role models that you had. Imagine if Superman had the hair of Doctor Phil, you know?


 


Dan Medeiros [00:08:10]:


I know, absolutely. Yeah.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:08:12]:


It never happened. You think about Thor. You think about the superheroes. We had a don draper on mad men. He had great hair. And to me, growing up, I think that’s part of the subtle perception about hair is how many of the heroes that we had had that kind of horseshoe hair loss that was in there. I really can’t think of anyone. There was a superhero that was that that person was always kind of the mealy mouse guy in the side corner office that was always the loser or the schmuck or the person that everybody didn’t want to be.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:08:46]:


They were the whiny person. And there was something about that that if you saw yourself becoming that, it’s like inevitably you become what your hair is. You can’t be a leading man. You can’t be a superhero if you start to lose your hair. And I think that’s part of the subtle thing that maybe we don’t really process, but it’s part of why we freak out so much when we start to see our hair going is that we think, wow, that’s just it. My cool days are over. There’s no way I’m going to be awesome again.


 


Dan Medeiros [00:09:15]:


Oh, exactly. It’s like, okay, so am I the villain now? Am I the goon? Yeah, it’s crazy. It’s the same kind of stigmas around you seeing what the male female form body is supposed to be. You see, well, that’s the only way you can look good. I can’t be that if I don’t have that again, it’s with every stigma we’re told, and we see what we’re supposed to look like, how we’re supposed to feel, and it’s just, you know, doing something about it. Now it’s, you know, I feel like we can do that. And it’s so accepted. And I did it myself.


 


Dan Medeiros [00:09:53]:


And, you know, for so many years, I went through the process of trying to regrow my own hair. And then, you know, we’re in the his hair system, and now I do a mix of both. And it’s, you know, I can talk to friends about it, I can post about it. I can be completely open and honest on social media with anybody who asks me about it now. And, you know, I’m completely, 100% open because I want that transparency. And I think that’s a huge part of it is being transparent about it and understanding that this is something we should all be okay with. We should all accept, you know, if it’s females wearing, you know, extensions or wigs. And I mean, that’s okay.


 


Dan Medeiros [00:10:29]:


So why can’t a guy wear hair to make themselves look and feel better, too? I see myself when I look at myself, I need to see myself how I’m supposed to see myself, how I want to see myself. And this is how I see myself. You know, I can’t imagine living my life without this because without my hair, this isn’t me. It’s just, it’s the me that hides, you know, hides under a hat, that hides, you know, in the house that doesn’t go out, doesn’t socialize. Who doesn’t want to get on that stage and perform in front of, you know, hundreds of people with lights flashing down on top of me?


 


Kevin Rolston [00:11:04]:


It’s powerful to hear how taking action and doing something about your appearance can make you feel like the best version of yourself. While keeping things covered up can lead to feelings of wanting to hide or isolate. It’s an experience I can relate to. And so many others who have shared their stories on the show have expressed similar feelings as well. We touched on how when we were growing up, we didn’t see many bald heroes. Balding characters were often not depicted as cool or strong. But things started to shift in the nineties and two thousands with icons like Jason Statham, Bruce Willis and the rock all embracing their shaped heads and redefining what it means to be a leading man. Societys perceptions are slowly starting to change and its important to recognize this were moving towards a world where talking about hair loss and finding solutions that make us feel confident are less stigmatized, which gives us the freedom to be more open and how hair loss affects not just our parents, but our mental health as well.


 


Dan Medeiros [00:12:10]:


It’s a huge mental game. You know, I struggle and deal with it myself. You know, I’m severely ADHD, I’m OCD, I have anxiety, depression, I’m un, you know, I deal with all that stuff and when I didn’t have my hair, that was. All of that was amplified to the 10th degree and it’s like, I have enough stuff going on in my life that I’m trying to fight. My outer image shouldn’t be one of them. And once you take care of that, then you can really focus on your internal self. And that’s at least that’s how I was able to finally start doing that. And now I found that perfect place with everything, you know, it’s helped center me, my hair helps me get out there and do what I need to do and be who I need to be.


 


Dan Medeiros [00:12:55]:


And it’s. It all goes hand in hand. And we should, you know, our mental health and who. Who we are and who we feel, who we see ourselves as. I feel we need to really focus on that. And more than ever before, this isn’t the eighties and nineties where it was, I don’t know, take some Ritalin, you know, or, I don’t know, figure it out, flip the switch. It’s now, let’s talk about it, let’s discuss it, let’s figure it out. Because we have, this is the age of learning about ourselves and taking care of ourselves and understanding that, you know, we have so much to offer, not just to the world, but to ourselves as well.


 


Dan Medeiros [00:13:29]:


And that’s so important, so very important.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:13:33]:


Yeah, it really is. So, you know, I think for me, in my own personal story is there’s several factors in this. One, the maturity has definitely helped out. I think society has been a big part of it and how they look at it. And then the other component is just the fact that it has improved. If I had some of the hair pieces I saw when I was a kid in the early eighties, I think.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:13:55]:


I would be self conscious.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:13:56]:


If I knew I had that on my head, I’d be like, gosh, I feel I’m not fooling anyone. And no one fooled anyone in the early eighties with a lot of the hair pieces that were out there. Now I’m stunned at how many people I find through this podcast that I talk to that have hair systems looking at you and looking at so many other people I’ve had these conversations with, you just don’t really know anymore. It looks fantastic. It’s natural, real human hair that just blends in perfectly with the color and the cut. I don’t know how you would know unless you knew a person’s personal story that they have a hair system on. Have you been able to see anybody? Do you feel the same way about your hair system? And when you see others that have one?


 


Dan Medeiros [00:14:39]:


Oh my gosh, it’s so true. Like, it’s amazing how many people, even friends of mine family had, like, until they found out they had no idea. And even a lot of them still, like, you know, they don’t believe that I’m even wearing hair like that. I’m just, you know, I just grew it all back. And yes, I’m trying to grow my hair back as well, but it’s just truly incredible. And the amount of people I run into, again, just like you, in this industry, since I worked so closely with hair club and have for so many years, it’s everybody I run into, I can’t tell they’re actually wearing hair systems. And that, that’s the most amazing thing. I love when I love that, I forget I’m wearing a hair system, you know? Yeah, that’s the greatest feeling.


 


Dan Medeiros [00:15:18]:


When I can, I look at myself in the mirror and I just stop and I go, man, like, I’m even fooling myself. And that’s awesome. That’s exactly what we’re going for. That’s, you know, with all these years and all this technology and everything we’ve learned, I’m so happy we’ve gotten to this point. You know, I’ve been, you know, 14 years with haircloth. I’ve seen just the transition in the technology that we’ve had in those 14 years from when I first started. And I look forward to where we’re going to be in the next ten to 14 years as well. My gosh, it only gets better.


 


Dan Medeiros [00:15:49]:


It really only gets better for people.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:15:52]:


That don’t know and are maybe thinking about, I don’t know where my self esteem would be if I went with a hair system or if I did treatments. I got the ultimate test today. I do a YouTube show. We have a live audience, and it’s the nature of entertainment. You get trolls. And we had a troll in there that was looking for any possible way to get anybody upset. And he’s trolling the audience that’s in there. That’s big fans.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:16:16]:


And then he went out on me, and I’m very open about being a client to hair club and how much I love it. And he went in and he’s like going, yeah, the head host there with the fake hair. And he kept going in on that. And when I read that, it had no effect on me because I know that he knows that I had it before, and that, to me, was a really great test because he tried to use that as a weakness against me. And there might be a time and a place where he might have said, yeah, the balding guy or the guy with, and that might have hit hard, and that might have affect me, but it was a really good test day, and I felt so good when he went after the guy with the fake hair. And I know my hair looks great, and I’ve got no problems with it, and it bounced off me as much as he would have said, oh, the guy in there with the nose, I’d have been like, okay, yeah, so I got a nose. So to me, it’s great that we’re having this conversation today, because I don’t know if I would have said with 100% confidence that I have full self esteem about my hair, and today I absolutely can. It’s not a weakness for me, my hair and how it looks and anything like that.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:17:19]:


I now know people can dig on me and try to go in on that. You know, sometimes you have friends, you’re looking for a weakness, and you’re trying to rip them apart. The hair is off limits now, which used to always be the number one thing. People would go in on me. I’d be like, on, all right, baldy, or all right, patchy, or whatever it might be. It’s not a weakness anymore. And to me, it’s great to have that kind of self esteem.


 


Dan Medeiros [00:17:39]:


Oh, exactly. And that’s 100%. I mean, there will always be trolls. You know, it’s. They haven’t all kind of dissipated yet. They’re still there. They’re still under, you know, the same kind of understanding of how things were again back in the eighties and nineties. I mean, we’re so far beyond that now.


 


Dan Medeiros [00:17:54]:


So it’s like, I feel like if anybody, anybody who does troll, they are in the vast minority, you know? If anything, I don’t even have to say or do anything. I feel like everyone else will completely run them out. It’s just, you can’t do that anymore. Like, ripping on someone and destroying their own personal image and their mental health. That is just, it’s become such a no go zone, and it’s just, honestly, yeah, you’re gonna, if anything, you’re gonna get trolled out of existence for doing that kind of stuff now. So it’s like, and it’s just like any troll for anything on social media in this world, it’s just, it, it means nothing anymore. Their words mean nothing because it’s just, it’s a. Unfortunately, they’re sad, they’re upset, and, you know, they’re not, they’re not happy with themselves inside, and it’s unfortunate.


 


Dan Medeiros [00:18:42]:


And all we can do is just educate and support each other and just everybody needs to support everybody. And that’s, I feel like it’s become such a huge thing now. And that’s why, as I said before, that mental health and our, and our image go hand in hand.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:19:01]:


Its so important to acknowledge the mental health aspects of hair loss. Dans openness about the emotional toll hair loss can take really sheds a little bit of light on often overlooked issues. Many people experience feelings of anxiety, depression and a drop in self esteem when they start to lose their hair. These emotions can be incredibly isolating and addressing them head on can really help. But transitioning to a mindset where you feel comfortable speaking about your hair loss isn’t easy. The first conversation you have about your hair loss can feel daunting. It’s hard to know where to even begin.


 


Dan Medeiros [00:19:43]:


I tried everything under the sun, just trying to do it quietly myself, because again, I didn’t know who to talk to. I wasn’t comfortable talking with anybody about it. I was freaking out internally every single moment of every day. You know, I would have told myself way back when I first started noticing it, when I first started getting people mentioning it to me, I would have been, get the hair club right away. Scheduled that consultation right away. And I think I might have even mentioned in our last podcast when I went in for my first consultation, finally I was sat down and told, you have reached the BMW of hair loss solutions. And that’s something I’ll always bring up and mention because it was something that has stuck with me and still sticks with me. The support system, the incredible people that you work with that help you find the best way for you to get to where you need to be.


 


Dan Medeiros [00:20:32]:


It started me on that journey, and again, I just wish I would have started earlier. I wish I would have handled stress in my diet and my outer image a lot better. I wish I would have stayed off the energy drinks and the fast food back then. So many things.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:20:50]:


Mm hmm.


 


Dan Medeiros [00:20:51]:


But, you know, just going back and telling myself that eventually it will get better and you just keep fighting, keep pushing on its persistence and just following the course, you know. And for anybody who has started out and unsure whether they should keep going, if it’s right for them, keep pushing, keep the persist, and just follow the instructions. Follow the path. It will work. Sometimes it takes longer for others. Everybody’s different. Our genetic makeups are different and how we respond to what we’re on, it will be different for everybody, but just keep going, persist, don’t follow the instructions every single day, and you will get to where you want to be. If you have any concerns, questions? I mean, the hair club staff will be there for you and those of us like myself, who we’re here to help.


 


Dan Medeiros [00:21:38]:


I’ll get on the phone with new clients, people looking who are interested, and just talk with them. I’ve had conversations with them on a Sunday for 45 minutes. Like I’m talking to you, telling stories, what I’ve been through. And it’s just there’s so much help. And we’re all here to answer your questions, whether it’s myself or an actual, you know, your stylist or your center manager, whatever it is, just keep going. That’s just. It will get there.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:22:04]:


I would tell myself 1015 years ago, I had massive anxiety about having big divots of hair missing and really looking like I was balding. And if you get plugged into hair club, your journey may change. It may be different throughout the course of it, but there will not be a time that you will be self conscious about how your hair looks. They will always have you looking on point. And so to me, walking in the door to say, all right, they got you by the hand. You don’t have to worry. Let go of the worry. Let go of the fret.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:22:35]:


What you’re afraid of looking like is not going to happen to you when you are here. So stay with them. They will give you the right direction. You listen to what they have to say, you follow it, and you’re going to be good. To have that peace of mind would have meant everything to me ten to 15 years ago.


 


Dan Medeiros [00:22:51]:


Absolutely. And they are the best. And I said, now we know. And that’s why we’re doing what we’re doing right now. We’re getting the word out there. We’re helping more people understand, because it’s never too late, it’s never too early. Either way, just start it. Get it going.


 


Dan Medeiros [00:23:06]:


It’s the best in the world.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:23:12]:


Everyones hair loss journey is unique, but its important to remember that this is an issue that touches everyones lives, whether they experience hair loss themselves or they know someone whos going through it. Thats why conversations like these are so important. Everybody who speaks out about hair loss experience helps break down the stigma and allows others to feel, feel less like they’ve got to face it alone. Whenever we help each other and share our process, we help create a supportive community where everyone can find encouragement and understanding. This year, for hair loss awareness month, we want to normalize conversations just like this one. The more we talk about it, the more we can destigmatize it. Whether it’s through personal stories, seeking professional help, or just having honest conversations with friends and family. Every bit helps.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:24:02]:


Not everyones journey will be exactly like mine or like dans, but everyone can find a solution that works for them and we hope you feel encouraged to explore the options that are out there. Remember, youre not alone in this journey. Reach out, share your story and support one another. And if you can think of someone in your life who might need to hear a story like this, please share it with them. 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. 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.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:24:48]:


If youre 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. were 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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								Ask A Trichologist: What Is Causing My Hair Loss?							
					
															
Ask A Trichologist: What Is Causing My Hair Loss?

					
					
 by  | Aug 6, 2024 | Episode

				
				
				
				
				
				
				

				

				
				
				
				
				

				
				
				
				
				
Episode 24


Ask A Trichologist: What Is Causing My Hair Loss? 

			

				
				
				
				
				trichologist-hair-loss-Eva-Proudman-024-blog
			

				
				
				
				
				

			

				
				
				
				
				
In this episode of HairPod, I sit down with UK-based trichologist Eva Proudman. We talk about the many potential causes of hair loss, hair thinning, and hair shedding. If you’re not sure what the differences between those terms are, make sure to listen in for that and more actionable tools you can use to help you navigate your own personal hair loss journey.


 


Hair Loss: Eva’s Personal Experience


Hair loss is a difficult thing to experience no matter when or why it happens. Eva’s journey began when she underwent bariatric surgery to manage her diabetes. While the surgery successfully put her diabetes into remission, it also led to significant hair loss as a side effect. This experience, coupled with her involvement in a program providing hair extensions for young cancer patients post-chemo, inspired her to transition from owning a hair extension company to becoming a trichologist.


 


Trichologist Talk: Diagnosing and Treating Hair and Scalp Disorders


As a trichologist, Eva Proudman specializes in diagnosing and treating hair and scalp disorders holistically. Trichologists consider various factors such as diet, stress, and medications when assessing patients’ conditions. They undergo comprehensive training and use a differential diagnosis approach to understand patients’ symptoms and provide effective, personalized treatment plans.


 


Proudman explains the process of diagnosing hair conditions through patient accounts and clinical evidence. She discusses various conditions, including telogen effluvium, female pattern hair loss, alopecia areata, and autoimmune scarring conditions like frontal fibrosing alopecia. She emphasizes the complexities of diagnosing and treating multiple conditions in women and the importance of thorough diagnosis and tailored treatment plans.


 


Hair Health: The Role of Nutrition and Lifestyle


Throughout the podcast, Eva Proudman highlights the crucial role of nutrition in maintaining hair health. She emphasizes the importance of protein in supporting hair growth and recommends incorporating red meat, eggs, chicken, fish, turkey, dairy, nuts, beans, and legumes into the diet. Proudman also advises against excessive consumption of processed foods, fast foods, salt, and sugar, which can negatively impact hair health.


 


In addition to nutrition, Proudman discusses the significance of stress management and quality sleep for overall hair health. Trichologists may refer patients to therapists or specialists for psychological hair-related conditions such as trichotillomania, and they encourage stress management techniques to promote hair well-being.



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.24 Transcript

				
Eva Proudman [00:00:04]:


So I was a diabetic and my diabetes was out of control. And I was offered serious bariatric surgery to put my diabetes into remission. I was basically given a very stark choice at the age of 40 because of my genetic inheritance and the type of problem I had. My professor said to me, I give you six months before you have a fatal heart attack or a stroke unless we do something drastic. And at that point, I’d got a ten year old son, so I would do anything.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:00:52]:


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. For this episode of Hairpod, I get to talk to Eva Proudman, a trichologist from the United Kingdom who also has experienced hair loss herself. We’re going to find out about her own personal hair story, and you’re going to learn a lot of great information about hair loss, hair shedding, hair thinning, and the myriad of causes and treatments available for these conditions. There are so many different possible causes of hair loss, from genetics to diet to stress. And I am excited to dive into all these different topics with Eva. Hair loss can have a massive impact on our lives.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:01:46]:


Sometimes we have to change our lifestyle and be open in trying solutions we never thought of before or even knew existed. We aren’t taught about hair loss, and finding trustworthy sources is a real challenge. It’s hard to know what is actually effective and what’s going to work for you. So having clear, science-backed information is critical to determining your path forward, or you could end up wasting a lot of time and money. It’s a journey, and people like Eva have made a career by guiding people through that process.


 


Eva Proudman [00:02:20]:


Trichology is the study of anything to do with the hair, the scalp, and as far down as your chin. So this little box of our anatomy, that’s what we specialize in. We diagnose any of the disorders that you can have hair-wise, scalp-wise, and as I say, as far down to the chin. And the way I got into trichology was that I used to own, many years ago now, the largest hair extension company in the UK, we used to export to 40 countries. All of our products were about education, no damage to hair, very ethical. And I was asked by the Teenage Cancer Trust in the UK if I would have a meeting with them to talk about how we could possibly provide hair extensions for younger people post-chemo so they could get their wigs off. The last thing you want to do if you’ve been through chemotherapy is wear a wig or wear a hat because it reminds you of treatment. So we developed a program called hair in recovery and we trained a special network of salons to use these super fine micro bonds.


 


Eva Proudman [00:03:26]:


We subsidized the hair and the service to make it affordable. And we launched the program and it’s still running today. The company that I left still run it, which is great. But at that point, I realized that my passion was hair loss, not hair fashion. And so I sold my shares in the company and I trained to become a trichologist. And that’s what I’ve been doing ever since. And it’s the best job in the world.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:03:54]:


It sounds like you’re in it because it’s rewarding and you feel like you’re truly helping people. Is that right?


 


Eva Proudman [00:03:59]:


Every day is a delight. You know, hair loss is a big taboo, really. People still don’t openly talk about it in the UK. It’s very badly signposted. It’s not something that our national health service specialize in. And very often people feel they’re on their own. It’s vanity. There’s nothing that can be done when, in fact, hair loss is very emotional.


 


Eva Proudman [00:04:22]:


It’s not about how it looks, it’s about how it feels. And it can affect your self confidence, it can affect your mood, it can affect your social life. Very, very often. There are a lot of things that we can do to improve the problems that we find. And very rarely do we find that we can’t treat something. And there’s this big misconception that if your hair is thinning or you’re losing it, it’s because of your age, your medications, the menopause, all of those things kind of get thrown at people that this is why it’s happening. And I find in clinic, I’ve got nine of them across the UK, I see 250 patients a month. There aren’t many people that we can’t treat and improve.


 


Eva Proudman [00:05:07]:


There are some conditions that are permanent scarring conditions, where we can’t recover the hair. But again, we tend to have a network of specialist people that can provide very specialist cosmetic solutions that are not necessarily full wigs and look really natural and are comfortable to wear. So, yeah, it’s really, really rewarding.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:05:29]:


So what you’re trying to do is help somebody find their best solution.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:05:34]:


And if you can you want to.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:05:36]:


Provide a more natural solution for the people so that a wig or something of that nature is not the end all, be all for everybody.


 


Eva Proudman [00:05:44]:


Absolutely. And the priority is if we can restore the health of the scalp and the hair, and we can get that hair to grow better and thicker. That’s the ideal. That’s our goal. That’s where we aim. If we treat and we get some improvement, but it’s not enough for the individual patient, then we can look at other interventions from there. But the baseline is we accurately diagnose what the problem is, we will treat it accordingly. And our treatments are very holistic.


 


Eva Proudman [00:06:14]:


We look at the whole person. So your hair is very much affected by your diet. What you eat really affects your hair. It’s affected by your hair care, the products you use, how often you wash the hair, how often you wash the scalp. Stress is an issue, diet is an issue, medications can be an issue. But there again, there are conditions like thyroidism, where if you’ve got a low thyroid function, you can find your hair is slow growing, it’s dull, it’s brittle, it will shed. If you’ve got an overactive thyroid, it will shed like mad and thin. But when they are medicated and you get that thyroid stimulating hormone into a good mid range with medications, those things go away and the hair should return to normal.


 


Eva Proudman [00:07:01]:


And if it doesn’t, then there are lots of things we can do, whether it’s with blood tests or from an examination, we can add things that will get that hair to recover. So there’s lots and lots of areas that we work in.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:07:19]:


It’s encouraging to hear that there are just so many options and approaches to restoring the hair and scalp to its healthy state. As Eva points out, its not really about your hair so much as how you feel about your hair. Knowing that there are options is a huge relief. What trichologists do is so in depth, so personalized, and requires such a vast amount of knowledge in so many different areas.


 


Eva Proudman [00:07:47]:


I did a three year training course with the Institute of Trichology, and every month I did clinical hours. And you’re taught to do what we call a differential diagnosis, which is a combination of asking your patient what is it they are feeling.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:08:04]:


Which is a what?


 


Kevin Rolston [00:08:04]:


I’m sorry, you said it’s a combination.


 


Eva Proudman [00:08:06]:


To give you their symptoms.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:08:08]:


Can you tell me?


 


Kevin Rolston [00:08:08]:


You said it was a combination of something. What was it a combination of, Eva?


 


Eva Proudman [00:08:12]:


So it’s a combination of asking the patient what they are experiencing, seeing and feeling, and then having a look with what we call a trichoscope. It’s like a microscope for the scalp and looking at what the clinical signs tell us. And we then work out what the condition is from what we’ve been told and what our clinical evidence is. And generally what we find is if you see your hair falling out a lot, so there’s an increase of hair fall when you wash it, or you brush it and it feels thinner, or if you’ve got long hair, it’s gone ratty on the ends of. Generally, it isn’t always what you think. It’s not hair loss. It can be a disruption to the growing and the shedding cycle. It’s called telogen effluvium.


 


Eva Proudman [00:09:00]:


Telogen is the natural shedding phase. Effluvium means you’re doing too much of it. And there are lots and lots of underlying causative factors, and when we identify those, we can normally correct them. You can get that growth cycle to go back to normal. The shedding reduces to normal range and the density comes back into the hair, because you haven’t actually lost any. It’s just turning over too quickly. If somebody feels their hair is just disappearing gradually getting thinner. And it might be in a pattern for ladies, generally, through the centre scalp, the parting in the middle gets wider.


 


Eva Proudman [00:09:38]:


You can sort of see in, see and feel more scalp. The crown sits open. It could be something like an angiogenetic alopecia, female pattern. And again, we can manage female pattern very, very effectively. And whilst we’re on the subject of ladies, they tend to be sort of more complicated than the guys. We have a more complicated sort of background. Our physiology is more difficult. So we see ladies with multiple conditions, and again, you’ve got to treat all of them in the right way to get the best results.


 


Eva Proudman [00:10:11]:


You then get the autoimmune type conditions, so you can see things like the patchy circles of loss. That tends to be a condition called alopecia areata. It’s where the immune system is misfunctioning and it sees the hair as a foreign object, it breaks it out at the root and leaves those circles. It leaves all of the follicles behind so the hair can regrow. And what our job is is to try and stimulate the hair to regrow and to distract the immune system from attacking. And those immune attacks tend to be caused by huge amounts of inflammation in the body. So we work to reduce that. It can be sort of high levels of emotional stress, it can be low stored vitamin and mineral levels.


 


Eva Proudman [00:10:57]:


And again, we would work to investigate all of those and to correct it. And then we move on to the worst kind of hair loss, which, again, is autoimmune. But unlike the areolators, where the hair can recover, it’s what we call a scarring condition. The immune system doesn’t attack the hair, it attacks the growing unit. It’s called the pilosubaceous unit, and it attacks it underneath the scalp and it leaves permanent hair loss. We can’t regrow it. Once that hair’s gone, it’s gone. And an ever-increasing popular one we see in clinic is something called frontal fibrosis and alopecia, or FFA for short.


 


Eva Proudman [00:11:36]:


What you notice, particularly in ladies, is the hairline is receding. You’re losing hair in front of the ears, you can lose it behind, and it can progress all the way back to the crown. And you can lose that whole frontal section of your hair. At the back, it still looks perfect, but from the front you’ve got loss. You tend to find that you lose the outer third of the eyebrows, you can lose body hair. The scalp can have sensations. It can be itchy, creepy, burning. And again, what’s happening is there’s a huge amount of inflammation causing that immune system to attack.


 


Eva Proudman [00:12:12]:


And we have treatments that we use to reduce that inflammatory attack, to stabilize the condition, to retain the hair that we’ve got. So we work in very different ways and all of those things can exist together. Sometimes I’ll see a patient and I think, blimey, that’s five things we’re dealing with. That’s a big ask, but we work through it and we deal with it. Other times I’ll see a patient and it’s easy peasy. They’ve got an itchy, flaky scalp. I look at it, it’s seborate dermatitis. Good treatment, shampoo, frequency of washing, you can manage it really well.


 


Eva Proudman [00:12:47]:


So all day. And what comes into clinic is different all the time, which is what makes it such a fab job, because you never know what you’re going to see and it keeps you on your toes. You’ve got to be a really good detective.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:12:59]:


Yeah, I bet. And thats my question, is, how hard is the diagnosis? You talk about so many different things that can cause hair loss. Can you look at someone or is.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:13:10]:


It, sometimes I hear stories of doctors.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:13:12]:


That try to diagnose an ailment in our bodies and theyre guessing and theyre trying to figure out what it is. So as a trichologist, is it often easy to diagnose whats causing the hair.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:13:22]:


Loss or do you have to try.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:13:23]:


A lot of different remedies a lot of times before you get it right and figure out what truly is causing it?


 


Eva Proudman [00:13:28]:


So there are some conditions that are easier than others. The diagnosis isn’t necessarily the difficult bit because we spend three years studying, we do two years of clinical mentorship so that we know what we’re doing. We do continuous professional development. So we’re always looking at research papers, we’re attending seminars, we’re looking at all of the current evidence that’s out there and we’re lucky we get an hour with a patient. So we listen very carefully to what they’re seeing and feeling. That starts to give us the clues to what it could be. And then we put our expertise into that examination and once we know what it is, it’s then about what’s causing that and how we treat it most effectively. And so there are some things that are in every condition, whether it be a psychological one or a medical one, you will find that practitioners will have a first line treatment.


 


Eva Proudman [00:14:27]:


Something they try is their go to that for 80% of people it works for. And then they’ll have a second and third line treatment that sometimes they have to add in because the patient’s a bit more complicated. So it’s about getting the balance right of your treatment. For that individual a common treatment is depleted stored vitamin and mineral levels. For general health we have one level and as long as we’re in those ranges our body functions we’re okay generally, but the hair needs a very very different range. It’s the second fastest dividing cell in our body, but it’s non essential. So we have to make sure those stored levels are right. And some people will absorb really well from their diet.


 


Eva Proudman [00:15:12]:


They’ll have great diets, they’ll hold them and life is great for them. Other people might have a restricted diet like a vegan diet for example. And vitamin B twelve is crucial to hair growth and hair health. But it’s only in animal based products so you’d need to be supplementing it. So we might put a b twelve supplement in. But again, plant based diets aren’t great at holding iron. So we might put an iron supplement in and some people might need them for four to six months and they’re good to go. Other people might have more of a leaky gut or an absorption issue and they need to take them longer term.


 


Eva Proudman [00:15:50]:


So again you’re working with everybody as an individual because our tolerances and our abilities are all different.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:16:01]:


There’s so much information and technology available to help trichologists diagnose and treat some of these conditions. I know firsthand that it can be a little bit daunting to try to navigate all that on your own. Whether your hair loss is caused by hormones, diet, immune function, or something completely different, figuring out the root cause is the first step in knowing what type of treatment to pursue. One thing we can all take control of right now to slow down hair loss, is our diet. So I asked Eva more about how nutrition and hair health are connected.


 


Eva Proudman [00:16:41]:


The first thing the hair looks for is protein. And every day it says to the body, can I have a quarter of whatever you’re having now? The problem is, if you don’t have enough protein, it manages every single essential cell, and our very clever bodies will take all of that for the essential cells. And your hair can end up with nothing from its nutrition. And not all proteins are equal. So let me give you some examples. So if you were having an egg for breakfast, you’d get about 8 grams of protein out of that egg. And it’s what we call a complete protein. It’s got everything in it that you could possibly want.


 


Eva Proudman [00:17:20]:


If you decided that you would have just toast. You won’t really get any protein because there isn’t anyone there, and it won’t give you the things that build protein, the amino acids, and it’s those amino acids we need. So the sort of best foods to eat are your offal, red meat, eggs, chicken, fish, turkey. All of those things are fantastic. Most of them are complete. And when I say complete, it’s about the amino acids. So our bodies use 23 every day, and we can make all of them except for eight. They’re called the eight essential, and you can only get them from complete proteins in your diet.


 


Eva Proudman [00:18:01]:


Again, the hair needs all eight. It would do. It’s complicated. So those sort of foods, I’ve just said, great, get those in your diet every day. Try to have protein at each meal. Try to have it in the morning, at lunchtime, in the evening. The hair likes that consistency. Keep it well fed.


 


Eva Proudman [00:18:20]:


Dairy is good to include. And then you come down to your more sort of plant based. Your nuts, your beans, your legumes, they do have proteins in there, but it’s volume. So 100 grams of chicken, about 25 grams of protein, 100 grams of chickpeas, 8 grams of protein. So you can see when you’re advising somebody, you need to give them some ideas and some guidance on what to choose. Seeds shouldn’t be overlooked. Things like sesame seeds, chia seeds, sunflower seeds, on average, a teaspoon of those added to a salad or into a yogurt or onto a cereal. 5 grams of protein.


 


Eva Proudman [00:19:00]:


So you can sort of really work to choose the foods you like, but to make sure you get enough of them in the right proportions, that’s the best thing I can suggest for your hair and then your plate. So make protein, your biggest portion. Then your brightly colored fruit, vegetables, little bit of carbs, little bit of good fats. That generally is a balanced diet, and the hair will be happy with that. So will your body.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:19:27]:


Would a trichologist sit down and give you a diet that is good for hair health?


 


Eva Proudman [00:19:32]:


We do. We advise on what to try and include, what the best foods are, what they’ve got in them. We do study nutrition as part of our qualifications, so we’re not nutritionists, as in, you come to us because your gut doesn’t work at all, but we know what foods are good for you, what they’ve got in them, how the gut works with it, how you absorb what they give. And so, yes, in my clinic, I have a reference sheet for proteins. There’s lots of things on there, and they’re all counted to make it easy for my patients to be able to go and say, I’m going to have an egg. I know an average egg’s about 8 grams of protein, so I know I’ve got another 42 to get in that day.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:20:16]:


What are we consuming that would be bad for our hair health, whether it be foods or other substances we choose to put in our body.


 


Eva Proudman [00:20:23]:


Yeah, so bad things are sort of processed foods. So when foods are processed and fast foods, we tend to use oils in there that are nothing potentially friendly. They can affect cholesterol and those sorts of things. We tend to put a lot more salt and sugar in, and if you have too much salt, it can build up around the follicle, it can cause the hair to shed, you can get a sodium build up. Too much sugar can imbalance what the body’s trying to do. So you want to try and be as much as you can. A cook from scratch, use fresh ingredients, type of person, the odd takeaway, the odd hamburger, the odd kebab, no big deal. But if that’s what your diet consists of, a, your body’s not going to be great, but your hair certainly isn’t, because those foods just don’t give you what you need to get all of those processes working most effectively.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:21:19]:


We’ve talked about the food you consume, but you had mentioned stresses and personal traumas that can affect hair health. Is it ever a good idea to incorporate some form of therapy to try to relieve some of the stresses? And maybe you have traumas that have happened in your life. Could that be impacting your heart health? And is that sometimes a recommendation from a trichologist?


 


Eva Proudman [00:21:42]:


Absolutely. Sometimes I will refer to a therapist. It could be a psychiatrist or it could be what we call psychodermatology. And they are a branch where they understand everything to do with the hair and skin, but they understand the psychology of it. So there’s a condition called trichotillomania, which is where you pull your hair out. You’re constantly pulling it out. Sometimes you don’t even realize you’re doing it. I’ve had patients sit in front of me and I will say, have you stopped pulling? And they’ll say, oh, yes.


 


Eva Proudman [00:22:13]:


And they’re twiddling and pulling and licking the hair in front of me. They don’t know they’re doing it.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:22:17]:


Wow.


 


Eva Proudman [00:22:18]:


And they need help. I can give them distraction techniques, things like have a fidget toy, something that’s nice to touch and keep your hands busy, stop it touching the hair. But very often those kinds of conditions have started with something that’s much deeper psychologically. So they need help to break that cycle. And it’s no good saying, oh, well, just jump from the pulling bit and give you more hair, because if we give them more hair, they’re going to keep pulling it out. And the more you pull it out, you can get permanent hair loss. So we very much work on that. We help patients think about how to manage stress and anxiety.


 


Eva Proudman [00:22:56]:


The top of the list is always meditation and yoga, and they’re great, and they work for lots of people. But there are people like me that if I sit and meditate, I’m not meditating, I’m thinking, I need to do that. I’ve got this to do. I may as well be sticking a pin in my eye, because I just don’t relax with it. And so a tip I give to my patients is, do the thing where you empty your head and you lose time. So we’ve all got things we like to do where you think, I’ll spend 20 minutes doing that. You look at your watch and you go, my goodness, I’ve been there an hour and a half, didn’t realise I’ve been doing it for me. Put me out my greenhouse or the garden, I can lose all day.


 


Eva Proudman [00:23:34]:


And I’m not thinking, I haven’t got that noise in my head. For some people, it’s reading, it’s walking, it’s brushing the dog, it’s baking, it’s cleaning. Doesn’t matter what it is. The thing that gives you that downtime and you feel your shoulders relax, that’s what helps to relieve stress. And anything that works is the right thing for you.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:23:54]:


I’m assuming, obviously, sleep is a big part of this as well, that you need to do the standard at least seven to 8 hours.


 


Eva Proudman [00:24:00]:


Yeah. With the hair being the second fastest dividing cell, it needs good quality sleep because it regenerates when you’re sleepy. So again, people with poor sleep patterns or very limited sleep, again, that can be an issue in affecting the overall health of the hair.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:24:17]:


Great. Eva, your own hair journey. How did you diagnose, what situation did you go through?


 


Eva Proudman [00:24:24]:


So I was a diabetic and my diabetes was out of control. And I was offered serious bariatric surgery to put my diabetes into remission. I was basically given a very stark choice at the age of 40 because of my genetic inheritance and the type of problem I had. My professor said to me, I give you six months before you have a fatal heart attack or a stroke unless we do something drastic. And at that point, I’d got a ten year old son, so I would do anything. And he said, I recommend this bariatric surgery. And we said, okay, that will do it. So referred to the bariatric surgeon.


 


Eva Proudman [00:25:08]:


You’re assessed psychologically to make sure you’re not some kind of feeder. That even if they do the surgery and you’re still going to eat sugary food and put your sugars out of control. I had the surgery and from the moment I came round, we did a blood test. I’ve not needed metformin or insulin since the surgery puts it into remission. But I always tell myself it’s only in remission whilst I manage it. And what the bariatric system does, it resets the endocrine system and you’re just able to manage it also makes you drop weight really, really quickly. In a space of four years, I put on ten stone in weight. Ten stone is what, less than I weigh now? So there was another whole me.


 


Eva Proudman [00:25:54]:


And so I lost that weight. And the trauma of the surgery, the weight loss, I lost 50% of my hair. It literally came out in handfuls.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:26:03]:


Wow.


 


Eva Proudman [00:26:04]:


And I’m really lucky. I’ve got very thick hair, a lot of it, but I know how it feels. And when you see that hair in your hands or your shower, your eyes and your brain say you’re losing your hair, it doesn’t matter how much I knew the science that it was an imbalance and that it would go back. And you feel terrible because you don’t feel like yourself. And when people say, but it looks fine, you feel even worse because you think, well, nobody believes me. And so I had that for about nine months before we got the growth cycle to normalize. I was eating normal meals again. I was holding a normal weight.


 


Eva Proudman [00:26:38]:


My body was recovery. But I still have to have supplements every day. I have b twelve injections. I have had an iron infusion in my time because my levels were very low. But I work really hard and my mantra is I eat my protein. I eat my good green ripe orange vegetables. I have a few carbs and I have a little bit of fat. And I do cheat.


 


Eva Proudman [00:27:01]:


I’ll have chocolates. I’ll have a cake. But I have it very much in moderation. Gotta live because that’s what I have to do.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:27:13]:


It’s nice to know that there are practical, tangible changes you can make in your daily life that could benefit your hair and scalp health. Of course, we all feel better when we eat healthier. And Eva is right. Balance is important. It is essential to feel good about ourselves and enjoy little pleasures in life, even when we are dieting or trying to change habits. Hair loss is hard enough to deal with on its own hair loss is hard enough to deal with on its own. It’s been an enlightening conversation with Eva Prabin. Her passion, honesty and expertise are admirable and I feel like I’ve gained some valuable insights into understanding and managing hair loss.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:27:52]:


One thing that really stood out to me is how important it is to see hair loss from all angles, whether they be physical or emotional. Finding support and seeing a hair specialist could make a huge change in your hair loss experience. As weve learned, theres just so many options no matter where you are in your hair loss journey. 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. 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 youre enjoying the show, consider leaving us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.


 


Kevin Rolston [00:28:40]:


We also have a website. Check it out by going to podcast dot hairclub.com. were 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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