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Hair Loss, Confidence & Racing With Frankie Muniz

Hair Loss, Confidence & Racing With Frankie Muniz

by | Nov 12, 2024 | Episode

Episode 38

Hair Loss, Confidence & Racing with Frankie Muniz

Hair Loss, Confidence, and Racing with Frankie Muniz

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

Hair Loss in the Public Eye

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

Hair Systems and Confidence

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

HairClub: Tailored Solutions for Every Lifestyle

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

Maintaining a Hair System 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Combat Seasonal Hair Loss With a New Look

Combat Seasonal Hair Loss With a New Look

by | Nov 7, 2024 | Episode

Episode 37

Combat Seasonal Hair Loss With a New Look

Holiday Hair Hacks with Kevin Rolston

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

How My Hair Loss Started

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

The Hair Solutions I Tried First

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

Trying Laser Therapy for Hair Loss

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

My Hair System

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

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

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

Episode.37 Transcript
Kevin Rolston [00:00:02]:
That's why I completely recommend finding a specialist and somebody that walks you through all this. But as far as what I am doing right now with my hair, it is natural hair. It looks absolutely amazing. It blends in. I have a hair stylist that cuts it any way that I want. I go in every three weeks and it looks completely natural. You would have no idea that I have a hair system on at all. And that's, to me, why I love it.

Kevin Rolston [00:00:44]:
Welcome to HairPod, the podcast where you get to hear real people talk about their hair journeys. I'm your host, Kevin Rolston, and this week we're bringing you an episode from the vault. You know, as the seasons start to change, so do our sensibilities, our wardrobe, the things that we do, how often we go outside, and also your look. This might be a good time of year to start thinking about the way you present yourself. Maybe something happened to you over the summer where you noticed that your hair was getting a bit thinner. Jumping into a pool will do that. You notice that, wow, I had a lot more hair this last summer. So what do you want to do about it? Because that sense of panic starts to settle in.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Halloween Tips on Styling a Hair System

Halloween Tips on Styling a Hair System

by | Oct 29, 2024 | Episode

Episode 36

Halloween Tips on Styling a Hair System

Halloween Tips on Styling a Hair System Dan Medeiros

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

Styling Costume Wigs

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

Human Hair vs. Costume Wigs

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

Hair System Maintenance

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Racing Through My Hair Loss Journey: Joey Logano

Racing Through My Hair Loss Journey: Joey Logano

by | Oct 22, 2024 | Episode

Episode 35

Racing Through My Hair Loss Journey: Joey Logano

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

NASCAR: Behind the Scenes

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

Hair Loss As a Pro Driver

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

Hair Systems and Finding Confidence

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

Long-term Hair System Use

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

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

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

Episode.35 Transcript

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Dr. Phipps: Male vs Female Pattern Hair Loss

Dr. Phipps: Male vs Female Pattern Hair Loss

by | Oct 15, 2024 | Episode

Episode 34

Dr. Phipps: Male vs Female Pattern Hair Loss

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

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

Female vs. Male Pattern Hair Loss

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

Understanding Androgenetic Alopecia

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

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

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

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

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

Common Signs and Symptoms

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

Receding Hairlines in Men

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

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

Diffuse Hair Thinning in Women

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

Causes of Hair Loss

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

Genetic Factors

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

Hormonal Changes

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

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

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

Aging

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

Medical Conditions

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

Nutritional Deficiencies

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

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

  • Vitamin D
  • Iron
  • Zinc

Other nutrients also help boost your scalp health:

  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin B
  • Protein
  • Omega-3
  • Vitamin E

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

Stress

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

Gender Differences in Treatment

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

Hair Transplants

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

Medications

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

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

>How Effective is Finasteride?>

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

Finasteride as a Preventative Measure

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

Is Finasteride Right for Me?

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

The Best Treatment for Hair Loss is Comprehensive

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

Managing Hair Loss Effectively>

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

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

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

Episode.34 Transcript

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Latino Culture and Hair Loss

Latino Culture and Hair Loss

by | Oct 8, 2024 | Episode

Episode 33

Latino Culture and Hair Loss

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

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

Being Latino and Going Through Hair Loss

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

Trying Different Hair Solutions: The Turning Point

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

Gaining Confidence Through Hair Solutions

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

Advice for Latino Men Facing Hair Loss

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

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

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

Episode.33 Transcript
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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. To better understand this often misunderstood hair condition, we’re honored to welcome Heather Brooke, a licensed professional counselor and an individual with lived experience of TTM. Joining us to discuss her journey with TTM, Heather provides valuable insight for those living with the condition.

At HairClub, we offer more than just solutions for hair loss—we’ve created a hub of knowledge to help you understand every aspect of hair health and wellness. This episode is an essential listen for anyone looking to understand trichotillomania better, whether you or someone you love is affected by this disorder or you’re simply curious about it.

Join us as we explore trichotillomania​ through the lens of Heather’s experiences—her personal story, professional insight, 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.

Causes of Trichotillomania

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.

Trichotillomania is a medical condition characterized by the compulsive urge to pull out one’s hair, often resulting in noticeable hair loss. It can affect hair all over the body:

  • Scalp
  • Eyebrows
  • Eyelashes
  • Other body hair

There is no single age of onset, but it often begins in childhood or adolescence. For Heather Brooke, it started at just nine years old. There is no clear-cut cause of trichotillomania, and research into the condition is still ongoing. However, experts believe that a combination of factors could cause it.

Biological Factors

Genetics may play a significant role in the development of trichotillomania. Other biological factors, such as changes in hormone levels during puberty, could also contribute.

Psychological Factors

Individuals who experience depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are more likely to show signs of TTM.

Environmental Influences

Highly stressful situations and traumatic events may trigger trichotillomania in some people. Heather believes traumatic experiences in early childhood triggered her own TTM.

Symptoms of Trichotillomania

Individuals with trichotillomania may feel an intense urge to pull their hair out. They may feel a growing tension that becomes harder and harder to ignore, with a sense of relief after pulling the hair out. People with TTM may have repeatedly tried to stop or minimize the hair-pulling behavior with no success.

Hair-Pulling Behaviors

Most people with TTM pull hair from their scalp, but some pull from other areas, such as eyebrows, eyelashes, genital hair, and beard or mustache hair. The resulting bald patches may have an unusual shape and affect one side of the head more than the other.

Emotional and Physical Consequences

Constant hair-pulling can cause severe damage to the skin and hair. From bald spots to scarring, this condition can damage the skin of your scalp and even permanently affect hair growth. As the hair loss becomes more and more visible, you may feel frustrated, ashamed, and embarrassed. If you can’t stop hair loss, you may feel like you’ve lost control. Over time, you may develop low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety.

Trichotillomania’s Impact on Daily Life

Trichotillomania can profoundly impact daily life, often making simple tasks seem more challenging. The urge to pull out hair can strike unexpectedly, especially during moments of stress or boredom. This can lead to noticeable hair loss, which in turn can affect self-esteem and body image. Individuals experiencing TTM may avoid social gatherings, work, or school out of fear of being judged or feeling embarrassed by their appearance. Despite years of therapy and now being a licensed professional counselor herself, Heather still deals with the effects of this hair-pulling condition. Her personal journey underscores the challenges many face: living with TTM is a continuous process of managing symptoms rather than a quick fix.

However, managing the condition is possible with the right strategies and support. HairClub’s expert consultation and lasting solutions for trichotillomania treatment offer the personalized strategies you need to reclaim your confidence and find balance in your everyday routines.

Coping with Trichotillomania

Currently, there is no known cure for trichotillomania. However, numerous tools and strategies can help you 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 realized 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, even this form of stress relief might not be enough during particularly stressful times. 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, it’s crucial to learn to forgive oneself and recognize that recovery is a journey.

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.

Educate Yourself

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.

Recommend Resources

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.

Trichotillomania: Understanding This Hair Pulling Disorder and Its Impact

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.

If you’re struggling with the effects of trichotillomania, HairClub is here to help. With personalized hair restoration solutions and expert care, we can help you take a step toward regaining confidence and control over your life.
Book a Complimentary Consultation at 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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Heather Brooke
Nick Wilkins

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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.

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

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Available Every Tuesday @ 9am

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My Hair System Routine with Kyle Weatherman

My Hair System Routine with Kyle Weatherman

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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Featured Guests

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Nick Wilkins

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just launched

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Highlighting Alopecia Awareness Month

Highlighting Alopecia Awareness Month

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?

hair-loss-awareness-Kevin-Rolston-027-blog

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.


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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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Importance of Early Hair Loss Detection

Importance of Early Hair Loss Detection

by | Jul 23, 2024 | Episode

Episode 22

Importance of Early Hair Loss Detection

early-signs-hair-loss-Kevin-Rolston-022-blog

If you are starting to wonder if you should be concerned about your hair loss, this episode will give you some helpful insights into identifying hair loss early on and what you can do about it.  In this episode of HairPod, our host Kevin Rolston delves into the early indicators of hair loss. Highlighting personal experiences and expert insights, Kevin discusses how subtle changes in hairline, volume, and scalp visibility can signal the onset of hair loss. Emphasizing the importance of early detection, he encourages listeners to take action to preserve hair health by exploring effective treatment options and professional advice early on.

 

Indicators and Methods for Monitoring: Finding the Best Hair Treatment for Hair Loss

Hair loss can greatly impact our lives and feelings of self-confidence, knowing what to look for early on can help those dealing with hair loss to have a plan, enabling them to address hair loss head-on. Offering practical advice, Kevin discusses strategies for managing hair loss effectively. From comparing photographs to monitoring shedding, changes in texture, and scalp health, he guides listeners in identifying the earliest signs of hair loss. By discussing advancements in hair loss treatments and technologies, Kevin inspires hope and optimism for those seeking solutions tailored to their specific needs.

 

Seeking Hair Loss Treatments Early On: Is It Time to See a Trichologist?

Kevin shares personal reflections and insights on the emotional aspects of experiencing hair loss while also offering specific examples of what hair loss looks like in the earlier stages. Drawing from his journey and those of previous HairPod guests, he explores the insecurities and challenges individuals often face when they begin confronting hair loss. By normalizing these feelings and discussing ways to seek support, Kevin aims to empower listeners to address their concerns openly and seek professional guidance with confidence.

 

Know Your Options: Hair Restoration, Hair Transplants, Hair Loss Therapy

Being aware of the early indicators of hair loss allows those experiencing it to find a suitable solution or discover an underlying health issue, ideally allowing them to restore their hair and their confidence without years of painstaking self-questioning and solution seeking! Kevin emphasizes the importance of community and support for individuals navigating hair loss. He encourages listeners to engage with HairPod’s platform and social media channels to continue the conversation, share experiences, and access valuable resources. By fostering a supportive environment, Kevin aims to empower listeners to take proactive steps toward managing their hair loss journey.

 

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.22 Transcript

Kevin Rolston [00:00:04]:

A lot of feelings naturally come up when we face hair loss, and many are resistant to openly acknowledging it from the beginning. One thing that seems consistent across the board for most people is how hair loss impacts them emotionally. And I know that as well as anyone. When I went through it myself, I didn’t want to be baldem. 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. For this week’s episode, I want to do something a little bit different.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:01:01]:

We’ve talked about so many unique hair stories and heard about how our guests have dealt with that initial period of hair loss. Some went into denial, others panicked, and some retreated into their shell. Some people, like me, started trying every solution we could think of, trying to find the one that works best for our situations. Today, I want to talk to you about the early signs of hair loss, because as different as our stories are, I think one thing a lot of our guests have in common is that they wish they acted upon their hair loss a lot sooner. Many people spend so much time in that stage of hair loss where they think they’re just experiencing normal daily shedding and end up letting their hair loss get so aggressive that they lose more hair than they actually needed to. Today, I want to empower you to take action in the early stages of hair loss, because it’s not always a lost cause of. Sometimes people can slow it down dramatically, and some even experience regrowth. So let’s dive into some important indicators that might be able to tell you if you’re losing more hair than you’re regrowing.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:02:09]:

So let’s get right into it. The first thing you’re going to want to look for are changes in your hairline. These changes can happen slowly over time, so they can really sneak up on you. For men, the frontal hairline is usually the first to change. Women, on the other hand, might start to notice hair loss. Overall, the steady transition to an m or v shape along the hairline is quite common with aging and is a clear sign of hair loss. Your hairline might already have this shape, but if it starts to become more prominent, it is evidence that your hairline is receding. Believe it or not, I first noticed my hair loss in a picture somebody took of me, and it was quite a shock, let me tell you.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:02:50]:

Even though I knew I was going to go bald eventually from seeing pictures of my dad and grandfather all throughout my childhood, I still wasn’t really monitoring whether I was losing my hair at the time. If I had been, I probably would have noticed sooner. For me, it was a bald spot right in the back middle part of my head, and there was no questioning the evidence. I was definitely balding. It was horrifying. Now, it’s not always obvious, but you might be starting to notice a loss of volume and thickness in photos, just like me. But don’t panic. Just because you’re experiencing hair loss now doesn’t mean you’ll continue to.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:03:26]:

Plus, if you do continue to lose hair, the options for treatment and the technologies available for those experiencing hair loss are only getting better as time goes on. Plus, if you do continue to lose hair, the options for treatment and the technologies available for those experiencing hair loss are only getting better as time goes on. Because hair loss can sometimes be very gradual, it can be hard to tell if you’re losing hair or just imagining it. Comparing new and older photos is a great way to actually figure out if you’re noticeably losing hair. If you want to be more scientific about it lighting, make sure your hair is dry. And remember, lighting is key because fluorescent lighting or wet hair can make your hair look thinner than it really is. If two photos taken several months to a year apart show significant differences in hair volume, there’s a pretty good chance that you’re experiencing hair loss. Another early sign to watch for is excessive shedding.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:04:25]:

Shedding is normal, and it’s estimated that we lose around 50 to 100 hairs a day on average. But if you’re noticing more hair than usual in your tub or shower, it might be time to take a little bit of a closer look. You can check your shower drain and hairbrush regularly to gauge the amount of hair you’re losing. Now, keep in mind that if you have long hair, it’s easier to see the shed strands, which can make it seem like you’re losing more hair than you actually are. However, if the amount of hair you find continues to increase, then you’re losing more hair than you’re regrowing, and it might be time to look to seek professional guidance from your doctor or a hair specialist. If you’re someone who styles your hair the same way on a regular basis, and you’re starting to notice that styling your hair is becoming increasingly difficult, this could be yet another early sign of hair loss. Now, just because you have one bad hair a day. It doesnt necessarily mean that your hair is thinning, but if your go to hairstyle isnt looking quite the same, or if its just taking more time and product to achieve the same look, it might be worth taking a look at your scalp health.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:05:29]:

You can compare your current styling efforts with past experiences to see if its your methods or your hair thats actually changing. If you have a long term hairstylist, you can actually ask them if theyve noticed any changes. Often they have a pretty keen eye for subtle differences in hair thickness and volume. Scalp visibility is probably the main indicator for most people. If you tilt your head down or you use a handheld mirror to check the top of your head, you might notice more scalp showing through your hair. Now this is true for men and women and is a common early indication of hair thinning or the beginnings of a bald spot. More scalp visibility can suggest a general thinning of the hair or specific areas where hair loss is more pronounced. If you’re getting sunburns on your scalp more frequently or noticing your part getting wider and wider, it is a clear sign that you are starting to lose some hair.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:06:28]:

It’s important to remember that signs of hair loss can vary greatly depending upon the type and the cause. Aging, hormonal change and autoimmune conditions such as alopecia areata can cause hair loss. And in each instance, hair loss is going to look a little bit different. Again, dont panic. Just because youre experiencing hair loss now doesnt mean youll continue to. Plus, if you do continue to lose hair, the options for treatment and the technologies available for those experiencing hair loss are only getting better as time goes on. A lot of feelings naturally come up when we face hair loss, and many are resistant to openly acknowledging it from the beginning. One thing that seems consistent across the board for most people is how hair loss impacts them emotionally.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:07:17]:

And I know that as well as anyone. When I went through it myself, I didn’t want to be bald. It’s totally normal to feel insecure about bringing up your hair loss to anyone else, whether it’s a trusted friend or a professional in the industry. The great thing about recognizing signs early on is that you can look for solutions and connect with knowledgeable people to figure out what’s right for you. If you seek help from a trusted professional, you may discover that your hair loss can be slowed down or even reversed. And even if that’s not in the cards for you, there are probably more options out there than you’re even aware of. Spotting hair loss early allows you to seek advice from a doctor to rule out medical concerns and a hair specialist to come up with a plan. Maybe your hair loss is from aging, or maybe it’s an underlying condition or deficiency.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:08:06]:

Whatever the cause may be, the first step towards a solution is accepting that you are losing your hair. And once you’ve done that, you can get the help you need and get on track to getting your hair back. 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 dot hairclub.com.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:08:47]:

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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Conversations With a Hair Loss Stylist

Conversations With a Hair Loss Stylist

by | Jul 16, 2024 | Episode

Episode 21

Conversations With a Hair Loss Stylist

hair-system-stylist-Rachel-Rivera-021-blog

 In this episode of HairPod, we dive into the world of hair systems with hair loss stylist Rachel Rivera. We explore the intricate process of maintaining and styling hair systems, shedding light on the importance of having a skilled personal stylist. Rachel has been a hairstylist for over twenty years and has worked with HairClub for the last thirteen. Kevin and Rachel share encouraging stories of helping people get their hair back and Kevin’s personal experience with a hair system. They also discuss common misconceptions about hair systems that can, unfortunately, keep people from trying them. 

 

Getting Your Hair Back: Hair Restoration with Hair Systems

Getting a hair system can be transformative and powerful, but it can also be a vulnerable process. Hair loss stylist can guide their clients toward finding the right solution for their hair loss. Hair systems start as long, rock-staresque hair before being styled and cut for a sleek, personalized look. Rachel explains the significance of starting with longer hair, which allows the stylist to cut and shape it into the desired style. Rachel and Kevin reflect on the shock and awe clients (Kevin included) feel when they see themself with a full head of hair again!

 

Managing Hair Loss, Balding, and Thinning Hair

The conversation touches on the art of color matching to ensure the hair system blends seamlessly with the client’s natural hair. Rachel elaborates on her process of selecting and blending colors, paying attention to changes over time, such as the addition of more gray hair. She explains the concept of “graduals” for clients who prefer a subtle transition to a full hair system. They discuss the maintenance routines necessary for keeping the hair system looking its best, including the importance of regular conditioning and using the right styling products. Kevin appreciates Rachel’s personalized care, which addresses his specific needs, such as managing dry scalp and ensuring his hair system stays secure even with his active lifestyle.

 

Hair System Maintenance and Styling Demystified

Hair systems can radically change the way we look, and even if the results are perfect, it can still be a scary process – journeying into the unknown. Rachel shares her approach to building rapport with new clients, making them feel comfortable and informed throughout the process. The meticulous attention to detail provided by stylists like Rachel ensures that the hair system looks natural and flawless, a stark contrast to the obvious toupees of the past. It is an inspiring and enlightening conversation for anyone interested in hair systems

 

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.21 Transcript

Rachel Rivera [00:00:04]:

Again, it’s so emotional. When you first get started and you’re getting your hair for the first time, we’re giving you something back that you haven’t had in years. So for some people, they’re seeing hair in the front of their hairline that they’ve never seen before, and it’s something amazing. And then when they see themselves in the mirror, it’s really such a life changing experience. I can’t explain it. When I see it for the first time, it’s amazing. For me, this is why I love what I do. And then at the same time, when they’re looking at themselves in the mirror, it is literally you’re taking off a minimum of ten years off of somebody’s life.

 

Rachel Rivera [00:00:39]:

They look so much better.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:00:55]:

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. I’m really excited for this episode because I get to speak with my own personal hair system stylist, Rachel Rivera about her experience styling hair systems. Rachel has worked with Hair Club for 13 years and has over 21 years of hair experience. She is truly a hair wizard and always leaves my hair looking natural and flawless. It takes a lot of skill to work with hair systems, and I imagine all of Rachels clients feel just as lucky as I do to work with somebody as caring and knowledgeable as her. Getting a hair system is a process.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:01:52]:

The initial steps can feel vulnerable for some people, but the best results are worth it, at least for me. Having hair system has been life changing, but I honestly don’t know if I would have had the same experience without such amazing stylists. They do so much more than just cutting hair. For many of the guests that we’ve talked to here on the show, myself included, stylists guide us with empathy as we navigate our own hair loss journeys. It can be daunting to think about going from thinning hair, bald patches, or even no hair at all to having a full head of hair again. But a great stylist will make sure that you look and feel great and that you’re not dealing with it alone.

 

Rachel Rivera [00:02:39]:

We always get our hair a little bit longer and it always. It’s good because if you ever came to me and you decided at one point you wanted it to wear just a little bit longer. We could absolutely do that. But it gives me the opportunity to work with and I be able to cut in the style that you like or even the style that anybody’s looking for that they would want to have.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:03:01]:

How hard is it to do that? If somebody comes in with a photo, how do you match that? Do you go on descriptions and how do you make sure that you’re cutting the style that the client wants?

 

Rachel Rivera [00:03:11]:

We always suggest pictures. That’s the biggest thing. So if somebody can’t find pictures, we always have them look at, hey, YouTube Pinterest, anything that they can look at and see, any model, any pictures for age relations, whatever they want to look at. And then I’m pretty good at copying whatever I see. I love visuals. I’m a very visual person, so I can always copy what they’re looking for.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:03:34]:

Now, how do you work with clients? Because there are a lot of people that they really don’t know what they’re talking about when it comes to hairstyle and they don’t know what’s going to look good. Look, I’m one of those people. That’s why I trust you inherently to say, give me a hairstyle that looks good. Because as I was a kid and I saw what was the early beginnings of hair systems, there too often were guys who got hair systems that just didn’t match their age, their look. And there seems to me to be kind of an art form because you want something to look realistic. To me. What’s amazing with my hair system and what I have, you look at me and you dont think that that guy has any kind of help. It looks just exactly like my natural hair.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:04:20]:

So how do you work with somebody to do that? Because ultimately that would be the goal.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:04:24]:

And im sure a lot of times.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:04:25]:

You know better than somebody whos coming to you, even with a picture, they want to look like Brad Pitt in 1994 and theyre a 62 year old guy. And youre just like, thats just not going to be consistent. How do you work with that client, Brian?

 

Rachel Rivera [00:04:37]:

Absolutely. You know, we’re big on making suggestions. You know, I always like to go with, again, when these situations, it’s always different. So you always want to go, according to one, how much hair the actual client has their own natural growing hair as well as a style that’s going to accommodate their face and how it looks. So we’re really big on suggestions. If I see you and you want, you know, the 1990s, Billy Cyrus Mullet, and I’m not thinking that’s a good look for you. I’m going to suggest something different. Hey, I appreciate your style, but let’s take a look at something like this.

 

Rachel Rivera [00:05:11]:

What do you think along the lines? So I usually try to have my artillery of hairstyles also, so that they can kind of take a glance and we can come together to find that nice middle ground.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:05:23]:

The other thing that I find amazing, that I never would have known, is how you can match up the color so it looks natural. Because on the side of my head, I’ve got my real hair that is right there. And, you know, I’ve gotten different levels of gray since I’ve even been coming to you. But you seem to be able to look at what I have on the side, and then what is in my hair system, it seems to match up perfectly. How do you wind up doing it? How do you just eyeball that and you can get the color exactly right?

 

Rachel Rivera [00:05:49]:

Well, from the beginning process, I know when. When you first set in and we first did your measurements. What we do is we have a selection of colors that we use, ultimately, to help blend it with your color. So a combination of those colors, we come together and we create what’s going to be your hair now with time, of course, as you remember, we’ve just added a little bit more gray into your own hair. It’s just me paying attention to the things that are going on with your hair and paying attention and adding those little things that we need to customize it because we always want it to be flawless.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:06:22]:

Cause that was one of the things that I always noticed with hair systems from back in the day when I was a kid, is you would have an older guy, and he’d have gray hair on the side, and he’d have a jet black top.

 

Rachel Rivera [00:06:32]:

Oh, yeah.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:06:33]:

It looked like he was just putting on a hair cap. And it looks so fake. And that’s the difference, to me, of the old hair systems to what you have now. It’s completely seamless. It is cut to fit the sides, and it goes right up all the way through the top.

 

Rachel Rivera [00:06:46]:

Absolutely. We’ve broken the molds. When you think about those old heads of hair and, you know, rest in peace, I talk about Burt Reynolds. He started to look good a little bit later on, but his hair was very heavy and thick. And those are your old style toupee is that came along in the beginning of time, and we’ve broken all those barriers, and all we’ve done with time is just created something that’s going to be thinner to match and blend with. Your own hair flawlessly. It’s amazing.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:07:19]:

The way that Rachel colors and styles my hair. To look completely natural and to perfectly match the existing hair I have still blows my mind. This is the extra challenge of working with a hair system. Everyone’s hair loss is a little different. The amount of hair loss, the textures, the colors, and each client’s goals for a hair system are unique to each client. When you factor in just how emotional hair loss can be for people, you start to get a sense the special combination of skill and compassion these stylists need to have.

 

Rachel Rivera [00:07:57]:

You always want to build a good rapport, a good relationship, and make sure that your clients are very comfortable with what they’re doing. This is a very emotional process for everybody involved, so it’s always my job to make somebody feel as much at ease as possible. The entire time that we are doing this process, I always make sure that I explain everything that I’m doing so that I’m not leaving my client behind at all. And those usually are the steps before we start cutting their hair. I always make sure I explain what we’re doing today as we’re doing the hair, and we’re doing all of our process. I’m explaining everything to them as we’re going along.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:08:35]:

If you had a client that was a little bit more self conscious, and they don’t want the whole world to know that they have gone from not a lot of hair to a hair system, is there a way to gradually ease that person into society so that they don’t have the self consciousness that they might otherwise have?

 

Rachel Rivera [00:08:54]:

Absolutely. We’ve created these. It’s funny because at one point, we called them graduals, which is what they were, and realistically, what it is. It’s hair that we have added into their own growing hair, the exception of it being very finer and thinner and even a smaller area, so that as they start going on and on, we can start increasing as we go.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:09:16]:

Wow. And what would that go like? If somebody has, say, 60% to 70% hair loss, how do you walk them through? And then how long of a process would you recommend before they finally go with a full head of hair and a hair system?

 

Rachel Rivera [00:09:29]:

We always want to make sure that it’s at their comfort level realistically, but we’ll make a suggestion on kind of where to start, and usually that’s where I have that input with my client. Hey, tell me, where do you think you want to add that hair first? And as we go along the lines, hey, are you ready for a little bit more hair? Or even that client will come to me and be like, hey, you know what, Rachel? I think I’m ready to add just a little bit more hair. And can we do that for the next time? Absolutely.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:09:59]:

I love that there are so many more options available now and that I can feel confident knowing that if I start needing more hair, it’s going to be a smooth and easy process. To add that in, we talk a lot on the show about barriers to seeking a solution for hair loss. It seems that hair systems specifically are often a solution people shy away from because theyre worried that its going to look obvious or they might face some social scrutiny. Even if it does look natural. When you first journey into an unknown territory, trying anything new is always a little scary. People often really dont understand how hair systems work, and the only frame of reference that they have are those old toupees that we mentioned earlier. The reality is the science behind hair systems has advanced. The hair is better, the adhesives are better, and they are totally customizable, not only for people’s hair loss and hair types, but also for their lifestyle.

 

Rachel Rivera [00:10:59]:

Well, let’s talk about you now. So, Kevin, you have a smaller head of hair, which is nice. You have, for the most part, most of your own growing hair. So realistically, all we’re doing is we’re covering your areas that are thinner. When I do the liquid adhesives, liquid adhesives depend on activity level. And, you know, what anybody does on any given day, what we’ve chosen for you is something a little bit lighter. And depending on how we put it on, it can either be perimeter, which is only around the edges, or we can do all the way full and cover the whole head with adhesive.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:11:31]:

And what is the difference? Lets say, for instance, my activity level. Im somebody likes to go to the gym three to five days a week. What kind of adhesive level do I need to get?

 

Rachel Rivera [00:11:41]:

Well, when youre, if youre that heavy, you work out, youre a heavy sweater. Typically, we go with something just a little bit stronger, because ultimately, we want to make sure that your hair is holding on for as long as possible. So anywhere between that four week timeline is really what were looking for before we have to make any changes to the hair. So realistically, we would go with something a little bit stronger, depending on activity level. If your scalp has a tendency to be a little bit drier and you hold really well, then we’ll use something a little bit lighter.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:12:11]:

Evan, and tell me a little bit about maintenance. What would you recommend when somebody has a hair system, how does it compare to having real hair that they used to have and what the treatment cycles are like and how do you keep it looking as good as it possibly can?

 

Rachel Rivera [00:12:25]:

We always say our middle of the road maintenance is always right around your one month timeline, because, remember, most of the time when our clients are coming in, their own hair is growing as well. So what we want to do is we want to make sure that we’re achieving a really nice, consistent look as far as growth is concerned. So we always want to make sure that we get them in at a minimum, or, you know, just get them in and have their hair cut and make sure that their hair is always looking good. So minimally, you’re looking at about a month timeline.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:12:55]:

Okay? About a month in between visits. And when I come in for a visit to see you, tell me about what we’re going to be doing each time. Because when I come see you, it’s not every single time that I get a new hair system.

 

Rachel Rivera [00:13:06]:

Now, sometimes when you’re coming in, we call it reversing the process. So the hair that we’ve added on to you, we actually remove the hair. And then what we do is I’ll give you your haircut, I’ll cut and blend your style into however you want it, and then I will leave the room with your lovely head of hair, and I will walk around and I will clean it up for you and get it nice and ready. Any colors that we need to add, if I need to tone it. If maybe you were on the sun for a little bit or on the boat and your hair turned a little bit lighter, we tone it out, make sure the hair looks good when you come back in, and then I put it back on for you.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:13:42]:

So tell me a little bit about care and maintenance. How often am I having to wash my hair? Do I use conditioner? What is it like with styling? Are there any differences in having real human hair? When I have a hair system?

 

Rachel Rivera [00:13:53]:

Absolutely. When you’re going the human hair route, I always like to explain to people that it is just like having your own natural growing hair. You have to wash it, you have to condition it. Conditioning is especially big with our hair because the hair that we’re adding for you does not have any natural moisture to it. So you are having to put in what it is lacking. So you want to wash it and style it like you normally would your hair. When you wake up in the morning, your hair is going to look crazy. It’s going to look messy, and it’s your job to wake up in the morning and use the proper products to style the hair.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:14:27]:

And what is that typically? Just a brush comb. Just like any old head of hair.

 

Rachel Rivera [00:14:31]:

Is what you’re using for most people, yeah. Like in your case, your hair is short, so you want to just put a little brush to it, put a little styling. If you want to blow dry it, absolutely. You can. If you don’t want to. That’s completely up to you. I have some of my clients, they love to blow dry their hair and then put a little product. Some people don’t need a little bit.

 

Rachel Rivera [00:14:49]:

Just a little bit and add a little taffy.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:14:51]:

Doctor Justin. Yeah. The one thing I’ve noticed that’s so amazing is when you do have a hair system, it is exactly just like having the old head of hair that you grew up with. There’s really no difference. You clean it the same way about the same time, you styled the same way, use the exact same products. It really is the exact same thing. But tell me about getting to know your clients. And for me, a client myself, getting to know your hairdresser, what seems to help for me and the reason why I love coming to you? One, you’re fantastic with my hair.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:15:20]:

I believe I’ve got the best hairstylist on the planet, but you know a lot of things about the person’s, their skin, for instance. One thing for me is you seem to identify pretty quickly, and you helped me figure out that my skin gets dry pretty quick. And I assume every client you have, it’s going to be different. And having a great hairstylist is somebody that’s going to help you understand. Because I was getting some red spots, there was some irritation that was going on, and I think it took a little bit of time before we found a sweet spot, at least for me, for maintenance on exactly how frequently to wash my hair and how to wash it. Do you notice that with every single client that everybody is kind of different and you have to design specific instructions for different people?

 

Rachel Rivera [00:16:05]:

Absolutely. It’s always my job to pay attention, especially to the skin. And I kind of look at it in a way. When you’re putting on adhesives on somebody’s hair or any kind of liquid polymers that we’re using, you want to make sure that you’re paying attention to the scalp. So I’m going to. I’m going to look for any little signs of maybe dryness or redness, any mild irritations. Because what that tells me right away is that there’s something that we need to change, paying attention to those things, make sure that our clients don’t have any issues going forward with their hair. So, yes, I pay attention to the scalp.

 

Rachel Rivera [00:16:39]:

I’m looking at it. I’m making sure that your scalp is always looking good. And if it’s not, maybe looking its best. There’s something that we can always change.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:16:47]:

So this is quite a revolutionary thing where I think a lot of people don’t even fully understand what it is like to get a hair system. We’ve talked about when the person sits down and when you first begin, but I if nobody’s ever seen the process, it truly is amazing. And I can tell you the perspective of being a client. The first time I ever sat down to get a hair system, it is a little unnerving because the first thing that happens is I lost the hair on top of my head. We decided to take it all off. Now, do you have the option to leave some of the hair that you have on top of your head? If you want? And what do you think is better to go all the way and remove all the natural hair that you have to put your system on, or is it good to have a little bit of both?

 

Rachel Rivera [00:17:28]:

I mean, in my opinion, if you’re asking me, I will always tell you to trim off what you have on top for the simple fact that it just makes it easier for the process to adhere, for it to go smoothly. Now, you absolutely have the option not to. I will always talk to you about those options before we get started, and then we’ll decide on the best solution. I will always give my recommendation and be like, hey, listen, it’s going to keep growing back. No one’s going to see it. Let’s just put the hair on. Let’s take it off. That’s the best way to go.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:18:00]:

So, to me, you talk about the first day that you go in to get a hair system. You are building a level of trust, because what hair you do have, it goes bye bye. And you take it off and you’re sitting there and you’ve got that toilet bowl seat looking hair that is kind of going around like the doctor Phil. And at that point, you’re like, oh, man, have I just made the biggest mistake of my life? I could not go out into public looking like this. And then all of a sudden, you come in with the hair system, you put the adhesive on, it goes on. And then now you’ve got this long, gangly hair, and then you’re like, okay, well, I have hair, but now it’s just so unruly and so crazy. And then what happens next is the wizardry. It is the masterful part of seeing just how you craft that hair that, like I had said, is down around my ears.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:18:45]:

And then the next thing you know, it is a short, stylish haircut where the front bangs are flat. I flipped up, and it is revolutionary what it does in just that hours time and sitting in the chair and transformative for anybody in there, I will tell you. To me, I feel like it takes ten to 15 years off of your look. And I know my first reaction was just disbelief. I was so thrilled. I was stunned. I couldn’t believe I was seeing what I saw in the mirror. Have you gotten emotional reactions from people for the first time? They ever got a hair system that sat there and you saw the fear in their eyes to the transformation you gave them?

 

Rachel Rivera [00:19:23]:

100%. It is always the most. Again, it’s so emotional. When you first get started and you’re getting your hair for the first time, I always relate it. We’re giving you something back that you haven’t had in years. So for some people, you know, they’re seeing hair in the front of their hairline that they’ve never seen before, and it’s something amazing. So you see them and they look in the mirror, and we’re going over this process, and it’s. It’s funny that you say that because I always explain to people, I’m like, we’re going to go through three different looks here.

 

Rachel Rivera [00:19:54]:

You’re going to go from how you look now. You’re going to go to the monk look, because after we’ve shaved your hair down, before we place it, it’s going to look different, and then you’re going to look like a rock star before we cut in your style. So they are very well aware of all of that going in. And then when they see themselves in the mirror, it’s really such a life changing experience. I can’t explain it when I see it for the first time. It’s amazing. For me, this is why I love what I do. And then at the same time, when they’re looking at themselves in the mirror, it is literally you’re taking off a minimum of ten years off of somebody’s life.

 

Rachel Rivera [00:20:31]:

Yeah, they look so much better.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:20:36]:

It was really fun to get to talk with Rachel about all this. I’m sure you’ve gathered I am a very big fan of hers. I’m a big fan of hair systems and the stylists who help people like me look good in them are heroes. Having a hair system has helped me to feel like myself again, and the guidance and care that I receive from stylists like Rachel were monumental. 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, wed love it if youd share it with them. If youre enjoying the show, make sure to subscribe and consider leaving us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:21:19]:

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


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What It Means to Live With Alopecia Areata

What It Means to Live With Alopecia Areata

by | Jul 2, 2024 | Episode

Episode 19

Living with Alopecia Areata: What I Have Learned

Ep. 17 Living with Alopecia with Claire Fullam

 

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

 

Hair Loss, Autoimmune Conditions, & Stress

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

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

 

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

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

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

 

The Emotional Toll of Hair Loss & the Power of Community

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

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

 

Building a Supportive Community

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

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

 

Professional Guidance & Resources

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

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

 

Practical Tips for Managing Alopecia Areata

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

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

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

 

 

Embracing a Positive Mindset

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

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

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

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

 

Empowering Resources

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

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

Episode.19 Transcript
Claire Fullam [00:00:04]:
You really have to dig deep and really care about yourself again because there’s some parts of you who’s let that go along. That way, maybe you’re bottom of the pile. You’re not looking after yourself a little bit. This is a whisper from your body to you to try and get you back on track again. You are as entitled to be here with hair or no hair. So try and give yourself that to care about yourself enough, because if you stay down too long, it’s really, really hard to kick the bank of the river and kind of swim back up for breath.

Kevin Rolston [00:00:49]:
Welcome to HairPod, the podcast where you get to hear real people talk about their hair journeys. I’m your host, Kevin Rolston, and each week I get to interview people from different walks of life whose lives have been touched by hair loss in some form or fashion. Many of our guests have experienced hair loss themselves and found a way to get their confidence and their hair back. In this episode, I spoke with returning guest Claire Fullam, who began her hair loss journey over eight years ago. Claire and I previously discussed how her struggle with hair loss had led to addiction recovery and self discovery, inspiring Claire to create her Internet Persona “Claire Balding”, and to pursue a career in trichology. Claire has returned to HairPod to share her insights on living with alopecia areata through her own personal experience with hair loss and work as a trichologist. Claire has discovered that alopecia areata cannot be resolved solely through external approaches, but must also be addressed on an emotional level. She emphasizes the importance of self-care, finding community, and seeking the support of a specialist.

Kevin Rolston [00:01:52]:
Claire encourages listeners to share their stories and avoid minimizing the emotional impact of hair loss.

Claire Fullam [00:02:03]:
I went to a dermatologist, a trichologist, loads of different doctors. I tried every, you know, thing that was out there at the time, every kind of treatment plan. But I stuck with the trichologist, and I was with her for about 20 weeks, and we did loads of, like, LLP therapy at the car. We did a lot of lotions and potions. We did a lot of, like, electrolysis work as well on the scalp. And to be honest, Kevin, now, knowing what I know now, and I’m a trichologist now, right? And I have a big patch of alopecia up here as well. Like, I always get patches. Like I had.

Claire Fullam [00:02:35]:
I have a big, full head of hair, still get patches all the time. It’s like the type of alopecia I have is alopecia areata. So it’s like, it’s an autoimmune condition. So it’s like a psoriasis. You know, somebody who has psoriasis, it will flare up and then it will disappear, and it will go through different bouts and all that kind of stuff. So that’s the type of alopecia I had. So I did loads of different treatments. But really, I think what was the making of me and the reason why I have hair today is because I spoke about it.

Claire Fullam [00:03:02]:
You know, I was such a person who used to internalize every slight worry that I had in my life. I used to never want to express myself because I didn’t want my mom to worry or my dad or my husband to worry. So I used to internalize. I was one of those, like a swan on the water, you know, like, I looked like I had it all together, but underneath I was panicking. And I think through my work now, like, I meet people with alopecia areata all day, every day. And it’s always the same type of personality. It’s always people who take on a lot from other people. They’re the friend of everybody.

Claire Fullam [00:03:37]:
You know, you’ll take your shirt off your back, like that kind of personality. And, you know, it’s funny how now I can see that, okay, the lotions and potions and the laser light therapy could have helped. Of course it does, because it will bring blood up to the follicle and that will encourage hair growth. But actually, what it was was taking that hour every week for myself. So every Wednesday, I used to go into the clinic. So I used to have to leave work half an hour early, and I used to get the bus in, and I used to listen to my music, and I used to go into the clinic, and then I used to come home, and it gave me that, like, sense of control. Does that make sense? It gave me this kind of. Right, okay, I have no hair now, but what am I going to do to try and help myself with that? So.

Claire Fullam [00:04:22]:
Or I washed my hair with the shampoo. They told me to. I did this, I did that. So it was a level of a plan. And the power of a plan is so, so important for people that are going through something which is so unpredictable. So I think, like, that was really, really important that I kind of had something to do. Does that make sense at all? Like, I had something to do every week, which I speak to my patients about all the time. You know, there’s so much.

Claire Fullam [00:04:46]:
And even, I mean, that was eight years ago. There’s so much more therapies out there that we know of now that we can help people with. But I really believe that no lotion or potion, no vitamin, no stress relieving therapy will stop an autoimmune condition. You have to learn how to work alongside that a little bit. And I always say now, like, when I get a patch, like, I have one up here now, there’s little hairs growing out of it. Thank God it’s there about eight, nine weeks now. It’s like a whisper from my body. It’s like a cleaner.

Claire Fullam [00:05:17]:
It’s like, be careful. It’s an autoimmune condition. So, like, you’ve got loads of different systems in your body, right? So the ones that we’re going to top on air, like your nervous system and your immune system. So your nervous system is the one that controls all of your emotions, okay? So when you are physically stressed or emotionally stressed, she’ll whack her sister, because that’s what sisters do. Okay? So your immune system then goes up and up and up and up. So she goes off on one. And all along this invisible ladder here, there will be different rungs, which some people with autoimmune conditions, that little switch will be kind of gone off, and it will keep going back there. So when I ever get stressed, one of the first things to go is my hair.

Claire Fullam [00:05:56]:
So it’s an autoimmune condition that I can slightly control, but not always control, you know, depending on what’s going on in my life. I know for me, it’s when I’m not really taking care of myself, when I’m bottom of the list, which happens as parents, doesn’t it? Right. And as a business owner, like, you’re always bottom up the list. I take on too much all the time, you know, and it’s a different type of stress now because I have so many people to provide for. You know, it’s not like it’s just me and the kids and my husband anymore, but other people’s families that I need to look after as well. So that different type of pressure and stress, I know that I wasn’t looking after myself about three months ago, and now this is the result of that.

Kevin Rolston [00:06:41]:
Alopecia areata doesn’t just go away. Stress management is key for living with any kind of autoimmune disorder, but it’s not a fix all at the same time. External treatments alone are not enough to prevent flare ups. Managing stress, scalp maintenance, and creating a plan for ongoing care can make a huge difference.

Claire Fullam [00:07:05]:
I think a lot of people, again, this is a common thread that I see through people with alopecia is that they don’t have very many boundaries, you know, they don’t have very many. They’re people yet. Yeah, no problem. No problem. Hair’s on the ground, you’re not going to wake.

Kevin Rolston [00:07:18]:
It’s such a personality type.

Claire Fullam [00:07:19]:
It sounds like such a personality type. And it really only happens to people as well that have a lot of hair. You would never see somebody rarely. Yeah, you’d rarely see somebody with an appeche areata who has fine hair. They have big, big, big hair. It’s like your body knows what to pick. Does that make sense that Claire can survive without this patch of hair? You know? But, yeah, like, I suppose what I do is I listen now and I get stuff off my chest because I used to kind of internalize a lot and I used to not speak about things. I will unfortunately ring my friend, ring my mom, talk to my husband, and I will say I need help right now, and I’ll dish out the jobs and I’ll delegate and all that kind of stuff.

Claire Fullam [00:08:01]:
I try as well to get more sleep again, your body will get stressed if you don’t sleep enough. So look at your diet as well. I could reduce sugar at times to try and manage inflammation, all that kind of stuff, but there’s not one single thing in that group, Kevin, that will stop my autoimmune condition. And I think sometimes alopecians have to forgive themselves sometimes, because again, we’re not very good at that. And I think that it’s not our fault that this happens to us. This is the way your body will commute, will kind of communicate stress to you. And some people will be like, well, you shouldn’t have ate that, or you shouldn’t have done this, or you should. It’s going to happen anyway.

Claire Fullam [00:08:36]:
You know, it’s going to happen anyway. So it’s about trying to manage that as much as you can and not beat yourself up too much about it. But, yeah, there’s loads of stuff you can do. There’s so many things that we should do all the time. But listen, sometimes we need a bit of a kick up.

Kevin Rolston [00:08:49]:
We all slide a little bit.

Claire Fullam [00:08:50]:
Yeah, yeah. Right.

Kevin Rolston [00:08:52]:
If somebody’s listening right now and they have alopecia, and let’s say that they are where you were when they are just noticing a little bit of hair missing in a spot, what do they need to do right now? Do they treat it right away? Do they wait? And if they do something right now, what is that thing?

Claire Fullam [00:09:10]:
I would say get into a good routine. Try and maybe look up a trichologist in your area or a dermatologist. I’m not always the biggest fan of going straight to medicine because I think that drugs have side effects. Like any drug will have a side effect. And a lot of alopecia, especially alopecia areata, is something temporary. So you don’t need drugs to try and get over that. I would say get into a simple scalp routine. You should be exfoliating your scalp, you should be washing your scalp regularly, and you should put something on the patches that would have some level of growth factor on them.

Claire Fullam [00:09:42]:
And some of the biggest brands in the world have growth factors within them. You know, stimulators.

Kevin Rolston [00:09:48]:
Would that be a minoxidil, a Rogaine, something like that? Is that what you’re referring to?

Claire Fullam [00:09:53]:
Yeah, not really. Minoxidil would be something that would be used for more of a chronic condition. So maybe like female pattern, male pattern hair loss, angiogenetic hair loss, and a piece of ariasa. It is a like, it can be temporary at times. If you go in with a minoxidil, you’ll become reliant on that minoxidil. And when you take minoxidil away, you could have a bit of a dread shed. So be careful of minoxidil. I would say things like there’s those of energizing potions and lotions out there, like ice nioxin.

Claire Fullam [00:10:20]:
I’m sure you have nioxin over in the states. All of those kind of big brands would have something stimulating within them. Caffeine, rosemary, all that kind of stuff. But I would say try and get some sound advice in terms of a process. As I said, that little plan, you don’t have to go somewhere every week, but if you had, okay, I’m going to exfoliate my scalp every single week. I’m going to wash my hair every second day, and I’m going to stick on something stimulating onto the patch to try and encourage while I work this out, while I contact a trichologist, while I go to the dermatologist. Steroid injections, like, if it was pretty bad or if it was just one big patch, a steroid injection, a cortisol injection from a dermatologist would be really, really stimulating to that kind of way. And that could help grow the hair back as well, I suppose, as well.

Claire Fullam [00:11:05]:
Like Kevin, like, what I would like to kind of get across is that it can get really dark, really quick hair loss, you know, and I think that a lot of people would understand that who have gone through it. And I think that it becomes very, very out of control. What I would say to people is, when I had no hair, people still loved me, I could still do my job, people still wanted to be around me. I was still exactly the same as I am now with loads of bloody hair, do you know, that kind of way? And I think that it’s really, really hard in those moments to see that, but I think that, and it’s a really hard lesson to learn, and I’ve had to learn it the hard way as well. And I’ve gone through so much over the past eight years to be where I am today. But you really have to dig deep and really care about yourself again because there’s some part of you who’s let that go along that way, maybe you’re bottom of the pile. You’re not looking after yourself a little bit. This is a whisper from your body to you to try and get you back on track again, you know, and you’re not here.

Claire Fullam [00:12:06]:
It’s an absolute miracle any of us are here, right? So you are as entitled to be here with hair or no hair. So try and give yourself that grace to care about yourself enough, because if you stay down too long, it’s really, really hard to kick the bank of the river and kind of swim back up for breath, you know, that kind of way. So, yeah, be annoyed, be upset, be angry, but you dont let it take over your life.

Kevin Rolston [00:12:37]:
Neglecting our own needs can have serious consequences on our physical health, hair loss or no hair loss. Im sure many of us share the experience of preparing for a big event or a presentation only to find ourselves sick from overexertion. Unfortunately, you dont recover from hair loss in a few days. For most of us, it’s something you must learn to live with for the rest of your life. Claire shares some tips on managing the flare ups that come with alopecia areata.

Claire Fullam [00:13:06]:
A lot of people with alopecia, particularly alopecia areata, have a lot of hair. So if you had like two patches at the back of your head, you go to the best hairdresser in town and make sure they’re going to be able to cover that up for you in the day. And I would like, don’t feel silly about it, like, I know you might be the bride, right, but go and get like a trial. So if it’s in six weeks time and those patches are annoying you three weeks beforehand, go and sit there and let’s discuss this. And they’ll be only delighted that you’re coming in and trialing this a little bit. There’s loads of temporary hair pieces as well. Kevin, of course, like, you don’t have to get a full blown wig. There’s so many systems out there that can be sewn in for a week, you know, can be glued on for two weeks, all that kind of stuff.

Claire Fullam [00:13:48]:
So I would try and investigate as much as possible in terms of what your options are. Just be careful. If it’s something like alopecia areata or something that has the ability to grow back anything that you put on there, it’s really difficult sometimes for that hair to grow underneath. Does that make sense? So, like, I always say to people, you know, when you’re out in the garden and you’ve got your little flower or your little watering can, and you put the watering can down on the grass and then you forget about it. So, like, two nights later, you come and you take the watering can off that patch of grass, right. And what that grass looks like. So just be careful in terms of if you have hair that you can save, don’t put that watery can down on it too long. Okay.

Claire Fullam [00:14:26]:
So go and investigate a little bit and understand what type of loss you have.

Kevin Rolston [00:14:31]:
Yeah. Some very valuable information. Is there anything else that you could tell somebody that is listening and saying, I want to plug into a community and I want to get more information. What are the top resources for that that you have found? You talked about getting a hold and trying to find a trichologist of your own in the area where you are. There’s obviously your social media account that people can check out. Is there any other places you would recommend for information or community?

Claire Fullam [00:14:54]:
Yeah, like, I think Alopecia UK, which is obviously Great Britain’s version of Alopecia UK, so we don’t actually have one here in Ireland, but Alopecia UK is an amazing resource, and of course, anyone from around the world can access that as a resource as well. But I’m sure in the states there’s an alopecia.com as well that will help. And I think, like, honestly, entering those communities, like any community, like, I know from getting sober, like, you need people, you know, you need people around you that understand what you’re going through, you know, because, like, that you will have people in your life that, like, it’s not that bad, or she loads of hair, like, and they’re trying to be kind, but they’re actually just making the whole thing worse. What they’re doing is they’re diminishing your pain that little bit more. Because then what starts to happen is you start to feel, oh, God, like, maybe I am being vain about this, or maybe this isn’t a big deal, and you start to diminish your pain a little bit, you know? So I think you do need to surround yourself with people 100%. Trua is, if I do say so myself, Kevin Trua is a great resource, you know, on instagram, in terms of just learning about how the scalp works, because, you know, I found that I remember asking, I’m so annoying. Like, I go into the dermatologist, like, but why? They’d be like, oh, go away. Just take this medicine.

Claire Fullam [00:16:10]:
I don’t want to see you again. I was so annoying. Or the trichologist, I’d have their heads wrecked. I’d be constantly asking them different questions and stuff. It’s so important for people to really understand their condition. I can’t tell you that enough. If someone has frontal fibrosis, alopecia, angiogenetic alopecia, they’re losing their hair during menopause, after baby male hair loss, DHT, if you understand those little bits right, it’s not going to take that away, but it’s actually going to make you go, okay, again, I’m driving. Again, I understand this.

Claire Fullam [00:16:44]:
Again, it’s more within my control and within my reach to help myself with that, you know, so I can’t recommend trying to really investigate that and get loads of different opinions on it, because unfortunately, with hair loss, doesn’t matter how much I study, right, or a dermatologist study or whatever else, there is only so much research out there because it’s not killing people. Okay? So, you know, I remember the doctor would say to me, I’ll tell your grandchild, off you go. But, like, it does kill people. I know people who haven’t left their homes in 1012 years. I know people who have taken their lives from hair loss.

Kevin Rolston [00:17:25]:
Hair loss shouldn’t be taken lightly, even if it is often overlooked in the realm of well funded research, the experience of hair loss can erode our self confidence and deeply affect our mental health. This becomes increasingly true in a culture where we are constantly bombarded with unrealistic beauty standards. Regardless of who you are, how old you are, or why youre losing your hair, its always a challenge. I was curious about what differences Claire had observed in men and women experiencing hair loss.

Claire Fullam [00:17:56]:
From speaking to hundreds of men and women in the same situation. It’s as emotionally, you know, that toiling on a man or a woman, I think that if you lose your hair, depending. It really is, you know, and there’s a lot of emotions that go with both, and it equally hurts them. But it’s easier because society allows a man to be bald so he can live his life. You might get a couple of comments from his colleagues or his brothers who are his friends, but eventually it will be okay. Whereas when I was bald, I could not leave the house without my hairpiece ever, because I would just be open to scrutiny. Open to, is she sick? What’s wrong with her? And all these questions, because that’s society, you know, and society, you know, will always, you know, in our lifetime, anyway, hold women to an unachievable beauty standards, you know, and I think that that’s a real issue. So it’s not that it’s easier on men.

Claire Fullam [00:18:55]:
I don’t think so. Personally. I think it’s the same, but it’s a society allows a man to live without her. And I really hope one day when I see bald women. I actually saw one yesterday. She was absolutely beautiful, walking along the beach in the south of France, living her best life with her bald head. She looked beautiful. I just get so much pride and so much joy that she hasn’t allowed that shape her life.

Claire Fullam [00:19:20]:
You know, she is living her best life because you can live a really gorgeous, successful, love, joy filled life with no hair. You just have to be brave enough to try and capture that. It’s not just the hair loss. It’s all the other stuff that people experience around that. People, women sleeping in hair pieces their husbands don’t even know, you know? Again, that’s more his problemo, to be honest. But I think that there’s so much more to it. I remember we did a survey two years ago, and we asked women who had lost 70% of their hair more. Describe how you feel.

Claire Fullam [00:19:57]:
And some of those words, Kevin, were like, you’d choke up reading them, you know? And three women wrote suicidal. And I had to ring them, and I rang them and said, I don’t even know what I can say to you, but I want to make sure you have someone to talk to. And they were so thrilled that we took the time to listen to them, you know, because I think this isn’t a frivolous vanity. It’s nothing to be ashamed about. Unfortunately, most of us will suffer with some form of hair loss in our lives. It’s the aging process. Ultimately, you know, some of us will go through more extreme than others, you know, and it will shape their lives, and it will change their lives. But all of us will go through a form of it, or someone close to you will too, you know, and I think that the more people have conversations with it and about it and around it, the better we are then helping others do that kind of way.

Claire Fullam [00:20:46]:
I think it’s so, so, so important.

Kevin Rolston [00:20:53]:
During our conversation, I felt a growing appreciation for the way Claire expressed the emotions of hair loss. It can be a devastating experience and is so often exacerbated by isolation. Alopecia areata can be especially unpredictable, but there are ways to work with it. Finding a community that truly understands what you’re going through firsthand and can share resources and encouragement can be life changing. We hope Claire’s insights have been helpful. If you’d like to hear more from her, make sure to subscribe to the show so you can check out our previous conversations with Claire on hair loss and mental health. Take a look at our show notes to find links for Claire’s social media and the resources she mentioned during the episode. Thanks for listening to another episode of Hairpod.

Kevin Rolston [00:21:37]:
Check us out at Hair Club on Instagram or search Hairpod on Facebook to continue the conversation. If you know someone who could benefit from hearing this episode, we would love it if you’d share it with them. If you’re enjoying the show, consider leaving us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast to we also have a website, check it out by going to podcast dot hairclub.com. we’re here to build people up and share real stories so people experiencing hair loss feel a little bit less alone. And when you share, review and subscribe, it helps us do just that. So thank you. Until next time.

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Growing Up with Trichotillomania

Growing Up with Trichotillomania

by | Jun 25, 2024 | Episode

Episode 18

Growing Up with Trichotillomania

trichotillomania-solution-Heather-Brooke-018-blog
This week, I’m bringing back the amazing story of Heather Brooke, a beauty pageant winner, licensed counselor, and author of the children’s book, “Where Is My Hair? A Trichotillomania Story for Children”. Heather grew up with trichotillomania and now she treats patients who are dealing with this disorder. In this episode from the vault, Heather talks about how she came down with this condition, how it impacted her throughout her life, and how she learned to cope with it.

Understanding Trichotillomania: A Lesser-Known Cause of Hair Loss

Hair loss is a common issue that many people face, but not all hair loss is the same. Trichotillomania is a lesser-known disorder that causes individuals to compulsively pull out their own hair, often as a coping mechanism to deal with trauma or extreme stress. Unlike other forms of hair loss that may be due to medical conditions, hormonal changes, or genetics, trichotillomania is sometimes rooted in psychological distress. Heather, a beauty pageant competitor and therapist, shares her personal journey with trichotillomania stemming from childhood trauma.

Finding a Solution: Heather’s Journey to Recovery

For those dealing with trichotillomania, finding an effective solution can be a long and complicated process. Heather describes her journey through different types of treatment and medication, none of which provided a complete solution for her. Her preferred approach covers her bald spots, which also helps keep her from pulling her hair out in those spots as well so they have the opportunity to heal. This option not only concealed the effects of her trichotillomania but also instilled a newfound sense of confidence in Heather. She shares that seeing a full head of hair again was a transformative experience for her.

Coping with Hair Loss: A Message of Hope

Heather’s story is a beacon of hope for others dealing with hair loss, whether due to trichotillomania or other reasons. She emphasizes that no one is alone in this struggle and encourages people to seek out solutions that work for them. As Heather has shown, solutions like hers can significantly improve one’s quality of life by restoring both hair and confidence. Her journey underscores the importance of seeking help and exploring all available options. For those feeling lost and overwhelmed, Heather’s message is clear: there is hope, and effective solutions are within reach.

Episode.18 Transcript

Heather Brooke [00:00:05]:

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

 

Kevin Rolston [00:00:53]:

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 bringing back one of the first episodes we ever released. It’s a story of trauma, triumph and transformation. When we were getting ready to launch hairpod, I got to interview Heather Brooke about trichotillomania, the condition that caused her to pull out her own hair. She is a beauty pageant winner, a counselor, and the author of where is my hair? A childrens book about trichotillomania.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:01:39]:

Were going to cover all that and more today. But before we do, I just want to let you know that Heather does briefly mention abuse and trauma in this episode. Its not graphic, and we dont dwell on the subject, but if thats not something that you want to hear about right now, maybe save this episode for another day. Now let’s get into Heather’s story of hope after hair loss.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:02:06]:

Hello, Heather.

 

Heather Brooke [00:02:07]:

Hi. How are you?

 

Kevin Rolston [00:02:09]:

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

 

Heather Brooke [00:02:27]:

Yeah. So actually, when I was a kid, I was probably about five years old when I started competing in pageants. But when I was around nine or ten years old, I experienced some trauma. I was sexually abused by an older cousin. And it wasn’t long after that that I started developing a disorder called trichotillomania. So unlike a lot of people with hair issues, hair loss issues, theirs are usually natural or medical or something. Trichotillomania is actually a hair pulling disorder. So the person who has the disorder actually pulls out their own hair.

 

Heather Brooke [00:03:07]:

And the best way that I can describe it is as a coping mechanism for all the trauma that I was going through. And experiencing.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:03:15]:

What did that look like? How noticeable was it, and how did your parents deal with this situation?

 

Heather Brooke [00:03:21]:

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

 

Heather Brooke [00:04:15]:

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

 

Kevin Rolston [00:05:13]:

About what age were you at this time?

 

Heather Brooke [00:05:16]:

13 or 14.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:05:18]:

And was it your parents that stepped in and said something? Did you hear anything from kids in your school? How was it that it really kind of first came to light to them?

 

Heather Brooke [00:05:27]:

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

 

Heather Brooke [00:06:01]:

I just allowed that to continue because I didn’t know what I was doing. I felt so weird that I was doing this, and I couldn’t stop, and I didn’t know why. And so it was when I was 13 or 14, I was up really late one night watching a. It was like an infomercial or something that was on television, and it was about wigs. And as I was sitting there watching this infomercial, there was a woman on there who started talking about pulling her hair. And then she started talking about, like, these fake eyelashes and different things. But as she was talking, she said, trichotillomania. And a couple of days after that, my mom noticed a bald patch on my head in the pool.

 

Heather Brooke [00:06:55]:

We had been swimming, and I wore. At that point, I was wearing. I had always had super thick hair, and I think that’s one of the reasons that, other reasons that it took so long to notice that I’d always had super thick hair. And so I just got to the point where I was always wearing my hair in a ponytail. But this one specific day, she was coming out of the pool behind me, and my ponytail had moved enough that she could see the bald spot. And so when she said something to me about it, I was like, okay, I think I saw this commercial. I think this is what I have. And I told her, and she said, okay.

 

Heather Brooke [00:07:30]:

And so she scheduled an appointment with me to see the doctor that she worked for. And so I went in. He diagnosed me, and then he made a referral to a psychiatrist and put me on some medications, and that was kind of where the treatment for it started.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:07:50]:

Even though the trichotillomania was causing some ball patches on Heather’s scalp, she never let that stop her from competing in beauty pageants.

 

Heather Brooke [00:07:59]:

I competed off and on throughout high school, even with my trichotillomania. I competed some years with a wig, some years with glue in extensions or clip in extensions.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:08:14]:

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

 

Heather Brooke [00:08:28]:

Yeah, it was a lot. It’s still a lot because it’s still something that I struggle with because there’s so little research done on trichotillomania. So there’s still a lot to be learned about it. And I’ve actually been part of a couple of different studies that are looking at how genetics can be involved, how mental, other mental health issues can play into it, but there’s just so little known about it. So when I was diagnosed, I was put on an antidepressant. That didn’t help, just made me sick. Then there was points where when I was real under really high levels of stress, I would pull more. There would be times where I would pull subconsciously or unconsciously, like I would be pulling and not even be aware until after I had already been doing it, that I had done it.

 

Heather Brooke [00:09:13]:

Sometimes it was conscious, so there was a mixture of those, but I tried everything that I could to hide it. By the time I was a junior in high school, I was almost completely bald. I had to wear a wig. I’m wearing a wig in my senior pictures. But by the Christmas of my senior year, I was able to let my hair grow out enough that I had this short, cute pixie cut. And it’s been more manageable since that point. I still struggle with it. It’s still something I struggle with on a daily basis, but, and I’ve tried covering it up, like I said, with ponytails, doing ponytails, doing wigs, wearing extensions, all different kinds of things.

 

Heather Brooke [00:09:54]:

And when I got ready to compete for Miss woman Colorado, United States, I was looking for alternatives to help hide some of the spots that I had at the time. And I found hair club, and hair club was actually one of my sponsors. And so that’s kind of helped a lot with my journey.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:10:11]:

Oh, wow. That’s so cool. Tell me a little bit about that. Like, how did you exactly find them? Just the name popped up and you decided to go. And how did that all come about?

 

Heather Brooke [00:10:21]:

Yeah, I was just googling hair salons and that did extensions and looking for sponsors, and hair club popped up. At the time, I’d only heard of hair club for men, so I thought that it was just for men. But I did a little bit of research and found out that women used hair club as well. And so I just emailed them. The manager at the Denver location messaged me back, emailed me back, and we set up an appointment. I went in for a consultation, and then the next thing I knew, I was a hair club client, and they were one of my pageant sponsors. And it was awesome because once I won the pageant, right, I was going to compete for Miss woman Colorado. Whenever I got hair club as a sponsor.

 

Heather Brooke [00:11:12]:

And when I actually won the title for the state, I jokingly with my stylist, was like, I wish I could take you with me to nationals for you to do my hair at nationals. And so they were like, yeah, we’ll send her out there with you. So they actually sent her to Florida with me for nationals, and she did my hair for the competition.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:11:40]:

Now, tell me, with the x strands, how does that work with your trichotillomania that you still are trying to recover from? Do you pull out the x strands? Is there a desire to do that?

 

Heather Brooke [00:11:50]:

Yeah. No, actually, it’s really interesting because I have what I call trigger spots. So there’s specific areas that when I’m stressed or bored or not even paying attention that I pull from. And so what extras does is it covers the areas that are lacking hair, and then my own hair is still used in addition to that. So all of the edges I pull from the sides and the crown of my head, so all of the edges are my. Is my hair, and just the crown and the sides is a system that is glued to my scalp. And so I shave underneath the system so that the system, it fits snug on my scalp. That’s just a personal preference.

 

Heather Brooke [00:12:36]:

Some people don’t do that, but I choose to do that. But it covers those trigger spots for me, so I don’t typically have the desire to pull anymore.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:12:47]:

How about that? And tell me, how do you feel with your system on? When you look in the mirror and you see that you’ve got a full head of hair and you don’t have those, you know, bald spots that you had had before, what is that like for you?

 

Heather Brooke [00:13:01]:

Oh, it’s amazing. Like, I wanted to cry when I saw myself in the mirror for the first time when they did the reveal, because it had been so long since I had seen myself with a full head of hair. Right. So when I look at myself, like, I don’t see the clips from the extensions, and I don’t see, it’s really hard to tell where your hairline is at and where the extras is at. And so it just gives me so much confidence to know that I can do whatever I want to with it. If I want to curl it, I can curl it. If I want to straighten it, I can straighten it. If I want to cut it, dye it, like, whatever I want to do to it.

 

Heather Brooke [00:13:41]:

I have those options again. And I’m not just stuck with, like, one hairstyle or fixing it just a certain way because I have to worry about hiding the clips or the different things from the extensions. And so it’s just, it really gave me back a lot of my confidence.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:14:10]:

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

 

Heather Brooke [00:14:31]:

Yeah, so I wrote where’s my hair? A trichotillomania story for children in 2018. And I actually, I wrote it because where I was living at at the time, people got to know me as a therapist who worked with people with trichotillomania because of my own personal experience. And so I would get a lot of kids. And so I had this girl, young girl, come in. She was 13 or 14, and she was on the autism spectrum, and she was non verbal, and she started pulling her hair, and her stepmom brought her in to me, and she said, her occupational therapist says that she has trichotillomania. And she started giving me all of this information that the OT had given her about trichotillomania. And I looked at her, and I was like, the only thing that’s accurate about any of that is the name of the disorder. And so I use with kids a lot books to help them understand what they’re going through, what they’re experiencing, that they’re not alone.

 

Heather Brooke [00:15:36]:

And so I went online and started looking for a book that I could share with her in session, and I couldn’t find anything. There was stuff for professionals, there was stuff for adults, there was stuff for parents, but there was nothing specifically for children. So I sat down and wrote my book loosely based off of my own personal experience. And then I sent it to my mom and was like, I’m gonna write a book. I’m writing this children’s book. Here it is. And my mom likes to draw, and so I was like, will you illustrate it for me? So my mom got grabbed some pictures of my oldest daughter and some friends, and she sat down and she. She illustrated the stories for the story for me.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:16:22]:

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

 

Heather Brooke [00:17:02]:

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

 

Kevin Rolston [00:18:09]:

We want to thank Heather for appearing on the show. It was great to talk to her about her resilience, despite the struggles she faced and how she transformed a painful past into a commitment to helping kids who are going through their own difficult journeys with mental and emotional health. We find her so inspiring, and we hope you do, too. If you know somebody who is currently dealing with trichotillomania or has a child with this condition and you’d like to pick up a copy of Heather’s book, we have a link to where is my hair? A trichotillomania story for children in our show notes. 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 somebody who could benefit from hearing this episode, we would love it if youd 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 [00:19:01]:

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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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.

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

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Women’s Hormonal Hair Loss & What to Do

Women’s Hormonal Hair Loss & What to Do

by | Jun 18, 2024 | Episode

Episode 17

Understanding Hormonal Hair Loss in Women

EP17 Hormonal Hair Loss - Ft. Lisette Davila

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

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

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

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

Types of Hormonal Hair Loss

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

Female Pattern Baldness

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

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

Telogen Effluvium

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

Traction Alopecia

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

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

Symptoms of Hormonal Hair Loss

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

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

  • The hair gradually thins out, especially along the crown and part line
  • The part becomes noticeably wider, exposing the scalp
  • Hair feels weaker, thinner, or more fragile
  • Hair grows back slower than before or not at all
  • Loss of moisture, shine, or texture in hair
  • An increase in facial hair growth due to excess androgens

Key Hormonal Factors Influencing Hair Loss

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

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

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

Menopause

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

Androgens

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

Hormonal Imbalances

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

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

Risk Factors for Hormonal Hair Loss

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

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

Genetics

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

Medical Conditions

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

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

Stress and Lifestyle

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

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

  • Get regular exercise.
  • Eat foods that contain nutrients for healthy hair, like iron, biotin, and zinc.
  • Limit smoking, vaping, and alcohol consumption.

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

Confronting the Stigma: Hair Loss Treatments for Women

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

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

Hormone Replacement Therapy and Female Hair Loss Solutions

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

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

Health, Hope, and Hair Restoration

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

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

Episode.17 Transcript

Lisette Davila [00:00:04]:

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

 

Lisette Davila [00:00:39]:

It’s part of my health.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:00:54]:

Welcome to HairPod, the podcast where you get to hear real people talk about their hair journeys. I’m your host, Kevin Ralston. And each week, I get to interview people from different walks of life whose lives have been touched by hair loss in some form or fashion. Many of our guests have experienced hair loss themselves and found a way to get their confidence and their hair back. Hair loss can happen for many reasons, and in this episode, I spoke with Lisette Devila about her experience with hormonal hair loss. Hair loss in women is perceived very differently than it is in mental, and it’s not uncommon for a woman who is going through it to suffer the physical, social, and emotional effects in silence. Like many experiencing hair loss, it came as a shock and a blow to Lisette’s self-esteem. She once was a social butterfly, but when she began to lose her hair, she became self-conscious and retreated into her shell.

 

Lisette Davila [00:01:51]:

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

 

Lisette Davila [00:02:47]:

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

 

Kevin Rolston [00:03:42]:

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

 

Lisette Davila [00:03:56]:

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

 

Lisette Davila [00:04:45]:

It was getting bigger.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:04:47]:

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

 

Lisette Davila [00:04:54]:

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

 

Kevin Rolston [00:05:16]:

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

 

Lisette Davila [00:05:28]:

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

 

Kevin Rolston [00:05:39]:

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

 

Lisette Davila [00:06:07]:

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

 

Lisette Davila [00:06:58]:

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

 

Lisette Davila [00:07:37]:

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

 

Lisette Davila [00:08:18]:

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

 

Kevin Rolston [00:08:48]:

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

 

Kevin Rolston [00:09:18]:

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

 

Lisette Davila [00:09:27]:

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

 

Kevin Rolston [00:10:12]:

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

 

Lisette Davila [00:10:57]:

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

 

Lisette Davila [00:11:20]:

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

 

Kevin Rolston [00:11:43]:

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

 

Lisette Davila [00:11:49]:

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

 

Kevin Rolston [00:12:10]:

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

 

Lisette Davila [00:12:22]:

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

 

Kevin Rolston [00:12:44]:

Yep.

 

Lisette Davila [00:12:45]:

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

 

Kevin Rolston [00:13:51]:

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

 

Lisette Davila [00:14:20]:

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

 

Lisette Davila [00:15:08]:

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

 

Kevin Rolston [00:15:19]:

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

 

Lisette Davila [00:15:37]:

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

 

Lisette Davila [00:16:20]:

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

 

Lisette Davila [00:17:14]:

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

 

Lisette Davila [00:17:36]:

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

 

Lisette Davila [00:18:10]:

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

 

Kevin Rolston [00:18:39]:

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

 

Kevin Rolston [00:19:31]:

Thanks for listening to another episode of Hairpod. Check us out at Hair Club on Instagram or search Hairpod on Facebook to continue the conversation. If you know someone who could benefit from hearing this episode, we would love it if you’d share it with them. If you’re enjoying the show, consider leaving us a rating and review on Apple podcasts or your favorite podcast app. We also have a website, check it out by going to podcast dot hairclub.com. we’re here to build people up and share real stories so people experiencing hair loss feel a little bit less alone. And when you share, review and subscribe, it helps us do just that. So thank you.

 

Kevin Rolston [00:20:09]:

Until next time.

 

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Empowering Resources

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

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A Founding Father of HairClub: Steve Barth

A Founding Father of HairClub: Steve Barth

by | Jun 11, 2024 | Episode

Episode 16

How Hair Loss Changed My Life for the Better

A founding father of HairClub - Steve Barth

Hair loss can significantly affect all aspects of our lives, and the solutions for hair loss haven’t always been as advanced as they are today. In this episode, Steve Barth, an early client and one of the founding fathers of HairClub, shares his experience with hair loss, early hair loss technology, HairClub, and the people who supported him along the way.

Hair Loss and Self-Confidence

Steve’s story began years before his involvement with HairClub. He had known since he was young that he had a genetic predisposition for hair loss and would likely be bald later in life. However, at just twenty-two years old, he wasn’t ready. Hair loss can rob those experiencing it of their time, their money, and their ability to grow and explore the world with confidence; there is simply no way to know the impact hair loss might have on your life, especially as a young person just discovering who you are and who you want to be.

As Steve delves deeper into his personal journey, he highlights how profoundly hair loss can affect self-esteem and social interactions. For many, hair is an integral part of their identity, and losing it can feel like losing a part of oneself. Steve talks about the psychological impact, sharing that he often felt less attractive and more self-conscious, which in turn affected his social life and professional aspirations. The stigma and societal pressures surrounding hair loss can make the experience even more challenging. Steve’s candid discussion about these struggles helps listeners understand that they are not alone in their feelings of inadequacy and frustration.

Hair Loss Solutions & Balding Treatments in the ’70s

Hairpieces, wigs, implants, and other hair loss therapies were quite different in the seventies when Steve’s hair loss journey began. The technology was still in its early stages, and as you would expect, the options were limited. Steve shares his experiences with Jason Paul’s scientific approach to hair restoration, his introduction to Sy Sperling, and his path to HairClub.

In the 1970s, the field of hair restoration was far from what it is today. Steve recounts the rudimentary and often ineffective treatments that were available. Hairpieces and wigs were often noticeable and uncomfortable, while surgical implants were risky and yielded mixed results. Steve’s early attempts to address his hair loss involved navigating these limited options, which often left him feeling disheartened and skeptical about finding a viable solution.

However, Steve’s encounter with Jason Paul marked a turning point. Paul’s scientific approach to hair restoration provided a glimpse of hope. Although the techniques were still in their infancy, the idea of a methodical, research-based approach to tackling hair loss resonated with Steve. This eventually led him to Sy Sperling, the charismatic founder of HairClub, whose vision and innovation were transforming the landscape of hair restoration.

HairClub’s Approach to Hair Restoration

Steve has been an integral part of HairClub from the start, and he shares with us what set the product apart then and now. Finding a hair loss solution that works for you can be challenging but not impossible. Steve acknowledges that everyone’s hair loss is different, and naturally, so are their needs. He has worked with HairClub on developing various methods and solutions for people at all stages of hair loss.

HairClub’s success can be attributed to its holistic and personalized approach to hair restoration. Unlike the one-size-fits-all solutions prevalent in the past, HairClub offers customized treatment plans tailored to the unique needs of each individual. Steve explains how the company combines the latest technology with a deep understanding of the psychological and emotional aspects of hair loss.

The evolution of HairClub’s methodologies is a testament to its commitment to continuous improvement and innovation. Steve highlights some of the advanced techniques and products developed over the years, from non-surgical hair replacement systems to state-of-the-art surgical options. The introduction of laser hair therapy and FDA-approved hair regrowth treatments has further expanded the arsenal of solutions available to clients.

Beyond the technical advancements, Steve emphasizes the importance of the supportive community within HairClub. The empathetic and knowledgeable staff, many of whom have experienced hair loss themselves, provide invaluable support and guidance to clients. This sense of camaraderie and understanding helps to alleviate the isolation and anxiety often associated with hair loss.

Throughout the episode, Steve’s journey serves as an inspiring reminder that while hair loss can be a challenging and deeply personal experience, there are effective solutions available. His story underscores the importance of perseverance, innovation, and community in overcoming the obstacles posed by hair loss.

For anyone struggling with hair loss, Steve’s insights offer hope and encouragement, demonstrating that it is possible to regain not just hair, but also confidence and a renewed sense of self. If you are looking for a solution, take the first step and book a complimentary hair health consultation to learn what stage of hair loss you’re in before it’s too late!

 

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.16 Transcript
Steve Barth [00:00:04]:
HairClub is not the same company that your dad or your grandfather invested in. It’s very different. We’ve always been very progressive. We also were careful to avoid the trending because certain trending, particularly in hair restoration, was introducing products that were not good for your health or were scam products, gimmicks. And we always basically wanted to have a very creditable family of products.

Speaker B [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 their 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. The experience of hair loss can radically change our lives, and not just in the way of self-confidence. Finances and the search for solutions for some hair loss can alter our entire life path. For this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Steve Barth, a long-time client and one of the founding fathers of hair club. Steve has been working with HairClub for over 30 years. He shares his incredible story, his experience with hair loss, and the people who helped him along the way.

Steve Barth [00:01:39]:
Yeah. So it was 1976 that I actually found myself wandering into 185 Madison Avenue in New York City. 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 [00:02:12]:
My father had three brothers that lost their hair. So I guess in many ways, my cards were mocked.

Speaker C [00:02:18]:
You knew it’s coming.

Steve Barth [00:02:19]:
Yeah. And, you know, 1976 was a. A crazy era in the seventies or the mid-seventies, and the most popular show on Broadway was Hair.

Speaker C [00:02:29]:
Wow.

Steve Barth [00:02:30]:
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, and build self esteem while experiencing thinning hair was very different then.

Speaker C [00:02:46]:
And at the age you’re at, you’re at this time, at what age I was, what, 22.

Steve Barth [00:02:49]:
22 years old or 2021. Yeah, you know, it had a profile.

Speaker C [00:02:54]:
Way younger than typical.

Steve Barth [00:02:55]:
Well, I don’t know. I mean, I knew of guys that started losing hair even before that, but, you know, I had curly hair, too. So the curly hair, the nature curly hair had a tendency to cover a lot of surface area. So I think I was a little deceptive for quite some time. But then it became more and more obvious, and the impact it had on my personality, my psyche, my self-confidence was profound.

Speaker C [00:03:18]:
What are your options at this time, in 1976? Now, I’m well aware of what you can do today, but at that time, what do you do if you’re losing your hair and you’re in your early twenties?

Steve Barth [00:03:27]:
Well, there weren’t a lot of options in those days. I mean, obviously, there were hair pieces and wigs, but I knew that philosophically that was not going to be right for me.

Speaker C [00:03:36]:
And my perception as a kid growing up, it was always so obvious when someone had a hairpiece, you could tell, and I assume this is kind of the era that you’re in, that if you go that route, okay, you may have hair, but it’s identifiable to most people that you have done something to cover it up.

Steve Barth [00:03:53]:
Well, that was the stigma.

Speaker C [00:03:55]:
Yeah.

Steve Barth [00:03:56]:
And who’s to say that, you know, the people that were obvious were the people that had bad product also, even back then, right. Maybe there were people that you might have bumped into that you never knew.

Speaker B [00:04:10]:
Steve’s story began years before he wandered into haircloth for the first time. He shares with us what it was like as a young man struggling with early baldness in the 1970s. Being genetically predisposed might have lessened the shock, but it didn’t lessen the blow to his self esteem. With such limited options for solutions at the time, hair loss started to have a big impact on Steve’s life.

Steve Barth [00:04:38]:
For a young guy, 22 years of age, the last thing I want to do is come home and take the hair off and put it on the dresser. Okay? That certainly was not going to do it for me and wasn’t going to make me feel as if I got my hair back. So I was desperately seeking out a solution that I thought that would kind of match my own personal objectives and philosophy. So there was transplants. Transplants was in its early generation, early iteration. But to be honest with you, at that time, it wasn’t to me a very attractive option, either because at that time, the plugs, you know, they weren’t small enough or they weren’t able to put these micro plugs close enough together. You see right through the sparse hair into the incision into the scalp. It looked like a doll’s.

Speaker C [00:05:27]:
Yeah, I always heard the term baby doll hair, and that’s what they would say. And you would see it was almost imperfect lines, which hair just doesn’t do naturally.

Steve Barth [00:05:36]:
So if your goal and your aspiration was to actually have a full head of hair, especially at 22 years of age, you really weren’t going to get that in transplants unless it was a very isolated area, possibly.

Speaker C [00:05:48]:
Okay. Yeah.

Steve Barth [00:05:49]:
So, you know, and then there were some really primitive techniques that were around that became outlawed. They were actually implanting into the scalp what was essentially a synthetic therapy. You just.

Speaker C [00:06:00]:
So when you say synthetic, it’s not human hair, it’s plastic.

Steve Barth [00:06:04]:
In those days, the use of human hair was rare because human hair was very difficult to work with, because if you look at a human hair, a strand of human hair under a microscope, it has scales. And for our purposes, if these hairs retain their scales, then when you shampoo or when you do that type of thing, it’ll cause abundant tangling. So hair club had to find a way to strip this human hair of its scales so that it became more functional as a application that you had twenty four, seven. I mean, you weren’t removing anything. And that was the big value proposition. As I think business people would talk about. The real distinctiveness of what hair club was doing, even back then in the seventies, was offering this experience, whereas a hairpiece or a wig was a tangible product.

Speaker C [00:06:55]:
Okay.

Steve Barth [00:06:56]:
This was an experience far deeper, more philosophical. This is something that somebody could essentially feel and adopt as if it’s their own hair and go into the world feeling terrific. And that’s exactly what was my reaction when I first had this applied. So everything started, at least for my journey into hair restoration in 19, 76, 75. But it really started again. I want to remind you that when I was born, because the DNA combination.

Speaker C [00:07:30]:
I had and you kind of know that it’s coming. I knew as a young kid, I was eight to ten, and I saw pictures of my grandparents, and it’s like, okay, this is going to be my destiny.

Steve Barth [00:07:39]:
Yeah, listen, in most cases, it doesn’t really surprise you.

Speaker C [00:07:42]:
No.

Steve Barth [00:07:43]:
And in those days, I was into music, I was writing poetry, I was doing things that were tapping into that sensitive side of me, and I just didn’t feel that hair loss was going to work for me. And I remember compromising greatly, wouldn’t go out on a Friday night if I felt that I couldn’t get my hair placed just right, so that it created the illusion of being more than it was. And I would pass, and God forbid I ever got caught in rain and the hair would get wet and then it would look more sparse. So all of these things were really powerful concessions in my life.

Speaker C [00:08:20]:
Yeah, absolutely.

Steve Barth [00:08:21]:
And I knew that I had to try to put this behind me, and I had to, you know, eliminate a lot of these barriers that were holding me back.

Speaker B [00:08:34]:
Hair loss is hard at any age. But as Steve pointed out, the twenties are a time for self discovery. It’s a time to pursue a career, explore creativity, date, and have an active social life. It’s not a time when a young person wants to worry about which hair piece they should get or to maybe stay in because bad weather might expose their hair loss. Steve couldn’t live like that.

Steve Barth [00:08:59]:
My journey to do something actually started predated, even size spurling and hair club. I remember seeing a little advertisement, a print advertisement in one of the newspapers about a guy that was operating out of a very well known hair cutting salon on the west side of New York City, right by Columbus Circle. And his name, he had the greatest name in the world. His name was Jason Paul.

Speaker C [00:09:23]:
Jason Paul.

Steve Barth [00:09:24]:
Jason Paul. I have no idea if he’s even alive today, but he was a formulator of hair wellness products. And what he was advertising and marketing at the time was that he felt that hair loss, although it was, there was a genetic component to it, obviously, but he felt that through wellness techniques and nutrition, that you could go ahead and stabilize your hair growth and eventually reverse it.

Speaker C [00:09:50]:
Oh, wow.

Steve Barth [00:09:51]:
So I was really receptive to this message speaking to you, because when you’re first starting to lose hair, your first goal is, okay, how can I stop it? And even better yet, how could I regenerate? And I remember I didn’t even own a car at that time. I was a young guy coming in from New Jersey, and I took a bus into New York City, and I met with Jason Paul, who had this little carved out area of the salon. And he brought me there, and he had a white smock on, and it was all very. The staging was very impressive. And he took a little snip of my hair, and he put it in. What was this little vice, this little hand vise. What I mean is, he would, how can I describe this? He put it in this little device. He would then start winding it, which would stretch the hair, and eventually the hair would have enough tension, and it would break.

Steve Barth [00:10:44]:
And he had this way of measuring the tensile strength of the hair. Now, this is how it’s articulated to me, and I can tell you I ate it up. It was just amazing. He then put me under a machine where there was steam coming out of it. And the whole purpose of that was to try to erode or reduce a lot of the extra debris, surplus debris on the scalp that may be preventing you from growing hair or being in the best environment for growing hair. And not to mention that he also prescribed some vitamins that were from Switzerland, Basil, Switzerland. That was designed to be a hair nutritional supplement. I took more of those supplements than probably anybody alive.

Steve Barth [00:11:26]:
Okay. And I was obviously excited, particularly at first. And he was a very, very legitimate guy. He was scientific. But my predisposition, my genetic predisposition to its hair loss couldn’t be overcome, and I was just going to continue to lose hair. So again, this is a very natural first response at an early phase of the life cycle of losing hair. How can I stabilize it? How can I grow it back? Unfortunately, that didn’t work for me.

Speaker C [00:11:53]:
How long did you go on this journey before you realized that this isn’t the right path?

Steve Barth [00:11:57]:
Maybe a few months, six months, I can’t remember exactly, but I realized that it just wasn’t gonna work. And I was still left with this discontent about my hair and how I looked. So, you know, the search continued.

Speaker B [00:12:15]:
Anyone who’s experienced hair loss is familiar with the cycle of hope and disappointment that often accompanies it. Soon after his experience with Jason Paul, Steve was introduced to hair club founder Sy Sperling and began what would become a ever evolving relationship with hair club.

Steve Barth [00:12:36]:
So I was running a little also print ad in the back of the New York Post in the sports section.

Speaker C [00:12:42]:
Okay.

Steve Barth [00:12:43]:
And, you know, I saw it several times. He then finally graduated to the Sunday magazine section of the Sunday New York Times, which gave him a little bit more credibility.

Speaker C [00:12:52]:
Okay.

Steve Barth [00:12:53]:
He had one and only one office, which was at 185 Madison Avenue, on the corner of Madison and 34th Street. I was a young guy. I went in there for a consultation, not knowing much about what he offered. And we had a consultation that lasted about 3 hours. It was like, you know, I mean, this may seem a bit melodramatic, but it was really like two forces finding themselves and or two ships passing through the evening, and, you know, it was a very powerful consultation. Xi was like an action figure. He was a guy that you just believed in. He had that aura, and you just believed that anything he said to you was going to happen.

Steve Barth [00:13:35]:
He also was a terrific business mentor. I’m getting a little off track here, but he was a terrific businessman. I want to hear it all because he looked at things. What he taught me is never look at a business problem emotionally, always be objective. And that’s how I developed my whole approach to trying to solve business problems by looking at a problem and looking at the world the way it is and not necessarily the way I want it to be, and working around that and creating a set of solutions around those realities.

Speaker B [00:14:08]:
Psy had won Steve over, and even in its early stages, so hit hair club. He was ready to have his life back. And hair club offered him the opportunity to do that, to have hair again, even if it wasn’t growing from his own head. Hairclub’s product was very innovative for its time and was able to allow many people, Steve included, to regain their confidence and live with hair again.

Steve Barth [00:14:36]:
Hairpiece was not the language. That was not part of the hairpin.

Speaker B [00:14:39]:
What did you.

Steve Barth [00:14:40]:
Go ahead. Yeah.

Speaker C [00:14:40]:
What did you call it?

Speaker B [00:14:41]:
What was the linguist?

Steve Barth [00:14:42]:
Well, in those days, we used to call it a hair system.

Speaker C [00:14:45]:
Okay.

Steve Barth [00:14:45]:
And the reason that we made that distinction, again, if you go back to the earlier conversation, is that a hairpiece was manufactured and produced very differently.

Speaker C [00:14:54]:
Okay.

Steve Barth [00:14:54]:
And it was also very different philosophically.

Speaker C [00:14:57]:
Okay?

Steve Barth [00:14:58]:
It was meant to be on off. It was not meant to be part of a active lifestyle. Going to the gym, perspiring, jumping in the pool, swimming. So for a young guy that wants to essentially forget about his hair loss problem, having a hairpiece generally didn’t work on.

Speaker C [00:15:17]:
A lot of that meant a lot of jumping in a pool was taking your hair off and then jumping in.

Steve Barth [00:15:20]:
A pool with a normal hairpiece.

Speaker C [00:15:22]:
Yeah. If you had a hairpiece.

Steve Barth [00:15:23]:
Well, generally in those days, I mean, could you jump in a pool? Probably, but probably not confidently. And you certainly wouldn’t look very, very good as a result. I mean, your hair, the way that a hair piece was manufactured, is they would take the space material, and they would just basically, through what looked like almost a sewing machine, inject into that what was essentially synthetic hair fiber. And it was just to fill that base hair club in the strand by strand process, which was one of, you know, it was one of the terms that we owned, and still do, I believe, is we would actually basically take a schematic and notes on the way your hair naturally grew. And when we were preparing our head of hair or our hair system, even in those days, we were adding hair, real human hair, not synthetic hair. I want to emphasize that real human hair. And we were adding it in the natural direction of your hair growth. So, in those days, hair pieces were basically usually cut down by bobbers, whereas we were using only very talented hairstylists and cosmetologists that were using, you know, cutting shears and layer cutting hair, which gave the hair motion and gave it movement.

Speaker C [00:16:41]:
Right.

Steve Barth [00:16:42]:
So those are only few of the distinctions. In addition, probably the most important distinction was you weren’t removing the hair, and you didn’t need to because it was real hair that was added in the, you know, consistent and compatible with your natural hair growth that was cut in a precise way so that it was designed to perform a lot more effectively in an active lifestyle.

Speaker B [00:17:08]:
Hair club became Steve’s career, as well as his personal hair loss solution. He loved the product and the philosophy. However, he still took great interest in Jason Paul’s work and integrated this approach into his own.

Steve Barth [00:17:25]:
They were two very different people and very different approaches. Jason was really a scientist. He formulated a product. He was interested in trying to find out the biochemical root causes of hair loss. Psy was a guy that wanted to capture the interest of somebody that got to the point that they want to do something. So his approach to communications was very different. Psy was not a technology guy. He was married, actually, to a stylist.

Steve Barth [00:17:51]:
Her name was Amy, Amy Sperling. And he relied on her more for technology development. Now, how was that product, let’s say, in the seventies, compared to hair club products and services in 2024? Yeah, very different. I mean, we’ve, you know, we really have advanced in every conceivable way. As a matter of fact, I always urge people to. That hair club is not the same company that your dad or your grandfather invested in.

Speaker C [00:18:21]:
Very true.

Steve Barth [00:18:22]:
It’s very different. We’ve always been very progressive. We also were careful to avoid the trending, because certain trending, particularly in hair restoration, was introducing products that were not good for your health or were scam products, gimmicks. And we always basically wanted to have a credible, very creditable family of products. But remember that for the longest time, hair club only had one single solution, which at those days, we.

Speaker C [00:18:51]:
It’s the end solution.

Steve Barth [00:18:52]:
It was the end solution. It was at a point where you got physically and psychologically where you wanted to basically create this appearance of more hair, but it wasn’t growing out of the scalp, obviously. It was subject to maintenance, which people were more than willing to do because they were so delighted with feeling better about themselves. But all of those things were about one solution. It would all do modesty. It was I that introduced and expanded that product window and introduced hair and scalp therapy. And much of that was inspired by my time with Jason Paul. Okay, because he was the guy that introduced me to the science of hair loss and to products that perhaps can reverse hair loss.

Steve Barth [00:19:38]:
And I was very impacted by that presentation. Even though it didn’t succeed for me.

Speaker B [00:19:48]:
Hair loss can truly be life altering. Like many of our guests, after experiencing hair loss himself, Steve went on to pursue a career that would allow him to help others navigate this challenge. Learning about Steve’s journey with hair loss in the seventies, the technologies of that time, and specifically the development of Hair Club has been fascinating. If you’d like to hear more from Steve, make sure you subscribe to the show. We’ll be having him back on to discuss the development of his state of the art diagnostic tool, the tricovue hair and scalp analysis system. 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 somebody who could benefit from hearing this episode, we would love it if you would share it with them.

Speaker B [00:20:33]:
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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