Hair Loss in Hollywood

by Julian Miranda | Mar 18, 2025 | Episode

Episode 56

Hair Loss in Hollywood

In this episode of HairPod, I sat down with HairClub model Tyler Morehead to talk about his hair loss journey, which started back in his early 20s when he was getting his start in Hollywood. From the tricks of the trade to finding the hair loss solution he plans to use for the rest of his life, this episode has it all!

Hair Loss in His Early 20s

Male pattern hair loss can begin earlier than you might think – in Tyler’s case, his hair loss began in his early 20s, right as he began to pursue his dreams in Hollywood. Like any aspiring actor, Tyler went to plenty of auditions, and seeing the other young actors show up with their perfect hair was tough on his confidence. Tyler still landed amazing roles in commercials and on soap operas like Days of Our Lives, and suddenly, his hairline was on display in front of the harsh camera lights. Even though his hair and makeup teams were able to help him look and feel his best, he knew that wasn’t a sustainable permanent solution.

Finding the Right Hair Loss Solution

Hair loss is a difficult experience for anyone to go through, and we all handle the emotions of it differently. As Tyler got older and his hair loss got more advanced, he knew the solutions he had used in the past were no longer going to give him the effect he wanted. Over time, he became numb to the emotional impacts of his hair loss. He was in search of a permanent solution and a way forward, and decided to shave his head. Because he had become so desensitized to his emotions, he didn’t notice how shaving his head had affected him emotionally, but during a phone call, his mother noticed that something wasn’t quite right.

Hair Systems – Tyler’s Permanent Solution

Trying a new hair loss solution can be difficult. Tyler didn’t know what to expect when he first reached out to HairClub, but he didn’t have anything to lose. When he tried on his first hair system, he felt the magic. Upon seeing himself in the mirror with his system on for the first time, he finally felt like himself again, and the weight of the emotions of his hair loss was lifted. Now, Tyler has been using a hair system for many years, and as he ages and his beard grows a little bit more gray, the stylists at HairClub adjust his system to match. For Tyler, he foresees wearing a system for the rest of his life. He feels younger and more confident with hair.

Empowering Resources

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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.

Episode.56 Transcript

Tyler Morehead [00:00:02]:

You know, when I went to HairClub and I got the hair, I remember the very second I looked in the mirror, when they were done and I looked at it, it was that feeling of like, there’s that dude I haven’t seen in, like, 15 years. And my immediate thought was, like, well, you know, I mean, it’s not real hair. I get that. And there’s a part of that that’s like, God, you know, initially, I never wanted to do it. And there are. Sometimes I’m like, I wish I’d just get my hair back, but if I can’t, this is by far the best solution that I’ve ever come across, ever, over that long period of 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 talking with Tyler Morehead, a director, producer, and writer who spent years working in front of and behind the camera. You might know him from his early days in acting or commercials or maybe even soap operas like Days of Our Lives. But what you might not know is that Tyler’s journey with hair loss started in his early 20s, right as his career in Hollywood was taking off. Like so many of us, he tried everything he could to fight it. And after plenty of searching, he finally found a solution that works.

Kevin Rolston [00:01:33]:

Now he’s got a successful career behind the camera and is even a model for HairClub.

Tyler Morehead [00:01:44]:

Well, the model with HairClub, that kind of came out of the blue one day, so I don’t really take that title too often. Besides the fact that when it’s handed to me, this is one of those days. But I’ve been really thrilled to do it, that’s for sure. But otherwise, I started a production company a few years ago and working on a lot of films, some documentaries, mostly right now. Okay. So I think that since COVID you know, we’ve kind of had to redo everything. I’ve learned how to do everything on my.

Kevin Rolston [00:02:10]:

That right.

Tyler Morehead [00:02:12]:

You know, for the most part. But now serious, I have a great career. We’ve got a documentary that we’re about to release on Amazon prime, and so we’ve got. Got some good things happening. But the writer, director, producer thing, that canal falls into that. I’ll take whatever titles that, you know, I have to Take in order to get this done.

Kevin Rolston [00:02:29]:

It’s all good, right? Exactly.

Tyler Morehead [00:02:32]:

Great. So I can’t complain.

Kevin Rolston [00:02:33]:

Yeah, if you’re working, it’s fantastic. How much work do you do in front of the camera?

Tyler Morehead [00:02:38]:

You know, back in my early days, I used to do quite a bit. That’s how I started. Wasn’t moved out to Hollywood. I got some great stuff, you know, and you know, a lot of soap opera work, a lot of commercial work.

Kevin Rolston [00:02:50]:

Good for you.

Tyler Morehead [00:02:51]:

But you know, it’s a tough industry. So once I kind of got a taste of stuff behind the camera, that really appealed to me a lot too. So I, I kind of went with it.

Kevin Rolston [00:02:59]:

Now I’ve grown up with the soap operas. I’ve seen them since I was a little kid. I’ve watched the ones my wife has watched. And a lot of times people stay on soap operas for a really long time. I mean, you can make that your entire career. And a lot of people do, they’re there for 40 or 60 or, you know, sometimes like 80 years it feels like. And they wind up dying in the job. And my question is, is we age? That’s just a, you know, normal part of life.

Kevin Rolston [00:03:25]:

But the one thing I’ve noticed is people in the soap operas, they don’t age as much. And a big part of that is I don’t think I’ve ever seen one person on a soap opera that has a Dr. Phil haircut. Am I wrong in that? I mean, do they all not have ideal haircuts?

Tyler Morehead [00:03:40]:

I would say you’re probably not wrong. I certainly don’t have an answer for that. You figure that out, you let me know. But yeah, I think you’re pretty spot on when you say that. It’s pretty entertaining.

Kevin Rolston [00:03:50]:

So what are people who like, if you do a soap opera, what do you do for your hair? Give me some of the Hollywood secrets. So there are so many people that have hair that’s unrealistic to the way middle America looks or people are not in Hollywood look. And what are these people doing to have that ideal head of hair in Hollywood?

Tyler Morehead [00:04:09]:

You know, I, I think that what I’ve done here, that’s got to be part of it. I think that I’ve seen a lot of people talking about topical things that they use and that, that sort of thing. But I think Hollywood’s just a different animal. I mean, it’s hard to compare ourselves to that realistically because, you know, that’s, that’s camera ready stuff. So it’s gotta always look good. For me when I was. And hopefully I’m not saying too much, but I had a pretty decent little role on Days of Our Lives. I didn’t.

Kevin Rolston [00:04:35]:

I love Days of Our Lives. That’s so awesome.

Tyler Morehead [00:04:38]:

I didn’t really have ever have hair and makeup. I usually had to do that all on my own. But I did have a girl that was doing my hair and makeup there, and she introduced me to, like, a hair fiber. That’s when my hair really started thinning out. And she used that and I was hooked at that point. You know, it’s kind of like this instant kind of thick head of hair, but, you know, and I use that for quite a while until, you know, I just decided that wanted to find something else, which has led me to where I am today.

Kevin Rolston [00:05:09]:

Most of us don’t have the tools of Hollywood at our fingertips. We don’t have a team of stylists ready to fix our hair. Under the glow of the studio lights, hair loss often feels like a lonely battle, one you’re forced to figure out on your own. But imagine being just 22 years old, stepping into the spotlight for the first time and realizing you, your hair is already starting to thin. That’s what happened to Tyler. Just as he was getting to start in the entertainment industry, hair loss showed up uninvited under the harsh glare of cameras. It wasn’t just about looks. It was about confidence, opportunity, and the pressure to measure up in an industry where appearances are everything.

Tyler Morehead [00:05:53]:

I noticed it right after college. Right after college, I moved to New York. That’s where the acting all started for me. You know, it was. I was losing hair pretty normally. I think it wasn’t super bad. By the time I got to LA and by the time I kind of started getting some roles and I’ll use the Days of Our Lives things, the example, I mean, when they introduced me to that, well, at that point, I think I tried just about everything, like. Like a lot of people.

Tyler Morehead [00:06:18]:

And I. Nothing worked for me. Not saying that stuff doesn’t work me.

Kevin Rolston [00:06:23]:

No, you’re right.

Tyler Morehead [00:06:23]:

But it didn’t work for me. But, you know, it was just kind of this progression where, you know, then once I use that. Back to your point, I started using it on my own and on another shoot, I was on set and that director pulled me to the side and said, you know, we need to put something in your hair. It just looks so dusty or looks like powder. It doesn’t look realistic. So that’s when I realized even what I was using then, it had its challenges and it’s it’s downside, too, and I think a lot like you that’s. Eventually I found hair club, wishing I would have found it a lot sooner because I think it would have been a whole different ball game on that end. It certainly would have been a lot less stressful, a lot less anxiety, especially when you’re in front of a camera.

Kevin Rolston [00:07:02]:

Yeah, No, I mean, those. The lights are unforgiving. And when you’ve got somebody that’s their job to pick apart your appearance and they’re going in on how your hair looks, it’s a real tough place to be. Now, I’ve had many different places. Tell me, what age were you when you started to notice? Because for me, my first notice of hair loss that I needed to deal with was at the age of 25. Where did you start? What did you do at that point? Then what happened in your 30s? And, you know, onward from there.

Tyler Morehead [00:07:31]:

I think, for me, I’m trying to think it was right after college. So I would have been like, 22. Okay. Yeah, been 22. And I think that I lost the majority of the hair within those first two or three years. That’s when I saw the biggest change. After that, it just stopped. It didn’t.

Tyler Morehead [00:07:46]:

You know, I wasn’t losing as much, but it was just kind of gradual. I could see my hairline kind of going away more and more.

Kevin Rolston [00:07:52]:

Yeah, it’s. You know. And I’ll speak. Yeah. In a weird. It’s. Hair loss is an odd thing. And it seems like it has paces where you notice it may be in your early or mid-20s, like you and I both were.

Kevin Rolston [00:08:06]:

And then you have it. You do something that you think addresses it, and you’re good for five to 10 years. And it’s odd. Late 20s, early 30s was fine. It probably wasn’t until my mid-30s that I picked up again and noticed and said, okay, this is now a new problem you gotta deal with. Were you kind of the same way where it. It seemed like you addressed it. You’re good for a decade, then you had to come up with another solution?

Tyler Morehead [00:08:30]:

Yeah, yeah, absolutely. And I think for me, you know, just doing what I was trying to do out in Hollywood and that it really wore on me a lot more because here I am competing. It’s these dudes that are, like, perfect in about every.

Kevin Rolston [00:08:43]:

I know. It’s always the hair. The hair looks always so amazing. Doesn’t soap opera stars have the best hair ever?

Tyler Morehead [00:08:49]:

Yeah. So, you know, I think that it was that progression, like you’re talking about, and Then there would be times when it wouldn’t bother me as much or I didn’t think it did. It kind of desensitized me, I think, to the idea that, well, you know, I’m losing my hair. Just gonna have to accept that. And I think I got a little desensitized until one day I thought, why don’t I just shave my head? And, yeah, dudes are doing. I did that, and I realized how miserable I was, so.

Kevin Rolston [00:09:15]:

Right. Right.

Tyler Morehead [00:09:16]:

That’s when. And I got to give my mom a lot of credit. She’s the one that said, why don’t you call this hair club? You know, these hair club guys. Mom sparked the whole thing. And I know that because it happened on Mother’s Day. I did it on Mother’s Day.

Kevin Rolston [00:09:29]:

Wow.

Tyler Morehead [00:09:31]:

My mom, I was wishing her a happy Mother’s Day. The very first thing out of her mouth, being a mom, what’s wrong? And I’m like, nothing. She’s like, something’s wrong. What’s going on?

Kevin Rolston [00:09:41]:

So I told her, yeah, she could tell, baby.

Tyler Morehead [00:09:45]:

Dude. I know, but that descent, you know, being desensitized to it. And then just one little thing would be like, yeah, you know, I got to do something. For me, that’s the way it was. Like, I would go through these little eras, but then I would be brought right back to that. Like, man, this really sucks. Like, I don’t know why I’m lucky or unlucky one to do this, but. Or deal with this, but essentially, you’re back to the same thing.

Tyler Morehead [00:10:06]:

I’m like, I just want to do something about it.

Kevin Rolston [00:10:13]:

Everyone who’s dealt with hair loss has that moment. The low point, the day you look into the mirror and you think, I can’t ignore this anymore. Maybe it’s when a photo catches you off guard or when somebody makes a comment that hits a little too close to home. For Tyler, that moment came when he decided to shave his head. It felt like the only option he had left, like, waving the white flag. But instead of feeling free or confident, it left him feeling worse, like he’d lost more than just his hair. It’s a feeling many of us know all too well. When you hit that point of frustration and you just want to feel like yourself again.

Tyler Morehead [00:10:53]:

There really weren’t a lot of options. And like I said, that deal with my mom on Mother’s Day, that was the eye opener, I think, more than anything. But I just knew I wanted to do something. I didn’t want to. I think shaving my head, I I didn’t think I, you know, didn’t look bad, but I just didn’t want to do that. I really wanted to have some hair of some kind.

Kevin Rolston [00:11:11]:

I did okay.

Tyler Morehead [00:11:12]:

I did better doing the tattoo thing where you shave it and they do the tattoo stuff, but, you know, they make it look like you. But I don’t know, there was something about that, too. I’m like, that’s just going too far. Like, I don’t want to do it, so. Right. You know, when I went to HairClub and I got the hair, I. I remember the very second I looked in the mirror when they were done and I looked at it, it was that feeling of like, there’s that dude I haven’t seen in, like, 15.

Kevin Rolston [00:11:37]:

Yeah.

Tyler Morehead [00:11:37]:

Yeah. It had been like 15 years. And my immediate thought was, like, well, you know, I mean, it’s not real hair. I get that. And there’s a part of that that’s like, God, you know, initially I never wanted to do it. And there are. Sometimes I’m like, I wish I just get my hair back, but if I can’t, this is by far the best solution that I’ve ever come across ever, over that long period of time. Yeah.

Kevin Rolston [00:11:58]:

You stated a couple things there that to me are interesting. First of all, you to me are confirming about the 15 year. And that’s how I feel when I don’t have my hair on. And when I do, it is about a 15 year difference on what you would think my age might be. I feel that’s my own perception. The other thing that, you know, I love and people who don’t understand this is that when you do a hair system, you are doing real human hair with the exact feel it’s not something synthetic. And I’m looking right now, and people are not actually able to see your visual right now, Tyler, is you look like you have a very natural head of hair. Tell me about how you think the feel is, the color is, and the texture is.

Kevin Rolston [00:12:41]:

Because you’re like me. You have a little bit of gray on the side, and it blends in perfectly, going all the way up to the top. And that’s something that is done with, you know, people who do hair systems really well, is there’s a perfect match. It shouldn’t be a dark top, a gray side where you can tell you’ve got something that’s sitting on the top, because that doesn’t fling anybody at all. I’m looking at you, and you look like you have a natural head of hair. So describe to me a Little bit about how you get it done and how you feel about your own hair.

Tyler Morehead [00:13:10]:

Wow, Cool. Thanks. Yeah, it’s interesting you would bring that up because, like, my beard, I stopped coloring my beard here not too long ago. I realized I’m like, okay, I can’t win them all, so I’m just going.

Kevin Rolston [00:13:21]:

To leave this one. I think that’s the right move. I’m doing the same thing people were telling me, like, diet, but I’m like, no, I just. I don’t think it looks right.

Tyler Morehead [00:13:29]:

It’s.

Kevin Rolston [00:13:30]:

You know what? Beards are very similar to the hair where I feel like the same way you can tell when guys dye their beard and when it’s not done right, especially. And guys that are using a hair system, a toupee, whatever it might be called in your world, you can tell when they’re at doing it because it’s not colored right. And they’re just things that are off with it. It’s not natural.

Tyler Morehead [00:13:51]:

Well, when I did that, you know, I realized then how gray my beard really was and how gray my sides really were because I coloring them for so long, like the same amount of time, probably 15 years. But I didn’t realize that it was like almost solid gray. So I went into the HairClub, you know, my center that I go to here in Florida told them, you know, I’m going to go ahead and do this from now on. And they went ahead and changed a lot of the color in the hair. Yeah, I can’t say what they did exactly, but I do know is they’ve added more gray in here on the sides. I’m like, I can’t believe how real that looks. We were just out at the beach here a couple of weeks ago, my wife and I, and I saw her out taking pictures of me, and she was commenting about how good the color looked with the beard and the grain, how they wanted that wind and for her to do that says a lot, but she was really commenting on it. So I realized that, you know, things I didn’t know you could kind of do was adding gray and just certain areas of it to help blend in your.

Tyler Morehead [00:14:42]:

I didn’t know you could do that until just recently, but they did it and I’ve been really happy with it. It’s only been three weeks or something that that’s been the case, but okay. But the beard, I did want keep that way. You know, I. I just decided it was time. You know, I just had a birthday and I turned a certain age. I’m like, it’s Just time I stop and I was at a party, and a good friend of mine, Wynonna Judd, she, you know, I told her, I’m like, you know, I’m really on the fence with it. I don’t know.

Tyler Morehead [00:15:07]:

And she just looked at me and said, dude, it’s how God made you. Just go with it. And, yeah, that was a moment where I’m like, yeah, that’s what I’m gonna do. So I did. Hopefully she’s not wrong. Hopefully I’m not wrong.

Kevin Rolston [00:15:18]:

But now, you know what?

Kevin Rolston [00:15:19]:

Now you’re in the.

Tyler Morehead [00:15:21]:

That came into play. You know, to answer your question, I’m really happy. Right.

Kevin Rolston [00:15:24]:

And now you’re in the silver fox category.

Tyler Morehead [00:15:27]:

Dude, I hope. Well, I hope so. I know I’m silver. I don’t know about the fox category.

Kevin Rolston [00:15:31]:

But, you know, I hope so.

Kevin Rolston [00:15:38]:

At the end of the day, it’s about feeling comfortable, not just in your hair, but in yourself. I mean, that’s what we’re all really looking for, right? To look in the mirror and feel like you again. For Tyler, finding the right solution meant getting back to that place of comfort where he didn’t have to second guess how he looked or feel anxious stepping out the door. And when you live an active life, that confidence matters even more. Whether it’s hitting the beach, jumping on a jetski, or even catching waves like Tyler used to back in California, the last thing you want to worry about is your hair. That’s when you know that you’ve found something that works when you’re doing what you love, feeling and looking your best and not thinking twice about it. I asked Tyler if he ever worries about how his hair is going to look when he’s out on the beach living life to the fullest.

Tyler Morehead [00:16:31]:

You know, at first, when I got it. Yeah. But never, not even once. And I’ve had the hair, you know, I guess it’s been about 12 years now, but my wife and I are super active, you know, down here. We bow jets. Back in California, back in the day, I surfed and, you know, there were. I’d get rocked by some serious waves and never once did it ever even come close to being an issue. So.

Tyler Morehead [00:16:55]:

Yeah, no, you remember an issue.

Kevin Rolston [00:16:57]:

It sounds like, you know, honestly, you had to just build up some confidence with it, right?

Tyler Morehead [00:17:00]:

Yeah.

Kevin Rolston [00:17:00]:

Take some trial runs and say, okay, this thing’s legit. It’s going to stay with me. It’s going to look natural all the way through.

Tyler Morehead [00:17:06]:

Yeah, Yeah. I just. Just had to experience it. That was better, you know, once you, once you, you know, that confidence, I think, or whatever you want to call it, it’s, it’s pretty immediate. You’ll realize it’s not going anywhere.

Kevin Rolston [00:17:17]:

So could you ever see a point where you would say, you know what, I’ve had enough, it’s time for me to move on, do something different? Or do you think this is going to be a permanent part of your life forever?

Tyler Morehead [00:17:26]:

I think it’s pretty permanent. You know, I’ve, I’ve had that thought, what you just said. You know, I’ve wondered if. What if when I hit my 70s or my 80s, am I going to finally get to the point where I’m sick of this, But I don’t think I will. I think there’s just something about it that I’m comfortable with and I like. And you know, it’s kind of like I don’t want to give it up either. But no, I think it’s pretty permanent, you know? You know, I don’t know. I have no idea what life is going to serve up, but.

Kevin Rolston [00:17:49]:

Right, right.

Tyler Morehead [00:17:50]:

Yeah, part of like, no, it’s permanent. My wife and I even talk about it, you know, and she said she’d prefer having it and me keeping it as, as long as possible, so I’ll definitely keep.

Kevin Rolston [00:18:00]:

I think so too. You know, I, I feel the same way. I mean, you know, you and I, I deal with the media as well and so, you know, perception. But even if you didn’t, let’s strip that away because most people are not dealing with what you and I deal with. Media being out there where people are going to comment on us and seeing critique. And to me, the other things that I love about is one, your own self esteem. And I’ve noticed that you carry yourself different when you have that kind of confidence. You have that self esteem and, and I think that’s important.

Kevin Rolston [00:18:29]:

Do you feel the same way? I mean, aside from your industry just being you, Tyler, a guy without that. Do you feel like the hair gives you more confidence?

Tyler Morehead [00:18:37]:

Oh, yeah, absolutely. Well, it definitely just puts you back in that place how you were before I started losing there. And like I said that that very first second that I looked in the mirror when they put the hair on the first time. Right. I know what he looks like. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to explain that to anybody, but you’ll know it when that happens to you. So it was from that point on. And I’ve got pictures of the before and after and you can see the look on my face.

Tyler Morehead [00:19:01]:

You know, that whatever in my eye or whatever, I could just see it. That difference.

Kevin Rolston [00:19:05]:

Yeah.

Tyler Morehead [00:19:06]:

That’s what has really shaped, you know, going on to the question, you just said, are you going to keep it for forever? Is it permanent? I’m like, yeah. Because I’ll always remember back that first day what it was like to get hair back again.

Kevin Rolston [00:19:20]:

Confidence isn’t just about looking a certain way. It’s about feeling good in your own skin, whatever that looks like for you. For some people, that means shaving their head and owning it. For others, it means finding a solution that helps them feel like themselves again. There’s no one size fits all answer. When it comes to hair loss, it’s about what works for you. Tyler found something that gave him his confidence back and it changed the way he lives his life. You never know.

Kevin Rolston [00:19:46]:

If you’re thinking about doing something for yourself, just give it a try. It might not just change your hair, it might change how you feel every time you step out into the world. 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 HairClub on Instagram or search Harepod 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.

Kevin Rolston [00:20:18]:

Them.

Kevin Rolston [00:20:18]:

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.

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Exploring Hair Systems with Influencer Rachel Rivera

by Julian Miranda | Feb 18, 2025 | Episode

Episode 52

Exploring Hair Systems With Influencer Rachel Rivera

This week, I sat down with Rachel Rivera to unravel the mystery surrounding hair systems. We took an in-depth look at how modern hair systems work and whether they look and feel as natural as they claim to. Rachel shares the secrets behind how professional hair loss stylists achieve the seamless, natural looks that high-quality hair systems are so famous for.

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Hair loss is nothing new, and hair replacement solutions have been around for generations. However, as hair restoration technology continues to improve, so does the overall look, feel, and experience of using a modern hair system to achieve the look you desire.

While traditional hairpieces and toupees were often bulky and unnatural, today’s non-surgical hair systems are engineered to blend seamlessly with your natural hair and scalp. Cutting-edge advancements in both base materials and adhesives have revolutionized the hair system industry. The result? Modern hair systems are now more comfortable, breathable, and durable than ever—delivering a realistic hair restoration solution that gives wearers confidence in their appearance.

Hair Loss Stylists to the Rescue

One of the primary advantages of choosing a custom hair system is the ability to personalize it to your exact needs. Professional hair loss stylists work closely with clients to ensure the hair system matches their natural hair color, texture, and style preferences. This initial consultation is key, as it also considers important lifestyle factors that can influence the type of system and adhesive best suited for each individual.

Customization doesn’t stop at appearance. Modern hair systems can be tailored for maximum comfort and longevity, with stylists selecting the appropriate materials and adhesives based on your skin sensitivity, daily routine, and desired level of maintenance.

Learn to Use a Hair System with Expert Support

Maintaining your hair system at home is easier than ever with guidance from a professional hair loss stylist. Experts like Rachel Rivera educate clients on best practices to ensure their hair system looks flawless between salon visits. This includes teaching proper hair care techniques, such as using sulfate-free shampoos designed for hair systems, and demonstrating how to handle minor adjustments, like reapplying adhesive if lifting occurs.

Working with a trusted provider like HairClub offers an added benefit—access to hair loss salons across the country. Whether you need a routine maintenance visit or an emergency touch-up while traveling, HairClub’s network ensures you’re supported every step of the way.

Whether you’re ready to explore a hair system as your next hair loss solution or simply curious about the options available, the best first step is to schedule a consultation with a hair loss professional. Getting expert advice tailored to your unique needs can help you achieve the natural, full head of hair you’ve been seeking.

Empowering Resources

Episode.52 Transcript

Rachel Rivera [00:00:00]:

As you start getting a little bit more gray and as we start noticing and we start talking about it, it’s like, okay, Kevin, let’s add 10% more gray into your hair. I think it’s going to look really nice. I think it’s going to look natural. It is always me observing and us having this conversation so that future forward we can always change and customize orders to how you want it and how you would look your.

Kevin Rolston [00:00:31]:

Welcome to hairpod, the podcast where you get to hear real people talk about their hair journeys. I’m your host, Kevin Raulston, 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 on HairPod, I’m excited to be talking with hair club stylist Rachel Rivera. She has an incredible depth of knowledge about hair loss and hair restoration solutions with years of experience applying hair systems to countless clients, including me. This week we’re going to be uncovering the mysteries behind a topic that few people fully understand. Hair systems. If you don’t have one, it can be surprisingly hard to find detailed, reliable information on what they are and and how they work.

Kevin Rolston [00:01:24]:

Part of the challenge is that modern hair systems are designed to be undetectable. You could have a friend, coworker, or even a family member using one, and you would never know it. Many people choose them because they’re being discreet, so they’re not real quick to open up about it. And that’s exactly why conversations like this are so important. If you ever wondered what a hair system is exactly, listen in. Especially if you hear the words hair system and think toupee. If that’s you, you’re definitely not alone. I think a lot of us who have hair systems now, we’re in the same boat that you were not too long ago.

Kevin Rolston [00:02:01]:

And Rachel’s here to be our guide into how far the technology on hair systems has come and the amazing things that stylists like her can accomplish with a hair system.

Rachel Rivera [00:02:16]:

I hate the word ‘toupee’. It reminds me of, like, your grandfather or your great, great grandfather that had one of those. The difference is when it comes to a hair system, typically with the hair, you are able to get them in different one. You’re able to get them in different textures, different colors, you’re able to get them in different densities, which really create that difference in really, really natural and, you know, your heavier, thicker versions there’s two different kinds.

Kevin Rolston [00:02:48]:

Now, the one thing that to me, and tell me if I’m right on this, what is amazing about a hair system and what is different? I never wore a toupee, but from what I had seen when I was a kid, if I’d ever seen one, it seemed like what they were putting the hair in was something that was thicker, it wasn’t breathable, and the way that they would use the adhesive or the way that they would tack it onto the scalp, to me, that’s maybe where the biggest changes might come in. Not being an expert on it, but I’m just asking, am I right on that, that what they’re using to put the hair in and the measures that they use to keep the hair on are radically different between a hair system and a toupee?

Rachel Rivera [00:03:29]:

Oh, absolutely. When you think about a toupee or any kind of heavier density type of system, typically back in, you know, in the days you have people that wore them on tape, it was easy for them to kind of just apply the tape, put the hair on. When they go home, they take it off. Something that they simply use when they were going out or if they were going to work. The difference is with these systems now is that they’re made so that you can wear them for a long amount of time, which is amazing. You are wearing the hair, you’re washing the hair, you’re styling the hair as if it were your own. So with that we are using medical grade adhesives and we do use some strips as well. And then what we do is it creates that longer lasting version of hair where it literally is mimicking hair like your own.

Kevin Rolston [00:04:19]:

And when you talked about the hair that they had in a toupee, was that real human hair or was it something synthetic?

Rachel Rivera [00:04:26]:

A lot of them were synthetic. You did have a few that were human hair. Those obviously, I think assuming back in the time costed a lot more money. But now those heads of hair typically were synthetic. They were very, very heavy usually often because they weren’t matched to a client’s hair or their own growing hair. A lot of the times they were often color. So that’s the big difference with what we have now and old school toupees.

Kevin Rolston [00:04:52]:

And with the toupee, it wasn’t something like, for people that don’t know, with a hair system now, when I sit in your chair, you put on the hair system when it’s fresh and it’s brand new, and then you start cutting it to fit the style that I want and what looks good. And if I had to assume the toupee itself probably came pre cut, and how you got it is just what you had, and that’s just what you’re going to wear. As far as your style.

Rachel Rivera [00:05:17]:

Oh, yeah. What you had was what you had. If you wanted the curly, it was whatever you wanted the texture to be. It just wasn’t cut and customized to your own, your own hair.

Kevin Rolston [00:05:28]:

Now, the one thing I would say with a hair system is you talk about what they put the hair in. The hair system now it’s some kind of mesh where it’s very breathable. And to me, I think that’s what’s radically different to the point where you don’t feel it when it’s on. You sweat through it, water goes through it. And I imagine the old school toupees, it wasn’t like that.

Rachel Rivera [00:05:50]:

No, you were talking about heavier densities back in the day, usually something very, very thick, almost to the point where it was suffocating the scalp. The hair systems that we have now are extremely breathable. The majority of them come in a lace style, which is great because it allows for the breathability, not only just for that factor, but also in washing your own hair and just kind of feeling that water run through the hair. Hair will get knotted into the lace systems, and it creates that natural look and breathability with what you’re getting.

Kevin Rolston [00:06:26]:

Hearing Rachel break down how hair systems differ from toupees really shows you just how far the technology has come. But it’s not just the advanced materials or the comfort they provide that sets them apart. It’s the level of personalization. High quality hair systems like the one I wear are completely customized to each individual. Every detail, from hair color and texture to style, is tailored to create a natural, seamless look that’s as unique as the person who’s wearing it.

Rachel Rivera [00:07:00]:

From the beginning. If you remember when you initially started with us, we sit you down, we have these one on one consultations. We meet with you, we look over your hair, the color of your hair, the texture of your hair, the great percentage in your hair. With that, we customize a head of hair that is literally just for you, just for all of our clients. So when we are seeing our clients for the first time and we’re cutting in their hair, not only does that hair blend and match what we’ve created for for them, but we are also cutting it according to style. So it is meeting with me and saying, hey, Rachel, I really like this style. I want to do this. And then me Customizing the look that you want.

Rachel Rivera [00:07:44]:

So that makes the biggest difference in the world. You’re blending it in, it looks natural. You can’t even tell where the hair that we’ve applied on where it starts and where your own hair begins. And that’s what we want.

Kevin Rolston [00:07:58]:

Now, a lot of people that come to Hair Club, they have some level of gray, likely in their natural hair. So how do you do that so that that matches up because the toupees didn’t used to do that. So at Hair Club, how are you doing it so that you match in grays or just the subtle textures too? And even in the summer, some people’s hair gets lighter and things change like that. So what are you doing there to make sure that you it’s seamless from the real natural hair that the person still has into what is the hair from their hair system?

Rachel Rivera [00:08:28]:

It’s nice because Hair Club created these customized swatches where we are able to kind of blend in anywhere between the 10% gray to the 90% gray. So it gives us those variations. So when we’re comparing your hair to any of the great percentage swatches that we have, we’re able to customize your hair as we go. Now granted, as again, like how you mentioned with the summertime, we do a lot of in house customization as well. So everything is very unique to you. So that’s always a good thing with gray percentage as well as you start getting a little bit more gray and as we start noticing and we start talking about, it’s like, okay, Kevin, let’s add 10% more gray into your hair. I think it’s going to look really nice. I think it’s going to look natural.

Rachel Rivera [00:09:15]:

It is always me observing and us having this conversation so that future forward we can always change and customize orders to how you want it and how you would look your best.

Kevin Rolston [00:09:25]:

Now somebody were coming in, they said, well, you know, I’m particular to the hairstyle that I have or the hair that I want. You know, what are the parameters when it comes to styles that people can get? Do you have? Well, we can do these kind of four hairstyles, but we can’t do something like that. Where are your limitations when it comes to putting the exact style that the customer wants?

Rachel Rivera [00:09:44]:

Our styles, hands down, are always. I feel like I can always give somebody exactly what they’re looking for and what they want. There are no limitations to what we can do. There’s not just four, like cookie cutter haircuts. We have tons of haircuts. I Am a super visual person. So if you give me something that you like, I’m going to follow that. There’s no limitations to hair.

Kevin Rolston [00:10:10]:

One of the biggest challenges for any stylist working with hair systems is helping each person feel like themselves again. It’s not just about creating something that looks good. It’s about creating a system that blends so naturally into someone’s lifestyle that it truly just becomes their hair. Achieving that level of personalization takes skill, patience, and incredible attention to detail, especially when matching color, texture, and style to reflect somebody’s unique personality. It’s a far cry from hair solutions of the past. Most toupees were made from synthetic materials, which is why they didn’t really look or feel natural. This is another thing that sets a high quality hair system apart from, from a toupee or even a lower quality system. The materials make all the difference.

Rachel Rivera [00:11:01]:

Our hair is human. So the good thing about it is that your hair is gonna feel just like your own hair. Granted, you’re always gonna have, you know, different variances in textures here and there, but being the fact that the hair is human, the hair is always gonna feel like your own. So as you’re running your hands through your hair, you’re gonna feel that natural feeling of hair. And at some point, I believe people just, you know, it’s. It’s all one. They forget that they have hair, and then all of a sudden they’re running their hands through their hair. And that’s a great feeling.

Kevin Rolston [00:11:30]:

And the thing that I would say too, with the hair system is that layer, what they put the hair in with the hair system, that mesh layer, it’s so thin. To me, it’s like a layer of skin. And so as you’re going from what would be your natural hair into what is the hair in the hair system, it’s not like you hit a line or you feel a bump, or you could then trace your hand all the way around, be like, okay, wait a minute. Clearly that part is not the real hair. That’s the experience that I have had with it.

Rachel Rivera [00:11:58]:

Oh, yeah. It’s almost a zero transition from the hair that we are putting on to your own hair. And that’s really what you want, that most natural feel in the hair. Just that ability to run through the hand and not feel those seams that most people would think would be there.

Kevin Rolston [00:12:15]:

Tell me a bit about the adhesive that you use, because I’m sure there are some concerns out there that I’m an active person, I’m on the boat. I Like going swimming. I’m in Taekwondo, whatever it might be. How good is the adhesive? And is there only one way that you put on a hair system, or does it vary from person to person as to how you make sure that it’s going to stay on? And just how sturdy is a hair system to stay on?

Rachel Rivera [00:12:41]:

Oh, no. We have several types of adhesives, and really it’s all based on one. Your skin, your active, whether your lifestyle is active or not. So we kind of, as we’re going along and I’m getting to know you, we utilize a certain type of adhesive, and then we work from there, going back and forth. We have several different kinds, from our nice and sturdy to our clients that are a little bit more sensitive. And we have those hypoallergenic types of adhesive. So we have adhesives for all, which is really good. As we start getting to know our clients a little bit more and what their needs are, that is also one thing that we customize as well.

Kevin Rolston [00:13:22]:

Yeah, and I will tell you, it’s very sturdy. And one thing I did when I first got my hair system was try all these different things, like riding in a Jeep with my head sticking out of the window and going into a hurricane simulator with category three winds. And so it’s, you know, withstood all of those. So anybody who is going to be skiing, being on a boat, anything that might be fast, even if you’re riding a motorcycle and you decide to unfortunately not use element, which you should, it’s going to be something. It’s going to stay on with the adhesives that they have. So the security there is. It’s always 100%. It’s never anything that I think of losing as I’m doing something active.

Kevin Rolston [00:13:59]:

So to let people know that, the one thing that I will talk about which I think is unique, is that sometimes you do have to understand that the way your skin is, because sometimes you have oily scalps, and sometimes you have very dry scalps. And so, you know, just having dealt with me when we were going through different adhesives and whatever, my skin, all of it’s so sensitive. I have eczema on my face, and I’m always using creams and things like that. And then sometimes, yeah, my scalp would be dried out, and it’s almost like we had to tweak it a little bit, try to figure out how to make that happen. Can you explain with the different skin types? And yeah, some people do have oily, and some people do have dry so how does that vary? Being a hairdresser at Hair club? What do you have to consider when you’re using a hair system?

Rachel Rivera [00:14:43]:

Well, what we do is, again, when we are initially meeting you for the first time, as we get to know you a little bit more and more, what we do is it’s just like with you, when you came to me initially, we started you out on one type of adhesive. And then as your skin changes, we also customize that as well. Same things go for even our technologies for hair. So hair systems come in what we call different technologies. Sometimes if you are a little bit on the oilier side, you tend to work out, the hair is getting a little bit looser. Those are things that we also have to change and customize with you as we go as well. Sometimes you do need something just a little bit sturdier. And then some of my clients kind of stay within that middle range, and their hair looks beautiful.

Rachel Rivera [00:15:28]:

And all we’re doing is we’re just changing either adhesive strips or adhesive in general. And then those are the little changes that we make as long as well with the home care that they’re giving it at home.

Kevin Rolston [00:15:42]:

Right. And you don’t necessarily have to use the adhesive strips, because I used to, especially when I had a more active lifestyle, and I’ve decided that wasn’t necessary for me. And so tell everybody, what kind of adhesive am I using, and where does that rank on the level of adhesives that you use for a hair system?

Rachel Rivera [00:15:59]:

Your adhesive is what we call ghost bond. And what the good thing about it is that it’s made for, one, durability, and two, any kind of active lifestyle. So it goes with the system type that you have as well. So everything coincides together to give you that nice blended, seamless look, but it’s giving you the hold that you need for as long as you need it for.

Kevin Rolston [00:16:22]:

Okay. And talk a little bit about the lifting, because I want full disclosure here so that you know somebody who’s looking at a hair system, they know everything that might be going. Going on. So especially for people that might frequently wash their hair, maybe once, sometimes twice a day or whatever, again, you can treat it like human hair that, you know, after a while, the adhesive, it. It may give a little bit, and you have what is called lifting, where there might be a little portion of it after the shower, typically is when I. I notice it. So to me, what I’ve done is I’ve budgeted in maybe an extra five minutes than I used to do before what I would do with my regular hair. And that would just be something to be like if I had that five minute cushion, if I have a bit of lifting, I take home the adhesive that you have and it’s just a little dot, you put it right there, you give it a second to kind of dry and to clear up and then you put the hair right back on it.

Kevin Rolston [00:17:10]:

Within five minutes, you’re completely good to go. It’s, it’s like anybody else would add something maybe to a styling regimen that would be what you would do with every shower is just to make sure that, okay, I don’t have any kind of lifting going on.

Rachel Rivera [00:17:23]:

Absolutely. It’s great because we never promise that it’s ever going to be foolproof. I never tell you, Kevin, your, your hair is going to go on and you’re never going to have any lifting and you’re never going to have any issues. And then you’re going to come to me and it’s going to look just as beautiful as it did when you left me. It does require your hair requires at home care, I always say, because that front hairline right here is always that first point of contact with any kind of outdoors. Also with your fingers, you are going to have the tendency, and again, it depends on activity level and what you’re doing at home. It’s going to require care. So when you come to Hair Club and we’re going over all of these instructions with you, we always give you the instructions on how to touch up the front hairline if you do have lifting.

Rachel Rivera [00:18:10]:

Sometimes you’ll get out of the shower, sometimes the little corners will lift up a little bit and all you need is that little bit of adhesive, a little touch up five minutes added to your hair care routine. That is all that you need. And you touch it up, you let it cure a little bit, set your hair back down and you are good to go. And on some occasions you don’t even need to do that. Sometimes you just need to take a little bit of a blow dryer and kind of just heat up that area and dry it up. Because sometimes it’s the water that kind of makes it lift a little bit.

Kevin Rolston [00:18:40]:

Right.

Rachel Rivera [00:18:41]:

Push everything back down and you’re good to go.

Kevin Rolston [00:18:43]:

Yeah, so true. No, that’s absolutely it. And you know, the longer you have, and I’ve had my hair system now for years that I know exactly how to do all the maintenance on my own. Earlier on, I was on a trip one time and I was in A different city. And the cool thing about Hair Club is when I was at that novice level and didn’t know what to do, and I should have, you know, thought to do more of the training and learn more of it is there are Hair Club locations all over the country. And so if you ever do find yourself in a pinch or something absolutely insane, happens to be able to pop off and have that ability to go in and get with a hair professional that can help you out, I found always be very comforting.

Rachel Rivera [00:19:20]:

Absolutely. And we have over 120 locations nationwide, so there really isn’t anywhere that you can go. You can also, at any point in time, call the center if you have any kind of emergencies, anything that we can talk you through. So we’re always there for you if you do have any concerns. But that’s our biggest thing is majorly is to give you that education that you need so that when those moments do come up, you’re not having those panic moments. And like, oh my goodness, what do I have to do? You know what you’re doing.

Kevin Rolston [00:19:51]:

A big thank you to Rachel Rivera for sharing her expertise and helping us break down the world of hair systems and hopefully clarifying what you can expect if you go in for a consultation with Hair Club and decide that a hair system is right for you. They are an amazing option if you’re looking for a personalized solution that looks and feels completely natural. Of course, as we always say on this podcast, there’s no one size fits all when it comes to hair loss. So working with a professional like Rachel can help you start your journey to feeling like yourself again with whatever tools suit your situation and lifestyle best. For more information about all things hair and hair loss, make sure to subscribe to the show on your first favorite podcast app. Thanks for listening to another episode of hairpod. Check us out at Hair Club on Instagram or search Harepod 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 [00:20:52]:

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 Hair Club. 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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Top Hair Replacement Trends for 2025

by Julian Miranda | Jan 6, 2025 | Episode

Episode 46

Top Hair Replacement Trends for 2025

2025 Hair Replacement Trends with Dr. Mary Alice Mina

This week on HairPod, I spoke with expert dermatologist and host of The Skin Real Podcast, Dr. Mary Alice Mina. We covered some of the latest news on hair loss and her forecasts for the near future of hair loss treatment.

Dermatology and Hair Health

A dermatologist can be a great resource when it comes to hair health. According to Dr. Mary Alice Mina, dermatologists are experts in skin, hair, and nails and can help those who seek diagnoses or treatments for their hair loss. Supporting the physical processes that give us healthy skin will also have a positive impact on our hair and nails. Dr. Mina reminds us that part of having a healthy scalp isn’t just about caring for your hair itself but also for the skin on the scalp that houses your hair follicles.

Nutrition and Hair Health

Intermittent fasting and hair loss are in the news, as a new study shows a link between this restrictive diet and reduced hair growth in mice. Dr. Mina and I discussed the importance of eating wisely during your meal times to ensure you’re getting enough nutrients. While the scientific community is still learning the links between certain trending diets and hair loss, it’s well-known among hair loss experts that a nutritious diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and lean protein is important for overall body processes, including hair health. For more on how diet affects your hair health, check out
Episode 024: “Ask a Trichologist: What is Causing My Hair Loss?” with trichologist Eva Proudman

2025 Hair Restoration Trends

The latest developments in hair loss treatments are always a topic of conversation when we talk to experts like Dr. Mina. It can be hard to separate fact from fiction, but a dermatologist or trichologist can help decode which new technologies are grounded in science. Dr. Mina shares her curiosity and concerns with treatments like PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma). While they can be effective for many people, there is significant variability in platelet levels between individuals. Many emerging treatments have yet to hit the market, but Dr. Mina remains optimistic about the bright future of hair restoration.

Hair Loss Solution or Scam?

Natural remedies for hair loss often reach us via social media and promise amazing results. However, Dr. Mary Alice Mina advises using good judgment and consulting with professionals before investing in unverified treatments. Without solid scientific studies to set proper expectations, natural remedies can lead to expensive, ineffective outcomes, leaving individuals suffering from hair loss feeling hopeless. There are effective treatments and options that cater to a variety of needs, but knowing where to start can be overwhelming. Working with a knowledgeable professional can help you diagnose the cause of your hair loss and select treatments that are right for you. Remember, you aren’t in this alone!

Empowering Resources

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.46 Transcript

Dr. Mary Alice Mina [00:00:02]:
I would say if you are struggling with hair loss, I would say see your dermatologist before investing in a lot of sort of experimental things or other things, because not all hair loss is created equal. Lots of different causes of hair loss, some is completely reversible and some scars, and that is not reversible. And if we can hit it first and early and sort of stop the inflammation that can lead to the scarring, then we can minimize that foreign.

Kevin Rolston [00:00:43]:
Welcome to HairPod, the podcast where you get to hear real people talk about their hair journeys.

Kevin Rolston [00:00:49]:
I’m your host, Kevin Rolston, and each.

Kevin Rolston [00:00:51]:
Week I get to interview people from different walks of life whose lives have been touched by hair loss in some form or fashion. Many of our guests have experienced hair loss themselves and found a way to get their confidence and their hair back. This week we are ringing in the new year with the very latest in cutting edge hair loss technology and trends with Dr. Mary Alice Mina. Dr. Mary Alice is a Harvard-educated dermatologist and dermatological surgeon with a passion for educating people about caring for their skin. She hosts The Skin Real podcast and today she joined us for an episode of HairPod to talk about all the latest in hair restoration, from the most recent studies to the latest hair trends. The first thing I had to know was how dermatology fits into the world of hair loss and hair restoration.

Dr. Mary Alice Mina [00:01:45]:
This is such a popular topic and something that I’ve been thinking about more and more as I’m hitting middle age. But, yeah, people maybe don’t realize this, but dermatologists are the skin, hair and nail experts. So our nails and hair are appendages of our skin. And so we also take care of hair. So. And I also think people forget that our hair, also our scalp is made up not just of hair, but skin. And so it’s important to take care of our scalp skin as well. That that is also part of hair care.

Dr. Mary Alice Mina [00:02:19]:
So, yeah, as dermatologists, this is definitely right up our alley.

Kevin Rolston [00:02:23]:
Now, the one thing that I want to talk to you a little bit about is, you know, it seems like.

Kevin Rolston [00:02:27]:
Things that are probably good for your.

Kevin Rolston [00:02:29]:
Nails and for your skin are probably also good for your hair.

Kevin Rolston [00:02:32]:
Why?

Kevin Rolston [00:02:33]:
That has to do with dietary stuff. Right?

Dr. Mary Alice Mina [00:02:35]:
Well, is there something in particular you’re thinking about?

Kevin Rolston [00:02:38]:
Yes, I am. In fact, I saw a study this week and it talks about how intermittent fasting and a study that was done is not giving the body enough energy to reproduce the hair cells that is needed. And they’re discovering, at least in studies with mice, that when they’re doing intermittent fasting diet that the mice are not replenishing the energy to regrow the hair. And they said that it could be the same way in humans. So is that something that you’ve seen where caloric intake or the nutrients that you put in your body can also affect skin, hair and nails?

Dr. Mary Alice Mina [00:03:15]:
Oh, yeah, absolutely. So if you have a very calorie restrictive diet, then your skin is going to be very dry. You can get this stuff called lanuga, where you have these small little, what we call vellus hairs on your body that can develop. You can significantly lose hair on your head and it can be very brittle. So, yes, very restrictive diets for sure can do this. And also so can rapid weight loss. So we’re seeing, I would say probably even more common is people who go on these crash diets lose a lot of weight very quickly, or the GLP1 agonists, which are remarkable at helping people lose weight. But one of the side effects is that with this rapid weight loss can also come rapid hair loss.

Dr. Mary Alice Mina [00:04:06]:
Now, usually that’s reversible. Same thing with, with diet that, you know, when you have a healthy diet, a balanced diet, then that will improve. And then the other thing I’ll say I’ll see sometimes in vegans or people who are vegetarians or very only eat certain foods and not sort of a more balanced diet like a Mediterranean diet, a plant for a diet. We can also see some issues with hair loss. So, yeah, hair loss is so much more than just what are you shampooing with or what products are you using. I always say skincare and hair care comes from, you know, within. And so taking care of our body first and foremost is a great way to make sure your hair is healthy.

Kevin Rolston [00:04:49]:
Totally.

Kevin Rolston [00:04:49]:
Now, you mentioned the GLP1s and so many people are doing that. And there was a good news that came out this last week about there’s finally, for the first time in a long time, been a little drop in obesity rates in America. But the one thing that I’m hearing about the GLP1s is that some people are losing weight, but they’re increasing their body fat and that there may be losing connective tissue, they’re losing muscle, and it could also be affecting other things happening in the body. Do you notice anyone doing GLP1s that is affecting their hair growth? Could that be something that actually takes away from it?

Dr. Mary Alice Mina [00:05:26]:
So definitely see hair loss with it for sure.

Kevin Rolston [00:05:29]:
Okay.

Dr. Mary Alice Mina [00:05:30]:
And I can’t really speak to whether they’re losing muscle or what they’re losing exactly I’m not familiar with that study, but certainly if you are not, you know, again, these medications can help you lose weight, but in order to be healthy, you still need to eat a balanced diet. You need to make sure you get enough protein, enough fiber, minimizing sugar. Right? So it’s not, I think we all want, right, the magic pill where you can still do all the bad habits and not worry about what you actually eat, but you really have to also take care of your body and think about your nutritional status. So. But yeah, we certainly do see the hair loss with it. We also see a lot of, like, skin laxity, which is where when you lose weight so quickly, the skin doesn’t have time to slowly absorb that. And so you can get some loose hanging skin as well. So that’s definitely something.

Dr. Mary Alice Mina [00:06:20]:
We see patients coming in now that they’ve lost the weight. Now they need to get rid of the skin that’s just kind of hanging there.

Kevin Rolston [00:06:27]:
The thing that seems to be tough for me is that a lot of people, we want to achieve beauty. And that’s why we’re doing intermittent fasting. That’s why we’re doing the GLP1s. So how do we offset that? Because if you’re listening to us right now, I’m a person that does intermittent fasting. So what would you say to the person that, for instance, I will do 14, as much as 18 hours off, how can I offset what I’m doing with my intermittent fasting so that I’m not affecting my hair growth?

Dr. Mary Alice Mina [00:06:56]:
Well, so I would say, first of all, have you noticed problem with hair loss with your intermittent fasting?

Kevin Rolston [00:07:03]:
I have not personally, no, thankfully.

Dr. Mary Alice Mina [00:07:06]:
Sometimes, you know, if there isn’t a problem, you haven’t noticed hair loss, then it really isn’t something you have to worry about. But I would say if you. And I’ve dabbled with intermittent fasting, and it’s not something I’m doing right now, I didn’t notice any hair issues. But I would say if you are doing intermittent fasting, then you need to be very cognizant that you’re getting good nutrition on those eating windows that you have and making sure that you’re eating a balanced diet, you’re eating lean proteins, that you’re getting enough, you know, vegetables, antioxidants, all of that. Because I think, again, it’s fine to intermittent fast and they’re show that there are lots of benefits to that. But just make sure when you are eating that you are getting enough calories and enough macros and all that.

Kevin Rolston [00:07:53]:
Is there a perfect hair diet?

Dr. Mary Alice Mina [00:07:55]:
I don’t think so. I don’t think there’s a perfect diet period for anyone. But again, just making. I would say, you know, a good diet in general for your skin would be. We tend to recommend the Mediterranean diet where there’s, you know, protein forward with lean protein. Fish is a great fatty acids. You have omega 3 fatty acids and things like salmon eating a lot of fiber, green leafy vegetables, fruits and berries for antioxidants, minimizing processed sugar. I would say that that’s just key for our overall health.

Dr. Mary Alice Mina [00:08:32]:
So is there the perfect hair diet? I think would just be the. A good balanced diet for your overall health and making sure you’re not being too restrictive on your calories or too restrictive that, oh, I never eat this fruit or this food or this or that, because I think that’s where people can get into trouble or if they just eat same thing all the time. Again, you need that variety, really.

Kevin Rolston [00:08:55]:
Okay, now that. That’s kind of interesting. So even if I had the perfect diet, I still need to switch it up a bit because my body will get used to it and it could be somewhat damaging to hair, nails, skin.

Dr. Mary Alice Mina [00:09:05]:
Well, not so much that. I’m just thinking of if you’re someone who I always eat a piece of chicken and mashed potatoes and carrots. Right. And you only eat that day in and day out. Throw in a salad one night, throw in broccoli one night, throw in some different vegetables, because each fruit and vegetable, they all have different benefits. So again, I know sometimes it’s easy just to eat the same thing every lunch, every dinner. But again, just making sure you’re eating. You know, think about also eating seasonal foods.

Dr. Mary Alice Mina [00:09:36]:
Right. Trying to eat things that are in season is a great way to make sure that you’re getting that variability and nutrition. And it’s better for the environment, right, to eat things when they’re in season.

Kevin Rolston [00:09:50]:
I always appreciate hearing a doctor’s perspective on the importance of nutrition because I know it’s something we can all work on right now to improve our hair, skin and overall health. But it’s especially important early in the year when many people are searching for the fad diet that’s going to help them lose weight and get on a healthier path. It’s important to know the consequences of the different options that are out there so you can keep track of things like hair loss, because that could indicate issues with overall health. I asked Dr. Mina if there was anything else we should focus on when we’re looking at the major causes of hair loss.

Dr. Mary Alice Mina [00:10:30]:
Genetics is big and we don’t fully understand it. It’s not quite so simple as if your mom’s dad didn’t have hair, you’re not going to have hair. Right. So genetics, and it’s not really something, at least at this point, that we can really fix. So genetics. There are some people who are predisposed to having more hair thinning than others. There’s some people who are more prone to early hair grain versus, versus, not. So genetics would be number one, and then number two, I would say, is hormones.

Dr. Mary Alice Mina [00:10:58]:
And again, this isn’t really something we can always change. Now there are things we can do to enhance, but hormones play a big role. And so that, that’s something like for men with testosterone, that’s why men struggle with hair thinning. And even women, as we go through menopause or perimenopause, we lose estrogen. We’re learning that estrogen is also important for hair. So we can work around those things in some ways. But also it is just natural hormone fluctuations as well.

Kevin Rolston [00:11:31]:
So tell me, for a guy like myself, and you get hit with this a lot when you hit middle age for men, and I’m sure for women as well, it’s balancing your hormones. And so in South Florida, where I am, they have so many clinics that are all about giving you testosterone, balancing your hormones, what does that then do to contributing to my hair loss? Because if I add more testosterone, am I then going to start losing more hair as a result?

Dr. Mary Alice Mina [00:11:56]:
You can, yeah. So you know, everything has trade offs, right. Every there, there are pluses and minuses with things. So. So certainly taking testosterone can also cause acne and more sebum or oil production. Right. So I would say for someone like your age who’s maybe noticing some thinning maybe at the temples or the back of your head, probably the simplest thing to do would be to use a topical product, whether that’s pure minoxidil or. Now there are a lot of compounded products that have different things like propecia and finasteride, dutasteride, things like that.

Dr. Mary Alice Mina [00:12:33]:
And it’s topical and you put it on and women can use these as well. So that would be probably the simplest thing to do, but you have to stick with it and it doesn’t happen overnight. And then other options would be, then you could do systemic things as well. So if it’s. And it kind of depends on the kind of hair loss. But for men taking an oral medication like minoxidil finasteride. Some of these medications that can help suppress the androgen receptors around the hair follicles is a good option.

Kevin Rolston [00:13:07]:
Yeah. And, you know, I know sometimes, and I’ve done the testosterone before, and they do give you something to try to balance that to make sure it’s right in your system. I’ve done the finasteride, and I found out that I needed dutasteride, which I guess is what 10% of the male population needs, because the finasteride will not cover everybody, as I’ve come to find out by hosting this podcast.

Kevin Rolston [00:13:31]:
To me, it’s just such a slippery.

Kevin Rolston [00:13:33]:
Slope when you’re trying to maintain beauty, because it seems like when you do one thing that you think is a benefit, whether it be testosterone for your body, then it affects your hair or your skin or your nails.

Kevin Rolston [00:13:44]:
Do we have any kind of perfect.

Kevin Rolston [00:13:45]:
Recipe on how to navigate beauty as we start to get to middle age, on what we should do, how much we do of it, and then how we counterbalance the other effects of beauty on other parts of our body?

Dr. Mary Alice Mina [00:13:56]:
Gosh. I mean, that’s the million dollar question, right?

Kevin Rolston [00:13:59]:
Okay.

Dr. Mary Alice Mina [00:14:00]:
It’s so personal, too. Right? Everyone has a different threshold. My mother has never done. I can’t even get her to use a retinoid. Like, she just uses her moisturizer and sunscreen and that’s it. And she’ll never do any cosmetic procedure whatsoever. And then there are other people who are like, I am all for, give me everything. I want to do everything, try everything.

Dr. Mary Alice Mina [00:14:21]:
So it’s really personal, but I would just encourage people to do what feels right for them. And it’s hard not to feel pressure. As we get older, we want to kind of cling on to what we looked like 10 years ago, 20 years ago, and we see changes and aging is normal. But, yes. Are there things we can do to help mitigate some of the less desirable side effects? And there are. With hair loss, I feel like there’s no, like, take this pill and you’ll grow hair. Right. Sometimes it’s a lot of trial and error.

Dr. Mary Alice Mina [00:14:52]:
Sometimes it’s making sure you’re supplementing vitamin D. A lot of people are deficient in that. And there have been people promoting vitamin D as a way to help with hair loss. But again, I wouldn’t just do any one thing. A lot of times it’s doing them all in combination that can help as well. And I do think in the next five years to 10 years, we’re going to really see an explosion in what we can offer people for hair loss and even maybe hair grain. So I think this is an exciting time. But again, I’ve even, I mean, it kind of makes me laugh when I go to these conferences and I’ll hear someone speaking about hair loss and they, they’re a big hair loss expert and they’re bald or they have, they have recession and it’s, it’s not that uncommon.

Dr. Mary Alice Mina [00:15:38]:
And I’m thinking here is some one of the like world experts in this. They know everything. But yet sometimes it’s just with our genetics and the knowledge that we have now, not everything is going to work for everyone. Now we can definitely improve. For most people we can help out a lot, but we can’t cure it. Right. And that can be frustrating and people can spend a ton of money on these things. So I would also say, you know, sometimes hair loss can make us feel so desperate for a cure that we can fall prey to people who really don’t have the answer but make you feel like they do.

Kevin Rolston [00:16:22]:
Dr. Mina gets at something of key importance here. Hair loss can be such an emotional experience for anyone. And depending upon what is causing the hair loss, there may be a way to reverse it or there may not. The unknowns can leave a lot of people feeling desperate to try anything, which can lead down a very hopeless and costly road. Thankfully, professionals like Dr. Mina are knowledgeable about the treatment options that are available today and also what’s on the horizon for hair loss solutions.

Dr. Mary Alice Mina [00:16:58]:
I do think there’s a lot of cool things coming out. Really the whole field of regenerative medicine is really taking off. And I would say, you know, what we already have in our toolbox right now are things like prp. So platelet rich plasma, that’s where you draw your blood and then you inject it, they spin it down. So we just are taking the plasma that’s rich in platelets, which have a lot of growth factors, and then we inject it into the scalp. The problem, it does work for a lot of people. The problem is that our platelet levels vary a good bit. And also your platelets at 20 are not the same as your platelets at 80.

Dr. Mary Alice Mina [00:17:38]:
And so there is variability with that. So it works, it can be helpful. But I think we can take it even the next step. And so there are companies now that have taken the component of platelets and now, you know, amplified that so that we have more concentrated versions that we don’t have to rely on our own that you can inject. And there are also exosomes coming down the pike, there are topical exosomes that are formulated just for hair regrowth and have been shown to actually help with hair grain. So I think that’s another area that I’m personally more interested in that, to be honest. So, you know, right now it’s topical. Some doctors at Mayo Clinic have come up with a product that’s pretty amazing, at least seeing their results.

Dr. Mary Alice Mina [00:18:24]:
And I’m, you know, testing it out with some of my patients and friends and family. And I think the next step would be, can we inject these exosomes? You know, how do we switch the hair follicle that is its own little stem cell? How do we switch that hair follicle back on? Why did it get turned off in the first place? You know, why did it stop producing melanin or pigment in the first place? How do we kick those cells back into gear and make them work again? And tons of research on that. And I do think we’re going to have some really cool things in the near future.

Kevin Rolston [00:19:00]:
You talk about some of these things that people might be seeing when they scroll through whatever social media feed that they use, and they look encouraging. But are there some that you know of that are out there that you would put a warning flag up on? Because people jump on stuff really quick, and the stuff’s typically not cheap, but it looks like it’s very effective. But have you seen something that you would say you might want to look more into that before you jump into it?

Dr. Mary Alice Mina [00:19:26]:
Yeah, so definitely. People seem to really want to do more homeopathic treatments, natural treatments. I feel like I hear castor oil a lot for hair growth.

Kevin Rolston [00:19:38]:
Yes.

Dr. Mary Alice Mina [00:19:38]:
There was even a study that, you know, dermatologists were saying, oh, rosemary oil can help with hair growth. But that study has really been found to have a lot of holes in it. I just think that this is something that’s so universal for men and women wanting to grow hair that we can fall prey to scams. And so I would just say anyone who is. I would make sure see what their credentials are. Right. Like, is this a dermatologist or a plastic surgeon or someone really experienced in hair loss or hair transplantation? Are they just selling you their own products and supplements? Right, right. Supplement world.

Dr. Mary Alice Mina [00:20:15]:
I do believe in supplements, but I believe that they are supplemental. So check your vitamin D levels. If it’s low, then supplementing with that, making sure you have a balanced diet. Biotin, that was something. It’s not expensive, but that’s something that, you know, people would be taking tens of thousands of micrograms of biotin because they were told it worked. It helped. And really we found that unless you are truly biotin deficient, which is very rare, you don’t need to be supplementing with biotin. And in fact, it can mess up your lab work.

Kevin Rolston [00:20:49]:
Oh, wow.

Dr. Mary Alice Mina [00:20:50]:
Yeah. So. So not really helpful in that realm. But yeah, I would just, I would look at who’s selling you. You know, who’s selling you. What are they selling you? What’s their angle and what are their credentials? Right. Is this someone who truly has experience in hair loss?

Kevin Rolston [00:21:06]:
Dr. Mina, I think a lot of people probably overlook scalp health. How important really is that to your hair health and your hair loss? And what can you do to make sure that you have got the best? To me, I look at it farming. You know, if you’ve got good soil, a lot of times you get a good crop out of it. Is your hair growth almost the same way when it comes to your scalp?

Dr. Mary Alice Mina [00:21:29]:
Yeah, I think that’s a great analogy. Right. It’s the soil. So if we’re not taking care of our scalp, if we are putting tons of products on that are irritating it or causing a rash, then our scalp is going to be itchy and uncomfortable and flaky. Sometimes we can get overgrowth of yeast on our scalp, which is essentially dandruff. So making sure you’re calming down that inflammation as well, People can get like little acne lesions on the scalp that can cause the hair to kind of scar up. I would say hairstyles can be a big one for women. So if you are always pulling your hair back in a tight ponytail or tight bun every single day, you can get what’s called traction alopecia, where the pulling on the hair can cause hair loss in that area.

Dr. Mary Alice Mina [00:22:19]:
Or if you do really tight braids on your, your hair. So be careful. Now, I just watched Cirque du Soleil and there was a woman, I mean, truly doing flips and, and crazy things, hanging by her hair. So I do, I do worry about her, her, her hair loss in the future, potentially. But, you know, being careful how you style your hair, what are you putting. If you are constantly bleaching your hair using really harsh chemicals on it, heating or styling it with really hot products, hot heat without a heat protectant, that’s going to damage the hair as well. So just. Yeah, thinking about your scalp is important as well.

Dr. Mary Alice Mina [00:22:59]:
And not everyone’s scalp. Some people have oily scalp, some people have dry or sensitive. So just like with skin, you need to make sure you’re using the right product for your scalp.

Kevin Rolston [00:23:08]:
So imagine a lot of people hearing a lot of great information coming out of this and they’re trying to figure out, okay, where do I go? Because I need to learn a little bit more. And there are different places you can go to get information about this. What role does a dermatologist wind up playing when it comes to your hair health? And when do you know that the dermatologist is the first person you should turn to?

Dr. Mary Alice Mina [00:23:29]:
Yeah, well, I would say for a lot of people it’s probably your hair stylist or barber that most people talk to. I know for women like we, we tend to have these long standing relationships with our hairstylist. So you can talk with them about it. And I find that they are great advocates. Along with dermatologists, they can help point out if something looks funny on the scalp that they see. And they can also tell you, like, oh, gosh, when I wash your hair, I’m noticing a ton of clumps coming out, or, oh, I’m noticing that there’s some thinning. So, you know, I think for most people, they’re going to the first discussion is probably with their hairstylist or barber about what they’re seeing. And I would say if you are struggling with hair loss, I would say see your dermatologist before investing in a lot of sort of experimental things or other things.

Dr. Mary Alice Mina [00:24:16]:
Because not all hair loss is created equal. Lots of different causes of hair loss, some is completely reversible and some scars and that is not reversible. And if we can hit it first and early and sort of stop the inflammation and that can lead to the scarring, then we can minimize that. So I find too often people come see the dermatologist like as the last resort. They’ve already tried all these things, they spent all this money. But really, I feel like that can save you a lot of time and frustration is if you’re struggling with hair loss, see your dermatologist or find a dermatologist who has familiarity with hair loss who can help you.

Kevin Rolston [00:24:52]:
Okay, so go to the professional before you go to TikTok and Instagram.

Dr. Mary Alice Mina [00:24:57]:
Yes, exactly. Although I know, I mean, there are a lot of doctors. That’s why I have a podcast. Podcast, right. Because I, I know that’s where people get their information. But instead of, you know, before you drop down a couple hundred dollars on some supplements or something that’s a, maybe less well, well studied or developed, I would see a dermatologist, make sure you know what kind of hair loss you have and get the right treatment to really try to save as much of your hair as possible. It’s so much easier to treat hair loss before it’s really severe. If you come to us and you’re totally bald, it’s really going to be hard to bring that hair back.

Kevin Rolston [00:25:39]:
A huge thank you to Dr. Alice Mina for joining us and sharing her wealth of knowledge on hair health, dermatology and the exciting advances in hair loss treatments. If you’ve ever wondered about how your diet, hormones or even your hair care routine impacts your hair’s health, I hope today’s conversation gave you some answers and maybe even sparked a few new questions. Thanks for listening to another episode of hairpod. Check us out on Hair Club on Instagram or search Harepod 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. If you’re enjoying the show, consider leaving us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast podcast app. We also have a website.

Kevin Rolston [00:26:24]:
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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