The typical hair and hair follicles of those of African descent are tightly curled, thus producing hair that spirals. Black hair also typically has a larger diameter than Caucasian hair and retains less water, thus its relative “kinkiness.” The many styling methods utilized on Black hair cause concern with hair loss. Black hair is very strong, fortunately so because Black hair styles cause a great deal of Stress on the hair and scalp.

For example, using a hair pick to pick the hair up to a bushy style is a very damaging process due to the constant pulling causing stress on the hair shaft as well as the follicle. In fact, combing Black hair in general can create high stress on Black hair and cause breakage, which perpetuates dryness. Conrowing and braiding are methods of hairstyling that pull the hair tight, and this can cause a great deal of stress on the hair and scalp resulting in hair loss. Braiding that results in the hair being pulled very tight can cause traumatic alopecia, a hair loss that is caused by trauma to the hair and scalp. Traumatic alopecia is usually reversible with proper hair care.

Hot combs and relaxers used to straighten hair can cause a great deal of heat and chemical damage to hair and scalp, which can also cause traumatic alopecia, and over time can cause permanent hair loss. This becomes especially true when the heat or chemically processed hair is pulled tight by rollers or a hot curling iron.

Hot oil conditioners are excellent for Black hair, as hot oil treatments contain proteins and polymers vital to repairing the hair cuticles. Hot oil treatments involve heating the oil and putting it into the hair and scalp, then covering the hair with a plastic cap to allow the oil to soak in. Follow the recommendations on the treatment you are using for the amount of time you should leave the treatment on the hair. This process can heal breakages and shinier stronger hair will be the result.

Consider that hair relaxers commonly used on Black hair contain lye or similar chemicals that break down the hair shaft. Left on beyond the recommended time, these chemicals would eat right through the hair and cause it to fall out in clumps. This is why these same products are used in products like Drano® to clean clogged drains which often are clogged by hair. No-lye relaxers are very popular today, mainly because it leads people to believe that the product is not caustic. This is far from the truth. The combination of calcium hydroxide and guanidine carbonate are combined to form guanidine hydroxide, which could just as easily clean a sink. Repeated use of such products can cause some degree of hair loss, and if scarring occurs while using these chemicals, the hair loss can be permanent in that area of the scalp. One must ask themselves is it wise to place such caustic chemicals in the hair on a regular basis for the sake of desired appearance? The question must be answered by each individual, however the facts should be known.

There is little that can be done to alleviate this syndrome without changing the typical hairstyles of African Americans. There is a catch-22 concerning relaxing Black hair, since combing natural Black hair causes so much stress and breakage of hair, while chemicals cause so much harm to the hair and scalp as well. There are a few hair-relaxing products on the market that use chemicals and are somewhat less harsh than sodium hydroxide (lye) or its popular equivalent in “no-lye” relaxers: calcium hydroxide (quicklime) mixed with guanidine carbonate. One such product is called Natural-Laxer® and Sahara Clay® by Baka ProductsTM that has been on the market since 1990. This product is all natural and because it does not contain many of the harsh chemicals of commercial relaxers and actually contains only a finely ground plant called Daphne Gnidium and clay from Africa it is figured to be relatively safe. Of course this product does not straighten hair in most instances the same way as commercial relaxers, however it does tend to make Black hair more manageable. There is yet another product on the market that is reported to be 92-96% natural which is called Naturalaxer Kit In A Jar™ that does not require the applicant to comb through the hair during the application, which results in a lot less damage.

Of course the bottom line is once again, if you can leave your hair in its natural state then you will experience less stress and damage to the hair and thus prevent at least one cause of hair loss. There is a growing segment of the Black population that is becoming comfortable with wearing their hair in natural styles. One such style is dreadlocks. There are many rumors and myths concerning dreadlocks, as there is little proper information available concerning this style, and as with anything that is misunderstood many myths arise around it. Dreadlocks can and must be washed; otherwise they will smell badly like any other dirty hair. The best process to use to wash dreadlocks is to use a residue-free shampoo. Most commercially made shampoos leave residue and can cause hair not to lock, lending fuel to the rumor that hair had to be dirty to form dreadlocks. Clean hair actually locks much better than dirty hair, as dirt is a residue in itself that will inhibit hair from locking. For best results one should use a fragrance free, conditioner free shampoo. Dreadlocks do not react well to oily and greasy substances, yet there are many good substances that are on the market today that will assist you in forming dreadlocks.

Dreadlocks are formed through a process, not simply by not combing or brushing the hair. Generally, one should start with hair about two inches in length, and the hair should be separated into even squares of hair and twisted gently together using a bonding or gel substance. Many use natural beeswax containing no petroleum, while others use loc and twist gels specifically formulated for locks. Once the hair is separated and twisted into small locks, it is important that they are left alone and allowed to bond naturally. The length of time it will take to lock will depend on the coarseness of your hair, but one can normally expect to wait several months before locks begin to form. While the hair is locking, it will need to be washed. Here is where washing should be extended for a while if possible, so that the hair can be allowed to lock for two weeks to about a month without manipulation. When you do wash your hair, use a stocking cap or “do-rag”, and low-pressure water to make sure that the newly forming locks do not come loose. It will be necessary to rinse for a much longer time than you normally do, because of the lower pressure of the water and the lack of direct manipulation of your hair with your hands. The water is good for your hair and locking process, so this is not a problem. It is also imperative as indicated before that you use a shampoo that does not contain a conditioner and leaves as little residue as possible. A little research on your part will be necessary here; your health food store should contain a variety of natural shampoos. Have a skilled professional or a friend re-twist the hair gently, reapplying the twist gel or beeswax that you used previously. Repeat this process every two weeks to a month, the longer you are able to wait the better, and within a few months your hair will begin to lock.

Again, if you have a fine grade of hair rather than a kinky grade of hair, a beautician skilled at forming locks (“locktitian”) or a friend who is very familiar with the hairstyle should be consulted. Even though dreadlocks are mainly a hairstyle for Blacks, there are other races that have people that enjoy the hairstyle. In general, it tends to be a style of hair that in the long run will give the hair and scalp needed rest from the rigors of chemical and heat treatments and rigorous combing and brushing, and therefore can contribute to longer life for your hair.

WWW.THEWESTMINSTERPRACTICE.COM

Who doesn’t want to have beautiful hair but then hair needs maintenance! The best way to maintain your hair is by buying the right hair care product and using them as often as possible. The different types of hair products that you can use include compact hair dryers, ceramic hair flattening iron, shaping and control hair spray, hair thickening mousse, hair gel, styling foam and many more.

If you are thinking that beautiful and healthy hair is only for women then think again. Men also need to have clean and healthy hair. The only difference is that women’s hair needs higher maintenance and hence the hair products will be different. The question is how do can you find the right hair care product? Here are some tips that will help you to find the right hair care product:

Type of hair: First things first, you need to identify the type of hair you have. Is your hair straight, naturally curly or has frills? Is your hair growth thick or thin? Is your hair brittle or strong? Do you wash your hair everyday or once in week? You need to remember one thing though: If you have previously got your hair treated chemically using coloring processes or if you have got your hair permed then this will definitely affect your choice of hair products.

Style: The next most important aspect is styling. Now you don’t want to use a hair dryer that will completely blow away the current hair style and make your hair style look weird. Basically, depending on your hair style, you will be able to find a hair care product. On the other hand, if you have small curls and want to straighten out your hair then there are different hair products that will help you achieve the same. There are different types of hair straightening balms, sprays, gels, and straightening iron available for this purpose.

Ingredients: You can also look for the ingredients to determine if a particular hair care product will be good for your hair or not. There are different types of hair products available for different hair but then you need to be extremely cautious of what you use because once your hair is damaged it will take a lot of time to repair them and sometimes the damage might be un-repairable.

Cost: Don’t go by the “selling cheap” advertisements after all it is your hair. Beautiful and healthy hair is the sign of healthy mind and body. So if someone is selling hair products for cheap then you need to think twice before you buy from there. Whatever the type of hair care product you buy, always ensure that you buy original products. If you are buying a hair dryer or a flat iron then ensure that you get the warranty of the product so that if something goes wrong, the company will replace the product.

Hair maintenance is never easy especially when it comes to finding the right products for your hair but it is important that you always use the right products so that you can have beautiful and healthy hair for a long time to come.

Hair loss can be devastating, whether you are male or female, regardless of race or ethnicity. Typical hair loss among men crosses the boundaries of race and culture. However, African American hair poses a particular set of challenges with regard to hair loss. Hair replacement clinics across the country note that while black men seem to suffer the same sort of male pattern baldness and challenges as Caucasian men, African American men and women seem to suffer a higher percentage of problems with hair loss for a variety other, culturally specific reasons. Hair replacement solutions to African American hair loss can be equally complex.

Every year, thousands of men and women of African descent struggle to resolve issues that have left them with receding hairlines and patchy balding spots. Many of these causes are due to hairstyling techniques that have become part of the African American culture, such as:

• Traction Alopecia – caused by braiding too tightly, long term use of corn-rows or tight pig tails in hair. This causes a constant tug on the root of the hair which eventually not only pulls it out, but can cause scarring on the scalp.

• Use of Chemical relaxers that contain lye (the same ingredient used in products like Draino) can actually cause chemical burns on the skin. Even the more natural relaxers use chemicals harsh enough to cause a burn.

• Use of hot combs or irons on the hair too close to the scalp, causing burns and scarring.

• Bleach–again, a harsh chemical not intended to come in contact with the delicate skin of the scalp.

What many people don’t realize is that all of these procedures can, if done improperly, cause permanent hair loss due to scarring of the scalp. Once hair follicles are scarred, there is no resurrecting them. That hair is gone for good. Hair regrowing products like Propecia and Minoxidil will not regrow hair here.

Hair replacement experts understand the emotional toll this kind of loss can take on somebody suffering from hair loss. Not only does hair loss cause embarrassment, the self-esteem can take a nose dive as well. Janelle, a twenty-four year old African American woman, noticed that her hair had begun to recede around her hairline. She had worn pig tails as a child and as an adult, had begun chemically relaxing her hair. To save money, she decided to do it at home. The chemicals burned her scalp. Alarmed, Janelle discovered several bald patches the size of a half dollar on her crown. She saw her doctor and learned that Traction Alopecia was responsible for her hair loss around her hairline, and chemical burns were responsible for the now permanent hair loss on her crown. He sent her to a hair replacement specialist.

Janelle was dealing with three problems: Bald patches on the scalp and a receding hairline; but more importantly, her biggest problem was the toll the hair loss took on her self-esteem and emotional well-being. She considered surgical hair replacement, but this is a complex issue when it comes to black hair. Why?

• The cost is prohibitively high. And quite often, if simply doesn’t work. Hair does not regrow in the density required.

• The formation of keloid tissue. Keloid scarring is a condition to which black skin is often prone. While skin on the scalp rarely forms keloid scar tissue, the skin on the forehead and face often will. So if a receding hairline is the issue, often surgical transplantation is not an option on black skin.

• Grafting is tricky – Black hair is curly not only above the skin but below, at the root as well. So the grafting of individual hairs is complex and often impossible.

In the end, she found an expert who specialized in high end hair replacement systems to restore her hair to it original state. Using breathable lace mesh and hand tied hairs, the hair replacement specialist matched Janelle’s hair with real hair, then filled in the missing spots and her hairline with several hair systems to extend her hairline. The new hair blended in flawlessly with Janelle’s own hair.

This hair system was not cheap either. A high end hair system that is virtually undetectable costs somewhere around $2500. But let’s face it, nothing good is ever cheap. Nor was the hair system without maintenance. She had to adjust the color monthly and occasionally have new hair tied to replace hair that routinely shed from the hair system. But in the end, she couldn’t be happier with her full head of hair. Restoring her hair has, made her less self-conscious and given her back her confidence. It’s hard to put a price tag on that. Every year, hair replacement experts help thousands of people just like Janelle reclaim their lives with the help of hair replacement systems.

There are other hair replacement options available to those with spotty hair loss like Janelle. Hair extensions made with clips are temporary or removable hair systems that don’t require glue to be fixed to the scalp. These are also made with high quality human hair in China and can blend invisibly with your own hair. If you have experienced hair loss and are looking for options, study hair replacement systems on the internet. Look for hair systems that are virtually undetectable, made of human hair, and have local clinics available for custom fitting.

Incoming search terms for the article:

• free beauty americanes porones cilips
• mens hairreplacement

For millions of people world-wide, everyday is a “bad hair” day due to the problem of thinning hair or baldness. Discussing hair loss with a doctor is an important first step. There are a number of treatments available these days that make hair loss or thinning hair easier to live with. A concern not only experienced by men but by a growing number of women is Alopecia, or the excessive and abnormal loss of healthy hair. Traumatic situations and genetics can be the cause of hair thinning and loss and also by hormonal fluctuations, excessive physical force or poor nutrition. While these factors can affect both men and women, hair thinning and loss usually occurs for:

Men
The most well-known pattern of hair loss is a thinning crown or receding hair line. Due to the presence of a derivative or by-product of testosterone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) hair loss happens. This hormone can contract the hair follicles and has a larger effect in the mid-anterior scalp and temples. Some categories of male hair loss are:
Chronic Diffuse Alopecia – can happen because of nutritional, metabolic or endocrine matters.
Acute diffuse alopecia – occurs from physical or psychological reasons such as hormones, nutritional shortages or medications.
Androgenetic Alopecia – occurs because of genetic sensitivity to male hormones. This hardly ever affects women.

Women
Most cases of hair thinning and loss are as a result of hormonal fluctuations, ie during pregnancy, childbirth or use of some methods of birth control. Women can also experience:
Anagen effluvium – occurs due to chemotherapy. The matrix of the hair becomes damaged and, as a result, the hair shaft will narrow, eventually fracturing.
Traction alopecia – caused by severe hairstyles, such as ponytails that are too tight, braiding, cornrows or the frequent use of extensions. These procedures pull at hair over a period of time but loss can be prevented if recognized and treated early.

Males and females can reduce or even halt hair loss or thinning, if found early enough, by using various over-the-counter treatments like:
a). A shampoo that describes itself as “revitalizing/fortifying/energizing”. These will nurture and guard existing hair while removing oils that can obstruct the follicles and stop re-growth.
b). A daily vitamin supplement. Look for supplements labelled especially for hair and/or nails and are fortified with Vitamin B3 (niacin). These defend the hair shaft, and antioxidants, to ward off harm from free radicals.
c). Weekly use, leave-in scalp treatment prepared with essential oils – oils such as lavender and orange will relax and unblock hair follicles to encourage growth, regulate oil production and sustain cell repair.
Results will vary, as with any treatment, and may possibly need to be continued on a regular basis. Also, allow around 6-8 weeks before expecting to see results.

Techniques to hide hair loss:
Perhaps it is time to think of some techniques to hide your hair loss if you are unhappy with your thinning hair. Whether you are a man or a woman losing hair due to heredity, stress, medication or a medical condition you can use these tips to help you cope.

Use a Hair Thickening Shampoo or Conditioner
Use a hair thickening shampoo and/or conditioner meant to disguise loss by making the hair appear to be thicker. Brush your hair gently after shampooing and conditioning to stop losing more hair, and allow hair to dry completely before combing or brushing it.

Techniques for Styling
If your head of hair is not as thick as it used to be, there are some styling techniques and styling products that you can use to keep your head looking its best at any age. Avoid styling gels they will only matte your hair together and accentuate your baldness. Go for texturizing lotions and creams that will give you fullness and volume. Another great choice is to use a leave-in conditioner that can make your hair appear fuller and more textured. Blow dry thinning hair for a fuller look – For hair that is thinning on top, try blow drying after you wash and condition and comb the hair in front straight back. Use mousse or a light hairspray to keep the style in place. The blow dryer will keep hair from matting together and appearing thinner than it is.

Hair extensions are a quick and simple method
Use a professional hair salon to get natural human hair added to your hair. This may last you for several weeks or several months. Hair extensions are used for women and men, with thick long hair to camouflage the fact that they are losing hair, and are an easy way to change your look.

Blow-dry your Hair
Consider blow drying if your hair is thinning on top to give it added texture and body and to give your head more coverage. Brush it into a quiff on top of your head by brushing it from the forehead up. Maintain the style with a little hairspray. If your hair is thinning throughout, this is a good way to make your hair look fuller.

Chaps – Getting a Buzz from your Hair
The buzz cut is a way to disguise the fact that you are losing hair. Businessmen, sports stars and actors all use this as a classy, style that is easy to maintain. Groom your scalp daily and remove the hairs you have left for a clean, fresh look by using a wet-dry electric razor. If you’re disturbed about your hair loss or if your hair is starting to thin, make an appointment with your hairdresser or barber and request some advice on a fresh, new look. There are plenty of hair styles to choose from that have you looking great.

Hair is an important component of one’s beauty and it is quite eminent to take care of hair following regime so that they remain an asset of one’s body. Hair care regime must include healthy diet and using right hair care products that give adequate nourishment to the hair. So it is high time to get back to basics and start having multi vitamin diet and protein rich diet so that scruples can be eliminated from the bed head.

Hair can build confidence in someone as they are the proven assets of one’s personality. That is why it is imperative to take good and healthy care of your hair. There are hair care products available that are solely meant to serve the purpose of maintaining good as well as healthy hair.

As far as hair care is concerned, it is imperative to come back to basics. In other words, it is high time to begin caring of your diet and health. It is scientifically proven that hair need protein rich diet. In other words protein rich diet is necessary for growing healthy and shiny hair.

Iso hair has become latest love for all the hair enthusiasts and they are simply chasing to get those styles. The bed head is simply embellished with different styling hair so that they give different and chic look to the face. For beautiful hair, it is quite important to have no scruples in the hair as they damage them in an adverse way.

The most commonly seen problems in hair include slow growth, thinning of hair, breaking, dryness, weak hair and luster less hair to name a few. All these problems can be alleviated with the usage of alterna hair therapy of enzymes. The alterna hair treatment includes usage of science of enzymotherapy that provide replenishment to the lost nutrients in the hair.

Instead of going to famous hair specialists like Sam Bracato for getting hair problems treated, it is better to use different hair products that are meant for sorting out the various problems of hair. These hair treatments are purely based upon the formulas given by hair celebs like Sam Bracato only.

Another place to go for beautiful hair is terax hair treatment. This is one of the best hair parlors that treat hair from its roots and get you the most nourished and shiny hair that really look mesmerizing. In this terax parlor you get hair massages and hair treatments which are dine with natural based solutions.

Mastey hair conditioners and other hair products are another way out to get beautiful hair. These Mastey conditioners have become very popular among the hair conscious people and the best part of using these products is that they have been time tested solutions. They have already helped people in curing different hair problems.

So, if you are going through the problem of bad hair state, it is better to rely upon the hair products tat ensure supplying required nutrients to the hair. By using them you can attain healthy hair that become talk of your friends and give you confidence to face the world and manage your things in a better way.

Hair color has become a common phenomenon. But what keeps on disturbing us is the safety side of hair color.

What are the side effects of hair color?
To say about the side effects of hair color we have to say that proper guidance and after care do not affect your hair. So, it has no big side effects as it is thought. But, you should test or check whether you have an allergic reaction to the color you want to do. Never forget to do a patch test to see if you have any problem 24-48 hours before the process. You should also check your hair’s porosity and elasticity because on this criterion the life of hair color depends.

Types of hair color:
There are three types of hair colors. Temporary hair colors, semi permanent colors and permanent colors. Duration and hair type determine which color will suits better. Temporary hair colors are the colors, which fade easily. It is basically light fashion colors. Within one month one shampoo can erase the color. For any party or special occasion light temporary hair color can be used.

Semi permanent hair colors last up to 4-5 shampoos. This type of hair colors usually used for coloring up hair because it lasts for a perfect time period. But, for coloring grey hairs you should use permanent hair colors. They help you to change the grey color and will make it normal looking hair with desired color. It is comparatively strong and durable.

How to maintain your hair color and hair?
Temporary colors fade easily. So, they need a regular touch up and rinse. Color like wine red fades within one month and this type of hair color is easy to remove. So, regular touch up and rinse is important to maintain these colors. For grey hairs permanent hair colors need a touch up once in 20 days but it varies from man to man. Generally hair grows 1/2”-3/4” every month. So, redo your color if it fades away when ever it is necessary. Semi permanent hair color has mild effect. So, it is advised to apply this hair color for general use. Hair color should not be drastically different from your normal hair because it does not look good everywhere. But, if you want that kind of look then go for it and rinse every six months.

Always use shampoo and conditioner, which are exclusively recommended for colored hair because they increase the life of hair colors. To protect hair do not expose your hair in sun, dust, chlorine and sea immediate after the coloring.

Hair color styles:
Color the whole hair with some light or dark color is very normal. Hairdressers usually tell customers to choose color, which fit their hair type and hair cut. Fair complexioned should choose bright color and dark complexioned choose light color. Now highlights and lowlights have been also popular. Coloring some portion with darker color comparing the existing hair color or with some lighter color is also very trendy. Apart from this multidimensional hair color can be done. Some demanding hair colors are blond, shades of bronze and brown.

Hair colors are not harmful but it is true it contains some chemicals and they are surely not good for hair texture and hair follicles. So, consult your beautician and color your hair.

For more details please visit http://www.hairstraightenersiron.com

The follicular unit was first defined by Headington in 1984.  He described an FU as consisting of “two to four terminal follicles, and one, or rarely two, vellus follicles, the associated sebaceous lobules, and the insertions of the arrector pili muscles… a single follicular unit is circumscribed by the investing stroma, the perifolliculum.” He went on to say that “the normal density of follicular units is about one per square millimeter.” (1)

In the first paper on follicular unit hair transplantation, published in 1995 (2), Bernstein and Rassman used this definition of Headington.  Limmer, who had been referring to these naturally occurring groups as “stereoscopically assisted micrografts”(3) and Seager, who called them “follicular bundles” (4) soon began to use the term follicular unit as well.

Limmer’s technique of using stereo-microscopic dissection, the backbone of follicular unit transplantation, required expensive equipment, special technical skills and was very labor-intensive.  Because of this and because many doctors at that time did not grasp the importance of microscopic dissection, or of even using follicular units in the hair transplant, other, more easily to perform procedures were being performed.

Surprisingly, due to the increasing power of the internet, follicular unit transplantation became a buzz word in the hair loss chat groups more quickly than it was accepted by their doctors. (5)  This put significant pressure on hair restoration surgeons to learn about the new procedure and adopt its technology.  Although many quickly adapted their practices to perform FUT, others merely changed their marketing – some advertising that they performed follicular unit transplantation, even before buying microscopes.

Partly as a response to the misrepresentation, but mainly to further the science, in 1998, a group of 21 hair transplant surgeons, that included Bob Bernstein, Bill Rassman, David Seager, Ron Shapiro, Jerry Cooley, O’Tar Norwood, Dow Stough, Mike Beehner, Jim Arnold, Bobby Limmer, Marc Avram, Bob McClellan, Paul Rose, Guillermo Blugerman, Marcelo Gandelman, Paul Cotterill, Bob Haber, Roy Jones, Jim Vogel, Ronald Moy and Walter Unger joined forces to write “Standardizing the classification and description of follicular unit transplantation and mini-micrografting techniques.” (6)

In their words, the purpose of the publication was to “provide hair restoration surgeons with guidelines to . . .  facilitate communication among physicians, stimulate research, increase the accuracy by which hair transplant procedures can be represented to our patients and, ultimately, improve the quality of the care that we offer them.

In the paper, the following definitions were agreed upon:

Follicular Unit – The follicular unit of the adult human scalp is a naturally occurring entity that consists of 1-4, and occasionally 5, terminal hair follicles, 1, or rarely 2, vellus follicles, the associated sebaceous lobules, the insertions of the arrector pili muscles, its neural and vascular plexuses, and the fine adventitial collagen which surrounds, and defines, the unit (the perifolliculum).

Follicular Unit Graft – A graft that is obtained by dissecting out the individual, naturally occurring follicular unit. This is also referred to as a follicular unit implant, a term which implies that (unlike most grafts) the ratio of hair/skin is greater in the follicular unit implant than in the original donor area, since some of the non-hair bearing tissue has been trimmed away in the dissection.

Micrograft – A 1-2 hair graft. It may consist of naturally occurring one and two-hair follicular units or be derived from larger units which are subdivided.

Minigraft – A 3-6 hair graft derived from either a single follicular unit, multiple follicular units, or multiple, partial follicular units. As suggested by Walter Unger, this may be further classified into small minigrafts of 3-4 hairs, and large minigrafts of 5-6 hairs.

Slit-graft – A 3-6 hair graft derived from either multiple follicular units, or multiple, partial follicular units where the dissection technique specifically attempts to produce a linear arrangement of follicles, or follicular units. This may be further classified into small slit-grafts of 3-4 hairs, and large slit-grafts of 5-6 hairs.

Follicular Unit Dissection – A technique in which naturally occurring, individual follicular units are dissected from donor tissue that has been removed as a single strip (rather than with a multi-bladed knife of more than two blades) in order to keep the follicular units intact. Some non-hair bearing tissue is removed to decrease the overall bulk of the implant. Stereo-microscopic dissection is required.

Mini-Micrografts or Slit-grafts Cut to Size – A dissection technique whereby the donor strip is subdivided to produce grafts of specific sizes as defined by the number of hairs they contain and/or the size of tissue that will fit into a specific recipient site. The removal of excess skin is not required. The dissection can be performed with or without magnification and the donor tissue may be removed as a single strip or with a multi-bladed knife.

Follicular Unit Transplantation – A method of hair restoration surgery where hair is transplanted exclusively in its naturally occurring, individual follicular units. Single strip harvesting and stereo-microscopic dissection are required. The grafts must be placed into small recipient incisions. 

Mini-Micrografting – A method of hair transplantation which uses grafts containing 1-6 hairs, in groups that do not necessarily correspond to the naturally occurring follicular units. The recipient sites may be either incisions, excisions (tissue removed), or both.
Two Terminology Extremes: Science vs. Marketing

Soon after the publication, Seager suggested to add another term, the “Follicular Family Unit.” (7) To paraphrase Dr. Seager:          
When dissecting follicular units, it is sometimes unclear as to which unit a seemingly “stray” hair belongs.  In other words, occasionally it is not completely obvious where one follicular unit ends, and an adjacent one begins. When one is specifically trying to create increased density, a stray hair would be included with an (unusually) close neighboring, larger follicular unit, containing possibly three hairs.  This technique would create a four-haired unit, when there may have been no four-haired units there at all.  One must find two separate units that look close enough to almost “belong together.”  If the two contiguous units are chosen correctly, the resulting unit can be very difficult, sometimes impossible, to distinguish from a naturally occurring follicular unit. 

The key to success in this endeavor is the concept of the “Follicular Family Unit.”  If any (“non-family”) two-follicular units are randomly doubled up, the resulting graft will be more the size of a minigraft, rather than a micrograft.  It would need a larger recipient site, which would preclude dense packing because of both technical planting limitations and impairment of scalp vasculature.  If, on the other hand, despite their larger size, they are forced into minute micrograft-sized recipient sites; they would be traumatized during attempts at insertion.

Although the term “follicular family unit” was introduced to account for the variability in the anatomy of the follicular unit and to take advantage of these variations in the surgery, other terms were not necessarily based on purely scientific considerations.  

A blatant misrepresentation of the term follicular unit was “Follicular Unit Coupling – The Role of Slot Grafting in Hair Transplantation.” (8)  In this case, the author attached the new term to the original slot grafting method.  This was a technique that used slit grafts harvested with a multi-bladed knife and then cut into thin pieces and placed into large slots of skin removed with a rectangular punch.  The term was new and a marketing campaign followed, but the technique was the same as the original one, with no-attempt whatsoever to use, or preserve, follicular units.

Between these extremes, is the ongoing struggle to describe what we do in a clear, precise way – in the face of ever evolving concepts and techniques, and an ever increasing number of terms.  The issue at hand is to be able to distinguish which terms are adding to the science and which are just blurring it. 
Making Sense of the FU Salad

From the opening list of acronyms, all used at the recent ISHRS meeting, it seems that we again need to step back and examine the new terms, to see which represent distinct ideas or techniques and which are, perhaps, redundant.  What follows is a first-pass attempt at sorting out the six terms that, in our opinion, are the most confusing, and have the most overlap. They come in two groups: The first is FU Coupling, FU pairing, Double FUs (DFUs) and Multiple FUs (MFUs). The second group includes FUE and FIT.

With respect to the first group, we think that there are two distinct situations that doctor’s are trying to communicate with these terms. The first is the technique of placing two separately dissected follicular unit grafts into one recipient site.  This is distinct from the commonly used term “Doubling-up” which many doctors have used to refer to placing two micrografts in one site.  Our suggestion is to use the term FU pairing to refer to the technique of placing two separately isolated follicular units into one recipient site.  We suggest discarding the term FU Coupling as it has been incorrectly associated with slit grafting procedures in past literature and its use will be confusing.

The second situation is when a doctor places two (or more) follicular units, that have not been separated in the dissection, into one hole.  In our view, this is clearly not follicular unit transplantation. The reason is that a main advantage of FUT was that in isolating FUs one would remove some of the non-hair bearing skin between FUs, to decrease the bulk of the graft. This, in turn, would allow the doctor to use a smaller recipient site, create less wounding, allow for safely transplanting a larger number of grafts in a single session etc, etc.  Using multiple non-dissected follicular units, in our view, creates a larger wound and accomplishes none of these goals.

We are not suggesting that doctors should abandon this technique. Some excellent surgeons incorporate these grafts into their procedures.  We are merely suggesting that it not be called FUT.  Well then what should one call them?  Our answer is to call them what they have always been called, namely micro-grafts, mini-grafts and slit grafts. If one argues that they are now different due to the use of the stereo-microscope, then we agree.  In this case, the grafts should be called microscopically dissected micro-grafts, mini-grafts and slit grafts, to communicate the fact that follicular transection may be avoided.  But these are still not follicular unit grafts any more than a pedicle flap is follicular unit transplantation.  To avoid confusion, we suggest eliminating the terms DFUs and MFUs.

So what should we call eyebrow transplants? According to the technique used by most hair restoration surgeons, where they divide up the donor strip into single hairs, it should be called one-hair micrografting.  If one uses the contra-lateral eyebrow for donor hair, then this can truly be referred to as FUT.   
FUE and FIT

The increased transection rate of FUE harvesting techniques that use a sharp punch (relative to single-strip harvesting and stereomicroscopic dissection) had some doctors immediately question whether this procedure should be classified as a type of follicular unit transplantation. (9)  With the introduction of the blunt dissection technique by Harris, that significantly decreased damage to follicles and increased the preservation of follicular units, the argument for classifying FUE as a type of FUT is considerably stronger – but certainly not bullet-proof – since in some cases significant transection remains and in others the entire follicular unit cannot be captured. (10)

The Follicular Isolation Technique (FIT), is a term used by Cole and Rose that refers to an FUE technique that uses a punch with a “stop” to limit the depth of penetration. Although these authors and other physicians question the need for a depth-stop in the extraction technique, FIT is possibly a better term than FUE if the entire unit is not being captured.  In our view, when the goal is just to extract hair, rather than intact follicular units, the term FIT is preferable.

Conclusion

In sum, these authors suggest that the following four terms and definitions be added to the original classification.
Follicular Family Unit  Two closely contiguous follicular units that are dissected as one graft, so that they can fit into the same size recipient site as the largest naturally occurring follicular unit normally used in the procedure.

FU pairing  The technique of placing two separately isolated follicular units into one recipient site. 
FUE  Direct donor extraction procedures where the intent is to extract the entire follicular unit. If a depth stop is used, this should be indicated.
FIT  Direct extraction procedures where the intent is to extract individual or multiple hairs smaller than the entire follicular unit. (In other words, the direct extraction of micro-grafts.) If a depth stop is used, this should be indicated.

Micro-grafts, mini-grafts and slit grafts that have been dissected microscopically to prevent follicular transection should be referred to just that, namely: microscopically dissected micro-grafts, mini-grafts and slit grafts.  These authors do not feel that these procedures should be classified as a type of follicular unit transplantation.  We also suggest that the terms FU Coupling, DFUs and MFUs are confusing and should be abandoned. 

References

1.    Headington JT: Transverse microscopic anatomy of the human scalp. Arch Dermatol 1984;120:449-456.
2.    Bernstein RM, Rassman WR, Szaniawski W, Halperin A. Follicular Transplantation.  Intl J Aesthetic Restorative Surgery 1995; 3: 119-32.
3.    Limmer BL. Elliptical donor stereoscopically assisted micrografting as an approach to further refinement in hair transplantation. Dermatol Surg 1994;20:789-793.
4.    Seager D. Binocular stereoscopic dissecting microscopes: should we use them? Hair Transplant Forum Int 1996; 6(4): 2-5.
5.    Bernstein RM: Microscopophobia. Hair Transplant Forum International. 1998; 8(5): 23.
6.    Bernstein RM, et al.  Standardizing the classification and description of follicular unit transplantation and mini-micrografting techniques. Dermatol Surg 1998; 24: 957-63.
7.    Seager D. Dense hair transplantation from sparse donor area – introducing the “follicular family unit.” Hair Transplant Forum Intl 1998; 8(1):21-23.
8.    Bernstein RM, Rassman WR, Marritt E, Seager D, et al: A slot by any other name.  Hair Transplant Forum International 1999; 9(6): 175.
9.    Rassman WR, Bernstein RM, McClellan R, Jones R, et al. Follicular Unit Extraction: Minimally invasive surgery for hair transplantation. Dermatol Surg 2002; 28(8): 720-7.
10.    Harris JA. The SAFE System: New Instrumentation and Methodology to Improve Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). Hair Transplant Forum Intl. 2004; 14(5): 157, 163-4.

How to identify best hair loss products?

Our society is coming bald; you can find a bald person in every nook and corner of your locality. You don’t need to search, if you are the one. Hair loss is a deficiency that can make any person bald. Earlier, it was the men, now it is affecting the women also in equal proportion. Sometime children also suffer with hair loss. In fact, hair loss is a natural phenomenon and also happens as biological clock ticks but if this clock ticks frequently, then it is called a deficiency, the baldness. This might happen because of improper nutrition, low hygiene, various environmental circumstances etc.

One’s loss is others gain; the saying goes well in case of baldness too.

A number of products are available in the market to prevent hair loss and that too with 100% guarantee. But if that is the case, then today it would be difficult to find such a man / women in the area you live, because these hair loss products are existing in the market since decades and public is buying and trying the different products to stay much hairy. The person who has hair on head and makes their head shaved is another side of the story. The hair loss products claim them as medically proven and people are trying these products with no success at all. I’m sure if you are the one then you definitely have tried some of these products. Since you have tried the product, so do you have any idea about hair loss products? You will definitely say No. This is because one product, which may be good for one person, may be a dump for other and vice-versa.

In most of the hair loss cases it has been found that the hair loss products recommended by a physician gave better results. That’s why, hair loss today is not merely the baldness but a type of sickness which need to be checked, diagnosed and treated by an expert physician rather than going for trial and error method, using sometime one hair loss product, then next, and then so on, which may be of no result. So if you are suffering with hair problems, you need to identify your hair loss problems and see your physician, and get the problem solved.

Clinical diagnosis of hair loss patients suggests that in most of the cases, the reason of hair loss was improper diet, a deficiency of different vitamins and minerals in the body, stress, side effects of medications for any particular sickness, irregular sleep, etc. So, it is obvious that if you are suffering from hair loss or some one around you and you want to help the person, then try to identify the problem of hair loss and take good medical help of experts rather than trying products available in the store shelves.

Sometime a person suffering with hair loss may opt for herbal hair loss products, because it is believed that herbal remedies causes no or minimal side effects. If you are the one, and thinking to buy some herbal hair loss product then make sure that the product you are going to try will restore dead hair follicles and support hair growth. But at the same time remember that these herbal remedies may cause side effects, so it is best favorable to you to go for your doctors’ advice before trying any herbal hair loss product as well.

Women: Be cautious; if you are suffering with hair problems, then never use any hair loss product without getting an expert advice. Some of the hair loss products may cause growth of hair all over the body and definitely you don’t want hair on your upper lips.

 

There it is best advisable for both the sexes to take precaution, and try only products recommended by a qualified doctor. You also need to understand the causes of hair loss, so that you can help yourself and others to minimize the chances of hair loss / baldness or prevent it.

The following things, you need to understand to prevent your hair problems:

1.The ways to either prevent or stop hair loss and the knowledge of restoring hair growth.

2.The ways to achieve lifespan of hair cells and promoting follicles growth.

3.Several internal and external factors also affects your hair health and promote the things like thinning hairs etc, knowing these factors and also having the knowledge of hair and scalp rejuvenation.

4.Some cosmetic products also may harm your hair, so if you have opted for some new product and you are feeling some problems, switch it over, immediately. Go for your old brand. After all ‘old is gold’.

5.Know your diet and life style, which will suit your hair too.

6.Know the methods of improving hair longevity.

7.Hair loss in some cases is genetic, knowing the fact and knowledge of how to minimize it will help a lot.

8.Hair loss is equally common amongst women, so women should also know the causes and cure of it.

 

9.Stress, high blood pressure and heart disease also leads to hair loss, knowing the fact and trying to distress, etc. may be of  great help.