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Snippet from the article:

While Chris Rock’s new documentary, Good Hair, is certain to get laughs, it’s sure to leave the audience talking. And that’s the point, the comedian says.

“When you talk about something with some weight to it, like hair, even when it’s over, you’re still in people’s heads,” Rock said. “That’s what I wanted with this film.”

The movie, which opened Friday, examines the issue of hair in the African-American community and the pressure to straighten or lengthen naturally coily hair.

Read the article and interview with Chris Rock at Chron.com.

I believe hair is important to people of all races, but Chris Rock explores the issues that black women have with their hair, including the use of chemical straighteners, weaves, wigs, and other things I’m sure I’m forgetting. The movie trailer looks hilarious and I’m interested in seeing it at some point.

Hi Dr. Rassman

I am an African American female with a congenital high hair line. I have always hated the vastness of my forehead and am limited to hairstyles with bangs. I would like to have have my hairline lowered. Because of keloid risks I would probably opt for transplants instead of surgery.

My questions are; do you know of any good or great surgeons in NYC or surrounding area who have experience in this type of surgery? Everything I see is in Beverly Hills or Oakland Ca. And also, if I choose to have implants do I have to go to a surgeon who does implants or can I go to a hair restoration institute? Thanks for your time.

I can’t say for sure either way about the keloids or whether you’re a candidate for surgery, but I do know that Dr. Robert Bernstein in Manhattan would be the person to see in New York. I have worked with him for more than 10 years and we co-authored Hair Loss and Replacement for Dummies.

hey im really concerned because i noticed the corners of my hairline has went back a little. im only 17 and im african american and i heard its not just a maturing hairline because that only happens to caucasians. please help

The hairlines of different races do vary and the mature hairline of an African American is different than a Caucasian. You need to see a good dermatologist to determine if you are now balding or if this is a maturing hairline you’re seeing. I would be happy to evaluate you if you’d like to send photos to the address on the Contact page. Otherwise, you can find a hair transplant doctor in your area by checking the physician search at ISHRS.org (I’m not suggesting you have surgery, but these doctors will know a lot about hair).

I have been battling hair loss for the past 10 years. I am a 32 year old african american female. I was first diagnosed with Keloid Folliculitis in 1999. I have received continuous treatment from various dermatologists and specialists. The folliculitis issue appeared to have cleared up by 2002 with no reoccurrences. My hair loss began in 2000. I have had a series of blood tests and a scalp biopsy. The biopsy showed my scalp had scarring. The blood work showed that I had high levels of testosterone, low performing follicle hormone, and low iron. (this occurred 3yrs ago.) Since then, I am taking 65mg of iron 2x each day and on birth control. I am also insulin resistant and taking metformin. I have tried various over-the-counter solutions for hair growth, but I am still losing hair.

Bosely will not grant me hair restoration; Duke’s Hair Clinic has temporarily closed. Currently, my primary care physician is injecting cortisone shots to see if this will trigger any hair growth. I am bald on both sides of my hair, and thin on the top and back. Wigs are my only savior at this point. My hair is natural. Please help me with my next step. I am tired of finding hair everywhere but on my head. Thanks!!!

I have never seen a person with keloid folliculitis and have no experience with it. Regardless, your situation is clearly complex and giving you any opinion without at least an examination would not be in your best interest. There are some doctors who specialize in such conditions and do hair transplants. Since you’re near Duke University, I’d be happy to recommend Dr. Jerry Cooley in Charlotte.

I’m a african american female 27yrs old that is having terrible time with my hair & scalp for about the past 2yrs i have been developing bumps on my scalp mostly in the back the bumps come & get extremely sore &can be popped & filled with puss & then it get very itchy & pain alot.Have you heard of these symptoms before cuz am dying need.thanks in advance.

You need to see a good dermatologist. You may have a variety of conditions that are dangerous and will cause you to eventually lose hair. The internet is not a place to gamble the future of your hair and your health.

Hello, I am a 23 year old African American male my hair has thinned drastically over this last past year. In 2007, I had a full head of hair. Later that year, I noticed my hair line slowly recede, but my hair remained full. Currently, my hair is thin and I have a nearly bald spot in the front of my head. Can you please recommend any treatments? Are there specialists I can see? Can this be the result of stress or does it signal some other sort of health issue? Thank you very much for your assistance and have a wonderful day.

Stress loss isn’t usually limited to the hairline. It sounds like you’ve got genetic male pattern baldness. Treatments include Rogaine (minoxidil) and Propecia (finasteride), though they aren’t known to work that well in the hairline. The Propecia could prevent further loss, however. You can try to find a doctor in your area by checking the physician search at ISHRS.org… and though the listings are for hair transplant surgeons, I’m not suggesting you should rush into surgery. These doctors are knowledgeable about hair loss in general, so either try them or a dermatologist.

I have a question about the number of hairs a race typically has. Since Caucasians typically have 100K as opposed to Africans who have 60K, is African hair, strand per stand, literally thicker, or something? Because at least I usually see Africans and notice Caucasians have almost twice as much density on their head.

Hair thickness has nothing to do with hair density. You find fine, medium, and coarse hair in all races. African hair mats together and gives the illusion of more fullness.

I’m a 43 year old African American female. I’ve used hair products all my adult life. In addition, I wore weaves from braiding and sewing tracks on my hair to gluing tracks on my hair. To braiding my hair as well. I used extensive heat from flat irons to hair dryers. Everything has come to a halt. The top portion of my hair is bald in the crown area of my head in many large spots. I had a small spot for years smack dead in the middle of my crown area and never thought anything of it. Well a month ago my hairstylist noticed the small spot is no longer there. There are huge spots now that is red and is tender. For years my scalp always felt irritated very strange… Even when I brushed my hair my scalp would hurt. I recently got rid of all the hair products that contain Sodium Laurel Sulfate and Sodium Laurel Lereth Sulfate. I purchased all natural shampoos and conditioners.

Well I went to see a Dermatologist. He kept saying something about a band…? Dead hair follicles that will not grow back. Well they did the Biopsy and now I wait. He thinks it might be Lupus of the skin…. WHAT !@&^*()(*_( What is that… My first cousin has Lupus (enternal). I’m stumped…. I am wearing wigs because my hair is not long enough to cover the bald spots… What a mess…. Your thoughts Doctor?

You will know more when the biopsy comes back. If you don’t have Lupus, you have many causes for hair loss all listed in your first paragraph of your email to me. This is a complicated problem that will have to be evaluated with you sitting right in front of me and my obtaining the biopsy from your dermatologist. For more info, look to the Lupus Foundation of America’s Lupus of the Skin page.

I’ve been losing hair for years and heard that nothing really works unless you get a hair transplant or use rogaine.Transplants look horrible and are quite expensive, and they say Rogaine does not work for african american hair.There are a lot of topical solutions out there.I’ve been told that products like carol’s daughter,doo gro, and a product by a company called hairobics do some good. Can you give some advice.

thanks

Judging by your email, you haven’t looked into hair restoration (medical or surgical) in the past 15 or so years. Hair transplants done with old pluggy technology 20 years ago might look horrible, but transplants done today look very natural. Cost can be up there depending on your hair needs, but it’s a surgical cosmetic procedure that lasts forever.

I don’t know who “they” are that says Rogaine doesn’t work for African American hair, but that’s not true. Rogaine (minoxidil) and Propecia (finasteride) are the only FDA approved hair loss medications and are proven to work. I’ve seen fantastic results with Propecia, in particular. You can try any product you want (those that you mentioned look to be herbal supplements and shampoos), but I personally like to go with the stuff that is actually proven to do what it says, with actual peer-reviewed medical studies to back it up. I think your first step should be to see a dermatologist to find out more about your options.

3 weeks ago I’ve stopped taking the fertility PROGESTRONE known as PIO injections, Progynova 2mg- Tiny light blue tablets that are taken orally to help build the lining of the womb. and Ultrogestan Progesterone-creamy white pills that can be taken rally or inserted vaginally. I did both.

I’m African American with very thick strong natural hair, and now, my hair is falling out by the handful. my hair egges are going bald. I never went through no crap like this. My hair went from very thick to very thin.

Am I able to get a lawsuit? How long will it take for my hair to grow back? When will all the medications be cleared out my system and for my hormones to go back to normal. I’m way to young for menepose affects and that is what one of the medications does. thanks so much for your help. I am experiencing boldily sharp pains too from that medication after I have stopped taking it.

One has to be careful when treating medical conditions in a patient that requires hormones and has genetic hair loss. The connection between hormones and hair loss are published all over the web. Progynova (estradiol valerate) is also known as Delestrogen, and the side effects do include hair loss (full list here).

Although I can not give you legal advice, I would suggest that you have a long talk with your doctor and review the “informed consent” sheet he should’ve given you before starting you on hormone treatments. I am hopeful that your doctor at least discussed the side effects of such treatments.