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Snippet from the article:

Kim Walton has been sewing and gluing in hair weaves for more than 30 years.

“I never heard of weaves saving anybody’s life,” Walton said. “Never in my life.”

But that is exactly what Briana Bonds said happened. Bonds said she feels lucky to be alive and she has her hair weave to thank for it.

Read the full article at WOAI.

Talk about a one in a million! I guess running the risk of traction alopecia isn’t so bad if the alternative is getting shot in the head…

Hello Dr. Rassman. I wanted to thank you for having this blog and answering questions.

Sorry this is long, but…I’m a 27 year old guy who’s been receeding for 6-7 years, it quickly became a Norwood 5 and stayed there. What’s worse is I have a preppy, young looking face and overall appearance (which I enjoy and would like to keep), so the baldness clashes even more. I currently wear a fairly good hairpiece, but want to find a relatively permanent and hassle free solution, which brings me to my main question.

Have you heard anything about the non-surgical hair replacements like Folligraft and Sensigraft? I haven’t been able to find much information online either way (I always look for other places not on their website, so I know it’s not a marketing scam). My main concern is if it “breathes” to where you can sweat without being uncomfortable or itching (that’s a slight drawback of the hairpiece). The other would be the approximate cost, since I can’t afford a good HT. I obviously don’t want to blow a couple thousand dollars I barely have on something that may not even completely work, but I’d like to be able to have something more versatile (i.e. different hairstyles or able to be more comfortably active).

If I want to have the friendly youthful look, would you recommend staying with the ‘piece and save up for a good HT, or for hair cloning if it (hopefully) becomes available in the future? Or are the cosmetic treatments an idea worth looking into?

There is a fair amount of material on these websites — Folligraft.com and Sensigraft.com. Both appear to be like a membrane that is glued to the scalp. The scalp must be shaved to apply the Folligraft membrane and the manufacturer claims that it is porous so that the membrane may cut down on the sweating. As the hair grows, it almost certainly will impact the security of the membrane. It sounds like it requires a great deal of maintenance, probably driving up the costs, but clearly you can check them out at their websites and go from there.

If anyone uses either of these, I welcome your comments… but I don’t have any personal experience with them.

There is a Dr. JoAnne Cornwell who has claimed that she has developed a form of locking hair called brotherlocks and sisterlocks. She claims that they do not put any form of tension on the scalp meaning no traction alopecia. I was hoping you could look into this potential scam before it fools too many.

This is a styling option, not a medical or surgical option. I looked at the product’s website, but I am not sure what Sisterlocks is (aside from some kind of hair extension for African hair types) or how it attaches to the hair or scalp. It seems like it’s just a technique rather than a product, but I’ve spent 15 minutes going through this site and I’m still coming up empty. Anyone else have an idea?

Sorry, but I can not help you understand it any better.

The Los Angeles Times posted a resource list of head coverings (hats, turbans and wigs) for patients that have gone through hair loss from life-saving treatments that I wanted to point you to. Also in the list is contact info for the American Cancer Society and information about a book that teaches you how to use makeup to alleviate some of the self-esteem issues chemotherapy patients may face:

• LA Times - Resources for cancer patients with hair loss

I have tried Finasteride, minoxidil and various lotions and shampoos without much success. My question is if I wear a toupee 5 days a week, using only clips to the SIDE area’s of my head, will it cause much damage?

Clips can cause traction alopecia. When you use them, it is always best to move them around to different attachment points, like spreading around the pull to other areas sharing the damage. With less than full time use, the damage may be less, but it still may occur. I have transplanted many patients into the bald spots created by the clips.

Hello doc,

I found this text on a website recently “If you look at Japan, male pattern baldness was almost unheard of prior to World War II. The Japanese diet is now far more fatty and Westernized, and Japanese men are going bald everywhere. It’s clear that a high-fat, meat-based diet raises testosterone levels, and that may adversely affect hair follicles.”

- Do you have any information about this? Could this be true?

While it is true to some degree that we are what we eat, hair loss comes about because of four components. Our food intake (if normal nutrients are ingested) is not one of those four. They are:

1. Genetic elements for balding
2. The male hormone in adequate quantities for healthy men
3. The time the hormones and the genetic defect interact
4. The amount of stress in the life of the person

I have a problem when someone is comparing early 20th century assessments of hair loss and modern 21st century assessments of hair loss. I also have a problem with the comment that ties healthy diets to hair loss in any way. The “authority” seems to originate from a talented man and nutritionist, Michael A. Klaper, M.D. He does not cite any evidence for his opinions and uses the term “may” when commenting on the connection between meat in the diet, testosterone, and hair loss. In my opinion, a statement like, “male pattern baldness was almost unheard of prior to World War II,” really can not be based upon any reasonable scientific observation and if I am wrong, I would want to see it. Who would be making such an assessment in a closed, almost feudal society like pre-war Japan? Balding is big business in modern Japan, which supports the largest hair wig manufacturer in the world. Many of the people of Japan still maintain the more traditional diets (they are not hamburger freaks) yet they lose hair. Studies have shown that there is little difference in balding statistics between races.

The website which originated these comments appears to be MotherNature.com and it does not show any convincing evidence to support the posted statement. Show me the science and I would be willing to change my mind.

However, it is documented that daily vigorous exercise (like endurance training) and lower fat/total calorie intake will decrease the free testosterone and DHT levels, and you can assume that this can decrease hair loss (see Relationship between stress hormones and testosterone with prolonged endurance exercise). Does a low fat diet alone decrease the levels of testosterone and DHT? That is not clear.

Years back I could swear, unless I’m imagining this, that I saw an ad in a magazine about hair replacement that consisted of attaching artificial hair into the scalp. This was not a “piece” either. It was actually inserting hairs directly into the scalp. The reason I think I could be imagining this is because it was so long ago and I have never heard anything about it since. The thing is…I really do remember reading it. Have you ever heard of this? If yes, can you tell me (and your readers) what you know about it? Does it work? Do you do it? Please share whatever you know.

Thank you very much for your time.

There are many problems associated with inserting artificial hair into the scalp, including:

1. Infection
2. Horrible scarring
3. Scalp irritation
4. Accelerated hair loss
5. Infection, infection, infection!!!

As such, this type of procedure has been banned in the United States, yet this has been done for many years in the past, particularly in some Asian countries. For more info, check out the post I wrote about this a few years back — Artificial Hair.

I am amazed at how young Little Richard the entertainer looks.His hair looks unusually full and straight for a black man at his age.

Is this his hair or does he use a system similar to Michael Jackson’s?

I’ve never met the man, but after looking at his pictures, it really looks like a good afro with lots and lots of styling… but more probably, it is a hair piece or wig. I don’t know how similar it is to Michael Jackson’s though.

I recently went to have a system put on.The guy who put it on used something similar to crazy glue.Needless to say my head had terrible itching and burning within a week.I had a watery discharge that ran down my forehead.I went to an emergency room but left because they took to long.Anyway, I saw a skin doctor that same day who pulled the system off (it was halfway off).After pulling it off my head was red as a tomato and smelled burned.The doctor took photographs and gave me special soap and ointment.I believe that this burn will cause disfiguration and will be clearly visible if I decided to shave my hair off.I recently found out this “doctor”needs a license as a cosmetologist to apply chemicals.With or without a license is there any liablity for this man for burning my scalp with this adhesive should I decide to file a lawsuit?

It seems you are seeking a medical-legal advice in which I cannot provide for you. In general it seems you had some sort of reaction to the hair system glue. I do not know the extent of physical harm it has caused, but it seems you were able to see a doctor who was able to treat your medical issues. In general, before thinking of a lawsuit, I would approach the facility that applied the hair system and tell them you are unhappy with the outcome and try to work out some form of mutual resolution. That will take far less time than going the legal route, which is costly in time and money.

Can you use Steroid Based Ointments to help grow the sides and back part of your head that has thinned from Weaving? I pulled out a lot of my hair over years of weaving and left my weave in for over three months most times. My hair is originally thick, tough, bulky and curly and I think I used weaves because of anxiety and low self esteem, kind of like self harm as I abused my hair with weaves for years. Anyway, I didnt realise the weaves were slowly pulling out my hair and the last weave was so tight I lost bulk from the middle and the front was so thin you could see my scalp after it came out.

Ive now stopped that. My immediate family including both pairs of grand parents have absolutely no balding or hair loss problems. My twin sister also has thick curly hair. I am now 32. Will my hair grow back to its natural state and remain like that and can I use anything to help?

Thanks

No, no, no steroids! They are generally bad for your hair. Steroid-based ointments, creams, lotions, or potions will not regrow the hair you lost.

Hair loss from years of using tight weaves is usually permanent. The constant pulling from the weave in your hair likely caused traction alopecia. You should see a hair transplant surgeon to find out if you can be helped. For more on traction alopecia, please see eMedicine.