Myth: Washing your hair too much can cause you to lose more hair.

Fact: Blondes have the greatest number of scalp follicles followed by brunettes.

Myth: You can increase the number of hair follicles by using drugs or other methods.

Fact: A combination of hormones and genetic factors are responsible for male and female pattern hair loss.

Myth: Wearing a hat causes hair loss.

Fact: 50 percent of all men experience hair loss sometime in their lives.

Hair loss treatments can be divided into three categories:

1. Drugs which have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration
2. Transplant Surgery including grafts, micro-grafts and others
3. "Hair by Hair Reconstruction," the latest non-surgical advancement

Only two drugs have been approved to be used in connection with hair loss, Rogaine® and Propecia® It is difficult to measure the effectiveness of these drugs based on their multi-million dollar ad campaigns. With a complete lack of before and after pictures to substantiate claims, one must ask what exactly is the definition of "hair growth?" Will it make a significant improvement or just grow fuzz? Do the long-term risks substantiate the results?

Propecia

After hitting the airwaves with a $100 million ad campaign, sales have been lackluster. The monthly cost of this pill is currently $50-$60 and taken once a day for the rest of your life. It has been on the market for two years and, as with Rogaine, the cosmetic effects are minimal and only on a small percentage of men. Side effects for Propecia include sexual dysfunction and pregnant women should not handle the drug for fear of a specific genital birth defect.

Rogaine

This drug has been on the market for ten years and although their web site claims it grows hair, there are no pictures to substantiate what they define as hair growth. Men using Rogaine may experience an itchy and flaking scalp. It is a topical solution applied to the scalp twice a day and leaves a greasy residue. Recommended for people who are starting to thin, this drug may help the crown area, but is stated to have no effect in the frontal temporal regions. Once again, it must be taken for the rest of your life or hair loss will inevitably continue.

Although advances have been made in the technique used, transplantation relies on the amount of donor hair. There is a limit to the number of hairs that can be transplanted and with an estimated one thousand hairs per square inch on the top of the head, the patient needs to be realistic as to what can be achieved. The industry is unregulated and doctors from other fields looking to increase their income are performing these operations with minimal training (and in some cases after only a weekend of study). Frontal hairlines are difficult to achieve and, as hair loss continues, the transplants become more apparent. Not only do you have to be aware of novice transplant surgeons, but your hair and skin type will also affect the outcome. Michael L. Reed, M.D., Director of the hair transplant clinic at New York University Medical Center recently stated in Dermatology Times, "It is most difficult to get a natural-looking result with a patient with very white skin and coarse, straight, jet black hair that comes out at a right angle from the scalp."

Side effects include infection, coarse hair regrowth and in most cases only 80% of the transplants actually take to the scalp.

Some of the most profound advancements have taken place in the non-surgical sector. Due to the limitations of current drugs and surgery, a full, natural looking head of hair can be best achieved though this process. Commonly accepted, this process has been embraced by the entertainment and music industries and used extensively in the general population. To date, it is the only method that can give the appearance of a full head of hair.

How is it done?

The finest human hair is selected to match your own hair with three very important characteristics involved: color, density and wave or curl. These qualities are crucial in the satisfaction of a client. Since every hair style is different and expectations vary from person to person, a consultation is key in determining what is needed to make your appearance the best it can be. Some clients may just want to look like they did a few years ago while others may want an entirely different look than what they are accustomed to.

The first step is to take hair samples to match hair color and wave. Data is then compiled to establish what look the client desires. Some of the criteria used to determine a great look is age, facial structure and shape of the head. Also, hair density should be consistent with the age and demeanor of the client.

The new head of hair is then reconstructed by closely observing how hair actually grows from the scalp. Based on each client, individual notes are taken as to the direction the hair is currently growing from the scalp and how the client wants to comb their hair.

Then follicle by follicle, a new head of hair is created by hand. Because of the intricate nature of making your new hair look like your own, each head of hair is created one follicle at a time.

A spiraling crown and a virtually undetectable frontal hairline is often created to assure a realistic outcome. Subsequently, most of the work is done when the client isn't there. The hair is quality checked and prepared in advance so on the day of application, in most instances, the process can be completed in 90 minutes.

Because of this new technology and the fact that the hair is added one strand at a time, you can actually see your own scalp. This new hair and scalp technology is non-intrusive, completely porous and does not hinder hair growth nor does it harm follicle or scalp cells. At the National Research Center , the process has been put through years of rigorous testing in extreme activities and conditions. So, if you like to swim, jog or get rough, you can feel comfortable in knowing that your new hair is part of you.

The best part of this process is the versatility! Unlike when a person starts losing hair, you're not confined to one hairstyle. With this method you can change your hairstyle any time. You can have long hair, short hair, combed forward or back.

The variations are limitless. In most cases, clients are given the opportunity to try different looks. They can simply bring in pictures of when they were younger and had a full head of hair or styles that they like from magazines.