Hair Loss and Menopause-How does menopause affect my hair?

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Hair Loss and Menopause-How does menopause affect my hair?

We have clients tell us often that once they were in menopause, they started losing hair. This can be very hard for a woman as our hair is part of our identity. Here we are going to give you some information about menopause and how it may affect your hair. 

Menopause typically happens to women between the age of 45 and 55, about 12 months after a woman’s last period. Menopause is a normal part of aging for women, as it can typically last about 7 years but can be as long as 14 years. The duration of menopause is different for every woman depending on the woman’s lifestyle factors, such as smoking, age, race and ethnicity. Many women have trouble with menopausal symptoms, such as loss and thinning of hair, hot flashes, weight gain, trouble sleeping and more.

Menopausal hair loss vs hair shedding:

Humans typically lose on average about 50 to 100 strands of hair a day.  This is known as hair shedding. Hair shedding is a natural process of hairs falling out and new hairs growing in. When menopausal hair loss begins to occur, it is when hair shedding starts to become more evident. 

Some signs of menopausal hair loss:

– Your hairbrush filling with hair more frequently

– More hairs collect in the shower drain

– Finding your hair around the sink or on your pillow or clothes 

– Hair breakage becomes more common

When symptoms like these continue you may notice your part widening, your ponytail looking thinner, and thinning patches on your scalp.

How we really feel: 

For many women, having control over our hair, such as how we choose to style, cut and wear it, is a big factor in our self-expression and personality. Losing hair can mean that we may feel less ourselves, as having control over our hair can be a lot harder with less of it.

It is important to remember that when losing hair during menopause there is nothing medically wrong, unless accompanied by other symptoms. Experiencing hair loss and thinning during menopause is completely normal to most women. Fortunately, there are solutions to being able to have a full head of hair during menopause and to decreasing the amount of hair you lose and keeping your hair from thinning and this is where we can help.

Solutions:

  • Visiting with an expert at STRUT Hair Solutions about the types of products such as wigs, hair toppers, hair pieces and extensions that are available can help you recover with confidence overnight. STRUT is dedicated to helping women who are experiencing hair loss. We are committed to doing our small part to help you regain your confidence! 
  • Topical solutions such as thickening serums can help improve hair appearance. Products such as Unveil No. 3 Hair thickening serum helps to produce a fuller, thicker head of hair. Unveil’s Thicker Hair Serum is easy to use and is only to be applied to your scalp once a day and you’ll see results in as little as 4 weeks. 
  •  Reducing the use of heat damaging tools such as straighteners and hair dryers can also improve hair appearance. Less heat = less damage.
  •  A healthy diet means a healthy body. Having a healthy diet can also help to improve hair appearance. It is important that you take care of your body during menopause as your body is undergoing a lot of changes. The best way to do so is maintaining a healthy diet.
  •  Many medications have an abundance of side effects. Checking any medications that you use can help reduce hair loss and thinning. Medications that can cause hair loss include:
    •  Antidepressants
    •  Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDS) used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases
    •  Epilepsy medications
    •  Heart medications (blood thinners and beta-blockers)
    •  Medications used to treat hyperthyroidism 

In Summary:

Hair loss during menopause is a difficult symptom for many women. Having the creative freedom to style, cut and wear our hair makes us a part of who we are. When hair loss is experienced from menopause this can take a toll on our mental health and confidence. Fortunately, there are solutions to helping improve hair appearance, such as visiting with an expert at STRUT Hair Solutions and choosing a hair product that is perfect for you, Unveil’s Thicker Hair Serum, reducing the use of heat damaging tools, a healthy diet, and the use of medications. Remember to be kind to your body during menopause and encourage healthy practices that can reduce hair loss and thinning.

Women’s Hair Shedding Versus Women’s Hair Loss

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Women’s Hair Shedding Versus Women’s Hair Loss

 

When a woman suddenly loses a lot of hair, as opposed to the average loss of 50-100 hairs per day, it is referred to as hair loss. The medical term would be Alopecia (and, it’s important to note that there are 3 types of alopecia). Most women typically lose between 50 and 100 individual hairs each day.

Hair shedding is a natural process in which some hairs fall out and new hairs grow in, depending on which hair cycle that hair is currently in.

Hair loss occurs when the balance between growth and fallout is interrupted—when less hair grows in, and more hair falls out.

Hair shedding is not the same as hair loss. As mentioned above, shedding your hair is completely normal. It is when the balance of losing approximately 50-100 hairs per day becomes excessive, that we know it’s classified as hair loss.

 

The three cycles of hair growth are as follows:

ANAGEN: The anagen phase (AKA the growing phase) can span from two to eight years. Approximately 85% to 90% of the hair on your head falls into this phase.

CATAGEN: Hair follicles shrink during the catagen phase (AKA the transition phase), which lasts for about two to three weeks.

TELOGEN: It takes two to four months for the telogen phase (AKA the resting phase) to complete. At the end of this stage, the hair starts to fall out.

What types of hair loss are there?

  1. Anagen effluvium
  2. Telogen effluvium
  3. FPHL – Female pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia)

Anagen effluvium is caused by drugs, medication, or medical treatments that poison a hair follicle during the growth phase (like chemotherapy). This is why people can lose their hair during chemo, get what’s colloquially called “chemo hair,” or have a mixture of both.

Telogen effluvium: This condition develops when more hair follicles reach the telogen phase, which is when hair begins to fall out.

The most prevalent variety is androgenetic alopecia, often known as female pattern hair loss (FPHL) or baldness. The hair becomes thinner on the sides and at the top of the head.

 

Which kinds of women are most likely to experience hair loss?

Anyone can experience hair loss no matter their age, lifestyle, or hair-styling habits. However, these are the women who are most prone to hair loss: 

  • Women over the age of 40.
  • Women who have thyroid problems.
  • Women who are malnourished/not getting enough nutrition in their daily food.
  • Women who are pregnan.
  • Women who have recently given birth.
  • Women who are in menopause.
  • Women who have undergone chemotherapy and those who have been affected by other medications, drugs, or medical treatments.
  • Women who often wear hairstyles that pull on the hair (like tight ponytails always in the same spot, tight braids that pull on the hair, weaves which pull on the hair, or other tight styles) or who use harsh chemicals on their hair.

 

How do you treat hair loss? 

There are a number of treatments for women’s hair loss, as there are no one-size-fits-all solutions. 

  • Some women find that changing their diet and taking supplements (such as biotin, B12, or high-quality multivitamins) can help restore their hair. Supplementation is huge, as we don’t get enough vitamins and nutrients from the foods we eat nowadays. Unveil has a supplement with all the vital nutrients your hair and skin need for overall wellness, from the inside out.
  • In cases of pregnancy or recent pregnancy, the hair usually comes back on its own with time. You can speed this process up again with supplementation or with a topical solution such as our Unveil No.3 Hair Thickening Serum.
  • For hair loss caused by tight hairstyles, braids, ponytails, or weaves, hair loss can often be stopped or reversed by stopping wearing those hairstyles or using harsh chemical treatments on the hair.
  • Minoxidil (Rogaine®) is also approved for treating FPHL. The only drawback is that you must take it exactly according to directions or it may not work, and you must use it indefinitely. Meaning, if you stop taking it, your hair loss will continue. 
  • Certain shampoos, conditioners, hair serums, and sprays can also help prevent hair loss or restore the lost hair. They often have specialized ingredients which target hair loss and help strengthen the hair that is already there. 

Many women who undergo medical hair loss, who are doing chemotherapy for example, wear wigs or turbans during their treatment. Since their natural hair is usually unable to grow during treatment, they generally choose to wear a wig that matches the way their hair looked before treatment, to not draw attention to any change in hairstyle. Others go for colors they’ve never dared to dye their hair before, or switch between short and long styles for fun.

Long story short, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach here! 

The founder of Strut, Helena Gibson, created Unveil Restorative Hair Care. This is a line of restorative hair loss treatments/products with proprietary blends of active ingredients, such plant stem cell cultures and tetrapeptides to strengthen existing hairs and promote hair growth. We are so sure you’ll love our products that we stand behind them with a money-back, satisfaction guarantee! Our products are also free of toxins, known carcinogens, and hormone disruptors, and they also support your overall restorative wellness.  

Stay cool in your alternative hair this summer!

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Who else is feeling the summer heat? 

For those of us who have long hair, it’s easy to pull it up into an updo. But what about us who wear alternative hair, like wigs or hair pieces? How do you make a wig feel cooler? How do you wear your wig in an updo?

Well, that’s what we’re here for at Strut! Let’s get you glammed up for summer.

First, let’s look at the difference between synthetic and human hair pieces. 

This is a pretty big factor when it comes to staying cool in the heat. Synthetic fibers are made from plastic, and while the wefts inside of the wig cap are breathable, the material itself doesn’t lend to a cool feeling. Human hair wigs and hair pieces are, just like our own hair, a 100% natural fiber. Plus, most of our human hair wigs and hair pieces are actually hand tied. This means that someone legitimately tied every single strand of hair on the cap, which makes the cap extremely breathable. 

If you choose to go with a synthetic hair piece or wig during the summer, we always recommend shorter styles, as they keep any heat off your neck. 

Also, when it comes to staying cool in synthetic wigs…don’t forget that synthetic pieces never lose their style! This means that if they get wet, they go back to their original style as soon as they dry. Do you know where we’re going with this?

That’s right–take a spray bottle and spray your head if you’d like! If that keeps you cool in scorching weather, don’t fear for your hairstyle! It’ll go right back to its original ‘do.

Note that this would work for human hair pieces too, but they’re NOT like synthetic pieces, so they won’t go back to their original style after (just like our own natural hair). You’ll need to restyle just a bit.

Lastly, let’s take a look at some ways to put our wigs and hair pieces in updos!

Here are a few tips to consider first:

1. Use WIG-friendly hair products. 

We always recommend using styling products that were specifically made for synthetic hair on your synthetic pieces, and ones made for human hair pieces on those. 

Here are some of our favorites:

2. Don’t forget to style your wig using a styling head, a styrofoam head, or securely on your head.

3. Use hair tools specifically for synthetic wigs when you style synthetic pieces.

Because the hair fibers are made of an ultra-thin plastic, the styling process must be more delicate than on your own hair. 

We love using these styling tools:

4. Style your wig LOOSELY!

Because what you’ll be styling is not attached to your scalp like your natural hair is. Make sure you don’t tug too much on your piece. Also, because there’s a wig cap underneath the hair, always make sure your styles hide the edges of the cap. 

It all comes down to what type of hair piece you’re wearing (a wig or extensions), and the length. 

If you’re wearing a short wig, you can: 
  1. Pull the sides back with bobby pins or decorative clips.
  2. Take a center section from the front of the wig and create some top volume.
If you’re wearing a long wig, you can: 
  1. Put it into a low ponytail
  2. Pull it up into a half updo
  3. Secure the edges with bobby pins or decorative clips
If you’re wearing extensions: 
  1. Put your hair into any updo you’d like! Just, as mentioned above, don’t forget to pull it loosely when styling to a.) protect your scalp from too much pulling and to b.) make sure the extension wefts remain hidden so they look completely natural. 

We wish you the best of luck styling your alternative hair! 

Much love,

The Strut Team 

2022: Our 20-Year Anniversary!

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Wow…we’re already halfway through 2022, and it’s been an exciting year so far.

 

For us, it’s been so exciting because we’re celebrating 20 years of Strut Hair Solutions!

 

Yep, March 2022 marked the official month of 20 years in business, and we are going to celebrate all year.

 

Clients often ask how I started Strut, and why. Well, here’s a glimpse into the inspiration that became what Strut is today.

 

This whole journey started with my mom, Kim.

 

She always had fine, thin hair. While I was growing up, I saw her struggling with her hair and trying every possible fad out there to make it thicker. Like getting perms, or highlights…whatever a stylist said would make her hair look thicker and longer.

 

Then, when she was in her early 30s, she started getting hair extensions. That gave her some volume and length, but it didn’t solve the thinning on the top of her head.

 

Finally, a stylist put her in a wig and sewed it onto her head. (Well, technically to braids on her scalp.) During this time, I witnessed my mom’s confidence go up because she felt better about herself, thanks to her new hair.

 

This inspired me as I thought about it. If my mom was struggling with thinning hair for no known medical condition, then other women would be, too.

 

I went with her to other local wig shops and salons, and they really didn’t understand the importance this hair made to her and how she felt about herself.

 

That’s when I thought: I see this, and can help my mom along with all these other women experiencing the same thing.

 

Which is just what I did! In March 2002, I started on a kiosk in the mall selling hair pieces. From there, we started in our first brick and mortar store in Fresno, California (as City Wigs & Boutique!) and branched off to San Diego in 2011. That’s the very short version of how this all started. 🙂

 

I’m so pumped and excited for this 20-year anniversary! I feel like I’ve just been getting warmed up in the first 20! Lol.

 

Thank you for being on this journey with us! I look forward to seeing you in one of our 2 locations.

 

I’ll also have some exciting news to announce in about 6 weeks!!! Stay tuned via our social media to be the first to find out!

 

This news will kick off our next 20 years so stay tuned for that. This will change your hair forever!

 

To the next 20 years with you all. Thank you for everything.

 

Xoxo,

Helena

Wigs 101: Studio Etiquette

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Wig Store Etiquette

How are you treating the staff when you come into a wig store?

 

Losing your hair can be a frightening and confusing experience, so it’s understandable that you will have many questions along the way. We almost never learn about hair loss until we experience it ourselves, or when someone we know loses their hair. Only then do we start to know it all too well.

When you ask for our advice at STRUT—or any other salon or wig studio, for that matter—that insight comes from years of experience. What we often say is: “You don’t want to ask me anything you don’t want to know!”

Some of the answers may disappoint you, while others may inspire you. During this time of transition, it’s important to stay as calm as possible so that you can make informed decisions for your personal needs. No matter what type of hair replacement you choose, you want to learn as much as you can so that you can get the most out of it. Are wigs out of the question for you? What about hair toppers? Do you not have enough hair on the top of your head for a topper? Too much hair on top? Maybe try extensions. The choices can seem endless.

In the end, we are people too; we have feelings, hearts, families, and a life of our own. We all have our own particular bandwidths. And while we—as well as any staff member of any business—aren’t perfect, we do our best to meet YOUR specific needs.

When two people work together to find a solution, it’s a two-way street. Keeping that in mind can be a huge help on your journey, for both sides: for you and whoever helps you find the best hair piece for you.

While a wig store is, of course, a place to buy alternative hair, it’s also a place of mutual respect.

Now, no matter how inexperienced a client may be with wigs, it does not give the studio the right to be impatient, or to not give the client their absolute best solution possible.

On the other hand, it’s just as unacceptable to take out one’s frustration on their hair loss expert. After all, they are doing their best to help you.

While it is completely understandable that you’re experiencing a time of great stress due to hair loss, it does not give you the right to treat the very staff which is trying to help you, poorly.

Nor is it fair to take many hours of your expert’s time to make your decision, then think it’s acceptable to simply change your mind continuously without paying for the extra time spent on your behalf. It’s also not okay to assume that you’ve approved your styling, completed your order, and then change your mind the next day thinking it’s acceptable for the studio to take this loss. They won’t, nor should they.

One way of avoiding any mistakes and something we suggest to our clients is to bring a good friend to your styling session as a second (and hopefully unbiased) opinion. Plus, someone who has known you can give you an honest perspective. Be sure and have a few photos with you to make sure you and the stylist/expert are on the same page, too. It’s always helpful to see some inspiration. The ultimate mission here is a peaceful transition into your new alternative hair.

It also helps to understand that a wig, a hairpiece, or set of extensions is a foreign object on your head, and it can never fully nor perfectly mimic your natural hair. Lots of our clients may need to get comfortable with wearing hair.

How long it takes to adjust and how difficult it becomes is, quite truthfully, up to you.

That doesn’t mean it has to be heavy or uncomfortable, or that it has to be an unpleasant experience at all. Wigs and wig technology have developed exponentially over the last several decades. A wig can be lightweight, breathable, and something that can empower you by wearing it.

When you’re searching for a wig, it’s important for you not to forget that whoever is helping you on this journey is doing their best to make you look and feel like yourself again. After all, that’s the goal, isn’t it?

There’s a process when it comes to success on this wig journey.

1. Grief. You have the absolute right to grieve the loss of your hair, regardless of the medical condition. It is a wholly personal journey, and you should deal with it in whichever way helps YOU feel your best.

2. Acceptance. Acceptance of your hair loss. This isn’t an easy journey, and it’s not quick either. Everyone has their own timetable for this. But, accepting this reality will open your heart, allowing you the possibility to accept and eventually enjoy whatever alternative hair you choose.

3. Change. Changing your perspective from, “Oh, I HAVE to wear a wig” (which consciously—and probably unconsciously—creates resistance), to “Wow, I can choose to wear one beautiful hairdo today, and wear a completely different color and length tomorrow!” Those small mental changes can make a huge difference in your mental health and experience on this journey.

After all, regardless of the medical condition which causes your hair loss, the ability to choose and wear a wig (or multiple wigs!) is something over which you have true and legitimate control. The experience can empower you, if you’re open to it.

Go easy on yourself and whoever is helping you on this journey. Have patience that this will turn out well, and you will look and feel like yourself again. You deserve to feel confident and empowered when you wear your hair, and nothing should stop you from doing just that!

Pandemic Hair Loss: What Gives?

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It’s been almost 2 years since the Covid-19 pandemic started. It’s no surprise that it has affected stress levels worldwide. Huge life changes as well as changes in health take a toll on our lives, there’s no questioning that. The fact that stress can so tangibly manifest itself in our body, though, is becoming clearer and clearer in the world of medicine. (Hence, this blog!)

So, what’s the effect that stress has on our hair? Is the pandemic causing hair loss for men and women around the world? Is it exacerbating the hair loss we already experience?

Let me give you a brief recap of the hair cycle

Our hair growth cycle has four stages. The first is the anagen phase (i.e. when your hair grows from the root; the most active of the stages).

The second is the catagen phase (i.e. the transitional period, when the anagen phase ends and the hair detaches from the blood supply which helped it grow originally).

The third phase is the telogen phase, when the hair follicle no longer actively grows, but simply rests and slowly shrinks until it’s ready to come out of the follicle.

The fourth and final phase is the exogen phase, which is simply when the hair is released from the follicle and the anagen phase can begin yet again!

Image sourced from this article[1] about hormones and hair loss.

One last important thing to note about the hair cycle is that all of our hairs are NOT on the same schedule. Each one of our follicles (where the hair grows) is on its own independent schedule—or else all of our hairs would grow in at once and fall out at once! This is why you notice 50-100 hairs a day that you lose when brushing your hair, or sometimes by the shower drain.

Let’s talk about stress and its impact on hair loss

Stress is something that can impact our hair cycle. Just last year, a study[2] published in the National Library of Medicine led by Dr. Ya-Chieh Hsu of Harvard University concluded that stress indeed inhibits hair growth.

When they studied the effects of stress on mice, they noted that increased periods of stress actually kept hair in the third cycle of hair growth (the telogen phase, when hair no longer grows—simply rests). Conversely, when the mice were no longer experiencing stress, the hair growth cycle continued as normal. What we can conclude is this:

Stress can cause your hair to remain in the telogen (resting) phase for extended periods, inhibiting normal and regular hair growth. 

We can now see why so many people during 2020 and 2021 experienced what we’re calling pandemic hair loss. Witnessing a global pandemic, political unrest, supply chain issues, and dealing with job insecurity and/or losing loved ones due to Covid, it is no surprise that these factors can take a toll on the health of not only our mental health, but also our physical health. We have seen this with an influx of clients in our studios stating increased stress in their lives.

So, what are some ways to keep your stress levels lower?

It’s important to take care of ourselves, not only during a pandemic, but as often as we can. Balancing our stress levels is critical to staying as healthy as we can be. We may have different ideas of de-stressing—some may exercise, others may cook, sleep, meet with friends, take a nice bath, or do something artistic like painting. Here’s an article[3] published in the NIH (News in Health) which shows us some scientifically-proven ways to de-stress.

What are some ways that you can use alternative hair solutions when suffering with hair loss?

And what do you do if you’re experiencing pandemic hair loss? As mentioned above, it’s important to take care of yourself and try various methods of de-stressing. Everyone deals with stress differently, so we highly recommend you try various activities to see what works best for you.

As far as what to do aesthetically while you’re working on restoring your hair, you can consider alternative hair solutions, such as wigs, extensions, or hair pieces in order to keep your self-confidence up.

There are topical hair products as well which help minimize the shedding of your hair when going through a stressful period in life.

Your hair is one of the first things someone sees when they interact with you, so it’s no surprise that feeling self-conscious about thinning hair can affect how you interact with the world around you. We all know what it feels like when our hair is not looking its best. 

STRUT Hair Solutions was created with the intent of restoring women’s self-confidence by making them feel comfortable in their own skin again thanks to beautiful hair.  We know what it’s like to not want to date until your hair looks good, or to dodge family/friends photo opts because you don’t like your hair. We are here to help you and show you different solutions to fit your unique needs.

We’d love to get you strutting your hair with us.

Love,

Helena

[1] https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21155342

[2] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03417-2

[3] https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2021/01/feeling-stressed

Breast Cancer Awareness Month … Show You Care, Wear Pink Hair!

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Did you know that 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime? This month is a time to come together, to raise awareness and promote early detection.

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How to Wear Wigs and Make them Look Real

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Perhaps you know exactly which wig you desire, but you’re not so sure how to wear it so that it looks natural. I want to share some tips and tricks that will make your wig look like it’s growing out of your own scalp, so you can look and feel confident!

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Tips for Everyday Wig Wearing

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Whether you have a wig that has synthetic or human hair or wigs of varying lengths, you can take action to ensure its maintenance and style is preserved. Let’s go over some simple yet crucial tips for everyday wig wearing.

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How to Get More Volume with Fine Hair

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Gaining more volume with fine hair may be a challenge if your hair is naturally thin and flat. With little hair to work with, you may not be able to achieve the style you desire.

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