Behind the chair: stylist tips for finding empowerment after hair loss
Experts say there’s a direct correlation between confidence and good hair days. When self-esteem is rooted in hair health, stylists have the know-how to boost both.
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Hair trends come and go, but one thing remains the same: a full head of hair is always de rigueur. When a person’s scalp starts to peer through thinning locks, the effect can be debilitating to self-esteem.
“I have yet to see a culture of people who think a healthy head of hair is a bad thing,” says Philip Wolff, a Beverly Hills-based stylist with a global clientele. “Even in cultures where showing hair publicly is forbidden, they still want great hair.” While clothing and jewellery are valuable ways of expressing identity, they’re temporary. The power of hair, he theorises, is that it’s quite literally an extension of the individual – an extension often associated with youth, physical health and even attractiveness, according to studies. Is it any wonder hair loss can lead to insecurity and anxiety?
By the time someone broaches the subject with their stylist, they’ve typically tried over-the-counter treatments, traditional home remedies or fads found on the internet. These run the gamut from inhaling cedarwood essential oil to spreading onion juice on the scalp in order to promote hair growth. But purchasing habits suggest people need more than supermarket ingredients to achieve the hair they desire; the global hair care market is expected to grow to over $200bn by 2032, according to Fortune Business Insights.
In the salon, stylists have routinely addressed hair loss by camouflaging the problem rather than curing it. Alfredo Lewis, a stylist based in Hollywood and known for dramatic makeovers on damaged hair, says that “Stylists might have [traditionally] recommended volumising products, specific hairstyles to conceal thinning areas, or even hairpieces for more significant loss. They may also have suggested temporary fixes, such as colouring or texturising, to create the appearance of fuller hair.” It’s a tale as old as time. Historians believe Julius Caesar’s dedication to the laurel-wreath crown was, in part, because it diverted attention from his comb-over.
Times are finally changing. “The innovations that modern science and biotechnology have brought to the beauty industry over the past few years have been absolutely incredible,” says Wolff. Both he and Lewis point to Calecim Professional as a prime example. The cosmeceutical brand is behind the Advanced Hair System, a six-week, at-home hair restoration programme that has a proprietary PTT-6 ingredient proven to optimise hair-follicle function, boost hair density, stimulate regrowth and reduce shedding. “I haven’t come across anything like it,” Wolff says.
By stimulating skin renewal at the cellular level, PTT-6 is more than just a quick fix. According to clinical studies, users saw a 14 per cent increase in the number of hairs on the scalp after six weeks, and the thickness of the average hair shaft increased by 16 per cent. “Very simply put,” says Wolff, “it’s an attainable treatment backed by science.”
Lewis recalls one particularly memorable makeover from a client who struggled with significant thinning. After discussing her concerns, he created a layered cut that added volume with a little help from extensions, devised a routine to enhance her overall scalp health, and introduced her to Calecim. The goal was a short-term transformation with long-term results. He considers moments like this, when someone’s confidence visibly improves, one of the most rewarding parts of the job. Wolff agrees: “There’s no feeling quite like it, for the client and myself.”
