It is important to understand, with the exception of people suffering from thyroid hair loss or alopecia, that hair loss is a perfectly normal and natural event. Most often, the condition is hereditary, in fact if you examine the family history of many individuals, baldness is almost an inevitable occurance.

For those who are able to accept the loss of their hair, this may not be that big a deal. For many however, it can have a significant impact on the way they feel about themselves, and the way they believe they are perceived by others. Unfortunately, even with significant advances in technology, there is no such thing as a hair loss cure, however there are measures that can be taken to slow the onset of hair loss to a certain extent, and treatments available to deal with the problem, if hair loss has started to occur.

Many people who are balding, use vitamins for hair loss to slow its progress. In addition, there are a range of hair loss products available, in tablet, lotion or concealer form, that may or may not provide their promised benefits. If you have a receding hairline, and wish to find a way to boost your hair growth, your search for a hair loss cure will probably end in the same fashion as countless other hair loss sufferers – in the purchase of a vast array of lotions, potions and cover-ups that just never seem to deal with the actual problem.

Do hair loss products actually work?

We find quite often at HIS Hair Clinic, that in their quest for a hair loss cure, clients often try virtually every solution available, yet still remain dissatisfied. Why? Because the hair loss sector is a multi-billion dollar industry worldwide, and as a result, many manufacturers of hair loss solutions seem more intent on selling pills and lotions than actually helping the clients they serve. This is by no means one rule for all, in fact, there are many reputable companies offering solutions which, for many people, really do help. It is apparent however, that clients should be vigilant in their search, and ask for hard evidence of positive results, before committing to any treatment.

What are my options?

We are highly passionate about the effectiveness of our own Micro Hair Technique, or MHT for short. With a 100% client satisfaction record, our results speak for themselves. We understand however, that one particular solution may not be suitable for everyone. For others, options such as hair transplant surgery, Propecia or hair systems may provide some relief.

For impartial advice, we are always available so please feel free to contact us. It may also be worthwhile speaking with other sufferers in our hair loss forum. If you would like to meet one of our existing clients, you can post a request here.

As far as your options are concerned, there are a multitude of hair loss products available, each claiming to work in a slightly different way, but all ultimately promising one of the following:

1. Prevention of hair loss

2. Reduction of hair loss

3. Regeneration of lost hair

4. A cover-up for baldness

Whilst it can be tempting, especially for those who are affected emotionally or psychologically by their hair loss, to try any product that claims to work, it pays to learn a little more about each option before reaching for your credit card. Here, we briefly explain what some of the most popular hair loss products claim to do, including links to more in-depth information about each one.

Are these hair loss products any good?

There is no definitive answer to this question, as a hair loss product that may be right for one person, might not necessarily be right for someone else.

As yet, we have not seen any firm evidence of a product that can be classed as a hair loss cure, however hair loss sufferers around the world have each discovered their own findings.

To ask people who have used these products about their own experiences, visit our hair loss forum.

Popular hair loss products

Hair Thickening Shampoo

There are several hair loss shampoos available that claim to slow down, or even stop hair loss. The most popular amongst these are Revivogen and Nanogen Nanoguard.

Revivogen is a shampoo made from natural ingredients, that is marketed for the prevention of hair loss. Very little is known about Revivogen shampoo and conditioner, including critically, exactly how it works and how scientific studies have been conducted to substantiate its claims. Several HIS clients have tried Revivogen with mixed results, however the general consensus is that the product, whilst it may offer some benefits, does not effectively prevent hair loss.

Nanogen Nanoguard is part of a vast range of branded hair loss products, marketed by Nanogen, a laboratory based in the UK. The manufacturer claims that the product can reduce hair loss, and recommends that it be used in conjunction with another product called Nanogen Nanogaine. Unfortunately, it is virtually impossible to find any independent verification of its effectiveness, as almost all references to Nanogaine online, are written by the manufacturer, or retailers of the product.

Hair Loss Pills

Pills to combat thinning hair are amongst the most popular hair loss products available. By far, the most common is Propecia, a tablet based on the active ingredient Finasteride. Another common product is Procerin, a pill that even claims to enable lost hair to regrow.

Propecia is a DHT blocker. DHT, or Dihydrotestosterone, is a hormone that is created naturally by the human body, and is widely blamed as a common cause of hair loss in men. Propecia claims to prevent the hormone from affecting hair follicles in the scalp, consequently preventing or slowing hair loss. Although there is some evidence to suggest that the product may offer benefits to some people, for many it does not. Propecia can also cause unacceptable side effects in some patients, including erectile dysfunction and a reduction in semen production.

Procerin claims to slow the chemical reaction caused by DHT, therefore providing benefits to hair loss suffers. The product has, however, been subjected to widespread criticism, as a search on Google for “procerin scam” will reveal.

Topical Lotions

Put simply, these products are applied to the scalp on a daily, or twice-daily basis, and claim to reduce or prevent hair loss. The most common products available include Rogaine and Nanogen Nanogaine.

Rogaine contains the active ingredient Minoxidil, and is available as either a foam or lotion. Rogaine is applied directly to the scalp. Exactly how Rogaine works is not entirely understood. It claims to dilate blood vessels in the scalp, possibly improving hair follicle function and in turn, stimulating the growth of hair. Reviews of the Rogaine hair loss product are mixed.

Nanogaine is a topical solution that is applied daily. Whilst Rogaine is soluble in alcohol, Nanogaine is soluble in water, making it arguably less damaging to the scalp. As with many hair loss products, unbiased reviews are almost impossible to find, therefore it is difficult to know whether or not this product can live up to its claims.

Temporary Concealers

Concealers are not hair loss products that claim to prevent hair loss, only to disguise baldness, making existing hair appear thicker and fuller. The most popular products include DermMatch, Nanogen Nanofibres and Toppik.

All temporary concealers work in a similar way, coating and extending remaining hair on the scalp to cover up balding areas. The results these products can achieve are fairly impressive, however they do not provide a long term solution, not least because they all rely on there being SOME hair to cling to. The thinner the hair, the less effective they become. Concealers may provide short term relief for some people, however many of our clients come to HIS following years of concealer use, because they still remain unhappy with their hair loss problem.

Hair Systems

Commonly known as wigs, toupees or hair units, hair systems are used by many hair loss suffers as they provide an instant solution to hair loss.

Unfortunately, hair systems are not without their disadvantages. Systems are generally expensive, can look unnatural, and are reported by many users to cause hygiene problems, as a wig remains in place for up to 6-8 weeks before it can be removed. We have also seen evidence of skin damage caused by the adhesives used to hold the system in place.

Hair Transplant Surgery

Finally, the most dramatic option is to consider a hair transplant procedure. Hair transplant procedures do provide a solution for many thousands of men, however it is important to fully understand the procedure, and find a surgeon you are happy with, before committing to any treatment.

Patients are usually left with a large hair transplant scar, or a collection of smaller scars, depending on the transplant method. HIS Hair Clinic commonly apply the MHT technique to camouflage these scars. Also, a combination of hair transplant and MHT treatment can produce very impressive results. This combination is particularly useful for those with insufficient donor hair for the hair density they desire.

The MHT Micro Hair Technique

The MHT technique was developed by HIS Hair Clinic to provide a safe, permanent, undetectable solution for hair loss. The technique is based around a highly sophisticated scalp pigmentation method, in which individual hair follicles are recreated to give the appearance of a full head of hair, with a close cropped, modern style.

Shabaz (above) had a rapidly thinning head of hair before his treatment. The change in his appearance has had a positive effect, on every aspect of his life. Results of this standard are routine, in fact, we are proud to hold a 100% client satisfaction record.

For further information, please see our hair loss treatments section, or for information about specific hair loss products, click on the various links above. Feel free to speak with our existing clients in our hair loss forum, or you can contact us directly for free and impartial hair loss advice.

The Huddersfield Daily Examiner published an article today (25th January 2010), highlighting the fact that more and more hair loss sufferers are turning to the internet for advice and support. This has been echoed in the substantial increase we have seen of late of customers contacting us and our past clients via our forum.

Our very own HIS forum was cited as “one of the best they found”. See the full hair loss forum article here.

For further information on our site relating to this article please see:
The HIS Hair Loss Forum
Hair Loss Counselling Service

“If you’ve ever read the bestselling book “Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus”, you’ll be familiar with the argument that men are far less open than women when it comes to talking about their feelings or concerns.

There are certain topics of discussion where this can be especially apparent. Topics such as self-esteem, sexual and reproductive health, the fact that they’re getting older and of course, the process of an individual losing their hair.

Of course there are many reasons why men can lose their hair. Most often it is simply the passing of time combined with a very common condition called Male Pattern Baldness, often inherited from elsewhere within the family. Other causes include certain types of alopecia, stress, side effects of medical treatments or even the prolonged use of strong styling gels or waxes.

Whatever has caused hair loss in the particular individual, those suffering from balding or thinning hair can be roughly divided into two groups; those who are genuinely not that bothered, and definitely the majority group, those who are affected psychologically or emotionally to some extent.

Coping with hair loss can be difficult for many people, as hair plays a significant role in defining the individual. Several assumptions about a person are often made based on their appearance, including their age, social status, how successful they are and how attractive they are. As hair plays a major role in formulating these assumptions, men often feel that they will be viewed in a less positive light, especially by the opposite sex, if they start losing their hair.

In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Women find men attractive for many reasons, and what is attractive to some women may not be attractive to others. A lot of women find men with no hair more attractive than those with hair and ironically, hair loss is usually caused by the hormone testosterone, which would suggest that men without hair may have a stronger sex drive!

Either way, men can find discussing highly personal issues such as hair loss quite difficult. Some may find it difficult to ‘open up’, for fear of ridicule or rejection. Often men are simply not that open about their emotions, and feel uncomfortable discussing them with other men.

This is where the internet really does come into its own. As with other embarrassing issues, hair loss can be discussed in an open, but anonymous environment. Blogs and forums allow the user to eavesdrop on discussions and debates without revealing their identity and if they feel comfortable doing so, they can join the discussion or ask questions in complete anonymity.

Hair loss forums and message boards have now sprung up all over the internet to fulfil the needs of thousands of men who wish to gain information and discuss this difficult subject, and even share experiences with other men who have taken steps to combat their hair loss. One of the best we found was the HIS forum, with many users sharing success and failure stories related to the options available for hair loss sufferers, certainly a useful resource for those considering some form of treatment.

If you’re concerned about hair loss, you may find that simply having the opportunity to talk it through will make you feel better, and have some questions answered that you were too afraid to ask.”

Nothing beats an account of a real life experience. Whilst our MHT clinicians always endeavour to offer as unbiased an opinion as possible, it may be useful for you to discuss the treatment with our past customers who have not only had the treatment, but who can advise you first hand of the effects of MHT in their everyday lives. Common questions such as “how realistic does it look”, “will people notice if I’ve had treatment” and “are you happy with the results”, can all be answered in the forum by real people in the real world.

If you haven’t done so already, we’d strongly advise you join our hair loss forum, or if you have a question you’d like to ask us directly, feel free to contact us.