October 1 Begins Trichotillomania Awareness Week

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Trichotillomania is a prime example of the type of hair loss disorder that can benefit tremendously from an awareness week. Despite notable prevalence in the United States (2-4% of the population), Trichotillomania remains under the radar for most individuals, including many quality stylists and medical professionals. This lack of awareness fuels misunderstanding and shame while simultaneously impeding personal progress and community support. So let’s spread the awareness!

First, what is Trichotillomania?

  • Well, this mouthful of a disorder is pronounced trick-oh-till-oh-MAY-nee-ah, but most people shorten it to simply trich or TTM. What a relief, right?
  • Trich involves the BFRB (body-focused repetitive behavior) of chronic, compulsive hair pulling. It can include hairs on the scalp, face, arms, legs, and pubic area and can feel like anything from a strong, distracting urge to an entirely unnoticed action. There is a lot of variation in its manifestation.
  • People of all ages have been diagnosed with Trichotillomania. It impacts both males and females, but by adulthood, prevalence is much higher in women. Trich is found in happy, well adjusted individuals as well as those whose pulling began as a result of high levels of anxiety or stress. According to the Trichotillomania Learning Center (TLC), “preliminary evidence indicates TTM is a nuero-biological disorder and that genetics may play a role in its development.”
  • Treatments and solutions vary from coping mechanisms and resource support to therapies and medication applications. A definitive cure does not yet exist.

How can you participate in Trichotillomania Awareness Week?

  • Understand the need for awareness. Like the TLC, we want to “envision a world where BFRBs are not a source of shame, and treatment that works is accessible to everyone.” The more we talk about trich, the more it becomes part of a norm rather than an embarrassment or affliction to hide, paving the way for those suffering from Trichotillomania to find a support system and resources for improvement.
  • Share a video. How about this one (shown below) from last year’s campaign?
  • Tell one person a day what you have learned. Set a goal to do your part in spreading awareness about trich by telling one person about the disorder each day during Trichotillomania Awareness Week, starting a week from tomorrow, October 1 – 7. It can be a friend, a family member, or a coworker and is as easy as opening with, “Hey, I read that today is the first day of Trichotillomania Awareness Week. Are you familiar with the condition?”
  • Print and post these cards. The TLC created small cards that can be printed and shared on public bulletin boards at your place of work, church, gym, or community center.

For more ideas on how you can get involved, visit the TLC’s website at trich.org. If you or someone you know is struggling with Trichotillomania, there is help available. Reach out and open the lines of communication today.

Restore Your Hair. Restore Your Life!

With more than 40 years experience, Van Scoy Hair Clinics has offered the latest advances in hair restoration for men and women in our state-of-the-art facilities in Cleveland, Columbus and Ashland, Ohio. Schedule a FREE hair loss and scalp analysis today.

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Three Men’s Hair Styles for Fall 2014

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Fall is upon us, and with the change of seasons comes a change of styles. Yes, green leaves are turning orange, hot summer days are cooling into enjoyable autumn ones, and short-sleeved shirts are being covered by sweaters. Why not go with the flow of the shifting seasons and their sweeping transformations this year and opt for a new do to usher in the autumn months? Today we highlight three trendy men’s styles to consider for this coming fall. If you are struggling with hair thinning or loss and are seeking a way to keep your look current, schedule a free consultation with one of our specialists today.

Go for Lift

The pompadour has been popular all year (and worldwide, as we noted during this summer’s Cup), and the style is still going strong as we swing into fall. Consider an undercut of any variety, which allows for whatever combination of lift and length you prefer. This prohibition cut featured on Behind the Chair is a slick look for the working man while the looser version shown on Men’s Hair Style Trends can be perfect for a relaxed evening. Already rocking an undercut? Try pairing it with a beard as the months get cooler.

A Caesar with Bangs

If a typical Caesar is your go to style, make the jump from average to awesome this autumn by simply allowing a bit more length in front. This small shift can make a man look stylish without much styling, and your hairdresser can work the change in over time by allowing for more drama every time you come in for your next cut. Perhaps you will decide you are happy with just a little bit of additional length, or maybe by the time winter rolls in you will be sporting a cool side swept look like this GQ style or something more rock-n-roll like this D’Marge favorite.

Alright, we get that this is a stretch for most men, but for those who do have long manes, fall is the time to let the ponytail down and feel the wind in your hair. As Esquire says in this Game of Thrones based hair guide, “It’s hard to pull off long hair, but if you can, it’s perfect for fall, adding a rich, hearty element to your overall style.” If you go this route though, “keeping it clean, without letting it get dry and brittle is a must”. Guys who are especially focused on styling their locks can take some notes from Schwarzkopf here. For everyone else, at least make sure you take care of any damage or thinning you have been able to hide by pulling it back all summer!

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Another Alopecia Areata Drug Breakthrough

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Top 10 Ways July is More Fun with Hair

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It’s summer and it’s hot, but you’re avoiding the pool. You worry about what sweat and wind will do to your thinning hair while out at barbeques. Getting caught in the rain would be tragic. It is no surprise that July would be more fun with hair. Here we have selected the top ten ways that the month would be more enjoyable after restoration.

1. Swimming

The typical avoidance of wet locks in public by those with thinning hair or bald spots puts the kibosh on classic summer fun in the pool. Whether you swim for exercise, to cool off, or just for the fun and games, being comfortable diving into the water is a wonderfully positive attribute for anyone’s summer.

2. After Swimming

Swimming isn’t the only fun part of taking a dip though. Jumping out of the water and doing a quick self-dry with a flip of the mane or a full head shake inspires a youthful energy that should grace every summer.

3. Summer Rains

Spontaneous showers and summer thunderstorms can spell tragedy for an individual with thinning hair. Jumping in puddles or spur-of-the-moment rain dances are things of the past. With a full head of hair though, getting caught in the rain can be a laughable inconvenience at worst and movie-esque romantic at best.

4. Going Hat-Free

From beach bonnets to baseball caps, there are some really great summer hats out there. Having to wear one for the entire duration of the hot bright months though is a total drag. Next July, make hats an option rather than a crutch.

5. Fewer Scalp Burns

Maybe you’ve already said goodbye to the everyday cap. Instead, you rely on your sunscreen and suffer through the scalp burns when it fails to properly protect your bald spots. Hair restoration certainly gives the scalp a bit of relief in hot, sunny months like July.

6. Outdoor Activities

July is a great time for outdoor activities with the kids during their break from school. Hiking, exploring a nearby creek, camping, and bonfires are all summer highlights for nature lovers that need not be weighed down, avoided, or less fun due to worries or anxieties about the number the elements are going to do on an already struggling head of hair.

7. Looking Good at Summer BBQs

Even if you don’t intend to be the most fashion forward attendee at your next barbeque, you definitely have more fun when you feel good, and you feel good when you look good. Even more importantly, you feel good when you feel like yourself!

8. Natural Highlights

For a full head of hair, July comes bearing gifts. In addition to seemingly intolerable heat, the sun’s rays offer lovely natural highlights that take an individual’s base color and give it a sun-kissed summer glow.

9. Changing Style with Summer

New Do, New You! Those with thinning hair or hair loss are usually constrained to a single hair style that works for them to best adapt to their weakening locks. After hair restoration, the chance to try a new style with the changing seasons becomes an option. A fun option!

10. Ponytails

Sure, this one is not for everyone. But for those with longer locks, winning the battle against thinning strands or receding hairlines means being able to pull hair back in the summer. Whether it’s a ponytail through the back of baseball cap or a cute half-up do, July is a nice time to be able to pull your hair back out of your face.

Don’t wait until next summer. Choose to make a change now! Visit your local hair restoration specialist for a free consultation and prepare to have way more fun in July in these top ten ways and more.

 

Photo credit: Schjelderup via Flickr Creative Commons

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The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Hair in the 2014 World Cup

The World Cup: An international celebration of soccer and athleticism, camaraderie and cultural exchanges, national pride and long-remembered heroes. And hair too, of course. Though naturally media focus on talented players revolves around showcasing their prowess on the pitch, the men performing on this worldwide stage have certainly not overlooked their pregame grooming. In some ways, the styles on the field are both a display of global male hair trends and also country specific dos. At other times, certain players’ looks are so unique and conspicuous that many viewers walk away remembering more about the guy’s mane then about his contributions to his team. In any case, the combination of great hair and great soccer has not disappointed over the past few weeks, and we’re looking forward to seeing who takes the Cup home after the final a week from Sunday. First, we take a look at some notable hair highlights.

The Good

These smooth guys are rocking it at all times. They are drenched in sweat after 90 minutes of hard, top level play, and their hair still looks completely GQ. The pompadour is an easy favorite among popular mens styles in 2014, and variations of it and other long hair styles have certainly made their presence felt in the Cup. A great look for futbolers and business men alike, these full manes are definite winners. Think Portugal’s Christiano Ronaldo and Chile’s Alexis Sanchez who have gone long on top with cleanly trimmed sides, or Uruguay’s Edinson Cavani and the US’s Graham Zusi who let their glorious locks grow free enough to be tied back.

Alexis Sanchez

The Good

 

The Bad

For the most part, the 736 men who make up the 32 teams battling for the 2014 Cup seem to take their appearance into consideration. There are of course a few though who seem unaware of the enormity of the stage and sadly miss the style boat. Rather, their locks are just devoid of personality altogether and entirely blah. Take Greece’s Dimitris Salpingidis for example, or Russia’s Alan Dzagoev, Spain’s Andres Iniesta, and Switzerland substitute Tranquillo Barnetta. What can one even say? Yawn…

Dimitris Salpigidis

The Ugly

 

The Ugly

Ah, the ugly. A World Cup wouldn’t be complete without a few guys who seem to make a special effort to showcase ‘what not to do’ with your hair. The first player who comes to mind here is the US’s Kyle Beckerman. Some people like his nest of dreads. More power to them. In terms of taking style onto the pitch though, this gigantic mass is a miss and a heavy hindrance too. It’s not all outrageous manes making the ugly list though. Algeria’s Saphir Taider, Ghana’s John Boye, and Croatia’s Danijel Pranjic all brought their own versions of less than desirable Mohawks to the show. These loud dos are similar enough to the globally popular pompadour that they appear to be poorly executed attempts at hitting the trend, even if they’re not.

Kyle Beckerman

The Bad

What would a World Cup be without a bit of variety in style? At the end of the day, we enjoy watching them all: the Good, the Bad, and yes, even the Ugly.

 

All photos are hyperlinked to sources. Click to view.

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Finding Your Solution: Micro Point Extensions for Thinning Hair

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There are a number of solutions available for specific types of hair loss and styling needs, and speaking with a specialist is the best way to decide which hair restoration avenue is the best for you. Today, Van Scoy takes a look at Micro Point Extensions for Thinning Hair.

The use of extensions for fullness and length can actually seem a bit counterintuitive once you start doing some research. Not surprisingly, glue and other chemicals used to attach older types of extensions can cause damage to both your follicles and your scalp. Heavy extensions, regardless of application style, can pull on and weigh down natural hairs that are more lightweight than the added pieces, causing strain, stress, and breakages. Of course, a less-than-excellent stylist can add to the issues too by causing hair and scalp damage with careless application and removal, not to mention the extra tension from the additional styling that follows in an attempt cover up the shoddy work. Putting already weak hair into a damaging system in an attempt to make it thicker is kind of illogical, right?

Right. Fortunately, glue and chemicals, heavy strands, and inexperienced stylists aren’t requirements for modern extensions. In fact, breakthroughs in synthetic hair technology and contemporary application practices actually make certain extensions, such as Micro Point Solutions®, into healthy, successful, and recommended hair restoration options instead. Micro Point Solutions® is a practically invisible solution to thinning or fine hair. It is a non-surgical procedure that utilizes micro-mini extensions to create a fuller head of hair without causing damage. No damaging glues or solvents are used and the system as a whole doesn’t cause any additional hair loss or breakages. This is more like it!

Micro Point Solutions® is offered by and made with CyberHair®, a top choice for non-surgical hair restoration. CyberHair®, which uses state-of-the-art technology to mimic human hair, succeeds impressively in looking, feeling, and behaving like human hair. It even absorbs water, reflects light, and holds style while being two times stronger but lighter in weight than human hair! That means that the problem of heavy extensions is gone and so is any worry about the Micro Point Solutions® looking less than natural. Many individuals with thinning hair avoid situations in which their locks will get wet, forcing them to miss out on what could have been fantastic memories or even unexpected opportunities. With CyberHair® extensions from Micro Point, one can run in the rain, answer the door before their hair is styled, and even go for a swim every single day.

It is still imperative that a highly-trained, experienced, and talented stylist applies the extensions and tailors them to the needs of the individual. With Micro Point Solutions®, only certified studios can apply or refresh extensions. In Ohio, the Van Scoy Hair Clinics in Ashland, Cleveland, and Columbus are all certified studios that employ the finest hair replacement and wig stylists in Ohio. Get in touch today for a free consultation to learn more about Micro Point Solutions® and if CyberHair® extensions are a good fit for you.

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A Tour of the Ashland Office

Situated just north of the university at 608 Claremont Avenue, the Van Scoy Hair Clinic in Ashland is centrally located and easily accessible. This clinic, which has been in operation since 1969, was Van Scoy Hair’s original location and has continued to offer hair restoration by our experienced professionals to the Ashland, Wooster, and Mansfield communities for more than 45 years. If you’ve made your appointment for your free hair and scalp analysis and are curious about what to expect when you arrive, join us now for a virtual walk through the clinic below. We look forward to seeing you in person soon!

To schedule a free consultation online click here, or call Van Scoy Hair Centers (419) 289-6665

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Van Scoy Staff Spotlight: Debbie Tucholski

In addition to the highly trained professionals, advanced technology, and natural-looking results that make Van Scoy Hair the #1 choice for hair restoration in Ohio, the clinics are also a family-run business with a stellar staff that makes each individual’s experience personal. Today, the Van Scoy Staff Spotlight is on Debbie Tucholski who has been with Van Scoy Hair Clinics for 10 years. We asked Debbie a few questions to get to know this Image Consutlant from the Parma office a bit better.

What is your favorite thing about your job?  

DT: I get the opportunity to offer our clients the opportunity to feel better about themselves each and every day.

What is your favorite lunch food?

DT: Any thing that doesn’t contain hair!  LOL  Philly Cheese Steak

What is your favorite thing to do after work?

DT: I love to sit on my swing outside with my children & watch the wild life & meditate.

Do you have any pets?

DT: Yes, my baby girl Roxy (beagle mix). I also have a wonderful 16-year-old son.

Favorite movie?

DT: Son of God

Morning person or night owl?

DT: Depends on the day – I love the greeters of the world first thing in the AM, but I also love star gazing at night and sunsets.

Coffee or tea?

DT: Both

What is something most people don’t know about you?

DT: I’m pretty much an open book, what you see is what you get – I feel everyone has life lessons, obstacles to overcome in life that if we all work together life would be good for all of us. I believe we are souls having a human experience in this life- so lets make the best of it!

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A Fantastic Women’s Hair Loss Seminar!

One week ago, we hosted a beautiful group of women for a successful and moving National Women’s Hair Loss Seminar at our Cleveland clinic, and we are still feeling the inspiration of the evening today! The event, which featured speakers including Kayla Martell, 2010 Miss Delaware who lives with alopecia areata, Flora Fuentes, industry senior out of NYC, and Rhonda McCarthy, nationally recognized hair restoration expert from Ft. Lauderdale, FL, connected area women with information, answers, and resources as experts who brought their tour to Ohio with the specific goal of helping women find trustworthy and reliable access to education and assistance about their hair thinning and loss. As they discussed last Wednesday, there is an overwhelming amount of information about hair loss out there – some good, some bad – and for a woman who is facing this kind of physical and emotional struggle, it is hugely important for her to know that she is not alone and can feel confident in her ability to get the help she needs through proper, trustworthy hair restoration outlets.

Such conversations and gatherings of individuals with shared personal concerns can be emotional and uplifting, and last week’s seminar was definitely an inspiration. In addition to Kayla’s story and expert educational presentations, women enjoyed one-on-one interaction with recommended resource professionals, chats with the guest speakers over refreshments, and perhaps most importantly, free, personal, private consultations. It was a fantastic evening, and we thank everyone in attendance for being a part of it.

If you missed the seminar, but are interested in the complimentary hair and scalp analysis, you can still contact us for a free, no obligation, private consultation. Click here for more information.

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Free Women’s Hair Loss Seminar: Meet the Guest Speakers

Just one week from today the free National Women’s Hair Loss Seminar is coming to Cleveland! The response and registrations from area women has been remarkable, and we couldn’t be more excited. Today, we take a closer look at three of the featured guest speakers on the seminar tour who have dedicated their time to traveling around the United States and helping women to gain access to educational information, connect with local resources, and learn that they are not alone. Registrations are still being accepted, but space is limited, so claim your spot NOW!

Kayla Martell

Kayla Martell – 2010 Miss Delaware and 2011 Miss America finalist – began losing her hair when she was just 11 years old. It was a scary and challenging time for both her and her family as they struggled to understand the cause of the hair loss while also dealing with the social barriers of being a 6th grade girl who was balding. Even after they received the diagnosis of alopecia areata, Kayla was hard-pressed to find a solution that worked for her. Eventually, she simply embraced her baldness.

Fast forward to her third failed attempt at winning the Miss Delaware crown when a judge told her that if she wanted to win, she was going to need hair. That would be a tough blow for anyone, and Kayla was confident without her hair! She wanted to quit, to stop trying for the crown she had worked so hard for. A small voice from a young fan (who also has alopecia) convinced her otherwise though, and so she decided to revisit her options and give it another go. This time around, Kayla found resources and possibilities that worked for her, her active lifestyle, and her impatience with itchy wigs. She found that she could embrace her hair loss and also rock beautiful, comfortable locks when she wanted to. She learned about quality options and she worked those beautiful solutions straight to a crown and a spot as a Miss America finalist! We love these features on ABC News and CBS News from pageant time.

Today, Kayla offers her experience, understanding, and warmth to women around the country of all ages, backgrounds, and levels of hair thinning or loss who are also struggling.

Rhonda McCarthy

Rhonda McCarthy, a nationally recognized expert in women’s hair replacement with more than 20 years of experience, will travel to the Cleveland seminar from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to offer insights into the causes and stages of hair loss. After seeing thousands of women withdraw socially to suffer in silence and realizing that a common theme was their utter frustration with lack of information and places to turn, Rhonda developed the free National Women’s Hair Loss Seminar tour to connect women with reputable resources in their areas. “So many women feel there is nowhere to turn, but they do think about their hair loss challenges,” she says. “During the new National Women’s Hair Loss Seminar tour, women will now have the opportunity to talk openly about their hair loss, become educated on hair loss options, and to meet other women experiencing the same challenges.” Earlier this year, Rhonda and her team hosted hair professionals from around the world at a very successful two-day conference designed to offer continuing education to specialized resource and hair care providers as part of her ongoing effort to create a network of support for individuals struggling with hair loss.

Flora Fuentes

Flora Fuentes has been with MHN Hair Restoration Studio in New York City for 24 years, and as an expert on hair loss, she now travels around the United States with the National Women’s Hair Loss Seminar tour providing detailed information on various up-to-date solutions that are currently available as options for women with assorted causes and levels of hair loss. “We want women everywhere who are experiencing thinning hair or any level of hair loss to know that no matter what their level of hair loss – there is a solution. You can have your hair back, beautifully and naturally!” Last year, Flora and Kayla were featured on CBS New York’s the Couch on the morning of a local seminar; check it out here for a teaser of the wealth of information Flora will bring to Cleveland next Wednesday, April 30th from 6:30-8:30PM.

Make your reservation for the free National Women’s Hair Loss Seminar in Cleveland now by calling 216-739-2290 or clicking here to register online.

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