Yahneake Sterling and Nashauna Drummond, Staff Reporters

From straightening to perming to curling, a woman's hair endures a lot of stressall in the name of achieving beauty.

But what happens when you start losing your beautiful hair?

Many women are now suffering from hair loss which may start out with little patches that are unnoticeable until bigger patches begin to appear.

Causes

According to Trichologist Dr. Hyacinth Oates, hair loss can be hereditary, or can be caused by certain scalp conditions, menopause, stress, lack of proper nutrition and certain medical conditions (Polycystic ovarian syndrome PCOS).

Types of hair loss include:

- Alopecia areata (this condition generally causes coin-sized bald patches on the scalp or beard).

- Alopecia totalis (complete hair loss on the scalp).

- Traction Alopecia (when tension is placed on the hair and pulls on the roots around the hairline and can lead to baldness).

- Telogen effluvium or diffused hair loss (telogen effluvium) is a type of hair loss that occurs when hair follicles are shifted into the telogen (or resting) phase prematurely. It causes a general thinning of the hair).

- Male Pattern Hair Loss (the most common type of hair loss in men). This is caused by a genetic pre-disposition and can affect males in any age after puberty.

A Trichologist can help to determine the type of hair loss and the treatment for it. Dr. Oates explains that Trichology is the scientific study or hair and by extension scalp disorders.

Dr. Oates who has opened the first Trichology Hair and Scalp Clinic, at 22 Westminster Road, says a consultation is needed to give proper diagnosis.

Hair analysis is a consultation with a Trichologist which, among other things, determines why your hair needs to be the best it can be. It takes into account your history, the present condition of your hair and remedy. It exposes mistakes made in the past and the way forward.

It is important because it will help you find out what will work for your hair and what will not.

When to do it

"At the first sign of damage you should have one done", advisestechnical consultant/Trichologist at Soft Sheen Carson, Karl Richmond. He explains that Soft Sheen Carson offers a free consultation which can be arranged by calling the office. He notes that it is important to have one done every three months as your scalp and hair can tell what happens in your body.

He further said that persons who may not see anything visibly wrong with their hair or put complete trust in their hairdresser (especially if they have been going to them for a very long time), should be more proactive in their hair care.

"Even if you trust your hairdresser and have been going to her for a very long time, don't let them do just anything. Customers don't always tell the truth for two main reasons, they don't want to be at fault or be a problem client."

However, there is hope to re-grow hair that was affected by certain types of Alopecia.

"Alopecia areata normally corrects itself within six months, but if it takes longer, an Ultra-Violet rake (UV) can be used to stimulate growth," Dr. Oates said.

This can also help with Traction alopecia. Treatments for other hair loss conditions would have to be treated by a medical doctor or dermatologist.