Emma Stone is Blonde Again: The Science of Hair Dyes

Earlier this month, 23-year-old actress Emma Stone changed her look from sassy redhead to bombshell blonde, surprisingly her natural color.  Emma began the process of lightening her famously fiery red hair in March when she went strawberry blonde.  She has since completed the peroxide process with a return to near-platinum locks.

In previous posts we have discussed that excess hair coloring can cause hair loss, but in this post we will discuss how lightening your hair can cause necrosis (death) of the scalp.

What Exactly Is Hair?

Typical mammalian hair consists of the shaft, protruding above the skin, and the root, which is sunk in a follicle, or pit, beneath the skin surface. Except for a few growing cells at the base of the root, the hair is a unique tissue composed of keratin and related proteins. The hair follicle is a tubelike pocket of the epidermis, that encloses a small section of the dermis at its base. Human hair is formed by rapid divisions of cells at the base of the follicle. As the cells are pushed upward from the follicle’s base, they harden and undergo pigmentation.

The hair on our scalps and in our eyebrows and eyelashes are different from other bodily hairs. The hair on our heads grows a healthy .5 inch per month, and long scalp hairs have an average life of 3 to 5 years. Most of us have between 100,000 and 150,000 hairs on our heads!

There are two kinds of melanin found in the hair: eumelanin (the most common and responsible for hair shades from brown to black) and phaeomelanin (responsible for yellowish-blond, ginger and red colors). Absence of pigment produces white/gray hair. Before any permanent color can be deposited into the hair shaft, the cuticle, or outer layer, must be opened. The insoluble formula then reacts with the cortex to deposit or remove the color

Coloring/Tinting/Dyeing the hair is a chemical process of adding color to the hair shafts. Until the early 1900s, hair coloring was made from a wide range of herbal and natural dyes. Flying in the face of other chemists who found the development of hair coloring trivial and unworthy of their time, French chemist Eugene Schueller created the first safe commercial hair coloring in 1907. His invention was based on a new chemical, paraphenylenediamine, and provided the foundation of his company, the French Harmless Hair Dye Company. A year later, the name was changed to one that is more familiar today -L’Oreal. L’Oreal, one of the hair product giants, has grown steadily over the years; the company credits advanced and applied research of new product development and expansion into markets around the world with its global success.

The two main chemical ingredients involved in any coloring process that lasts longer than 12 shampoos are:

• Hydrogen peroxide (also known as the developer or oxidizing agent) — This ingredient, in varying forms and strengths, helps start the color-forming process and creates longer-lasting color. The larger the volume of the developer, the greater the amount of sulfur is removed from the hair. Loss of sulfur causes hair to harden and lose weight. This is why, for the majority of hair coloring, the developer is maintained at 30% volume or less.
• Ammonia — This alkaline allows for lightening by acting as a catalyst when the permanent hair color comes together with the peroxide. Like all alkalines, ammonia tends to separate the cuticle and allow the hair color to penetrate the cortex of the hair.

In addition, various types of alcohols, which can also dry the hair, are present in most hair color. The hydrogen peroxide is the main culprit for initiating inflammatory skin reactions on the scalp.  In part two of this series complications of hair dyeing will be discussed.

Dr Ken Williams on “The Doctors”

Be sure to watch “The Doctors” tv show on CBS channel 2 at 2:00pm to watch Dr Ken Williams perform an automated FUE eyebrow restoration surgery.

 

 

Megan Fox’s Eyebrows: Full Eyebrows Are In

The eyebrow is an important part of facial symmetry and contributes to the aesthetic appearance of men and women. Eyebrows frame the eyes and are one of the primary anatomical facial structures we see when looking at people.

Celebrities often set the trends and fashion. Notice at how different Megan Fox’s eyebrows are from 2003 to today.  Megan Fox’s eyebrows are thicker and shaped to frame her beautiful face which brings out her blue eyes even more. Her thinner brows (picture left) were set high above her eyes and showed so much space that gave the appearance her face was wider than it really is.

Eyebrows lose their natural full appearance by:

• Congenital Causes
• Trauma-burns, auto accident, surgery, ect.
• Radiation or Chemotherapy
• Medical, Autoimmune, or Systemic Disease (Lichen Planus or Alopecia Areata)
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (Trichotillomania)
• Over grooming or management
• Normal Aging Process

For patients desiring a denser and fuller appearance of their eyebrows, Eyebrow transplantation surgery can restore eyebrows to their natural youthful appearance. Hair transplant surgeon of Irvine, California, Dr. Ken Williams adds, “Eyebrow hair transplantation is a safe and an aesthetically elegant procedure.  A common history in women with decrease eyebrow density  is typically a history of overplucking and over grooming.”  He adds, “Hypotrichosis (eyebrow hair loss) is a condition that can be easily treated with surgery by an experienced hair trasnplant surgeon.”

Before undergoing this type of hair restoration, patients should be aware that the hair transplanted to eyebrows will continue to grow in length and will need to be periodically trimmed. For surgeons performing this procedure, Williams adds, “The greatest challenge is knowing during the healing process that the new eyebrow hair follicle inserted into the recipient site may change its orientation and exit angle. This will cause a slight change to the transplanted hair’s orientation and result in an eyebrow hair that may be slightly elevated or improperly angled. The hair restoration surgeon must create the recipient sites so the new hair follicle grows parallel with the existing eyebrow hairs.”

The appearance of an eyebrow transplant will mature and soften over the course of a year, during which time the eyebrows can be groomed- tweezed, waxed, or shaped as desired. After the one year mark, a second eyebrow hair transplant procedure may be considered if patients would like to add density to the eyebrows.

Heidi Klum & Seal Headed For Divorce?: Lupus Causes Hair Loss

On Sunday, January 22, 2012 Heidi Klum and Seal announced they are filing for divorce. The two wed on May 10, 2005 and have 3 children together.  Heidi’s statement to the press on what led to split, via her rep, was relatable and gracious.  ”While we have enjoyed seven very loving, loyal and happy years of marriage, after much soul-searching we have decided to separate,” the duo says in a joint statement. “We have had the deepest respect for one another throughout our relationship and continue to love each other very much, but we have grown apart. This is an amicable process and protecting the well-being of our children remains our top priority, especially during this time of transition. We thank our family, friends, and fans for their kind words of support. And for our children’s sake, we appreciate you respecting our privacy.”

Jet magazine reported on June 10, 1996 that at age 23 Seal was diagnosed with Discoid Lupus Erythematosus (DLE). DLE is a rare form of Lupus causing scars of the face, ears, and scalp.  A majority of people with lupus experience some hair loss whether they have a form of lupus that affects several organs or a form that mainly affects the skin. Most of the time, though, lupus is unlikely to cause complete or permanent hair loss.

“Hair loss can be an early sign of lupus,before the disease is actually  diagnosed. Lupus causes widespread inflammation, almost always involving the skin, particularly, on the face and scalp“, says Irvine hair transplant surgeon Dr. Ken Williams.  He adds,  ”inflammation and other systemic medical factors, can cause the hair on the scalp to gradually thin out.  Patients may even lose their hair in clumps. or eyebrows, eyelashes, beard, and body hair is also possible.

Although lupus-related hair loss can be shocking, the hair will most likely grow back once the lupus is medically treated and controlled by a specialist, such as a rheumatologist. The signs and symptoms of lupus often go into remission for long periods of time, but the disease tends to flare back up unpredictably. If a lupus flare occurs the hair loss may start again.

If your hair is falling out, consult a hair loss specialist to find out why. Unless you’re already being treated for lupus or you have other signs and symptoms of the disease, your hair loss is probably caused by something else. Among the possibilities are genetics, medications, hormonal changes, thyroid disorders, nutritional deficiencies, and stress.

For more information on Lupus please visit the Lupus Foundation of America.

Saints defeat Lions, but Drew Brees is losing fight against hair loss

On Saturday, January 7, 2012 the New Orleans Saints defeated the Detroit Lions with a 45-28 NFC wild-card victory.  Drew Brees led an unstoppable offense by throwing for 466 yards, the most yards in a regulation playoff game.  ”We were pulling out all the stops,” Brees said.  ”We play aggressive. We’re not going to apologize for that. That gives guys in the huddle a lot of confidence. We’re not going to pull the reins back. It’s pedal to the metal.” That type of aggression has led to many victories for the New Orleans Saints, and if Brees would show that type of aggression with his hair he may have preserved his frontal hairline and overall hair density.

It is normal to shed hair everyday and the truth is we lose between 100-125 hairs on any given day.  However, some individuals may experience higher amounts of hairs being shed each day. Once a hair reaches the end of its growth cycle it will then shed from the scalp. At any given time 10% of our hair is in a “resting phase” and after 2-3 months resting, hair falls out and new hair grows in its place.

As we age, both men and women will experience some hair loss. This is a normal part of the aging process. Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA) accounts for 95% of hair loss, and it often times runs in families. In men this condition is usually referred to as Male Pattern Baldness (MPB). MPB is characterized by a receding hair-line and baldness on the top of head.  Women, on the other hand, don’t go entirely bald even if their hair loss is severe. Instead, hair loss is spread out evenly over their entire scalp while maintaining the frontal hairline.

Hair restoration surgeon, Dr. Ken Williams of the Irvine Institute of Medicine and Cosmetic Surgery adds, “Drew is one of the truly amazing football players in the NFL. But if he continues to lose hair, he will look much older than his chronological age if he does not intervene at this time in his life.  His hair loss is quite noticeable and I don’t want to see him lose any more.”

Hormones play a dominant role when talking about AGA. Simply put, both men and women produce testosterone and this testosterone is converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) with the aid of the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase. DHT miniaturizes the hair follicles causing the membranes in the scalp hair density to decrease.

Men naturally produce more testosterone than women and therefore men experience more hair loss. Both male and female AGA is very common and easily treated medicallyand surgically. For medical treatment,  minoxidil is recommended for both men and women to apply topically twice a day. For men, taking the oral medication finasteride, DHT blocker, is strongly recommended. Male and female AGA responds well to low-level laser therapy, and platelet rich plasma therapy is a therapy with a potential future as well.  For surgical treatment there is the older and more invasive linear strip method, or the latest FDA approved hair surgery called Automated FUE.

Bon Jovi Death Hoax & Hair Loss

Jon Bon Jovi is the latest celebrity victim of the infamous “celebrity death hoax.”  Yesterday afternoon Jon quickly went to Facebook to set the record straight stating “heaven look a lot like New Jersey.”

In the early days of his career, Jon sported the infamous long big hair of the 1980s. Over the years his hair has been de-poofed and cut shorter to reveal significant hair thinning and hair loss of the frontal hairline. On February 20, 2009 Starpulse.com quoted Bon Jovi ”Oh, let me tell you, I am so worried (about my hair). I look at guys like Sting and think, ‘Well, he’s cool about it,’ but I’m already losing it a bit and I’m so aware of it. Someone told me that you have to regularly massage your scalp, so I do that all the time. You look like a jerk, but it’s got to be worth a shot, right?” At the end of 2009 Jon spoke with The Times, he said when his wife threw him a 40th birthday party he jokingly told her to take lots of photos because it would be “the last pretty birthday”. Jon Bovi reveals, “I ain’t gonna do no shots, no Botox, no hair plugs, anything. I’m comfortable enough in my skin to know that such is life. I’d rather age gracefully.”

Hair transplant surgeon Dr. Ken Williams, of OC NeoGraft Hair Restoration Center located in Irvine, California, advises patients to be proactive about their hair loss and diligent about their daily treatment program.  ”Daily treatment is key,” says Dr Williams, “the use of a DHT blocker like Propecia, and topical application of minoxidil will stop further loss and maintain the current hair density.”

Hair Loss Camouflage: Toppik Micro Fibers

Tired of hiding your thinning hair under a baseball cap, or just can’t wait for your newly transplanted hairs to begin growing?  Toppik Hair Building Fibers might be the solution to your problem. Toppik Hair Building Fibers give a natural and effective cosmetic cover-up  that conceals any signs of thinning hair and hair loss.

Toppik Fiber contains keratin protein fibers that cling to existing hair, even fine vellus hairs, through a static electrical charge that causes a magnet-like attraction, instantly making thinning hair look thick and full.  The fibers are so natural looking that they are indistinguishable from real hair and undetectable to the naked eye.

There are 9 different hair colors to choose from, making it easy for women who like to darken the hair in the winter and lighten in the summer. Toppik Fibers are strong enough to out last wind, rain, and perspiration; but gentle enough to be easily removed by shampoo.

Tiger Woods Wins Chevron World Challenge & Reveals Hair Loss

On Sunday, December 4, 2011 Tiger Woods swung his way to victory at the Chevron World Challenge at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California.  Tiger birdied the final two holes and beat Zach Johnson by one stroke.  It has been two long years, 749 days to be exact, since Tiger has won either an official or unofficial tournament. After delivering a 10-foot downhill clutch birdie putt on the 18th hole Tiger gave an enthusiastic fist pump and the crowd erupted. After a quick celebration Tiger raised his cap in the air and revealed his receding frontal hairline and thinning temporal points.

It’s no secret that Tiger, currently  35 years old, has had a difficult 2 years both personally and professionally.  Has all that stress finally revealed itself through his hairline or is just unlucky genetics? Truthfully, it’s probably both. Most men have sometime of family history of hair thinning or hair loss, and emotional/physical stress can kick an existing condition into overdrive. Hair transplant surgeon Dr. Ken Williams of OC NeoGraft Hair Restoration Center located in Irvine, California treats men with this condition and appearance regularly and he has some advice. ”Tiger is my favorite pro golfer, but he definitely has experienced hair loss and there is no better time like now to start a medical treatment before he loses more hair follicles, ” says Dr. Williams. “Outside of starting a medical stabilization program, hair surgery could be considered using FUE with NeoGraft or traditional Strip surgery to add density to his frontal hairline and re-establish his temporal points,” adds Williams.

New Hair Loss Study-Inflammation May Play a Role

Pittsburgh Steelers professional football player and safety, Troy Polamalu, has made quite a name for himself off the field of football in humerous television commercials.  In August of 2010 Procter & Gamble, producers of Head & Shoulders shampoo, took out a million-dollar insurance policy for Polamalu’s hair. To our knowledge his hair still looks strong and healthy as Troy shows no signs of hair loss or disease.  But is his youthful healthy scalp and hair related to the hair product he uses?

We will probably never know for certain, but a healthy scalp is vital to good hair growth. For those patients who suffer with an itchy scalp or other scalp related problems, have you every wondered why your shampoo is not completely stopping your seemingly dry itchy scalp or hair loss?

The answer to that question was discovered in a new study on the role of inflammation in hair loss published today in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. The study, “The Role of Inflammation and Immunity in the Pathogenesis of Androgenetic Alopecia,” was performed by  physicians from Cornell and Duke University, and well-known New York dermatologist, Dr. Neil Sadick. The prime objective of the study was to determine the role of immunity and inflammation in women who experience hair loss.

In plain english, the researchers concluded that hair loss and an itchy scalp that you thought was caused by dandruff or dry scalp, may actually be caused by inflammation of the hair follicle and surrounding skin anatomic structures like the Bulge and basal layer of the skin. “This is an excellent study that gives new insight into how hair loss occurs,”  says Dr. Ken Williams, Irvine, California hair restoration physician. Williams adds, “they used topical steroid creams as a part of their treatment protocol and they clearly demonstrated how successful it can be in treating hair loss.  But we need more confirming data before treatment protocols are established.”

An unexpected finding from this study were specific body proteins, called immunoglobulins and complement, were found deposited in portions of the skin (epidermis or dermis) and hair follicle. These unique proteins are hypothesized to cause a type of inflammatory response in the hair follicle that interferes with the physiology of hair cycle or growth. Although this study details the hair loss physiology in very technical and scientific language, these inflammatory proteins, nonetheless, are felt to interfere with the hair cycle.

Tom Hanks Hair Loss-Genetic Testing for Children

There are many inheritable characteristics children stand to obtain from their parents, and an unfortunately hair loss is one of them. If Tom Hanks‘ sons, Colin and Chet, want to know if they will one day in the future develop their father’s receding hairline, there is new science that will help them gather that information. DermaGenoma has revolutionized the field of genetic testing with Hair Dx.  Hair Dx is the newest and exciting science based and FDA approved genetic testing for hair loss.

In the field of hair restoration, the greatest challenge is when to begin treatment for hair loss for those genetically at-risk children whose parents suffer from hair loss. It is a well-known fact that many at-risk teenagers and young adults will not notice their hair loss until approximately 50% of their hair follicles are permanently gone. Although the medical research is lacking, the question is always asked by those patients at risk because of a strong family history,  is it reasonable to begin a medical treatment program before the hair loss is observed.  The hair Dx test provides the needed accuracy for the patient to decide on an early prevention program.

Hair loss surgeon Dr. Ken Williams of OC NeoGraft Hair Restoration Center in Irvine, California uses Hair DX genetic testing in his hair loss practice. “This test is based on solid science and academic understanding of DNA. It completely transformed what we know and how we treat hair loss in men and women” says Dr. Williams. “Those young adults can benefit from knowing their genetic test results so they can make a more complete decision on whether to start a medical prevention program.”

The Hair DX genetic test is not just for men, but it assist hair loss specialists in determining if specific medication, i.e., Finasteride,  will benefit women. In young men like Mr. Hanks children who have a strong genetic history of hair loss, it helps predict hair loss or thinning. If a patient is diagnosed early, timely medication stabilization and treatment programs will help delay miniaturization of the hair follicle.