Want to look younger? It may be time for a new 'do. Try these tips to turn your damaged, old hairstyle into a fresh, new look.

1. Lose Some Length...
Über-long hair is a tough look for over-40 women. "I call it the '1661' — a woman's long hair makes her look 16 from the back, but from the front you see she is actually nearing retirement age," says Pantene celebrity hairstylist Danilo. A universally flattering length: to the collarbone. "A cut that grazes the collar and has face-framing layers also draws attention away from an aging neck," says Jet Rhys, a San Diego stylist.

2. ...But Don't Overdo It
How short is too short? There's no rule, but keep in mind that the end point of your cut emphasizes the facial feature next to it, says Rhys. So if you're concerned about a sagging jawline, don't ask for a chin-length bob. And remember that a short 'do isn't an excuse to hang up your blow dryer. "Too many women think a short cut is a free pass to forgo styling, but when hair has no polish, it can look matronly," she says. Cropped styles are modern and youthful when they're smooth and sleek; if those qualities don't come naturally to your hair, use a frizz-fighter.

3. Embrace Change
"If you have the same 'do you had 10 years ago, it's time for a new look," says Nick Arrojo, owner of Arrojo Studio, NYC. "You're not wearing the same clothes — why have the same hair?" If you're leery of drastic change, take baby steps. "Something as simple as moving your part can update your look," says Rhys.

4. Try New Ingredients
High-tech ones aren't limited to face lotions: A slew of anti-agers, like niacinamide and caffeine, are debuting in hair products. They offer cosmetic benefits, like smoothness, shine, and a generally more youthful appearance, says Jeni Thomas, Ph.D., of Proctor & Gamble R & D: "The hair cuticle is similar to the top layer of skin, so it makes sense that these ingredients will have beneficial effects on hair and skin."

5. Redo Your Hue
Whether you hit the salon or take the DIY route, subtle tweaks to your color can make a huge difference. "A woman's complexion lightens and becomes more translucent as she ages, so what looked great when she was 25 may not look so good when she's 50," explains Arrojo. Think about the hair you had as a child, suggests Brad Johns, color director at the Salon & Spa at Saks Fifth Avenue, New York. "Go back to that color family, whether it was blond, brunette, or red. Anything monotone looks severe and aging, so add highlights and multiple tones throughout." When in doubt, err on the lighter side — dark hues create too harsh a contrast with paling skin.

6. Get Fringe Benefits
Bangs can camouflage forehead lines (the "Bangtox" effect), but not all do it equally well. "A blunt bang that hangs straight across the forehead isn't for everyone. It can emphasize aging features and more mature skin," says Sarah Potempa, stylist for Aussie Haircare. "Opt for a side-swept fringe with layers that blend into the rest of your hair; it'll make your features look soft and youthful." Be sure that bangs are in proportion to your cut; they work best on shoulder-length styles (any shorter, and your fringe may not stand out from the rest of your hair).

7. Gray Gracefully
Before ditching the dye, determine if gray will be flattering. "When a brunette turns gray, it looks silvery and pretty. But blonds tend to go white, which can make them look pale," says Johns. Wait until hair is at least 75% gray before growing it out: "Otherwise, it will look like you forgot to color it." Then, use smoothing stylers. "Gray hair is wiry and frizzy. Smooth strands make the color look vibrant," says Rhys.

8. Upgrade Your Products
"As your hair texture changes with age, you need a different formula," explains Potempa. "Strands get drier and coarser, so switch to moisturizing products and avoid anything stripping, like clarifying shampoos." Plus, there are new ingredients and technology in stylers, so it's worth experimenting. Try shine enhancers, a newer category of products with reflective ingredients that add luster and smooth the cuticle. Apply on dry tresses as a final styling step.

9. Fake Fuller Locks
Whoever said "Thin is in" was not talking about hair. Create volume with the right cut and styling MO. "Thin hair should be mid-neck length or shorter and have layers throughout," says Rhys. Style with a root booster, then hold the top sections of your hair straight up as you blow-dry. Color is another route to lush locks: "Highlights and lowlights add dimension, making hair look thicker, and coloring also temporarily plumps the cuticle."

If you are experiencing hair loss - Apollo Hair Replacement of Dallas/Ft. Worth is here to help. Give us a call at 1-800- 339-4247 or more information on our hair systems, hair regrowth options for women, or to join our hair club.

SOURCE: WebMD Commentary from "Good Housekeeping" Magazine By Melanie Rud Originally published on February 20, 2013

Cicatricial Alopecia Overview

December 2012 (www.niams.hih.gov)

Cicatricial alopecia, also called scarring alopecia, refers to a group of rare disorders that destroy hair follicles. The follicles are replaced with scar tissue, causing permanent hair loss.

Cicatricial alopecia has two forms. In the primary form, the hair follicle is the target of the destructive process. In the secondary form, the hair follicle is an innocent bystander, destroyed by another cause. This can be a severe burn, an infection, radiation, or a tumor.

This fact sheet focuses on the primary form. The primary form is defined by the type of immune cells involved. These immune cells inflame and destroy the hair follicle. They are called either lymphocytes or neutrophils. Sometimes, the process shifts between the two kinds of cells.

What Is the Cause?

The cause of cicatricial alopecia is not well understood. What is known is that redness, heat, pain, or swelling occurs at the upper part of the hair follicle. That is the place where stem cells and sebaceous (oil) glands are located. Stem cells are cells that can develop into different kinds of cells. If the stem cells and oil glands are destroyed, the hair follicle cannot regrow, and hair is permanently lost.

Who Gets Cicatricial Alopecia?

Cicatricial alopecia is not contagious. It occurs worldwide in otherwise healthy men and women. It affects all ages, but is not common in children.

This condition usually affects only one family member. One exception is central centrifugal alopecia. It most commonly affects women of African ancestry, and may occur in more than one family member.

In some cases, hair loss happens quickly, and there is severe itching, pain, and burning. In other cases, hair loss is gradual, and there are no other symptoms.

How Is Cicatricial Alopecia Diagnosed?

A doctor may see a loss of hair follicles on the scalp and ask for a scalp biopsy. The biopsy provides information about which type of cell is involved, where and how much inflammation there is, and whether the oil gland is still there. It can also show other changes in the scalp. The biopsy helps the doctor diagnose the type of cicatricial alopecia, and how much there is. Then he or she can decide with the patient on treatment or therapy.

Other things the doctor will do:

A clinical evaluation of the scalp, noting symptoms such as itching, burning or tenderness; signs of inflammation including redness, scaling, and pustules; and overall extent and pattern of hair loss.
A hair-pull test to identify areas of active disease where hairs are easily pulled out.
A microscopic evaluation of the hair bulbs—expansions at the base of the hair from which the shaft develops—to determine if the hairs pulled out in a hair-pull test are resting hairs or growing hairs.
Take cultures of pustules, if present, to identify which microbes may be contributing to inflammation.
How Is Cicatricial Alopecia Treated?

Because hair loss in cicatricial alopecia is permanent and the hair does not grow back, it is important to begin aggressive treatment early before extensive hair is lost. The specific treatment used varies, depending largely on whether lymphocytes, neutrophils, or both are predominantly responsible for the hair follicle destruction.

The form of the disorder caused mainly by lymphocytes is usually treated with medicines to remove the inflammatory cells. Oral treatments may include antimalarials, antibiotics, immunosuppressive drugs, and a class of diabetes medications called thiazolidinediones. Medicines applied directly to the skin include corticosteroids, topical tacrolimus, and other agents that suppress or modulate the immune system. Corticosteroids may be injected directly into inflamed, symptomatic areas of the scalp.

The form of the disorder caused mainly by neutrophils is treated with oral and topical antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications. For cases involving both neutrophils and lymphocytes, treatment may include antimicrobials, anti-inflammatory medications, and retinoids. Retinoids are a class of medicines chemically related to vitamin A. An agent that blocks tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), a molecular messenger involved in systemic inflammation, may be helpful for dissecting cellulitis that does not respond to other treatments.

Although hair cannot grow back after a follicle has been destroyed, it may be possible to stimulate follicles in the affected area before permanent damage occurs. Applying an antihypertensive medicine that promotes hair growth may stimulate viable follicles.

Treatment usually lasts a long time. It continues until the symptoms and signs are controlled, and progression of hair loss has been slowed or halted. Unfortunately, hair loss may continue silently even after the symptoms and signs have been removed. After cicatricial alopecia stabilizes, it may start up again after a period of years, and treatment may need to be restarted.

Is There a Role for Surgical Treatment?

After the disease has been inactive for 1 or 2 years, surgical hair restoration or scalp reduction may be useful for restoring hair to bald areas. In hair restoration surgery, also known as hair transplantation or follicular micrografting, follicles from the back of the head are surgically removed and transplanted into bare areas of the scalp. In scalp reduction, a bald area of the scalp is removed, and the part of the scalp next to it is pulled together to cover the gap. It is important to understand that cicatricial alopecia may recur even after surgical intervention.

What Types of Doctors Diagnose and Treat Cicatricial Alopecia?

Dermatologists are the specialists who diagnose and treat cicatricial alopecia. Dermatologists are doctors trained to diagnose and treat diseases of the skin, hair, and nails.

What Research Is Being Done?

Researchers are working to better understand the inflammation and inflammatory cells that target and destroy the hair follicles. One of the most promising areas of research in the form of the disorder called lichen planopilaris (LPP) suggests that inflammation may result from changes in the lipid and metabolism in the oil glands.

Specifically, the loss of function of a protein called peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ), which regulates fatty acid storage and glucose metabolism. This leads to the abnormal processing and buildup of lipids, triggering inflammation, which results in scarring and destruction of the hair follicle. A new approach to treatment for LPP may be drugs to block PPAR-γ. These medications are already in wide use for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Resources

Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center

Website: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/
American Academy of Dermatology (AAD)

Website: http://www.aad.org
Cicatricial Alopecia Research Foundation

Website: http://www.carfintl.org
North American Hair Research Society

Website: http://www.nahrs.org
Acknowledgment

The NIAMS gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Vera H. Price, M.D., in the development and review of this publication.

The mission of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Institutes of Health (NIH), is to support research into the causes, treatment, and prevention of arthritis and musculoskeletal and skin diseases; the training of basic and clinical scientists to carry out this research; and the dissemination of information on research progress in these diseases. The NIAMS information clearinghouse is a public service sponsored by the NIAMS that provides health information and information sources. Additional information can be found on the NIAMS website at www.niams.nih.gov.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH)—The Nation’s Medical Research Agency—includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary Federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

For Your Information

This publication contains information about medications used to treat the health condition discussed here. When this publication was developed, we included the most up-to-date (accurate) information available. Occasionally, new information on medication is released.

For updates and for any questions about any medications you are taking, please contact

U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Toll Free: 888–INFO–FDA (888–463–6332)
Website: http://www.fda.gov

For additional information on specific medications, visit Drugs@FDA at www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/drugsatfda. Drugs@FDA is a searchable catalog of FDA-approved drug products.

For updates and questions about statistics, please contact

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics

Website: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs
This publication is not copyrighted. Readers are encouraged to duplicate and distribute as many copies as needed.

Additional copies of this publication are available from:

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Information Clearinghouse
National Institutes of Health

1 AMS Circle
Bethesda, MD 20892-3675
Phone: 301-495-4484
Toll Free: 877-22-NIAMS (877-226-4267)
TTY: 301-565-2966
Fax: 301-718-6366
Email: NIAMSinfo@mail.nih.gov
Website: http://www.niams.nih.gov

NIH Publication No. 12–7862

Hair loss can be a serious problem for people who suffer from the condition. However, hair loss isn't just a physical problem. Your confidence can take a hit when you start to experience hair loss. You may feel like everyone can see your thinning hair and that they think less of you because of your condition. You might even feel like you are less than yourself, which begins to show to the outside world in these ways:

• Dating Confidence: Dating and relationships can be difficult if you are dealing with hair loss. You might feel like you are less attractive to your spouse once your hair starts to thin and fall out, and may wonder if your husband or wife will feel the same way about you. Finding a new partner can feel impossible without a full head of hair, which can really begin to wear your down psychologically.
• Business Relationships: Your business relationships and savvy may start to waver as a result of hair loss. You might feel like people are looking at your hair during business presentations, even if they aren't, which can shake your confidence during important meetings. You might not have the confidence to go after big projects or make the best impression on new clients or the big boss.
• Overall Discouragement: No one likes to feel older than they are, but with  hair loss creeping across your scalp, you might feel like you have more years under your belt than you actually do. Especially if you are a younger person experiencing hair loss, then you could be faced with feelings of being older and inadequate compared to counterparts who are the same age.

At Apollo Hair Replacement in Dallas, you can find the hair regrowth treatments you need for your thinning hair. Our hair restoration therapies can help you gain your confidence back in all aspects of your life. Give us a call at 1-800- 339-4247

 Hair Loss can be caused by many different conditions and treated in multiple ways. For hair restoration to be successful, it is important to figure out the reason for your thinning hair. Hair loss is a problem that many people face. It can be treated in a number of different ways, including hair systems and laser hair therapy. The most important thing to remember is that you need a professional on your side if you are experiencing hair loss.
For hair restoration in Dallas/Fort Worth, visit Apollo Hair Replacement.  We offer the latest technology, at a fair price, with no hidden cost and no initiation fees. We can help with your hair regrowth. 

Call us now for a FREE consultation! 1 (800) 339-4247