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1st experience with Alopecia.

  • Writer: Lady T
    Lady T
  • Feb 19, 2021
  • 5 min read

Heyy all. So I have a really informative and educational post for you ladies and gents today.

We are going to cover the topic of "Suffering from Alopecia". What's that you ask? Well , Alopecia is hair loss or balding. While there are a few different types of Alopecia, I am only going to cover the most common. You can reference this article https://www.drugs.com/cg/alopecia.html for more information on the different types of Alopecia. I am going to cover signs or symptoms that may occur with Alopecia, how Alopecia is diagnosed, how it can be treated,a nd how to manage it. First, I am going to share my experience with helping a client of mine who suffers from Alopecia. Then I am going to cover the other topics. Okay so first thing 's first.


So I recently had a request to do a dread lock re-twist on the 27th of Febuary. I accepted the appointment of course. So the 27th comes around and my client arrives. Great, I am so happy she took the time to show up to her appointment because, I get a few no shows a month and it can be frustrating to clean up and set up and then, nothing. So, the first thing I do is wash her hair. As I am washing, I am taking note to the condition her hair is in. Okay, got mental note of it and my mental note is :" I got this!!.


We go back to the styling chair where I began towel drying her hair as much as possible before adding my special products. I always towel dry or air dry as much as possible before blow drying to prevent heat damage. Even still, I use a heat protecting oil that I generously apply to the hair before using any type of heat. Anywho, her hair is damp dry and I apply my oil. I just used a all natural oil called Jojoba oil. I like to re-twist the hair while it is still damp that way it can dry in the desired style and lock into place. I then began to part and re-twist each lock accordingly. As I began this process, some of her locks were falling out. Some of them I had to cut to separate into 2 locks so that it will come out evenly. Me now having the knowledge I have, I instantly knew how to handle this situation and, I did the re attachment process along with the re-twist. It was the only thing I knew to do.


31/2 hours later, I am finished and she is so happy. I am shocked myself at the end result but, not really because I never doubted my talent. 1st time or not, I know what I can handle and what I can't and, I handled this really well I must say. Take a look at the pictures below and tell me what you guys think of how I did. Can you tell this client is suffering form Alopecia?

Keep reading for more on Alopecia...


Symptoms and Signs that may occur with Alopecia:

  • Burning, tingling, or itchiness on your scalp

  • Hair that is damaged and breaks easily

  • Notching or pitting problems in your fingernails or toes

  • Scales or flakes from the areas of hair loss

  • Swelling and redness of the scalp

How is Alopecia diagnosed?

  • A pull test may be done. Your healthcare provider will advise you to not shower or wash your hair for 24 hours. He/She will gently tug on about 60 of your hairs. If more than 6 hairs come out, they may be sent for testing.

  • A punch biopsy which is a test that is done to look at your scalp. Your healthcare provider will get 2 samples of scalp tissue and send for tests.

  • A trichogram measures your hair loss. Your healthcare provider will look at your hair under a microscope. He or she will measure the different stages of hair growth.

  • Blood tests may be done to find the cause of your Alopecia.

Treatment for Alopecia

Treatment for hair loss always depends on the cause of your condition. In some cases, hair loss may get better on it's own with no treatment. in other cases, certain medicines you take could be the cause of your hair loss. If in this event, you should reach out to your healthcare provider and talk about other options that don't include hair loss as a side affect. Because, who wants to lose their hair over a medicine? No one.

If your hair loss is severe, you may want to consider one of the following treatments:

  • Hair growing agents help promote hair growth. The medicine must be used continuously until new hair grows on the affected area.

  • Steroids help decrease inflammation and damage to the hair follicle. Corticosteroids may be used to treat Alopecia Areata.

  • Estrogen is a female hormone that is used for women with Hyperandrogenism (high levels of male hormones). Estrogen can reduce the effects of male hormones on hair growth. This treatment is used in women with female pattern baldness.

  • Immunologic agents affect the immune system cells that may be attacking hair follicles. This treatment is used to treat Alopecia Areata.

  • Antibiotics or antifungals may be needed if your Alopecia is caused by an infection.


  • Hair transplant surgery removes hair follicles from one part of your head and puts them into the bald area. This is usually done only if your condition is severe and medicines fail to improve your hair loss. Ask your healthcare provider for more information about hair transplant surgery.

Ways to manage your Alopecia

The cause of your symptoms and your treatment will depend on the type of relief you get.

Sometimes, Alpoecia can go away and then come back. It can also continue even with treatment so you want to make sure you are doing everything in your power, to manage your Alopecia, in the right way that will be the most effective to the continued health of your hair. Here are a few ways to manage your Alopecia...

  • Avoid hair and scalp trauma. Use a soft-bristled hair brush and wide-toothed comb. Avoid the overuse of chemicals on your hair. Avoid hairstyles that pull your hair too much.

  • Eat healthy foods. Poor nutrition can cause hair loss as well. Healthy foods include fruits, vegetables, whole-grain breads, low-fat dairy products, beans, lean meats, and fish. Eat healthy snacks, such as low-fat yogurt, if you get hungry between meals.

  • Reduce stress. Sleep and exercise are essential. Learn new ways to relax, such as deep breathing, meditation, and listening to music. These may help you cope with stressful events. Try to limit the amount of stress you take in as well. Stress is the number one cause of hair loss.

Thank you all for reading my article.


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