by Jill Sznajder

Created on: December 29, 2006   Last Updated: May 14, 2007

As a Pennsylvania State licensed Cosmetologist with 20 years of experience, I can offer some very valuable and accurate information on the causes of hair loss.

Firstly, hair loss is hereditary. If mom and/or dad or grandma and/or grandpa experienced hair loss, it is possible that you will too. Hereditary hair loss is usually permanent and caused because the hair follicle deep within the scalp dies. Once this happens, the hair absolutely will not grow back.

Secondly, hair loss can be caused by certain medications. Chemotherapy, radiation treatments, and thyroid medications, I have found in my clients, are the main causes. The hair usually will grow back, but the texture and thickness may not be the same as it was before.

If you are experiencing hair loss and you believe it is from any chemical treatments you have had done, chances are that it is breakage at the line of demarcation from a color treatment or breakage from the rubber band fastener of the perm rod.

A line of demarcation is the line that separates the color treated hair from the natural regrowth. When color is applied to the regrowth and is applied over the line of demarcation, that area is being chemically treated over and over again causing the hair to become brittle and weak. Eventually, it becomes so weak and brittle that it just cannot handle any more and breaks off.

When wrapping the hair in perm rods, care needs to be taken when fastening the rubber band part of the perm rod. If the rod is not laying directly on top of the hair and is pushed in the upward direction to hold the perm rod in place, that area will be come weak and brittle during the perming process. The breakage may not occur right away, but after home care and using a comb or brush, the hair will also become weak and brittle in that area (usually near the scalp) and will break off.

Breakage from chemical treatments can be prevented if the stylist takes care and applies the product correctly. Hair loss that is hereditary or caused by medications is inevitable - if it is going to happen, it will. Once the hair follicle is dead, nothing short of a surgical transplant will help it to grow again.

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