Female hair loss not so rare
Contra Costa Times

By Jessica Yadegaran

CHERYL BREWSTER was the envy of every gym rat, with her hard body and shoulder-length, sun-kissed locks.

So when she began experiencing hair loss two years ago, the personal trainer was devastated.

‘My part was getting wider, I could see more of my scalp and it was no coincidence that clumps of hair were falling out in the shower,’ says Brewster, 40, of Orinda.

A slew of vitamins and thickening hair loss shampoos later, Brewster’s dermatologist diagnosed her with female-pattern baldness and started her on Rogaine — the drug minoxidil — which initially caused Brewster to shed more hair. It is only recently, after a year of use, that Brewster is seeing regrowth.

‘I was horrified,’ recalls Brewster, who went on anti-depressants. ‘I didn’t want to be the trainer with the bald head.’

It’s likely that stress and anemia exacerbated Brewster’s genetic condition. In fact, there are endless triggers for the millions of women who suffer from hair loss — from medications and crash dieting to thyroid problems and autoimmune disorders, says Alexander Lewis, a Walnut Creek dermatologist. Millions more suffer from traction alopecia, a hair-loss epidemic caused by cornrow braids and other tight hairstyles.

Unlike male-pattern baldness, which is triggered by a known hormone, women with the hair loss condition often find themselves on a frustrating journey with more dead-ends than answers. Often they become depressed, coping with the loss of their crowning glory in a society that favors full, youthful heads of hair. For that reason, many don’t seek help. But a growing online hair loss community is now spreading the word on what works and where to get help.

‘Women have camouflaged their hair loss for a long time,’ says Alan Bauman, a Florida hair transplant surgeon whose clientele is 40 percent female. ‘But it is definitely coming out of the closet, thanks to new hair loss treatments.’

Hair loss is perfectly normal. The average woman sheds 50 to 100 hairs daily, experts say. With age, follicles produce less quality hair, particularly after menopause. Regardless, dermatologists see just as many women in their 30s and 40s as post-menopausal women, says Dr. Lewis, a Stanford University adjunct associate professor of dermatology.

Look to the stars’ face shapes and haircut do’s and don’ts
By Allie Shah

Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Thinking of getting a sleek new Sienna Miller haircut this summer? If your face shape is oblong like Sarah Jessica Parker’s, you might want to reconsider.

What’s becoming on a heart face shape may not flatter a woman with an oblong or square face shape. A perfect oval face may be able to pull off many different hair lengths and styles, but a soft-featured, round face shape looks most pleasing in longer hair.

Knowing the contours of your face shape and what compliments it is the key to choosing a haircut that’s not only in style but also looks right on you. “It’s one of the first things we look at,” said Shane, owner of Mask Hair Designs and Day Spa in Minnetonka, Minn., and Plymouth, Minn. “It’s such an instinctive thing for us that I guess we don’t speak about it out in the world.”

So important is face shape in determining how to cut hair, she says, that many cosmetology schools devote two days to the study of face shapes and hairstyles.

Lyndon Barsten, an educator at Aveda Institute in Minneapolis, wrote a chapter on face shapes for a textbook that’s used to train students. In the book, called “Introduction to Styling Hair,” he identifies seven face shapes and advises which hair styles best suit each one.

The heart face shape, diamond face shape, round face shape, pear face shape, oval face shape, square face shape and oblong face shape— are meant to serve as guidelines, he says, as some people have a combination of face shapes. For example, a person may have an oval forehead and central area where the cheekbones are located, but a square jaw line.

A good way to determine your face shape is to pull all your hair back away from your face, look in the mirror and trace your face with a soap bar or lipstick.

Many consider the oval face shape ideal because almost any hairstyle and length is flattering. Heart face shapes are marked by wider foreheads and a pointed chin. Their most flattering hairstyles include medium to short lengths and wispy bangs.

People with square face shapes have a square hairline and strong jaw line. Curls soften the edges of the face. Parker is a perfect example of an oblong face shape. Bangs swept over the forehead help make the face look more oval, and people with this face shape should avoid too-short or too-long haircuts.

Round face shape are wide across the cheekbone area and round at the chin. Hair that falls to the shoulders is ideal as it helps to create a longer, less round look. “Feathered” and longer layers are also flattering.

When your hairstyle takes a tail spin
Whether casual or fancy, braid ponytail care requires some effort
By Paula Rath
The Honolulu Advertiser

From Brigitte Bardot to Kate Moss, the braid ponytail has long been a sassy hairstyle statement, and it’s back — the braid ponytail has been sashaying down runways and swishing on the red carpet. Trussed braid ponytail are perfect for women ready to swing into summer.The 2006 braid ponytail is either informally insouciant or posh and polished, and is anything but a last-ditch effort on a bad-hair day.

At a recent Chanel fashion show-benefit for the American Red Cross in Honolulu, hairdresser Kihan paired the braid ponytail with Karl Lagerfeld’s edgy designs. “It’s a mood,” Kihan explains. “It’s loose and easy, not sleek and contrived.”

On the runways in Europe and New York, Miu Miu models’ hair was pulled back at the nape of the neck, while Pucci opted for a slicked-back, glossy look and Matthew Williamson marched out his models in high, almost samurai-style topknots.

Hollywood is ponytailing it in a big way. Keira Knightley has been seen in a soft, sexy version with wisps of hair around her face. Chinese actress Ziyi Zhang prefers a sophisticated tightly pulled-back braid ponytail. Gwyneth Paltrow is known for a loose, easy, feminine take on the style.

Be aware, however, that even the most casual-looking braid ponytail requires a little effort. Sure, a braid ponytail can be low-maintenance, but it should not be no maintenance. Those escaping wisps can look sweet and sexy — or just plain sloppy. The posh braid ponytail is not achieved by simply yanking the hair back and pulling it through a rubber band.

“It’s important not to make (a braid ponytail) look contrived. It should look like you did it yourself, but it actually takes a lot of work to achieve that look,” says Kihan.