AHP Indie Stylist

Volume 3, Issue 2

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36 indie stylist Volume 3 Issue 2 THE EMOTIONAL IMPACT OF HAIR LOSS To understand what a client facing hair loss may be going through, it's helpful to have information on the science behind it. "My advice [would be to understand] what the consumer's needs are, and understand what your capabilities are," says Angelo David of the Angelo David Salon in New York City, which specializes in hair loss. "You may not know everything about thinning hair, but you have to have some idea of what you're speaking to the consumer about. And then, how do you address it? With what kind of products, with what kind of services, whether it's a hairpiece, extensions, a wig—all kinds of things." Research published in 2005 showed that while hair loss (specifically related to alopecia) usually has few physically harmful effects, it may have psychological consequences such as anxiety and depression. 2 Hair loss can be particularly distressing to women, since society often associates hair with femininity and beauty. Studies found that about 40 percent of women with alopecia have had marital problems as a result, while about 63 percent claim to have had career-related problems. 3 Of course, hair loss can be a difficult experience for people of any gender. A 2019 study in the International Journal of Trichology showed that alopecia lowered the quality of life for many men, particularly regarding self-perception and interpersonal relations. 4 "It should be specified that hair growth and hairstyle are important elements of an individual's identity: Hair strongly influences whether a person is seen as physically attractive, and there are consistent advantages of being perceived as attractive, such as better personal relations, better emotional and psychological strength, and priority in employment practices," the study's authors concluded. "Men with greater hair loss had more concern about getting older, perceived noticeability to others, and greater dissatisfaction with their hair appearance than men with less hair loss." Over his 30 years of working as a stylist focusing on hair loss, David has seen countless clients suffer emotionally due to losing or thinning hair. "People will come in and say, 'I was diagnosed with cancer; I have a great doctor and great support, and I'm going to beat this.' A lot of women tell me, 'Angelo, I could deal with that [cancer], but I can't deal with the fact that I'm losing my hair.'" While speaking to the American Academy of Dermatology in 2009, dermatologist and clinical psychologist Richard G. Fried, MD, of Yardley, Pennsylvania, discussed the

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