Many women who experience hair loss feel hopeless. They feel like they have nowhere to turn or that their concerns have no solutions, especially affordable ones. Hair loss is often kept a secret from family and friends, but consulting with a professional can bring hope. If they are unaware of the problem, they will appreciate you telling them, so treatment options can start sooner than later. Here are six things you can do to address your client’s hair loss.
Have a private discussion with your client
You should have a talk with your client asking he or she if they noticed a change in their hair or scalp recently. You may see a sudden bald patch, receding hairline, thinning in the crown or bang area, and a wider than usual part. Sometimes you may notice skin discolorations or a shiny smooth surface where the hair loss occurs.
Discuss what changes you see on the scalp, without trying to diagnose the problem, and recommend the client see a dermatologist. Let the client know that the dermatologist can order blood work and run another test, like a biopsy, to determine cause.
“A scalp biopsy is a short procedure, performed under local anesthesia, that allows a few hairs (and the skin surrounding those hairs”> to be removed for future examination under the microscope,” according to Dr. Jeff Donovan, a Canadian and U.S. board certified dermatologist.
Educate your client about trichology
A dermatologist can help your client with any problem related to skin while a trichologist can help with problems concerning the scalp and hair, offering clients topical therapies when necessary.
Trichologists try to find the cause of the hair loss and use information from blood work ordered by a doctor to help them in their search. Trichologists may recommend your client to a nutritionist, endocrinologist, or other specialist who may be able to help pinpoint the cause of the hair loss.
Sometimes, a dermatologist may not have time to go over all your clients concerns, or questions about what is happening to their hair. If your client needs more answers, encourage her to see a trichologist so he or she can have a more extensive scalp analysis.
Offer alternative styling options
If you notice your client is experiencing hair loss, it may be time for you to talk to her about changing her hairstyle. Clients have favorite hairstyles that they want to wear all the time. As the professional, you have to tell the client why wearing styles such as tight ponytails, cornrows, and hair extensions repeatedly are harmful to the scalp due to potential traction alopecia.
Wigs are a great alternative for clients that like protective styling and do not want to wear their own hair out. With wigs, you have access to your scalp and can cleanse your scalp regularly to avoid itchiness or dryness.
Hair loss support groups
Once your client finds out she has hair loss, you can help her with accepting and coping with the change. One way to do that is to recommend a hair loss support group like Women’s Hair Loss Project. This blog offers women the opportunity to connect and share their stories about hair loss, so your client does not feel alone.
Hair loss seminars
You can bring awareness to hair loss by hosting a hair loss seminar at your salon. Invite a dermatologist, hair replacement specialist, wig designers, nutritionist, and, trichologist to speak at the event, educating clients on hair loss. This creates a space for dialogue and resources that your clients may not have access to.
Offer resources in the salon
Add reading materials about hair loss in your waiting section. Having hair loss literature at the time of the client’s hair appointment can help them start the conversation about their hair loss with you.
You do not have to feel intimidated when addressing your clients’ hair loss. Once you inform your clients about it, you will learn that sharing the information is not as hard as it seems. It is all about compassionate, tactful, and professional.
What strategies would you use to inform your clients about hair loss?
What’s next?
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