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When it comes to hair loss, most women would do just about anything to find a quick fix. Queen Victoria supposedly drank silver birch wine to stop balding. Most advertised hair loss remedies are expensive and, unfortunately, more than 70% of them are completely ineffective. Learn what treatments are available, whether they actually work and how much they cost.
Minoxidil (Rogaine)
What is it? Minoxidil 2% is the special formula designed for women's hair loss. It is most commonly sold under the brand name Rogaine. It is the only FDA approved drug to stop balding in women.
Does it work? Rogaine is effective in 44-63% of cases with female subjects. It is more geared to stop balding rather than to regrow hair, although it has been reported to reverse the effects of alopecia in some.
How much? The cost averages out to $1 per day or $30 per month
Gene Testing (HairDx)
What is it? A new method of genetic testing called HairDx can help with hair loss, although it is not actually a treatment, but a method of diagnosis. This test is a cheek swab that is tested for two specific genes. It determines how likely balding is to occur and what sort of treatment would be most appropriate.
Does it work? Gene testing is extremely helpful and provides a short cut for women who want to know whether they need to take action now to stop balding in the future. For those with early detection, minoxidil is always the answer.
How much? This requires a trip to the doctor and costs around $400. There are talks of a do-it-yourself version for less.
Laser Therapy
What is it? Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is a painless and non-invasive procedure which involves lasers stimulating the hair follicles and promoting longer growth stages. It has been recently FDA approved as a treatment for hair loss.
Does it work? It has been identified as a method to stop balding in its tracks but it has not been yet recognized as a method of hair regrowth. It is most effective when combined with minoxidil 2%.
How much? It depends on how many treatments and how often. They will last for about 8-12 weeks and, depending on the place, can cost from $1,800 to $3,000. Many suppliers have deals on 12 month treatment plans that offer major savings. There is also a do-it-yourself system new on the market for about $500. Results on its effectiveness in comparison with the original are still pending.
Hair transplant
What is it? This method takes portions of hair with denser growth or with no androgen effects and transplants it to regions in need of more hair follicles. This is the only procedure that actually involves going under the knife and is cosmetic (does not actually stop balding).
Does it work? For androgenic alopecia (hormonal and/or genetic hair loss), usually it does not work because women's hair will simply thin and there is not a large enough donor site. For alopecia areata (autoimmune disease), it works in some cases. Only about 2-5% of women are actually eligible for a hair transplant unlike 90% of men.
How much? A hair transplant can cost anywhere from $4,000 to $10,000.
There are many other methods of hiding hair loss as opposed to trying to stop balding. Sometimes hair loss is only temporary as in the case of telogen effluvium or near impossible to treat in advanced stages. In these cases, there are many different options for maintaining appearances.
The usual starting price for a decent wig is around $100, but they can cost up to $3,000 for real quality. There is also a hair integration system where hair is semi-permanently attached onto existing hair. This is a procedure that starts around $2,000 and can get quite pricy for quality and durability (the cheaper kind must be changed quite often). There are also keratin hair fibers that attach onto existing hair to give the appearance of a fuller head of hair. This is a cosmetic, daily application solution that costs around $20 per month and is a good choice for those on a budget.
Whether you want quality or value, there are plenty of effective and innovative ways to stop balding and maintain the aesthetics of beautiful hair.
Hair loss in women can be a difficult thing to deal with. If you're experiencing hair loss or have questions, the best thing to do is to keep yourself informed and learn as much as possible at RestorationOfHair.com, where you'll find lots of free resources on dealing with women's hair loss.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
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