Cheap Clip Hair Extensions

Causes of hair loss

The causes of hair loss may be many. Very often some internal malady may be the root cause. This needs to be ascertained. Bringing into effect the proper preventive treatments can stop hair loss even before it begins by detecting the symptoms. Diseases like lupus or diabetes are a cause for hair loss. The hair loss serves as an early indication of the disease. The hair loss gets treated alongside the treatment of the disease.

Hair loss can also be the side effect of certain medication. When the administration of such medicines producing hair loss is discontinued the hair loss also stops.

Tips for Healthy Hair

1. Avoid over consumption of salt (most vegetables have their own natural sodium) and sugar; skip them entirely, if possible.

2. Same with alcohol and tobacco, also contributing causes of hair loss and dandruff.

3. Try headstands–or any position lowering your head below your body–several times daily (15 minutes each time).

4. Massage your scalp by hand, or with an electric vibrator.

5. Make a drink by blending bananas, honey, yogurt and low fat milk. This drink is rich in biotin and will help your hair to have strong roots.

6. Get sufficient sleep. Like a healthy body, healthy hair too needs a good night’s sleep.

7. if you are dieting, you should be taking a multivitamin supplement. There are even supplements specifically designed for healthy hair (such as Nature’s Bounty Vitamins for Hair™).

8. Medications that can cause hair loss include Vitamin A, certain antidepressants, testosterone products, beta blockers, certain cholesterol-lowering agents, and chemotherapy.

9. The scalp must be kept cool, so protection from sun and washing in cold or lukewarm water are paramount.

10. Sound nutrition is key, so a hair-friendly diet should emphasize proteins, iron, zinc, sulfur, Vitamin C, Vitamin B-Complex and essential fatty acids.

11. Wearing you hair up or pulling up your hair in to tight pony tails is bad. Even barrettes can have an effect on your hair health and growth. Avoid using any restrictions on your scalp. Try to keep you hair as free as possible. The mechanical action can result in hair loss, hair is plucked out the skin leaving the bald patches. The condition is known as traction alopecia and trichotillomania.

12. Natural shampoos normally found in health food stores are a much better choice. Even with natural shampoos, be careful of the ingredient Sodium Lauryl Sulfate can strip away too much oil from the hair, causing shampoo residue to be left behind. Ingredients that have proven useful in shampoos are cocamides, Panthenol Pro-B, of course the previously discussed vitamins, aloe vera, sage, nettle, burdock, chamomile, chaparral, horsetail and rosemary. Also look for shampoos that contain keratin, the protein substance that hair is made of, or amino acids. This will help seal breakages in the cuticle.

13. Pollution of environment, chemical effects of inorganic fertilizers and insecticides in the food and consumption of contaminated drinking water is indirectly responsible for the problem.

14. Because of too much awareness with regard to beauty, hair and fashion sometimes people treat the hair in an unwanted and unhealthy manner which may also be blamed for hair loss.

15. Anti oxidants which may be obtained from fresh vegetables or fruits or from medicines may be taken, of course, after consultation and under supervision of a medical professional.

For decades men, women and even children have had to stand the embarasment caused by hair loss. There are number for reasons for hair loss. Let us have a quick discussion on “What is the cause hair loss?”
There are so many causes for hair loss. When we say hair loss most of you may think about the usual types of hair loss, which includes male pattern baldness, female pattern baldness, and even alopecia areata.. But there are so many other reasons for hair loss.
Before knowing the factors that may cause hair loss, we should know the normal hair shedding process. Do you know about 10% of our hair is shedding daily at a given time? Hair losing at this level is a normal phenomenon. If the hair falling percentage exceeds the ten percent, then it is an alarming problem.
If you have undergone any surgery or any sort of illness, then it may cause hair loss. This is mainly due to the amount of stress you have acquired due to the operation and also the side effect of the medication you have taken for preventing infection during your illness.
Sometimes hormone problem may also cause hair loss. During the hormonal imbalance, you may experience hair loss. This can easily be corrected by injecting appropriate hormones to correct the imbalance.
Pregnancy may also cause hair loss. Hair loss is noticed among the pregnant women even after delivery.. This is also related to hormones. In this condition, there is no need to worry because the hair regrowth will be back to normal after some months.
In addition to all these factors, one important factor that may cause hair loss is how you wear your hair. In case if you are a woman and having a tendency of wearing your hair in tight fashion, then you might suffer from hair loss.
Some medicines, which may cause hair loss irrespective of sex, are anticoagulants, wincrysticin or onchocryticin (Cancer medication), medicines used for gout, birth control pills, antidepressants and Vitamin A (if it is taken in excessive amount). Sulpha drugs may cause hair loss as well.
Sometimes underlying diseases such as lupus or diabetes may also cause hair loss. Hence it is very important to detect the cause for hair loss as early as possible to stop the hair falling. Once you have lost so much hair it is very difficult to treat the condition because prevention is better than cure.
As you have gone through these factors which may cause hair loss, it is clearly evident that there are so many reasons for hair loss and surprisingly in some cases the hair is growing back. Hence don’t worry about the hair loss and also do not panic too much because panic itself may cause hair loss!

People all over the world see hair as important. In the west, for instance, almost all brides are prepared for their approach to the altar by the hands of an expert stylist. On that supreme day, their hair style may be the most elaborate they will ever have in their lives. At the opposite extreme, when a young girl of one of the aboriginal tribes of the Amazon jungle reaches puberty the women of the village ceremonially remove all the hairs from her head, one by one. The ritual significance and mystique of hair on these occasions are undeniable.

We use our hair to express our personalities – to conform, to make a statement, to help us feel good, to attract other people. Sometimes our hair even seems to reflect our mood, especially when we are sad or depressed. Our hair is perhaps our most distinctive feature. Any sudden change in its color or style startles our friends and produces comments from our family. Hair is an amazing material.

In the hands of an expert and with the use of modern hair products, it is soft and shining and seems full of life. Strangely, however, hair is dead. Hair, if properly looked after, made to shine with ‘health’.

Yet all too often this ‘crowning glory’ of ours is neglected. And then it can look shoddy, dull and lifeless. It becomes a constant disappointment, all the worse because we know that, however expensive and beautiful our clothes, if our hair looks a mess we won’t be seen as well-groomed, poised and fashionable.

Hair so often fails to do for us exactly what we expected. Its behaviour raises endless questions, sometimes almost despairing: Why did my hair suddenly look such a mess just before that vital interview? Could I have done anything to avoid that happening?

Why did it look fine when I walked out of the salon yesterday, and terrible this morning?

Why, when it had so much volume and ‘body’ when I was on that Mediterranean holiday, has all that gone now I’m at home in November?

Why was the results of that home color so disappointing?

Why does a woman’s hair so often ‘fall out’ after she has had a baby?

Why do so many men (and some women) go bald?

Why does so-and-so’s lovely red hair never perm very well? Why does my hair go out of condition so easily? What can I do to restore it?

All hairs naturally fall out at the end of the growing period. You can lose between 50 and 80 hairs a day. They tend to come out with brushing and shampooing. So if you wash your hair only once a week, it is perfectly in order for you to lose several hundred hairs at one go!

However, it is possible, a person may start to lose more hairs than usual. If this hair loss is significant, and if it persists, then sooner or later the scalp may become visible through the thinning hair. The condition is called alopecia. The name comes from the Greek word alopekia, which means ‘fox’: foxes (and also dogs) sometimes suffer from bald patches due to an unpleasant disease called mange. (Fortunately, humans do not get mange!) http://www.overcominghairloss.com

Your hair is like cake without the frosting. It is just not right if you do not have it all. Hair loss can be embarrassing and frustrating. Seeing more scalp and not hair is not what you want to see. Many things can cause hair loss. It can come from stress, heredity, and side effects from certain medicines. Even children can experience the ugly terror of hair loss. The medical term for hair loss is alopecia. About one third of men and women have this condition. This condition is known as permanent hair loss at the temple and at the top of the head.

Men have and can lose their hair as early as their twenties. Women can experience balding at the temple, sides and the crown of the head. Permanent hair loss can happen from inflammation of the scalp that damages the hair follicles. This condition is called Cicatricial alopecia. Signs are patchy hair loss that follows with itching and pain. The average person has five million hairs, except for on the lips, palms and soles of the feet. For an inch of hair to grow, it takes about four months. It takes about six years for healthy hair to grow and then fall out. Certain diseases can cause your hair to fall out like thyroid problems, diabetes and lupus.

Chemotherapy for cancer treatment is also cause, heredity, lack of protein, aging and poor health. Keeping the scalp healthy is the key to having beautiful and strong hair. Nourish your scalp and reap the results. Keep it moisturize, block it fun the sun as much as possible, giving it a conditioning treatment is very, very, important and supply your body with the proper nutrients.

The average head has about 100,000 hair follicles. If you are losing at least a hundred strands of hair a day, it can be hair loss. Hair color is also known for causing you to lose hair. Bleaching of the hair can cause splits ends, dryness, and make your hair brittle. When using a hair color caution is at bay. You have to keep your hair conditioned, keep it from being exposed from too much sunlight and maintain it very well. Chemicals damage hair. Hair is skin; it is fragile and will look unhealthy and excessively break when improperly treated.

Hair loss affects 30 million women and it is a growing problem. There are treatments out for people that have permanent hair loss. There are surgeries, at home remedies, and the good old fashion vitamin supplements.

 The Provillus hair loss treatment will give you back that head full of hair you’ve once had so that you can be you again. It’s an all natural hair growth supplement that gives you amazing results. It prevents hair loss and regrows your natural hair for Men and Women.

Vitamin Power.com also has health supplements that will help you to keep your hair strong and healthy.

It may not be obvious, but our hair serves an important function in our lives. First, the hair affects our overall image. Your hair length, hairstyle and hair color depicts your persona and fashion sense. Having great hair can also improve your general appearance and boost your self confidence. Other than showing your fashion statement, your hair also protects your scalp and your head. With these roles in mind, it is quite apparent why people should take care of their crowning glory. Here are some tips to follow in the art of hair restoration:
Eat nutritious foods and maintain a balanced diet
Make sure that you are healthy. Avoid going on crash diets as such often causes malnutrition. Note that poor nutrition can cause inadequate supply of vitamins needed to maintain proper hair care. Eat lots of food containing iron and protein since deficiency of these nutrients may lead to excessive hair loss. Also, make sure that you have adequate intake of foods rich in vitamin C. This way, you can promote your body’s immune system and prevent acquisition of various diseases which may induce hair loss.
Avoid excessive hair styling and hair treatments
You should handle your hair in a gentle and tender manner. Do not experiment with your hair every now and then. Recognize that dying, bleaching, and tinting your hair introduces damages to its thickness and luster, especially if such procedures are done in irregular intervals and/or intervals less than six months. Applying chemicals to straighten or curl your hair can also lead excessive loss in the hair’s natural moisture. Losing your natural hair moisture then causes your hair to become dry and dull. Note that dry hair and damaged scalp introduces hair loss conditions. Excessive brushing and tight hairstyles such as buns and braids can also promote hair fall.
Maintain a clean scalp
Keep in mind that your scalp can get infections as easily as your skin can. As such, it is important that you keep your scalp very clean. The best way to do such is to take a bath everyday and cleanse your hair and scalp with shampoo and water. Avoid being exposed to excessive smoke and dirt. Be wary of scalp infections since they do not only cause itching and irritation. More often than not, scalp infections invade your scalp and cause your hair to fall off in the infected portions. When infected, it is best to immediately consult your dermatologist and treat the infection with oral anti-fungal medications.
When taking medications that promote alopecia, opt for alternatives
There are certain drugs that induce baldness or hair loss. These include medications for psychosis, depression, infertility, arthritis, and heart complications. Aside from these drugs, medical treatment processes such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy for cancer patients can also cause excessive hair loss. In such cases, it is best to consult your doctor for possible alternatives to the treatment or to the required medications. However, be at ease with the fact that when you stop taking the drugs or when the treatment process ends, your hair will naturally grow again.

Like it or not anyone wearing a hat today is making a fashion statement, simply because not many people wear them these days on a daily basis, apart from the ubiquitous baseball cap.

Many women feel uncomfortable wearing a hat, with the most common reason seemingly that hats â??just donâ??t suit them and they donâ??t look right in themâ?.

Perhaps it is just because we donâ??t wear them very often and we just donâ??t know what suits us. So how do women get to a point where they feel comfortable in hats, let alone confident enough to create their own distinctive hat wearing style? And what happens if wearing a hat suddenly becomes a central issue in your life?

For women experiencing hair loss either because of chemotherapy side effects, Alopecia areata or hair thinning, this is exactly what happens and it becomes an additional challenge they face. To cope with this impact of a prolonged period of hair loss, it becomes essential that they feel able to â??manageâ?? their new image and wearing hats or other types of headwear is part of this strategy.

Understanding your face shape is the first step. The shape of your face is a key factor in selecting the best headwear for you. A hat creates a sense of presence and is a way to reflect your personal style. And the way it works with hairstyles is the way it works with hats. Not all hat styles will flatter you, but rest assured there is a style out there that will suit you. The tricky bit is finding it!

FACE SHAPES

Square Face

Whatever style you choose, wear your hat at a slight slant or tilt; this will give a more flattering, asymmetrical look to your face.

Round Face

Do not select hat styles that are narrower than the width of your face i.e. Fez or flower pot shapes. Wider shapes with brims will suit you better. With a round face your hats should only be worn at a slight angle.

Narrow/Long Face

Avoid tall hats, instead try hats with brims (they donâ??t have to be big) just enough to add width around the head. Trims should also add width around the crown section of the hat.

Heart-shaped Face

If you have wide cheekbones or a heart shaped face, youâ??ll look in good in any style, even those head-hugging styles that can be so hard to wear. Wear them straight across the forehead or hairline.

Wide Face

Hats worn off the face work well, tilted towards the back of the head, (think Jackie Onassis and youâ??ve captured the style). Hat styles that are naturally worn high on the forehead will always suit you.

Larger Nose

If your nose isnâ??t your favourite feature, wear your hats so that they sit forward on the head (buy styles that give deeper coverage at the nape of the neck), preferably with a brim or peak to draw attention away from it.

N.B Remember these are only guidelines, not hard and fast rules. There are always ways of altering a hat to suit. Trims in particular can change the shape/width of a hat drastically. Colour and fabric texture (print or stripe) also play an important role in â??disguisingâ?? the overall shape of the hat.

Trailing round department stores trying on shapes is one option, although if you really donâ??t know what suits you, this can be exhaustive and more than a little disheartening. Another alternative is to ask your friends and family to root out every hat theyâ??ve ever bought. Then in front of a full-length mirror try them all on, taking a little time to assess each one properly.

The reason for the full-length mirror is that it gives a sense of proportion from hem to waistline and from waistline to neckline. It also allows you to see the hat width or lack of width on your upper body. If you canâ??t find a full-length mirror, find the biggest mirror you can and preferably a hand held mirror as well, so that you can see the back of your head comfortably. (Look into the hand held mirror with your back to the larger mirror and turn your head and the mirror until you can see the back of your head.)

Now youâ??ve got the best chance of assessing how you look from all sides, so alter how youâ??re wearing the hats whilst they are on your head. Try them from side to side, on a slant or with a front to back tilt. If a friend is on hand, ask them to look in the mirror with you, rather than at you, before they comment. Because the mirror flattens â??the pictureâ?? and you see yourself in two dimensions, it is easier for us to take in the â??full effectâ??, rather than looking directly at the person. If you do that you will end up looking where you always do, at the personâ??s face and not studying the upper body.

Don’t give up…

If you are unsuccessful in finding the perfect style from your hoard, take a different view. Try not to view the hat as a single component, but think about it in two parts – the crown and the brim. Compile a picture of all the â??best bitsâ?? of the hat, for example, taking the crown from one with the brim of another may â??makeâ?? your perfect hat. Or perhaps a side trim that works better than a material drape all the way round the hat.

Once you have a firm idea of what works, start your search in retail outlets and on the web. Donâ??t get waylaid or distracted; you now know what suits you, because you have done your groundwork. It may take a little longer but once youâ??ve found â??your styleâ??, you can duplicate it, triplicate it and buy it in as many colours to suit your wardrobe. Now youâ??re buying with confidence. Does it look more stylish and fashionable than a simple head-scarf? Without a shadow of a doubt – it will!

Hats that flatter

The key message from the table above is that brims and peaks are easier to wear, and more flattering to more face shapes. When brims are mentioned most women think Ascot â??super saucersâ??, but this neednâ??t be the case. There are styles out there that incorporate small soft brims that mean you donâ??t have to worry about knocking them when youâ??re out in the supermarket or walking around.

If you look better in hats that have detail on one side because it balances your face shape, then donâ??t be afraid to experiment. Look at what accessories you could comfortably wear up there. You may be reading this and thinking â??I could never do thatâ?.

Well maybe not in the past, but as a woman experiencing significant hair loss you now find yourself with a whole new image to â??manageâ?? and this requires a new approach. Not a theatrical â??make-overâ??, or even close to it, but simply an open-minded approach to review your style potential and experiment with jewellery, accessories and make-up. It may take a little time and a little practise but the benefits to your self-esteem and self-assurance will be immeasurable.

People often take their hair for granted until one day they realize that it is starting thin and fall out. Once you’re in this stage, hair regrowth becomes very difficult to achieve. Thus, it would be better if we start taking care of the health of our hair and scalp now, rather than regret not having done it later on.
A number of factors may influence how our hair will grow and how prone we are to hair loss. These may include hormonal changes, hereditary influences, environmental factors, and health. A change in lifestyle will definitely impact what would become of our hair in the future. Consider following the hair growth tips below in order to encourage the growth of hair strands that are less prone to dryness, breakage, and falling.
(1)Drink the recommended daily amount of water. Water here means pure water; it does not include other drinks such as soft drinks, coffee, and beer. Dehydration can make your entire body feel weak and easily exhausted. It is also another factor in the drying out and breakage of hair, as well as the stopping of its growth. The general rule is that men should drink 2.8 to 3.5 liters of water a day, while women should drink 2 to 2.6 liters daily. Adjust these amounts based on factors like weather condition, age, and weight.
(2)Exercise a couple of times a week. Studies show that a 15-minute brisk walk will increase your normal heart rate. This will then improve the blood circulation in our body, and this will bring more nutrients to our hair follicles and scalp. It would be best to exercise at least an hour after eating in order to give more time for digestion to finish and thus put less pressure on our system.
(3)Maintain a proper diet. Avoid foods that are rich in salt, sugar, and fat. Those three food components would only stress our kidneys and make our blood more acidic, resulting in hair loss.
(4)Drink green tea daily. Doing so will reduce the risk of hair loss. Green tea contains antioxidants that inhibit 5-alpha-reductase, the enzyme that converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT induces hair loss and an increase in prostate size.
(5)Indulge in aromatherapy. This alternative form of medicine has benefits both on our health and mood. Massaging essential oils, such as lavender and olive, onto our scalp would encourage healthier hair regrowth. Moreover, it would help eliminate stress, which is another factor in hair loss.
(6)Avoid putting any strain on your scalp and hair in the form of tight clips and pony tails. The mechanical action of pulling your hair against the scalp can result in hair loss. Bald patches may arise from plucking out hair from the scalp often. This is known as traction alopecia.
(7)Avoid using heat and chemicals on your hair, such as straightening, perming, coloring, and excessive blow drying. These methods will only weaken the internal structure of your hair and damage its chemical bonds. They may also cause dryness and irritation, making your hair fall out more easily.

For many people, the problems caused by thinning hair and eventual hair loss can mean unimaginable frustrations.
Hair growth problems are actually caused by many different factors. Hereditary male pattern baldness and lifestyle choices are just two issues that could be the cause of your hair loss.
If you are already suffering from male pattern baldness you might think that there is nothing you can do. However, there are ways that you can combat hair loss.
1) Avoid using strong chemicals – Most people are very much concerned about their overall appearance. They often use hair chemicals in their daily routines that help improve the appearance of hair in the short term.
However, there are some chemical based products that may cause hair growth problems. If you are using a specific brand of shampoo, you can try finding out the ingredients of that product.
If it has strong chemicals such as formaldehyde, then immediately change your brand.
2) Change your overall lifestyle choices are some of the main causes of thinning hair. If you are a heavy smoker, try to quit at least for a short period of time.
Smoking constricts the blood vessels of the body as well as the small channels leading to hair follicles.
Smoking could cause hair loss drugs to lose their effectiveness. It could potentially cancel out any good results you can get from a hair loss treatment.
If the blood vessels are always stressed out, chances are vital nutrients will not reach your hair roots for proper nourishment.
Also, if you are the type of person who does not exercise, you might consider doing so on a daily basis. Exercise accounts for numerous health benefits as well as preventing hair growth problems.
3) Limit outdoor activities – Exposure to the harmful rays of the sun can weaken hair follicles. Spending a few minutes outside in the summer won’t damage your hair.
However, spending too much time in the sun could damage your scalp and hair follicles.
4) Avoid using hair accessories – Clips, head bands and ponytail accessories create a stressful condition for hair. Hair strands may be pulled and stretched uncontrollably, resulting in damaging physical effects.
Never place rubber bands around your pony tail. They could cause severe hair cutting in a matter of a view days.
5) Consult a medical professional – If all the above preventive ways do not provide a significant solution for hair loss, you may try visiting a hair care professional for further solutions.
Many hair experts as well as dermatologists can recommend you medications and treatments to prevent and stop hair loss.
Doctors usually recommend hair loss treatments like Rogain or Propecia to treat hair loss without surgery. However, many doctors feel that hair transplant surgery is the only real way to deal with hair growth problems.

In our world today, baldness is no longer a pressings issue. Men and women either come to terms with it or they can choose to remedy it. There are several ways of fighting baldness. It can include surgery and medication. But, the easiest way to fight is by using a hairpiece. There are so many hairpieces and wigs to choose from. But, how can you pick out the best one?
Go Human
When buying hairpieces, it is advised that you buy ones that have been made with real human hair. Human hair is easier to maintain and looks more realistic. Synthetic wigs don’t last as long as human hair does and animal hair may sometimes be too coarse or too fine to pass as your own hair. Most high-end, well stocked wig stores often carry their own line of authentic human hair wigs. The only problem with human hair is that it can sometimes be too expensive. If you cannot afford real human hair, go for a high quality synthetic piece until you can afford the real deal.
Get a Close Match
Getting a close match is very important when choosing wigs. Keep in mind that when buying a wig, you not only have to match the color, but the texture as well. If you have fine hair, then it is only logical that you get a wig made of fine hair. The same goes for coarse, curly and wavy hair. If you have really curly hair, you may find matching it difficult. But, just remain patient and you will soon find a hair piece perfect for you. Color and shading is also important when buying a wig. Match the original color of you hair as closely as possible. If the piece you bought is not the right color match, you can always get it dyed by a professional colorist.
Do it early!
It may be beneficial for you if you pick out a hairpiece early. How so? Well, the sooner you get one, the lesser people will suspect that it isn’t your real hair. Start by getting a small hairpiece or hair extensions that attach itself to your existing hair. That way you will be able to get away with bigger pieces as your bald spot get bigger.
The Best Places to Get Wigs
As a general rule, it is advised that you buy your hairpieces or wigs personally. If you can afford customized items, then that would be better. Take your time in trying out items making sure that they look as real as possible. However, if the only place you can get a hairpiece is from the internet, it would be best if you go to a reliable online store. Ask as many questions as you possibly can and look for a store that has a clear return policy. Steer clear of online stores that don’t offer refunds or exchanges. That way, if your purchase doesn’t match your actual hair, you can have it replaced for one that does.
Keeping the Wig On
There are several ways of keeping you wig attached to you hair. Most hairpieces come with adhesive backing that allows it to stick to your scalp. All you have to do is to keep you scalp clean so that the adhesive sticks. Another way that a wig is attached is through clips. The wig is kept on by clipping it to your existing hair.

HISTORICAL ASPECTS A donor is better if it is as small as possible. The reason is that if a donor is big, hairs grow in . . . a very unnatural appearance. Hajime Tamura – 19431PRESERVATION OF THE FOLLICULAR UNITThe underlying premise of follicular unit transplantation is that the intact, individual follicular unit is sacred. Theoretically, they should neither be broken up into smaller units, nor combined into larger ones.2,3,4This simple idea may not seem like a radical approach to hair transplantation, but when viewed in the context of how the surgery has been performed over the past forty years (when the very existence of the follicular unit went generally unrecognized), it is radical indeed. At present, the majority of hair transplant surgeons will, at times, combine several follicular units or split them up, as they are not convinced that this has a significant impact on either the anesthetic outcome or upon growth. Practitioners of follicular unit transplantation, however, are certain that only this procedure achieves the best cosmetic results and their hair “bristles” when they witness surgical techniques that divide follicular units or transect follicles, techniques they feel preclude optimal growth and waste precious donor hair. In spite of the heated debate, good scientific studies have not yet been performed to resolve these issues.The follicular unit was first defined by Headington in his landmark 1984 paper “Transverse Microscopic Anatomy of the Human Scalp.5 The follicular unit includes:- 1 to 4 terminal follicles- 1, or rarely 2, vellus follicles – associated sebaceous lobules- insertions of the arrector pili muscles- perifollicular vascular plexus- perifollicular neural net – perifolliculum – cirumferential band of fine adventitial collagen that defines the unitTRANSPLANTING INDIVIDUAL FOLLICULAR UNITSThat scalp hair grows in follicular units, rather than individually, is most easily observed by densitometry, a simple technique whereby scalp hair is clipped to approximately 1mm in length and then counted observed via magnification. What is strikingly obvious when one examines the scalp by this method is that follicular units are relatively compact, and are surrounded by substantial amounts of non-hair bearing skin. The actual proportion of non-hair bearing skin is probably on the order of 50%, so that its inclusion in the dissection will have a substantial effect upon the outcome of the surgery. The great benefit of using individual follicular units is that the wound size can be kept to a minimum, while at the same time maximizing the amount of hair that can be transplanted.SMALL RECIPENT SITESThe importance of minimizing the wound size in any surgical procedure can not be over emphasized and hair transplantation is no exception. The effects of recipient wounding are felt at many levels. Large wounds can lacerate blood vessels and although the blood supply of the scalp is extensively collateralized, any damage to these vessels will have an impact on local tissue perfusion. An equally important issue is to minimize the disruption of the microcirculation. This is especially important when transplanting grafts in large quantities. The compact follicular unit is, of course, the ideal way to permit the use of the smallest possible recipient site, and has made the transplantation of large numbers of grafts technically feasible.Densities between 10 to 40 follicular units per centimeter are routinely reported. Densities greater than 40 follicular units per centimeter in a single session have been accomplished, but may result in a decrease yield in some patients. It is important to note that a follicular unit density of 40 units/mm2 can create a hair density of over 120 hairs/mm2 (if all 3- and 4-hair units are used in select areas), and this is a density that many hair transplant surgeons feel is not necessary, or even desirable, to exceed.TRANSPLANTING FOLLICULAR UNITS IN LARGE SESSIONSPutting aside anatomic, physiologic and technical issues for the moment, it is important to emphasize the practical reasons to strive toward large sessions. The specific events that bring a balding patient to the doctor for hair loss will vary, but the common denominator of those seeking hair restoration is to improve their appearance, and to improve the quality of their life, be it personal, professional, or social. Until the transplant is cosmetically acceptable, the disruptions from the scheduling of multiple surgeries, the limitations in activity, and the concern about their discovery, can place a patient’s life “on hold.” It should therefore be incumbent upon the physician to accomplish their objectives as quickly as possible. Some patients prefer smaller sessions for economic reasons. MICROSCOPIC DISSECTION There is probably no other aspect of follicular unit transplantation that has generated more controversy than the use of the microscope. Stereo-microscopic dissection was introduced into the field of hair transplantation by Dr. Bobby Limmer6 in 1987. The following statements summarize the use of magnification: – In order to dissect intact individual follicular units, you must be able to see them clearly.- Only magnification allows their clear visualization in both normal and scarred skin, independent of the specific hair characteristics of color, hair shaft diameter, and curl. Follicular dissection can logically be divided into two parts; the subdivision of the initial donor strip into smaller pieces and the further dissection of these pieces into individual follicular units. The first part of the procedure, the handling of the intact strip, has always been the most problematic. The intact strip however, is difficult to stabilize and is too opaque for transillumination to be useful. The dissecting microscope and other magnification methods allow the strip to be divided into sections (or “slivers”) by actually going around follicular units leaving them intact. The dissecting stereo-microscope is able to accomplish this because of its high resolution (usually 5x more powerful than magnifying loops) and its intense halogen top-lighting that provides continuous illumination, as one dissects through the strip. Back light illumination has also proven beneficial. Stability can easily be achieved by applying slight traction to the free end of the strip. The thin slivers are then laid on their sides and the microscopic dissection of the individual units is completed. With stereo-microscopic dissection, except for the outer edges of the ellipse, every aspect of the procedure is performed under direct visualization, so that follicular transection can be minimized and the follicular units maintained. CONCLUSIONThe entire field of hair restoration surgery has moved toward the use of follicular unit transplantation. While the exclusive use of follicular units is not employed by the majority of transplant surgeons, the impact of this approach has been significant. Hair restoration surgeons are becoming more scientific and precise in their approach to this field. The vague terminology of the past, i.e., round grafts, many grafts, micro grafts, has been replaced with more precise terms. We now converse in a language which details the number of follicular units per square centimeter, hair shaft diameter in microns, and incisional density of the recipient site for any given session. Perhaps the modern era of transplantation did not begin with the micrografting of the ’80’s, but it is only truly being realized with follicular Unit transplantation of the ’90’s.