A CUSTOM SOLUTION

Hair Additions helps patients fight hair loss

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Hair loss can be devastating. Whether it’s caused by chemotherapy, medication, hormone imbalance, heredity, stress or other causes, hair loss and thinning affects a person’s appearance and can influence their sense of self. One Fargo salon helps guide its clients through the emotional process of restoring their confidence, one step at a time.

“We want to offer services and products that make this journey as easy as possible,” said owner Lisa Dresser. “There are many salons that offer the basics in hair care and maintenance but very few that offer solutions for thinning hair or hair loss. And that’s what we specialize in.”

“We focus on educating our clients on all available options,” said Dresser. “Our main goal is to keep the clients’ natural hair whenever possible. However, if we can’t, we do have a number of options for them at various price ranges that will look natural and feel comfortable with minimal maintenance.”

A client who has thinning hair may benefit from medications like Rogaine and Propecia. Dresser may consult with Rick Schue, a board certified family nurse practitioner, who may suggest light therapy, vitamins, shampoos, conditioners and overnight treatments. Hair extensions and integrations that use either natural or synthetic hair are also discussed. “We also offer styling, cutting and coloring of the hair piece whether they buy it here or if they have something that they want us to change,” said Dresser.

Hair Additions is the only salon in the region that carries CyberHair, a light, durable and natural looking synthetic hair. A procedure called Micro Point Link is also an option. “A technician ties a ‘link’ containing four hairs onto one of the clients own hairs in the area that is thinning,” explained Dresser. “The results are immediate and they leave the salon with a thicker and or longer look.” The staff at Hair Additions is trained in over 15 different attachment methods.

If more intervention is needed, FDA approved medical options like laser treatments and stem cell treatments are available. Laser treatments use low-level laser light to stimulate hair follicles, while stem cell treatment takes a client’s own stem cells and applies them to the scalp. Dresser’s clients have seen encouraging results. The staff at Hair Additions monitors the scalp throughout the process so clients can see results as the treatment is progressing. “There are many claims that say they can re-grow hair and we want to actually prove it,” said Dresser. “It isn’t a one size fits all approach. Each person is very individual.”

Hair Additions’ commitment to maintaining natural hair extends to helping cancer patients keep theirs throughout the chemotherapy treatment process by using a treatment called Cold Cap Therapy. It works by using dry ice to freeze the blood flowing to the scalp so the chemotherapy medication can’t be fully absorbed by the hair follicles. Clients wear the caps during each treatment and for two hours before and after.

Dresser admits she was skeptical at first, but talking with former patients changed her mind.

“I have talked with two women in the area that actually used them and they didn’t lose their hair,” she said. “Both mentioned that it was a little uncomfortable at first but was tolerable and they loved the results.” She emphasized that Cold Caps don’t work for certain types of blood cancers and that everyone responds to treatments differently.

Dresser and her staff provide the ongoing maintenance necessary for a natural look. Clients become deeply connected to the salon. And Dresser is just as committed to her clients. “I pride myself in the fact that many of my clients have been with me for 15 to 20 years,” she said.

“I have had clients look in the mirror after a service and have cried out of happiness as they have tried so many things and have been disappointed so many times and have wasted so much money they thought there may not be a solution out there for them. That’s what it is all about, making our clients happy and feel comfortable about their situation. [AWM]