Alopecia

If you have been suffering from alopecia, the professionals at Continental Hair are here for you. We have decades of experience offering hair loss solutions to both men and women with alopecia, and you can rest easy knowing we can tailor our services to your specific needs.

If you aren’t sure whether or not you have alopecia, we first recommend receiving a diagnosis from your doctor. In general, hair loss associated with alopecia is characterized by a patch or patches throughout the scalp. This is commonly referred to as alopecia “areata.” There is a form that causes complete hair loss on the head alopecia “total” and all over the body “universals.”

For complete hair loss such as alopecia totalis or universalis, or if you suffer from more than 50% hair loss on your head, a full wig may be an excellent choice.

We carry a wide selection of ready-to-wear synthetic and human hair wigs, and these stock wigs can be customized and styled to your look by our superb styling team. In the case of human hair wigs, our top colour technicians can work with you to get the colour blend, root, and/or ombre that you want.

Our stock wigs are designed to be customized in this way so that over the years most of our alopecia clients have moved from having custom-made wigs designed for them in favour of shopping for an in-salon wig that can be styled for them.

Human hair wigs offer the most natural look, softest texture and most flexibility when it comes to styling, while our synthetic hair wigs trade off some of those benefits in exchange for greater affordability.

If you want the finesse of fit and detail that comes from a custom-made wig, we can do that too. But keep in mind, hand-knotting a wig is a craft and it takes time. Expect to wait 6 to 8 weeks for a bespoke wig.

A full wig may be for you if:

• You have between 50-100% hair loss on your head
• You want to be able to remove your wig when you feel like it
• You want to be able to change your look by changing into a different wig

The Contressa is Continental Hair’s own ultra-premium hair system! Hand-knotted with real human hair, the Contressa allows you to live your life without worrying about your hair.

The Contressa is custom-made just for you, so it can offer either full coverage or partial coverage, depending on the severity of your hair loss.

It can also be used as a permanent (up to 4 weeks) hair replacement or more of a “daily wear” item that you can take off at night.

The Contressa may be best for you if:

• You want either permanent (up to 4 weeks) or daily wear hair replacement
• You have an active lifestyle and want to wear your hair during activities
• You have moderate to severe hair loss

A Postiche (sometimes called a “topper”) is a partial wig meant to blend in with your own hair. Made with real human hair, our experts will blend your postiche with your existing hair so it’s completely seamless!

Michael’s mother Emma Suba developed this in the early 1970’s. Its changed quite a bit since then. The latest design, called the “Suzie,” is lightweight, natural and easy. The perfect solution for a woman that wants to wear something daily, but not permanently.

A Postiche may be best for you if:

• You suffer from alopecia areata and have “patchy” hair loss

Regardless of the type of alopecia you are experiencing, don’t panic. We understand that hair loss can be a difficult and challenging experience, but we have solutions that can help. When your hair starts falling out, it’s easy to feel like the end of the world. Once you meet with one of our hair replacement professionals, you will know that’s not the case. From our custom-designed postiches to full wigs, we offer something for everyone. Please contact the Continental Hair team today for more details!

What should you know about Alopecia

Alopecia areata is a common condition that results in the loss of hair on the scalp and elsewhere. It usually starts with one or more small, round, smooth patches. It occurs in males and females of all ages, but young persons are affected most often.

Normally, hair follicles on the scalp are producing 30 meters of hair each day. In alopecia areata, the affected hair follicles slow down production drastically, become very small, and grow no hair visible above the surface for months or years. While in this hibernation-like state, the hair follicles remain alive below the surface and are ready to resume normal hair production whenever they receive the appropriate signal.

Some people develop only a few bare patches and re-grow them within a year, even without treatment. The scalp is the most commonly affected area, but the beard, or any hair-bearing site, can be affected alone or together with the scalp. In some, the condition spreads and affects large areas of the scalp for long periods of time. In others, all hair on the scalp is lost-alopecia totalis, or all on the entire body is lost-alopecia universalis. No matter how widespread the hair loss, the hair follicles remain alive below the skin surface, and the possibility of hair re-growth remains.

Our Alopecia wigs and Medical Wigs are designed for comfort on a scalp that has no hair, whereas over-the-counter wigs will irritate the scalp and be itchy.

What is the signal that triggers the condition to start or stop?

It’s not clearly known, but an immunological signal is involved. Current research suggests that in alopecia areata something triggers the immune system to suppress the hair follicle. It isn’t known what this trigger is, or whether it comes from outside the body like a virus, or from inside like a hormone. Those with alopecia areata may also have antibodies directed against other normal parts of the body even though there is no disease or disability associated with these other antibodies. Since the hair follicles of individuals with alopecia universalis remain alive, hair regrowth may occur even without treatment and even after many years.

Is alopecia areata due to nerves?

No, alopecia areata is not a nervous disorder and those who have it have not caused it and have no control over its course.

Is it necessary to change plans regarding school, sports, friends, career, dating, and marriage?
No, not at all. There are options available to you that can help you manage your alopecia and its impact on the important areas of your life. Feel free to contact us to learn more about how we can help!

SOURCE: What you should know about Alopecia Areata from The Canadian Alopecia Areata Foundation