Hair extensions can be added to your own natural hair to add length, volume, and body. They can also be an easy, non-chemical way to add highlights or lowlights. Hair extensions can be a one-night change or one that lasts six months.

How much do hair extensions cost? The price can vary widely, depending on type of hair and method used. Synthetic hair costs much less than human hair. Raw or virgin (untreated) human hair costs more than other types of human hair. For now, though, we will focus on hair extension prices for different methods.

Clip-Ons

Clip-on hair extensions are a temporary solution, and their price reflects that. Hair Replacement Centers offer clip-ons from $19.50 to $269 for a kit.

Hot Fusion or Bonding

In this method, extensions are hot glued to your natural hair. This is the traditional method, and it costs around $300.

Cold Fusion

This is a new technology that is meant to be gentle on the hair. It costs from $1,500 to $3,500.

Weave

In this method, hair extensions are braided into the natural hair. This method costs around $1,200.

There are salons that offer hair extension prices much less than these listed. Before buying discount hair extensions, however, make sure that the hairdresser is qualified. He or she should be a licensed cosmetologist with experience in applying hair extensions. Many hair extension companies offer certifications in hair extension application. Find out if your hairdresser is certified. Do not choose a hairdresser based solely on price -- the cost to your hair could be too great.

Male Pattern Baldness

On average, there are 90,000 to 150,000 hairs on the scalp. The hairs grow from roots called follicles. Blood vessels at the base of each follicle provide nourishment vital for hair and hair growth. Hair growth in each root occurs in a cycle independent of each other. At any time about 90 percent of the hairs on the scalp are in the growth phase, while the other 10 percent are in the resting phase. The growth phase can last an average of up to five years, after which the follicle goes into a resting phase, which can last upto four months. At the end of this phase, the hair falls out and is replaced by a new hair. This is all a perfectly normal part of the growth cycle. In fact, on a typical day, up to 150 hairs can be lost. Baldness occurs when hair is lost at an unusually high rate and hair replacement occurs at an
unusually slow rate and/or when normal hairs are replaced by weaker, smaller ones.

What is Male Pattern Baldness?

Almost all cases of hair loss is the result of Male pattern baldness (or androgenetic alopecia).Male pattern baldness occurs much more frequently in men than in women.Even in mild cases It affects roughly 50 million men in the United States. Balding may begin at any age after puberty. While some types of hair loss is reversible, male pattern baldness tends to be permanent. It occurs in a very typical pattern on the scalp.Hair loss usually begins at the temples and at the top of the head toward the back, causing a receding hairline and a bald spot.Sometimes progressing further until the two sections become joined,leaving a horseshoe pattern on the sides and back of the head.Male pattern baldness progresses slowly and is not associated with any physical discomfort.

What causes male pattern baldness?

Male pattern baldness is thought to be a combination of hormonal and genetic factors.Testosterone and its more potent derivative dihydrotestosterone (DHT) are the contributimg factors of the degree of balddness. Whatever the exact causes of male pattern baldness may be, it is hereditary. A tendency toward baldness on either side of a man's family(mother or father) indicates The speed, pattern,and degree of the balding. Usually, the earlier it begins, the more severe the hair loss will be.
Balding is not caused by wearing a hat,you cant regrow hair by Massaging or brushing,or excessive shampooing stimulate hair growth.These are thought to be false.Stress may contribute to a form of hair loss,but normal everyday stress does not contribute to balding

What are the treatment options for male pattern baldness?

-Herbal Shamppos

-Herbal Remedies

-Specialty Shampoos(for example Helsinki Formula)

-Wigs

-Transplants

-Medication(Propecia,Minoxidil etc)

-Home Remedies

-Others

Hair transplantation

In hair transplants,healthy live follicles are removed from a donor site on the scalp and transplanted to the balding area. The follicles are commonly taken in "plugs" of one hair to two hairs (micrografts) from the sides or back of the head and moved to the balding area, with the hairline being slowly reconstructed. Larger plugs may be used. Donor sites with full hair make transplants more successful.Some scarring may occur. Transplanted follicles are usually permanent. Synthetic hair has also been used for transplants but has been known for to have a high rate of infection and has been been banned.As with any surgical procedure, hair transplantation present certain risks.If you are considering a transplant, consult your doctor.

Wigs

A hairpiece can be custom made to cover a balding area. Hairpieces may fade and over time. It is important to clean the scalp under the hairpiece regularly.Another option is a weave, in which fake(synthetic) hair is sewn into existing hair.

This just a quick run down of what happens when most men reach a certain age. Here are a couple of sites that we have found that will educate and inform and give you everything you want to know about Male Pattern Baldness. The reviews are very positive and even might give you possible solutions to this problem that has afflicted almost every man for generations.

Many people who experience balding or thinning hair often search in vain for the perfect hair growth systems that will restore their full head of hair. While there are hair growth systems available that will encourage some hair growth on bald spots, don’t you think that if the perfect system existed, you would have heard about it before now?

A condition known as alopecia affects young people and results in total hair loss on the entire body. In severe cases, the patients often go through a regimen of hair regrowth systems in attempts to stop the hair loss, such as taking cortisone treatments and different types of therapy.

Such hair growth systems are all performed under a doctor’s care and in a hospital setting. In addition, hair replacement systems also work for people who do not have an underlying medical cause for the hair loss, but these are also down by a medical doctor.

Basically there are three types of hair growth systems that people experiencing hair loss can use. The first is to use topical solutions, prescribed by the doctor. With these hair regrowth systems you have to apply the solution to your scalp twice a day. The results of hair regrowth using this method are promising, but they do not work for everyone.

About 5% of people using the solutions did not see a difference at all. The problem with using this method is often the side effects such as weakness or low blood pressure that could be very harmful. This is why these hair growth systems are only used under a doctor’s care.

There are also surgical hair replacement systems. You can have strands of hair grafted into your scalp where one or two strands of hair are shot into your scalp with a needle for hair regrowth. Some patients have resorted to having scalp reduction surgery so that the bald spot on the top of the head does not appear to be as large. Another hair growth system that requires surgery is the flap method where areas of hair from the back and the sides of the head are rotated to the bald spots. This method of hair growth is the most complicated of all and a lot of bleeding could occur.

The least complicated hair growth system is to wear a wig. You can style it whatever way you want, color it when you want and take it off whenever you want.

Hair growth systems are often very good, but you need to find out exactly what it is you need for your condition.

Curing baldness is the holly grail of medical research in the eyes of many men who have male pattern baldness. While there have been significant advances in the world of hair replacement, an actual cure is at this point, just a baldness researcher’s (and bald man’s) dream. But there is an alternative to seeking solace in minoxidil, finasteride, toupees or follicular unit hair replacement surgery: just be bald and be happy.

We live in a time when many men who are not even beginning to bald, voluntarily shave their heads because they think it makes them look better, or they think it makes them cool. And most of the time they’re right. Bald guys are cooler. Bald guys do look better.

Just think of all the cool, good-looking famous guys we have around now: Michael Jordan, Bruce Willis, Patrick Stewart, Vin Diesel, Ving Rhames, Matthew McConaughey, and Michael Chiklis, to new but a few. Not one of these guys would be helped by a full head of hair. In fact, they fall under the category of men about whom a person could say, “Wow, it would be a real tragedy if his hair ever grew back”. In truth though, while there is nothing to be ashamed of in trying the available methods to restore lost hair; the most secure, most confident and probably happy guy, is the one who doesn’t spend time fretting over losing his.

For this guy, going bald is just another interesting aspect of life to experience, and like many others, offers the opportunity for internal growth and personal advancement. This guy is not overly concerned with what’s on his outside. He knows that his real worth and most of what he is, is inside. He doesn’t see how losing his hair will make any difference in his ability to accomplish the things that he wants to. He knows that while it’s nice to have a full head of hair, it’s not going to get a degree for him, or decide the quality of his relationships, or get him the career he wants or ultimately determine whether he is able to do thee things he loves to. Nor will his lack of hair in any way detract from any aspect of any of these things. This guy gets a bit of a chuckle out of the lengths that others will go to in order to avoid or remedy being bald. He doesn’t see the point of the expense of topicals. He’s probably mildly embarrassed for those fellows with comb-overs. He doesn’t want others guessing whether or not he’s wearing a toupee. And he wouldn’t consider anything as drastic as hair replacement surgery. He doesn’t begrudge others these choices or ridicule them for them - they’re just not for him.

Of course, if a true cure for baldness ever materializes, some of these men will choose to use it. But there will probably be plenty of others who will choose not to. Because some of us simply look better without hair. And besides, hair requires care and upkeep. It has to be shampooed and combed and brushed, and conditioned and cut. With bald, you just shave it. So there you have it. It’s cool, and virile, and sexy and hot to be bald. If you’re losing your hair or even if you’re just tired of taking care of it; give bald a try. You may like it so much that you’ll never go back to being hairy.

For those who have experienced permanent hair loss whether from male pattern baldness, injury or trauma, hair replacement surgery may be a possible solution. A doctor can help determine if hair transplants are a good choice for you, and in some cases, if done for reconstructive purposes, these procedures may be covered by health insurance.

There are many qualified doctors with years of experience in hair replacement surgical procedures. And there are techniques available now that ensure that the end results are more natural looking than were produced by transplant procedures of the past. While this page will discuss some aspects of hair transplants, it will be up to your doctor to cover all aspects of any procedure that's pertinent to your particular needs.

Hair transplants can certainly restore some of the hair lost to pattern baldness, but in some cases, it won't match the full head of hair the patient had before hair loss started. Also, this is surgery and like all surgery, has some risks associated with it.

The hair used for transplants is taken from the rim (donor areas on the sides and back) of the head and transferred to the balding (recipient) areas. These donor areas must be healthy and have enough hair to used for replacement. The actual hairs of the cells that are transplanted will fall out initially, but new, permanent hair will eventually grow in its place. The three areas of the head that receive hair are the crown of the head, the mid-scalp area and the front of the head.

For best results, it's important to find a well-qualified surgeon who has experience in hair replacement surgery. This doctor should be knowledgeable in all types of transplanting techniques and able to help you decide which is the best for your case. This will start with an evaluation of your hair loss, family history, general health, and your expectations and goals. Your doctor should be able to inform you of any risks involved, including those that exist because of lifestyle or a pre-existing medical condition.

Thoroughly research and review prospective surgeons before deciding on one because hair replacement surgery is not extensively regulated. There is no single type of doctor who performs these surgeries. General practitioners, cosmetic surgeons, and dermatologists can all perform transplants. So make sure you get all pertinent information you need from each doctor, such as:

· A description of available transplant procedures as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each. · The doctor's background, including the number and type of transplants he or she has performed. · What you should do before the surgery to prepare, and after to aid recovery and healing. · What sort of anesthesia will be used. · Photos of people with situations similar to yours before and after their procedures.

Since it is surgery, there will be specific guidelines for you to adhere to in preparation for surgery. These are meant give the procedure every chance for success and to minimize any difficulty during healing and recovery.

The actual surgery will involve transplanting small parts of the scalp from donor areas to the intended recipient areas. These donor scalp pieces can contain from 2 to 40 hairs, depending on the technique used. The smallest numbers of hairs that are transplanted are follicular units.

The transplanting of follicular units is the most modern of transplanting techniques. The biggest advantage to these kinds of replacements is the patient's hair can wind up looking very natural. Also, because of the way the donor section is removed, there is usually comparatively little scarring.

The procedure is usually performed under general anesthesia. The recipient incisions are made with a very small instrument, and the grafts attached in such a way as to produce a growth direction that matches and recreates the original hair. Also, the much smaller grafts can be placed very close together to result in a thicker head of hair. An even newer technique is called Follicular Unit Extraction. It uses a small tool to remove individual follicular units. No scar is produced with this technique but it's more expensive and time consuming. Also, there's a greater chance that some of the follicular units may be damaged in the process.

As in all surgery there can be complications such as scarring, infection, swelling and numbness. Your doctor should be able to provide assistance with some or all of these problems.

So the upside to FU surgery is that it can produce results that mimic the patient's original head of hair in nearly every way. These transplants can look natural to anyone who examines them. The downside is that some replacement clinics are not able to provide the level of skill and the amount of time needed to successfully perform this procedure.

Hair replacement works for most (but not all) who have the procedure done. Remember though, it is surgery and the most invasive form of hair replacement available. Do your homework and be sure that it's for you before having transplant surgery.

If you hair loss has gotten to the point where you are considering hair replacement surgery, you need to make sure that you exercise due diligence and thoroughly research the qualifications of your hair replacement surgeon.

Any doctor worthy of the title will be happy to provide you with all the information you need in relation to their medical education and background and surgical history and experience. In fact far from being offended most hair replacement surgeons will insist that you shop around and find a surgeon you can be totally happy with performing your hair transplant surgery.

What follows are five key questions that you definitely need to ask, and get answered, before you consider any prospective hair loss surgeon.

1) You need to find out specific details about your doctors medical background and training. You should look back to the beginning of his medical career, checking for training and surgical experience in all facets of hair replacement surgery, including the length of time that he has been performing hair replacement surgery and other hair loss procedures such as micro-grafting and "scalp-lifts"

2) Make sure to view all of your hair loss surgeon's certificates and diplomas. Check to see if he or she is a member of the appropriate board for hair loss surgeons in your area. And if your doctor does not have hair loss surgery certifications, check to see what fields they have been certified in. In some areas there is no certification specifically for hair loss surgery, so it is important to find out what areas these doctors have specialized in and are certified to perform.

3) Thoroughly look into the doctor's hair replacement surgery history. Thoroughly check out how many times they have performed hair replacement surgery. Find out how successful the operations were and if there are any complications or complaints from their patients

4) Always remember that if you opt for hair replacement surgery you're purchasing a service and as such it pays to make sure you know the exact cost of your surgery. Some procedures such as "micro-grafting" are typically quite expensive, so if you are quoted an excessively low cost for such a procedure you may need to look into things carefully. That is not to say that the more your hair replacement surgery costs the better the results will be. On the contrary, oftentimes highly skilled hair replacement surgeons will deliberately lower their prices in order to make the surgical procedure more accessible to people who need it.

As with the purchase of any high-end product, make sure you shop around and compare prices, ultimately deciding on a product that not only you can afford, but one you feel comfortable with.

5) Lastly always make sure to check with the appropriate business and medical Association's to see if there have been any complaints made against your doctor. If you find that there have been, find out how these complaints where handled and if they have been settled. Complaints against the doctor would not necessarily preclude them from your list of possible hair replacement surgeons, it's more a question of simply finding out all that you can about the professional conduct of the doctor who will be performing your hair replacement surgery.

When looking into surgery of any kind it always pays to have all your questions thoroughly answered before you actually have the surgery. As obvious as this sounds many people are frightened to question their doctors and find out the information they need in order to make an informed decision about the surgery they are considering having.

Don't be one of them. Always remember you're purchasing a service a rather expensive service in this case and you should expect no less than the best hair replacement surgery service and "after sale care" your money can buy.

Have you stopped giving any business to the FMCG companies, as there is hardly any hair on your crown? Or stopped watching those shampoo commercials as they do not affect your bald palate? You need not worry, as the game is not over yet. Hair loss and baldness have become common and have invited attention of dermatologists worldwide. As a result, there are numerous medicines and treatment available with the hair loss doctor and his hair restoration clinic which can result in regaining your hair. Cure for hair loss and cure for baldness has shown admirable progress in the recent past.

Heredity, aging and hormones are the common factors associated with hair loss and at times, permanent baldness. Other than these natural causes, improper hair care, unbalanced diet and medication, or a combination of these, may also lead to hair loss and baldness. An average person loses about 50 to 100 strands of hair on a daily basis that is made up by the growth of new hair. Increasing year’s leads to reduction in growth of new hair or slowing it down, thus resulting in hair loss and further, to baldness. Hair growth follows a definite cycle in your body and, at times, it may get disturbed due to external conditions resulting in baldness.

Alopecia or baldness is found to be different in male and females. Males develop baldness in such a way that the scalp can be seen prominently but in females it starts with thinning of hair all over the head less the frontal region. The scalp is not evident in females as it is in males. Before opting for any type of treatment for baldness or hair loss remedy, it is advisable to go for a biopsy of the skin area so as to ascertain the cause of baldness. It helps the hair loss doctor to advise you on the desired cure for baldness or hair loss remedy.

Some of the important hair replacement techniques generally adopted by hair restoration clinic are reproduced below for your benefit.

Hair transplantation: It involves baldness treatment by relocating fresh and healthy hair from the back of the head and neck. These hairs are removed along with scalp grafts to ensure that they grow at the relocated place. In the final phase they are planted in the bald or thinned area. It requires a great degree of expertise and may take numerous sessions and weeks depending upon the growth of hair and the area of baldness.

Flap surgery: A very common technique employed for treatment of baldness of a large area is the flap surgery. In this process, apportion of hair bearing skin is placed in the area of baldness and allowed to grow naturally. The process is slow but generally tends to give good results.

Scalp reduction: It is a type of baldness treatment in which the bald portion of the scalp is reduced by pulling the scalp bearing hair from either side. The bald portion may be removed depending upon the area and type of the baldness.

Tissue expansion: It is a complex process performed by the hair restoration clinic on selective basis.It involves placement of a tissue expander device underneath a hair growing area. This device stimulates growth of new cells which are further transplanted in the bald area. These cells lead to hair growth in the bald area. Cure for baldness and cure for hair loss no more seem to be a Herculean dream.

On date, there are numerous medicines available in the market for treatment of baldness. Do not, however, take these without consulting a doctor. The various types of hair replacement surgery available have received a very warm response from the environment. Pay a visit to your hair loss doctor or to a reputed hair restoration clinic and you will be surprised to see the results. Regaining your hair is far less troublesome than you thought!