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We hear it all the time in January: “New Year, New You!” It’s the rallying cry of the weight-loss industry, a reminder that many people use the new year as an opportunity for change. While improving your diet and lifestyle is commendable, one surprising side effect of rapid weight loss can be hair loss. Here’s why it happens and how you can prevent it while reaching your goals.

Low-Calorie Diets and Hair Loss: What’s the Connection?

Very low-calorie diets—typically under 1,000 calories per day—can lead to quick weight loss, but they’re also hard on your body. When your body lacks sufficient calories, hair follicles may not receive enough energy to support hair growth, resulting in thinning or brittle hair. This condition is often temporary but can be frustrating.

Another contributor is telogen effluvium, a form of hair loss caused by stress or abrupt body changes:

• Dieting can trigger this condition.
• You might notice hair loss three to four months after starting a weight-loss regimen.
• Hair usually grows back within three to six months as your body adjusts.

How to Prevent Hair Thinning During Weight Loss

Avoid extreme measures and focus on a balanced approach to dieting:

• Choose sustainable changes: Gradual weight loss is kinder to your body and less likely to stress your hair follicles.
• Focus on macronutrients: Ensure your meals include proteins, healthy fats, and carbohydrates to support overall health and hair strength.
• Add supplements: A daily multivitamin with minerals can help make up for any nutrient gaps caused by calorie reduction.
• Don’t skimp on protein: Hair is made of keratin, a protein. Include foods like lean meats, eggs, and beans in your diet.
• Include biotin-rich foods: Biotin is vital for hair health. Add biotin-rich foods like salmon and nuts to your meals.
• Be mindful of zinc: Zinc deficiencies can lead to brittle hair. Foods like pumpkin seeds, spinach, and whole grains can help.

FAQ: Hair Loss and Weight Loss

Why does hair loss occur during weight loss?

Hair loss during weight loss is often caused by nutrient deficiencies, stress, or very low-calorie diets, which can lead to a condition called telogen effluvium. This temporarily pushes hair follicles into a resting phase, causing shedding.

How can I prevent hair loss while losing weight?

Prevent hair loss by focusing on a balanced diet, including adequate protein, healthy fats, and essential vitamins and minerals. Avoid extreme calorie restrictions and prioritize gradual weight loss for better overall health and hair retention.

What nutrients are essential for healthy hair?

Key nutrients for hair health include protein, biotin, zinc, and vitamins like A, C, D, and E. Incorporate foods such as eggs, nuts, salmon, spinach, and whole grains into your diet.

How long does it take for hair to grow back after weight loss?

Hair typically regrows within 3–6 months after your body adjusts to changes. If hair loss persists, consult a specialist for personalized treatment options.

Can supplements help prevent hair loss during weight loss?

Yes, taking a multivitamin with essential minerals can help address nutrient deficiencies and support hair health during weight loss. However, supplements should complement a healthy diet, not replace it.

What treatments are available for hair loss?

Non-surgical options such as laser hair therapy, topical treatments, or dietary adjustments can stimulate hair regrowth. Hair specialists can provide customized solutions based on your needs.

Where can I find hair loss support in Long Island, New York?

At Hair Solutions of Long Island, we offer complimentary hair and scalp analyses and personalized treatments to help restore your hair and confidence.

Experiencing Hair Loss? We Can Help

If you’ve noticed hair shedding or thinning while losing weight, you’re not alone. At Hair Solutions of Long Island, we specialize in helping clients restore their hair and confidence. With over 20 years of experience in non-surgical hair restoration, we provide personalized treatments tailored to your needs, including laser hair therapy to stimulate growth. We offer complimentary hair and scalp analyses at our locations in Nassau and Suffolk, helping you understand the root cause of your hair loss and the best path forward.

Don’t let hair loss derail your journey to a healthier you. Contact Hair Solutions today to learn how we can support you in achieving your goals while keeping your hair healthy and beautiful.

Achieve your “New Year, New You” goals—without compromising your hair!

Did you know that that the change of seasons can affect your hair? Your hair texture can actually change as the temperature gets cooler. Let’s talk about keeping it nurtured, protected and healthy.

Get a Deep Conditioning Scalp and Hair Treatment

Sadly the summer sun has set and possibly left you with chlorine, salt, and sun damaged dry hair. The best way to overcome this damage is with a scalp and hair trichology treatment. This type of treatment can help restore the health of your hair. Book it now before it gets super cold outside causing more dryness to your scalp and hair.

Yes! Improve Your Diet

There is no better time than the fall and winter season to adjust your diet and get your hair looking good. Hormones change during this time of the year. Studies have found that the human body experiences elevated levels of the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) in the winter. As a result, your body is in need of added nutrition to boost the function of cells. Your hair can benefit from this as well. Here are a few tips for improving your hair through your diet.

• Start with removing processed foods from your diet. It’s the single most important step you can take to improving your overall health and that includes your hair.
• Give it a huge dose of vitamins and minerals on a daily basis. It’s more difficult to absorb vitamin D when the days are shorter and a lack of vitamin D can impact the body’s mood, energy levels and immune system. The winter can also cause our bodies to release less serotonin, the feel-good brain chemical that dictates our mood. For this to occur, you need to focus on eating more variety in the fruits and vegetables you consume.
• Focus on lean proteins. These can help your hair to grow and develop strength.

You can also boost your hair’s overall condition by investing in a daily high-quality vitamin supplement. Your diet really is at the heart of the health of your hair.

Some More Tips for Fall and Winter Hair Care

There are a few more things to keep in mind as we head into this season.

• Use shampoos that are SLS-free (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) products. Most shampoos are very harsh filled with fragrance, and heavy detergents. Those detergents are added just to create a foamy lather. Those harsh chemicals strip away the luster in your hair. Shampoos free of SLS are mild and free of harsh surfactants. Surfactants are a primary component of cleaning detergents.
• Keeping your hair trimmed every four weeks or so even if you do not want to remove much length. It helps maintain the ends during the harsh weather.
• A suggestion to wear a silk scarf rather than a hat. This helps protect your hair.
• Use a humidifier in your bedroom to help with hair breakage. This also aids in your breathing and keeps your skin from drying out too!
• Talk to your stylist about any specific steps you need to take based on the condition of your hair.
• You may find you love the way your hair looks this season because that is one advantage of less humidity.

Contact the hair specialists at Hair Solutions of Long Island to learn more.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month. Let’s take a moment to pause and think of the women we love who have dealt with or dealing with this diagnosis. To those we lost and to the survivors – we keep you near and dear.

Should you get that diagnosis, one of the many thoughts and questions that go through your head will be about losing your hair. So let’s discuss.

We know that one of the potential side effects of some breast cancer treatments can cause hair loss or thinning. Did you know that it is not just limited to chemotherapy?

Other treatments that can cause you to lose hair include certain types of:

hormonal therapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy

In most cases, hair grows back after treatment is finished. But some people may experience longer term or permanent hair loss or thinning. Not all treatments cause hair loss so ask your doctor(s) if the treatments you will be receiving are likely to cause it, to what degree, and when it might occur.

Why does chemotherapy cause hair loss?

The reason chemotherapy can cause hair loss is that it targets all rapidly dividing cells in our body and that includes healthy cells as well as the cancer cells. The cell structures in the skin that hair grows from are called hair follicles. As chemotherapy does its job against cancer cells, it also can damage healthy hair follicle cells.

When does hair grow back after chemotherapy?

How long it takes for the hair on your head to grow back after chemotherapy (and other body hair, such as pubic hair, eyelashes, and eyebrows) varies a lot from person to person. Here’s a typical timetable for hair regrowth on the head:

• 3–4 weeks after chemotherapy ends: soft fuzz
• 1 month to 6 weeks after: real hair starts to grow
• 2–3 months after: about an inch of hair
• 3–6 months: about 2–3 inches of hair
• 12 months: 4–6 inches of hair

The hair on your head may come back a different color, texture, or volume. If you were coloring or chemically treating your hair before you started chemotherapy, you might be surprised (& pleased) to see what your natural hair looks like when it grows back.

In many cases, hair eventually returns to the way it was before treatment. Some people have incomplete hair regrowth. And sometimes permanent baldness and loss of eyebrows and eyelashes can occur.

To assist with your treatment needs, HSLI is pleased to work with Recover with Confidence in providing comfortable, personalized wigs and hair prostheses to women facing medical hair loss. We’re very familiar with the unique situation of expecting complete hair loss and can be there for you to help with your hair needs.  We are well aware of the details that can make or break the experience of wearing a hairpiece. If you or someone you know has an upcoming medical treatment that will cause hair loss, we can help ease the transition into and out of a personalized hair solution.

Recover with Confidence is a national program that partners with hair restoration salons because we are equipped to understand women’s hair loss. The program gives salons like ours the tools we need to be an important resource for women as they lose their hair as a result of chemotherapy by providing personalized wigs and hair prostheses.

HSLI promises:

• To help guide her through the process. When the time comes, we will even clipper her hair if she’d like. We will have her wig (cranial prosthetic) ready and customized for a perfect fit.
• To provide a product with materials specifically created for women whose skin is sensitive due to the treatment. All materials are soft, natural, breathable and very comfortable.
• Our technicians are all licensed cosmetologists who are also trained wig fitters, and stylists.
• To assist with the proper receipt for you to submit to your insurance company
• To provide a warm, caring and private environment. Our goal is to provide a relaxing and positive experience.

Please call us for a complimentary consultation: Hair Solutions of Long Island

Did you know that split ends tend to get worse in the heat due to humidity, pony tails, clips, chlorine, salt water, etc.? You might want to start with a fresh cut or trim.

Sweat, sun, and sunscreens will have you washing your hair more often. When you do, make sure to use a good quality shampoo and conditioner that moisturizes your hair more than usual. Your stylist can recommend something that works for your hair type.

After swimming make sure to rinse each time you exit the pool. It’ll help maintain your hair. If you swim regularly, whether in the pool or the beach, shop for a shampoo and conditioner that’s designed to help swimmers maintain the condition of their hair.

How Can I Protect My Hair When It’s Hot Outside?

We already know that heat styling can damage our hair, but the heat and UV rays from the sun can be especially damaging. It roughs up the hair shaft (also known as the cuticle). Frizzy hair is the result of that and you probably already know that’s when your hair can become unmanageable and dry.

We suggest wearing a wide brimmed hat. Some hats include protection against ultraviolet rays too! If you’re not the hat-wearing type then look for hair products that provide sun protection.

After swimming or sunbathing, it’s tempting to wash your hair and style it, so it looks good again. Using heat styling tools can add more damage to whatever the sun has already done so, if you can,  try gently towel drying and letting it dry au naturel.

Hair Masks Are Ideal

There are tons of recipes online for a DIY mask, or go easy on yourself and buy something that works for you. Ask your stylist for advice on which hair mask would work best with your hair type. Once a week is all you need. If you spend a lot of time in the sun or swim a lot, you might want to increase this to two or three times a week.

Enjoy the summer, the heat is on! To learn more, contact the team at Hair Solutions of Long Island.

When I hear “SPRING has SPRUNG” my mind thinks of healthy, bouncy, SPRINGY curls!

Those with natural curls either love it or hate it because they have difficulty managing them. Those with straight hair pay to have curls (and vice versa). The SPRING grass is always greener!

Tis time to embrace your locks!

Check out these tips for making your curly hair more manageable.

Nourish Your Curls

Choose hair care products that are designed specifically for curly hair. Invest in high quality products that provide a high level of moisturizing in them that are also natural. Those are less likely to cause damage to your hair and, thus, less stress and strain on each strand. This can reduce the amount of frizz you may have.

Night Night Curls

Your CURLS need protection ALL the time. Let’s start with the right pillowcase. Invest in a high quality satin pillow case or satin hair wrap. Avoid cotton, microfiber, or other products. Satin causes less stress and pulling on your curls and reduces the amount of frizz that can build overnight. Do NOT put your hair up at night because it can put too much stress on the curls and lead to breakage.

Don’t Brush

It is never a good idea to run a brush through curly hair. Brushing will cause the curls to break and fray. Switch to a wide-toothed comb to help you to work through any tangles. Do this before you wash your hair because when you wash your hair, you will have more breakage if you are pulling tangles apart. Use a moisturizing conditioner and do a deep condition regularly

It is a good idea to talk to your hair stylist about your hair’s specific needs for conditioning and care. Curls that are stressed, broken, or otherwise damaged need more care and attention. If that’s what’s going on with your hair it is recommended to do a deep conditioning application at least one time a week. Curly hair tends to be less strong overall so if you don’t follow these steps regularly you are creating more risk of breakage. Pulling and tugging with brushes pulls out and breaks your hair so following these steps can keep your hair healthy, prevent breakage, and helps reduce hair loss.

Hairstyle

Choose hairstyles that work for your hair type. Curly hair varies in texture just like straight and wavy hair. Some have thick curls whereas others many not have as much hair so their curls may be wispy.

Focus on a hair style (with the help of your hair stylist of course) that compliments your hair’s texture and volume. Embrace your curls with a cut that fits your personal style and your hair’s needs.

Invest in quality products to manage your hair, reduce the amount of chemicals and try not to use any heat on your hair. Find a hairstyle that compliments your curls and you will be a lot less frustrated with your hair each day.

To learn more, contact the team at Hair Solutions of Long Island for a free, private consultation.

Tips on HOW TO LOVE YOUR HAIR!!

Wash Your Hair Regularly

What does “regularly” mean? That varies and it depends upon your usual routine as well as your hair/scalp type. Washing your hair ensures that your scalp and hair is clean and free of dirt and excess oil. However, the right frequency depends on your hair type and personal preferences. If you have extremely dry hair (hey it’s Winter!) do not shampoo daily. If you can limit it to twice a week it can be beneficial. If you have an oily scalp, try washing every other day (if you can).

Use Chemical Free Shampoos

The environment can be very damaging to our hair, and obviously you can’t avoid it or control it. What you can control is what you choose to put on your hair. Become conscientious of the kind of shampoos you use. All shampoos have some level of additives so be a label reader. Look for less chemicals and seek products with natural ingredients that also suit your hair type.

Try to find products that are free of sulphates and parabens.  They are used for lathering but they can cause skin irritation and can increase the risk of hormonal disruptions.

Condition Correctly

Try to avoid applying conditioner directly on the scalp and concentrate on the ends of the hair instead. Conditioners contain ingredients that soften the hair and help make it more manageable and they help protect from environmental irritants, some protect from heat styling too. Make sure to rinse it out thoroughly!

Dry Your Hair Naturally

Try to limit blow drying and heat styling. Heat styling can damage your hair and scalp, and can increase the dryness during these cold winter months. If you can, try to heat style only when it’s important to look just right. Air drying or towel drying is best! When towel drying, gently pat it or squeeze it. Do not rub it vigorously like we see on TV and in movies because it can damage the cuticle. Using a wide tooth comb or vent brush on wet hair is kinder to your hair. Be gentle.

Oil Your Hair Properly

If you can make the time, it’s nice to give your hair and scalp an occasional spa-like treatment. Oiling and massaging it improves circulation, boosts the shine, and nourishes your hair. It also restores moisture content, and helps repair split ends. Coconut oil, almond oil, olive oil, castor oil work fine. Avoid using mineral oil on your hair because it creates product buildup on the scalp making it hard for hair care products to penetrate into the scalp. This excess buildup can lead to itching, eczema flares and rashes.

Use A Wide-toothed Comb

Wet hair is fragile and prone to breakage. Let your hair dry and then use a wide-toothed comb or a “wet brush”. These tools help prevent damage to your hair.

To help with your hair and scalp issues, please call us for a complimentary consultation: Hair Solutions of Long Island. Ask about our Residue on Scalp Treatment!

HAVE YOU EVER FELT STRESSED AROUND THE HOLIDAYS?

If your answer is YES, you could possibly experience shedding in about three to six months because it takes time for the stressor to shift the hair cycle.

HAVE YOU HAD COVID?

Covid triggers hair loss, also called Telegen Effluvium due to stress, medications, and fever.

What the heck is Telogen effluvium?

It’s sometimes referred to as stress shedding and is characterized by a sudden and unusual amount of hair loss. Intense period of emotional or physical stress sends your body into survival mode and it stops non-essential functions in order to preserve nutrients. Your body thinks that growing hair is non-essential. You will notice more hairs than usual in your brush, on your pillow, or in your shower drain. Telogen effluvium doesn’t cause symptoms like flaking, itching, pain, or a rash.

Have you had rapid weight loss due to medications like semaglutide?

People using Ozempic (semaglutide) and other related glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists for rapid weight loss are experiencing many side effects.

It is important to note that rapid weight loss can also cause telogen effluvium. Additionally, experts hypothesize that the hormonal shifts from semaglutide and similar drugs can trigger not only temporary telogen effluvium but also early onset male and female pattern hair loss, also known as androgenic alopecia. Androgenic alopecia is a progressive condition that can continue to worsen over time, resulting in permanent hair loss.

Other triggers of TE include:
• Fever
• Illness
• Thyroid or organ dysfunction
• Surgery
• Medication changes
• Pregnancy or postpartum
• Psychological stressors such as a major life change

What can help?
• Hair supplements like some B vitamins can help improve hair growth.
• Therapeutic scalp treatments
• Patience: Within several months, the issue should resolve on its own.

To help with your hair loss issues, please call us for a complimentary consultation: Hair Solutions of Long Island

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common hormonal disorder in women of reproductive age. It affects about one in 10 women and is associated with increased levels of insulin and androgens (male-type hormones) in your body.

Polycystic ovary syndrome Symptoms Include:

Irregular or no periods

High levels of androgens and insulin in your body can affect your menstrual cycle. Some girls with PCOS may have regular periods, others may have heavy or light periods, irregular periods or no periods. Some girls may not start their periods at all due to PCOS.

Hair loss (alopecia)

PCOS can cause scalp hair loss like male pattern baldness. That results in hair that recedes in the front and is thinning on top.

Excess hair (hirsutism)

PCOS can also cause excess hair growth on your face and body due to high levels of male hormones. It usually grows in areas where men grow hair such as sideburns, chin, upper lip, lower abdomen, chest, thighs and around your nipples.
About 60% of women with PCOS have excess hair growth.

Skin conditions

Acne is common in teenage years, but women with PCOS may continue to have severe acne.

The higher levels of androgens can enlarge oil-production glands on your skin, which can cause pimples. PCOS can also cause skin tags. In addition, you might also develop rough, dark, velvety patches of skin in your armpits or on your neck.
Stress, anxiety and depression

Yet another thing that causes stress, anxiety and depression. Possibly due to hormonal changes, but more research is needed to understand how certain hormones affect our emotional wellbeing.
Many women experiencing excess body hair and weight will find that it affects their self-esteem and body image. Women may also feel anxious or depressed if they are planning to have a child because PCOS causes fertility issues.

Weight

Women with PCOS can gain weight and it can be hard to manage when you have PCOS. Research suggests that hormones involved in controlling appetite and hunger aren’t regulated properly in some women with PCOS.

If you or a female you know are experiencing some of these symptoms, you may want to see an endocrinologist for a diagnosis.

To help with your hair loss issues, please call us for a complimentary consultation: Hair Solutions of Long Island

What is Alopecia?

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that causes sudden, patchy hair loss. Sometimes it develops into a more severe form;

• alopecia totalis (total loss of scalp hair) or 2) alopecia universalis (total loss of scalp and body hair).

If you are losing more hair than usual and are concerned that it might be more than normal shedding, here’s what to look for:

The patches from Alopecia are usually round in shape and about the size of a quarter. Some people have more severe hair loss while others lose a lesser amount.  For many people, it creates a host of concerns especially when it comes to self-awareness and image. According to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation, almost 7 million people have been diagnosed with it in the United States, and as many as 147 million people globally experience some form of this condition.

For some it is a short-term condition and the hair returns. For others it is long-term and chronic. While custom alopecia areata treatment courses have helped many HSLI clients with patchy hair loss, as yet, there is no treatment for alopecia totalis nor alopecia universalis.

What is an autoimmune disease?

It’s a breakdown of your body’s immune system in which your immune system attacks your body.

Our immune system usually guards against bacteria and viruses. When it senses these foreign invaders, it sends out fighter cells to attack them. In a healthy the immune system it can tell the difference between foreign intruders and your own cells.

In an autoimmune disease, the immune system mistakes part of your body, like your joints, skin, or hair follicles as foreign. It releases proteins called autoantibodies that attack those healthy cells.

It’s a condition that affects men, women and children worldwide and is not really well understood. Studies have shown a genetic link in approximately 20-25% of cases.

How does Alopecia Areata affect you?

Alopecia attacks your healthy hair follicles which results in patches of hair falling out. A follicle is the part of your body that makes hair.  Cells in your immune system surround and attack your hair follicles which results in the attached hair to fall out. The more hair follicles that your immune system attacks, the more hair loss you will have.

What Causes It To Happen?

A specific reason has not yet been determined.  Researchers are continuing to studying to understand what triggers the body’s immune system to respond this way. Many studies have indicated that STRESS plays a significant role in the development and early onset of the condition. Stress (which can affect all people of all ages) can be a catalyst to this condition as well as hair loss in general. In these difficult times most of us are feeling extremely high levels of stress. Try some yoga, meditation, or some simple breathing exercises to help reduce stress.

There may also be a genetic susceptibility.

YOU CAN HELP!

Brave Barbie without hair is made exclusively by Mattel for NAAF to distribute.

They request a donation of at least $25.00 per doll to cover postage inside the United States. They no longer ship outside the US.

Go to: https://support.naaf.org/give/257527/#!/donation/checkout

Once they receive your payment and mailing address, they can ship your doll. If your mailing address is different than the credit card billing address please be sure to provide that.

Contact our team at Hair Solutions of Long Island for a complimentary, private consultation to learn about the options we have available for Alopecia Areata.