Wondering if a Hair Transplant for Black Females is Right for You?
Whenever most of us think about hair transplants, the classic old-school movie vacuum salesman comes to mind. A shady dude going door to door selling his wares with his toupee just slightly off-center on his head. The funny thing is the toupee is more of a wig than an actual transplant. But when the hair transplant first became a thing, they were even more unnatural looking than a toupee. Fortunately, the hair transplant industry has come a long way since those days. On the other hand, what we don’t immediately think about when we hear the words “hair transplant” is women. This is especially true of a hair transplant for black females.
However, hair loss in those of African descent is just as common as other ethnic groups. Although sometimes, it happens for different reasons. Unfortunately, hair loss, namely the clinical term “alopecia” affects all of us humans, men & women of every ethnic group. It starts when you look in the mirror one day and notice that your hair just isn’t looking quite as thick as it did yesterday. However, you just kind of shrug it off. A few days later you step out of the shower and notice it again. This time your heart sinks into your chest and you realize that giant hair clog you pulled out of the drain wasn’t a coincidence. You’re losing your hair!
Alopecia and Its Many Forms
Alopecia is the clinical term for hair loss, and it affects 1 in 500 to 1,000 people in the United States. There are many different types of alopecia that manifest in many ways. It can affect just your scalp or your entire body and it could be temporary or permanent. Heredity, sudden hormonal changes, or just plain age are the main causes of alopecia. Sometimes it will show up as just a gradual thinning of the hair on the top of your head, and other times alopecia will rear its ugly head as circular or patchy bald spots coming out of nowhere.
Hair transplants for black females are much more common than one would think. Alopecia does not discriminate by color race or creed. Something Chris Rock should have researched before cracking some jokes at the Oscars. We’re allowed one joke about that, but it’s the only time we’ll mention it… we swear!
Common Forms of Alopecia
The regular form of hair loss is called androgenetic alopecia, which is the regular genetic baldness that happens to men and women and is usually passed down genetically. Alopecia areata is another common form of hair loss, which, unlike androgenetic alopecia, Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder where your immune system, for whatever reason attacks your hair follicles like they were foreign invaders to your system.
Rare Forms of Alopecia
Alopecia areata Universalis is a rare form of alopecia that involves losing all body hair, including eye eyebrows, eyelashes, chest hair, armpit hair, and pubic hair. Normally people who suffer from alopecia areata Universalis are otherwise healthy and have no other symptoms other than hair loss.
Other forms of alopecia include ophiasis alopecia areata, which causes hair loss in a band shape around the back and sides of your head. Yet another form is diffuse alopecia areata, which is just a sudden thinning of your hair rather than lost patches. By far the most common cause of hair transplants for black females is a form of alopecia called traction alopecia.
Traction Alopecia and Its Causes
Traction alopecia is a form of hair loss that is not autoimmune-related, like some of the other forms of alopecia. This form of acquired hair loss results from persistent and prolonged repetitive tension on the scalp hair. While traction alopecia is not relative to Africana American genealogy, it is common in African American women due to some of the most common hairstyles in that culture. Braids, cornrows, weaves, tight ponytails, and the use of rollers in hair are the most common causes of traction alopecia. Traction alopecia affects people of any ethnic background or age. The likelihood of developing traction alopecia increases with age, likely due to a prolonged history of these hair practices.
Symptoms of Traction Alopecia
The symptoms of traction alopecia will manifest in a variety of different ways. Some people will have some of these symptoms and others will not. Itching, redness, scaling, multiple short or broken hairs around the affected area, and of course, hair loss are some of the most common signs of traction alopecia. It will normally affect the front and sides of the scalp, but the affected areas wholly depend on the area of the scalp that is under the most tension. A clear sign of traction alopecia is the “fringe sign,” which means that some hair is still present among the hair loss but shows up as broken and thin.
Treatments for Traction Alopecia
The most common treatment for traction alopecia is first and foremost, changing the patient’s hairstyle. Fortunately, since traction alopecia is not an autoimmune disorder, reducing the traction and tension on the scalp will normally stop the hair loss in its tracks. At times antibiotics will be needed to prevent infection and topical and intralesional steroids will be called for as well. Hair regrowth medications like Minoxidil or Rogaine can be used to try to regrow the hair lost, but the best and most permeant treatment is hair transplant surgery.
You Need a Specialist for a Hair Transplant for Black Females
It’s no secret that the hair of people of African ethnic descent is very different than pretty much every other ethnic type of hair. The hair follicles produce much more curly and wavy hair than any other ethnic group. Using traditional methods of hair extraction, it can become very difficult to harvest these hairs from a donor area and transplant them successfully. Additionally, the hair follicles are typically surrounded by a thicker and tighter layer of skin, compared to other ethnic groups, which makes the extraction process that much more difficult.
Another common problem that arises after a hair transplant of African American hair is the possibility of keloid scarring that happens on the scalp as the extracted hair follicles heal. Keloids are raised scars on the skin that is caused by the extra production of collagen during the healing process. Keloid scarring can happen to anyone, but they are more common in African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and generally people with darker skin.
These are just some of the reasons that not just anybody can perform a successful hair transplant for black females. This is why pretty much any dermatologist you will find offers hair transplants as one of their services. The success rate of any hair transplant is heavily dependent on the skill and experience of the surgeon performing the procedure, and for hair transplants for black females, this is even more so the case.
Specialists in Hair transplant for Black Females
Going to a dermatologist for a hair transplant is kind of like going to a Pizza Hut for a Burger. Dermatologists are great for the treatment of a bad case of eczema or to get a wart removed. They have their place in the medical field. But let’s be real. If you want the very best hair transplant available on the market, you need to go to a specialist.
A hair transplant for black females needs not only a specialist but a physician who is experienced in working with the specific type of hair normally found in people of African ethnic descent. Any clinic that offers hair restoration will gladly take your money. Furthermore, they’re more than happy to offer all the assurances that they can get the job done. However, now that you know the differences in hair loss and the reasons, you’re prepared to ask the right questions.
Here at Best Hair LA, we perform FUE and FUT hair transplant surgeries every day. Including hair transplants for black females! We understand the difference in the very structure of the hair follicles and have perfected the art of extraction and implantation. That way, your hair restoration will be successful. Ready to make take the next step and regrow your thinning Black hair? Call us today for your complimentary consultation.
SUFFERING FROM AFRICAN AMERICAN HAIR LOSS?
Are you an African American woman in search of a hair transplant procedure? You must find a doctor that not only specializes in hair transplants but one that’s experienced with African American hair. Best Hair Transplant in Redondo Beach is the best place to schedule your hair transplant in Los Angeles. We’ve helped both men and women regrow their lost hair.
At Best Hair Transplant, we’re proud of our results and happy to provide hair restoration services. Additionally, we’re proud to make hair transplants affordable and help you save money on a variety of hair transplants. To ensure your ease of mind, you can view our customer recommendations HERE. Furthermore, you can also see our Google reviews and Yelp reviews. We can’t wait to help you start restoring your lost hair.
YOUR HAIR RESTORATION SOLUTION
Best Hair Transplant
1970 S. Prospect Ave., Suite 2
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
(213) 403-0455
