The Bald Truth
Americans turn to weaves, rugs, plugs, and drugs to alleviate hair loss, creating a $1.5 billion industry
TOPICAL TREATMENTS Of all the lotions on the market today, only minoxidil has been judged by the FDA to be capable of regrowing hair and preventing further hair loss. The most well-known product containing minoxidil is Rogaine, which must be applied to the scalp twice a day. PROS: Available without a prescription; no one need know product is being used; no scarring. CONS: Rogaine causes significant growth in only about a quarter of those who use it; any hair saved through the use of minoxidil falls out if you stop applying it. COST: $30 a month for Rogaine, though generic brands of minoxidil are available for less than $15 a month; other solutions can cost up to $100 per month.
COSMETIC HAIR From hair in a can to hair in a tube, these powdery products work by coloring any exposed scalp to mask baldness. They look best on those who still have a significant portion of their hair. Products are available in a variety of colors. PROS: Easy on, easy off (removable with soap and water); surprisingly effective for those with only moderately thinning hair. CONS: Inappropriate for those with significant hair loss; products may run if you perspire or get your scalp wet. COST: Anywhere from $20 to $40 a month, depending on how much scalp you are trying to cover. Cost will increase as your bald spot grows.
HAIRPIECES Today's hairpieces are made of real or synthetic hair sewn into a thin mesh base. They can be fastened or woven into existing hairs or glued directly to the scalp. Most need to be removed less than once a month, though some might need to come off each night. PROS: A full head of hair without surgery; can sleep and exercise while wearing most hairpieces. CONS: Difficult to stop wearing a hairpiece and go back to a bald scalp once you start; some may be noticeable. COST: $500 to $3,500 for a hairpiece (real hair is more expensive than artificial). A hairpiece needs replacing every one to three years. Many also require a $50-to-$75 service visit for refitting roughly every six weeks.
TRANSPLANTS In a surgical transplant, a physician removes a strip of hair-covered skin from the back of the head, divides it into grafts of anywhere from one to eight hairs, and then places them into holes drilled in bald areas of the scalp. PROS: Allows you to regrow your own hair; recent developments have largely eliminated the "pluggy" look of past techniques. CONS: Bald areas may develop behind the transplants as the hairline recedes; procedures are not reversible, so mistakes are permanent. COST: A transplant can cost from $2,000 to over $10,000, depending on how many hairs are moved. Many patients will require more than one transplant. For more information, see U.S. News Online (http://www.usnews.com).
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