My Scalp Gets the Pinnacle Clinical: Part II

My visit continues…if you haven’t yet, read all about the first part of my visit here.

After getting my hair and scalp mask rinsed out at the Philip Kingsley Trichological Hair Clinic in New York City, I was given brushes, Philip Kingsley styling products, a blowdryer and my own little station at which to dry my hair. I was sent home with my own set of Philip Kingsley clinical products, chosen to treat my specific hair and scalp ailments. These were pro-grade products, not for general consumption. This included a shampoo, conditioner, scalp toner, scalp mask and the famed Philip Kingsley Elasticizer.

My instructions were to:

• Shampoo every day, massaging shampoo into my scalp only. I was told to think of cleaning the scalp the way one would clean the face, with a massaging action and for longer than ten seconds
• Condition every day by running conditioner through the bottom half of hair. Do not apply conditioner near scalp
• Apply scalp toner every day to clean scalp and throughout the day whenever scalp feels tight or irritated, or in need of a refresh
• Recreate scalp and hair mask treatment at home once a week with scalp mask, Elasticizer, plastic shower cap and self-massage

Directions From the Philip Kingsley Trichological Hair Clinic

I followed these rules religiously for the 6 weeks between my visits. I made sure to eat a protein rich breakfast every single day and up my overall protein and iron intake. I also made a concerted effort to get to bed as close to 10:30pm as possible. As someone who frequently battles insomnia, this wasn’t easy, but I forced myself to do it! 10:30pm is the magic bedtime as far as stress levels are concerned; stay up later and you get another rush of cortisol in your system, leading to less sleep and more stress. For me that could mean more shedding, so to-bed at 10:30pm I went.

My Follow up Visit

I was a big ball of nervous excitement when I returned for my follow up visit to the Philip Kingsley Trichological Hair Clinic. I knew I felt better…my improved diet and sleep habits were affording me new energy and a higher stress threshold. When Liz took a look at my scalp she was very pleased to see how much calmer and less inflamed it looked. She even started to see some regrowth! The important thing now, she said, was to keep up the good work and nurture these new, fragile hairs, so they would mature into full strands. During my treatment, Stephen echoed Liz’s excitement at the improved state of my scalp. I made plans to return in February, to make sure my new hairs were indeed continuing to grow.

The Long-term Results of My Philip Kingsley Clinic Visit

Here I am, about 6 months after my initial clinic visit. The improvement in my hair cannot be understated. When my hair loss was at its worst, I had to stop parting my hair a certain way because so much of my scalp was visible. Now, with my fledgling regrowth thanks to the Philip Kingsley Trichological Clinic, I can part my hair that way once more. My hair is not 100% restored, but there’s noticeable improvement. I can wash my hair everyday without it looking like a chipmunk has gotten stuck in the shower drain. The most exciting thing, though, is looking closely in the mirror to see all the little baby hairs sprouting up on my scalp.

I know now that any slip up in my diet or scalp/hair care could mean a trip back to Shedsville. But the difference in how I feel after visiting the Philip Kingsley Trichological Hair Clinic and looks are more than enough motivation to keep me on the right track.

Certain physical attributes can significantly elevate a person’s appearance. Say you were not blessed with modelesque bone structure. There are several other features (skin, brows, teeth…) the optimization of which (clear & glowing skin, well-shaped brows, straight, white teeth…) can still land you firmly in “10″ territory. Probably the most notable of these features is hair. Shiny, bouncy, Breck-girl hair makes a world of difference on anyone. As a low-maintenance gal, I relied on my high-quality (read: expensive) hair cut and color to compensate for the makeup I didn’t bother applying, the accessories I didn’t bother wearing, etc. Imagine my despair, then, when I realized my hair was falling out at an alarming rate. It was devastating and stressful…not to mention embarrassing.

Hair Loss & Thinning

Why? Why, oh, why was this happening to me? Well, the body considers hair a “non-essential” tissue, so the brain will not send nourishment to it if requirements elsewhere in the body are not being met. This can result in hair loss and/or thinning, as well as dry, brittle and lifeless hair. Additionally, (unfortunately) hair loss in women is a more complex problem than it is in men because of all the different factors at work:

• Diet
• Stress level
• Genetic predisposition
• Hormones

Poor Diet & High Stress Levels

I was struggling on all these fronts. Simultaneously completing my MBA, working part time and caring for my two young children had led to me often neglecting the most basic self-care. My diet was awful: I grabbed food on the go, never paying attention to eating a well-balanced diet. My stress levels were sky high and sleep was but a stranger. Although I felt run down and depleted, I also felt too busy to do much about it.

The Last Straw

My attitude quickly changed once my hair started to fill my shower drain…every day. Is that my scalp I see in the mirror?!?! My body was alerting me that the status-quo was not working, and I could no longer not deal with it. On top of my hair shedding, my scalp suddenly became extremely dry and flaky for the first time in my life. So now my suddenly visible scalp had become quite unsightly. It was clearly time to take action. I proceeded to purchase every scalp and hair loss product under the sun, from Apple Cider Vinegar to Zinc supplements. Still, I was not seeing any real results. Time for another tactic.

I Took The First Step

I made an appointment at The Philip Kingsley Trichological Institute in New York City, knowing that they specialize in hair and scalp health. The Institute is a hidden gem of hair health, tucked away in midtown Manhattan. It is not a spa or a flashy full-service salon; it is a no-frills hair and scalp treatment center. I was comforted by the straightforward professionalism and “clinical” setting; I knew they were going to go beyond scalp deep to deal with my issues. My visit was two-part. First, I met with trichologist Elizabeth Cunnane-Philips. This was an in-depth interview, just shy of a therapy session. Liz conducted a thorough investigation into my life, asking about:

• Overall health
• Family history
• Diet/nutrition
• Lifestyle

Her expertise and depth of knowledge were immediately apparent. Though she was a consummate professional and listened matter-of-factly to all I said, there was an air of compassion to our meeting which I really appreciated. When she asked me (rhetorically) where the protein was in my diet (surprise…there wasn’t any), it wasn’t a judgment, but a dose of tough love. Philip Kingsley takes a holistic approach to hair and scalp issues, treating the underlying causes as well as the appearance your hair/scalp. My diet was my biggest issue – woefully deficient in protein. And iron. And breakfast. To discover what else may be amiss (thyroid problems, deficiencies, etc.), Liz recommended a comprehensive series of blood tests, the results of which I would report back to her.

The Examination

She then examined my hair and scalp under a large magnifying glass. My scalp was inflamed, flaky and altogether unhappy. An inflamed scalp can often go hand-in-hand with hair loss, and can lead to even more hair loss if left untreated. Based on what she observed, Liz wrote up a personalized product list to be used during my treatment – the second part of my visit.

The Treatment

For my treatment, I met with another trichologist, Stephen Pullan. Where Liz was tough love, Stephen was kid gloves. His healing hands put the “treat” in treatment. After expertly applying an exfoliating scalp mask (to remove “debris” from my scalp), Stephen started squeezing a bottle of white goop onto my hair. He said it was Elasticizer diluted with water to make it easier to apply. Brilliant- I learned a new trick! My hour-long treatment included a divine 10 minute head and neck massage from Stephen, as well as time under a scalp steamer: Just like the helmet dryers used in salons, but with STEAM! I can’t begin to describe how soothing and restorative it felt. After steaming, I was put under infrared lamps, then shampooed and rinsed.

TO BE CONTINUED….