Female Hair Loss Rescue

March 2014

This awesome LONG post should help alot of my female comrades on their hairloss issue.  Forget about all those hair tonic, hair growing lotions. THEY DO NOT WORK.

Hairloss problem is often faced by women with long hair. I've had this problem since 2004, after I worked in middle east for some months.  Salt and sand coming through the water pipes was a typical water condition in middle eastern countries.  I had to use the salty sandy water for washing my hair.  My hair began to drop like crazy. After I'd returned to Singapore, there was no improvement. The scalp itched and I'd scratch till fluids ooze from my scalp.

The floor was always full of my hair.  I used to stay at boyfriend's house over the weekends. The amount of hair drop on his floor had me so embarrassed, I'd always ask that we leave the house at any chance.

I tried changing my shampoo. Head n shoulders, Clairol, Loreal, Rene Furterer, Giovanni, Paul Mitchell, Keratase, John Masters.. all sorts of brands.
  
I had also tried all sorts of hair tonic at watsons and guardian pharmacy -  Neoleaf, Biolyn, Sankyo yamatori, Audace, Rene futerer, Phytosis, Regain, Pregaine, Beijing101.. name any brand on the shelves, I'd have tried it.

They ONLY make my hair smell nicer than my body nia.


I decided to visit Changi Hospital - Dermatology Specialist clinic.  The "au ta" Dermatologist Dr Eileen, (who now runs her own clinic at Mt E)   was the doctor assigned to my case.  She insisted it was nothing but seborrheic dermatitis then brush me off with a bottle of stieprox, element shampoo, and dermasone spray.

Doctor Eileen is "au ta"(lousy) not because she recommended me the "wrong" products. Dermasone does relieve the itch.  Stieprox helps short term.   

Dr Eileen is "au ta" (lousy) to me, because I felt that she did NOT have heart for me as a patient.  She gave a quick examination in under 2 minutes, then told me that she will prescribe a spray and shampoo.  I had to insist for a more detailed analysis before she would run a blood test for me.  Dr Eileen did not even inform me dermasone contains steroids until I google the product at home.      

She was more interested to explain that she could do hair transplant and the related aesthetic procedure.  I was persuaded into her confidence to do the transplant during my consultation. However, I'd changed my mind after googling the outcome of such procedure.  When I called to cancel the surgery, she actually PERSONALLY called to scold that I gave last minute notice, and that she had "prepared" everything.  (What type of op requires no preparation at all?)

My surgery cancellation notice to her was days in advance.   I reckon that Dr Eileen fumed because she was more "ëxcited" that it was a $4k cosmetic surgery. This was a huge amount back then. I was very angry at her call attack, but too young to know to complain to Singapore Medical Council.  I am sure if starhub/singtel would track it, they could track her/my call record that a doc actually called to scold a patient over a cancellation notice.  

My itch and crazy hair-drop continued for years.  The medication Dr Eileen gave did not work anymore and I refuse to go to her again for consultation because I had a phobia of her.  What the hell man, I am the one paying money, and I have to be scolded?        

I had almost gotten depression thinking I was balding.  The top of my head felt thin. When I tie a pony tail, the bundle felt like an asparagus stick.  Still, for each hair that drops, new hair comes out.

What really worked, was in year 2013. My scalp itch recurred.  I'd again asked for a referral letter from polyclinic for cheaper fees.  This time, also back to Changi hospital. I had specifically told the phone operator that I do not want that Doctor Eileen in case she works in the hospital on part time basis.

This time, the lady dermatologist (not crappy Dr Eileen) at Changi hospital was super nice. (I did not get her name).  She was detailed and meticulous to examine my scalp thoroughly.  Said my hairfall is normal (even though I dropped more than 60 strands each day)  and that I had an oily scalp.  After her assessment, she asked her senior (who is a hair expert) to examine my scalp for a second opinion.

I was prescribed this coal tar shampoo, and a ketoconazole shampoo to alternate for use.  Big Bang theory's Amy Fowler said in some of the episodes that she uses tar shampoo as well. Maybe I could also obtain a PHD with that shampoo? LOL. 

Ketoconazole is actually the active ingredient in Nizoral that you can get from normal pharmacy.  I was using Nizoral even before I visited the dermatologist in 2013. But the hospital brand is actually much better and cheaper.

Coal tar shampoo works miracles to rid the itch and oil. But internet sources states tar is cancerous although no real evidence linked to tar shampoo.  Readers must ask their doctors about this. I am still using tar shampoo because it is the only that controls my scalp itch well.

The bad of these 2 shampoos is that they smell. The good is that because it smells, you just need to use little. lol.

OK. By now, you would imagine that this is my recommendation and end of blog. BUT NO.  The 2 shampoos are not the highlight to rescuing female hair loss. 

By trial and error, I found 3 other things which really works for me. Please try.  

1. Aloe vera juice.  Please do not get those from Jorubi or Fruit of the earth. Jorubi is fantastic on skin. But for the scalp, please get the real aloe vera from the supermarket. Cost about $1.40.   Cut the top hard cover of  the aloe vera, scrap the transluscent gel out. Get a juicer and spin it.   Apply the whole sticky shit on your scalp. Use towel wrap around for 20 minutes then rinse off without shampoo. Do this once a week.

2. In the alternate week, use Olive leaf extract.  The only one I found available in Singapore is the one by Comvita. I cannot say all comvita products are good. But if you were to google search property of olive leaf, you would understand why I recommend this.  I have seen pharmaceutical grade hair products with this ingredient.  Proportion for dilution is 1 cap extract to 3 cups cold water. Use a syringe (without needle) and apply it on your scalp.   Towel wrap for 30 minutes and lightly shampoo off.

3. Haircut.  The dermatologist explained that one of the reasons to hairloss could be due to long hair, or that I tie pony tail too tight. I admit that I was always using scrunchie. When I switched to hair clamps, hair fall was lessened. I decided to chop it shorter.  About 2 inch below my shoulder. 

The pivotal change towards hairloss is that instead of one length cut, I went for a layered cut. It looks similar to below pic.  

When your hair is dropping, it makes sense to keep short hair to lessen tugging. However, if long hair is still preferred, extensive layering helps tremendously against hair loss.

This auntie hairdresser, Nancy at level 2/3 (Little House) hair salon of Fu Lu Shou complex (Singapore) does an excellent job.  And I've paid $13.  Fantastic was, Nancy had spent over an hour to cut my hair because I told her of my hair problems and that I really needed a good haircut.  Imagine 1 hour, no shampooing of hair, no perm or colour, just plain cutting.  Only those with heart of gold and love their job would spend that much time on a low spending customer. Malaysian auntie. Very nice. Do support.

After revealing these methods, Im sure all those chow smelly hair loss centres will try steal my aloe and olive leaf recipe. Seriously, it works and its not expensive. Don't dump your money to those wannabe hairloss experts and hair tonic companies.  

N.B I dont think my recipe works for male hair loss as male hairloss is mostly due to hormones issue.