Styling Products and Alopecia
When I was not losing my hair, I had to use a lot of styling gel just to keep my hair manageable. I must have had the most amazing density of hair. You absolutely couldn't see any scalp underneath the hair. Now, if I use even a little bit of gel, it becomes clear that a considerable amount of thinning has occurred.
I have mixed feeling about whether a person with hair loss should use styling products. Obviously the decision of whether to use them or not depends upon the particular situation. For me personally, I have found it better to not use any styling products, and to keep my hair as short as possible. This creates the illusion of more density. Instead of trying to cover the thinning spots with long hair I don't have to worry about it. Somehow the shorter the hair, the thicker it looks.
On some occasions however, I do use styling products -- primarily gel. I only do this however in conjunction with a good concealer. I use the Dermatch product and have found it to be excellent for my particular situation. I don't use it often; I use it for special occasions and for going out. It totally eliminates any signs of thinning hair. Of course you have to have a fair amount of hair for a product like dermatch to work, and I still have a lot, but the dermatch really makes a difference. I will not use gel or mousse or any other styling product without first applying dermatch and letting it dry.
I have used Toppik as well, and found it to be useful, but my preference is for Dermatch. After I apply it and let it dry, I use a small amount of gel overtop of my hair and run my fingers through the tips. This creates the slicked-back look. By the way, I only do this after my hair has grown out a bit and I can comb it back. Since I am keeping my hair very short most of the time, I rarely do this anymore. The Dermatch is usually good enough on its own. I sometimes apply a styling varnish spray just to give the hair a shinier look. Dermatch can dull the hair a bit. Otherwise I highly recommend it.
Without a concealer, I simply will not use styling products. That's just my preference.
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