It’s pretty hard to look in the mirror and feel feminine when one sees evidence of thinning hair.
This sentiment is expressed by former model, actress and songwriter Joanna Ferguson whose thinning hair became more pronounced after she had her children.
While Joanna, who is also a fitness wear and denim designer, was extremely creative in finding ways to conceal her hair loss, she always felt self conscious.
Prior to having children her work often put her in front of the camera and a big portion of her earnings was spent on solutions for camouflaging her thinning hair.
These solutions included hair extensions and treatments and combing her hair in a strict style to conceal thinning areas at the front of her head. Baseball caps became her perfect back up at other times.
Joanna says that, as a single mother of two young boys, investing in ongoing solutions for concealing her hair loss became increasingly unaffordable.
In mid- 2013 Joanna learned through a friend about how the latest techniques in scalp micro pigmentation (SMP) are providing an affordable aesthetic semi permanent solution for concealing hair loss. By September, after a consultation with Trichologist Kate Dawes, IAT, of Medical Hair Restoration Australia (MHRA) in Nedlands, Joanna had proceeded with the treatment which gave her a new lease of confidence.
Immediately after the treatment my hair appeared much thicker, Joanna says. To be able to look in the mirror and feel good about the reflection was such a great feeling.
It may sound like an overstatement to some people because my hair loss was not life threatening. However, there is a big difference between simply having a bad hair day and having the appearance of thinning hair every day of the year. Any women will tell you they don’t feel right when their hair isn’t right, Joanna says.
SMP, which involves applying micro organic pigment into the epidermis layer of the skin, creates the illusion of greater hair density. The organic pigment appears as hair follicles, thereby creating the appearance of a fuller head of hair. Matched to the patient’s existing hair colour and skin tone, the non-invasive procedure, which involves no down time or scarring, lasts up to five years.
Trichologist Kate Dawes, IAT, says demand is rising among both men and women for SMP treatment.
Her clinic’s staff have been trained to utilize the latest equipment developed by German and Spanish company, Goldeneye,
Patients are delighted with the results achieved with SMP, Kate says. Medical Hair Restoration Australia only use the highest standard quality organic pigments available and procedures are completed at our modern, hygienic and sterilized clinic in Nedlands.
Joanna says that after two treatments with SMP at Medical Hair Restoration Australia, she no longer uses baseball caps to conceal her hair loss.
Nowadays, Joanna, who has just launched her own label Secret Society Fitness alongside JO DENHAM Designer Jeans, says she only wears caps for protection from the sun or wind and she enjoys the freedom to wear her hair in a greater variety of styles.
I have had lots of compliments about my appearance lately. People can’t quite pinpoint why I am looking better, Joanna says. I didn’t think twice about having SMP and I most certainly will have it done again when it starts to wear off in five years time.
By Evelyn Duffy
