Tuesday Topic, with Christine Rutter

IT may be their crowning glory but there can be few women who have not had anxious moments about their hair.

Too greasy, too dry, too dark, too light, too straight, too curly . . . the list is endless.

Whatever the state of your hair, it's fairly certain that you're not satisfied with it.

But imagine the trauma of actually losing your locks.

Any woman who has suffered from thinning hair will be well aware of that terrible feeling of losing their femininity, looks and sexual attraction.

Imagine the feeling of horror the first time you notice you are dropping hair by the handfuls on to your pillow or you spot your shiny scalp showing through.

No matter how carefully you wash or style your hair and how expertly you apply your make-up, it's still there.

"You can't hide it from yourself any more. Your hair is thinning and there's no two ways about it.

"We are no different than peacocks," said John Slater, East Lancashire's only qualified trichologist - or hair specialist.

"Hair is an adornment. To some it is their pride and joy. Some cope with losing it.

"Others find it totally devastating. They ask Why me?"

The crippling emotional effects of thinning hair lead many trichologists to study psychology to deal with their patients.

"The sad thing is that hair loss often has such a terrible effect on the way that they feel about themselves and many endure years of misery," said John. Depression, isolation and self-hatred are common problems for sufferers.

"Some deliberately rip their remaining hair out at the roots.

With such horrific side-effects, it is difficult to believe some people don't seek help.

"Many women actually ignore hair loss for some time because they find it so difficult to come to terms with and many live with hair that is thinner and less healthy than it need be because they think there is no alternative.

"They are frightened to find out the truth in case their problem is incurable," said John.

The vulnerability of hair loss sufferers is a perfect breeding ground for conmen cashing in on their misery with potions and lotions that promise the earth.

"People are desperate and many do get sucked in by conmen promising their hair will grow back," said John.

"Trichologists can only tell one story - and that's the truth."

John helps women and men discover the underlying cause of their hair loss in the first instance and, if necessary, put into practice a hair care regime for recovery.

"It is almost like doing detective work," said John, who has to find out about the person's lifestyle and habits to establish a cause. "I give people the information and tell them the options.

"It is up to them to decide what action they take.

"These people want to know why they have lost their hair.

"Many feel better just knowing why."

The 53-year-old, who works in a clinic based at Slater's hair salon in Blackburn, is one of only 100 trichologists in Britain.

But John, who spent five years studying the structure, functions and diseases of the hair, is the first to admit his expertise is limited.

"If you are born with fine hair, nobody can change that.

"It is the way you are made."

And he said in some cases when excessive hair falling is left untreated, it may eventually lead to permanent baldness.

But there is hope.

Most women suffer excessive hair thinning at some time, such as during a pregnancy, and in most cases the hair will grow back normally without any help.

Causes range from inherited factors, ageing and bad eating habits, to certain illnesses, hormone changes and scalp infections.

John was a hairdresser for 30 years before switching professions.

"As a hairdresser, I saw people with scalp and hair disorders and didn't know how to treat them," he said. "It was frustrating.

"I now get an enormous buzz from telling people, in some cases, that in time their hair will grow back."

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