Latest news with #AlviArmani
IOL News
2 days ago
- Health
- IOL News
The next step after beating cancer? Reclaiming identity through hair restoration
For many survivors, the next chapter is about restoration: rebuilding confidence, reclaiming identity, and, sometimes, rediscovering joy in the mirror. Image: Thirdman/pexels For anyone who's walked the long road through cancer, survival is a word that means everything. But making it through treatment, chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery is only part of the story. For many survivors, the next chapter is about restoration: rebuilding confidence, reclaiming identity, and, sometimes, rediscovering joy in the mirror. In South Africa, cancer touches thousands of families every year. According to the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), cancers like breast, prostate, colorectal, and skin cancer are among the most common, with over 100 000 new cases reported annually. While medical advances save more lives than ever before, the emotional and physical scars can linger. One of the most visible and emotionally charged reminders of cancer is hair loss. Why hair loss hurts so much Losing your hair during cancer treatment isn't just about looks. It can feel like losing a part of yourself, your identity, your femininity or masculinity, your privacy, your sense of normalcy. As Dr Kashmal Kalan, medical director at Alvi Armani South Africa, puts it: 'This isn't about vanity. It's about healing the whole person. Even after treatment ends, survivors often see someone in the mirror who still looks like a patient. That can make it hard to reconnect with the person they were before cancer.' Why does hair fall out during cancer treatment? The answer is both simple and scientific. Chemotherapy and radiation attack rapidly dividing cells. While this helps kill cancer, it also harms healthy cells that grow quickly, like those in our hair follicles. The result? Hair may thin, recede, or fall out entirely, sometimes never regrowing the same way. A study published in "Psycho-Oncology" found that hair loss ranked as one of the most distressing side effects, especially for women. Losing your hair during cancer treatment isn't just about looks. It can feel like losing a part of yourself, your identity, your femininity or masculinity, your privacy, your sense of normalcy Image: Michelle Leman /pexels Restoration is more than cosmetic For survivors like Cindy Pretorius, a basal cell carcinoma survivor, hair restoration was the last step in her healing journey. After surgery left her with visible scarring along her hairline, she received a minimally invasive hair transplant at Alvi Armani South Africa. And she's not alone. For many, regaining hair is about reclaiming self-worth, dignity, and a sense of hope not just for themselves, but for loved ones who've walked the journey beside them. A game-changing initiative for South African survivors In August, CANSA and Alvi Armani are launching a powerful new initiative: free, personalised hair restoration consultations for cancer survivors. Whether you've just finished treatment or are years into remission, this program offers scalp assessments, checks for lingering treatment effects, and, where needed, advice on restorative treatments or even hair transplants. The goal is to make world-class care accessible to South Africans, regardless of background or income. Alvi Armani's advanced techniques, like the Vitruvian and Maximus follicular unit extraction (FUE), are used in their clinics from Beverly Hills to Johannesburg, ensuring survivors here receive the same expert care as patients abroad. 'People who've overcome cancer deserve more than just a life saved. They deserve the chance to live it fully, with confidence and joy,' explains Kalan. There's real evidence that restoring hair can help restore lives. Research from the Journal of Clinical Oncology shows that persistent hair loss after treatment can fuel anxiety, depression, and social withdrawal. For some, hair regrowth is slow or incomplete, making it hard to move forward. He adds, 'Hair is a part of how we express identity. By restoring it, we help people feel like themselves again, more confident to re-enter public life, apply for jobs, or socialise without feeling marked by illness.' How to get involved If you or someone you love is a cancer survivor in South Africa, you can contact Alvi Armani South Africa directly and mention your CANSA affiliation for a complimentary consultation. The program also features information sessions at CANSA events, like Relay For Life and the CANSA High Tea, bringing expert advice and support to survivors nationwide. Makoma Raolane, CANSA's Sustainability Manager, sums it up perfectly: 'Healing also means restoring dignity, self-confidence, and quality of life. Our partnership with Alvi Armani reflects our commitment to holistic survivorship care.' Survival is about more than beating cancer. It's about living again, fully and freely, no longer defined by scars, but by strength.
The Citizen
23-07-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
No hairline? How to stop hair loss in Afro-textured hair today!
Thinning edges, receding hairlines, and patchy scalps reveal experiences that often go unnoticed. Here's some advice on how to stop it getting worse. In South Africa, hair is never just hair. It's history, heritage, identity, and a personal signature rolled into one. For many with Afro-textured hair, keeping that crown intact has become a silent struggle, as thinning edges, receding hairlines, and patchy scalps tell stories that too often go unheard. The culprit? Picture: iStock Not just genetics. According to Dr Kashmal Kalan, medical director at Alvi Armani South Africa, the way we wear and treat our hair plays a huge role, and for many, those everyday styling habits may be leading them straight to hair loss. When culture meets compromise 'Hair loss doesn't discriminate,' says Dr Kalan, 'but the causes can look very different depending on your hair type.' Hair loss. Picture: iStock In the case of Afro-textured hair, traction alopecia, hair loss from repeated tension, is alarmingly common, especially in women. 'Tight braids, cornrows, weaves, these are beautiful and culturally significant styles, but when done too tightly or too frequently, they place enormous stress on the follicles,' he explains. Cornrow hairstyle. Picture: iStock And while the aesthetic of sleek, chemically-straightened hair is still popular, those relaxers come at a cost. 'Each time a chemical touches your scalp, it alters the hair follicle's structure. Over time, that damage becomes irreversible.' For men, keeping hair short or shaved may seem like low maintenance, but it can hide early signs of hair thinning until it's too late to act. ALSO READ:WATCH: Dancing queens Somizi and Real Housewives Christall Kay show off their power dance moves Rethinking haircare, not hair culture Dreadlocks. Picture: iStock The solution isn't to give up cultural hairstyles, Dr Kalan stresses, but to approach them with a bit more care. 'Avoid styles that pull tightly at the roots, give your scalp time to breathe between weaves or wigs, and limit the use of harsh chemicals,' he advises. 'Protective styling can still be protective if you're not causing long-term damage in the process.' When prevention isn't enough Woman getting a hair treatment at spa. Picture: iStock For those already experiencing hair loss, all is not lost. Hair transplants, once considered a solution for straight-haired men only, have evolved. Now, thanks to specialised techniques developed for afro-textured hair, curly-haired clients are seeing powerful results. 'Curly follicles curve under the skin, which makes transplantation more complex,' says Dr Kalan. 'You need fewer grafts per session and a surgeon who truly understands Black hair; otherwise, you risk poor results or even scarring.' Keloid scarring is also a concern for many African patients, which is why clinics like Alvi Armani perform test patches first to assess healing. ALSO READ:'Unlocked': Rugby star Eben Etzebeth launches first book Debunking the myths A woman suffering from alopecia. Picture: iStock Still think hair transplants are just for men with receding hairlines? Think again. 'One of the biggest myths we hear is that people with curly hair aren't good candidates, or that women shouldn't bother,' says Dr Kalan. 'But hair restoration is not a one-size-fits-all solution. If you start early and get the right advice, your hair journey doesn't have to end at hair loss.' His parting shot: 'Find a clinic that understands the nuances of your texture. If someone tells you Afro hair is the same as straight hair, walk out.' Because your crown deserves nothing less than royal treatment.
