Latest news with #hairloss
The Sun
a day ago
- Health
- The Sun
I transformed my thinning hairline in just one month – a £6 Boots buy works wonders for hair loss
Abigail Wilson, Senior Digital Writer Published: Invalid Date, A BEAUTY enthusiast has revealed the two haircare essentials she swears by to battle hair loss. So if you've noticed that more and more of your hair is falling out when you shower, or maybe you've spotted bald spots on your scalp, you've come to the right place and will need to listen up. 4 4 4 Gabriella Barras, a content creator who lives in Dubai, revealed the £6 Boots buy that 'works wonders' for hair loss. Not only this, but she also shared another product that is slightly more expensive, but is 'the best' for hair growth. Posting on social media, the blonde beauty shared a snap of her thinning hairline in March, followed by an image of her fuller hairline just one month later. Alongside the pictures, Gabriella said: 'This is what my hair looked like one month ago and this is what my hair looks like today.' Gabriella then revealed: 'I got quoted 15,000 Dirhams at a hair clinic in Dubai to fix my hair problem - I started noticing that my hair was falling out, especially in my hairline, I was losing so much hair in the shower.' But without paying the shocking hair clinic fee and splashing the cash on expensive treatments, Gabriella was able to notice fast results thanks to two high-street products, as she beamed: 'Then within four weeks, I got it down to this, without any clinical treatment.' First things first, Gabriella expressed that Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo, which is currently on offer for just £6.12 from Boots, 'worked wonders' for her hairline. She acknowledged: 'This shampoo is game changing - I would wash my hair with this, leave it on my scalp for five minutes, let it soak in, and from the first wash of using this, I noticed a crazy difference.' Then, Gabriella highlighted that she also uses Regaine for Men Extra Strength Scalp Foam, which contains 5% Minoxidil. Gabriella stressed: 'This Regaine For Men is the best - every single night before I went to bed, I was dotting the Minoxidil all over my hairline.' 'I'm in shock at how well this has worked in a month' shoppers praise budget Amazon buy for curing their hair loss & it's currently on sale Thrilled with the product, she claimed that it 'soaks in really well' and 'doesn't make your hair greasy.' The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @ gabriellabarras, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly amassed 497,000 views. Not only this, but it's also racked up 20,900 likes, 471 comments and 23,700 saves. One person said: 'Thank you very much for your recommendations.' Everything you need to know about hair loss Marie Nieuwoudt, a Group Education Manager at CLOUD NINE told Fabulous everything you need to know regarding hair loss. What are the common causes of hair loss? Marie explained: "There are so many reasons why someone may face hair loss. "The number one reason is usually hormonal changes or underlying health conditions (like thyroid conditions), and stress of course also plays a big part in changes to your hair health. "But another very common day-to-day cause is excessive damage to your hair created by mistakes in your styling routines – and this a big one to be aware of for people who are regularly applying heat to their hair! "It's important to know the right temperature for your hair type when using styling tools, as this is essential in reducing unintentional heat damage. "I also see a lot of people facing hair loss resulting from hereditary conditions, which are passed down from generation to generation." What are the best hairstyles people should try to reduce their hair loss? According to Marie: "Less is more when it comes to hair loss! It's important to be gentle with your hair, so a low-maintenance style that limits pulling on your scalp will be your best option. "Putting your hair up in a tight ponytail or adding hair clips can cause stress points at the roots. "Instead, try leaving your hair down, or out. "You're not limited in your options, but it pays to be intentional with your hair styling. Using tools which limit damage to your hair is vital. "Discussing your concerns with a hairdresser or hair loss specialist is also a great way to find styles that suit your specific needs, whilst still making sure you look and feel your best." How long does it take for hair loss to stop? If you're itching to know when your hair will grow back, Marie confirmed: "Hair loss is a personal journey – and it's different for everyone, so it's very difficult to put exact timings on this process. "Every head of hair is unique, and so too is your hair loss experience. "As always, you can speak to a professional hairdresser or trichologist about your specific concerns and hair changes, and they'll be able to help you manage those expectations. "I can't emphasise enough how important it is to be kind to your hair. Most people treat their hair quite roughly, and this is something you definitely want to avoid when dealing with hair loss in particular. "Make sure you're choosing products and styling routines that you know are good for your hair, rather than causing additional damage." Another added: 'Great results!' A third commented: 'Yaayyy! Will definitely give these a try.' The Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo in particular has proved very popular with shoppers and has racked up an average rating of 4.4 out of five online. 86% of reviewers would recommend the product and many even described it as the 'best shampoo'. One shopper penned: 'Worked fantastic, I've always struggled with dandruff and it's helped a lot and it's also helping my hair in general.' Hair loss tips We can lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day, according to the NHS. It is not usually something to worry about, but occasional it can be a sign of a medical concern. These include illness, stress, cancer treatment, weight loss and iron deficiency. The NHS advises to book an appointment with your GP to see if you can get to the cause of it. Experts at American Academy of Dermatology Association also recommend to eat healthy, limit curling irons and only use them for special occasions. They also recommend using a gentle shampoo, and make use of leave-in conditioners. A second simply shared: 'Life saver as always.' "The front part is no longer flaky which is great.. so pleased with it.'
Vogue
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Vogue
What Is Hairline-Lowering Surgery? Experts Explain
Chrissy Teigen recently revealed that she's struggled with hair loss since giving birth to her first child in 2016. Teigen, now a mother of four, revealed her solution to fix the appearance of the obvious thinning on Instagram on May 23rd: hairline-lowering surgery. 'Hi friends! [A] lot of you have been wondering about my hospital pic which is very understandable as I gave no explanation lol. I had a hairline-lowering procedure,' she wrote in the post. 'Lost a lot in the front from babies and it's just very thin up there. When you see it on a carpet, it's ALWAYS extensions.' Pre- and postpartum hair loss is extremely common; the American Pregnancy Association says that it affects about 40% to 50% of mothers. Options to address the hair loss, if you so choose, include supplements or hair restoration treatments, as well as the more invasive hairline-lowering surgery. But you should look into the procedure before going under the knife. What is hairline-lowering surgery? Hairline-lowering surgery, also known as forehead reduction, is a cosmetic surgical procedure that shortens the forehead. To achieve this, Lesley Rabach, MD, board-certified facial surgeon and co-founder of LM Medical NYC, explains that a surgeon will advance the hairline forward towards the brows and remove the excess forehead skin. 'The main goal of a hairline lowering is to reduce the height of the forehead, which creates a more proportionate upper third of the face,' says Dr. Rabach. 'If we think about the horizontal face from the hairline to between the eyebrows, between the eyebrows to under the nose, and under the nose to the bottom of the chin, generally speaking, each section should be about a third [of the face]. If the hairline to the brow is larger than a third, the proportion can create an elongated upper third.' David Shafer, MD, FACS, double board-certified plastic surgeon and founder of Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue, agrees and says that you can think of the 4-finger method to determine if hairline-lowering surgery is something to consider. If you can fit four fingers between your hairline and the top of your brows, there may not be a need to move the hairline. If you can fit five or six fingers, he says this treatment is better suited for you if it's something you truly want. The Benefits Most—if not all—the benefits of getting hairline-lowering surgery are cosmetic. It's a relatively short surgical procedure, says Dr. Rabach, and can help balance proportions. Added cosmetic benefits to this treatment also include giving your eyes a more awake appearance and a more rejuvenated look overall, says Dr. Shafer. The Downsides Downsides are minimal if you're the ideal candidate (Dr. Rabach recommends it for those with already thick hair) for this treatment. Side effects include a mild headache for the first 24 hours post-surgery, but she says that extra-strength Tylenol should be enough to help calm that. Dr. Shafer adds that you might have to wear a light wrap around your head and ice your eyes until your checkup to help with any swelling and bruising around the eyes.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Gwyneth Paltrow reveals the great lengths she is going to in order to stop her blonde hair from falling out
She's well known for her gorgeous golden blonde locks all over Hollywood. And Gwyneth Paltrow, 52, has now revealed the great lengths she goes to to stop her hair from falling out. The actress revealed she's tried a handful of treatments over the years, including injecting her scalp. She said: 'So many women I know are quietly dealing with hair loss. 'I've tried a handful of treatments over the years, nothing seemed to move the needle – not even injecting my scalp with actual needles.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. The actress revealed she's tried a handful of treatments over the years, including injecting her scalp The latest treatment she's tried involved a plastic surgeon and a device that uses acoustic sound waves and air pressure to stimulate hair growth. Discussing how the treatment has worked for her, she said: 'It was completely painless. Honestly, I think my hair's already feeling a bit fuller.' According to the Cleveland Clinic, studies show that more than 50 per cent of females will experience noticeable hair loss. There are several possible causes of hair loss in women, including damaged hair follicles, rapid weight loss, stress, chemical hair treatments, an underlying health condition, and hormonal changes. Gwyneth's interview comes after she displayed her incredible figure on Monday, as she shared a slew of snaps modelling pieces from the Goop clothing sale. The actress took to her Instagram to share a sizzling mirror selfie showing off her chiselled midriff in a navy bikini top and shorts. The Oscar winner put her best fashion foot forward as she gave fans a look at how she had styled her favourite items from her brand. In one casual look, Gwyneth put on a leggy display in a pair of denim cut-off shorts and a striped red-and-white T-shirt. While she showed off her toned figure in a pair of skin-tight brown leggings and a cropped hoodie, as she headed for a workout. Captioning the photos, Gwyneth promoted her brand, writing: 'A few of my favorite looks from the @goop sale.' The Hollywood star launched the wellness company in September 2008, with it evolving into an e-commerce site, lifestyle publication and even a Netflix documentary titled The Goop Lab With Gwyneth Paltrow. But while she has become renowned for revolving her life around Goop, Gwyneth was recently accused of not being as hands-on with her brand as much as she makes out. Last week, she attended the 2025 Mindvalley Manifesting Summit and spoke about the brand's now infamous 'This Smells Like My Vagina' candle. But fans questioned how much truth there was to her recounting of the controversial candle's origins, suggesting it was a 'fake PR story'. Goop released a candle called 'This Smells Like My Vagina' with the company Heretic in 2020, going instantly viral. Detailing how they came up with the product, Gwyneth explained that she was working with the perfumer Douglas Little to create scents for Goop when she jokingly picked one up and said: 'This smells like my vagina.' She recalled: 'That product is so fascinating because we were messing around with different scents one day. And I smelled something and I was like, "Oh, that smells like... you know". 'I was joking. And then [Douglas] was like, "Oh we should make that a candle and put it on the site." The entrepreneur thought Douglas was kidding and sarcastically agreed that it 'sounded like a winner.' She continued: 'All of a sudden, it was literally on the website. And then we broke the Internet again. And then it took us a long time to live that one down'. However, Gwyneth said she decided that she liked the idea, saying: 'But, I kept it on the site because there is an aspect to women's sexuality, that I think, we're socialized to feel a lot of shame. 'And I sort of loved this kind of punk rock idea. "We are beautiful and we are awesome and go f*** yourself."' And while the story emitted applause and laughter from the sold-out audience, fans are now becoming increasingly dubious. Some pointed to the story as proof that Gwyneth isn't as enmeshed with the brand as she says she is, taking to Reddit to suggest: 'It is possible she has little to do with the day to day running of the business. 'A lot of these celebrity businesses are run by actual business professionals and the celebrity takes all the credit. 'It's not like she's designing products or has a background in marketing and finances. She may just be the mascot.' But others accused Gwyneth of fabricating the entire story for the sake of an exciting PR spin. They wrote: '"I just make jokes and then my team goes rogue without thinking of potential PR issues, and I have no say in what is produced, labelled or goes on the website for my own brand." Sure, Jan'. 'Out of touch millionaires really want us plebs to believe they say things jokingly in meetings and entire product launches happen by accident?' 'Hate these fake PR stories'; 'They knew it would sell because of the buzzy name, no need to be cheeky.'
Forbes
2 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
'Not Just Hair': New CPT Codes And What's Next For Scalp Cooling
When she was just 34 years old, Sue Paxman was diagnosed with breast cancer. As she started treatment, she experienced a side effect that 65% of chemotherapy patients face: chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) or hair loss. One of the most widely-known symptoms of cancer is chemotherapy-induced alopecia - but that hair ... More loss can be devastating for the patient. 'The most common theme we hear from people…is that it is 'not just hair'. It goes so much deeper than that, and it is not vanity!' said Richard Paxman, CEO of Paxman Scalp Cooling. 'Hair loss is a visible side effect that constantly reminds the patient about the disease and the treatment, causing a significant psychological burden.' In fact, up to 14% of female cancer patients choose not to pursue chemotherapy because of their fear of hair loss. The majority of patients who have received chemotherapy have cited hair loss as the most troubling adverse event and the biggest source of sadness: even more traumatic than losing a breast. And one study found that breast cancer patients who experienced alopecia were more distressed, had a poorer body image, reported lower emotional and social functioning, and had higher rates of depression than those who didn't lose their hair. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers for women, second only to skin cancer. In the United ... More States specifically, it accounts for about 30% of all new cancer cases in women. Chemotherapy, after all, targets rapidly dividing cells, which can include not just cancer cells but also hair cells, which are the second fastest-dividing cells in the body (behind only bone marrow and stem cells). But a treatment called scalp cooling can help mitigate that hair loss. By reducing the temperature of the scalp by a few degrees before, during, and after the chemotherapy treatment, scalp cooling causes vasoconstriction; blood vessels narrow to preserve heat, blood flow is reduced to as little as 40%, and fewer chemotherapy drugs than before will reach - and affect - the hair follicles. In addition, scalp cooling causes hair cells to become dormant: that is, to stop dividing so that the chemotherapy treatment, which targets rapidly-dividing cells, will bypass them. Scalp cooling in some form has been around since the 1970s; patients then would hold ice packs or even bags of frozen vegetables to their scalps. In the 1990s, however, at the time of her own diagnosis and treatment, Sue Paxman had only limited resources with limited effectiveness at her disposal. 'She tried scalp cooling at her local hospital in Huddersfield, but it wasn't effective,' Mr. Paxman explained. 'She was devastated.' Sue Paxman's husband Glenn, an engineer, aimed to understand why scalp cooling hadn't worked. From this desire to help others with cancer from facing this same devastation, he founded Paxman: a company focused on scalp cooling. Paxman launched its first Scalp Cooling System in 1997 and is now a pioneer of scalp cooling ... More technology. Paxman launched its first Scalp Cooling System, co-built by Glenn Paxman and his brother Neil, in 1997. The system is composed of a compact refrigeration unit, which circulates liquid coolant at low pressure through a special cooling cap that the patient wears. It extracts heat from the patient's scalp and reduces the scalp temperature. Since that original launch over 25 years ago, Paxman scalp cooling devices are now available in over 40 U.S states and in over 60 countries, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network has recommended scalp cooling in its breast and ovarian cancer guidelines since 2019, and a thirteen-year, real-world multicenter study concluded, '[scalp cooling] is effective for the majority of patients, and it offers patients the opportunity for privacy, identity, and control in their cancer treatment journey. However, Mr. Paxman noted that there is still a 'general lack of awareness' of and communication around this treatment option. For example, Aetna, the health insurance company, found that, out of its 155 healthcare provider respondents, 62% were in favor of scalp cooling always or most of the time - but only 26% reported initiating discussions regarding scalp cooling always or most of the time. To Mr. Paxman, this knowledge transfer gap is 'the missing link'. He added, 'For those that are recently diagnosed with cancer, with no existing awareness of the treatment…it is crucially important that the option is introduced to them at this stage by their healthcare team. If [the team doesn't] offer scalp cooling as an option, the patient may miss out on this important choice in their treatment plan.' In other words, healthcare providers play 'a crucial role' in ensuring the patient understands scalp cooling holistically, including its procedure, limitations, and benefits. Although, out of 155 healthcare provider respondents, 62% were in favor of scalp cooling always or ... More most of the time - only 26% reported initiating discussions regarding scalp cooling always or most of the time. He does believe, though, that providers 'are often reticent to have the conversation with their patients based on [the financial cost].' Aetna's research supports this same conclusion: financial concerns was the most common reason given by healthcare providers for not initiating discussions in the first place. 'Equitable patient access to scalp cooling is currently limited in the United States,' Mr. Paxman explained. 'Too often, patients who wish to scalp cool are faced with a difficult decision that shouldn't need to be made: retaining their identity and privacy or face inevitable hair loss. Out of context, this would seem like an easy decision, but each choice bears a heavy cost.' Put another way, a patient who is already facing a cancer diagnosis may have to weigh the additional 'emotional and psychological stress' of losing her hair against the 'financial hardship' of a treatment option that could help her retain her hair. A closer look at Paxman's Scalp Cooling System To improve access to scalp cooling, Paxman has been transferring its facility partners to its Insurance-Based Billing Model (IBBM) so that healthcare practitioners can bill the patient's insurer directly. Paxman also has what Mr. Paxman calls a 'best-in-class' Patient Assistance Program (PAP) to support patients who are uninsured or under-insured and can't afford to scalp cool. Those who qualify will receive scalp cooling free of charge. Starting next year, new legislation at the state and federal level can alleviate some of this financial burden too. On a state level, New York became the first U.S state to pass legislation requiring private insurers to cover scalp cooling. Its law was passed in December 2024 and will take effect on January 1, 2026. Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and West Virginia all have bills in progress as well. On a national level, scalp cooling treatment will move from investigational, temporary Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) III codes to permanent CPT® I codes starting in 2026. The American Medical Association assigns these CPT® codes to different healthcare services or procedure to describe them and to assign them a relative value unit (RVU) for reimbursement: a key component in deciding the final reimbursement amount. CPT® III codes are for emerging technologies, services, and procedures while CPT® I codes are for well-established ones. For scalp cooling, the assignment of CPT® I codes is '[a] significant upcoming development that could improve equitable patient access' and 'a key milestone that paves the way for broader insurance reimbursement,' in Mr. Paxman's words. He continued, 'The AMA's rigorous process [in assigning CPT® I codes] strengthens scalp cooling's position as a key treatment and medical necessity which in turn, supports greater coverage'. Starting in 2026, scalp cooling treatment will move from investigational, temporary CPT® III codes ... More to permanent CPT® I codes. Ms. Daniel believes that this shift could lead to increased coverage of the treatment. Going forward, Paxman is developing solutions to help relieve other adverse side effects of chemotherapy, including peripheral neuropathy: a side effect of taxane-based chemotherapy specifically. The peripheral nerves connect the brain and the spinal cord to the rest of the body; when they are damaged, Mr. Paxman described, they can have 'a debilitating outcome for patients,': tingling sensations, numbness, weakness, and even excruciating pain in the patient's hands and feet. Trial data has already shown the potential of cryotherapy and compression as an effective peripheral neuropathy treatment; the Paxman device aims to deliver that cooling and compression in a consistent and measurable manner. The device is still in clinical trials – the goal is to have 800 total patients in its next phase, which currently remains open for enrollment – but the promising preliminary results demonstrate what Mr. Paxman calls 'an exciting step for providing patients around the world access to these life changing technologies in side-effect management'. Paxman is also doubling down on treatments for CIA specifically. The company has found that a topical formulation could suppress or prevent damage to hair follicles when cooling may not adequately protect them. Paxman is, accordingly, pursuing a topical agent that can be applied to the scalp before a drug infusion to act as an antioxidant against chemotherapy-induced hair loss. Already, the company has in vitro data that both proves its agent's ability to protect hair follicles when used with cooling and supports its ability to enhance the efficacy of scalp cooling and accelerate hair recovery post-chemotherapy. Lastly, just this month, Paxman announced that it was merging with Dignitana, which developed the DigniCap Scalp Cooling System: the first scalp cooling system cleared by the FDA. (Two years later, in 2017, the FDA cleared the second scalp cooling system, which was Paxman's.) 'Over the past few years, Paxman and Dignitana have developed a strong relationship, with a common vision,' Mr. Paxman explained. '…We are well positioned to accelerate that shared vision' by 'combining our strengths' – including agility, innovation, and pursuit of new opportunities – especially as scalp cooling enters 'a period of exciting change in the reimbursement landscape within the United States'. Going forward, Paxman is continuing to pursue treatments for chemotherapy-induced alopecia - as well ... More as solutions for adverse side effects of chemotherapy, such as peripheral neuropathy And that period of 'exciting change' can bring more accessibility and awareness to scalp cooling than ever before. As Richard Paxman concluded, 'Patient motivations and reasons for choosing to scalp cool can be complicated and diverse, but the majority fall into the following categories: to protect family – children, parents and wider social networks, to maintain normalcy and privacy, to retain identity and sense of self, and to maintain a degree of control at a time when many things are taken out of your own control.' Through the Paxman Scalp Cooling System, merger with Dignitana, and ongoing innovations to mitigate chemotherapy-induced side effects, Paxman aims to meet those goals – while always continuing to honor its inspiration and its namesake: Sue Paxman.
ABC News
3 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
Wigmaker Rachel Walker spends up to 450 hours on wigs for medical hair loss
Master wigmaker Rachel Walker can spend up to 450 hours painstakingly attaching human hair, strand by strand, to a Swiss lace base to create a single wig. The time-consuming process has become a passion for her after seeing the impact a wig can have on the self-esteem of people experiencing medical hair loss. Ms Walker, who has been a hairdresser for 36 years, expanded her skills to wig-making 10 years ago, when she became frustrated by the lack of options available to her clients. She largely relies on hair donations to keep wig costs as low as possible, but her wigs still cost thousands of dollars because of the skill and time required to make them. Even the simplest wigs can take close to 100 hours to complete. "Sometimes I get in a real zone and can ventilate [the process of hand-tying hair strands] for five to six hours," Ms Walker said. Other options are available for people experiencing medical hair loss, including a service by the Cancer Council, which provides free wigs for people suffering hair loss due to cancer treatment. Ms Walker, one of just a handful of human-hair wigmakers in Australia, was inspired to learn the skill when she realised the range of wigs available to her clients did not reflect their identities before they started losing their hair for medical reasons. Seeing no training opportunities in Australia at the time, she relocated to New York, where she studied under two master wigmakers. "I've been going strong ever since," she said. Sitting surrounded by boxes of hair in her home studio in southern Tasmania, Ms Walker said the only downside was finding strands of hair everywhere. "I have hair in my food, I have hair in my washing, I have hair in my hair — my house is full of hair," she said before laughing. Today, she is working on a topper, a piece made to blend with a client's existing hair. Looking through a magnifying glass, she skilfully adds a single strand of hair to the lace. This topper will take an estimated 98 hours to complete. The clock starts ticking before Ms Walker even picks up the Swiss lace, as she must first match donated hair to her client's existing or lost hair in density, texture and colour, if maintaining their former look is what they desire. For clients who had, or still have, the beginnings of white or grey hair, Ms Walker individually selects grey or white strands from her compendium of hair. She said silver and white hair was the most difficult to source because people with those hair types generally wear their hair short or colour it. Ms Walker receives "bunches of packages" of donated hair from all over Australia and New Zealand. A recent donation of a brown ponytail of hair was cut 37 years ago and kept by a parent, who was willing to part with their daughter's hair in the hope that it could help someone else. The donation arrived with its 1980s plastic, hair-bobble ties still intact. "For somebody to donate it and to willingly cut off that adornment … to share what they have and to give [it] out of the loveliness and generosity of their own heart … it's just beautiful," she said. Barb Jeffery of Western Australia bought one of Ms Walker's toppers after years of living with extensive scarring alopecia, a permanent type of hair loss. She and her friends call her topper Moira, after a character from the television show Schitt's Creek who has a wig for all occasions. Ms Jeffery says Moira is a celebrated member of her family and community, and is "known about town by lots of people … she has a personality". "I've noticed a huge difference. When I'm out with my normal hair, people will say hello and immediately look at the top of my head," Ms Jeffery said. "That used to upset me. I didn't want to be in family photographs — now I take a photo any time I have Moira. "It makes you feel good again." Ms Jeffery said wearing the topper for the first time was overwhelming for everyone. When unable to meet a client's needs through local donations, Ms Walker buys ethically harvested hair, but said she was facing difficulty in accessing ethical hair because of the war in Ukraine, where her supplier was based. Anthropologist Assa Doron, of the Australian National University, has spent more than a decade exploring the global trade of human hair as part of a larger project on waste. He said the trade was built on the exploitation of labour, primarily in the Global South, and was largely unregulated because of its "fragmented" and "informal" nature. In 2013, Professor Doron travelled to India, where he observed waste pickers, people who collect refuse from gutters, collecting hair in unsafe conditions and with minimal protection. He also traced the supply route of temple hair, which is cut by religious pilgrims as a sign of devotion but then collected and sold for profit, in his co-authored book Waste of a Nation. Professor Doron said there was no standardised certification, like the Fair Trade certification, that verified ethically sourced hair. Until such mechanisms existed for hair, ethical sourcing would remain difficult, and conditions would not improve for "the most vulnerable in this trade". Ms Walker said she refused to buy hair from temple hair sources and had a stance against unethically sourced hair. Free wigs are among options for those experiencing medical hair loss. The Cancer Council offers access to a wide range of synthetic wigs and turbans for free to anyone who has lost their hair due to cancer treatment. Claire Prior, the council's Tasmanian director of supportive care, said the wigs could be tailored to suit a client's face. The Cancer Council accepts donated wigs, and other organisations, such as Sustainable Salons — who sort and send hair to wigmakers and charities across Australia — accept donations of plaited natural or coloured hair ponytails of 20 centimetres or longer. The Australia Alopecia Areata Foundation offers wig advice online for children and adults living with alopecia. "You don't have to donate to me … you can donate to any wig-making charity that supports people who have medical hair loss," Ms Walker said.
