A Look at Hair Loss Solutions Part 2: Hair Loss Concealer Options

In the first post of our series on hair loss solutions, we looked at some medical options for dealing with the issue. In this second post we'd like to talk about cosmetic hair loss concealer alternatives to help with thinning hair. If you can't regrow your hair, then the next best thing is to hide or mask the thinning!

Usually when people think of doing this, their mind goes straight to toupees or to really bad comb-overs and other styling attempts at hiding the area in question. These are classic ways of trying to circumvent balding and thinning, but as we all know, they certainly don't fool anyone!

Starting in the 1980s, things kicked up a notch and those suffering from hair loss suddenly had some new options at their disposal. Options that wouldn't treat hair loss, but would hide it. Or at least attempt to.

These cosmetic applications include products such as:

• creams
• polishes
• sprays
• powders

They work to mask bald spots and thinning hair patches by coloring areas of exposed scalp so that they match the hair on your head. They work a lot like paint or polish or they might be an aerosol type spray.

Some things to consider:

• As with most mainstream cosmetic products, these solutions can also be rife with chemicals, artificial dyes, glues, fillers, preservatives etc. If it is important to you that you only use all natural products on your skin, you must research the product ingredients carefully to ensure that they meet your standards.
• The aforementioned ingredients can lead to reactions, itchiness, and rashes, especially for those with sensitive scalps. Again, do your research carefully.
• Artificial dyes often result in unnatural looking color hues. They can look dull and garish.
• While products have evolved since the 1980s, many of them unfortunately still have this going for them – they are noticeable. Under bright lights and close up, it will be very obvious that a product has been applied. They are designed to mask bald spots. They don’t actually look like hair – they lack the thickness and fullness. They can look matted, dried out, or otherwise unnatural.
• Some products can be messy in the application – it can be hard to get it right. The sprays can fill the air in your bathroom with chemicals and with their point and shoot application, they can lack precision. Cream type applications can be sticky and awkward, as well as hard to control, especially for those areas at the back of the head that are hard to see and reach. Plenty of practice will be needed.
• These concealer products can be susceptible to washing out – so if it’s raining or you’re sweating profusely, the tell tale signs may soon present themselves. Color dripping down onto your face or clothes is definitely not something you want to deal with. While formulations have come a long way and continue to be perfected, this is something that should be carefully considered. You will have to test it out for yourself.
• These products can also smear and stain your clothing, your bedding and anything else they come into contact with. You must be very careful.
• Costs for these types of cosmetic solutions are not prohibitive – they are generally reasonably priced. So giving them a try to see if they work for you poses no great financial risk.

Even though fedoras and other caps have come back in vogue of late, a stylish hat is no substitute for a full, thick head of hair. While creams, polishes and powders do their utmost to conceal hair loss, many are unfortunately often just as obvious as a hat, toupee or comb-over. In our next post in the series, we’ll begin our discussion of hair fibers as an alternative to hide thinning hair, starting with a very popular product on the market - keratin hair building fibers.

Disclaimer: Content provided on this site is solely for informational purposes and is not medical advice intended to replace the counsel of a medical professional. It is your sole responsibility to consult a licensed physician or qualified health care professional for advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment of any health related condition or any condition related to hair loss.