Hair camouflage: A comprehensive review

Abstract

Hair is venerated, cherished, and desired in societies throughout the world. Both women and men express their individual identities through their hairstyles. Healthy hair contributes to successful social assimilation, employment, and overall quality of life. Therefore, hair loss can have detrimental effects on almost every aspect of a person’s life. In this review, we discuss the myriad of options that aid in concealing and camouflaging hair loss to facilitate a healthier-appearing scalp. Camouflage options for patients who suffer from hair loss include full or partial wigs, hair extensions, concealing powders and sprays, surgical tattoos, and hair transplants. We describe these modalities in detail and discuss their respective advantages and disadvantages.

“Hair is your crown and glory” – Black women’s experiences of living with alopecia and the role of social support

“…The fear of negative evaluation (in response to their changed identity; Goh, 2021 ) can decrease an individual’s self-esteem and perpetuate psychological distress ( Aldhouse et al, 2020 ; Davis & Callender, 2018 ; Saed et al, 2016 ). However, Black individuals may experience a “double stigma” ( Gary, 2005 ), relating to their ethnic origin and the negative connotations of mental health which may deter CED individuals from seeking support ( Grey et al, 2013 ).…”

“…In assessing how individuals cope with circumstances that challenge or threaten their body-image experiences, Cash et al (2005) identified three strategies: avoidance, appearance fixing, and positive rational acceptance. It has been reported that appearance fixing strategies or concealment in the form of wearing a wig that reflects the individual’s identity before hair loss may contribute to feelings of inauthenticity, thus creating psychological pressures ( Dinh & Sinclair, 2007 ; Aldhouse et al, 2020 ; Saed et al, 2016 ). Due to the complex and often unpredictable nature of alopecia, it has been reported that social support can play a significant role in the individual’s psychological wellbeing and emotional coping when dealing with hair loss ( Davey et al, 2019 ; Rafique & Hunt, 2015 ; Siedlecki et al, 2014 ).…”

Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia and the impact of wig prosthesis on patient quality of life: a case report with medical insurance appeal letter

“…1 Utilization of a hair prosthesis, that is, wigs can improve patient QOL; however, effective and reliable wigs are cost prohibitive and infrequently covered by medical insurance. 2 Herein we present the impact of wig hair prosthesis on a 70-year-old female patient with a history of biopsy-proven CCCA and androgenetic alopecia. This patient presented with a history of diffuse hair loss with areas of follicular dropout and scarring involving the crown of the scalp, vertex scalp, and parietal/frontal scalp (Fig.…”

Considerations and recommendations on camouflage in alopecia in Black women

“…This form of cosmetic tattooing involves injection of pigment into the upper dermis to produce the impression of hair follicles on a scalp with decreased density. 38 SMP has been used for concealment of scarring alopecias, refractory alopecia areata, AGA, and scalp scars from previous trauma/surgery. 39 SMP is an individually-tailored procedure that takes into consideration several factors including needle size, penetration depth, and scalp resistance (ie, scarring).…”

“…Disadvantages to SMP and microblading include the need for multiple treatments, the risk of infection from needle exposure, and potential allergy to pigment dye. 38 , 42 Granulomatous reactions of the eyebrows have been reported in a small subset of patients who underwent microblading. 43 Patients should also consider the permanent nature of the dyes including the contrast that can arise as hair regrows or hair color changes with age.…”