SPECIAL FROMNext Avenue


By Sheryl Kraft

Everyone loses hair. In fact, it’s normal to lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. But what if it seems like there’s significantly more loss than that?

“Once you exceed that, you’re losing it at an abnormal rate,” says Dr. David J. Wong, clinical associate professor of dermatology at Stanford University. Contrary to popular notion, hair loss is not just a condition that men face: up to 40 percent of women in America also experience it.

No ‘Bald Is Beautiful’ for Women

Bruce Willis, Patrick Stewart: Bald, yes. Sexy, for sure.

But what about for women? It’s commonly more accepted — and expected — that men lose their hair. But when women begin to lose theirs, the psychological damage can be just as devastating as any serious disease, taking an emotional toll that can directly affect physical health, says the American Hair Loss Association, a consumer organization dedicated to the prevention and treatment of hair loss.

Studies have shown that patients who experience hair loss suffer from self-esteem and body image issues, impacting their social life and feelings of attractiveness.

Female Pattern Hair Loss (FPHL)

The most common cause of progressive hair loss in women, FPHL (Female Pattern Hair Loss, also known as androgenetic alopecia), affects about 30 million American women, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

FPHL has a distinct appearance. Hair thins mainly on the top and crown of the scalp, usually beginning with a widening through the center hair part.

Wong explains it this way: “Female pattern hair loss is characterized by miniaturization of the hair follicles, where the hair follicles become smaller and produce shorter, thinner, more brittle hairs, and can eventually stop producing any hair.  The hair follicles not only miniaturize but also can become deleted with a decrease in total number of follicles.”

Unlike men, women tend to keep their hairline, except for normal recession (which happens to all of us as time passes, Wong says). The hair loss in women will rarely result in total baldness, as it can in men.

Making a Diagnosis

Since women develop hair loss for many reasons (more on that below) and each requires different treatment, it’s wise to consult with a dermatologist, says Wilma F. Bergfeld, senior dermatologist at the Cleveland Clinic and past president of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Diagnosis is usually based on a few factors — ruling out other causes of hair loss, the appearance and pattern of the hair loss and your medical history (though FPHL is usually not a sign of an underlying medical disorder).

“It’s like peeling an onion to figure out what all the complicating factors are causing the hair loss,” Bergfeld says. “Oftentimes, hair loss can be due to a combination of factors, especially since after age 50, a variety of diseases and conditions can begin to develop in women.”

Possible Causes for Hair Loss

The reasons for female pattern hair loss are not totally understood, although it is thought to be related to a family history of male or female baldness, changes in the levels of male hormones (androgens) and aging. Five possible causes:

Menopause

Close to 50 percent of women will experience some degree of hair loss or thinning before age 50, which often worsens with menopause, according to the North American Menopause Society. “Your hormones have been supporting your hair growth,” explains Bergfeld. “When estrogen dips, the hair begins to change.”

Illness orUnderlying Medical Conditions

Thyroid disease, diabetes, lupus or anemia are among the 30 or so diseases that can cause sudden hair loss, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), which says that hair loss can often be the first sign of disease. Other conditions include ringworm, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and some cancer treatments.

Stress or Trauma

You may notice excessive hair shedding several months after a stressful or traumatic event (like divorce or loss of a spouse), sudden or excessive weight loss, a high fever or surgery, according to the Mayo Clinic. That shedding is normal and temporary — but may be long-lasting if the stress persists.

Dieting and Poor Nutrition

Eat poorly and your hair could suffer: The body shifts its nutritional stores to vital organs like your brain and heart — and away from your hair — if there is a shortage.

Low protein, low iron stores, low vitamin D and calcium can cause hair loss, says Bergfeld. But taking nutritional supplements for what you might be missing isn’t necessarily the answer. A study published in Clinical and Experimental Dermatology found that excessive levels of supplements can actually cause hair loss and should not be used unless there is an actual deficiency.

Rough Handling

Years of pulling your hair too tight in a bun or ponytail or wearing it in cornrows or braids can put stress on the hair and cause a type of hair loss known as traction alopecia. So can bleaching or regular use of dyes, relaxers and other hair products as well as straightening irons and curling wands.

Treatment for Hair Loss

The only over-the-counter medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for female pattern hair loss is minoxidil (commonly known by the brand names Rogaine or Theroxidil), a topical treatment which helps slow or stop hair loss in about one in four or five women and can produce some new growth of fine hair in some women, according to Harvard Health Publications

It usually takes about one year to see how well the treatment will work for you and this is a life-long commitment: if stopped, hair loss begins again.

While treatment may induce hair growth, it usually won’t change the course of the condition.

If minoxidil does not work, there are other “off-label” medicines, which include spironolactone (Aldactone), a drug used to treat hypertension; cimetidine (Tagamet), a class of histamine blockers; Ketoconazole, an antifungal agent and sometimes hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

The American Academy of Dermatology says that once your dermatologist has determined the cause of your hair loss, he or she can tell you what to expect. Sometimes, the hair will begin to re-grow on its own. Other times, you may need to change what you are doing to allow the hair to start re-growing.

“The key is to detect the signs early, so that we can intervene with potential treatments at the earliest possible stage when we can minimize the effects,” explains Wong.

Read more from Next Avenue:

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The diet that may reduce breast cancer risk

The vexing news on flex benefits

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Have you ever wondered what your favorite Disney animals would look like as humans? 

Wonder no more! Artist s0alaina, a student and Disney fan, decided to reimagine some of the most popular Disney animals -- like Lady and the Tramp, Simba and Nala, and Pegasus -- as humans. 

"I decided to draw them in the styles of their movies," she wrote in a post for Bored Panda, "and keep consistent shape language and features to interpret the character in a more thorough and believable way." 

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With her hourglass figure and shiny hair, it's no surprise that the beautiful and talented Monica Bellucci got the coveted role, starring opposite Daniel Craig, in the upcoming 007 film, "Spectre." But if you ask the Italian actress about sex appeal, she says it's got nothing to do with looks. 

"True sexiness is in the mind, the imagination, not in the age of the body" Bellucci told British newspaper, The Mirror. "We should not be worried about age when it comes to love and attraction." At 51, she's the oldest Bond girl -- er, woman -- and is four years older than Craig, 47.

Bellucci admits being surprised when she was contacted about the role, believing she was being asked to play M, a role previously filled by Judi Dench. 

But she's now just as excited about the part as we were when we heard the news. "It’s a sign that cinema is able to take a new and more open look at mature women," Bellucci said. 

Bond's love interests have traditionally been younger than him, but Bellucci challenges the stereotype. "It’s important to show that a woman at 50 can be just as interesting and ­attractive as a woman who is 30," she said.

Bellucci is certainly testament to that. At 51, the actress is still being offered acting roles. She insists she isn't obsessed with going to the gym or stepping on the scale, telling The Telegraph she relies on good food, drink, sex and a lot of laughter to keep herself youthful. 

Seriously, the woman keeps getting hotter and hotter.

H/T The Mirror

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As we all know, the only thing that's constant is change. And that's most certainly true in the fickle, frenetic and oh-so-fabulous world of fashion, where success stories are told by the forward-thinking trendsetters who can make the connection between clothes, culture and capitalism. 

Back in 2008, JackThreads hit that trifecta when it debuted during the start of the flash-sale website craze as one of the only e-commerce destinations that was solely for men. But fast forward seven years and JackThreads has decided to abandon its digital discount roots for a more traditional approach to retail -- but they're adding a few innovative twists that the company hopes will set it apart from (and above) the current men's contemporary market.

With that said,  as of Oct. 1, JackThreads has completely shut down its flash-sale operations and has now transitioned for the first time into a full-fledged clothing brand. 

The idea for the brand's evolution was spearheaded by Ben Lerer -- co-founder of the media company Thrillist (which owns JackThreads) and son of Ken Lerer, one of the founders of The Huffington Post and chairman of BuzzFeed. 

And when it was time to execute the plan Lerer tapped the right guys for the job -- Mark Walker, as JackThreads CEO, and Tony Kretten, as JackThreads creative director. Both are former executives at Gap where they spent years developing the kind of designs that fly off the racks and onto the backs of 20- and 30-something hipsters who want to look good in an effortless, no-fuss way. 

"There were a lot of things that Tony and I always wanted to do from a brand and product standpoint at the Gap that we were handcuffed and couldn't do," Walker told The Huffington Post.

Thankfully their new roles at JackThreads have allotted them that creative freedom. And with the marching orders of“Don’t sell anything that’s not awesome," they're in their element. 

"We sweat the details for sure -- every inch of the product. Because our guy appreciates it," Kretten told The HuffPost. "He's kind of a tech nerd. So these guys care about style -- but they also care about value."

The fall 2015 collection boasts denim for under $70,  luxe 100 percent cashmere sweaters for $99, and button-up flannel shirts for $50. The brand's slim-fit, merino wool suits retail for under $300. Plus, the outerwear is particularly impressive -- down puffer jackets are $99 and a timeless wool blend peacoat will only set you back $160. 

Fit and quality are paramount to Kretten, who sees JackThreads' immediate competition being Gap, Banana Republic, J.Crew and Bonobos. We have to say, it's a relief to know JackThreads isn't just another company touting $80 T-shirts and $250 jeans. 

"Our whole thing is you don't have to spend a lot to be cool. It's your own personal attitude and how you wear it," Kretten explained.  

Beyond the marriage of quality design and unapologetic accessibility, the most clever aspect of the new operation is something that Walker calls one of the great "vestiges of the flash-sale world," or the sense of urgency. In order to maintain that "buy now" element, JackThreads will debut a new item of clothing every day.

This constant newness and conversation with the customer falls inline with Walker and Kretten's "content and commerce" strategy. The duo consider themselves storytellers who are attempting to create a 360-degree experience, which will include style tips/hacks (via the website, newsletters and the catalog), for the site's roughly 2 million monthly visitors.  

To fete JackThreads' new and improved direction, the company is opening a pop-up shop in New York City on Oct. 28. It's being called "The Spring" and is more than just a shopping destination -- the space is being touted as "a gathering place for the 21st century man" and will host intimate events centered around entertainment, education and of course fashion.   

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In an age where pretty much any makeup goes, it's hard to imagine being pigeonholed like women were in the looks of the past.

In the video above, makeup artist Lisa Eldridge walks us through 5,000 years of mostly European female makeup standards. The trends range from the Renaissance era, when dramatic beauty standards in demanded highly toxic foundation and poisonous blush...

...to the Victorian age, when English ladies resorted to pinching their cheeks as a way to rebel against the idea that less makeup meant more morals: 

Then, of course, there were the '80s.

The video misses how makeup was developing in other parts of the world, like Asia and Africa. But we're pretty sure women all over will agree: we're REALLY glad we're where we are today. 

For more on the topic, check out this video:

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Amber Rose took it all off for GQ for a profile she wasn't too happy about after the magazine described her as "Kanye's infamous ex" and "Wiz Khalifa's baby mama."

And while Rose is justified in not wanting to be defined by her past relationships, the profile reveals a few things about the 32-year-old -- like the fact that she's quite proud of all the material items she's acquired: 

“I have my own house. I have a Ferrari. I have a Jeep. I have an Escalade. I have two Can-Ams. I have a beautiful son, two assistants, lawyers, business managers, management, and access to pretty much whatever I want,” she says. “It does become intimidating for a man. I do feel more comfortable with someone who’s living up to par with me.”

Rose also opened up about that Twitter war with Khloe Kardashian, which began over Kylie Jenner's relationship with Tyga, her BFF Blac Chyna's ex with whom she has a son. (The same Twitter war that led to Kanye West saying he had to take 30 showers after romancing Rose so Kim Kardashian would date him.)

“I really went in on Tyga. He’d been texting Blac Chyna, saying, ‘I really want my family back' -- but he was out with a 17-year-old,” she said before explaining why she felt the need to throw Kim's infamous sex tape in Khloe's face. 

“I said, ‘Your sister has a career because your other sister made a sex tape and put the whole family on.’ I think it’s fucking awesome that she did a sex tape and made millions of dollars for her family,” Rose said, adding, “But let’s not forget where we came from. Because I didn’t.” 

Rose doesn't hide the fact that she started stripping at 15, and she won't apologize for it either. 

“Best fucking time of my life,” she told GQ. “I’m not going to say young girls should go be dancers. But that was my journey, and I don’t regret it.”

What's more, she wonders if Kim feels the same way about that infamous sex tape with then-boyfriend Ray J.

“She probably had a fucking blast. And guess what? At the time she was in love with that guy,” Rose explained. “So don’t think you’re better than me, because we’ve all had trials and tribulations.”

For more with Amber Rose, head over to GQ. 

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Beyoncé knows when enough is enough. 

On Tuesday night, Beyoncé walked the black carpet at the TIDAL X 10/20 benefit concert outside Brooklyn's Barclays Center in a purple dress with a thigh-high slit that definitely required some strategic placements.

The superstar's personal assistant, Sam Greenberg, followed close behind to adjust her outfit in front of the photographers. But, being the pro she is, Beyoncé knows when everything is just right, and let Greenberg know. 

No need to mess too much with perfection. 

H/T BuzzFeed

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The reception for Beatrice and Pierre Casiraghi’s royal wedding was held at the Borromeo Castle, which faces the islands the family owns on Lake Maggiore. However lavish, it was by no means a royal wedding, as Beatrice does not vaunt a noble title (counts can only pass the title on to male children) and did not acquire one through marriage (her husband is not a prince). But she has the status, celebrity and – above all – the allure of royalty.

Her wedding was stunning, also thanks to the fashion show she offered the world with her constant dress changes, which reminded her long-standing admirers of her early appearances as a public figure and model. In the 2000s, she modeled for Italian and international brands, lending her face to ad campaigns for fashion houses. She then developed a passion for journalism and decided to get her master’s in journalism at Columbia University in New York after earning her law degree at Milan’s Bocconi University, where she met her future husband. While cementing her professional career, participating in news programs like Italy’s Annozero, her family connections confirmed her key role in the jet set.

Lavinia, her half-sister on her father’s side, married John Elkann, the Agnelli heir and now president of Fiat. Her brother Carlo (who is a count) married designer Marta Ferri (daughter of the photographer Fabrizio Ferri). Matilde, her other sister, marred a von Fürstenberg. And so the dynastic marriages and connections continue. Beatrice has a befitting pedigree on her mother’s side too. Grandmother Marta Marzotto is also a countess and mother to Matteo, who was president of Valentino and Naomi Campbell’s boyfriend.

But let’s get back to Bea. Storytelling is her passion and after creating a television documentary about women and the ’Ndrangheta, her investigative report about teenagers and sex, vividly titled "Sexandtheteens," aired on SkyTg24. She collaborates with Il Fatto Quotidiano, where she writes about finance as well as books or whatever else crosses her path. In spite of her angelic appearance, slender figure, blonde hair and bright blue eyes, she is very resilient, especially in work. After all, she commuted to school on the tram, the nineteenth-century cable cars that still rattle through Milan, a city where an ancestral palace dating back to the late 1300s overlooks a piazza named after her family.

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"Beauty Glossary" is a HuffPost series that breaks down beauty product techniques, treatments and ingredients so you know exactly what you're putting onto and into your body.  

Tightlining may sound like some daring acrobatic move you'd see performed at the circus, but it's actually an eyeliner trick pro makeup artists have used for decades. 

Made famous by industry luminaries Kevyn Aucoin and Laura Mercier, tightlining is the technique of drawing eyeliner inside the lash line, on the waterline. It provides an imperceptible definition and structure to the face by filling in any gaps in the lash line and creates contrast with the irises, according to celebrity makeup artist Suzy Gerstein. 

"That contrast helps really define the eye without making it look made up. Done properly, it should not look like you are wearing eyeliner at all," she told HuffPost. "Your eyes should just look bigger and more twinkly, but to the naked eye it will not be obvious why exactly they look so amazing."

Gerstein notes that the late makeup artist Way Bandy used this technique in his '70s and '80s makeup manuals before it even had a name. "Tightlining is great for hooded eyes and other eye shapes that tend to look overly made up or droopy with a thick, visible band of traditional eyeliner," she said. "The trick is also a fantastic way to intensify a smoky eye or anchor a wash of pale shimmery shadow."

So how exactly do you tightline?

Gerstein recommends positioning a mirror on a flat surface so you're looking down into it. "Gaze down into the mirror with your chin angled upwards and eyes staring downwards to allow you to get into that sweet spot right in the lash lines. Using your non-dominant hand, pull gently up on the lid and use your other hand to tightline," she said.

Dip a flat makeup bush into a black liner product. Pro tip: use just enough pigment to coat the bristles on both sides -- it's always easier to add more. Gerstein likes to dip both sides of the brush in the product and then remove a little bit with her hand to remove excess.

"Then, holding your brush vertically, wiggle the tip of the brush gently into the top waterline," explains Gerstein. "Move across the eyelid, from the outer to the inner corners, wiggling as you go." Unless your eyes are wide set, this makeup artist suggests stopping before you get all the way into the inner corners to avoid making the eyes look closed.

"You'll want to apply the liner anywhere you have lashes because remember, the objective is to make it appear as if the lashes are more lush and full than they are, not that you're wearing eyeliner," she said.

Next, clean up any smudges with a Q-Tip dipped into water-based makeup remover like Koh Gen Do Cleansing Spa Water. Allow the liner a few seconds to dry before you curl lashes. Gerstein recommends finishing with a couple generous coats of a volumizing mascara to frame the eyes beautifully without adding the weight of excessive product. 

Want to try your hand at tightlining? Click through the slideshow to shop Gerstein's eye makeup product picks.

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Jemima Kirke and her girls (no, not her children) made quite the appearance on Twitter early this morning.

The 30-year-old actress shared a video with her followers that shows her chopping her long blonde locks while hanging around topless, as one does. (But in all seriousness, shirts just act like magnets to stray hair clippings anyways, and we all know how itchy they can get.) The resulting new 'do is a blunt style that falls just below her shoulders. 

Kirke made sure to keep the clip PG-13, though, with her left hand covering one breast and her not-yet-cut hair covering the other. 

According to her caption, the "Girls" star was "going for the mom-who-had-a-tough-year-who-doesn’t-feel-like-brushing-her-f***ing-hair look."

Yep, we totally get that vibe. 

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Remember the days when Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian were real friends? When they had matching handbags, hit up every club in Los Angeles and never missed a photo op? 

Those days may be over, but Hilton knew it was only right to match one birthday throwback message with another. 

On Wednesday, the former "Simple Life" star shared what's now a practically vintage photo of herself and her former BFF/assistant (who she never actually told to go clean her closet) on their 2006 trip to Australia. Kardashian had previously shared a throwback photo of their 2006 jaunt to Ibiza for Hilton's birthday in February. 

"Happy Birthday @KimKardashian Wishing you the best on your special day What a fun trip we had in Australia, we loved rocking our matching #LouisBags. #BirthdayGirl ," Hilton captioned the snap. 

And while Hilton and Kardashian occasionally run into each other at events, their friendship never quite recovered after Kardashian's ascent to fame. These days, their relationship exists almost solely through flashbacks on Instagram. 

But in honor of Kardashian's 35th birthday, lets take a walk down memory lane: 

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Ding-dong!

Halloween is almost here, and cozying up on the couch with a scary movie can be a great way to get in the spooky spirit.

But for the faint-hearted among us, watching classic horror films might feel like more of a trick than a treat.

To help keep this holiday fun -- not frightful -- we've lined up some of our favorite Halloween flicks that are just the right amount of spooky.

Check them out below!

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 Since I was 5 years old, nearly every Halloween someone has told me to go as Princess Jasmine from "Aladdin." I mean, I get it -- we're both stunningly gorgeous and brown -- but it always felt so limiting. I contain multitudes and I can go as any princess (or animal or superhero or pun) I want.

YouTuber and makeup artist Deepica Mutyala decided to take tired assumptions about what women of color should -- and shouldn't -- be, and turn them on their head in a fun video. Through the power of makeup (and fast-forward), she proves that skin and hair color have little to do with what makes an incredible and believable costume. Jasmine? Cinderella? Little Mermaid? You name it, Mutyala can be it.

"Whether you’re black, white, brown, yellow, blue, or any color in between, we all deserve to be whoever/whatever we want to be," Mutyala wrote in an Instagram post about the video.

And if you think a woman needs a man on her arm to make her costume (or life) complete, think again. As Mutyala says, "I can be my own Prince Charming." Watch to the end of the video to see just how serious she is about that statement.

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At the 2015 National Arts Awards, actress Sophia Loren told press that she is not a fan of the word "retire" and doesn't like when younger girls decide to get plastic surgery. 

Speaking to Page Six, the 81-year-old actress talked about cosmetic procedures and what could potentially go wrong.

"These young girls really need to be more careful and selective of what they are doing to their bodies and their faces," said Loren. "I mean, you do not know for sure if you are going to a good doctor ... you can end up looking worse than what you thought you originally were." 

Loren has spoken about plastic surgery before, telling ABC News that the decision to go under the knife is very personal. 

"I like myself,” she said.“I like my skin. I don’t want anybody to take it away from me. So I couldn’t do anything, really. But if it becomes a problem, it’s up to you."

One thing Loren doesn't really like? Social media and its link to fame. 

"I do not know much about social media, but it seems that that’s what makes people more famous," said the actress. "My era of Hollywood was much better -- you were known for your skill and talent."

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