| Author | Message | ||
     Rich |
Tom, i'm doing the scalp exercises 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the evening. I do the basic exercise first and then the advanced. I've been doing the exercises for over a week now. How soon can I expect results? It took me over 2 weeks to learn the basic exercise. It was hard work to learn this. Now it's easy to do but I'd like to see some results. I sent you an e-mail too. Please respond. | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Rich: You might be too enthusiastic. I don't think you need that many minutes of the scalp exercese in order to get results. When I first started doing the exercise I was enthusiastic too and did it a half hour a day but I don't think this is necessary. As for how long it takes to get results by which I'm sure you mean halting hair loss and possibly growing new healthy hair - believe me, it is not a matter of weeks. You can tone up your scalp and facial muscles in a few months, but for hair stabilization and regrowth it could take eight months, a year, or over a year - or not at all. It takes time for the hair follicles to regain some degree of health and go through the various stages of the hair cycle before they can produce healthy hair again. As I wrote in the booklet, not everyone has the degree of success that they hope for. A few, though, have more success than they hope for. I hope you don't lose your enthusiasm for the exercise before it has a chance to work for you. | ||
| Ken Yount |
Tom I have been doing the scalp exercise for several weeks now but I don't know if I am doing it right. My scalp does not seem to move the way I saw your scalp move on the video. I wrinkle my forehead and my scalp moves a little but I don't think I'm doing the exercise right. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance. | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Ken: You're probably not doing the scalp exercise right. Wrinkling the forehead, which contracts the frontalis muscle, is not sufficient. You have to pull your ears back too. This pulling the ears back contracts the occipitalis muscles at the back of the head. It's the alternating contraction of these muscles at the front and back of the head that causes the entire scalp to move. If you just contract the frontalis muscle by wrinkling the forehead, all you will achieve is lines on your forehead. What you're aiming for is the complete extension and contraction of both the frontalis and occipitalis muscles. This will erase the lines in your forehead, quicken the blood flow into the scalp area, and stimulate the skin cells of the scalp. I know learning to control the muscles at the back of the head is hard, but once you gain control of these muscles the scalp exercise will be easy to do. Try to use the strategies I describe in the booklet, and be patient. It takes a little while to learn this basic exercise and do it right. I think you'll find it worth the effort. | ||
| Ken |
Tom The exercise looks easy when you demonstrated it on the video and described it in the book but it is not that easy. I am working on it twice a day but I do not have that movement of the whole scalp yet. I am a little discouraged. I do feel some contraction of the muscles at the back of my head though. I just do not seem to be able to control them the way I want. Even though I am discouraged I am trying every day to get more movement in the scalp. I hope I am not wasting my time. | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Ken: When you start gaining even a little control of the occipitalis muscles at the back of the head, you'll make progress fast. Other people have told me that the first few weeks of working with the exercise are frustrating, but then they make a breakthrough. You might be at the breakthrough stage now. You are definitely not wasting your time. I wish I could write strong notes to encourage you, but I am not a good motivational speaker or writer. To benefit from my approach to hair loss you really have to be self-motivated. You have to believe what you're doing will help halt your hair loss and promote the growth of new hair. This might be all the motivation you need. I am not a "true believer" myself, though, therefore I can't give you the big push you need. There is only a probability you'll have success, not a certainty. | ||
| Rafael |
I dont have the video, but I understand the exercises. Since I started 2 weeks ago, my hair feels very strong, and believe it or not , I have fuzzy hairs growing all over my bald scalp. Thank you. | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Rafael: You said, "believe it or not." I don't believe you. If you experienced new growth from the scalp exercises in two weeks, it would be a miracle. It took me at least eight months, and others have told me it takes even longer before results are obtained. But you also said that your "hair feels very strong." Maybe we're both imagining it, but I think my hair feels stronger too after I do the exercise. I'm glad that you understand the exercise. I hope you continue doing it. Perhaps those "fuzzy" hairs will eventually be replaced by thick hairs. | ||
| barbara k. |
Are pictures of the exercises posted? I am unable to view any pictures. thank you barbara k. How much is the video? | ||
| Rafael Delmar |
Hi Tom, I been doing the exercises for over two months. I feel pain in the back head muscles like you said when I do the exercises. My hair on the sides its now very strong, although I have not seen a recovery in the top. I´m very, very happy, and I´m sure that in 8 months I will see the results. Thank you again, you don´t know how well I feel knowing that I´m solving this hair loss problem forever. | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Rafael: That little pain in the occipitalis muscles, as I'm sure you know, means you're contracting these muscles to their fullest extent. It's the same pain that bodybuilders feel when they're exercising. Two months seems a short time. Results usually take longer, but I'm happy that you see results you like. I would really appreciate it if you would post another message in eight or nine months describing your success or lack of success with my approach. Recovery on top is the hardest. I hope you have some (preferably lots) of hair growth here if you post again. If only I could give you a guarantee. | ||
| Anonymous |
Hello Mr Haggerty, I just received your video and information packlet in the mail, but to tell you the honest truth you do not provide any instructional information on how to do the scalp excercise in either the video or the pamphlet. I was wondering how we are suppose to learn how to do the excercise with little instruction on where we are suppose to place our hands on the scalp and if we have short hair on the sides of the scalp how are we suppose to gently grab the hair when its not there. I would really like some feedback since I was excited to receive the video and now am discouraged by it. Billy (going bald) | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Billy: You have a right to be discouraged. You raised a problem that I have not thought of - short hair on the sides of the scalp. You'll get some feedback but not here. You should get it in the mail on Wednesday. I hope you have sufficient instruction on how to do the basic exercise. I don't see how I could have made that clearer. Please be patient. I'll try to ease your discouragement. | ||
| Matthew James Barker |
I'm 23 and have previously used a product called Fabio 101 because I was worried about my receding hairline. This unfortunately gave me panic attacks, which seemed to occur after drinking after drinking red wine, and I stopped using it. I came across your site a few months later and have been doing the scalp exercises for approximately 2 months now. Having previously suffered from psoriasis, I was delighted when it cleared up on my scalp and that there was a halt in hair loss. However, I am concerned that the veins at the side of my head leading up from my temples are becoming increasingly obvious and would like to know if anyone else has experienced this and if there is a way to remedy it without stopping the exercises. Yours gratefully, Matthew | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Matthew: I've never had the problem of dilated blood vessels in the temporal area when doing the scalp exercises. A few people to whom I showed the exercise do have some dilation of these blood vessels while they're doing the exercise, but the dilation disappears immediately after the scalp workout is finished. These people don't see the dilation as a problem, though, because it's the same dilation of the blood vessels visible after working out any muscle group. As I wrote in the Web site, the blood flow to contracting muscles is ten times greater than normal. But, Matthew, the dilation you're concerned with does not disappear after your scalp workout. You might just have larger than normal blood vessels and therefore a greater supply of blood to the scalp region. (I wonder how your biceps look after a set of curls. Do the blood vessels stand out there too?) If you feel the scalp exercise is helping you with your hair problem, I certainly would not advise you to quit or even to cut back on the scalp exercise. It's a question of a trade-off: hair for a little vascularity. I personally would take the hair. By the way, the blood vessels stand out on Clint Eastwood's forehead. Women don't seem to be bothered by this. Men who are vigorous usually have large blood vessels. It's interesting that you attribute the clearing up of your scalp psoriasis symptoms to the scalp exercise. Some people tell me that dandruff problems also vanish after several months on the exercise program. I would like to believe all the good news I hear, but I always tend to be a little skeptical. | ||
| Clint |
Hi Tom, I've just visited your site for the first time and would like to comment that I don't find your theory of scalp-exercises so hair-brained, no pun intended. Personal experience is sometimes considered valid in science, I believe its referred to as "empirical" evidence or data. I think your observation about a 'ridge' of hair remaining in areas around muscular stimulation or blood flow is very good. Also, some of the greatest scientific discoveries have come from intuition of people who also happened to be scientists. For instance (if I'm not mixing up too many memories here) I believe Dr. Salk, who discovered penicillin, had a dream the night before about a serpent feeding on its own tail, which led him to direct his attention to certain specimen structures in the lab. Einstein also mentioned that "imagination is more important than knowledge". And further, the health benefits of scalp exercises have been recognized in some yogic practices for centuries. Personally, I feel you've got something with your theory that enhanced circulation helps reduce detrimental accrual of an alopecia enhancing enzyme. Thank you for posting your ideas, I'll go back to reading more of your site now. Clint Gould | ||
| Simon Hamm |
Hi Tom Hagerty, My name is Simon Hamm. I am a 24 year old learning the scalp excercise from your great site. I was wondering does the occipitals muscles need to be contracted 'down'? Pulling the galea down towards the shoulders. Or contracted 'up' pushing the galea towards the frontalis muscles? I feel it maybe easier for me (and many others) to re-grain control of the occipitals muscles if we know what direction the need to be contracted in. Thanking you, Simon Hamm | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Simon Hamm: When you wrinkle the forehead the frontalis muscles contract pulling the galea (the flat, tendonous membrane under the skin of the scalp) forward. When you try to pull your ears back the occipitalis muscles contract pulling the galea toward the shoulders. You cannot contract both the frontalis and occipitalis muscles at the same time. When you contract the frontalis muscles the occipitalis muscles relax automatically. When you contract the occipitalis muscles the frontalis muscles relax. Don't worry about doing it the wrong way because you can't. Also don't worry about a little pain in the occipitalis muscles while you're doing the exercise. This means you're working these formerly unused muscles to their fullest extent. It also means that these muscles are becoming pumped up (increased bloodflow). Don't get discouraged. Once you start doing it right you'll find that the exercise is easy - almost refreshing. It's strange that men learn this exercise much faster than women according to the e-mails I get. I'm sure that you'll get the knack of it soon. | ||
| Anonymous |
This is all very encouraging stuff. Thanks | ||
| simonfoulkes |
My one problem with the exercise is that i cannot move my ears back. I can however move my scalp back and forth quickly or slowly. This is frustrating as I would like to feel the "burn" but do not. My ears only move as I smile, this is a different set of muscles? Can you explain a little more? Simon | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Simon: Look closely at the drawing of the scalp muscles on My Approach. You'll see three fan-shaped muscles called the temporalis. Anatomy textbooks state that these are the muscles that move the ears. I think the scalp exercise tones up these muscles but I'm not really sure. When I do the exercise (which I do every day) the occipitalis muscles, two muscular slips at the back of the head, strongly contract. I can feel this when I place my fingers over them. Every time I contract these muscles my ears move. If you have gained control of these muscles and are moving your whole scalp, I wouldn't worry about moving your ears. People have e-mailed me about the "Burn." I assure everyone that the burn is a natural sensation when muscles are pushed to their limits. I don't always experience it, but when I have an intense scalp workout I do. I find it almost refreshing. If you are doing the scalp exercise correctly, though, I wouldn't worry about the burn. I hope that sometime in the future, after you've been doing the exercise for at least eight months, you'll let me know if you have any improvement in hair growth. | ||
| Simonfoulks |
Thanks Tom, I will. Your reponce was appreciated. After spending sometime trying to perfect the technique I have noticed two things. Firstly, at the back of the head (not bottom back but centre back:often were others have bald spots) the muslces are noticeably contracting and a after say 10 minutes it does feel strained (the burn perhaps) as do my temples. Secondly, my scalp movement is done by moving my eyebrows up therefore noticibly wrinckling my forehead. Sorry for all the questions but if I start well I can continue better therefore contacting the board after some months. kind regards Simon | ||
| Rafael Delmar |
Tom, I have found out that if I do exercises of moving my head around back and forward- left to right, and also in a circular motion in both directions, in combination with the other scalp exercises, I get a feel of pumping more blood and circulation to the scalp. It also relieves the stiffness. Im doing good for the moment, my scalp feels much elastic than 4 months ago. Thanks, Rafael | ||
| Anonymous |
I've been doing the scalp exercises because my hair is thinning and i can see my scalp :-(. Sometimes when I do it I feel the burn, and other times i do it (10 min) I dont feel a burn at all no nothing. does the effectiveness of the exercise lessen if I dont feel the burn? How does the "advanced" technique work? | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Anonymous, The effectiveness of the exercise is not diminished if you do not feel the burn. I think that doing the exercise ten minutes is just right. I still do it five minutes twice a day even though I now have a good frontal hairline. If you want more advice about the scalp exercise, continue to read these posts or (a shameless plug) send for my video and booklet. | ||
| Freddie |
I enjoy doing the exercises right after I've added 5% minox after a shower. Its a refresing feeling. Other than just exercising the scalp, I imagine the minox penetrating down reaching the follicle. Psychologically its great but who knows what's going on the physical level. I see (or think I'm seeing) some fuzzy hairs filling in on my crown (touch wood) but I'm not sure if its due to the finasteride, minoxidil or exercises. Lets hope its all three. Either way, I know I'm doing all I can to stop and hopefully reverse my hairloss and that gives me some peace of mind. I'm taking pictures as well. Its really the only way to know if its growing or going. Will make a comparison when the film is developed some months from now. I'll be happy to just keep what I have. Stopping/reversing hair loss has gone from something depressing to think about to being somewhat of a hobby. By the way Tom, check out this guy's 1yr before-after pictures. His regiment seems to be reversing his hairloss : http://photos.yahoo.com/vadyad | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Freddie: I checked out Vadyad's pictures but can't find out what his regimen is. How do I find this? You wrote, "I know I'm doing all I can to stop and hopefully reverse my hairloss, and that gives me peace of mind." One of the classic experiments in psychology demonstrated what you just said. People who got used to the feeling of helplessness, who lost a sense of personal control over their own destiny, felt unhappy and depressed. People who took control over their lives and actively solved, or at least tried to solve, their problems felt good about themselves and had a sense of optimism about the future. I get the feeling from people who post on this forum and who write e-mail messages to me that in general they are not victims of this learned helplessness. They're actively looking for answers and taking responsibility for solving their hair problems. I don't think it's wise at all for a person to sheepishly go unprepared into a dermatologist's office and uncritically accept his prescription for Propecia after a ten-minute examination. There's an angry tone to my writing these days. I can't help it. I got Chessmaster 8000 a few weeks ago and it's actually making me feel helpless and depressed. The program never makes a weak move. I find myself attributing all kind of malevolent traits to it. Even its voice sounds like the voice of Hal in 2001:A Space Odyssey. I found myself calling it a sonofabitch this morning after it checkmated me on the 44th move. I won't be happy again till I beat it. | ||
| Peter G |
You can find Vadyad's regimen here: http://www.hairsite2.com/gallery/vikram.htm | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Peter, The photos look impressive. The crown is the hardest area in which to grow hair. It seems that he actually grew hair in that area. That really is a salad of ingredients he used though. | ||
| Anonymous |
Tom: You said: "The crown is the hardest area in which to grow hair." Everyone with a slight knowledge of MPB knows that the temporal areas are the hardest place to regrow hair. The crown is “easy” compared to the crown my friend. | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Anonymous: In general you're right. The two FDA approved drugs Rogaine and Propecia do a much better job of halting hair loss and growing new hair on the crown than in the temporal areas. I was wrong in my statement. The people who have had some success with the scalp exercise, however, report more growth in the temporal area than in the crown. | ||
| Anonymous |
After we have mastered the basic exercises do we need to learn the advanced ones? Or are the basic ones good enough to give results? | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Anonymous: If you have mastered the basic exercise and do it regularly, that should be enough to get results. As I wrote in my article, though, the most important thing is patience and persistence. You will not have results in three weeks. | ||
| Freddie |
Tom, you gave some great advice there about depression/hopelessness and looking for the way out leading to optimism. I've often fallen into the pit of hopelessness myself before realising that the solution was just a matter of taking action. One famous quote from a general in WWII : "Never abandon the possibility of attack. Attack even from a position of inferiority, to disrupt the enemy's plans. This often results in improving one's own position." Of course his side ultimately lost the war but I still feel its good advice. As for Chessmaster, I had Chessmaster 5000 and it caused me endless grief. No amount of attacking from inferior positions (and believe me there were many) seemed to improve my game so into the recycling bin it went. I'm a lightning chess player and I usually play 2 minute blitz matches. But Chessmaster on its toughest level is difficult to beat. | ||
| Anonymous |
What is the best program to have to do the scalp exercises? how many mins, and how many times a day? | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Anonymous: There is no magic number here. I try to do it abut five minutes in the morning and five minutes in the evening - and I do it every day. Don't get stuck on counting repetitions or sets. This is unnecessary and boring. Concentrate on doing it right (complete movement of the scalp) and on doing it till the muscles are pumped up. You can do it while you're watching TV or listening to a CD. But if you're listening to a CD, don't try to do the exercise to a fast tempo. I find a sustained slow pace is best. | ||
| Anonymous |
Tom, I have been doing your scalp exercises properly for 4 months now. I was doing them on off for the previous 2 months. I have to agree that my hair has felt more healthy/stronger and less greasy whilst i have been doing the exercises. However, my hair is definitely still receding and thining at the front and temporal areas. I was sort of hoping that i could have halted the hairloss with these exercises, as you said that it was much easier to prevent hairloss than grow new hair. I'm going to continue doing the exercises for at least a year, maybe 18 months, but i'm disappointed that there has been continuous thining and recession in my hairline. | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Anonymous: This is not a good testimonial for the scalp exercise program. You've made an honest effort but did not get any honest results. Most people who I hear from do at least halt their hair loss. I hope you do continue with the program and report back in another six months. I understand the disappointment. As I said, though, in My Approach it may take eight months to a year to see improvement. How about your facial muscles? Do they feel tighter? But, of course, you want hair, not tight facial muscles. | ||
| Anonymous |
will the scalp exercises only work for people with thinning hair? The scalp exercise is not for people who may have a bald spot is it? who does it benefit the most? | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Anonymous: I hope the scalp exercises will work for people with bald spots, but I'm sure we both know that hope does not carry too much scientific weight. The probabilities of benefit for people with thinning hair are high, especially for halting further hair loss. Age, of course, makes a difference too. The younger you are the better. People who have been bald for over five years may have no hope. In these people the hair follicles might be dead. Only a trip to a shaman or hair transplant surgeon can help these people. | ||
| Anonymous |
Tom, I just started doing the scalp exercise a week back. I want to know if I am doing it right. I am able to move my ear back and forth very well from day one. But in doing so, I feel that I am using the muscles above my ears and not the occipitalis muscles which are behind above the neck. Furthermore I also see my entire scalp moving when I am doing it the way I am. But since most of your conversations and notes speak of the occipitalis muscles more often, I wanted to know that if there is anything more I should be doing. Or is what I am doing sufficient? Putting the same question in another way, When I wiggle my ears are the occipitalis muscles coming into play even though I dont notice them? | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Anonymous: "I also see my entire scalp moving..." I think this means that your are doing the scalp exercise right. Look closely at the drawing of the muscles on the My Approach page. Those three fan-shaped muscles (temporalis muscles) are supposed to be the ones responsible for moving the ears, and they do so in dogs and cats. When I first started doing the exercise, I thought that these were the muscles responsible for the scalp movement. I now know that the occipitalis muscles - those two muscular slips at the back of the head - are the ones that give you that backward contraction of the scalp. The frontalis muscles are, of course, the ones that give you the forward contraction. Place your fingers over the occipitalis muscles while you are doing the exercise and you will feel these muscles bunch up. The only time you feel the temporal muscles contract is when you chew food. | ||
| Rafael |
Tom, I been doing the exercises for almost 6 months. On the 28 of may its exactly 6 months. I have not noticed any new hair, although hair on the sides of my head, its strong , and growing nicely. I had fuzzy hair in the top, now its all gone. Do you think it will be replaced with new strong hair later? I hope so! | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Rafael: I hope so too but I wouldn't bet on it. If the scalp exercises are going to work, they should have stabilized your hair loss by this time. Do you think the exercises have helped you at all? Does your face look tighter? Does hair on the sides and back look any healthier? Was all that effort a waste of time? Please tell us what you think - the good, the bad, and the ugly news. | ||
| rafael |
Tom, My hair loss seems halted, inclusive in the last months. The hair in the sides its now longer fluffy and thin, with a greasy like feeling. I also think that some of the greying stopped. The only thing concerned is that most of the hair in my front line its lost in the last months. I need to see the pores follicles open ,and hair, strong hair coming out. | ||
| James |
An possible addition to the scalp exercise from Yoga. It might make sense to exhale when contracting the muscles and inhaling when relaxing them. This technique has been used for thousands of years with yoga when performing any of the asanas (postures). Although I am still finding it problematic to tense the occipitals. Can anyone describe the location where one would feel the tension developing to give me a clue as to whether I am doing it right? At the moment I just think I am tensing my neck! | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
James: Please read through My Approach again and look at the drawings carefully. There's plenty of explanation on my Web sit and on this discussion forum. If you still can't do it properly, order my video and booklet. Twenty-five dollars is somewhat cheaper than a hair transplant. | ||
| Anonymous |
I've been doing the scalp exercises for about 3 1/2 months, because it seems to make sense when you think about it for a while. The blood flow to a contracting muscle is much greater than normal because muscles need this blood flow, this blood carries an extra amount of oxygen in it, and oxygen stimulates skin cells. My hairloss seems to have stopped. I'm going to stick with it to see what happens in another 5 months or more. Its an interesting concept, epecially when you study on how muscles work and the effect it has on skin. | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Anonymous: It took me eight months of doing the scalp exercise before I noticed any regrowth, but my hair loss did stabilize after a only few months just like yours. Have you noticed any tightening of your facial muscles or an improvement in the skin tone in your face? I gather from your message that you understand the theory behind the scalp exercises. This understanding gives you the motivation to continue. People who just take my word about the benefits of the exercise without really understanding the physiological reasons often give up after a few weeks. I'm sure that you realize (and I've made it clear in My Approach) that success does not come in two weeks or even in two months. | ||
| Anonymous |
I have just started doing the scalp excercises and by reading from your website/disscussion forums, I am sure i'm doing it correcttly. I have big hopes that the excercises will at least help me keep what I have and regrow some back. I am thinking of also using Rogaine or propecia at the same time, what are your thoughts on this ? By the way, I have come across other websites which mention scalp exercises, or power workouts for the scalp, but give no details. Wondered if you knew of any of them or what their exercises entail. Thanks for a very informative website. | ||
| James |
I'm interested in your theorie, but do you have more evidence of people who have tried this successfully? And when this really works, why isn't it everywhere known? | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
James: The idea is my own and it's original. I built a Web site only ten months ago to propagate the idea so it's too early yet for evidence from large numbers of people. But I've had many e-mails and some posts on this discussion forum declaring success. I've also had e-mails declaring failure. The successes outnumber the failures. I'm not really a marketer with a product to sell (other than an inexpensive booklet and video) so I don't try to hype the scalp exercise regimen. If you read My Approach carefully, you'll see that I'm quite skeptical also about the effectiveness of the scalp exercise for other people. In my own case it worked extremely well. | ||
| James |
Thanks Tom | ||
| Anonymous |
Hey Tom; I read somewhere that exercise Stimulates the skin's Micro-circulation. Do you know what that is? Maybe understanding this may also help people understand why the exercises may help. | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Anonymous: I believe that the scalp exercises do stimulate the skin's micro-circulation. The reasons are technical so I did not want to include them on the My Approach page of the Web site. I did write a long article on this subject which you'll find on Hair News. Micro-circulation and angiogenesis in the skin and muscles are two phenomena that are associated with regular exercise. The skin in this case is scalp tissue and the underlying fascia. If you read the article and have any comment, please post it. | ||
| Ray |
Hi Tom, I do the exercise correctly for one month. I find my forehead and scalp skin oily after the exercise. Sometimes I feel my scalp (crown area) has tingle feeling during and the exercise and sometime off the exercise. Are these characteristics good or bad? As I know, oilskin is one of the reason cause hair loss. | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Ray: Some other people have written to me about the tingling sensation while doing the scalp exercise. I never have this sensation while doing it, but then everone is different. The tingling while and after doing the exercise will probably disappear after a month or two more as soon as the scalp muscles get used to the vigorous movement. Some people feel a slight burning in the muscles at the back of the head, and others feel this tingling sensation. It's a sign that the scalp muscles and the underlying fascia are being suffused with blood. It's a good sign. I know that too much oil in the scalp secreted from the sebaceous glands is associated with male pattern baldness. I also know that when you work out a part of your body there will be more oil on the skin. The forehead and the scalp are replete with sebaceous glands. When the underlying muscles are worked, they're going to secrete a little more oil. This film of oil, even though it may have some DHT in it, is not going to harm the hair follicles if you shampoo regularly. The benefits from the scalp exercise outweigh by far the inconvenience of a small film of oil. These were interesting questions. I hope other people will comment on them. | ||
| Anonymous |
Tom, you say for people who are successful with the scalp exercises most likely wont see results till 8 months like you did. Do you mean in 8 months (if sucessful that is) You will see terminal hair grow, or will the follicles be in shape by then and you wont see hair growth for another 2 or 3 months later, because it takes time for hair to grow. I hope I explained that right. So in 8 months will you see hair, or will the follicle just be readyto make hair, and it will grow later? thanks. | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Anonymous: Nothing is definite here. There is nothing magic about eight months. It took me eight months to see hair growth that was satisfactory. Of course I did not notice follicle growth which is subcutaneous. The follicles naturally have to be healthy and large enough to produce a healthy hair. The theory behind the scalp exercises is that if you follow the program for an extended period of time, the network of capillaries that nourish the follicles will get stronger and bring more amino acids, vitamins, and minerals to the follicles. This will in turn halt the miniaturization of these follicles and even reverse the miniaturization process. I stated that it might take eight months or even a year before results are attained because I wanted everyone who read My Approach to know that follicle health cannot be reestablished in a short time frame. People who have written to me about the scalp exercises have said that they noticed stabilization of hair loss in just a few months. I noticed this when I started to do the exericse many years ago. | ||
| Anonymous |
Hi Tom, I wanted to know in this exercise are we supposed to wrinkle our forehead and pull our ears back at the same time or are these two separate moves? I was wondering if these are two separate moves won't wrinkling the forhead over and over cause permanent wrinkles? | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Anonymous: Wrinkling the forehead (contracting the frontalis muscles) and pulling back the ears (contracting the occipitalis muscles) are two distinct moves. If you look at the drawing of the scalp on My Approach, you will see that these muscles at the front and back of the head are connected by that thin, flat tendonous membrane called the galea. So when these two muscles are alternately contracted the whole scalp moves quite a bit. Have someone watch you when you think you are doing the exercise correctly. If that someone bursts out laughing because your scalp is moving, you are doing the exercise right. If you just contract the frontalis muscles instead of alternately contracting both the frontalis and occipitalis, you might get forehead wrinkles. The major source of forehead wrinkles, though, is the almost permanent contraction of the frontalis muscles that you see in many people. Often Senator Olympia Snowe of Maine is interviewed on the Sunday talk shows. Her forehead muscles are in a continual state of contraction and she has the consequent deep wrinkles in her forehead. When you're doing the scalp exercise correctly, the muscles of both the front and the back of the head are equally developed. This will keep the skin of the forehead pliable and reduce or eliminate any wrinkles you might have developed already. This is a 100 percent certainty. I've seen this in everyone who does the exercise correctly. I recommend using a thin film of mineral oil on the forehead before doing the exericse but it is really not necessary. The exercise by itself will not allow wrinkles to form. And if you do have the disagreeable habit of always contracting your forehead, the scalp exercise will eliminate that habit. | ||
| Anonymous |
Hi Tom, I was just thinking about the progress you made with your own hair. You went from a Norwood 2 or 3 to a full head of hair. That is not something I have heard a lot of people do. After how many months did you feel that your hair is coming back? After eight months, were you at the level you were on at 15 and if not what was the progress you made after eight months? Thank you. | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Anonymous: I never made it back to my 15 year-old level. After eight months, though, my frontal hairline did fill in but in a more adult-looking pattern. I was happy with the result. Progress was very slow through the early months of doing the exercise. The only reason I kept with it was that my upper facial muscles were tightening up and I liked the way I looked. I really did not expect hair regrowth but it was a welcome bonus. I'm 70 years old now. The people who have my CD video can testify that my hair is still in excellent shape with just a little gray around the edges. I do the exercises every day. But who knows. I may wake up some morning and all my hair will be gone. Then I'll close down this Web site. | ||
| Anonymous |
Hi Tom, I have been doing the scalp exercises for about a week and I notice that in this time I have developed a sore throat (throat infection). I was thinking about this and felt that this could have happened because as your scalp gets loosened by doing the exercises it releases sinus agents and mucus and things of that nature that over time has built up in your scalp and forehead region and is now being released in the body and making me sick. Do you think this is possible? | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Anonymous: As I'm sure you know, things that occur together do not necessarily mean cause and effect. Although nothing is impossible, it does seem highly unlikely that the scalp exercise would "release sinus agents and mucus and things of that nature that over time have built up in the scalp and forehead region..." The scalp exercise certainly does temporarily quicken the blood flow to the epicranial area. This is a healthy event in that it brings nutrients (vitamins, minerals, amino acids) to the scalp tissue. The exercise also increases lymphatic drainage efficiency. This leads to greater tissue fluid turnover - waste removal. These things promote healthy hair follicles and hair; they do not promote throat infection. I'm sure that your throat infection will vanish soon. Continue to do the scalp exercise so that your hair won't vanish. I hope you post again and tell us what's happening. | ||
| rene dandan |
Dear Tom, i 've been doing the scalp exercises for just a week now. i've noticed that when ever i do it before i take a bath, less hair seems to fall down the shower. do you think it makes sense? how ever, i know that my hair loss is not yet stabilized. one observation i can comment is when ever i do the exercise, the hair on the sides of my head become very healthy. by healthy i mean that i noticed that they become a little fluffy. maybe because of the blood circulating to it. i'm not really sure. what i'm sure of, is i'm gonna continue the scalp exercises because i believe that it will benefit a lot. thanks a lot. i'm really grateful. btw, i stopped taking the vitamins already. i found that it's the one that causes vellus hair to fall. maybe i'm allergic to one of the ingredients or something. i'm just gonna depend on the scalp exercise. cause i think you're right about the nutrition thing. i think it won't grow any hair back. and i think i'm not lacking any vitamins cause i'm a very healthy person. however, i take centrum and a vitamin c supplement. that's all i take. i also have one interesting observation. i found that stress causes hair to be oily. when ever i'm stressed out, i see that my hair begins to fall too. i'm not really sure but based on my observation, the more i worry about hair loss, the more i aggravate the situation. maybe it's because of hormones or something. i read in some sites that worrying about acne can cause premature baldness too. and also the thing about insulin resistance causing premature baldness. i stopped eating sugary foods and i limited my drinks to only water. even if it doesn't help my hair loss, i know it will contribute to my health nioxin is a very good shampoo. it leaves hair thick afterwards. i'm giving it a thumbs up. it doesn't leave my hair oily and i think it also helps regarding hair loss too. it also feels good after shampooing. how ever, the bionutrient cleanser is the only one i use. i wanna thank you a lot for your concern and for replying in my previous email. i'm really really grateful. keep up the good work. rene | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Rene: It takes many months before the benefits of the scalp exercise kick in. "I've been doing the scalp exercises for just a week now." I'm certainly happy that you feel that the program is working for you, but I think it's mostly your imagination that's working. Give the program at least six months then tell me how you're doing. "...one observation i can comment is whenever i do the exercise, the hair on the sides of my head becomes very healthy. by healthy i mean that i noticed that they become a little fluffy." I notice this with my own hair. If I do the exercise for five minutes before I comb my hair, my hair seems to have more body. All this may be my imagination too. "...the more i worry about hair loss, the more i aggravate the situation." Stress and worry do seem to mess up the scalp - too much sebum and too little hair. But I can't tell you, "Hey, Rene, stop worrying." When I was losing my hair at nineteen years of age I worried a lot. Worrying doesn't help - but that is a cliche. Stay with the exercises. Doing someting positive is the best way to overcome any problem. And hair loss is a problem in this image-conscious world. | ||
| Phoenix |
I just started the scalp excercise and hopefully it works...but I do have two questions: Q1: If your hypothesis is indeed true, then wouldn't the basis for hair transplant be a fallacy? After all, the hair is obtained from the sides and 'planted' on the top, and if your deduction is true, the transplanted hair wouldn't be able to survive since the the 'workout' obtained while eating is effective on the sides only. Q2: Since I'm just starting to lose 'it', I've heard that shaving my head now and then can be beneficial...do you think there is any validitiy in this? I will continue to do the excercise and hopefully prove myself wrong with respect to Q1 :> | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Phoenix: I don't understand your question number one. Perhaps you could rephrase it in another message. But even though I don't understand exactly what you mean, I'll still say a few things that may clarify the problem. "If your hypothesis is indeed true, then wouldn't the basis for hair transplant be a fallacy?" The theoretical basis for hair transplant surgery is that the hair's genetic code lies within the hair follicle. The genetic code is not in the bald skin into which the follicle is transplanted. So hair follicles taken from "donor" scalp on the sides and back of the head do not lose their genetic qualities when transplanted to "recipient" areas of bald scalp. The hair from these tranferred follicles will (hopefully) continue to grow just as they would have continued to grow if left in the donor area. This theory, by the way, is called "donor dominance." "...if your deduction is true, the transplanted hair wouldn't be able to survive since the the 'workout' obtained while eating is effective on the sides only." That's the part of your question that baffles me. Here's what I think you mean though. When a person is eating or chewing there is muscle activity in the temporalis muscles on the sides of the head. This muscle activity might keep the hair in the fringe area alive and well. Now when these follicles are transplanted to the top of the scalp, which usually gets no exercise and where there are no muscles, they still survive. It's a good point if I understand you correctly. I can't see, however, how my "hypothesis" that the scalp exercise will halt hair loss and perhaps promote the growth of new hair is in any way in conflict with the donor dominance theory. Your question number two is easy to answer. "I've heard that shaving my head now and then can be beneficial...do you think there is any validitiy in this?" There is no validity to this whatsoever. This hypothesis has been tested time and time again. Shaving the head has absolutely no effect on the growth or lack of growth in scalp hair or even in body hair. But people still believe this and will continue to believe this. | ||
| Phoenix |
Here's where I saw the contradiction: Hair transplant works since the hair on the sides are genetically different from the top, and that's why the sides of the hair remain unaffected. Your observation states, " I also noticed that when these men were eating, when they were chewing food, I could see muscles contracting under this fringe of hair. I thought that the contraction of these muscles and the increased blood flow that muscle contraction requires was perhaps halting further hair loss in this fringe area." Aren't these two conflicting? One asserts a genetic basis while the other lies on muscle contractions for why the hair on the sides are present. Maybe I'm wrong. | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Phoenix: Now I see what you mean. The quotation you posted does not reflect my present thinking about how the scalp exercise works. This was my "hypothesis" when I was 18 or 19 years old and knew hardly anything about hair - or anything else for that matter. It was my naive reasoning for doing the scalp exercise and staying with the program. That hypothesis was the vaguest of ideas, but even weird ideas sometimes bring about good results, although not often. I really hope, though, that a few contradictions in my presentation do not discourage you from trying the regimen. You'll often find that people who are completely and always consistent are boring. They're usually not open to new ideas. I try to be consistent but I'm a bit of a flake. | ||
| rene dandan |
Dear Tom, due to the fact that hair loss is not only a physical problem but also a mental problem as well. i made a few simple rules so that it will help me fight my hair loss. and i think it has greatly helped me a lot. i made a simple a - h of rules. a - accept - meaning that i'd have to accept my situation. i don't have to keep on looking at others hair and accept the fact that my hair is falling and i'd have to do something about it. 3 b's - bed, banity and bath - i found that vanity does have an effect. whenever i would look at the mirror always and see my hair, i found out that hair would fall. i don't know if there's something logical to this but maybe they're sort of related. as for bed, when i think that i'm not gonna lose hair when i sleep, i found it helps a lot... the fight against hair loss is sort of a mental thing to. you have to prepare your mind. next is bath, i think everyone needs to find the right shampoo to use. and one more thing, you need to be as gentle as possible when washing your hair. c - care. you should care for your hair. don't put anything harsh onto it. and comb it very gently too. don't rub your hair with the towel, just allow it to dry naturally. d - diet. proper diet is very important. i read in an article that there is a relation between baldness and insulin resistance so i stopped taking sweets and colas for that matter. e - exercise. here's where the scalp exercise comes into place. i do the scalp exercise twice 10 minutes a day. of which, 5 minutes looking at the mirror, and 5 minutes looking down. i don't know if it helps but i'm gonna do it that way. and regular body exercise. it helps relieve the body of stress. f - fun. you should have fun. don't let your hair loss get the best out of you. you have to live the moment. you're missing a whole lot in life if you don't have fun. g - God. i believe that you should have someone to talk to in case of this... I know God listens to whatever we tell Him. h - hope. never lose hope, fight. you should always tell this to yourself. and also for hair.. hehe. you'll have hair if you do these things. i hope. hehe. thanks tom, just wanted to share a piece of my mind. btw, i stopped taking supplements completely and i also switched shampoos to Thicker, Fuller, Hair shampoo. i found it cheaper than Nioxin and besides it does have the same thicker hair effect such as Nioxin. bye rene dandan | ||
| chromedome |
Tom , Many times i have read that you claim people send you emails describing how successful they have been using your approach. Well , lets see some of these emails. I have not found one positive reply convincing me to start your exercise. The only positive replies i have read are people who think they are getting results after only a couple of months and even weeks. You and i know this is impossible. So lets see these emails you have , if they even exist. | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Chromedome: I love that name. "Many times i have read that you claim people send you emails describing how successful they have been using your approach." The emails that I thought were honest would not impress you enough to start doing the scalp exercises. Most people said that they halted their hair loss; very few said that they grew new terminal hair. My Web site has not been up for a long time. As I indicated many times, the results of the scalp exercise regimen are a long time in coming - sometimes over a year. What gets some people interested in doing the exercises is that the regimen seems to make sense physiologically. You are probably a hard-headed guy (Chromedome) and need much more than some fuzzy "seems to make sense" foolishness to get you started on a program. I can't say I blame you. If I sold a systemic drug or a topical solution over my site and my living depended on sales, you'd see a lot of great testimonials. Look over some of the testimonials on sites that sell bogus products. There is no shortage of glowing reports in the Discussion Forums. One sometimes wonders, though, if they're legitimate. The main point of your post is well-taken. I should be posting some of the private emails (if they exist). And by the way, I have no "before and after" photos backing up any of the claims of these limited success stories. "I have not found one positive reply convincing me to start your exercise." You didn't look hard enough, or your criterion for "positive" is higher than mine. I hope you don't consider the tone of this reply to your honest complaint as antagonistic. I welcome honest criticism. We're all in this together. The only posts I delete are the ones with four-letter words. I use these words myself when I'm playing tennis or chess but I try to keep the debate on this discussion forum civilized. | ||
| Richard Carlos |
Tom, I am only 18 years old and have started to loose my hair. My questions are both related to your exercise and also about general hair loss(because you seem to have done alot of research on it) 1. My hair is falling out at scary rate, for example 9 months ago i had (or at least thought I had) the same amount of hair as I did when I was 15(a Full youthfull head), but now it is thinning out very quickly. Does everyones hair fall out this quick? One day it was fine and the next day I was in the shower and hundreds of hairs were falling out. Will this proccess slow down naturally? 2.You say doin 10 minutes a day is the correct length of time for your exercise. Is it still benifficial to do it for longer? I have been doing it for 30 minutes at least and I was wondering if this is doing more harm than good? I have been doin it for 3 weeks now and have mastered the technique(I Hope!)very well. Thank you | ||
| bushless |
Tom, One question. Did your grandfather's suffer from hairloss? I have heard it is hereditary and it comes from the mothers side. | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Richard Carlos: Your first question is hard to answer because everyone is different. For example some people lose 100 hairs each day but they experience no thinning because new anagen hairs take their place. Some people lose only 50 hairs each day but they do experience thinning because these telogen hairs are not being replaced by anagen hairs. Read Male Pattern Baldness if you want some information about the hair cycle. Your second question is easy to answer. You don't have to have a strict amount of time when doing the scalp exercise, but you should do it every day or even twice a day. Too much cannot hurt. If you do it too much, though, you might get discouraged or just plain bored and quit. To get benefit from this exercise regimen you have to be ready for the long haul. Often people who go all out on a program burn out or give up after a month. | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Bushless: I never saw either of my grandfathers. But what does that have to do with your last sentence? - "I have heard it [hair loss] is hereditary and comes from the mother's side." Am I missing something? Many years ago people used to believe that baldness was passed from the mother's side of the family. Current scientific research has completely disproven this belief. Hair loss is a polygenic trait - it depends on several genes or alleles from both sides of the family. But this polygenic trait is not like eye color which is written in stone. The genes for hair loss are only a predisposition, but this predisposition is often very strong. This predisposition is not destiny though. Sometimes something can be done to slow down or even stop the loss of hair - sometimes it can't. | ||
| bushless |
Tom, The reason I asked the question about your grandparents is becuase both of my grandfathers were bald. One was bald at 30 and the other was bald later in life. In my family it seems to be consistant that you get your grandfather on your mothers side's hairline. I guess I am doing some deductive reasoning. Here is my logic; if your mother's father was bald, and you managed to keep your hair, then I might have some hope. I am 30 and am doing ok but have seen signifagant hair loss over the last couple of years. Anyway, do you know if your grandfather on your mothers side had a hairloss problem? I started your program two days ago and really like the way my scalp feels. It tingles like there is more circulation. i am going to order the video to make sure i am doing it right. | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Bushless: I have never seen photos of my grandfathers so I can't give you any "hope" here. My father and all my uncles were bald early in their lives. I wish your "deductive reasoning" extended to these hairless guys. "I started your program two days ago and really like the way my scalp feels." Many people have trouble in gaining control of the muscles at the back of the head - the occipitalis muscles. I wish you would post again here and describe how you got control of these muscles and how long it took. It took me over two weeks of steady work and hard concentration to gain control of these muscles. A friend of mine gained control of them in five minutes. | ||
| Anonymous |
Hi Tom I think your approach has potential because I also think that hair should be treated like a muscle and not a dead skin. And, like a muscle, if one exercises it, it should respond one way or another. I like your body building approach to hair and scalp muscles. I can not research this topic any where else. My only problem is the fact that I see a strong correlation between father-son MBP (mail pattern baldness.) With my own observation I can say that over 90% of pre-40-years bald man will have similar or even more severe balding sons regardless of maternal genetics. I can only name a few who escaped a bald father's curse among people I know. I am doing your exercise for the past two months and I have had a good progress. My head does feel better, and surprisingly, I have not had any headaches as of lately. My hope is that scalp exercise may offset the heredity by forcing the hair follicles to continue living/cycling. I am a patient man. | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Anonymous: You have exactly the right attitude toward the scalp exercise regimen. You understand the "bodybuilding approach" to hair follicle health and you are a "patient man." You cannot research this topic (the scalp exercises) anywhere because I'm the guy who discovered them and my site is the only site where they are discussed. This of course means that the scalp exercise program is experimental. But "experimental" does not necessarily mean irrational or ineffective. You probably do not have headaches anymore because the scalp exercise if it is done correctly makes the scalp more flexible. It eases the tension on the epicranial muscles. I'm sure you are going to continue with the program. Please post another message in a few months to let us know of your progress or lack of progress. | ||
| believer |
Tom , I could not be more happy with the knowledge you have shared with us. I have been doing your exercise for seven and half months and i swear to god my hairloss has decreased dramatically. My thin spots are not noticeable and my face looks tight and strong. As soon as 5 months after starting my hair loss slowed down a lot , now i feel it has stopped and even looks thicker. In fact i know it has worked because 8 months ago i would lose around 150 hairs a day now i dont even really notice any hairs on my pillow or in my hands when i touch my hair. It feels stronger and thicker and i have been able to style it like i could 4 years ago. I am a 23 year old male started losin it at 20 and i swear to god its not just a hunch its a fact , it has worked for me. thank you so much tom. My advice to people is to stick with it it took a long time before my hairloss even slowed down but now oh my god. I feel like my youth has been preserved when before i was so worried id be bald by the time i hit 26 years old. Tom , at first i didnt believe it but i thought i would try and now i couldnt be more satisfied. I am anxious to get a webcam or a scanner to show you pics but right now i have neither so i hope you can take my honest word. thank you so much , i wil be back again to let everyone know about my progress and hopefully be able to provide some pics. There is a god. thank you | ||
| AJ |
Are you suggesting that this god is reincarnated in the form of Mr. Hagerty?! | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Believer: I just read your message. You made my day. Since you've had success with the program, I'd like to ask you a couple of questions: 1. How long did it take you to learn the scalp exercise and do it correctly? Did you have trouble in gaining control of the occipitalis muscles at the back of the head? What strategy did you use to gain control of these muscles? 2. What was your schedule? How long did you do the exercise and how often? Did you skip days or did you do it every day? Did you get discouraged at first? I understand your wanting anonymity, but I really would have liked seeing an email address here. People might think that I wrote this testimonial myself. It's almost too perfect. It's the kind of results I got when I was nineteen. I'm happy that you got similar results. | ||
| Anonymous |
Tom, I have a question... cause I'm rather doubtful about what's happening but i think it's already beginning to work. i have been doing the exercises for a little over two months already. and somehow i feel that the hair loss was gradually slowing down. before i would lose around 50 - 100 hairs a day. but now it's less than 50. i have diffuse thinning all over. does the scalp exercise work like this? i'm not sure if i'm just imagining it but based on my observations, there is really improvement. altough i haven't really noticed any regrowth yet. what're your comments on this? | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Anonymous: From all the feedback I get about the scalp exercise regimen it seems like hair loss stabilization definitely comes first. This was certainly true in my case. I didn't experience any regrowth of new hair in my temple area for at least eight months on the program. "Im not sure if i'm imagining it but based on observations, there is really improvement, although I haven't really noticed any regrowth yet." Imagination, wishful thinking, and self-deception are certainly factors in judging the progress you've made. It might be a good idea to have some high quality photos taken so that you can see your progress (if any) more objectively. I wish I did this. When I was nineteen, though, the only photos I have are the ones where I am wearing a cap. I was ashamed of my temporal recession. I can tell from your message that you are going to continue with the program. Get back to this forum occasionally and give us the good news or the bad news. | ||
| Anonymous |
Hi -- for some reason, I couldn't e-mail you. I have a couple of questions; Why is this different than scalp massage? And, (I realize the website is very new -- and maybe too soon to to tell) but do you have any evidence of this working for women -- or any thoughts on this. Thanks/suzzzan2001@yahoo.com (like the pix). | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Anonymous: The scalp exercise if done correctly generates a much quicker flow of blood to the scalp (epicranial) muscles than does scalp massage. Blood flow to contracting muscles is ten times greater than normal. The movement of the scalp plus this quicker flow of blood to the area has a stimulating effect on the skin cells and hair follicles of the scalp and on the capillaries in the subcutaneous layer. The scalp exercise also tones up the frontalis, occipitalis, and temporalis muscles. These are the large muscles that keep the upper face firm and young looking. The book on massage that I found the most helpful is Massage:The Ultimate Illustrated Guide by Clare Maxwell-Hudson. This is a best-seller at the bookstores and it deserves to be. "Do you have any evedence of this [the scalp exercise regimen] working for women?" I do not. Not one woman has sent for my CD video and booklet, and not one woman has sent me an email or posted a message on the discussion forum telling me of success. I think women in general prefer an easier approach to hair health like a pill or a topical solution. Men with even a superficial knowledge of how the body works (athletes, bodybuilders) seem to understand immediately that the scalp exercises might be beneficial, even though they are probably skeptical. | ||
| Freddie |
It could be women have trouble replicating the exercises. It seems to be easier to move the scalp in men than in women. | ||
| Anonymous |
Tom, I have thinning all over my head and a some baldness on my crown. You said that the exercise is helpfull for frontal thinning. How about the crown and top? | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Anonymous: The scalp exercise as a treatment for hair loss is experimental. It's not like an FDA approved drug. There is no statistical evidence that the regimen produces growth of hair in either the frontal hairline or in the crown. But there is anecdotal evidence. I certainly got all my hair back. I have many emails from men (no women) who have benefited from the scalp exercises, and there are posts on this discussion forum from people who had success. (Read - The Scalp Exercises:General Comment - "believer" 08/18, and Male Pattern Baldness: My Progress So Far -"LoyalPawn" 08/21. My strong opinion is that the scalp exercise regimen will have just as much effect on the crown area as it has on the frontal hairline. The same physiological process is at work. | ||
| Anonymous |
Tom, how do you suppose the exercises will promote angiogenesis? | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Anonymous: I don't like this question because it's going to be hard to answer. Before I try to answer it, though, please read - Control of Hair Growth. This is the rationale why angiogenesis or neovascularization around the hair follicles might promote hair stabilization or possibly the growth of new terminal hair. I've stated with certainty several times in this discussion forum that the scalp exercise fosters angiogenesis. I don't really know if it does. This may be just wishful thinking on my part. But here is my reasoning. Exercise in general does stimulate angiogenesis. I'm a bodybuilder and have read the bodybuilding magazines for years. Many well-written articles in these magazines suggest that a program of exercises does stimulate neovascularization. The scalp exercise if it is done correctly gives the scalp a vigorous workout and pumps up the whole epicranial region. I assume that the scalp exercise regimen done for a period of time would at least promote capillary health if not angiogenesis. But I think angiogenesis is a definite possibility. In the future, though, I'll be more modest in my claims about the fostering of anagiogenesis. After all, it is just an assumption, not an established fact. | ||
| Anonymous |
Tom please check the following URL http://www.flexeffect.com/training.htm . They present the same exercise but without telling anything about hair. | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Anonymous: Thanks for telling us about this site. I just spent an hour looking through its many informative pages and posts. I'm going to write a description of the site and put it on my Links page. | ||
| bushless |
Tom, have you heard anything about using vitamin B6 and Zinc as a topical solution to prevent hair loss? | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Bushless: I've heard a lot about B6 and zinc used as a topical solution. The short answer is that this topical solution will not halt hair loss or grow new hair. I'm sure, though, that you will read "testimonials" on various Web sites that will try to convince you of its benefits. | ||
| Anonymous |
What's the story with these people who seem to know that their hair loss has come down from 200 to 50 a day or the like! Are they really counting them, and if so how? I have being going bald for a few years now, but i don't think i have ever lost so much as 200 hairs in a day! I'd have been as bald as an ostrich's egg within 6 months if i had i reckon. | ||
| bushless |
what about revivorgen.. have you heard anything about the effectiveness of that? I am trying to find some sort of topical solution to use while i am doing the scalp exercises so I can hit it from both fronts. | ||
| noone really |
Tom, I have been doing the scalp exercises for about a month now. I am a little concerned becuase it seems like the top of my head is losing more hair than it was before. For the first time I can actually see my scalp. I dont know if this has anything to do with the scalp exercises because the thinning of my scalp was the reason I began doing them exercises in the first place. I guess my question is.. do you think the scalp exercise is good for everybody? Do you think it is possible that the scalp exercises could have a adverse effect on the hair on the crown? Nevertheless I have been plugging away (no pun intended) at my scalp exercises. I sure hope this works for me. | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Bushless: If I were losing hair I would not use Revivogen, but I do not like to give negative reviews of products I have no personal experience with. Go to Keratin.com and click on the Discussion Form. Now click on Keyword Search on the left side of the page under Utilities. When the Keyword Search form comes up, type in "revivogen" and see what other people have to say about this concoction. | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Noone really: The scalp exercise can have no negative effects on hair growth or the health of the scalp. It's not like a topical or systemic drug where there is the possibility for side effects. "...do you think the scalp exercise is good for everybody?" Nothing is good (effective) for everybody. There will always be exceptions. You are the first one, though, who has told me that there has been increased hair loss after starting the exercise program. Is there something else you have been doing in the last month - possibly a weight loss program, "natural" herbal supplements, medications - which may have triggered further hair loss? I'd like to know about this. I'd also like to know if this increased hair loss continues. | ||
| Rafael |
Tom, Almost in my 10th month of exercises. Im norwood V, and haven't seen any new grown hair, except that it looks that I kept what I have. Another person told me from this forum that the exercises only work with people with patches ? is that true? so we won't be able to cure normal male baldness with the exercises ? I'm very dissapointed now, I'm only doing the exercises because my hair on the sides its stronger. What's next, who knows ? | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Rafael: At least you're keeping what you have, but it's depressing that after ten months of doing the exercise correctly you have no growth of new hair. A Norwood V is really a challenge. I don't know what to suggest. The scalp exercises are for normal male pattern baldness, not just for people with patches. I wish I could promise the people who elect to follow the scalp exercise program a 94.5 percent success rate. Shen Min promises this. I know you're disappointed. I don't know what to say. | ||
| Freddie |
At norwood 5, I'd shave it and go for the chrome dome look. Try it and let us know how it goes. After all that exercise, I bet you have a firm looking scalp just waiting to shine through. | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Rafael: Freddie might be right about the Norwood 5 stage. It is quite advanced but don't give up just yet. You've worked with the exercise for ten months and posted many thoughtful messages. You are probably doing the exercise right but in case you're not, I'd like to send you a free copy of my CD video. Send me an email Tom with your address and you'll have it via priority mail. | ||
| Rambler |
tom, i ordered your CD and am still not clear on the exercise. Do you lift your forward brow and let it go down and then pull back on the ears or do you do both front and back at the same time? I have been doing the exercise about 1 month now and have not seen any noticable difference. Nevertheless I am down for the long-haul.. and am getting to the point that i dont really care if poeple look at me funny while i am driving to work and wrinkleing my forhead while i look in the rearview mirror. Also, if this really works, it will spread through the "going bald" community like wildfire,(as we are all compassionate to one another.. and detest everyone with a full head of hair,) and we are going to look like some secret society passing codes to one another or giving the "high sign" like the Free Masons when they thumb their nose at each other in big murder trials so everyone knows who's who. Sorry to ramble.. i watched Dennis Miller last night and those monologues have a bit of residual effect on me. - Peace | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Rambler: You said you ordered the CD. Does this mean that you just ordered it and you don't have it yet? Or did you order it some months ago and don't understand it? I think I make completely clear on the CD video and the booklet exactly how to do the exercises. If you did order the CD video and booklet, please send me an email and I'll help you with any problem you're having. It is necessary to do the exercise right if you want results. To start with, you do not wrinkle the forehead and pull back the ears at the same time. I stress many times that the exercise requires the alternating contraction of the muscles at the front of the head and the muscles at the back of the head. Maybe you can attract a woman with that scalp exercise when you're driving to work - like a male peacock doing the feather display. | ||
| Freddie |
It could be like morse code. Don't laugh but when I'm in the car, I sometimes turn on the music, recline my seat and 'rock to the beat' with the exercises. They do it for aerobics so why not scalp exercises. I only stop when i come to a traffic light so I don't look like a complete wierdo. | ||
| LoyalPawn |
Sorry all, I've just started school in my last year of honors politics, so it's been busy. Norwood V is tough. If I'm correct in the context of Tom's theory, then there probably was not much in the way of a capillary network feeding your follicles at all. It's easier to repair a car than to buy a new one every time it goes down, but how can one repair an empty driveway. Hard work will get you a new car so you can repair it ad infinitum. Parallels to the ills of a free market economy are always so poignant. Keep working and I'm sure you'll keep what you have and induce a much more attractive frontal profile. As for my own progress, i'm about 4 months in or so, and I'm almost 100% positive that I've halted hairloss, that some refilling has taken place and that hairs in areas experiencing the most heavy loss are 75-80% as strong as in areas that the bald-invaders have not yet penetrated. I'm pretty much reiterating that I've made progress. For all the beginners, I have one of those bodies that seems to adjust quickly to non-chemical treatments. I was supposed to have braces for 4 years but got them out after 2.5, I've torn muscles and been back on the pitch within 3-4 weeks with the aid of chiropractors. Kids- keep the chemicals out of your bodies, light a couple to the "War on Drugs", stay fit, enjoy yourself always, stay positive and stick with the program. Paraphrasing Walt Whitman- "Reach for the stars-you might not get one, but you won't come up with a handful of mud either." In other words, do dare to dream of every day for the rest of your life with a healthy head of hair and a harem of Elizabeth Hurley and Ashwarya Rai clones-in every room of your 12 acre fortified mansion complete with a beach and small lake filled with the aforementioned clones and a personal sushi chef. This is one Mastercard commercial that will never happen... (hey Tom, everything cool?) | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
LoyalPawn: In my ongoing attempt at shameless self-promotion I put some of your message on my Testimonials page. I like your message, not only for the hair progress but for the upbeat tone. I did not include the bit about Elizabeth Hurley or Aishwarya Rai. People new to the scalp exercise program should be focusing on hair, not on Hollywood or Bollywood. There'll be time for that later. "I have been one of those bodies that seems to adjust quickly to non-chemical treatments." This is an important sentence. Some people do respond better to non-chemical approaches like the scalp exercises. I am one of these people. Some people, on the other hand, respond better to pills and topical drugs. "I've just started school in my last year of honors politics..." I hope there's no correlation between studying too hard and hair loss. | ||
| Dutch |
Tom, 2 questions: -I was wondering if the people around you, like your dad, weren't very surprised when you got back your hair? -what was first: the thickening of your hair you already had or the growth of new hair? | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Dutch: Getting back my hair was not too dramatic. I never had a bald spot. I had only thinning in the temporal area, but the thinning was noticeable, at least to me. I was not living at home when I got my hair back so my dad or mom never commented on my new, thicker hairline. My friends did not notice the new growth either because I always wore a cap even at the beach - especially at the beach. The precautions I used to take to conceal my hairline were monumental. | ||
| Freddie |
Did you ever think that decades down the line, science would still be looking for a cure to hair loss? I wonder if there were any guys back then thinking the cure was just 5 yrs away. Boy were they off. Its unbelievable how we can fly faster than a bullet and put a man on the moon yet still not be able to grow a full head of hair on a bald guy's head. With this kind of luck, we'll build time machines , make contact with aliens and find out "how to get to sessame street" well before the cure is discovered. | ||
| Dutch |
And the second question? | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Dutch: Oh, the second question. When I had thinning of the temples there was a lot of vellus (peach fuzz) hair in the thinning areas. When I got my hair back (very slowly) these vellus hairs were replaced by thick hairs again. My memory is accurate here because hair was extremely important. Important things are usually engraved in the memory. | ||
| Rafael |
Tom, I´m quite happy to know that the hair that I have for this year its strong and haven't falled. I also want to tell you that I have noticed that my scalp is not shinny anymore, or greasy. I also noticed that if I pull my hair , they will not come out as they did before. I´m happy , and for all the people that looks at this web site, I do recommend the exercise. Thank You Tom. | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Rafael: Thanks for this positive message. I'm glad that the scalp exercise has benefited you. Don't give up on the program, though, now that you have made some progress. Good results should continue. | ||
| Brian |
Dear Tom, I have been doing the scalp excercises for 4 mths now, 3 times a day ten mins a time. At the beginning I felt the pain at the back of my scalp, but gradulaly this pain lessened with each day, and now I have only a tired feeling in the forehead. Is this normal ? I also have been using Rogaine 5% for the same period of time, and Iike yourself I have been taking 1 tblsp of brewers yeast in juice every day. The crown seems to be the same as it was, but the frontal areas have got worse, I think I would attribute this to the rogaine, so I have stopped using it in the frontal areas. One good thing is that my hair color has darken slightly to the way it was when I was a teenager. Hopeing I will get better results in the near future. By the way I forgot it was hairloss-reversible.com, not hairlossisreversible.com, thanks for replying to my email. | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Brian: You've been doing the scalp exericse for ten minutes three times a day. That's a half hour. I think that I'd have a tired feeling in my forehead too if I did the exercise that long each day. Perhaps you could cut your schedule down a little. There is no one perfect schedule for success. Just experiment till you find the right amount of time to spend on the exercise, and don't be afraid to vary the schedule sometimes. I had another birthday a few weeks ago. At 71 years of age, my hair is darker today (except for the sideburns) than it was when I started doing the exercise. But I don't know whether to attribute this to the scalp exercise or to my diet changes - brewer's yeast, cod liver oil, sunflower seeds, etc. Stay with the exercise and keep us posted on your success or lack of success. | ||
| Dutch |
Tom, -Right now, I am in the sixth month of your exercise. How can I tell if the hairloss is halted? I mean, I still lose a lot of hair, but I don't know if these are 50 hairs or 250 per day? -My hair is still thin on top, but since I started the exercise, I didn't have a haircut. Does the hair need cycles to become thicker? | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Dutch: If the scalp exercise program is going to work for you, it should now be at least stabilizing your hair loss. A hair loss rate of between 50 and 100 hairs daily is normal. These are telogen hairs that fall out before being replaced by anagen hairs in the next growing stage of the hair cycle. If you are losing 250 hairs daily, then you have a problem. "Does the hair need cycles to become thicker?" The answer to this is definitely yes. It is only at the end of the resting stage (telogen) and the beginning of the growing stage (anagen) where a transition in follicle size takes place. That's why it takes so long for an effective program to bring about results. It takes a long time for the hair follicles to cycle through their three stages. I hope you are doing the exercise correctly and getting the full movement of the scalp and therefore maximum blood flow into the scalp area. Several people who have written to me say that they are contracting the muscles at the front of the head (frontalis muscles) but cannot gain control of the muscles at the back of the head (occipitalis muscles). This will not get the job done. | ||
| Dutch |
Tom, Well, my whole scalp moves like it is loose. I used to wiggle my ears. When I started to try to wiggle them I used to do it with the occipitalis muscles. So I gues I'm doing it right. But my question is still there: How can you count how much hair you are losing? I mean, do you really count them on your pillow, then in the shower, etc. all day long. Or are the hairs on the pillow and in the shower enough to know if you are losing alot? I loose alot, but I am still in a Norwood 2 with a crown for 2 years (I am 24 years old, hope it stays like this), except still a little balding at the front. | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Dutch: My suggestion is don't bother counting hairs on the pillow or in the shower or anywhere. This behavior will make you compulsive and weird J. It doesn't make any difference how many hairs you lose if your hair density remains the same. Hair loss is defined by how fast your follicles produce new fibers after the old ones fall out. Read about the hair cycle on my site Male Pattern Baldness. The number of hairs on the pillow or in the shower is not a good indicator of pattern baldness. The only true indicator is what your scalp looks like - the hair density and the thickness of the hair shafts. If your hair still looks like it's holding its own or even improving, you can relax. | ||
| Roby |
I have a question for anybody that will give me some advice. I am trying to master the scalp exercises, but its been a week and I haven't seen any progress. When trying to control the various muscles, do you imagine or force it to move? Since I have never controlled these muscles before, how can I exercise or manipulate something I never felt. Can I help it along the way by perhaps physically pulling on some muscles. Thanks for any advice you guys have! Fight the good fight! | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Roby: Of course the best way to learn to control the scalp muscles is to order my video CD and booklet. But if you don't want to do that, read this email I got yesterday from Brian. Click here My Approach and scroll down till you see Brian's email. I just put it on the page today because it is a great description of how at least one person learned how to do the exercise. No one ever said it would be easy. | ||
| Cipone |
I asked my mom about this exercise ( she's a doctor by the way not a dermatologist but an intensive care one) and she encouraged me to do it. First I thought she does that because of the pshycological effect ( she's been in a lot of surgeries and saw that if the pacient thinks positive he has good chances to cure). But that's not the main reason she ecouraged me to exercise. She told me that her uncle after washing his head with a mix i also used ( and seemed to stopp my hairloss cause last 2 years i haven't lost new hairs) he used to rub it with a rough brush, a brush for clothes I think, every evening for 5 minutes. And it worked. He had fabulous hair until he died and i saw pictures of him in college when he was loosing it. I also know that Zepter, a company that I respect has a product for hairloss which is a dispozitive for massaging the scalp. | ||
| Peter G |
Cipone, What is the mix that you use after hairwash? | ||
| Cipone |
I didn't want to post a new recipe because there are hundreds of unverified ones on the market but here it is : castor oil (i think this is it's english name, we called it ricine oil) petroleum, alcohol and egg yolk i think for the E vitamine. | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Cipone: That's a good insight you had about the psychological benefit of doing something or thinking something positive. Probably the whole explanation for the placebo effect is that the patient feels he's doing something positive to correct his condition. The scalp exercise program does not just give one the illusion of doing something positive though. I think the movement of the scalp during the exercise and the concomitant "pumping up" of the scalp muscles is an real positive action. It strengthens the capillaries that nourish the follicles and it gives flexibility to the scalp area. You've probably noticed that, in general, people with tight scalps are usually the ones with hair loss. | ||
| bushless |
Cipone Are you saying that you rinse you scalp with oil, petroleum, and alcohol, and some egg yolk for the Vitamine E? LOL. I like it! Does it work? Sounds kinda dangerous though. | ||
| Antiwrinkleman |
Tom, I have been doing the scalp exercises for about a couple of months now and am pretty sure I am makeing progress.I just recently figured out how to use those muslces in the back of my head. Pretty exciting stuff. Anyway, I have a deep concern. I am begining to develop wrinkles on my forehead from conrtacting the mucscles in the front of my head. Is there anyone else having this problem? Can you suggest anything? | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Antiwrinkleman: Most people who start on the scalp exercise program have no trouble in contracting the frontalis muscles at the front of the head. If you do this without alternately contracting the muscles at the back of the head, wrinkles can develop. Evidently you have been making progress in gaining control of the occipitalis muscles at the back of the head. When you are able to do the exercise the way it should be done - that is getting complete movement of the scalp - the few wrinkles you may have now should disappear. But just to be safe, though, smear a thin film of mineral oil on your forehead before you start the scalp workout. This will definitely prevent the formation of wrinkles. When I make my next video CD, I'm going to put this advice in my presentation. If you continue with the exercise program, you will get a more expressive forehead. I'm sure you won't mind looking like Clint Eastwood who has great facial muscles. And the exercise will keep your facial muscles toned up till they lower you into the earth. | ||
| Cipone |
Bushless : it's ricine oil and the trick is to keep it on your head for at least 12 hours. I used to sleep with it in my hair. I dunno for sure if it works but in 2 and a half years haven't lost new hair. That's for sure. And yes after using it even the velus hair won't come out if i pulled it. | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Cipone: I'm sure Bushless wants to find "ricine" oil. I looked for it but could find no mention of it on the Web. Can you tell us more? Is this an Italian cooking oil? | ||
| bushless |
Cipone This is very interesting to me. Are the only two ingredients Ricine Oil and egg yolk? And what exactly is Ricine Oil? | ||
| Cipone |
I think u call it castor oil.  | ||
| bushless |
Cipone, Is the recipe just cator oil and egg yolk. Or is there something else. Also, if you haveny lost any hair for two years, why do you need the scalp exercise? | ||
| Anonymous |
Why is it that when you do the exercises you have to do alternating contractions? Is contracting both muscles at the same time still effective? | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Anonymous: I suppose that you can contract both the muscles at the front of your head and at the back of your head at the same time, although this is hard to do. But why do it? There would be no movement of the scalp and no pumping up of the scalp tissue. To get the maximum extension and contraction of these muscles you have to alternately contract them. They are antagonistic muscles - when one contracts the other relaxes - just like the biceps and triceps of the upper arm. Don't worry too much about some sloppiness in my description of the exercise or in my definitions of medical terms. Just try to do the exercise. | ||
| Dutch |
Hey Tom, Question: You say that the working of the exercise is due to the extra bloodflow through the veins. But if you sport, you also get an extra bloodflow through your scalp, because the body wants to cool off through your head (it is the best place for it, 70% of the heat is lost via your head). So what makes the exercise better? PS. I'm in the 7th month of your exercise doing it right, but still losing... | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Dutch: You've been doing the scalp exercise correctly for seven months and are continuing to lose your hair. The scalp exercise is not working for you because by now you should at least be halting your hair loss, if not growing new hair. You did not waste your time, though, by doing the scalp exercise. Your facial muscles are toned up and look stronger and you probably have a smoother forehead. But you wanted hair and didn't get any. Are you going to quit the exercise program now? Exercise and sport does pump more blood into the scalp area. Your question is a a good one - "What makes the [scalp] exercise better?" I can't give you a credible answer - one that would make sense to you and to me - except to say that exercising specifically the scalp muscles stimulates angiogenesis (capillary formation). Please read this article though. It's a little technical but it might shed some light on the subject - Control of Hair Growth. | ||
| Anonymous |
Quick questions for you guys, when trying to move your ears...is the muscle pulling from down to up or left to right. I'm trying to control my muscle but doesn't seem to be working. Any suggestions and advices would be great!!! | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Anonymous: Read through My Approach several times and look at the anatomical drawing of the scalp muscles. You have to contract those muscles at the back of the head (occipitalis muscles) before your ears move. When your ears move, your scalp will move too. Once you get even a small amount of control over these muscles, you'll be on the way to doing the exercise right. But specifically your question - "...is the muscle pulling from down to up or from left to right?" It feels like the muscle is pulling straight back but it's really hard to tell. Just experiment and keep working it. Everyone seems to find a way to do it eventually. | ||
| Anonymous |
Tom.. I was wondering... Would it help when i am standing 30 minutes om my head..en let my head fill itself with blood.. Maybe i do not have to do the exercise then..? Jos(going bold;-) | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Anonymous: Where do you intend to stand on your head for 30 minutes? It might be amusing if you do it in a public place. I recommend standing on you head two hours a day - then you wouldn't have to do the ten-minute scalp exercise routine. Getting back to earth, the scalp exercise program stimulates angiogenesis (growth of new capillaries) in the scalp which may nourish the hair follicles. The headstand just gives you a rush of blood which might be uncomfortable. | ||
| Tom Hagerty (Admin) |
Please post new messages on The scalp exercises: general comment 3 |
