As a dermatologist, I see a lot of patients struggling with hair loss, and as a Black dermatologist, I’m particularly aware of how deeply it affects women in the Black community. I spend a lot of time working with my patients on the medical side, whether that means oral medications, topical treatments or procedures like PRP. But so much of caring for hair loss also happens outside of my office.
It comes down to how someone takes care of their hair, how they’re styling it and who they’re trusting to do their hair. I’ve heard stories from patients about hairstylists who were rushed or dismissive of their hair-loss concerns. Alopecia is a medical condition, but it can also be very emotional. When someone is already dealing with hair loss, I want them to be able to visit a hairstylist they trust and have a good rapport with, someone who will take their time and be gentle with their hair. That’s really where this idea started.
I Wanted a Resource I Could Give My Patients
I wanted to create a resource I could share with my hair-loss patients when they needed help finding a hairstylist. I really believe in holistic care and in caring for patients beyond the four walls of my office. I can help manage their hair loss medically, but then they go home and have to think about how to care for and style their hair. Finding someone they can trust with that part of the process can be overwhelming.
I decided to go on social media and crowdsource recommendations. I asked people in New York to tell me about the hairstylists they personally love and trust, particularly stylists who are thoughtful about working with clients experiencing hair loss. The response was astounding.
The post got a lot of likes, but what really stood out to me were the saves and shares. To me, that showed this was information people wanted to come back to and reference. I’m based in Manhattan, but my patients come from Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and even the Hudson Valley, so I wanted recommendations from different areas. At this point, I have at least 100 to go through and organize.
I was surprised by how well the idea was received. There were even comments saying, “This is why having Black dermatologists is important.” I’ve also had people come into the office and tell me they saw the post or that someone saw it and suggested they come see me. It made me realize there’s probably a need for something like this well beyond New York.
What I’m Looking for in a Hairstylist
Experience is important, but so is empathy. I’m looking for someone who understands what a person experiencing hair loss is going through.
There’s a technical component, too. You want someone who understands the importance of avoiding tight braids around the edges and who is familiar with caring for the scalp. Certain hairstyling practices can put additional stress on already vulnerable hair follicles, so that knowledge really matters. If a patient is using a prescription or anti-inflammatory shampoo, is the stylist open to having them bring it into the salon so it can be used?
I want someone who is open, understanding and has taken the time to educate themselves on the best hairstyling practices for people with alopecia.
Where the List Goes From Here
Right now, this is still very grassroots. The recommendations are coming through word of mouth, from people saying, essentially, “This is the hairstylist I love.” The next step is figuring out how to vet those recommendations. I don’t personally know all of these hairstylists, so I don’t want a recommendation alone to automatically mean I’ve personally endorsed someone. I think the first stage is gathering those personal recommendations, and the next could potentially be finding a way to vet the stylists in some capacity.
There are also people doing more formal work in this area. After I posted, I learned more about S.T.R.A.N.D. (Stylists Training, Researching and Networking with Dermatologists), a program co-founded by dermatologist Chesahna Kindred, MD, that works with hairstylists on caring for people with alopecia and identifying signs of hair loss.
I don’t know yet what this will become. For now, I’m doing it locally and seeing where it goes. But I would love for dermatologists in other cities to be able to connect patients with hairstylists who understand their needs, too.
Why This Matters to My Patients
The biggest response I’ve gotten from my own patients has been gratitude. Getting an alopecia diagnosis can be overwhelming. Patients appreciate the support they receive in the dermatology office, but then they go home and start thinking about hairstyles, scalp health and what they should do next.
Sometimes I send patients the link to the post so they can go through the recommendations themselves. I think just knowing that I’m trying to connect them with additional resources makes them feel like they have more of a community and a network of support.
That’s ultimately what I want. I can treat the medical part of hair loss, but I also want my patients to feel supported in everything that happens after they leave my office.
