Alternative Hair Center is a private and relaxed, full-service hair replacement facility offering personalized one-on-one service to meet clients’ needs.
The staff is dedicated to educating people to the different options available for hair loss, while providing each client with the right solutions that fit their lifestyle.
AHC offers non-surgical hair replacement for clients dealing with all types of hair loss from Alopecia, cancer or disease related, genetic hair loss, trichotillomania and temporary hair loss.
Alopecia, or the medical term for hair loss, is a highly unpredictable, autoimmune skin disease. It causes the body’s immune system to attack its own tissue resulting in the disruption of the hair growth cycle, which in turn causes hair loss.
There are five main types of Alopecia: Alopecia Aerata, which causes one or more small, round smooth bald patches on the scalp, Alopecia Totalis, which involves hair loss over the entire scalp, Alopecia Universalis, which involves hair loss over the whole body, Traction Alopecia, which can be temporary or permanent hair loss in certain areas of the scalp, and Cicatricail Alopecia, which is caused from a burn and always results in permanent hair loss.
Temporary hair loss, or Telogen Effluvium, is another form of hair loss in which AHC can help. This type of hair loss occurs when the hair growth cycle is disturbed causing the follicle to stay in the telogen (resting stage). Any factors that interfere with hormonal levels can disrupt the hair growth cycle. Some examples of this are: childbirth, pregnancy, birth control pills, dieting drugs and severe emotional stress. Some diseases that may cause temporary hair loss are lupus, ringworm, trichotillomania and depression.
Anagen Effluvium is a sudden hair loss due to chemotherapy or radiation treatments. These treatments destroy fast dividing cells, but results in side effects such as disrupting the hair growth cycle, resulting in sudden hair loss.
All of the forms of hair loss above are conditions that can be helped by AHC, said Owner Karen Henckel.
‘Hair loss affects one’s self-esteem, self-confidence and their overall well-being,? she said. ‘All staff members have a passion for helping people overcome this issue and help them cope with the daily issues of losing their hair. We have helped hundreds of people deal with hair loss and become comfortable with their own, personal situation.?
To help clients with feeling like this about themselves, AHC can reproduce any look that its clients have their mind set on using synthetic and human hair wigs.
Henckel, who lost her mother to breast cancer as a child, said she is dedicated to helping clients who have cancer.
All of the technicians at AHC have more than 15 years experience in the hair industry, are licensed and have been trained throughout the country in the latest technology, trends and styles available to date in hair replacement.
AHC ensures clients receive the most natural looking head of hair available to date.
AHC was founded by Henckel in 1997 and moved from its Rochester location of five years to Independence Township in 2005.
Henckel volunteers monthly at William Beaumont Hospital, Troy for the “Look Good Feel Better” program.
The program, run by the American Cancer Society is for women undergoing cancer treatment and the sessions help these women cope with their hair and makeup concerns. For more information about the program, visit www.lookgoodfeelbetter.org.
ACH creates solutions for both men and women and also offers massage therapy. It is located at 5730 Bella Rose Blvd. And is open Tues.-Sat.
For more information, visit www.alternativehaircenter.com or call 248-625-6560 for an appointment.