Childhood “hair-mares” leave lasting shame

Two thirds of British women (73 per cent) admit that their hair affects their confidence according to a national poll by new hair loss supplement, Viviscal, with styles forced upon them as children leaving a lasting impression.

Viviscal is the latest advance in hair loss treatment which nourishes and strengthens hair while promoting existing growth. Developed by Finnish scientists, Viviscal has been widely scientifically tested and contains 50 per cent more active protein than its closest competitor. The company recently conducted a poll of 1,000 women across the UK to highlight public attitudes towards hair.

The survey revealed that having their hair cut very short by over-zealous parents left 29 per cent in tears, with more than one in five (21 per cent) inflicted with a childhood bowl cut. Nearly one in three (30 per cent) admitted to destroying photos of themselves because they were embarrassed by their hair styles.

Interestingly, the shame of being cropped too short continues well in to later life with 82 per cent saying that hair loss is something they would avoid at all costs. Almost one in five said they would limit hair washing to just once a fortnight if it helped them reduce hair loss while 11 per cent said they would even be prepared to hang upside down to encourage growth. 50 per cent said they would take a less drastic measure and consider a nutritional supplement.

Currently one in three women face hair loss at some point in their lives with post-pregnancy and the menopause among the worst times for fall-out among women as their hormones go through a major change. Poor diet, stress and excessive hair styling can also be key contributory factors.

Asked to name their top five celebrity hair styles, the women polled unsurprisingly chose lengthier styles, with the most admired tresses named as those of:

Jennifer Aniston (36 per cent)
Victoria Beckham (29 per cent)
Kylie (10 per cent)
Amy Winehouse (7 per cent)
Madonna (5 per cent)

Clinical psychologist Dr Angharad Cooney said: “Childhood perceptions are often responsible for the way we shape our opinions later in life, making negative self images acquired in younger years often hard to shake. The survey clearly shows that hair loss is something that women openly dread. While fashion and celebrity trends undoubtedly reinforce the desirability of lustrous locks, in-built mind-sets play a key part in determining what is and isn’t considered to be a desirable look.”

The Viviscal range includes both dietary supplements and specialist hair treatments, nourishing the hair both inside and out. The active ingredient in Viviscal is a pure marine protein complex called AminoMar C. A powerful combination of marine extracts, organic silica and Vitamin C, it contains the optimum level of nutrients to nourish the hair follicles naturally from within.

Viviscal works in four stages over 6 months although most users notice a difference after just 3-4 months:

1. Nourishing hair follicles
2. Strengthening and promoting growth of existing hair
3. Stimulating growth of hair that has slowed down or temporarily stopped
4. Promoting healthier more vibrant hair from within

The range includes:

Viviscal Supplements (with 22% active protein)
Viviscal Shampoo & Scalp Cleanser and Conditioner
Viviscal Scalp Guard (with SPF 20)
Viviscal Scalp Lotion (to accelerate follicle absorption of nutrients)

The Viviscal range is brought to you by Lifes2good and prices range from £49.95 for the maximum strength Viviscal Supplement to £8.50 for the Viviscal Shampoo. It is available direct from Viviscal.co.uk or from pharmacies and health food stores.