Message from Lucinda Ellery   I would like to introduce and thank Susie Eldridge for offering her help to our girls. Please read what she has to offer and we can set up future appointments for you here, in the building at your convenience. What an interesting time it is, major things happening in the world at large, but as in all things we affect one another, so I want to again thank you for the special letters and cards that I have received over the last few weeks. One springs to mind from a young lady that I saw years ago who resides in Scotland. She shared with me that she took my advice in terms of a way forward to manage her hair and part of that was to manage herself and her mindset. She read the books and performed the tasks that I set her and many years later she has written to thank me for the input that I had in her life even resulting in her taking up the profession that she has always wanted to do and I have been reminded how lucky I am that somebody can remember me, my words and our time together over the years and take the time to write and share her appreciation. I have always believed that it is important for me to give each and every individual the very best attention I can, at all times, so that as they walk away into their future, I might have imparted some small morsel of insight that has helped them move forward. From time to time it does not mean however, that I meet clients that as a team  we are  unable   to  work  with  and     develop a long term relationship with, but fortunately this is few and far between. I want to express my great joy again at the privilege I have on working with the amazing women that struggle and manage with what life has put their way in regards to their hair and I believe this letter of the month is a prime example of that. Again, as always, you know where I am. Much love and blessings, Lucinda   Star letter – Amanda Reynolds When I think about my continuing jouey dealing with hair loss it is always the people I have met that remind me how far I have come. I first met Lucinda five years ago when I finally booked myself a consultation. Travelling to London from the Cotswolds with my wonderfully supportive husband I was full of hope for the resolution of my troubling situation. My hair had been gradually thinning for the last five to ten years. There seemed to be no particular reason for this, hormones were mentioned as I had recently had two babies but there was no history of this in my family. Meeting Lucinda was certainly a pleasant contrast to the people I had previously consulted about my hair loss. “Its male patte baldness I’m afraid.” My GP delivered the  news  with  a  non-apologetic  smile.   “But I’m a woman”

I was to meet with this diagnosis again when I was referred to a ‘specialist’ at the hospital who tued out to be a Dermatologist. “Oh, you probably won’t go completely bald, it will get much thinner on top though, you know like those elderly aunts you see at family parties.” That was definitely a low point. Lucinda on the other hand sent me home with a spring in my step and full thick hair. Unfortunately the Fullmore spray only lasted until the next wash and although it gave a good effect I wasn’t happy with its limitations. Lucinda had rightly said that I may not be ready yet for the commitment of the Intralace system. I searched for a better cover up solution and found a product called Dermatch on the inteet. It arrived from America in a small compact looking like pressed powder with a sponge applicator and it helped me cope for a while. I kept my hair neat and became adept at pinning it up and back to create more volume on top but trips to the hairdressers were torture. I don’t know what finally triggered my retu to Lucinda Ellery but in the end you have to decide whether to go for it or not. The money and time involved were daunting but it seemed like a ‘proper solution’. I counted down the weeks to my mammoth appointment and spent the equivalent time of a transatlantic flight sitting in the salon chair as my new hair was applied. That day I received my new hair, as well as a very important piece of advice from the lady in the next seat. She told me to allow myself a good six months to get used to it. “Don’t expect to fall in love with it straight away, it’s a big change”. She was so right. Having long hair and a fully covered scalp was both exhilarating and worrying. I felt fantastic when I styled my hair and it looked great. I felt terrible when I brushed out two connections and panicked that the whole lot would fall out. (It didn’t) Over the next two years I gradually became accustomed to my new regime. Appointments every six weeks, washing my hair twice a week, changing styles, partings, even colour. I once asked what style, length, colour, I could have and Dax told me “Whatever you want”. That is certainly one advantage of having someone else’s hair, you can have whatever you like, long, short, black, blond…and if you don’t  like it, it can always  be changed.     All the things I worried about most haven’t mattered in the end. I told everyone I knew that I was having extensions and they admired and totally accepted them. Even my husband now thinks of it as my hair, and it is, my hair, I have many people in my life who didn’t know me when I had thinning hair, and many more that did and have simply grown accustomed to me as I am now, with long thick hair. The other day my nine year old niece and I were happily watching videos of old family holidays to Florida. “You were nearly bald then Auntie Mandy.” “Yes, I was, but not anymore.” And do you know, it didn’t upset me at all. Everyone has something in life that they have to cope with. The trick is to find a solution that works for you. Lucinda's Message It has been a great joy, pleasure and privilege to welcome Sarah Vine, Times Joualist, into our fold. We recently had the opportunity of redesigning Sarah’s hair. Not only is she a complete and utter pleasure to work on but, I felt, had great courage and fortitude to so publicly talk about her experience with us. I think it is a wonderful article; candid, honest, intellectual and a marvellous piece of joualism… she says it how it is. She has already expressed a desire to try all kinds of designs so I definitely think that it will be a question of “watch this space”. The article was a marvellous tribute in a sense of how difficult it is to cope as a young woman with losing your hair. A really well-worth must read. We look forward to taking care of her in the years to come. Here is an extract of the article, a full version which is available to read on our website. Much Love Lucinda

Front cover of The Times    Article on Sarah Vine Article Extract She thought that she’d leat to live with her thinning hair – and other people’s attitudes towards it. Then a candid photograph prompted Sarah Vine to seek help. The results were life-changing. “… She (Lucinda) caters for all kinds of hair loss, from Trichotillomania (or TTM, a nervous condition whereby the person compulsively pulls out his or her own hair) to women undergoing treatment for cancer, via alopecia and genetic conditions such as mine. She prides herself on being able to help everyone in one way or another. Her particular area of interest is TTM, which is a condition that often affects very young girls. As a veteran hair-loss sufferer, simply being in her salon is a huge relief. Normally the process of getting my hair cut is a fraught one. It’s not just the embarrassment of exposing my hair when wet; it’s also the furtive looks from other customers and staff, and the general paranoid feeling that everyone is staring at my bald spot. Here, however, I belong. Every single person having their hair done, and quite a few of the staff, understands my problem. Here, I am the norm, not the exception…”     Trichotillomania: What is it and how can it be treated?    Trichotillomania is a body-focused, impulse control disorder which inevitably leads to some degree of hair loss for the sufferer. Due to its psychological origins, however, the impact of Trichotillomania is far more than just physical. It can be extremely distressing for the person with the condition, as well as making them feel so ashamed and embarrassed of their behaviour that they are afraid to tell anyone what is happening. This can lead to problems in getting a formal diagnosis of the condition. Once Trichotillomania has finally been accurately diagnosed, it is then time to think about treatment. Trichotillomania in very young children (aged 2-4) tends to resolve itself given time, but a doctor should be consulted if it persists. For adults, there are a few options available, although the sufferer will need to be patient and cooperative to see results. The following approaches have shown limited effectiveness in improving symptoms of Trichotillomania, but it is important to remember that there is no ‘magic’ cure. You can try: Habit reversal training (HRT) Cognitive behavioural therapy Hypnosis Medication such as Acetylcysteine and Inositol For an increased chance of successful treatment of Trichotillomania, it is recommended to try combining medication-based treatment with behavioural therapy methods.

Susie Eldridge Introduction (Counsellor)   Counselling can be effective for women experiencing distress caused by any form of hair loss. It can enable them to progress in their lives and provides the tools and skills to help process their emotional difficulties and fulfill their potential. I have over seven years experience as a counsellor, experience gained while living in South Africa where I worked primarily with children and amilies affected by severe trauma such as rape, HIV/Aids, drugs and domestic abuse. On retu to the UK, I have decided to specialise in Trichotillomania in which I have a personal association and interest as my daughter suffered from this condition for many years, which resulted in my friendship and professional relationship with Lucinda Ellery. In order to embed counselling within the range of services offered by Lucinda, I am offering eight free sessions to the first five clients each who contact me; so if you would like a free consultation to discuss how I might be able to help and support you, please call me on 0753 611 2771. I work completely confidentially, with empathy and warmth. Susie Eldridge