Today we’d like to introduce you to Melinda Galloway.
Melinda, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started out in cosmetology with a passion for hair loss disorders. At a very young age, I personally experienced trichotillomania which is a hair loss disorder triggered by anxiety. My experience led me to seek out solutions to help others. I immediately noticed the huge gap between the cosmetic hair service industry and medical professionals in educating and treating hair loss. Hair goes deeper than vanity. Treating hair loss is more than a new style or adding a crown extension, it is a huge part of our self-image which requires an adjustment in order to bring back confidence. My clients call their hair appointments beauty therapy. People feel much more empowered and confident when they carry less anxiety or insecurities about their hair loss. The difference is immediate.
I have seen all the phases and fads with hair additions over the last 20 years. Unfortunately, many well-meaning hair stylists have not been educated and trained in applying hair additions and extensions to thinning hair. This often results in further damage to the hair and scalp leaving people suffering from hair loss to feel like they are out of solutions. That is why Advanced Hair Aesthetics caters to hair loss clients. There is a solution for everyone, it’s just about finding the right one.
In addition to being a cosmetologist, I am a certified Trichologist. I customize a treatment/solution for each client. If there is no current cosmetic solution then I work with industry professionals to help find one. Scalp Micro Pigmentation is an example. I added this to my hair services menu about 3 years after investing in training and making sure it was a long-term solution and not a fad. I have seen some amazing results from guys that just thought they were destined to be bald. This is a method that creates a very natural looking hairline and fills in density or camouflages scars. It works fabulously for women as well with a thinning crown.
At the end of the day, my passion that I am dedicated to is helping people regain confidence and self-esteem by helping them look and feel their best, so they can be their best!
I am an active member or volunteer of these organizations:
– Wigs for Kids
– Scalp Guru
– American Association of Drugless Practitioners
– National Cosmetology Association
– National Alopecia Foundation
– National Hair Society
– Trichotillomania Association
– American Hair Loss Council
– National Hair & Skin Council
Has it been a smooth road?
One of the biggest struggles is new client education and expectation management. There is a lot of misinformation about cosmetic hair replacement. There are also a lot of stigmas associated with hair replacement. I see more millennials now that are more aware of hair options and open to trying new solutions. For a long time, there was fear of a hair addition feeling like a “granny wig”. We work with the best suppliers and manufacturers or hair replacement products that hold themselves to a code of ethics and are constantly innovating with stylists and clients to make some amazing products that create a seamless transition from natural hair to the additions. Unfortunately, there are also a lot of bad manufacturers in the industry pushing low-quality products and false information on new cosmetologists that are just learning about extensions or hair replacement. The key is making sure my clients are clear about what we are working on accomplishing and communicating what they should expect. Building trust is key when you move to new solutions because it’s scary for some people to try something different.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Advanced Hair Aesthetics – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Advanced Hair Aesthetics is a full-service salon. We have clients that come in for color or a cut. We specialize in hair loss solutions but that means that we use products and techniques that help maintain each individual’s healthiest hair, We see a lot of people who are not experiencing hair loss but want to be preventative. I think all of our clients just know we hold ourselves to a higher standard and I never would recommend something for a client that I didn’t think was necessary. It is a good feeling to be trusted completely with something that is so important.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
San Diego is just one of the best places on earth. I grew up around horses and I love the beach also. In San Diego, you are so central to everything that you could possibly want to do. There is a lot of synergy among business owners, entrepreneurs and major companies here. As far as the weather, it’s a dream.
Pricing:
- $70 Scalp and Hair Loss Evaluation (credit to treatment*)
Contact Info:
- Address: 13983 Mango Drive #103
Del Mar, California - Website: SanDiegoHairLossSpecialist.com
- Phone: 619-667-4247
- Email: info@SanDiegoHairlossSpecialist.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/san_diego_hair_loss_specialist
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sandiegohairlossspecialist
Image Credit:
EasiHairPro – BW Photos
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