That Dapper Chap: Hair Loss

Craig tests products by Nioxin available at Mankind, specifically formulated for thinning hair.

Established in 1987 Nioxin now have a wide range of products for us guys that may be experiencing some thinning of their hair. With shampoos, conditioners, styling products and treatments created by a team consisting of biologists, chemists, pharmacologists and hairdressers, there's a full range of items to hep prevent further loss and encourage growth.

Today I'm trying out the Therm Activ Protector, the Definition Creme and the Niospray regular hold spray.

My hair is naturally quite curly and I regularly straightening it, which as we know can damage your hair, and if you're hair is thinning or a little weak, the last thing you really want to do is add heat and pull at it with straighteners!

So, in recognition of this Nioxin have created the Therm Activ Protector. This is a spray which when activated by heat will help protect your hair from heat damage and breakage.

Craig of That Dapper Chap talks to hairdresser of the year: Jamie Stevens about male pattern baldness and uses Jamie's new range of products designed to thicken, style and disguise thinning hair.

Time to come clean

Confession. I have thinning hair. There I said it. I've been trying to ignore it for the last few years and as it's on the top of my head at the back I can't see it, so I can live in ignorant bliss. Having said that, I'm not the tallest bloke in the world and taller guys have been known to point out my follicle challenge "you're going a bit thin on top Craig" Yes! thanks for highlighting that! You're a great friend!

exposing my secret to the world

Male Pattern Baldness

Fact: Male pattern baldness affects between 50 to 70% of all men over the age of 50. That's a lot of men!

Basically it comes down to genetics, if men in your immediate family have thinning hair or baldness it's most likely you will too. Male pattern baldness usually presents itself in a receding hairline at the temples making an M shape at the front and a bald spot at the crown. It can be slight or they can end up meeting giving you that 'monk' look.

If you've reached that 'monk' stage there's not much out there for you other than a transplant and I've seen some very successful ones. A friend of mine had one a couple of months ago and already his new hair is growing and filling that space at the front of his head. He left the UK for his and it cost him around £3,000. In the UK it can cost over £7,000.

The Norwood Hair Loss Scale. Where are you on the scale?

MR. By Jamie Stevens

A study completed by Jamie's team showed that men would rather have a small penis, have their partner cheat on them or have their entire internet history made public rather than lose their hair.

Jamie is truly passionate about combating male hair loss, so after nearly three years of development Jamie launched his range of premium products on October 19th 2015.

Available online and in 360 Boots stores across the UK, Jamie has created an entire range of cool looking products to help thicken the hair, style it and disguise those thinning patches that we have.

To start my treatment my hair was washed and conditioned using MR. Jamie Stevens thickening shampoo and conditioner. After I wash my hair I generally just grab a towel and rub my head like crazy until it's mostly dry. Back in the barber's chair Jamie told me "the classic mistake that all guys make is that they get out of the shower and rub their hair. Think how hard the surface of the towel is and think how fragile the hair here is. Don't rub, pat, then use a hair dryer" That's one easy change that we can all adopt immediately to reduce the rate of our hair loss.

After the hair cut which I have documented in a previous post HERE, Jamie applied the MR. Jamie Stevens Salt Spray. I LOVE this product! not only does it really thicken the hair, giving a soft matte look, but it smells great too. I now use it every day. Just pump spray it on and dry it in with a hairdryer. Simple.

Next comes the magical MR. Jamie Stevens Hair Fibres, these are microscopic plant extracts that are shredded and then coloured "it's like a hair transplant in a bottle" says Jamie "it comes in a pot like salt and pepper and you just sprinkle it over the area"

The difference between Jamie's hair fibres and others out there is that they are dipped in Keratin, which is one of the most natural conditioners that the hair produces, so it's more softening. "They are actually statically charged, so when you sprinkle them on they stay there" the fibres are patted into place before being fixed with MR. Jamie Stevens fixing spray (hair spray)

Jamie applying the hair fibres to by balding barnett

The fibres and fixing spray

Jamie told me that the hair fibres can be used on guys who have lost up to 70% of their hair with great results and at just £20 a bottle it's a great option for balding blokes.

An alternative disguise product is the MR. Jamie Stevens Disguise Spray. Available in brown, dark brown or black this is an instant fix and gives amazing results. If you have a bit more hair loss than me, you can use both the fibres and the disguise products together.

It's easy to apply but if you're doing this yourself, same with the fibres, you may need to get a strategically placed mirror so that you can see the back of your bonce while you apply it. After a couple of times applying it yourself you'll soon get used to where it needs to go and how it feels when you get it right. I can now easily do this at home.

The disguise spray is water resistant. It isn't waterproof, once you dry it in you can confidently get caught in the rain without it running down your face. Once it's applied, dried and fixed with the fixing spray, Jamie confidently tells me that "it's gym, sex, sweat and rain proof"

Jamie is totally honest about all of his products and did say that if you run your hands through your hair you may get some colour on your fingers. In addition, you might find some colour on your pillow case in the morning, so this is something to be aware of, particularly if you spend an impromptu night in someone else's bed!

Jamie has also been swimming with this product in his hair. It didn't drop down his face but it did come off on the towel afterwards. So it's probably a good idea to shower before you get in the pool.

Next comes the styling products. MR. Jamie Stevens offers a gel, a paste, a clay and a wax. Jamie recommended the paste for me due to my hair type and took just a small amount, the size of a fingernail, and rubbed it into his palms until it was almost transparent "start at back work forward in a sweeping shoe shine motion" he said "then go in in little circular motions to distribute it throughout the hair"

The MR. Jamie Stevens hair paste

And we're done. washed, cut, styled and thinning hair covered, using some great products. I can honestly say that I am super impressed with the products and the results that you can achieve. So, try them out for yourself and leave a comment here and let me know how you got on. Alternatively if you have any questions just drop me a line and I'll be happy to help.