Should we, or shouldn’t we grease our scalp? This was just one of the revelations from our interview with Lorna Jones, our next guest on our Black Women and their Hair podcast. Trichologist, hair loss and scalp problem expert, Lorna Jones, talks to us about all things hair loss and how we can detect, manage or prevent it. She debunks myths that could cause a revolution in the way Black women care for their hair.
WIGgIT: Lorna, tell us a bit about yourself?
‘My name is Lorna Jones. I’m a Trichologist and hair loss and scalp specialist. I've got two clinics in London; one near Harley Street and the second clinic in Forest Hill. I'm also a published author of two books- "If Only Hair Could Talk”, which is about a hair follicle, called Billy, that gets superpowers and is able to speak, and "Way beyond the Scalp” which is a guide to some of the most common types of hair loss. I'm also the lead support group leader for the UK group for CCCA which is short for Central Centrifugal Cicatricle Alopecia, a type of hair loss found predominantly in black women which is progressive permanent.’
Alongside this, Lorna also runs an organisation, called Caring for Hair, which helps to treat, educate and support people with Afro-textured hair experiencing hair loss and scalp problems. Here she hosts speaking engagements and events for those who want to know more about this area. For example, C & Hair Conference hosted by Caring for Hair on Saturday 18th May, 2024. Lorna relates: “The event is for anyone who has been diagnosed and living with cancer or living with a side effects of cancer. It's for family members supporting people. It's for friends. It's anyone who wants to know more. It’s for hairdressers to understand hair loss better” she tells us. The event is packed with live demos, workshops talks by oncologists, dermatologists, breast surgeons and support group leaders. Tickets are available via www.caringforhair.org
WIGgIT: What does a Trichologist do?
Lorna explains that a licensed Tricologist is able to assist patients from a medical, social and psychological perspective. She tells us; “When men and women come into the clinic, they are usually losing their hair or they have some scalp issues. A Tricologist will identify the cause of the hair loss, and we will be able to assist where it's possible.”
WIGgIT: Are there different types of hair loss?
Yes, reversible and non-reversible. “Traction [Alopecia] is one of the most common types of hair loss and is what we call a non-scarring or reversible type of hair loss. So if you come early, then it’s reversible; it’s only when it’s quite an advanced stage when it get more difficult to recover.
One of the non-reversible types of hair loss, because of the scarring it causes, is CCCA (Central Centrifugal Cicatricle Alopecia) which effects mainly Black women. It’s an inflammatory type of condition. When the hair follicle gets inflamed, it can get completely destroyed. But if the inflammation is found early enough, it can be reduced before the hair follicle is destroyed. There there is chance of the follicle being able to reproduce [hair] again.
WIGgIT: What are some of the signs of CCCA and is there is a way to detect it in its early stages?
Lorna emphasises that most of the early signs start at the crown of your head!
“The symptoms of CCCA can be a tender and itchy crown as well as hair breakage in that area too! The hair on the crown [would usually be] shorter than the rest of the hair. So, if you're looking after your hair in the same way, there's no real reason why that hair [at the crown] should be shorter and [be] breaking.”
Even knowing this it can still be hard to recognise CCCA hair loss.
“I mean the tricky thing about CCCA is sometimes there are no symptoms at all. [Maybe] the crown is not itching or sore but you do have to be aware of breakage because eventually it will start balding in that area.”
WIGgIT: What are some of the main causes of hair loss?
The reasons are varied, “People will say, “You’re stressed” and that might be an element of hair loss; but there's usually far more than that!” Lorna continues. “There are many different causes of hair loss. So you've got genetics which is the most common type. Hormonal changes [are] a big part. Genes [also] play a big part. Medication plays a big part too.”
As we continued our interview, Lorna revealed one of the most shocking hair and scalp misconceptions related something that has been done in Black communities since time memorial. Could greasing our scalp be doing more harm than good?
To find out this and more, listen to the conversation in full by clicking here to go to the podcast interview on our Black Women and their Hair Podcast, on Spotify!
