We all know what happens in the Biblical story of Samson - when Delilah went snip, he went weak.

That hair is universally seen as a symbol of youth, virility, strength and sex appeal is no fiction, though.

Which is why when a man or woman starts losing hair, it's a real cause of alarm.

The reality check, says Michael Bernstein, a trichologist at Svenson Hair Centre, 'is meeting an old friend who hasn't seen you in a while'.

'He'll let you know whether you've thinned out on top,' he says with a chuckle.

While it's normal for people to shed hair daily - an average of 80 to 100 strands a day - you should take action fast if it thins out to the point your scalp shows through.

Trichologists, the specialists who study hair structure and diseases, say you can't cure baldness. But you can certainly reduce hair loss.

'Once the follicles are dead, you can go for only a hair transplant or implant,' says Teo Kim Teik, chief trichologist at Svenson Hair Centre.

But an Australian dermatologist and laser specialist, Dr Adrianna Scheibner, believes otherwise. She says her infrared light energy treatment can revive dead hair follicles and reverse balding (see story below).

The doctor was in town last month to launch her IRL 2710 Hair Regeneration Light Technology.

While she is still collecting a large enough sample size to substantiate her claims, the many photographs that document the results from treatment sessions she conducted seem promising.

Home-grown aesthetic doctor Georgia Lee, however, has reservations about the claim.

'If the hair follicles are destroyed, they cannot be revived. Infrared technology improves circulation and can only make hair re-grow at a faster rate for follicles that are alive but could be at a resting phase,' she says.

She offers an analogy: 'You can't revive a dead plant, but you can help a sick or dormant plant recover and grow at a much better pace.'

Dr JJ Chua, a plastic surgeon and laser specialist with a private practice at Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre, concurs.

'Treat a thinning problem early, don't wait till you're bald to fix it. A shiny pate means it's game over,' he says.

'It's an indication that there's a loss of hair follicles and the pores have closed up - that's when it's irreversible.'

He adds that the only solution then is to wear a wig or opt for surgery such as a hair transplant.

One thing that the trichologists and doctors do agree on is that a healthy scalp is key in preventing hair loss.

Says Dr Scheibner: 'Think of the scalp as your soil. When you normalise scalp activity, your hair flourishes.'

So take good care of your scalp and cut down on stress, a common cause of hair loss these days.

She also advises using a mild shampoo if you wash your hair daily to avoid irritating your scalp.

Taking plenty of fresh and colourful fruit and vegetables help cells with repair functions as they are rich in antioxidants.

Going for regular head massages also aids in scalp care as it stimulates blood circulation.

Here, the experts sieve out the truth from the myths about hair loss.

If baldness runs in the family, it's game over for you

False: While balding is hereditary, you can prevent it if you seek help early.

Michael Bernstein, 72, and Teo Kim Teik, 50, both trichologists at the Svenson Hair Centre, have a healthy head of hair although both have fathers who are bald.

Bernstein says the moment your thinning hair starts to bother you, that's a good indicator to consult a trichologist.

You lose hair only when you're old

False: The problem of thinning hair starts at puberty, and you can lose your hair as early as 16 or 17. According to Bernstein, 20 per cent of people in their 20s experience hair loss.

After every decade, the figure grows by 10 per cent.

Ten years ago, he says the average age of clients at the centre hovered around 40 years old, and they were predominantly male. Now, the mean age of clients averages around 30 years, and there are as many men as women.

He cites increasing stress, poor diets and a greater awareness of grooming as some of the reasons for the changing client demographic.

Men and women experience the same hair loss pattern

False: Male pattern hair loss is more defined - at the crown first, then it spreads all over, says Teo.

When a woman loses hair at the sides and back, it is usually an indication of anaemia or a thyroid malfunction.

When hair loss is concentrated in the middle and front (what trichologists term as temporal), the cause is hormonal.

Hair loss from stress manifests itself all around.

Women also have a higher chance of slowing down hair loss, since most of the causes are due to lifestyle or physiological problems and not hereditary.

If you have an oily scalp, you will definitely go bald

False: An oily scalp or a dandruff problem may increase the likelihood of baldness, but neither is a direct cause, says trichologists and doctors.

'The only problem is when you scratch your scalp and puncture the skin, bacteria can be introduced to the scalp, thereby upsetting scalp health. This is what triggers hair loss,' says Teo.

You can grow more hair or alter your hair type with anti-hair loss treatments

False: How much hair you have is determined genetically by the number of follicles you have. On average, a person has between 100,000 and 120,000 follicles.

'You can't turn wispy, fine hair into a thick, lustrous mane. You can only improve what nature has given you, and ensure that what you have grows optimally,' says Dr Scheibner.

Stress can make you lose hair

True: High levels of mental and emotional stress are what cause more men and women to go bald at an earlier age these days, says Dr Scheibner.

This is because stress releases adrenaline, which makes blood vessels spasm and constrict. This restricts the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the cells, both of which are essential for healthy hair growth.

Stress also inhibits endorphins, the natural chemical secretions that give your body a feeling of peace and wellness.

When you reduce adrenaline and increase the release of endorphins, cells function optimally to promote a healthy environment for hair to regenerate.

That is why exercise is good for you, she says, as it triggers the release of endorphins.

And because your blood vessels dilate in order to lose the extra heat, this boosts the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the cells.

Wearing a crash helmet or wigs can cause hair loss

Partially true: This increases the chance of hair loss as it makes scalps sweat excessively, trapping bacteria on your head and upsetting scalp health, says Dr Scheibner.

Dyes, perms and heat treatments can make you go bald

False: Teo and Dr Scheibner say chemical or heat treatments can cause hair breakage, but they are not direct causes of baldness.

They also alter the state of your hair as too many of these processes can leave tresses frizzy or dry. But unless there is trauma to the scalp such as a chemical burn or infection, it's unlikely you will turn into Sinead overnight.

STOP THE THIN-OUT

For a thinning pate, there are stop-gap measures that are less drastic or painful than hair graft transplants or implants. These latest solutions all claim to regrow thinning spots. Here's how they work.

MESOPORATION

This involves injecting a cocktail of drugs to the scalp to stimulate hair regeneration. The treatment is effective but it's invasive, uncomfortable and runs the risk of scarring.

Svenson Hair Centre has come up with a treatment that, like mesotherapy, gets deeper into the cell, 'delivering the same effect as you would have with an injection without getting a jab', says Michael Bernstein, a trichologist from the centre.

The new technique involves applying an anti-hair loss elixir that curbs DHT (the testosterone which stumps hair growth), stimulates blood circulation and helps cells regenerate faster.

Then a stylus-type wand that delivers electro pulses is used to go over your scalp to open up pores so the solution gets absorbed faster and deeper.

This technique, says Bernstein, is four to five times more effective than current non-invasive hair-loss treatments as 90 per cent of ingredients can get to the hair root, up from 25 to 30 per cent.

Bernstein says clients see results as quickly as in three months.

Where: Svenson Hair Centre, 09-06 International Building, tel: 6737-8575

Cost: A treatment package ranges from three to six months and costs between $2,000 and $5,000, depending on the condition. You have to go twice a week for hour-long sessions each time.

Preventive/maintenance programmes cost from $800 to $1,200, and the treatments take three to six months.

LIGHT THERAPY

Infrared light is what's behind the IRL 2710 Hair Regeneration Light Technology. The remedial treatment uses low-intensity light to stimulate and 'awaken' the hair follicle to regenerate and grow optimally.

Its inventor, Dr Adrianna Scheibner, an Australian dermatologist and laser specialist, claims it can reverse the balding process.

She says: 'It increases blood flow to the dermis where hair follicles reside, which gets more oxygen and nutrients to the cells. It promotes stronger and healthier hair growth.'

Where: Atos Wellness Studio, 03-32 The Adelphi; and Inahamani, 03-08 The Cathay. Call 6842-9926 for inquiries

Cost: You need at least two sessions (within a span of two months) and these cost $510.82 each. Subsequent treatments cost $291.90 each.

COPPER-BASED HAIR PRODUCTS

Copper is a mineral that's present in the body and helps with the making of collagen and elastin that promote the overall health of skin and hair.

While the body produces copper naturally, the level decreases with age.

American hair loss specialist Triquine has come up with a three-part prevention system (Photo 2) that uses a copper-based formula to stimulate the cells responsible for making collagen and various kinds of proteins. It also has vitamins and hair-thickening ingredients to make locks more lustrous.

The TriAction Amino Copper Complex is in the conditioning shampoo that nourishes, cleanses and moisturises the scalp and hair.

A follicle booster, to be used daily, is enriched with vitamins which help to nourish the scalp.

Then there is the fortifying serum, which you use in place of the follicle booster once a week. It reportedly regenerates and strengthens hair follicles, and at the same time stimulates scalp blood circulation.

Where: Verdure MediBoutique, 01-27 Millennia Walk; or call the Triquine corporate hotline on 6748-4252

Cost: The shampoo, booster and two ampoules of the serum are now going for a promotional offer (up till Feb 7) of $168. After the promotion, the shampoo retails at $48.15, the booster goes for $128.40 and the fortifying serum costs $96.30 for a box of six ampoules.