Svenson Genetic Hair Loss Test
My hair came under scrutiny lately.
First, I was introduced to a genetic hair loss test, the first of its kind to be launched here in Singapore.
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Svenson, in collaboration with HairDX, a US pharmagenomics company that specialises in genetic analysis and hair therapies, has introduced a genetic test for hair loss. While conventional hair loss analysis involves visual observation, Svenson says this new genetic hair loss test takes the guesswork out of predicting your likelihood of suffering from hereditary hair loss, otherwise known as androgenetic alopecia.
The test is simple enough - a quick swab on the insides of your cheeks, done after you have avoided food and drink an hour beforehand. Then it's a matter of waiting two weeks for the results to come back from the lab, before sitting down with your hair therapist to decide how you may want to apply hair loss prevention programmes. Testing is done by a certified trichologist in a controlled environment at a lab in the US.
What the test looks for is your sensitivity to androgen, which is the group of hormones that are responsible for many male characteristics. All of us have a certain level of androgen in our bodies. By finding out the number of times the CAG sequence (the genetic code for the amino acid glutamine, cytosine-adenine-guanine) repeats itself in the androgen receptors inside your X-Chromosome, the test can churn out test results which tell you how sensitive you are to the androgen hormone.
The shorter your CAG repeat sequence, the more sensitive you are to androgen, and the more likely you are to suffer from baldness. This applies to both men and women. For men, a test result of between 13 and 23 means you have a 78.2% to 99.9% higher risk for hereditary hair loss. For women, the numbers are between 13 to 22 and you have between 67.9% to 99.9% risk for the same genetic hair loss.
However, this cannot predict for you at what age you will begin to lose your hair.
The idea for this test is to help you identify earlier whether you are a candidate for hereditary hair loss, so you can opt to take prevention care at an earlier stage.
Also, bear in mind that lifestyle and external environmental factors can wreak havoc on your tresses, so your hair therapist will still advise you to take care of your hair by reducing your level of stress, eating well and getting adequate rest. After all, hair loss cannot be reversed; the process can only be slowed down, and hair therapies can at best be used to preserve the remaining amount of hair you still have.
As for me, I've done the test, but I have yet to go find out my results. I guess I'm just not too sure I want to find out where I stand right now, preferring instead to take care of my health and diet in order to keep my head of hair for now.
The genetic test is valued at $240, with three free customised hair and scalp treatments. It is fully redeemable against any sign-up from Svenson's hair treatments.
Then it was on to another hair therapy of a different kind - this time with soothing lights, flowing water in the background and a DVD movie of your choice in your own space as you soak up a relaxing treat to pamper your hair and wash away the stresses of the day.
Refresh Scalp Therapy at Phyto Hair Spa by ReVAMP
At the Phyto Hair Spa by ReVAMP at Wheelock Place, it was 105 minutes of treating your hair and scalp to a lavish spread of healing and rejuvenation with 100% botanical ingredients and massages with the Refresh Scalp Therapy.
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This therapy is not only soothing, but also targets excessively oily scalp conditions. You may not feel it, but the humid and hot conditions in Singapore does bring about a more oily scalp.
This in turn can cause hair woes like dandruff, itchiness, hair thinning and even scalp psoriasis and eczema. Case in point - I'd always considered my hair to be within the normal range,
not dry nor damaged, although my locks do go limp sometimes at the end of a particularly long day. I attributed this to the normal production of oil by my skin and wasn't too concerned with it.
So imagine my surprise when the consultant who received me at the hair spa did a close-up look at my scalp, and showed me I had a dandruff problem, which was actually caused by oily roots. She explained that most people suffer from this condition, especially with our tropical climate.
After finding that out about my hair, it was onto the therapy.
The session consists of seven steps to stimulate blood circulation to the scalp, oxygenate the roots and cleanse scalp of oily sebum, before opening up pores on the scalp to deep
cleanse and remove bacteria and toxins. You'd think she would start off with shampooing, but all this is done before your hair actually comes into contact with water, using instead a
series of serums that were applied with very relaxing massage strokes.
Then it's on to a dedicated upper body massage to promote better circulation and penetration of the ingredients used in the treatment. I have been to some hair treatment sessions, but I must say this was the only one where the therapist really worked her way down my back with a good massage.
Halfway through the treatment, your therapist will indulge you with a thorough shampooing complete with scalp massage again to prepare your scalp to receive the oil control serum that come later to help rebalance and tone the scalp. Most of my memory at this stage was yet more massaging - which is never too much, I believe.
The session ends with a complimentary styling session, and you leave the salon feeling thoroughly shampooed and deliciously relaxed.
The stimulating effects of the session lasted me for the rest of the day, and the bounce in my hair didn't leave me until the next day.
Besides Wheelock Place, Phyto Hair Spa by ReVAMP is also located at Ngee Ann City, and the therapy session is available at S$188 for 105 minutes.
