Ookisa – A “Scam” or a “Misunderstanding” ?

by Staff Writer

Ookisa, LLC launched their hair care product line in 2008. A press release was issued in October 2008, titled “Ookisa(TM) Unveils Revolutionary Integrated Hair Thickening Systeme” and the first couple lines read, “OOKISA, LLC announced today the launch of the exclusive, new OOKISA Hair Thickening Systéme, an innovative and complete approach to hair health and beauty formulated specifically to increase hair volume and dimension while addressing the issue of weak, thinning hair and hair loss.”

The product line they currently offer includes a:
Fortifying Shampoo
Replenishing Conditioner
Instant Volumizing Souffle
Nighttime Follicle Renewal Serum

It appears to be the “Nighttime Follicle Renewal Serum” that boasts it’s anti-thinning properties. The description for the product states “Nighttime Follicle Renewing Serum works with the body’s natural renewal cycle. This leave-in treatment absorbs and gently cascades to the scalp; calming, soothing and healing along the way. This formula not only prevents thinning, loss and splitting.”

With that last sentence there is not doubt that Ookisa LLC is indeed marketing this to hair loss sufferers.

The ingredients in this serum are:

Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Niacinamide, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pyridoxine HCl, Apigenin, Linolenic Acid, Oleanolic Acid, Acetamide MEA, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Panthenol, Allantoin, Hyaluronic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Sorbitol, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein PG-Propyl, Silanetriol, Phytantriol, Sodium PCA, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Nymphaea Alba Flower Extract, Maltodextrin, Camellia Japonica Leaf Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Leaf/Stalk Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Fructose, Glucose, Sucrose, Urea, Dextrin, Alanine, Glutamic Acid, Aspartic Acid, Sulfur, Hexyl Nicotinate, Vanillyl Butyl Ether, Sodium Phytate, Paeonia Albiflora Flower Extract, Sodium Starch Octenylsuccinate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Butylene Glycol, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Silica, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Benzyl Alcohol, Fragrance (Parfum)

There is nothing in that very long list of ingredients that has been FDA approved to regrow or stop the progression of hair loss. But lets put that aside, the claims of “preventing thinning, loss and splitting” that is.

The majority of the complaints that have been filed online through various websites and forums seem to all truly focus around one thing, the business practices of Ookisa, LLC. Many individuals who have signed up for their free trial, only later to have their credit card charged, have felt the terms and conditions of the “free trial” where not really clear and apparent at the time of sign up. As of today the terms and conditions do in fact appear on the company website free trial sign up page, but it appears in very small gray text toward the bottom left of the screen. Something that could easily be missed by most. [click to continue…]

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MatriStem MicroMatrix – Regenerative Medicine and Hair Cloning

by Staff Writer

On January 6, 2010 a press release was issued with the headline “Researchers Develop First Successful Hair Cloning Technique – Major Advancement In Hair Restoration.” Since that date there has been a lot of online (and offline) discussion about how accurate the press release really was.

For years, hair cloning has been looked at as the holy grail for hair loss sufferers. It is an innovation that brings promise and hope to millions of people dealing with hair loss, the promise that they can restore the hair that has been lost.

Enter ACell’s MatriStem MicroMatrix.

Spencer Kobren conducted an interview with one of the MicroMatrix researchers, Dr. Jerry Cooley the same day the press release was issued. The interview helped to clear up a lot of questions that had been looming in the minds of readers as they drank their morning cup of coffee. Namely, was hair actually cloned? The answer is, yes. In the interview Dr. Cooley stated

“By using plucked hair in a very specific manner, we have been able to get a new follicle to regenerate using the ACell, as well as you are not depleting it from the original site”

It is important for readers to know, this research is still in the very early stages. The MatriStem wound healing powder has really primarily been used for the facilitation of the healing process. When MatriStem is placed onto a wound, it is resorbed and  replaced with new native tissue where scar tissue would normally be expected.  The range of care that the MatriStem devices can be used for is quite vast, including medical applications for wound care, general surgery, gastrointestinal  surgery, urology and plastic and reconstructive surgery. [click to continue…]

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Eleven, Bald, Brave, and Successful!

by Staff Writer

Olivia Rusk lost all of her hair at age two, just after she had her childhood vaccines. Although her hair grew back by the time Olivia turned four, she recently lost all her hair again and this time it wasn’t just the hair on her head. Her eyebrows and eyelashes fell out too.

Olivia suffers from alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder that can cause rapid and severe hair loss. Little is known about this disease and there is no known cure. Treatments may work but are unreliable. Most people who suffer from alopecia wear wigs or hairpieces to hide their hair loss.

But not eleven-year-old Olivia Rusk. Olivia has chosen to go “el natural” and hasn’t let hair loss interfere with her self-esteem or her life. In fact, Olivia has already launched a successful career. She was recently chosen to be a kid caster on Radio Disney, an opportunity that Olivia is very excited about.

“They interviewed me about my story and … they just loved me so much that they said, would you like to be a kid caster? And I was like, uh yeah, Radio Disney!”

She’s also worked as a model and together with her mom, Sandy Rusk, has launched an innovative t-shirt company called What Do You See Designs. Each t-shirt features an ink blot and the phrase “What do you see?” The designs represent the way people see things differently, especially when they look at bald people. [click to continue…]

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The Bald Truth’s New Website

by Staff Writer

Many of you already know that Spencer Kobren, American Hair Loss Association Founder, also runs a weekly radio program called The Bald Truth. Recently, The Bald Truth’s website got a thorough makeover including plenty of fresh features and a slick new interface design.

While the images and color scheme largely remain the same, the new site is streamlined for better usability. The easy navigation bar near the top of the site directs you to the various sections within, where you can learn about the show and its host, watch video clips, access resources, and get in touch with the folks behind the red curtain.

The site now features articles on hair loss that are targeted toward the Maxim crowd. Recent titles include “Hair Loss and Culture – Debunking the Stereotypes” and “Emotional Self Defense – How Hair Loss Sufferers Can Ward Off Verbal Attacks.”

The site also welcomes and publishes letters from listeners and shines a spotlight on “Hair Loss in Hollywood.” Get involved by sending in a letter about your own experiences with hair loss and find out how hair loss impacts the Hollywood crowd.

Another section contains featured segments from The Bald Truth broadcasts. So, if the show isn’t syndicated in your geographic area, you can still listen to many episodes. The segments play directly inside your web browser, so you don’t have to download or wait for large audio files. Just click the play button and turn up the volume on your speakers!

Best of all, by simply entering your email address in the subscription box, you’ll get regular articles and updates sent directly to your inbox!

Anyone suffering from hair loss will be sure to appreciate The Bald Truth’s renovated site and all it has to offer. With regular article publication and show production, the site is sure to expand into an exciting resource packed with information presented in a clear and entertaining way.

Don’t miss it: www.thebaldtruth.com

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The History of Hair Transplant Surgery

July 9, 2008

Hair transplant surgery originated in Japan. In 1939, Dr. Okuda, a Japanese dermatologist developed a breakthrough process to restore hair loss caused by scalp injuries and for burn victims. He used a punch technique, which involved extracting small sections of hair-bearing skin and implanting these into even smaller holes in the areas where skin had [...]

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Natural Hair Growth Institute – Steve Bennis / Jon Yates Reports On Unsatisfied Client

July 7, 2008

In a recent article titled Hair Growth Treatment Leaves Big Hole in Woman’s Wallet, the Chicago Tribune reports that Shelley Lindsay, a forty-year-old hairdresser, paid almost eleven thousand dollars for a hair loss treatment in which she was offered a money back guarantee.
In this Chicago Tribune column, Lindsay states, “He wanted the money right there, [...]

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