ABERDEEN, Wash. — Eight-year-old Maizie Chapin wanted to give her grandmother something special this Christmas – a personal gift that could help Marion Chapin of North River heal in her battle with cancer.

She wanted to give the gift of her own hair, with the idea that it could be made into a wig for Grandma Chapin to wear while losing her hair during and after chemotherapy treatments.

After reading a book in school about a cancer-stricken girl who raises money to find a cure for cancer by starting a lemonade stand, “Alex and the Amazing Lemonade Stand,” Maizie suddenly had her inspiration for how to fashion her unique Christmas present idea into reality.

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And drum roll please… The #1 Myth That I Came Here To Challenge Today Is… Professional Hair Care Products Are Identical To Beauty Supply Store Products

In other words shampoo is shampoo. This one needs to be seriously addressed. Listen up, I know that there are exceptions to every rule, but let’s be honest you can tell (if you really think about this) who goes to see the professional (the real professionals and not the kitchen hairstylist) and who doesn’t. The head turners, the one’s that put their girlfriends to shame when they hang out on the weekend, the ones that jealous women dismiss as having “good hair” are actually the ones getting professional services, professional recommendations and yes, professional products! You see, professional hair care products usually contain quality, more expensive ingredients that are blended together (usually by…get this… chemists) to give you the best results possible. These quality ingredients found in professional hair care products are not usually found in beauty supply store brands. In other words, in the case of professional hair care products vs. beauty supply store products…you definitely get what you pay for!

Read more at The Hair Guru Speaks

According to The Washington Post, Americans spend approximately $3.5 billion on products and services to combat hair loss, and the majority of those products don’t even work. Dr. Oz talks with Spencer Kobren, president and founder of the American Hair Loss Association, about scams and real solutions.

Read more at Oprah.com

Listen to the radio show here

Every month our beauty department in-box fills up with e-mail from readers struggling with some aspect of their appearance. But none of the mail is as emotionally charged as the letters from women dealing with hair loss—an issue that will affect up to 60 percent of us at some point. Yikes. The good news: “In almost all cases, you can get improvement, even if it’s just stopping further loss,” says trichologist (hair and scalp specialist) David Kingsley, PhD. “And about 80 percent of the time, regrowth is a possibility.”

When it’s temporary… If your thinning is triggered by a specific event—childbirth or a high fever or a period of intense stress—it will probably manifest as excessive (more than 100 hairs a day), and sudden, allover shedding. Once the trauma passes, your hair will grow back within a few months. And if a blood test traces your widening part to a thyroid imbalance, endocrine disorder (like polycystic ovarian syndrome), dietary deficiency, or a specific medication, your hair will most likely return to its former glory once the underlying issue is addressed.

Read more at Oprah.com