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It's no secret that most men and women who suffer hair loss wish they hadn't.  Whether it's genetics or caused by an illness or medication, people feel better with a full head of hair.  Lisa' Dream Salon has just begun offering an effective hair replacement option that is unique to the area.  With the recent certification of stylists Lindsay Crampton and Katelyn Johnson the salon now offers non-surgical hair loss replacement.

"Most of the time with medicines or radiation or chemotherapy -- anything that could cause your hair loss -- 895% of the time your hair will grow back after you are done with that medication," Crampton says.  "For people with male or female pattern baldness it's not coming back.  So this is an option that is lifelong for some people."

The technique is based on hair units that are custom made to fit the contours of your head.  You start with a free consultation at which you talk about what you are looking for.  A mould is taken of your head that is then used to create a hairpiece that might be a full head of hair, or just a piece.  The hair unit, made entirely of human hair, is ordered, and when you come back it is fitted and styled along with your own hair.  It is all done in a private room.


While many wigs and extensions are obvious, these hair units blend remarkably when applied by a skilled specialist.  Crampton herself couldn't pick out the units on a friend.  In fact she didn't realize her friend was using the units for eight and a half years.

"The cool thing about that is that Lindsay didn't know the person was using it," says Johnson.  "As a hairdresser you can usually pick those things out, but with this you can't tell someone has it."

Crampton got interested in becoming a cosmetologist after experimenting with her own hair.  That led her to attend cosmetology school.  She says she loves what a good hair styling does to boost the happiness and confidence of her clients.  When she learned her friend used this particular product she wanted to do it.  She says the next closest place that offers it that she knows of is 100 to 150 miles away.  She brought the idea to salon owner Lisa Craig.  Craig was very receptive and eager to bring the service to Lisa's Dream.

"People don't know what we are capable of so having another extension of what we do is going to help," she says.  "It's exciting to realize the potential in this service.  We believe in it.  These two are very dedicated to making people feel and look their best.  So it's fun.  It's fun to have more hair on your hed than you came in with.  It makes us happy to make other people look good."

Johnson and Crampton know what that means.  Both have naturally short, thin hair and love to wear extensions that fill out their looks.

"To me I am ugly when I have short hair," Crampton confides.  "I do not feel like Lindsay.  When I have my full head of long hair I can look in the mirror and have the confidence that boosts not only my ego, but everybody's around me because I'm happy.  I am also a cancer survivor and I had chemotherapy and lost all my hair.  So I also know what it feels like to be on that side of the spectrum as well."

Crampton got Johnson involved, and the two completed online training they say was designed to take a year in two intense weeks.  They shadowed a practitioner in Utica, then passed both a written and practical exam.  The practical required them to fit and style units on live models.  Craig's husband Sheldon offered to be a guinea pig.  Two units were applied, one on top and a smaller one on the front.  He says he is pleased with the result, feels better about himself, and is delighted with the durability of the adhesive.


"When I walked into work everybody was looking," he says.  "I noticed younger ladies and girls are looking at me now.  Yesterday I worked a full day and I was sweating a lot.  I was worried about the front piece while I was driving.  But I looked in the mirror and it was right there."

The pieces are held on with a choice of adhesive bond, one that is good for about three weeks, and a stronger one that lasts for twice that time.

"We recommend that people keep it on longer, because it's easier," Johnson says.  "But we also have options for people who don't want to bond it.  They can use tape and come in every week or two to get retaped."

Most people will get a duplicate set so the units can be rotated about every six weeks.  At that time you come back to the shop to have the units reapplied and get a haircut.

"You generally need a haircut every six weeks anyway," Craig notes.  "Your own hair would need to be maintained as well, so the timing is very typical."

Both specialists say the best part of doing it is seeing the change in their clients.  Crampton notes that the second model started taking better care of himself physically after getting the units.  And Johnson says it's a big thing to look in the mirror and feel the confidence a full head of hair brings.

"People come in here every day who are not happy with their hair," she adds.  "Whether we work on the color or the length, or whatever it is, they walk out happy.  That's the whole point of being in this business.  Making people confident.  Making them feel good.  Making them feel themself."

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