What to ask before any hair or scalp plan

What to ask before you agree to anything

These questions help you understand who you are dealing with and what you would be signing up for.

• Who performs the assessment and any procedure, and what qualifies them to do it?
• Are you able to prescribe, or do you work with a doctor who can?
• What will you look at during the assessment?
• What are the options for someone in my situation, and what does each one involve?
• How long does it usually take before you can judge whether something is working for me?
• Can you give me all the costs in writing, including follow-up visits?
• If I stop, what happens to my hair or scalp, and is there anything to pay?

Before you go

Spend a few minutes before your consultation gathering what you know. Think back to when the change began and how it has developed. Look through your phone for photos that show your hair over the past few years. List your medicines and supplements, and note any recent illness, hormone change or stressful period. Write down the hair and scalp products you use, how often you wash, and any heat or chemical treatments. Then add your own questions at the end of the list.

It is fine to wait

Hair concerns can make people want to act quickly, and some sellers use that. Slow down if a provider tells you that you must decide today, wants payment for a long package up front, or promises your hair will come back. Slow down if there was no real assessment, or if you are not sure who will perform a procedure and what training they have. Waiting a week to think costs you very little. Asking a doctor or dermatologist for a second opinion is always an option.